THISTLES AND THORNS

PRODUCER | DIRECTOR | DESIGNER

After the success of Color of Reality; activist, actress, and poet Yazmin Monet Watkins contacted Art Mafia founder Kalie Acheson to collaborate on a film that would showcase Yazmin’s desire to produce a fairytale for “black girls.” Kalie’s love creating Jim Henson inspired characters and set designs, the ambitious one-take steadicam shot by Jessica Lopez, and Yazmin’s vision culminated in a timely and stunning final piece. Art Mafia partnered with Standard Vision to help bring the whole thing to life on their big screen. This short was featured in Afro Punk and The Grape Vine. The film received the Award of Merit and Best Short Film at the One-Reeler Short Film Competition and was screened at the LA Women Rising event at the SoHo House.