Lost & Found

What does it mean when your work is overlooked for decades, then finally seen?

On the set of my debut film back in the ‘90s

This month marks the 30^th anniversary of Naked Acts’ festival premiere, at the Boston International Festival of Women’s Cinema. I remember it well: The Boston-based Variety critic gave the film a glowing review (“Fresh, Funny and Original!”) and I was off and running as a filmmaker! But then, something unfortunate happened: No one would distribute my film. Gatekeepers all said the same thing: “We just don’t know who the audience is for this film.” Really?

The upshot is that Naked Acts ultimately languished in a university archive for decades. And without industry support, I never made another film.

Until now.

Thanks to the rediscovery of Naked Acts a couple years ago, it’s finally getting its due. Suddenly, I’m being asked over and over whether I’ll make another film? Honestly, I didn’t see how I could, after so much time has passed. But the host of young creatives and filmmakers who’ve come into my life — thanks to seeing and loving my film — have convinced me I CAN do it again. And they’ve promised to help me do it. (This is one of the many reasons I love young people!)

And so, I’m making another film! This one will be a 15-minute short, and hopefully proof of concept for a feature.

It’s a big, scary step to return to a film set as Director for the first time in three decades.

Directing Jake-ann Jones on the set of Naked Acts

Why, you may ask, am I even putting myself through this, after such a long hiatus? It’s a good question.

Because I have something to say about a woman’s work being overlooked in her time only to be rediscovered after a very long time. I’ve learned that many, many women have had this experience. And it’s not always what you think.

Also, I want to see a film that has intergenerational characters -- Gen X and Baby Boomers in conversation with Millennials and Gen Zers -- each influencing one another. You could say that a la Toni Morrison, who wrote the books she wanted to read, I’m once again making the film I want to see.

Plus the challenge of it all – gathering together so many folks to help execute my vision -- keeps me feeling both youthful and engaged in the world. As I said in my interview with Sari Botton for Oldster Magazine, “I’m still growing!” and I love that.

I’m telling the story of a Black woman vocalist, Helga, who recorded a seminal album in the ‘90s — that the record label shelved and never released. After decades, the album has been rediscovered, and finally getting acclaim. Helga now faces a crossroads: stay back like Betty Davis, or step forward again like Abbey Lincoln? The story explores that charged moment​ for Helga —between lure and reluctance​. And real-life Helga Davis is playing the lead!

I’ve amassed a creative team and a crew, cast actors, and set a production date for this summer.

I’m also launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise a portion of the budget.

And so, in the weeks ahead, I’ll be devoting much of this space to updates and insights about making Helga the Film.

It’s gonna be a wild ride – as every film shoot is! Stay with me.