Bed-Stuy Filmmaker Discovers Profundity in the Mundane

Rachel Johnson found her voice doing what she loves: making films.

The 23-year-old Bed-Stuy resident just put the finishing touches on her latest film project, “White Sugar in a Black Pot,” a three-year endeavor she started during her sophomore year at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

The short film, which will begin screening at film festivals in 2012, is about a hard-working and dedicated mother, Denise (Lolita Brinkley) dealing with conflict between she and her husband Darnell (Robert G. McKay).

After the two learn of an opportunity to move from their apartment into a new house, Denise is ready to go, but her husband is hesitant. Conflict arises from their inability to communicate effectively surrounding Darnell’s closeted feelings of emasculation.

"White Sugar in a Black Pot" explores the family unit and female subjectivity. It also touches upon issues of gentrification, a heated topic in many Brooklyn neighborhoods, particularly Bed-Stuy where Johnson was born and raised.

In the film, the couple's son Junior (J. Mal McCree) and daughter Deandra (Cathy Craig) also are profoundly affected by the family’s subtle changing dynamic. They too grow uncertain of their family’s future.

“I’ve always been interested in presenting different images of family and exploring how external, environmental issues – such as socio-economics, gender roles and gentrification—affects the dynamics within the household,” Johnson said. “I wanted to expand upon the idea of female subjectivity while also shed light on the perspective of children when they see parents in conflict.”

Developing dynamic characters and using them to bring attention to contemporary issues is Johnson’s cinematic thumbprint. Her films show how the most profound emotions can arise from the everyday stories that most of us take for granted:

“I try to use characters that are multilayered, have their own motivations and can exist outside of the film’s context,” said Johnson.

Peeling away at the multi layers of a single emotion has been an exercise that not only drives the conversations of her films, but has also helped Johnson discover her own truths.

Johnson attended a theatre arts high school and for a long time had plans to become an actor. But she always loved to write. After working behind the scenes on play sets, writing scripts and getting involved in each character’s development, she realized that her creativity was better expressed in helping to build the story, as opposed to acting it.

“I can’t imagine myself doing anything else career-wise right now, other than writing and directing film,” said Johnson. “It is tough, but there are always new sources of motivation, just from every day life."

One of her earlier film projects entitled, “Dream Team” chronicles the tough relationships that exist amongst educators, in light of New York City’s own education department rife with political conflict. In the movie, a passionate teacher finds out from the principal (who is also his best friend) that he will be fired. Johnson looks at how two seemingly similar characters with similar goals can so easily part ways, based on different points of views.

"Dream Team" has shown at several film festivals and will screen again on December 8, 2011, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture as a part of the African Diaspora International Film Festival.

"By doing something that I love, I’m able to help other people, inspire young children. I think it’s really important that young people get in touch with how they view the world, become self-aware and find their voice," said Johnson.

“It’s rewarding being able to help people understand themselves better. It’s a really good feeling.”