Black History Month: Conversation Starters for Short Film Screening

Mar 1

Black History Month is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate Black voices, talents, and culture that are woven throughout American history and oftentimes forgotten.

During our 2024 Black History Month celebration, students are exploring the theme Strings and Threads. This year's programming highlights Black artists and musicians whose intergenerational history informs and inspires their art.

We hope that you will continue the conversations started in each session at home, deepening a shared conversation between you.

Short Film Screening & Screenwriting - Overview

In today's program, students heard from playwright and screenwriter Brittany Fisher, watched a series of short films, and participated in a discussion facilitated by parents from this year's Black History Month committee. Fisher shared her experience surrounding the creative process, particularly with the short film Bleach, which was developed as part of a program with Richmond's Cadence Theatre Company.

Conversation StartersI hear you experienced another Black History Month presentation. What was it about?

Tell me about the short films you saw today?
Did you have a favorite? What made it your favorite?
Was there anything difficult to see or hear in the films?
What feels important about these films and who would you like to share them with if you could?
Was there a comment or question from another student that you found interesting?

Brittany Fisher is an NYC-based playwright and screenwriter from Richmond, VA and a recent graduate of Juilliard's Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program. Her play How to Bruise Gracefully, developed through Cadence’s Pipeline New Works Fellowship, was a finalist for the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition, won the 2021 Kennedy Center Lorraine Hansberry Award, and was recognized by the Rosa Parks Award and Paula Vogel Award.

With all of her work, Fisher strives to address important topics and spark necessary discussions that speak to her community.

“How to Bruise Gracefully is undoubtedly a love letter to the Black women of the past, present and future. It’s very much an acknowledgement of how far we’ve come, how far we have to go, and an understanding of how we can love and support each other moving forward through the injustices we’re constantly plagued by in this society.”

Thank you to the members of the OHMS Black History Month parent committee for the work and thought put into designing a program designed to show students the interwoven artistry and voices of Black culture.
Tonita Aldridge-Williams P '27, Kasey Buckland P '25, Ellie Burke P '25, Portia Chan P '25, Taekia Glass P '24, Shanza Isom P '26, Becky Lakin P '27, Emily Maynard P '27, Rob Nelson P '24, & Jessica Scalin P '27