BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is designed as a cinematic experience to mirror the sonic textures of a music album. Directed by Kahlil Joseph, he invited three filmmakers to direct segments of the work Garrett Bradley, Arthur Jafa and Kaneza Schaal. Schaal, Jafa, and Bradely along with the many other artists involved, deliver their distinct perspectives across the 21 tracks. The film interweaves fictional and historical characters in an immersive story that spans 247 years across land and sea. The ocean reveals its mysteries to those passengers aboard the transatlantic liner “The Nautica” who are willing to pause and listen. The film can be viewed as a form of inventory as the collective memories of Black people and the history of the diaspora are brought together in a multi-layered narrative. In its mix of fictional and documentary forms, the film is inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Saidiya Hartman and others, juxtaposing their ideas with archive material and samples from YouTube, social media, film, television and journalism. 

 

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Directed by Khalil Joseph 
Written by Khalil Joseph, Kaneza Schaal, Saidiya Hartman, Irvin Hunt, Madebo Fatunde, Kristen Adele Calhoun, Christina Sharpe, Onye Anyanwu 
Collaborating Directors: Garrett Bradley, Arthur Jafa and Kaneza Schaal
Produced by James Shani, Anikah McLaren, David Linde, Steven Soderbergh
Cinematography by Bradford Young 

Starring: Kaneza Schaal, Hope Giselle, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Peter Jay Fernandez, Penny Johnson Jerald,  Zora Casebere