Parker
A decision delayed for decades allows three generations of a Kansas City family to finally unify when they do something that countless African Americans before them could not do - choose their own last name.
Interview with Director Sharon Liese
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The Parkers are charming and lovable, and I saw their story as an opportunity to express Black Joy, a theme sorely missing in today's cinema.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You will laugh, cheer and maybe cry. It is simply a joy to spend time with the Parkers.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It's about family love, personal journeys of growth and regret, and the film explores the age-old question, "What's in a name?"
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It started out as a film about a name change and then expanded into exploring the evolving naming traditions of African American families.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
During the premiere at Sundance, audience members came up to us and the Parkers to express gratitude to them for sharing their story. People seem to come away from the film with a sense of delight and happiness.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I wasn't as much surprised by the feedback as I was happy that it confirmed my sense that this film would move people in a special way.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope this film gets the distribution it deserves so we can spread the many messages of family, love, overcoming regret and Black Joy present in the film.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are hoping to attract the right distributor and more media attention as this film is an example of how easy it is to capture joy in Black families and to show Black men who are very present parents. You really don't have to look far to find families like the Parkers. They exist and their stories are rich.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like this film to be an example of how important it is as storytellers to help change the narrative of the stories that are typically told about Black Americans. My hope is for this film to be a refreshing departure from stories of Black trauma which is only part of the story. Black Americans laugh, experience joy and enjoy the love among family members. This part of the story is missing all too often.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I would like for people to discuss the significance of naming traditions as a part of Black Americans' history. The Parkers claimed their name as their own and were able to acknowledge, yet reconcile the origins of their name in a lovely and powerful way.
Would you like to add anything else?
We included iconic jazz music to embrace the musical legacy of Kansas City's history. We incorporated whimsical flourishes with animation in order to underscore the playfulness of the story and cue the audience that it's okay to laugh, relax and enjoy the show!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Sharon Liese just released a film on Disney+ called The Flagmakers and is finishing a 4-part documentary series that will air on Starz later this year.
Interview: February 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, 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
Parker
A decision delayed for decades allows three generations of a Kansas City family to finally unify when they do something that countless African Americans before them could not do -choose their own last name.
Length: 13:00
Director: Sharon Liese and Catherine Hoffman
Producer: Sharon Liese, Funmi Ugonro and Samanthan Hake
About the writer, director and producer:
CATHERINE HOFFMAN is an award-winning emerging documentary filmmaker based in Kansas City, Missouri. Since earning degrees in Documentary Journalism and Black Studies, Hoffman has focused most of her work on telling stories of Black history and its relevance to today. Her latest film, Preserving Our Past: Kansas City Stories of Black History, is streaming on PBS. Through her work both in front of and behind the camera, Hoffman aims to educate, entertain, and build the empathy required for a more equitable world.
SHARON LIESE is an acclaimed film director and producer who is known for having her finger on the Zeitgeist. Her films include Transhood (HBO), the award-winning feature documentary, The Gnomist which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival (won 14 awards and attracted 16M views on CNN’s Great Big Story platform), Fight For The First (Meet The Press Film Festival), Selfie (Clio winner, Sundance Institute). Sharon has also created and directed documentary series for television: Pink Collar Crimes (CBS); High School Confidential (WeTV, Gracie winner), as well as served as EP & Show Runner for series on Discovery, MTV, OWN and Lifetime. She is currently directing and executive producing a 4-part series for Starz.
Key cast: Adolphus, Matt, Sedoria, Cameron, Asheligh, Katrina PARKER
Looking for: buyers
Twitter: @sharonliese
Instagram: @sharonliese
Hashtags used: #ParkerFilm
Made in association with: Herizon Productions