Black history month - rising voices

In honor of Black History Month, the Guardian Labs wanted to create a series for Google that would feature black artists, called ‘Rising Voices.’ When they approached us to produce the series we knew we had a chance to profile cutting-edge performers, writers, and intellectuals. So we let their work speak for itself.

We researched and casted three prolific artists: Pages Matam, poet and Poetry Director at Washington D.C. institution Busboys and Poets; Imani Perry, author and Professor of African American Studies at Princeton; and Mykal Kilgore, Broadway Actor and Singer/Songwriter. After an extensive development process, we dispatched a crew to shoot on location in D.C., Princeton, NJ, and New York. We knew we’d want to capture Professor Perry’s passion as she sits down with students on campus, the hazy spotlight as Pages takes the slam poetry stage - to meet these artists where they live, work, and dream. So, we followed them, up close and personal, to learn more about their inspiration and craft. We managed all post-production in house, sticking closely to the principle that a series should feel diverse but cohesive. With lush, easy documentary-style cinematography and clean graphics, the resulting trio of videos felt fresh and engaging. The series was featured on the Guardian landing page for Black History Month, and we were thrilled to help bring greater visibility to these visionaries.