“Rejoice Resist is a film that celebrates and shows Black Joy and Black pleasure as the ultimate form of resistance. It highlights the importance of allowing yourself to feel joy especially in the face of adversity.
The idea for the film was conceived while being isolated at home, with an onslaught of bad news and worse news ever-present in my social media feed. I looked to how we comfort each other, what we share and how we connect. Rejoice Resist is also a commentary on current meme culture which members of the Black community have been sharing to uplift each other in these emotionally fraught times. This content is far more than a frivolous distraction - it is a survival tool.
The mission of IN THE BLK is to uplift and support and I am proud to have been able to be a part of this endeavour with my film and very grateful to the ITB designers who have entrusted me to uplift their art in this way.”
Written & Directed by: Elisha Smith-Leverock
Producer: Margo Mars
Production Company: Lief
Executive Producer: Ashely Cimone
Director of Photography: Nathalie Pitters
Animator: Jenille Brown
Production Designer: Paix Robinson
Editor: Ryan Boucher
Colourist: Yoomin Lee
Sound Designer: Rucyl Frison
Music Supervisor: Ben Smith-Leverock-Esser
“Rejoice Resist”: Ben Smith-Leverock-Esser, Sedric Perry and Giselle Mapp
“Cut Me”: Moses Sumney
Movement Director: Natricia Bernard
1st Assistant Director: Giselle Garcia
Costume Designers: Ade Samuel & Memsor Kamarake
Featuring Designs by: Aliétte, Amber Raye, Beads Byaree, Brother Vellies, Dixie Graze, Épifenē, Fe Noel, The House of RG, KHIRY, Kai Collective, L’Enchanteur, Marty Moto, Nooni, OLTR London, Sheer Suga, Third Crown, 90zBack.
Casting Director: Kharmel Cochrane
Cast:
WOMAN: Rhoda Ofori-Attah
YOUNG WOMAN: Shanice Weekes-Brown
WOMAN 1: Shaniqua Okwok
WOMAN 2: Zakiya Wellington
Assistant Production Designer: Tony Fran
Art Department Production Manager: Laura Mcmillian
Art Department Stylist: Roisin O’Hare
Production Photographer: Betty Martin
Key Hair: Dominique Hamilton
Key Make-Up: Elise Reisser
Makeup Assistant: Anusha Solanki
Seamstress: Alizee Dhel
Project Manager [Equator]: Moya Annece
Production Assistant [Equator]: Chanel Hinds
Assistant Producer: Jerome Danvers
Production Coordinator: Tosin Lepe
Production Assistant: Colleen Sohiez
Steadicam Operator: Junior Agyeman Owusu
Focus Puller: Jerry Pradon
Camera Assistant: Chelsea Bernard
Camera Trainee: Iona Greaves
Steadicam Operator Trainee: Bradley Panda
Drone Operator: Andy Hayes
Drone Operator Assistant: Cath Adam
Gaffer: Larry Prinz
Electrician: Jake Buckley
Electrician Trainee: Borja Mucientes
Sound Recordist: Louis Innis
Sound Recordist: Robbie Johnson
Boom Operator: Matty Groark
Location Researcher: Flo Janssen
Shot at Samphire Hoe Dover & Carmel College
Catering: Green Herring Catering & Oxford Fine Dining
Runner Driver: Marcel Myrtil
Runner: Solita Nanton
Camera Truck Driver: Colin Edwards
Wardrobe Transport Driver: Jordan Downs
Minibus Driver: Danny Reynolds
Minibus Driver: Djamel Dokkari
Minibus Driver: Aaron William
Minibus Driver: Greg Sommers
Minibus Driver: Matthew Fernandez
Assistant Editor: Thomas Hill
Offline Edit: The Whitehouse Post
Producer for The Whitehouse: Annabel Bennett
Sound Engineer & Mix: Guy Henderson
Online Editor: George Johnson
Online Post Producer: Dayo Moshood
Compositor: Joelle McFarlane
FX: Kymani Gayle
Clean-Up: Davan Easy
Titles: Jeremy Hofmeister Mac Lynn
Dancers:
'Page' Barrington Bobb
Claudia Evans
Diane Francis
Jade Foster
Kieren Thut
Lisa Josephs
Lorraine Cawley
Paix Robinson
Toussaint Meghie
Susan Reynolds
