Richard Wright’s Native Son is a favorite for many. The Native Son video series, collectively titled Bigger’s Story, was a self-financed passion project which placed 31Kings founder, Joshua Clark, in the roles of writer, producer, director, editor and lead. Fear, Flight, and Fate use spoken word as a vehicle to drive a contemporary expedition into the life of Bigger Thomas, the novel’s protagonist.
Bigger Thomas is a character one hates to love. He’s a liar, a thief, and a murderer. Those are indisputable facts, but throughout his journey we question who’s really responsible. Is it the man or his circumstances?
Bigger Thomas is back. Now a murderer on the run, he’s torn between the newfound power he feels and the inescapable fear that comes with his complexion. He is changed. But is that change for better or worse? You be the judge.
In the final installment of the Native Son series, Bigger Thomas has been captured and is awaiting execution. Does he regret the choices he’s made? If he could, would he do anything different? Are his circumstances to blame or does every man make his own destiny? Throughout the book and this video series readers and viewers wonder, why? Why Bigger does what he does. Why Bigger is who he is. In the end, we find out.
Afuera Trailer
When JENNIFER, an undocumented transgender woman, is forced to resort to the sex trade to support herself, her boyfriend, PEDRO, gives her an ultimatum with unintended consequences. 31Kings was co-producer on the film which was selected by Outfest, The Los Angeles Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, and the Palm Springs International Shortfest and was distributed through Frameline.
Roubado Trailer
As Alain Castelo, an introverted Afro-Portuguese teen growing up in the south of France deals with his parents’ recent breakup, the only solace he can muster is his penchant for photography. But when his mother’s new boyfriend crosses the line, he can no longer hide behind the viewfinder of his camera. This film, shot both domestically and in Cannes, France had the mission of exposing the African American community to narratives of other members of the African Diaspora. It was selected by the American Black Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, and won best short awards at the Las Vegas Black Film Festival and South Bay Film and Music Festival respectively.
