I am producing a short film that will serve as a proof of concept for a feature called “Second Sunday.” The short follows Shatana Hollaway, a wife and mother to a trandgender son, who decides to stop attending church to protect him and faces brutal repercussions from her church’s possessive pastor. The film analyzes the abusive tendencies within church communities, specifically towards trans people. We intend to use the film as a conversation starter and engage our community, specifically the Chicago Roseland and Woodlawn communities, where the writer/director is from. As a child of a church elder and deaconess, I understand what it feels like to realize that a space that is supposed to keep you safe is actually antithetical to my existence. I am passionate about bringing “Second Sunday '' to life and be a part of discussions on how we can make all community spaces safe and accepting of trans folks.
We will use the space to shoot the short film. In addition to crafting a story that we hope impacts our community, we also want to involve the community in the making of the story. Our cast is 100% Black and we intend to hire an 85% Black crew from Southside Chicago neighborhoods.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
