1.February.1999
Know Your History
For Black History Month, the New Venue brings you one of three flicks in the ongoing Know Your History series created for the web by Sondjata Kojo Olatunji of InnerVisions Productions. Olatunji is a multimedia designer with a panache for social issues.
In this interview with a Philadelphia police officer about his department's handling of the MOVE organization, the officer rationalizes the beating of one of the leaders of the organization who, at the time, was topless, unarmed, and held his hands in the air.
Directed by
Sondjata Kojo Olatunji
Stills from "Know Your History"
Olatunji juxtaposes the officer with archival footage from the MOVE beating as well as shots of a Klan rally and the still image of a lynched man.
In 1985, Philadelphia police bombed the predominantly African American radical group MOVE, causing an uncontrollable fire which destroyed sixty-one neighboring houses and left 250 people homeless.
New Venue:
What is the appeal of digital filmmaking?
Olatunji:
When I got into Digital filmmaking it was because I couldn't afford a camera so since I had access to a computer, a scanner and Adobe Premiere I said: "hey, I could be the digital Spike Lee". Later I found that with the Internet I could "distribute" my movies to any interested parties who had access.
New Venue:
How do you take into account the constraints of the Internet?
Olatunji:
Well,the biggest constraint that I had was actually my AOL account. Since you only get 2 MB of space per screen name this posed a significant constraint to how long and how big (in terms of dimensions) I could make the flick. Though this will change (real soon) My rule has been: "If it's bigger than 2 MB it aint goin' up."
New Venue:
What technology did you use?
Olatunji:
After watching a tape of the report on the MOVE bombing I digitized the clip in Adobe Premiere. I also digitized the footage of the Klan rally and lynching from another tape source. I brought the clips into Adobe After Effects where I composited the elements. I exported an uncompressed master QT movie and exported it in movie player using the Sorensen Video Codec and the Qualcom Purevoice audio compressor. ...Wish I had Movie Cleaner Pro!
New Venue:
In the future, how will the Internet be used as a tool for raising social awareness?
Olatunji:
For the sake of argument let's say that like any other medium the Internet is and will continue to be one big propaganda outlet. Whether that propaganda is selling jeans or membership for the Klan, this nature of the net to me is a matter of reality. As a member of a group of people that has been historically denied access to international media and have often squandered what little opportunities we get on mindless entertainment, I believe that it is incumbent upon aware people to grab this medium and use it in an effective manner by producing material that is well done and relevant.
New Venue:
Where else can we see your work?
Olatunji:
The InnerVisions web site.
View this movie.
You can find out about other digital flicks in the New Venue Archives.
