FILM: Fuego

An original short film by Christine Rodríguez

Poster design - Nalo Soyini Bruce

SYNOPSIS:

Lonely, isolated and disconnected from his roots, Manolo is an Afro-Cuban man who has reached a low point in his life. While his boss denigrates him constantly, Manolo finds hope after a chance meeting in the community centre where he works.

Seul, isolé et déconnecté de ses racines, Manolo est un homme Afro-cubain qui a touché le fond dans sa vie. Alors que son patron cherche à constamment l’humilier, Manolo retrouve espoir suite à une rencontre au centre communautaire dans lequel il travaille.

Solo, aislado y desconectado de sus raíces, Manolo es un hombre afrocubano que tocó fondo en su vida. Aunque su jefe lo denigra constantemente, Manolo halla la esperanza después de un encuentro inesperado en el centro comunitario en el que trabaja.

“Cambia, porque se te va, se te va la vida.”

Fuego is part of the Black Ink mentorship program of Black Wealth Media who will house the film on their website alongside other Black created content.

Fuego fait partie du programme de mentorat de Black Wealth Media qui présentera le film sur leur site web au côté d’autres créations afrocentriques.

Fuego hace parte de un programa de Black Wealth Media que promueve la creación de películas sobre la diáspora africana.

Here are samples of the costume designs:

Visit the facebook page to keep up to date with the production and additional info!

Written, directed and produced by Christine Rodriguez

Starring:

​Danny Blanco-Hall

Daniel Loyer

Davide Chiazzese

Katherine Sideris

Abena Bentley

Director of Photography: Laura Torres

Sound Director, Mixing and Editing: Rob Denton

Art Direction and Design, Poster Design: Nalo Soyini Bruce

Film Editor: Juliette Crytes

Directing Mentor: Ivy Yukiko Ishihara Oldford

Musical Director and Original Music: Giovany Arteaga Valdes

Prodution Manager and Assistant Director: Kiki Dranias

Production Assistant: Imtiyaz Bandali

Co-produced and developed  under the mentorship of Black Ink/Encre Noire by Black Wealth Media.

MBALI: Like a flower

Portrait exploration and mask design (project ongoing)

Step 1 - portrait or birth

Mbali's hair journey:

Next steps:

• synthesize ideas for the mask making phase

• digitize 3D sketch (I call the sculptures I do in modelling clay 3D sketching because I’m better at sculpting than drawing... I find sculpting way more fun... and I hope to gradually ease you into the realization that this sculpture will eventually be destroyed) 😶

• prepare the papier-mâché pulp for sculpting the mask

ZEMORA: One who knows the way

Mask design (project ongoing)

The process:

• sculpt the preliminary study of the mask with modelling clay

• prepare the paper clay (papier-mâché) with leftover pulp from my recycled handmade paper making process 🌿♻️💚

• add an initial layer of papier-mâché to the modelling clay base

• add more refined papier-mâché to define the facial features

• remove modelling clay from dried mask

• sand, seal, paint and add details

Sometimes I work on multiple projects at the same time. Imani, another mask can be seen in the photos above.

Zemora was also featured in an installation piece I did for Nuit Blanche 2020. You can check that project post here.

A peek at the installation below: