Adomako Aman's Moment of "PEACE"

April 01, 2022

Peace is a funny word. Peace is the setting for when wars end and crowded homes find silence. Peace is an ongoing process, and it’s that last puzzle piece hidden behind articles of clothing needed to close chapters of anguish and misadventures. Peace is the stillness amongst the chaos, according to Adomako Aman. “Peace” is also the new short film that Aman has directed and starred in; that takes your eyes on a resilient journey through self-identity, sexuality, and romance that explores the clouded fears of judgment. In just a condensed period, every audience member watches and hears a film that speaks for expanded conversations happening in the LGBTQIA community amongst black and brown people.

Just recently, in 2016, Aman created his first film, “Dancing in the Dark,” which explored the dance floors of black and brown queer club scenes. And we were captivated, as we should be. 2016 was just an introduction to what Adomako could do; his manifesto of highlighting queer characters on the screen continued.

Text by JoliAmour DuBose-Morris
Photo Courtesy of Adomako Aman and Alex Phillips

In a brief interview, Adomako opens up about the new short-film, discussing the process of filmmaking and the inspiration behind it. We think you’ll like this one.

How long have you been working on “PEACE”?

During the height of the pandemic, I spent my time reflecting creatively and that’s how PEACE was written from May through June 2020. We went straight into production in October 2020 and were selected to screen with Outfest fusion x NBC universal in April 2021. Since then we’ve screened at many different film festivals such as OUTFEST LA, NewFest, and American Black film festival (which all have been in partnership with HBO Max/ Warner Media).

What has been the biggest takeaway from developing this story and what should audiences take away from this film?

One thing I have learned throughout the process of creating this film is how real this story is for some as well how unfamiliar this story is to many. I believed that everyone just knew about a life like this that has been lived because I’m no stranger to it. But they don’t- so I’m here to share and begin the conversation. In terms of what my audience should take away, I believe that that’s for them to decide. I understand once I put a body of work together and share it with the world it no longer belongs to me (no matter how hard I fight it). I’m the creator but I fully believe I’m free to think good or bad about my work. Especially since this subject matter is unfortunately foreign to many.

What does peace mean in your eyes?

Right now— stillness amongst the chaos. For everything to silence, and everything to feel whole.

As this short film discusses the complexities of black and brown queer relationships, what inspired you while creating these characters?

These are some of my friends and I experiences. It’s so wild to me how narrow-minded a lot of folks are when it comes to the experiences of people from my community. I originally got into filmmaking to humanize experiences like this and I’m fully committed.

Just from the opening, the scoring was its own highlight in the film. What was the process behind the music and narration?

It was important that the music score brought its own melody to this project. I can say that music is another character in this project simply because of the relationship it has with both Daniel and Leon. Both of these characters work in hip-hop, a genre that's infamous for its oppression of the LGBTQIA+ community and I wanted to explore the depth of these two characters in contrast to what is to believe in this space and what can be challenged in this space.

As your last project, “Dancing in the Dark,” was a documentary, and “PEACE” is a narrative short film— what type of films can we expect from you in the future?

I'm very fluid in the way I can create. I started off in photo work, grew into documentary and now I’m greatly interested in narrative. I understand that there is power in representation and if no one makes room, I just plan to claim my own space and grow from there. I understand how important some of my past projects such as Dancing in the Dark, Aman Love, Fish, and the Sade Tribute video work mean to people. I continue to create for my audience. That’s what birthed "PEACE." That’s why I continue to work. My long-term goal is to continue telling stories of those underserved in popular cinema and television. I’m currently gearing up to create my first feature and am so excited when I can begin to share that with the world.

Culture

Synchronicity: Maisie Williams

And who better to speak on personal revelation than an actor who’s grown up in the spotlight, a crucible of self-perception? Amidst the distractions of stardom, the Game of Thrones star’s enduring self-confidence has given her something we all should be envious of: she knows who she is, the path she’s on, and how to traverse the unpredictability of life.

