It is All in Her Head

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Visitor Contributor: Victoria Renee, M.A.

CEO of Victoria Renee Productions

How do you advertise trade and well-being within the Black neighborhood?

Catharsis is a movie in regards to the significance of psychological well being throughout the Black neighborhood, particularly amongst Black girls and women. The tale follows a tender Black girl painter named Trinity who’s suffering to stability her inventive wants along with her grownup duties. She has in the end been accredited into her first prestigious artwork show off that calls for a $500 participation charge however she must also pay her overdue gentle invoice. Trinity does not have enough space on her bank card to pay each. So, she chooses the artwork display and figures she will pay her gentle invoice through doing mundane paintings on-line. Alternatively, as soon as her lighting are bring to a halt, Trinity is stressed out. However she suppresses her emotions through clinging to the “robust Black girl” narrative, i.e. “Superwoman Schema” and he or she tries to repeatedly stay sure, i.e. “Poisonous Positivity”. That is how she copes till she enters her psychological area. As soon as within her thoughts, Trinity meets personified variations of her internal kid (ID) and complex self (Superego), and he or she discovers find out how to procedure her anxiousness. Trinity discovers the significance of stability, and self-empowerment via honesty, vulnerability, and treatment. Thus, we are hoping that audience will really feel impressed to hunt the therapeutic they want.

This venture was once tailored from my USC MFA software essay. Prior to now, I earned an MA from Columbia in psychology, so, I leaned into psychology to put in writing a discourse between my Identity, Ego, and Superego about find out how to continue with my occupation. It now not simplest were given me into some of the very best movie colleges however I used to be additionally inspired to show it into a movie to assist others. Thus, our objective is to destigmatize psychological well being, particularly within the Black and inventive communities. We are hoping Catharsis is helping folks self-reflect and search answers.

We’re these days within the preproduction for Catharsis and we intention to movie it this December in Atlanta, GA. We gained an Make investments Atlanta Creatives Grant for Catharsis and we’re actively searching for further sponsorship to hide manufacturing prices. Moreover, our venture extends past a regular movie enjoy. We’re teaming up with psychological well being organizations to host Q&A panels on the movie screenings to handle audiences’ psychological well being wishes. Thus, through supporting this venture, you don’t seem to be simplest supporting a Black woman-owned trade with a predominately underrepresented group, however you might be additionally serving to to extend psychological well being consciousness and get admission to in underserved communities around the country. Moreover, I look ahead to offering employment by way of Catharsis to my fellow underrepresented filmmakers who’ve been out of labor because of the WGA & SGA moves. I enjoyment of giving again to the similar neighborhood that has given the whole lot to me. Additionally, I am hoping our paintings evokes our early life to dream larger.

What wellness methods do you assume will have to be given extra consideration throughout the Black neighborhood? Are there any the explanation why you assume they don’t seem to be given extra consideration?

One factor this is vital to me is the concept that of a “Sturdy Black Lady.” This superwoman schema has been handed down right through our generations as a mechanism for survival. Alternatively, I believe it is time we take our capes off and make allowance ourselves to be human. People really feel. People harm. People become tired and weary. People can ask for assist and be prolonged help and style. People will also be robust however they are able to even be comfortable and inclined. People now not simplest organize to continue to exist however are afforded the chance to thrive. Thus, I need Black girls to be extra relaxed embracing their complete humanity. This perception is gifted in Victoria Renee Productions’s upcoming movie, Catharsis.

How do you are making time to your personal wellness and self-care?

I prioritize my wellness through exercising 5-6 instances per week, collaborating in treatment, journaling, writing, portray, and mountain climbing. I additionally pray and test in with myself through asking questions on how I believe, what I believe I would like, what can I be informed, and the way I will trade issues which can be inside my energy to enhance. In the end, I remind myself to increase myself grace throughout difficult moments and acknowledge that they’re going to go in due time. Those practices permit me to experience my adventure.

Visitor Contributor

Victoria Renee is a multi-hyphenate storyteller from Atlanta, GA and is the CEO of Victoria Renee Productions. She earned her M.A. in scientific psychology with a specialization in forensics from Columbia College and turned into an award-winning researcher. Her psychological well being background influences her storytelling and ended in her turning into a George Lucas Pupil and a 2021 M.F.A. graduate from USC’s Faculty of Cinematic Arts (SCA). She earned a 2023 Make investments Atlanta Creatives Grant, served as a director within the 2022 CBS Management Pipeline Problem, and received the 2020 Viacom CBS / NAACP fellowship. Additionally, closing yr she wrote, directed, and produced 5 ads and a jingle for a scientific nonprofit within the southeastern U.S.

Her paintings has complicated in contests, such because the Sundance Function Movie Construction Lab, Sundance Episodic Lab, Warner Brothers Writers Workshop, MACRO Episodic Lab, Screencraft’s Pilot Release, Black Boy Writes/ Black Woman Writes Mentorship Initiative, and others. Victoria Renee tells tales about characters who navigate other worlds and combat with id and acceptance. She pens dramas, dramedies, Sci-Fi, and horrific stories about folks throughout the African diaspora dwelling odd to peculiar studies. She objectives for underrepresented folks to really feel noticed and empowered through her paintings.