Professor overcomes production troubles to make film

When Mos Def, Da Brat, Monica Calhoun and MC Lyte get together in a film, the set might be expected to have a bumping atmosphere something like “House Party.”

Instead, UCLA film and television professor Neema Barnette assembled them together for a film about how prisons are home to new slave labor with clients, according to Barnette, such as Victoria’s Secret, Lee Dungarees and Tommy Hilfiger. It’s a touchy subject, and the film was shut down when the independent studio she worked for was bought by the more conservative Lions Gate.

“Lions Gate told me I was forcing people to think,” Barnette said. “I don’t think they were used to seeing young hip-hop artists in a certain light in films.”

That film, “Civil Brand,” has since been completed and has won acclaim at various film festivals, including an upcoming screening at the Sundance Film Festival. How Barnette finished the film is even more surprising than the underdog success it has since achieved.

Her original 25-day shooting schedule was shut down without notice after 14 days. Barnette was forced to go to Los Angeles, compile an incomplete cut of the film and wait for the OK to resume shooting. She waited for a year and a half, and only then did she get one day to finish shooting everything.

“In that one day, I shot 41 set-ups and made a movie,” Barnette said.

Barnette took the finished product to film festivals across the country and won the best film award at the American Black Film Festival in Miami and the audience award at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City. Because “Civil Brand” has already won at two other festivals, it is not eligible for competition at Sundance and is screening in the “American Spectrum” program instead, but Barnette doesn’t mind.

“I’m glad we’re not in competition, because we couldn’t compete with all those movies,” Barnette said. “I’m just happy that we’re in there. We’re just a small 15-day movie.”

Barnette made it a point to share her experience on “Civil Brand” with her UCLA students, showing them rough cuts and telling them about her dealings with studio bosses.

“The students that I’ve had have gone through this journey with me through this film,” Barnette said. “It teaches patience and what you have to go through sometimes. You have to keep your eyes on the prize and really be determined.”

Barnette studied film at the American Film Institute, where her student project allowed her to get jobs directing episodic television and later TV movies. Using her connections, Barnette was able to get the impressive list of talent for her film. For example, she knew Mos Def from directing him in episodes of “The Cosby Mysteries.”

“Nobody thought he would do (my film) because he’s a big time rap star now,” Barnette said. “After we started winning festivals and getting more attention, we’re ready to do a soundtrack that Mos Def and Da Brat will be in.”

Even after the awards, however, Barnette is still working on the project. In light of the film festival attention and underground support on Web sites, the originally hesitant Lions Gate has decided to distribute “Civil Brand” nationally. Barnette is now discussing how the film should be marketed to reach her intended audience.

“The kids I’m trying to get to don’t have credit cards,” Barnette said. “You can’t give them a documentary; you have to give them entertainment.”

“Personally, as an artist, I feel film is a strong political tool, and I never waste it. I never make a film without a message,” Barnette added.

Keywords

"neema barnette" "mos def" "da brat" "monica calhoun" "mc lyte" 

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