Documentary: Rooted
In 2021, I spent two weeks in Puerto Rico with my Social Justice Documentary class, where we captured the stories of Afro-Puerto Ricans and their rich Bomba music culture. Our documentary, Rooted, was released in April 2022. As a cinematographer and editor on the multimedia team, I am excited to record the stories and share their voices in different themed educational video series on our social media platforms including Instagram, Youtube and Website.
Our film has been selected for the 2023 International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival.
Logline
Nurturing cultural roots is vital to preservation in the face of erasure.
Synopsis
Puerto Rican identity reflects a history of colonialism, consisting of native Taínos, enslaved Africans, and white colonizers. This mixture of races has led to a system of power and oppression based upon one’s proximity to whiteness. This colorism has shown itself in Loíza, causing disproportionate resource allocation and internal violence. However, familial matriarchs and female community leaders have nurtured Loíceño’s connection to their African roots, serving as a form of self-acceptance, unity, and prevention for the youth. 29-year-old Jomar Abrante expresses his roots through Bomba music as he copes with the struggles resulting from erasure and embraces the values of peace and forgiveness his mother Judith instilled in him. Female community leaders, like Modesta Irizarry and Maricruz Rivera Clemente, mirror Judith’s passion for connecting Loíceños to their roots. It is through identifying with the African cultures that make up Loíza that Loíceños can find pride in their blackness and resist erasure.
Role
I’m the cinematographer and editor on the multimedia team. My role is to record stories, edit and share voices.
Official Teaser
Multi-person educational video for Black History Month
Recognizing Roots
Educational Series (Art and Craft in Loíza)
Painting Loíza with Samuel Lind
Meet Samuel Lind, a talented artist native to Loíza, Puerto Rico. He shows us a part of his world through his studio space and favorite pieces of art, which highlight Afro-Puerto Rican culture and pride.
The Man Behind the Masks: Witzelino Pizarro
Meet Witzelino Pizarro, or Celele, who is a lifelong artisan for Loíza. He dedicates himself to the vejigante masks, which are rich cultural artifacts of Puerto Rico. Learn what drives his passion as he recounts the stories that built him as an artist and extends his wisdom to future generations.
Building the Beat with Juan Fuentes
Our conversation with Juan gave us some amazing insight into the history and culture of Bomba in Loíza! We are so honored to to share with you his passion for this beautiful art form, and his hopes that it continues to spread far beyond making music.
Educational Series (The Women of Loíza)
Cultivating Community with Windy Cosme Rosario
Meet Sheila Osorio Ferrier, a cultural manager who is passionate about educating people about Loizan and Puerto Rican culture.
The Bomba Breakdown with Sheila Osorio Ferrer
Meet Sheila Osorio Ferrier, a cultural manager who is passionate about educating people about Loizan and Puerto Rican culture.Deeper than Dance with Daniella Hernandez
Meet Daniella Hernandez, a young Bomba dancer originally from Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. She dances for us and speaks about what Bomba means to her, saying, “It’s more than just a dance. It’s the connection you feel with everything around you… Its culture is literally the meaning of a true Puerto Rican.”
“Mi Majestad Mi Negra” Poem Recitation
We learned so much from our friend Rafael during the time we spent with him, it would be impossible to capture it all for you in one video. Luckily, this poem he shared with us was able to showcase so many of his stories in such a beautiful way. Dedicated to his mother, Raf also uses this poem to honor Luis Pales Matos who he was largely inspired by.
Bomba Inclusion with Giomar Cruz Latimer
When we first met Giomar, his passion for the work he does with Bomba Inclusion for his community absolutely blew us away. We could not be prouder to share his story and highlight yet another amazing community leader.
Power of Protest: The Fight for Education
While we were in Puerto Rico, we had the opportunity to attend a protest for public education, and we were so inspired by the passion everyone has for the cause. These are a few of the people we met and whose stories we felt were so important to share.
Documentary Credits
Executive Producer: Hezekiah Lewis
Director: Nishika Goel, Freddy Kwak
Producer: Sofia Bottini, Annie Cowen, Keely Dumouchel, and Kristen Garvey
Associate Producer: Caleb Lucky, Tania Romero
Cinematographer: Anna Keller, Margaret Mengel
Editor: Anna Keller, Margaret Mengel
Writers: Idjatou Barry, Ashley Bernard-Cabrera, Ajibola Bodunrin, Keely Dumouchel, Connie Fang, Taniya Gray, Nathan Reyes, Valerie Rodriguez and Morgan Torre
Sound: Taniya Gray
Second Unit: Keely Dumouchel, Molly Mook, and Xiaoran Zhu
Music Composer: Natalia Perez
Colorist: Mark Nowicki
Multimedia Director: Jaedyn Eurenius, Molly Mook
Multimedia Producer: EJ Burke
Multimedia Cinematographer: Xiaoran Zhu, Perry Wilson
Multimedia Sound: Brendan Bennett, Keely Dumouchel
Multimedia Editor: Xiaoran Zhu, Perry Wilson, Conner Bagin
Initiative: Jesse Marsh, Brandon Slater, Daniel McGill, and Gaby Palmisano