Representation in Cinema

Happy Black History Month pod! Throughout February and March, we’re going to be talking about Black Directors who deserve their flowers. With all of the talk about the amount of snubs Ryan Coogler and Nia DaCosta are getting, which is pretty on brand for Hollywood if you ask us (but we digress), we wanted to spend time talking about the filmmakers who inspire us and are creating incredible films....

Y’all, the Oscar Nominations are OUT and we have a BUNCH of things that we want to cover—the nominees, the snubs, and everything else in between! You can follow along with the list of Oscar Nominations here: https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2026 . There’s a printable ballot here: https://www.thegoldknight.com/2026/01/oscars-2026-download-our-printable.html Joining me to talk about all of t...

It’s a NEW YEAR which means new movies and it’s January so that also means upcoming award shows. Oscar nominations are coming up next week and we’re going to be diving into that on our next episode so again make sure you’re following us to get updated on that because depending on how that goes, I’m going to have A LOT to say. If SINNERS is not up for Best Picture, we RIDE AT DAWN! ANYWAY— Tonight,...

On this Representation in Cinema podcast episode, we delve into the intricate relationship between horror films and social justice, featuring a discussion with Professor Kathy Simon, who has developed an online course entitled "Screams and Social Justice: Analyzing the Politics of Horror," that you can now enroll in. Central to our discourse is the assertion that horror serves not merely as entert...

On this podcast episode, we're talkin about the film "One of Them Days" and discussing intricacies of Black women's representation in cinema and the profound themes of sisterhood and community care that permeate the narrative. Our esteemed co-host, Dr. Katrina Overby, joins me, Jackie McGriff, to delve into the film's portrayal of two best friends, Dreux and Alyssa, as they navigate the precarious...

We're talking about the ¡Presente! Latin Film Fest at the George Eastman Museum, commencing on September 17th. As we delve into this crucial initiative, we engage with Jason Barber, whose extensive background in the arts and commitment to representation in cinema make him an invaluable contributor to this conversation. The series aims to illuminate the significant impact of Latino and Latinx artis...

It’s Jackie McGriff, your host on today’s Representation in Cinema episode for another deep dive into the film, Sinners ! That’s right this is PART TWO of our talk on Sinners, so if you didn’t listen to the first episode, we highly recommend listening to that one on our website at ourvoicesproject.com/podcast or any where you listen to your favorite podcasts - Spotify, Apple, all of them! We’re ca...

A film so good we had to make TWO PARTS! This is the first episode doing a deep dive into Sinners with co-hosts, Jackie McGriff and Courtney Shouse. Sinners is a horror/adventure film written and directed by Ryan Coogler starring Michael B Jordan playing twin brothers – Smoke and Stack – returning to their home in the Mississippi Delta in 1932 to start a Juke joint. In reuniting with family, frien...

Today, we're discussing the Oscar-Award winning documentary film, No Other Land, with First Generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker, and educator, Muna Najib. No Other Land is a documentary that centers Palestinian activist Basel Adra, who records the destruction of his hometown, Masafer Yatta in the Occupied West Bank, by Israeli forces aiming to turn the area into a milit...

Hello listeners – we are BACK in the studio after a bit of hiatus! It’s Jackie McGriff, your host on today’s podcast episode where we’re diving into the film, The Six Triple Eight ! In the studio today, we have Bryan and Tam Little. Bryan Little is a producer and founder of DREAMINCOLOR International Creator Sessions, a monthly virtual gathering that connects Black, Brown, and People of Color ente...

Hello listeners! It’s Jackie McGriff, your host on today’s podcast episode where we’re diving into our film, Being Black in America with more of our storytellers. Yes, this is PART TWO! If you haven’t already listened to Part 1, please go do so. You can catch that episode and all of our other podcast episodes anywhere that you get your podcasts. If this is your first time listening, two things – t...

On today’s podcast episode, we get into one of our very own films, Being Black in America . This is the first time we’re doing this on the podcast – the first of many episodes where we interview folks involved in our productions. Being Black in America is our latest short documentary film where we show an array of different thoughts and attitudes behind Blackness and what it means to everyone on a...

