ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Michelle Obama

Finding Her Voice: 1on1 with Kalia Love Jones (THE POWER OF HOPE)

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It doesn?t matter how old you are. Everyone is looking for hope.

Written and directed by 13-year-old Kalia Love Jones, The Power of Hopeis an animated short that tells the inspirational story of a young woman who has big dreams of becoming an architect. When her mother becomes ill, she feels overwhelmed and helpless. However, after hearing a powerful speech by former First Lady Michelle Obama, she is inspired to find the strength to persevere and bring her dreams to life.

As a first-time filmmaker, Jones says that she wanted to both encourage diversity in the filmmaking world while, at the same time, creating a story that was relatable to as many people as possible.


?I made the film because I want to see more diversity in film,? Jones begins. ?I want to see more people of color and women in film, but the story was just something that I came up with. I wanted?The Power of Hope?to be something that was relatable. I wanted it to be as relatable as possible [so that], when [people] would watch it, they would feel inspired.??

Creating a film at any age is always a difficult process. However, featuring sharp animation and visuals,?Power of Hope?is an incredible first step for the young Jones. Though, with that in mind, one of the most difficult aspects of the film?s production to her was finding a team that was willing to work because of her youth.

?I think the biggest challenge in making this film was finding people to work on it because we’re so new to this industry,? Jones recalls. ?We don’t know really anybody so finding someone to help us was really hard. We went to colleges and asked for animators or people that are working on the film. But it was really hard because nobody would want to work with a 13-year-old. After a few months of looking, we finally found some a crew and it all came together.?

Anchoring the film is the incredibly powerful speech by former First Lady Michelle Obama, which empowers the young protagonist to keep going when she faces tough times. While Obama wasn?t involved directly in the project, Jones wanted to use her words because of the incredible impact that the First Lady has had on her life.

?[Michelle Obama] didn’t work on this film herself,? Jones clarifies. ?She was just a very big inspiration to me. I don’t think I would have felt inspired to have made a film without Michelle as my huge inspiration. I just love Michelle Obama. She’s a huge inspiration to me. So, I wanted to use her speech in the film.

In addition to Obama, Jones also takes the opportunity to pay homage to other women such as Awkwafina and Ava DuVernay in the end credits who she believes are worth looking to as motivation.

?I think all of them are there because they’re all inspiring to me,? she says. ?They inspired me to make the film. So, I felt that they should be in the credits.??

Asked where she believes the true power of hope lies, Jones contends that she thinks it stems from the encouraging words of others.

?I think the power [of hope is] the power to motivate someone to be successful [or] to take steps to get out of a hard place and get into a better one,? Jones explains. ?It’s the power to motivate someone and make them feel inspired to overcome all the obstacles that get in their way.??

?I think it’s hard to cling to hope when you’re facing adversity,? she continues. ?That’s why I made this film because I wanted people to feel inspired when so they would feel hopeful for a better future and success they saw the film. I wanted them to feel hope so that they can overcome obstacles.?

For Jones, however, the most important thing is that people feel encouraged by the film to face difficult circumstances head on so that they can conquer their fears and be successful.

?I want people to feel inspired when they watch my film,? she reassures. ?I want them to feel confident and brave, [so] they can feel like they can overcome all the obstacles that can come in their way and reach their goals.?

For audio of our interview with Kalia Love Jones, click here.

The Power of Hope premieres at the Shorts by the Sea Festival in September.

The Power of Hope: Inspiration by Influence

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Dear Michelle Obama,

Admittedly, you and I don?t talk much (read: never). Even so, I?m a big fan of your work and I hope you?re doing well. I don?t expect you to reply to this post but I did have one question for you: Did you know that you recently starred in a film?

You really should. 

Because you?d be proud of it.

Written and directed by 13-year-old Kalia Love Jones, The Power of Hope is an animated short that tells the story of a young woman who has big dreams of becoming an architect. When her mother becomes ill, she feels overwhelmed and helpless. However, after hearing a powerful speech by former First Lady Michelle Obama, she is inspired to find the strength to persevere and bring her dreams to life.

Beautifully written and animated, Jones? short is both charming and challenging. Though brief in length, her desire to empower young girls to overcome the trials that they face shines through, providing encouragement to everyone who watches. Considering her young age, there?s a maturity within the story-telling and visuals that makes this short film an impressive debut for Jones. Gradually moving from shadow to light, the film?s images emphasize the importance of looking for hope in the midst of life?s moments of deepest darkness. From having to care for a sick parent to struggling financially, Jones? short is willing to stare down the most difficult of circumstances and prove that they need not define or defeat you. For Jones, the message is clear.

No matter what you?re going through, you can do it.

What?s most interesting about the film though is how Jones uses Obama?s (your?) speech within the film. Sitting broken in her living room, the young girl overhears the former First Lady?s voice on the television and is instantly transfixed by it. Then, as her hero?s words of hope sink in, she decides to fight for her future. From there, the voiceover takes over the remainder of the film, walking with her through each stage of life. Though leading the narrative component, its true importance lies in the way that it gives the young girl something to cling to and points to the impact that people of influence can have on a generation. Never once does Jones? character meet Obama or receive any direct help from her yet she owes a great deal to her words. For this young girl, Obama?s message of confidence gives her courage in the face of the overwhelming odds against her. 

This sentiment is also echoed throughout the film?s closing credits, as Jones chooses to highlight other women who have inspired her in her young life. From Ava DuVernay to Ellen DeGeneres to Awkwafina, Jones highlights women of different ethnicities who have become trailblazers in their diverse fields yet have also provided an example of succeeding in the face of adversity to young women everywhere. Although Jones may have never met or spoken to any of these particular women, it?s clear that she holds them in high esteem and views them as people who matter. 

Their example has provided an example for her to follow.

So Mrs. Obama, I hope that you get a chance to see Kalia?s film. Not only because it?s enjoyable and effective but because I believe that it?s a testament to the voice that you have given to the next generation. 

And, like Jones herself, that voice has proven incredibly powerful.

For audio of our interview with Kalia Love Jones, click here.

The Power of Hope premieres at the Shorts by the Sea Festival in September.