Blaxploitation Conventions

 The 60s and 70s gifted us with flared jeans, funky tracks, political movements, and Exploitation films. This genre of film gained it's name due to the fact that it didn't cast big shot actors or have big production value, but rather relied on exploiting specific elements in their films whether it was sex, violence, action etc. 

  Through this genre emerged several sub genres;Spaghetti Westerns (Django 1966 dir. Corbucci), Biker Films(C.C and Company 1970 dir. Robbie), Women in Prison Films(The Switchblade Sisters 1975 dir. Hill), and the most notable and the one that I will be mainly focusing on, Blaxploitation films. 

  

  Blaxploitation, or Black Exploitation, is an ethic sub genre of exploitation films that was notable for producing some of the first films to regularly feature black casts and soundtracks filled with complex soul and funk tunes. I feel like this genre encapsulates the perfect marriage of my favorite things: rich soulful music and over dramatic editing/acting. Some specific films that I will be drawing inspiration from will be  Super Fly (1972 dir. Parks Jr),  Three the Hard Way (1974 dir. Parks Jr), and every Blaxploitation film directed by Jack Hill, including Foxy Brown, which I believe is one of my favorite films from the genre. 

Foxy Brown official movie poster

    For my two minute opening I would love to imitate the dramatic crash zooms, dialogue, and constant, rhythmic stings that are so prevalent in Blaxploitation. I have seen the influence of Blaxploitation in current media, specifically in the works of director Quentin Tarantino. The style of Blaxploitation can be seen the most in his film Jackie Brown that was created specifically to pay homage to the genre and even featured well-known Blaxploitatoin actress, Pam Grier, but also in some of his other works such as the Kill Bill series that also exploits violence and features a strong female lead.           
   I am directly influenced by the films that are focused on "bad ass," powerful women of color, more specifically films such as Foxy Brown or Coffy, both starring Grier. I am incredibly inspired by these strong female characters, especially when they are women of color, and I would love to create a film that not only has the over-the-top, dramatic style of Blaxploitation films, but also includes important representation. 

  Although the films did include discriminatory language and often used stereotypes when portraying its characters, I do believe Blaxploitation had a positive impact on the integration of races by frequently exposing white America to media filled with powerful, black characters.  Hopefully I will be able to capture it's unique style in my opening.

*I found a wonderful documentary on Blaxploitation films that features interviews from people who were influenced/involved (including Tarantino) and I HIGHLY recommend it if you are interested in learning more on the subject!

catch you mama jamas later...stay cool, kmp