JACKIE MCGRIFF and KRISTEN SEVERSKY, one of the most prominent voices for film, tech, and social justice in our community join the Punches and Popcorn team for an exciting talk about Monkey Man, a thrilling new film by Dev Patel!

Frybread Face and Me is a 2023 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Billy Luther. It follows the story of a young boy named Benny who comes from San Diego to spend the summer with his Navajo “Dine” grandmother on her reservation in Arizona. There he meets and bonds with his cousin Frybread Face, and the film explores their family’s legacy and their personalities as they try to...

It's been a full year since our last podcast recording and, in this episode, we talk about all of the life changes happening and all of the projects and events that we've been working on with Our Voices Project ever since. You can view information about all of our films at www.ourvoicesproject.com/projects . We are happy to announce that 3 of our films are available for screenings and panel discus...

Announcing the Lunchador Podcast Network! Lunchador co-founders Matt Austin and Chris Lindstrom talk about the new Lunchador Podcast Network, bringing you the best in arts, culture and more from Western NY! www.lunchador.org

Jason Barber, Cuban American educator and artist, joins the podcast to discuss the legacy of actor, activist and LEGEND Edward James Olmos and Latinx representation in discussing the films: Mi Familia , El Norte , Selena , Zoot Suit , and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez . Jason Barber is a Cuban American educator and artist with over a decade of experience in Rochester’s arts and non-for-profit sect...

Indian Horse is the story of Saul Indian Horse, a young Canadian First Nations boy who survives the Canadian Indian residential school system in the 1970s to become a star hockey player. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Wagamese. Indian Horse stars Sladen Peltier, Forrest Goodluck, and Ajuawak Kapashesit who all portray Saul at different stages in his life. Stephen Campan...

We're still recovering from all that is this incredible sequel to Black Panther. Consider Our Voices Project a part of your support group. Wakanda Forever is the sequel to Black Panther that tells the story of the Wakanda royal family picking up the pieces felt after King T’challa’s death, a tribute in honor and memory of the late Chadwick Boseman. Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora...

A movie about Black women warriors starring Viola Davis? We're HERE FOR IT so let's talk about it! This is the first episode to feature the entire Our Voices Project team - Jackie McGriff, Deborah Alvarez, Courtney Shouse, and Annalisa Rogers! The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, the all-woman warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centurie...

We hosted our first LIVE, in-person podcast episode after the screening of the film, Sugar, at The Little Theatre on Thursday, August 18, 2022. The recording was provided by The Little Theatre staff. Sugar is a 2008 drama about 19-year-old Miguel “Sugar” Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) who dreams of winning a slot on an American baseball team. His talents as a pitcher eventually land him a slot on a s...

We discuss the film "Moonlight." Moonlight is a drama released back in 2016 starring Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders, and Naomi Harris. The story follows Chiron and looks at three defining chapters in his life as a young Black man growing up in Miami. His journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support, and love of the community that helps raise him. The film is directed by B...

We discuss the movie, Passing, sexuality, relationships, racism, and the MULTIPLE layers that this film touches. Passing is a period drama released in 2021 starring Tessa Thompson ( Sylvie’s Love, Sorry to Bother You, Thor: Ragnorok, Thor: Love and Thunder ) and Ruth Negga ( Loving , AMC TV series Preacher ). Set in New York City in the 1920s, a woman’s world is turned upside down when she runs in...

We discuss Fast Color, motherhood, family, trauma, and whether or not this film flips the "magical negro" stereotype on its head. Fast Color is a science fiction drama released back from 2018 starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Concussion, Loki). The film is directed by Julia Hart. After her special abilities are discovered, Ruth is on the run and has no choice, but to go back to her childhood home w...

We discussed what we loved about Attack the Block , the intersection of race and class, and other themes brought throughout the film. Attack the Block is a 2011 sci-fi comedy directed by Joe Cornish. Moses (John Boyega) leads a group of South London teenagers facing off against aliens to defend their neighborhood. The film also guest stars Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Leeon Jones, and Nick Frost....