Final Draft: Cheryl Dunye on Film

In this interview, Cheryl Dunye reflects on the power of storytelling, who she makes films for, and how Spike Lee's film She's Gotta Have It inspired her.
Cheryl Dunye visited the IU Cinema in January 2018 as part of partnership with the Black Film Center & Archive and Bloomington PRIDE Film Festival for several public events and an onstage interview as part of the Jorgensen Guest Filmmaker Series.
This interview was originally released as “Cheryl Dunye: An IU Cinema Exclusive.” Final Draft is IU Cinema’s exclusive interview series with cinematic luminaries. Find the full playlist here: • Final Draft

[@driventoabstraction]

Inspiring. You’re so right. We need to get out of the way in order to move forward.

[@butchpreston3220]

Great film, Watermelon Woman. Love this genre. Thanks you/

[@tiktikivid]

such good advice. and maybe i needed to hear just now.

[@showmethehoney1475]

Thank you for this insight and perspective!!!

[@NaturalElicia]

Love this transformative piece!

[@MrVerveverve]

Her depiction of women in American prisons in Stranger Inside (as the director) was pathetic. At the start, you have women being strip searched and showering under the full glare of male guards - obviously totally wrong, a human rights abuse, and something that was indeed happening at that time. Yet they present it as if its totally normal and without making an issue out of it. The women don’t remotely behave like they are experiencing the humiliation and dehumanisation of being forced to be naked in front of male guards. If you are going to make a ‘serious’ film about women in American prisons at that time, at least present the forced nudity in front of male guards as the abuse and injustice that it is, rather than presenting it as if it is totally normal.

[@showmethehoney1475]

Thank you for this insight and perspective!!!