Maureen Blackwood
Biography
Maureen Blackwood, a Jamaican descendent, was born in 1960 in the United Kingdom. At the time, the United Kingdom was racially and class divided, which caused a great inspiration for Blackwood's film making. She was able to take something so sad and sick, as this dividing, and turn it into an amazing artform, that is Maureen Blackwood. She attended the University of Westminster and received a degree in media studies. After this, in 1983, Blackwood and many others formed Sankofa, a film makers and producers company that promotes the black film makers in every way. Blackwood sees Sankofa as a tool for Blacks in the United Kingdom to use in order to have their voice heard, since they have such an amazing and completely different story to tell then the white community.
Work:
* The Passion of Remembrance, Sankofa Film and Video Collective (A great representation of the complexity and diversity that make up the black woman.)
* Representation and Blacks in British Cinema; Channel Four Television (Documentry of.)
* Perfect Image? Sankofa Film and Video Collective, 1988 (Challenges society's sterotype of black women and of women as a whole.)
* Home Away From Home, Channel Four Television, 1994 (The story of a black woman and her triumphs and trials as an immigrant worker.)
View:
I was lucky enough to view "Home Away From Home" since one of my roommate's has it on DVD and is a great follower of her work. Unfortunatly, I was not able to view any of her videos online, so I will not be able to upload any of her videos. Her material, specifically this one, is very raw. She is shows the "nitty-gritty" of what it is like to live a life as difficult, but as great as the woman portrayed. The movie is very short, but within those few passing minutes, you take away a great deal of emotion that some director's can convey within their whole careers.
Where is the Work?
My roommate received this DVD copy from his film maker mentor in St. Paul, who is also a great follower of Maureen Blackwood. Otherwise, I did not find any of her work on your regular Blockbuster or Hollywood Video shelf. I found this very disappointing, since I was fortunate enough to view her work.
Where are the Women?
If it was for the odd coincidence that my roommate is a film student AND a huge fan of Maureen Blackwood, I would not have been able to view her work, unless I ordered it, and even then it is difficult to find. It seems to me that the people who work with films or know them well, are the only people fortunate enough to view her amazing work.
Resources:
http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/makers/fm12.shtml
http://www.answers.com/topic/maureen-blackwood