Empowering Black creators through Telus Storyhive’s Black Creator’s Edition
The Victoria I Know is a 20-minute short film crafted by the creative collaboration of writer-producer Joel Brewster and director Mik Narciso. Presented through Telus Stoyhive’s Black Creators Edition, which empowers Black filmmakers in B.C. and Alberta by providing a platform for their creative expressions, the film stands as a testament to the diversity and innovation within the burgeoning Black filmmaking community.
The film follows Amber Ryley, a Black photographer, on her journey of self-discovery in Victoria. As she navigates her identity and artistic authenticity, she uncovers a hidden history that shapes her perspective. Through subtle portrayals of microaggressions and personal growth, the film sheds light on the challenges faced by Ryley, ultimately inspiring conversations about heritage, history, and hope.
The Martlet sat down with Brewster and Narciso to delve into their sources of inspiration and personal journeys.
“There is always something to learn from your past,” said Narciso, explaining where the duo found inspiration for the film’s storyline.
The idea was sparked when Brewster, who has lived in Victoria for the last 33 years, found out that the first governor of B.C., Sir James Douglas, had lineage that traces back to Barbados. The duo began to research more about Martha Ann Telfer, Douglas’ mother. Rooted in historical research, the film’s storyline is influenced by Telfer, a figure from the past whose Barbadian heritage and ghostly presence convey a message of resilience and positivity.
The creative team opted to utilize horror as a tool to initiate candid discussions among people about heritage and historical backgrounds.
Brewster, who started screenwriting in high school, is also an aficionado of the horror genre. “Horror is a great teacher as a genre,” said Brewster who drew inspiration from films such as Get Out, which possess a gentler approach in contrast to dramas.
Similar to the narrative of Martha Ann Telfer’s life, The Victoria I Know underscores the existence of numerous untold stories and unrecorded histories that need exploring. Brewster and Narciso aim to cultivate conversations across racial lines, shed light on microaggressions in daily life, and hope to inspire and uplift minority communities.
Both Brewster and Narciso are grateful to Telus Storyhive for cultivating a smooth experience for their filmmaking process. “[Storyhive was] incredibly responsive and incredibly encouraging,” Brewster said, about the mentorship provided by Storyhive.
Erin Shaw, the product manager at Telus Storyhive, also spoke to the Martlet to offer insight into the program, which provides funding, training, and mentorship to content creators across B.C. and Alberta. Their goal is to support content creators and inspire audiences everywhere while “focussing on creators who have traditionally been excluded from the content creation landscape.” With the summer premiere available on TELUS Optik TV and Storyhive’s Youtube channel, the Black Creators Edition gives a platform for excluded ethnic and marginalized groups to tell their stories like Brewser and Narciso have done with The Victoria I Know.
Beyond this short film, the two have a pipeline brimming with other creative projects. They are currently working on a podcast called Horrified on Spotify that revolves around horror-based stories focussed on themes of loneliness and isolation.
