Subverting Hollywood Norms

“They’re comedic, I remember showing my daughter one of those Blaxploitation films and we sat in front of the television and just laughed—because they were so silly.” This week on Nice Work, Novotny Lawrence, director of the Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA) sits down with filmmaker Julie Dash to talk about the resurgence of Blaxploitation themes, and what it meant to be a part of the “LA Rebellion” as a young filmmaker. They discuss Dash’s groundbreaking work, Daughters of the Dust—how it came to be, its unexpected reception and its significance in the world of independent cinema.  We also hear from the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra about their upcoming season, Karl Templeton talks with local legend, Erin Tobey about making murals, and Leo Paes shares a story about a local amateur radio club.