About The Film
Masculinity. Femininity. We as human beings encompass both. Sexuality comes later. The discovery of one’s own sexuality can be life changing and mind blowing. But what happens when you might be confused about your sexuality? When you recognize that both the masculine and the feminine are attractive to you. What happens when you realize that one captivates you more than the other? Should you choose? Or better yet, what happens when you realize that you know your sexuality but because of society you have to hide who you are in order to be happy.
This project came from a place of wanting to explore the inner turmoil of a young black man struggling to decide between the attraction to his girlfriend and the attraction to his best friend. Both are appealing to him but he knows he can’t be with both. So what does he do?
In the black community especially, there is this whole phenomenon of the “downlow” lifestyle or the “DL Brother”. There have been so many articles, lectures, discussions, debates, songs, movies, shows, and everything else under the sun about this topic. It seems to be such a heated and polarizing topic in the black community.
This piece is also entirely spoken word. No dialogue. Just poetry. The inner thoughts of a young man named Devin as he tries to get a grip on all the things going on his mind about his sexuality and the relationships that he has.
The title Ying and Yang is an inspiration from the widely know yin-yang symbol, derived from Chinese philosophy and is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world and how they give rise to each other in turn in relation to each other. It also references the name of the popular Atlanta rappers the Ying Ying twins. Their phrase “Ying Yang in this thang” is heavily used in the film.
Featured Review
I am so glad that I found Ying & Yang. The poetry alone is worth a listen, and the visuals that go along with the words are equal parts entrancing and delightful. Of course, the film’s subject matter is no walk in the park; black masculinity and flex sexuality can be a dizzying maze, but the director handles these truths with grace and ease. We are given a window into the messed up mind of a man deciding his own fate. The result is empowering and heartbreaking, and I wanted to see more.
Sophia Cowley
Cast
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Chivonne Michelle
Jasmine
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Derrick L. Middleton
Devin
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Calvin M. Thompson
Tyrone
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Amelia Workman
Sherika
Full Cast & Crew
Chivonne Michelle......Jasmine
Derrick L. Middleton......Devin
Calvin M. Thompson......Tyrone
Amelia Workman......Sherika
Produced by
Randall L. Sawyer......Executive Producer
Devere Rogers......Associate Producer
Emile Cambry......Producer
Film Editing by
Kevin Darnell Walker
Makeup Department
Roshan Butler......Makeup Artist
Production Management
Randall L. Sawyer......Production Manager
Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Harriott......Gaffer
Travis Lubin......Assistant Camera
Charles E. Sawyer, Jr.......Photographer
Kenny Wu......Assistant Camera
Location Management
Emile Cambry......Location Manager
Additional Crew
Randall L. Sawyer......Production Coordinator