The conception of MERCURY AFROGRADE stemmed from my love of astrology, and observations as a first-generation American in a Cameroonian family growing up in Atlanta. I envisioned what any Christian parent's worst nightmare would be involving their kids. People can withhold several things they don’t immediately share with their family, due to the fear of how they’ll be perceived, or if they will still be embraced. For me, this big thing was my queer identity. Before letting my family ‘in’ on that part of me, I ruminated on the best and worst outcomes, and my imagination led me here into this surreal world.
When I wrote this I asked myself: what would it look like to be jolted into that terrifying place of vulnerability, and how can astrological transits heighten that moment? What does it mean to be fragmented or perceived as such, and can these perceptions actually unite us? I certainly believe they can.
Furthermore, I believe as we pull back the layers of ourselves and become comfortable with one another, these big secrets lose their weight. We begin to find more commonality with each other in our family unit, and bond more deeply with intention. These are the themes I explore in the TV series, which this short film serves as a proof of concept for. It was so gratifying to make this in my hometown with the help of many of my classmates from NYU and my family.