Art

op-ed: do something about it: instantly watch these films directed by women and people of color

January 25, 2016

There’s been a lot of hate directed at The Academy ever since the Oscar nominations were announced last week, as the internet’s band of social media warriors spent the weekend accusing an organization of over 6,200 members of being downright racist in the face of an all-white slate of acting nominees. But, that’s another argument for another article (trust me, I’m writing it), so the conversation must shift so we can make a difference in a very real, tangible way that actually matters.

By Serving Cinema’s Joey Nolfi*, AFROPUNK contributor

We must ask ourselves if our current course of action is worth it. Is taking to the internet to lob serious (partially unfounded) accusations of racism at The Academy the right way to approach a complex issue that stems from far beyond the superficial frontline of a group that hands out movie awards? When did name-calling and acid take the place of education? Is yelling at each other on Twitter really going to do anything about the very real issue of slanted hiring practices in the film industry? What about the lack of funding minority filmmakers suffer, or the fact that only 7% of the 250 top-grossing films of 2014 were directed by women? What happened to championing diverse perspectives when it meant more than indulging the fleeting discourse generated by the headline of the day? What’s going to make a real difference in the way Hollywood accepts, promotes, and produces films by and about women and people of color?

The answer is simple: watch the movies.

That’s it. You can make a difference–however small it might be–by simply logging into Netflix and watching a movie. You do it every day. You have enough time to binge watch another season of The Office over the weekend, right? Why not set aside a few hours to support the voices you so desperately want to see on movie screens around the country?

Below is a list of recent films directed by women and people of color available for streaming right now. Watching these films even once is a small step in the right direction. Sure, streaming a film on Netflix isn’t the same as renting one or going to the theater to support an amazing independent production, but it’s easy. It’s accessible. It’s doable in the moment. Watch the films that matter and share your experience with them instead of firing off a few accusatory sentences on Facebook.

Move your cursor away from this page, open a new one, and press play. It’s the first (often overlooked) baby step on the road toward changing the industry.

The following (recent) films by and/or about women and/or people of color are available to stream RIGHT NOW on Netflix Instant:

‘GIRLHOOD’ – 2015
Directed by: Celine Sciamma

‘MISSISSIPPI DAMNED’ – 2015 (festival run in 2009)
Directed by: Tina Mabry

‘OUT OF MY HAND’ – 2015
Directed by: Takeshi Fukunaga

‘TANGERINE’ – 2015
Directed by: Sean Baker

‘ADVANTAGEOUS’ – 2015
Directed by: Jennifer Phang

6 YEARS’ – 2015
Directed by: Hannah Fidell

‘UNEXPECTED’ – 2015
Directed by: Kris Swanberg

INDIA’S DAUGHTER’ – 2015
Directed by: Leslee Udwin

‘SERENA’ – 2015
Directed by: Susanne Bier

‘BEYOND THE LIGHTS’ – 2014
Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood

‘A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT’ – 2014
Directed by: Ana Lily Amirpour

‘VANISHING PEARLS’ – 2014
Directed by: Nailah Jefferson

‘THE BABADOOK’ – 2014
Directed by: Jennifer Kent

‘BIRD PEOPLE’ – 2014
Directed by: Pascale Ferran

‘NEWLYWEEDS’ – 2013
Directed by: Shaka King Directed by: Shaka King

‘FRUITVALE STATION’ – 2013
Directed by: Ryan Coogler

‘MIDDLE OF NOWHERE’ – 2012
Directed by: Ava DuVernay

‘PARIAH’ – 2011
Directed by: Dee Rees

‘YELLING TO THE SKY’ – 2011
Directed by: Victoria Mahoney

‘I WILL FOLLOW’ – 2010
Directed by: Ava DuVernay

Originally published on ServingCinema.com

*Once, when he was three, Joey Nolfi fancied himself as an exotic type and boldly told someone that he was “from North America.” He’s taken that status as self-appointed ambassador of the North American people and built with it an internationally-treasured, titanic presence within the blogosphere. In other words: he’s written about awards season, film, pop culture, and the arts for a variety of publications including The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, East End Fashion Magazine, and Naima Mora Online. He also acts, makes films, moonlights as a DJ/general nightlife legend, and can’t wait for the day that his friends have children that he can to take to the zoo one time and then spend the rest of his life patting himself on the back for it.

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