New Orleans, Louisiana lies within a global environmental crisis and is at risk of being completely submerged underwater by 2050, simultaneous with rapid gentrification drastically displacing its predominantly Black population. With the charged power of ceremonial gathering as resistance in the face of rising rent and sea levels, violence, and poverty, this documentary captures the beauty, roots, and sanctity of Black New Orleans culture as filmmaker Edward “Buck” Buckles Jr. embarks on a mission to preserve its traditions.
Status
Development
About the Filmmakers
Director/Producer
Edward Buckles Jr.
Edward Buckles, Jr. is a son of New Orleans. His non-linear path to filmmaking has birthed a brand of visual storytelling - an aesthetically beautiful marriage between fine art and guerilla-style documentation. Buckles’ work calls his audience towards remembrance and to see the beauty in imperfections. The award-winning filmmaker, director, and producer continues to find inspiration in his people and innovative ways to share the stories of Black communities that would otherwise be lost in the passing of time. His debut HBO Original documentary Katrina Babies, a co-production by TIME Studios, House of the Young Ent., and Creative Control T.V., released in 2022 and was shortlisted for a 2023 Academy Award®. Katrina Babies also landed the August 2022 digital cover of TIME magazine accompanied by an interview with Buckles. His production company, House of the Young Ent. is a beacon in the New Orleans’ arts community and a platform for the culture of the city. He was featured on DOC NYC’s 40 under 40 in 2022 and was awarded the New Orleans Film Society’s Rising Star Award.
Producer
Alex P. Willson
Alex P. Willson is a Grammy award winning filmmaker and producer based in New Orleans and Los Angeles best known for his documentary and music video work. His most notable recent projects are Janelle Monáe’s Lipstick Lover, Jon Batiste’s Freedom, and a documentary series on the New Orleans criminal legal system currently being delivered to PBS. He gravitates to projects that confront unjust systems, tell untold stories, and allow for creative artistic expression.