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- Welcome to Independent Lens.
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I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS
Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
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"Assembly is a whole new world.
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"We're loving, we're dancing,
we're sharing the space
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"that we have created
for ourselves
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because it's something
we won't find anywhere else."
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That is a quote from tonight's
film Assembly.
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Assembly is not only the name
of tonight's film.
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It is also the name of the space
in New York
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that was transformed
from an armory into a theater
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where elaborate, inclusive,
charismatic,
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and radiant shows take place.
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Where other people saw
a cavernous,
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empty former military building,
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artist Rashaad Newsome
saw a future sanctuary
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which would become
a sacred space
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for Black and queer artists.
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You'll see that Newsome
has come a long way
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from where he was raised
in rural Louisiana,
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where he felt marginalized
as a Black queer child.
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So, creating such a theater
in New York City
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where acceptance for people
like Newsome is the norm
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must've felt like destiny.
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As an artist, Newsome is
internationally recognized
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for his multidisciplinary style,
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which combines music, video,
dance, and technology.
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The film plays out like an
extension of the space,
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striving to showcase the energy
of live performances
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and Newsome's art, using
dancers, poets, musicians,
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and even a nonbinary AI creation
called Being.
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You heard that correctly.
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Throughout the film,
we see themes of resistance
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and healing through art.
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Similarly, during an Assembly
live show,
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viewers witness the influence
of critical race theory,
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Afrofuturism, and defiance,
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all weaved together with music,
dancing, and light.
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Newsome and his team use
video projections,
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holograms, collages, music,
sculptures, and dance,
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which is empowering
for the performers
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as well as those
they perform for.
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Assembly was designed to be
an educational space,
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a gallery,
and a performance venue.
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Rashaad Newsome created
a literal utopia
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that was so unique,
he kept going
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and created a film experience,
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proving to all
that he is an artistic force.
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Once you see what Rashaad
has accomplished
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with Assembly in New York City,
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you'll realize no one else
could've directed this film.
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That's not to say
he didn't have help.
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Johnny Symons joined his friend
in the director's chair.
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Symons is an Emmy-nominated
director
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who has had films shown
at SXSW and Sundance.
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This is Newsome's directorial
documentary
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feature-length debut,
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and he seems to have pulled it
off just fine,
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as Assembly was nominated
for the Grand Jury Award
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in the Documentary Feature
category at SXSW,
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where the film also
had its world premiere.
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Not a bad first outing.
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Maybe we should have
a few dancers in here
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and some cool lights...
but not the AI robot.
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Sit back and relax, folks.
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You're about to see
a really cool, uplifting,
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and inspirational film.
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Assembly starts now
on PBS Wisconsin,
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your home for independent film.