Sapphira Mohammed, Copy Editor
This month, Exposure Cinema presented “Nu West,” a series of films about Black cinema and the American West at the Institute for Contemporary Art. There is one screening left, and it is free to the public.
Exposure Cinema is a “collective cinematic investigation,” according to their website. Founder and VCU alum Brandon Shillingford got started in the film curating scene because, as an avid movie watcher, he wished there was a space for fans to talk about movies after the showing.
Shillingford does not screen current blockbuster films. Instead, he does monthly screening events with movies from all eras of cinema centered around themes such as “bloodlines,” movies about Black vampires or “tekno erotica,” sexy sci-fi films.
“Nu West” is explained as “exploring the history, mythmaking and cinema that define the American West,” as stated on Exposure’s Instagram, and how it relates to the Black experience.
Shillingford explained that his childhood consisted of watching Western films, an experience he finds relatable to other Black people.
“I feel like if you’re like a Black person or anybody from a marginalized community in America, it’s like ‘damn this is the medium — that’s so wonderful and there’s such possibility and like beauty to it,” Shillingford said. “There’s also a real history of violence and racism and misogyny and homophobia literally ingrained within the DNA of this medium, in America specifically, and that’s the tension I feel like is so key to the Western.”
Exposure Cinema has shown three of their four films in the “Nu West” series: “Buck and the Preacher,” “Nope” and “Thomasine & Bushrod.” Shillingford said the films have had a great turnout and were a success.
“The only problem is I wish I could play even more movies. I feel like there’s so many that could offer to this genre, I think would fit so well. But it’s exciting and I’m excited to kind of explore a little further,” Shillingford said.
“Thomasine & Bushrod,” is a 1974 film directed by Gordon Parks Jr. Following the whirlwind, crime-fueled romance of the titular characters. The movie has anti-racist and anti-capitalist themes.
The founder of Ours, a co-working and community space in Richmond, as well as Shillingford’s roommate, Sam Taylor attended the Tuesday screening and felt that the movie was beautiful. He enjoyed the simultaneous modern and nostalgic feelings the film produced and said it captured the themes of Nu West perfectly.
“Being able to have the chance to see movies that I may not have seen otherwise, that we don’t always get exposure to. I think just the premise of that is what makes it stand out to me,” said Trejahn Chauncey, another attendee at the screening.
There is one film showing left: “To Sleep with Anger” on Feb. 25. It starts at 6:30 p.m. To get tickets, visit https://exposurecinema.org/about. Walk-ins at the ICA for the screenings are also welcome.
This story was updated on Feb. 17.