Kweli TV - Sorf Hair (Soft Hair)
Sorf Hair explores the natural air experience in Trinidad and Tobago as several people from different walks of life with different hair textures unearth their stories, challenges and give their point of view on how and why naturals are treated the way they are in this country.
Interview with Director/Producer Shari Petti
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My film is actually a school project I did in my second year of university. I wanted to explore a topic that was personal and dear to my heart, and since I've always struggled with accepting my hair from a young age, I decided to make a documentary exploring natural hair and the way it is perceived in my country. Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I would watch this film because I believe texture discrimination is a universal problem, especially among people of colour, and this documentary examines the root of the problems associated with natural hair discrimination, and also how people can cope with such discrimination moving forward.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
While hair is the main topic of the film, issues that arise from colonialism, slavery, which also facilitate problems such as self hate within the black community also show up in the film and how all these things work to form a perception of our hair. I think by exploring the history behind these issues, helps people to understand where their struggle to accept themselves originates from and would help shape a better future for them moving forward.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I did not have a script, just a treatment of how I wanted the documentary to develop. Initially I was supposed to be in the documentary, conversing with my interviewees, but so much of what they said was what I wanted to say and it would have been redundant for me to have myself say the same things. So I omitted myself and it resulted in a very intimate interview driven documentary. The subjects seemed as if they were confessing and conversing with the audience as opposed to me, which is an element of my documentary that I really appreciate.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
In my home country it received an overwhelming amount of feedback. The screenings at the festival home were sold out, and when I eventually hosted my own screening that was sold out as well, and people will tell me their stories about their own struggles either in person or via email. Also, many festivals reached out to me to screen my film because of feedback they heard. I also won the People's Choice Award at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, which I did not expect at all.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback in terms of discussion was expected. I know this is an issue that many people of colour struggle with, and as a result a lot of discussion would surround it. However when the documentary was in production, I did not expect it to spread so much so that screenings would be sold out. I am really grateful for that.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
As a young female filmmaker of colour, any forum or body that is interested in promoting my work and the work of people like me, must be applauded, as it is very rare. By having my film more visible on WeAreMovingStories, i hope the right people would read about it, and spread the word about the film to others.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
My film will be streaming in March on Kweli TV, and I would really like as many people as possible, especially young girls to see the film, because I believe it will instill a level of self love, pride and understanding about not only their hair but themselves. I wish there was something I could have watched growing up that could have done that for me. In order for this to happen I would hope for major journalists and bloggers to write about the film and encourage people to take a look at it.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would want any viewer of my film to leave feeling empowered, loved, and proud to have kinky/curly hair, because our hair is beautiful and dynamic and we can do so much with it. It's a pity that so many of us were taught at such a young age to hate it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why do we allow people to have so much power over how we feel about the way we look?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now
? Currently I am developing two docu-series and one narrative series with my friends for my YouTube page, all focusing on Caribbean people and stories. I believe there is a lack of content from the Caribbean online, especially where narrative work is concerned, so I am actively trying to do something about that.
Interview: March 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Sorf Hair (Soft Hair)
Sorf Hair explores the natural air experience in Trinidad and Tobago as several people from different walks of life with different hair textures unearth their stories, challenges and give their point of view on how and why naturals are treated the way they are in this country.
Length: 24mins
Director: Shari Petti
Producer: Shari Petti, Leslie-Ann Caton
Writer: Shari Petti (It's a documentary but I wrote out my treatment and narration etc.
About the writer, director and producer:
Shari Petti is a 22-year-old film student at the University of the West Indies Trinidad. She has worked as an actress, production assistant and camera assistant on numerous film productions in her country. She directs, shoots and edits the Youtube Docu-series "Small Lime" which features young Trinis as they explore social issues affecting their society. Her film Sorf Hair, which explores the natural hair experience in Trinidad and Tobago, has screened at several film festivals including the Caribbean Tales International Film Festival in Canada, The Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, the Barbados Independent Film Festival.
Key cast: Attillah Springer, Shanice Smith, Jelani Warner, Athalia Clarke, Shinelle Ambris
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Social media handles:
Facebook: Shari Petti https://www.facebook.com/sharipettiii/
Twitter: @sharipettiii
Instagram: @sharipettiii
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channe/UCobnXtfCfiDQinOCPO68K1A?view_as=subscriber
Made in association with: The UWI Film Programme
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Sorf Hair will be streaming on Kweli TV in March, and eventually it will be on my Youtube page. .