On Monday, January 11th The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) hosted the 30th annual Gotham Awards, via an online ceremony, to honor the filmmaking community, and pay special tribute to Viola Davis, Ryan Murphy, Steve McQueen, and Chadwick Boseman.
Education is the final episode of the Small Axe anthology series. The episode follows the realities of a young boy named Kingsley showing the racism within the British school system and the experience of West Indian children who were left the victims by it.
West Indian children were discriminated against and ultimately segregated from their schoolmates and sent off to “special” schools also known as schools for the educationally subnormal. The story of Kingsley reflects the harsh history of the British school system and the realities for many West Indian children in the 70s. Kingsley is a bright young boy who thrives in math and science however, struggles to read instead of providing Kingsley with a diagnosis and giving him the tools needed to understand his learning disability his school uses it as an opportunity to separate him into an ESN school(educationally subnormal). The school is integrated however, it is clear that the reasoning behind the children being admitted into the ESN school are different.With the lack of resources and caring teachers the design of the school leads to many children falling through the cracks and due to racial biases West Indian children were greatly affected.
For Kenyah Sandy his portrayal of Kingsley gave him the opportunity to learn about Black British history while simultaneously reflecting on the evolution of the British school system and the increase of educational opportunities for Black children of school age. For Kenyah being a part of the Small Axe films gave him but also the world an opportunity to see the history of Black Britain and West Indians in Britain.
The Small Axe series created by Steve McQueen will be able to build the diasporic bridge by showing not only Black history on a global scale but by also connecting Black experiences around the world.
Education is the final episode of the Small Axe anthology series. The episode follows the realities of a young boy named Kingsley showing the racism within the British school system and the experience of West Indian children who were left the victims by it.
West Indian children were discriminated against and ultimately segregated from their schoolmates and sent off to “special” schools also known as schools for the educationally subnormal. The story of Kingsley reflects the harsh history of the British school system and the realities for many West Indian children in the 70s. Kingsley is a bright young boy who thrives in math and science however, struggles to read instead of providing Kingsley with a diagnosis and giving him the tools needed to understand his learning disability his school uses it as an opportunity to separate him into an ESN school(educationally subnormal). The school is integrated however, it is clear that the reasoning behind the children being admitted into the ESN school are different.With the lack of resources and caring teachers the design of the school leads to many children falling through the cracks and due to racial biases West Indian children were greatly affected.
For Kenyah Sandy his portrayal of Kingsley gave him the opportunity to learn about Black British history while simultaneously reflecting on the evolution of the British school system and the increase of educational opportunities for Black children of school age. For Kenyah being a part of the Small Axe films gave him but also the world an opportunity to see the history of Black Britain and West Indians in Britain.
The Small Axe series created by Steve McQueen will be able to build the diasporic bridge by showing not only Black history on a global scale but by also connecting Black experiences around the world.
Author Alex Wheatle MBE was surprised when Steve McQueen approached him to feature his life story in his new anthology series, Small Axe currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Originally part of the writer’s room, Wheatle didn’t expect the Academy Award-nominated director to ask if he could center an episode on him. The series follows five stories of the West Indian experience in London over different decades. Alex Wheatle is the fourth film in the series, and it details the author’s life growing up in London’s foster care system before moving to a youth hostel in Brixton where he developed his crucial rocker sound. After being arrested during the Brixton riots, Wheatle met a Rastafarian, Simeon, who helped him change his path and influence him into the person he is today. The Knockturnal got the chance to sit down with the author and discuss his feelings on seeing his life story on TV, the representation of Jamaicans in media, the crucial rocker sound, and how his life in Brixton changed him for the better.
“Alex Wheatle” is currrently streaming on Amazon Prime Video as part of Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology series.
Sheyi Cole was still in his first year of drama school when he saw the casting call for Small Axe.
