Synopsis/Trailer

U PEOPLE TV DEBUT ON LOGO!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2009 8PM EST

U People 15 Minute Trailer/Clip

U People Synopsis
Short:
Recently winning the Jury Award at the IMAGE+NATION LGBT Film Festival in Canada, U People is an incidental yet timely documentary. The first rockumentary of its kind presents an entire cast and crew of 30 gay, straight women and trans folks of color were caught on camera behind the scenes of a not so typical music video shoot. What the camera caught will introduces a hilarious, candid and very human voice into the discussion of gay and straight within the black community.

Long:
U People begins with the following disclaimer: “When you view this film do not make assumptions about anyone’s sexuality”. Once upon a time in a brownstone in Brooklyn—a music video was made—but not just one camera was rolling—and not just music was caught on tape?.The ‘Make a Move’ music video, which debuted on MTV’s LOGO, was the first of its kind to depict women of color across sexualities and gender expression. One house, two days, thirty women and trans folks of color bridged their differences in the creation of this video. U People is an accidental documentary where an entire cast and crew of 30 gay, straight women and trans folks of color were caught on camera behind the scenes of a not so typical music video shoot. What the camera caught will introduces a hilarious, candid and very human voice into the discussion of gay and straight relations within the black community.

Over the course of 2 days in a brownstone in Brooklyn a not so typical music video was shot. This video made history by being the only music video ever to fully feature gay women of color in an intimate, witty look at their lives. It was broadcast nationally on MTV’s Networks LOGO. The music video was Hanifah Walidah’s Make A Move and it was the backdrop of this equally historic documentary. The very candid, complex lives of the women in front and behind the camera during the shoot were caught on tape in raw behind the scenes footage. These people included women across sexualities and trans men of color. What these cameras revealed will open hearts and minds to women who are too often boxed and never fully realized in media.U People highlights intimate stories of struggle and triumph over prejudice, relationships between mothers and daughters, and civil rights.

The mission of the documentary is to dismantle the blanket categorization and ignorance inherent in the phrase ?you people? by displaying unique individuals in possession of personal power and self-determination. It upholds the vision that camaraderie and sisterhood is vibrant and sustaining, though not always easy, among straight and gay women and gender non-conformists in the African diaspora.

U People 4 Minute Trailer

Make A Move Video (the video that started it all)

Directed by: Hanifah Walidah / Cinematography: Olive Demetrius