Wednesday, January 15 - 29 | 3 weeks | 10 am - 12 pm | $35

Instructor: Michandra Lindsey

Star of the silent screen, W. C. Fields called Bert Williams “the funniest man I ever saw and the saddest.” It’s no wonder, since Bert Williams, an African American, nonetheless performed in blackface. As a central figure on America’s vaudeville circuit, Williams sang, danced, and pantomimed in clubs, cabarets, and theaters. He was one of the most famous African American performers in the 1900s. In an age when white vaudeville stage did not welcome black performers, Williams pioneered an important role for black performers who had so profoundly shaped the genre.

This class is an eclectic experience of lecture, discussion, group exercises, and small group discussion. There is an optional field trip as well. We cover the intersection of art and history when it comes to filmmaking. And the specific historical content of our film about Bert Williams and the mask he was forced to wear as he performed in blackface is central to this class. We unveil how film propels artists, filmmakers and audiences to uncover and address their own stories and their truth. Themes include: - Identity and Self Worth as Shaped by Culture – History of Blackface and Implications Past and Present – Film and Storytelling Reflects and Reveals Our Inner Truth – What Lies Beneath Dreams (Hidden Lessons) – Legacy and Its Role in our Present. Join us as we explore a deeper understanding of the power of film to connect us with others’ stories, as well as our own.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Michandra Lindsey, along with her partner are independent filmmakers living in Colorado. They affectionately call their current historical feature film project, The Story of Nobody, their third child due to the long period of preparation. Michandra is an executive and spiritual coach, a former television broadcast journalist and a priest. Michandra earned her B.S. in Mass Communication, Broadcast Journalism

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