Small Axe is Steve McQueen’s new anthology series streaming on Amazon Prime. The series follows five stories of the West Indian experience in London over different decades. Even though auditioning for professional roles while still in school was “frowned upon”, Cole knew this was a once in a lifetime chance to get himself in front of Steve McQueen. Luckily for him, this was a risk that paid off.
Sheyi Cole beat out hundreds of other young men for the role of Alex Wheatle in the movie of the same name. Alex Wheatle is the fourth film in the Small Axe series, and it details the author’s life growing up in London’s foster care system before moving to a youth hostel in Brixton where he developed his crucial rocker sound. After being arrested during the Brixton riots, Wheatle met a Rastafarian, Simeon, who helped him change his path and influence him into the person he is today. Cole sat down with The Knockturnal to talk about how he felt when he learned he got the role and what it means to him to be a part of Small Axe.
The Small Axe films, created and directed by Steve McQueen, are a British anthology series telling the stories of West Indians living in London during the 1960s and 70s.
The film “Red, White, and Blue” tells the true story of law enforcement officer Leroy Logan. Logan left behind a promising career in science to pursue one on the force. He set out on a mission to change British law enforcement from within.
John Boyega took on the challenge of portraying Leroy’s life on camera. Viewers will see the real life struggles Leroy experienced while being a part of the Metropolitan Police. Leroy worked on building the bridge, bringing representation and being aware of the inequality within law enforcement. Audiences will see the struggles Leroy experienced racism from his fellow cops and discomfort and at times disappointment by his own community.
Within Leroy Logan’s thirty year career he was able to be a founding member of the Black Police Association and later founded VOYAGE, a social justice charity that seeks to empower Black youth and strengthen youth and community relationships with law enforcement.
For Leroy being able to work with Steve McQueen and to have John Boyega portray him in film was a match made in heaven. The timing of the episode release aligns with the September 17, 2020 release of his autobiography Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop and the rise of attention to the Black Lives Matter movement which Leroy is a supporter of. Leroy looks at the future of law enforcement for the UK and here in the United States with optimism and with hopes for change.
The Small Axe series will show the diverse and rich lives of West Indians in the United Kingdom while also highlighting British Black history. The series builds the diasporic bridge between the United States and the United Kingdom showing that our realities are more alike than we think.
The Small Axe films, created and directed by Steve McQueen, are a British anthology series telling the stories of West Indians living in London during the 1960s and 70s.
The film “Red, White, and Blue” tells the true story of law enforcement officer Leroy Logan. Logan left behind a promising career in science to pursue one on the force. He set out on a mission to change British law enforcement from within.
John Boyega took on the challenge of portraying Leroy’s life on camera. Viewers will see the real life struggles Leroy experienced while being a part of the Metropolitan Police. Leroy worked on building the bridge, bringing representation and being aware of the inequality within law enforcement. Audiences will see the struggles Leroy experienced racism from his fellow cops and discomfort and at times disappointment by his own community.
Within Leroy Logan’s thirty year career he was able to be a founding member of the Black Police Association and later founded VOYAGE, a social justice charity that seeks to empower Black youth and strengthen youth and community relationships with law enforcement.
For Leroy being able to work with Steve McQueen and to have John Boyega portray him in film was a match made in heaven. The timing of the episode release aligns with the September 17, 2020 release of his autobiography Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop and the rise of attention to the Black Lives Matter movement which Leroy is a supporter of. Leroy looks at the future of law enforcement for the UK and here in the United States with optimism and with hopes for change.
The Small Axe series will show the diverse and rich lives of West Indians in the United Kingdom while also highlighting British Black history. The series builds the diasporic bridge between the United States and the United Kingdom showing that our realities are more alike than we think.
Steve McQueen does it again, but this time through SMALL AXE, a collection of five films. Amazon Prime presented a drive-thru experience this past weekend in Los Angeles, which fully immersed the guests into these powerful stories.
On Sunday, November 11, the cast and filmmakers of Widows stopped by the Brooklyn Academy of Music for a private screening. Among the female studded cast, Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, was also the director, Steve McQueen, and co-writer, Gillian Flynn.