Fillmo

‘Fillmo’ takes a look at the current processes of gentrification and redevelopment within the once thriving area of the Western Addition in San Francisco. Nilja Mumin talks to the Post about the film.

1. How did you get interested in filmmaking?

Mumin: My late grandmother Geneva. She used to bake sweet potato pies when I was a child. As I got older, I would think back to my experiences with her, and with her pies. It was as if these experiences held so much of who I was, and who I am. I used these past images as my foundation, and during my junior year at UC Berkeley, I became increasingly interested in the intricacies of everyday life, moments, and experiences that translated beautifully to the big screen. I began to see life as a series of photographs, or images, strung together by stories; words. This eventually led to my first film.

2. What hats did you play in the filming process and what kind of production team do you work with?

I am an emerging screenwriter and director, with skills in editing and an eye for composition. I started out strictly guerrilla, due to my lack of equipment and thirst to create. I can remember shooting in North Oakland at 3am on a street corner, with a mini dv camera in my hand, as I directed my actors. That’s how I used to get down. As I gained more knowledge about filmmaking, I began working with other filmmakers, directed and writing my own projects and seeking others to contribute their camera expertise or editing skills. I just recently began graduate film school at Howard University, so I work with a full crew of talented student filmmakers, a script, and a cast. I fulfill all stages of the filmmaking process, from pre-visualization to post production.

3. Describe the inspiration for your film?

My last film, entitled LYE, was inspired by my experiences as a young black girl and the Eurocentric beauty standards that were continually aimed at me. LYE focused on a young girl, Tasha, who is obsessed with black hair magazines, and a “Pretty-n-Silky” image that she so badly wants to attain. The movie, shot on 16mm film, is a visual exercise in delusion, imagination, and childhood innocence.

4. In what ways has Oakland influenced your filmmaking and artistic aesthetic?

My first film was entitled Oakland, Ca. Oakland continues to be my artistic muse. The conception for my first film came from my fascination with the late night street corner activities of black men who stood on the block right outside of my window in North Oakland. I wondered: what are they talking about, who are they, and how can I bring their stories to life? And so, I did. I wrote and directed a short film focused in this North Oakland enclave. More than that, Oakland intertwines a natural urban realism with a gritty mysticism.

5. How would you describe the indie film scene in Oakland/the bay in general? Specifically for Black Filmmakers?

I cannot speak fully on the scene because I don’t consider myself fully enmeshed in it. I’ve always been a bit of a floater, and I go from place to place participating in events from San Francisco to Berkeley. The portion of the scene that I’ve experienced has been fruitful and full of potential and possibility. I especially appreciate the organic, and innovative visions of Oakland filmmakers; the indie film scene is but a manifestation of this.

6. Would you move towards major distribution and studio support or are you focused on indie work?

I am focused on whatever route allows me to share intimate, honest stories with people across the world. I am an independent artist, and believe that major distribution would enable the proliferation of my work.

7. Where can people see more of your work? What’s next?

My website: web.mac.com/Nijla. The website features my photography, video and film projects, and writing. What’s next: I am currently working on three documentaries (see my website for more information.) I am working on the development of a short film series chronicling the experiences of young black girls in their pursuit of becoming black women in America. Stay tuned!

Fillmo screens Sunday June 8 at 2pm. Go to www.sfbff.org for more information.