PEELING
Coming of age in Liberty City, Kendra's 10th birthday marks her first exploration of tender love, friendship, and vulnerability.
Director + Writer: Latavia Young, Executive Producers: Krys Marshall, Remi Alfallah Producers: FilmGate.Miami, Director of Photography: Diana Matos, Music Supervisor: Aubrey Swander, Composer: Adele Etheridge Woodson, Editor: Jamie Kennedy
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Artist Statement
Peeling grew from recalling the handful of moments that I’ve spent with my father; most of them in complete silence. My mom constantly encouraged me to call him only for us to get on the phone for about 5 minutes, recite a couple of rehearsed lines to each other about how my grades were and what I might be doing that weekend before we sat in silence for the remaining 4 minutes until he finally said “Alright… Well, I’ll talk to you later.” When we did finally spend time together, it was also mostly in silence driving about an hour to his house; sometimes without the radio on.
It expanded into a piece that largely had to do with the multitude of ways that men disappointed me early on and ultimately grew to something much larger. I ended up contextualizing my relationships with the closest adults in my life and dissecting the way all of the circumstances of my childhood made way for our relationships to be what they are.
I also wanted to create space to explore how emotional safety, love, and connection showed up in my childhood. Moments with my mother, grandmother, and, even more so, obscure friendships; friendships that in hindsight highlighted my queerness.
Many of these moments are spotty and flow into another so I allowed the script to reflect that. The included memories are inspired by specific moments in my life that say “ah… yes, that’s why I do this… believe this… am like this… feel like this…”
At its core, Peeling is a retrospective exploration of relationships, memories, and relationships to memories. Relationships with single matriarch’s who struggled to pay the bills despite always being at one job or another who somehow managed to have a birthday cake on the table and a bounce castle in the yard each year. Relationships with worn grandmothers who have experienced more than they dare say aloud with sons who turn into uncles, boyfriends, husbands, and fathers having only experienced a woman who provides without expressing herself. Relationships with similarly aged cousins who are learning from their parents - for better or worse - how to exist in relation to others. Relationships with friends who have become your safe haven but some religious devotees biggest nightmare. Relationships with strangers, who’s compassion gets you far but runs out when it threatens their livelihood. Relationships with men who will make you feel small both advertently and inadvertently. And lastly, relationships with memories and past selves.
Peeling is my attempt at compositing moments that exemplify my earliest conscious understanding of who I am, investigating and affirming my experiences, and reconciling the relationship I have to my younger self in hopes to connect with and validate others who have had similar experiences.
- Latavia Young
Synopsis
This slice-of-life story explores the complexities of childhood through Kendra's eyes as she develops a burgeoning awareness of her own vulnerability.
Unfolding through a series of vignettes, the narrative reveals a fragment of Kendra's adolescence; reminiscent of the flow of dreams and memories.
Precocious but withdrawn, Kendra navigates a chaotic world. We see morsels of her life through glimpses: a car ride with her estranged father, inappropriate and humiliating interactions with men, and a tense birthday party with her overwhelmed mother.
However, the film does not dwell solely on hardship. Despite the trials, Kendra finds solace in stolen moments with her best friend Maria and a determination to challenge her reality by vocalizing her truth. The film ends with a poignant exchange between Kendra and Maria atop a mango tree, suggesting Kendra and Maria’s understanding of the world they inhabit and hinting at a glimmer of hope and resilience.
Key Themes
PEELING offers a multifaceted look at the human experience by intertwining themes such as Childhood Vulnerability, Loss of Innocence, Coming-of-age, Queerness, Search for Connection, Motherhood, Family, Class, Unresolved Trauma, and Resilience; creating a rich narrative that includes all characters.
Childhood Vulnerability: Kendra, like most children, are constantly in positions where they lack control or understanding. We see that vulnerability become a source of tension for Kendra in her relationship with her family members and her best friend, Maria.
Loss of Innocence: Kendra encounters a harsh reality that shatters her naivete. This loss of innocence is the central turning point in the story, forcing her to react to the complexities of her world.
Coming-of-age: Kendra transitions from childhood to adolescence as her inner and outer world seems to change before her eyes; marked by the color red. Through exploring the anxieties and triumphs that come with growing through girlhood, she develops a stronger sense of self.
Queerness: We see Kendra and her best friend, Maria’s, arcane friendship. Maria, who challenges traditional gender norms, brings a sense of safety to Kendra even if she causes dis-ease for others.
Search for Connection: Kendra yearns for meaningful relationships with family and friends highlighting the challenges and rewards of human connection.
