In this Afrofuturism, dance, experimental film, a young Black aspiring planetary scientist named Daniel discovers how to evade death on earth by tapping into a pulsating dance which allows him to shapeshift and transport to distant galaxies, providing the ultimate hack for Black boys and men.

Interview with Writer/Producer/Director Jonathan Aubrie Lewis

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We Are The Beat is an Afrofuturism dance film, that follows a young Black aspiring planetary scientist named Daniel as he discovers his birthright, intrinsic value, and how to transcend earthly death by tapping into pulsating dance. He shape-shifts and transports to distant galaxies, illuminating the pathway for Black boys and men to understand and nurture their mental health. I'm making We Are The Beat to continue to sound the alarm about Black Male Mental Health. I am specifically choosing to highlight Mental health through dance and movement because, in physiology, I’ve learned how those hard-to-reach emotions like pain, anger, sadness, etc., can lodge themselves in one’s body, resulting in mental health challenges. However, dance and movement can push those stuck emotions out. I’ve been on my own mental health journey, especially after the murder of my Uncle Daniel, who We Are The Beat is based on. So, I’m speaking from my own experience and the collective experience of men and boys who look like me. According to the CDC and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Black men and boys are among the fastest-growing demographic of people who are dying by suicide in the US. I’m making this film so that as Black men and boys we know our intrinsic value and we know that the nurturing of our bodies – which carry deep vivid emotions- is extremely important to our survival. I want us to know that we are loved and that we are not alone on this journey. We are very much alive. We are energy. We are rhythm, We Are The Beat.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

You should watch We Are The Beat because, through dance, I have somehow managed to address the very important subject which is: Black Male Mental Health in a very engaging and thoughtful way. My Goal in making We Are The Beat is to focus less on the intellectual broad strokes surrounding mental health one might hear on a panel discussion, and instead bring the conversation back to the basics and back to our vivid interior lives as Black men and boys. I want to go back to the primal expression of the Black movement, first illustrated in traditional African dances, then gloriously illuminated in the Black church. There’s no dialogue in We Are The Beat, as I want to show the emotional character arch funneled through the Black male body; breaking each dance move down into digestible bite-size pieces for men who look like me; all while celebrating the tenderness and divinity, within our bodies, making it a sensorial experience.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Mental Health is uniquely personal and yet very universal as well. I think everyone at one point in their life will have to learn how to navigate their emotions and mental health. What I love about We Are The Beat, is that it addresses mental health in a way that is topical, through dance - another medium that is also personal and yet also universal. Dismantling generational trauma is a theme in the film as well, and much like mental health, that too, is a universal theme. The beautiful thing about writing work that is very personal is that you quickly realize how interconnected the work makes you to the world. I’m an introvert but I love people. And I love my work. So, being able to work and then connect with people, about my work, really is my way of opening myself up to the world.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The script has evolved in so many ways. At first, I just wanted to make a dance film that celebrated our unique flavor as Black folks – our resilience. But then I realized the film is about my uncle Daniel who was murdered and the erosion of my mental health in the aftermath of that event. Things quickly changed on my end, and I saw the project as an opportunity to not only talk about the unique intrinsic value in Black folks but to also shed light on Black Male Mental Health. Being as though dance and movement are forms of communication, it was an opportunity to really use my voice to talk about Black male thought. Black expression. What it means for Black men to move our bodies in ways that may seem unconventional to society. It was a way to show as Black men – contrary to what some might believe – we do express ourselves and have vivid inner worlds. I love a challenge and my films are never just what it seems on the surface. There are always hidden gems, parables, spirituality, and antidotes in them, so I should have known that it would blossom into its current incarnation.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback has been an avalanche of love. It’s quite interesting because we have not even shot the actual film yet. We are in the middle of fundraising now and the film is building a little cult following along the way. People have donated their hard-earned money. We Are The Beat is a community film. I think people see themselves in the work and resonate with it which is very satisfying. It makes me want to really do a swell job when we shoot because I know so many people are rooting for us. Lastly, the response I’ve received from Black men and boys has been really amazing and very validating. I’m learning that if my family and community love my work, that’s really all that matters.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The feedback hasn’t really surprised me. Humbly, I know I do good work. I’ve dreamed of this film for a while. When I put work out, it has usually been through many iterations and has been incubated and nurtured for a while. I make art from the heart. It’s a spiritual practice for me. So, by the time you’re seeing it, my work has been prayed and meditated over and I usually have deep insight into it. I’m also a very powerful manifestor, so I’ve dreamt about all the positive feedback prior to it actually happening.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I just want to get the work out. I want everyone to know about We Are The Beat. I also am excited about being a part of a community like We Are Moving Stories that will champion projects like ours. I feel like you all are very intentional with the projects you select so I am very honored to be a part. I also feel like this is a great place to be noticed and connect with other like-minded creatives who share similar thoughts about art.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We need financers to come on. We have a thoughtful important project, but we just need help getting it made. We are very thankful for this platform because you all have helped to amplify our voices and We Are The Beat.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

My prayer is that through dance and movement in We Are The Beat, Black men and boys are inclined and feel safe to outwardly express themselves on their mental health journeys. Contrary to the perpetual stereotype that Black men don’t show emotions, over the years, I’ve realized that if we feel safe, we will indeed express ourselves. And if we express ourselves, we can own our intrinsic value. And if we own our intrinsic value, we can put a stop to tragic statistics surrounding Black men and mental health. I believe We Are The Beat is a small yet vital cog in the wheel, on this journey toward curative change for Black boys and men.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Are you nurturing the soil of your heart and spirit? How so?

Would you like to add anything else?

Please check us out on Kickstarter. Watch our 3 min campaign video. If you like what you see, please donate and share!

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I’m currently writing my next short film and outlining my first feature.

Interview: May 2024

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

We Are The Beat

Director: Jonathan Aubrie Lewis

Producer: Laura Reich, Gian Franco, Kaiulani Bush, Daniel Leighton

Writer: Jonathan Aubrie Lewis

About the writer, director and producer:

JONATHAN AUBRIE LEWIS' most recent film, Sojourn, (Vimeo Staff Pick) is an intimate exploration of Black male identity. His work has been featured in Rolling Stones, DIY Magazine, THE LINE of BEST FIT and several other online publications. At Jonathan's core, he is rooted in the stripped-down raw fundamentals of storytelling; always stimulating the mind of the viewer- challenging them to step beyond their boundaries into his visual escapade. Because of this personal mandate, he has developed a reputation for creating bold visuals, interlaced with thought-provoking story.

Instagram: @wearethebeatfilm

Hashtags used:

#WeAreTheBeatFilm #Afrofuturism #blackscifi #scifi #scifimovies #scififilms #DanceFilm #Dance #BlackDancer #dancer #LaDanceProject #LaDancers #ladance #BlackMentalHealth #BlackMaleMentalHealth #MentalHealth #MentalHealthawareness #MentalHealthawarenessmonth #IntrinsicValue #Kickstarter #KickstarterProject #KickstarterCampaign #KickstarterLaunch #ProjectsWeLove #ShortFilm #BlackFilm

Website: We Are The Beat, Jonathan Aurbrie Lewis

Funders: Kickstarter