1 Angry Black Man is a feature length film that is conceptual. It unfolds in real time in a black studies course in a college classroom. Think of it as a slightly different take on the Hollywood drama 12 Angry Men.
Mike is our protagonist who is a senior from Chicago and the only African-American male in the class. He is eight weeks to graduation, an aspiring lawyer, and he has gone through something traumatic. We learn more about the trauma throughout the course of the film. It’s impacted him a lot and he’s dealing with it…not well all the time. He’s focused on getting that degree.
Issues of race, gender, sexuality, and politics are discussed in the course. The film will have a similar structural and visual construction as “12 Angry Men” by Sidney Lumet. As the film progresses, the room feels smaller and the tone will shift almost to a horror film.
Mike’s isolation mirrors the emotional distress many Black men feel in America. He argues his points against a wall of opposition. His former allies start to become enemies and all he has left is….anger.
Books discussed include…The Invisible Man, The Fire Next Time, Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The narrative of the piece comes to an inevitably violent conclusion.
The conversations in this film are necessary in our current political climate. There is so much “noise” and no real dialogue. “12 Angry Men” was an adaptation of Reginald Rose’s play of the same name. The three act structure of the film should feel very much like a play, driven by character and dialogue. This story is told from the perspective of a young Black male, but the themes of isolation, disillusionment, and frustration are Universal.
Help us fund a powerful film that will get to the heart of what the average black man in America feels in today's social and political climate. Your contribution will go directly to the cost of production.
About the Team
Hans Charles is a former professor of Cinematography at Howard University, and is a tenure track professor of Cinematography at George Mason University in Virginia. Hans’ latest feature work is Ava DuVernay’s Oscar nominated documentary 13th. He and co-director Menelek host a weekly film podcast called the Back of the Theater podcast. Mr. Charles resides in the District of Columbia with his family.
Menelek Lumumba was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He received his bachelor's degree from Colorado College in English and Film Studies. He studied Cinema at Howard University's Master of Arts program. His screenplay "In My Skin" was named a finalist for the 2010 Colorado International Film Festival and the 3rd Annual Rap-It-Up/Black AIDS Short Subject Film Competition.
