Driving While Black is a two-hour documentary film by acclaimed historian Dr. Gretchen Sorin and Emmy-winning director Ric Burns on PBS. The film explores deeply embedded dynamics of race, space and mobility in America. It focuses on the narrative of how the advent of the automobile brought new mobility and freedom for African Americans but also exposed them to discrimination and deadly violence, and how that history resonates today.
Coincidentally while this project was under development, the movement #blacklivesmatter has been echoing throughout the world. And that inspired me to do my best to help amplify the movement through animation and through this project.
We worked on building visual storytelling that summarize significant events in history that better represent the stories during these periods in a creative and engaging way. The style and grit of this look is primarily influenced by the works of Black-American painter Jacob Armstead Lawrence and data visualizations of activist, writer, and sociologist W.E.B Dubois.
STYLEFRAMES
African American Mobility
The film talks about Race, Space and Mobility in America and how having a car and being on the road meant freedom. It provides a deep focus on issues of class, automobile culture, discrimination and identity.
ANIMATION
Some key inspirations that influenced the animation style of this project is "The Godfather of Harlem" Title sequence, which is a really amazing piece.