Motherhood: In Kendra’s mother, Akifah, we see the complexities of motherhood portrayed including the sacrifices a mother makes, the challenges of raising a child, and the unique bond between mother and child.
Family: Love, conflict, loyalty, and obligation within a family unit are richly explored throughout Peeling. We come to explore and question family and community dynamics through the interactions between Kendra and her father, mother, grandmother, uncle, cousins, and wider community.
Class: The socioeconomic background of Kendra and her family shapes their experiences and explores the impact of class on Akifah's economic opportunities, relationships, and outlook on life as well as Justine, Kendra’s grandmothers, energy levels and ability to be present.
Unresolved Trauma: The film explores the layers to a family's individual traumas that make up an environment where challenges aren’t faced as head on as they should be; until things are at boiling point. By highlighting different character's struggle to cope with their present day issues, we gain hints on their unresolved traumas.
Resilience: Through all of our characters, we see a sense of remarkable strength and perseverance celebrating the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity; especially as children.
Artistic Approach
Unfolding through a series of vignettes, “Peeling” will capture fragmented glimpses into Kendra's adolescence. This approach will reflect the disjointed nature of memory and the way trauma can disrupt a child's sense of linear time.
Imagine dreamlike sequences, where vibrant colors and playful imagery juxtapose scenes that hint at the darkness Kendra faces. The visual style will blur the edges of reality to evoke both the joy and confusion children experience.
We'll utilize a variation of handheld and static camerawork as well as close-ups and wides to both immerse the viewer in Kendra's perspective and create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability.
Sound design will play a crucial role, with a focus on amplifying background noises, diegetic, and internal sounds to create a heightened sense of awareness, mirroring the way a child might experience the world in a hyper-vigilant state.
This fragmented, dreamlike approach aims to draw the audience into Kendra's emotional landscape, fostering empathy and understanding for the complex realities children in vulnerable situations face.
Timeline
January 2020 - June 2024: Development & Writing*June 2024 - Dec 2024: Fundraising
Oct 2024 - Feb 2025: Pre-Production
Feb 2025: Production
Feb 2025 - July 2025: Post-Production
July 2025+: Distribution
Funding
Our goal is to raise $50,000 to complete “Peeling” however, we have decided to take a structured approach at fundraising and set our goal at $30,000 to prioritize getting through production; circling back on finishing funds as needed. A breakdown of our funding goals are included below:
Raising $30,000 will enable us to obtain the necessary funding to get through production. This includes location fees and rentals, camera and lighting package, sound package, set design, costuming, hair and makeup, catering, cast fees, airfare, transportation, and hotel and lodging.
Raising $40,000 will enable us to swiftly and properly compensate all of our crew for their creative insight and hard work on the film during production.
Raising $50,000 will enable us to move forward with post-production directly after wrapping production. This includes a fee for our editor, composer, colorist, and post sound package.
Why
“Peeling” is a deeply personal exploration of childhood vulnerability set against the backdrop of complex family dynamics and socioeconomic realities. Inspired by my own experiences, the film delves into the critical issues that often get overshadowed: a child's sense of physical, emotional, and sexual safety within their own home and community.
The film goes beyond a singular narrative. It shines a light on the systemic issues that contribute to these vulnerabilities, including domestic violence, class disparities, and a lack of accountability for perpetrators. The film argues that these issues are often rooted in economic disadvantages, trapping women and families in unsafe situations.
Kendra's story is a poignant reminder of a child's resilience in the face of hardship. Despite her circumstances, Kendra finds solace and a sense of safety in her arcane friendship with Maria.
Kendra's story is a poignant reminder of a child's resilience in the face of hardship. Despite her circumstances, Kendra finds solace and a sense of safety in her arcane friendship with Maria.
While the film does not explicitly focus on LGBTQIA+ themes, the portrayal of Kendra and Maria’s friendship subtly challenges societal anxieties about childhood sexuality which tends to overshadow more critical issues. The film emphasizes the importance of fostering open communication with children about their bodies and boundaries. Set in Liberty City, Miami, the film also amplifies the lifestyle of marginalized minors and the ways we find joy; taking heed from films like MOONLIGHT and WE THE ANIMALS which solely focus on boyhood.
Ultimately, I seek to offer a nuanced perspective on the interconnectedness of these social ills and highlight those who are most vulnerable: children, especially girls and queer kids. By confronting these difficult topics, I hope to spark conversations and inspire action towards creating a safer and more supportive world.
A YEYA and FilmGate.Miami Production