James Vamboi Jr. & Geo Costomiris commissioned & collaborated with Rayviation and Director Jordan Mudd to create a documentary that highlighted the transformative work of masculine community members dedicated to emotional growth and challenging patriarchy. The focus was on crafting an authentic narrative that would resonate deeply with audiences. The film highlights men of many expressions who are experimenting with community-led care models that challenge sexism, patriarchy, and inspire systemic inclusivity, loving fellowship and community repair in Boston and beyond.
The Boston Ujima Project is a democratic, member-run organization building a cooperative business, arts, and investment ecosystem. Their mission is to return wealth to working-class communities of color. As part of their April 2023 Assembly All About Love, they sought a film that documents a circle of masculine community members committed to socioemotional growth, building collective infrastructure, and promoting a society that loves all genders.
To ensure the film’s narrative aligned with Ujima's mission, I collaborated closely with the director Jordan Mudd to develop a strategic execution plan. This plan included extensive pre-production research, identifying and recruiting crew members, and partnered with the Ujima project to identify participants from various men's groups across Boston. We had 11 representatives including 1 facilitator to lead the conversation. Through online meetings and utilizing collaborative planning software such as Miro & Pinterest we were able to plan out the layout of capturing the essence of a large group conversation in one room while making it feel like like a settled home where these conversations typically take place.
I managed production logistics such as crew sourcing, documentation, equipment rentals, schedule management, and invoice fulfillment. With a $10K budget, I identified key areas to optimize resources, allowing us to complete the production using only $7,464. In post-production, I led the editing process, incorporating feedback from key stakeholders and the director through Frame.io. My approach to editing focused on balancing emotional depth with engaging visuals, ensuring the final cut was both impactful and thought-provoking. We made the decision to split the documentary into two parts: part one that highlights on the depth of the topic of love, masculinity, and how that shows up in lived experience. Part two, showcases testimonials of the increased quality of life and relations that emerged after doing circle work and fostering healthy spaced for men to express themselves.
This documentary was truly so powerful and made me really think about the ways patriarchy impacts and limits men without even realizing. I'm so amazed how much one conversation could move me...
This collaboration underscored the importance of strategic planning and creative direction in bringing impactful stories to life. Working with the Boston Ujima Project was a powerful experience that emphasized the potential of community-driven narratives.
The documentary resonated deeply with over 140 audience members over two screenings, garnered positive feedback, and enhanced the Boston Ujima Project's visibility and standing in social justice work and narratives. It expands the imagination of what people believed was possible for a group of masculine people to do and showed a completely different side of Boston that truly represents the beauty of the people here.
