An omnisexual Black woman exploring sexuality and spirituality in Detroit – definitely not your typical Hollywood movie, which is why acclaimed short film maker Ka’ramuu Kush is raising funds on Indiegogo to make his vision for this film, his first feature, into a reality.
With Academy Award nominee John Singleton, of “Boyz N The Hood” fame, on board to executive produce and the charismatic Kush at the helm, the only thing missing is backers—you. Kush has a strong belief in the power crowdfunding has to bring diverse content to audiences, but is keen to remind us that with this new power comes a responsibility to choose wisely, “ What do you do with freedom when all you’ve ever known is subordination? How do you choose responsibly?
What do you choose to feed your heart, your mind and spirit?” When asking the public to fund a director’s debut feature, with little to go on as far as previous work, the filmmaker’s vision—how he speaks about the film, its themes and inspirations—is the key to success. With that in mind, I talked to Kush about this fascinating project, which he hopes will “challenge the audiences perception of what true empowerment (i.e. freedom) looks like.”
Kush, like a lot of creative people, has an aversion to labels and, when asked if this is a feminist film, said he wouldn’t use the term. Like many who resist the label, he then went on to describe a very feminist point of view, saying, “I am extremely empathetic to the causes and challenges of women. I feel it’s my duty as a man to employ all of my privilege towards the end of some sort of equitable existence for women.” While it is frustrating for us feminists to see people distancing themselves from the term, an action that can reinforce negative stereotypes, some individuals may find the burden of politics and history associated with word too heavy to carry.
Kush thinks of himself more as a philogynist, a person who likes and admires women, the opposite of a misogynist, “To actively love, be a sincere friend and demonstrate both is sufficient in my mind.” Hearing his plans for the film, it is obvious that despite his dislike of labels, Kush is not shying away from the political, telling me he wants to ask “tough questions about transgressive practices, female sexuality and its liberation from the male gaze”.
The film’s central character, Summer Hughes, is in part inspired by Abbey Lincoln, the singular actress and jazz singer who spoke openly about free love and polyamory. He also credits a long list of other women with influencing the film, including his wife, his mother, Ruby Dee, Eartha Kitt, Laurence Basse—whose leather fashion items are included in the campaign perks of the Indiegogo – and his friend Kenya K. Stevens, a love coach and consultant on the film. “Not all of them were or are polyamorous but they all are or were grappling with patriarchy in some kind of way. And a large majority of them have resolved to define themselves outside of patriarchy, which is no small task!” Kush will collaborate with Tamika Lamison on the film, a woman he describes as a “generous and loving spirit” and a phenomenon, adding, “She’s one of our heroes in the game right now.”
Of filmmaking and the transition to features Kush said, “It’s an exercise in organizing chaos. But I’m very familiar with chaos. I feel adequately prepared.” He is lucky enough to name Sir Sidney Poitier among his mentors and says of the iconic actor, “In his presence, he makes you feel like you’re the legend!” If the campaign reaches its stretch goal of $200k, much of the money raised will go towards filming in Detroit, which Kush feels is essential to the film, identifying the city as “one of main characters”. “Detroit is a city on the precipice of overt and rapid fire change. Historically, it’s been a slow burn of change […] but now, it’s redefining itself and the future hints at limitless possibilities, some good some not so good. Is that not a classic dramaturgical character?”
Despite the obvious feminist and queer themes in a film about a sexually open woman with multiple lovers of different genders, Kush is keen to state that the film has no agenda. When asked how he feels about representing the LGBTQ community, he said, “I feel a responsibility to the transgenders, butch lesbians and gays who changed my diapers and raised me. […] I feel a particular responsibility to do right by my family and hopefully the greater family of humanity.” He also admits to being drawn to the “outlaw attraction to the LGBTQ community”, saying, “The defiant spirit in me just loves the idea of living with a ‘muthafuck what you think about me attitude’. That’s LGBTQ all day!”