With a range of diverse projects under her belt since the finale of Game of Thrones and a highly-anticipated Christian Dior biopic series freshly out on Apple TV, Williams finds herself increasingly grounded by her own private revelations. She takes the time to explain herself, responding directly and without hurry to my deeply personal questions about meditation, social pressure, and self-perception with honesty and an engaged sense of humble self-assuredness.

By the end of our conversation, I felt a sense of illumination from our time together: like my own philosophies around serendipity and the flow of the universe had been truly seen in a rare moment of human connection across screens.

For this feature, I wanted to present William’s thoughts unobstructed by anything more than this introduction. A snapshot of her current state of mind and own private revelations: perception and epiphany in a beautifully clear understanding of the world.

ON FINDING JOY IN THE SMALL MOMENTS

I love the simplicity of life, really. The things that bring me the most joy are just seeing my post lady, going to my local yoga place, and seeing some of the ladies that I practice with there — just real simple things.

I recently had my pipes freeze over, and so I went to my neighbor's house to take a shower, and I felt part of the community in a way that's just very simple and beautiful. I’ve just been nurturing my circle and my world to a point where I find these little synchronicities, which is really beautiful.

Find the rest of this cover story in Issue 21.

Culture

So Far So Good

April 26, 2024

Nolan Zangas’ first solo book So Far So Good, published by Blurring Books, unveils 160 pages of unreleased personal work spanning the last five years of living in New York City. Growing up running around the city's streets, capturing candid moments on disposable cameras during his youth, Nolan's desire to concretize his memories blossomed into the successful career he has today. This project stands apart his expansive body of work as a diaristic exploration of young adulthood, delving into the intersection of beauty and pain, and navigating "the fine line between success and failure" amidst the perpetual motion of a city like New York, shining a light on people and moments that shape its identity yet are often overlooked.

“In the spirit of La Haine as Vinz describes the man who falls from a skyscraper reassuring himself: ‘So far, so good...so far, so good’ on the way down,” the book serves as a tangible reminder that in life ‘It’s not how you fall that matters. It’s how you land.’”

Ahead of the launch at earshot.nyc tomorrow, we caught up with Nolan over email to talk about his selection process, how he got started taking photos, and why he doesn't post everything on Instagram.

Photography Nolan Zangas

How did you select what made it into the book?
My process is very physical. I hand print my images in a darkroom. I start by making a contact sheet. If I like the images on the contact sheet, I often cut them out and glue them into a notebook. Then I go back and print the images I like. Sometimes im in the darkroom like 30 hours in a week.
How many did you have to sort through?
It’s so hard to say. Easily over 100,000 frames. I made over 1,000 prints and most of them did not make the cut.
A book can act almost like an artifact, in that when you’re picking it up, it exists in that moment — whether that’s the day after it launches or five years from then. Did that come to mind and was there a specific thread you followed to ensure that timelessness?
I think that’s what makes books so important. I collect a lot of books. Images now feel so disposable, and I really like physical things. I think the selection of images are feel timeless, and the layout adds a bit of character to it all.
Not every upbringing is the same and as someone who also grew up in NYC, coming of age here is very different from any other place — at what point in your adolescence did you decide to start documenting your life and the people around you?
I started taking pictures of my friends on disposables around the age of 12. I lost or never picked up any of the negatives and the files are long gone. That really upsets me, and I think that made me want to take a lot more pictures as I got older. Around 18 is when I really started taking pictures of my life and things around me. I wanted to be able to look back at it all one day. I also think I’ve been surrounded with such diverse people. I think everyone deserves to have their picture taken.

How do you know when you’ve found a good picture?
There are a bunch of technical aspects that go into a good picture but I feel like for this project that stuff matters less. If it’s a good moment, and the picture makes me feel like I’m there, it’s a good picture.
The title is self-explanatory in context but I’m curious to know what led you to pick So Far So Good as the book's title.
Pretty early on in the process of making a layout actually. I think one of my friends said “so far so good” in conversation, and I instantly thought about the scene in La Haine where they talk about falling from a building. Then in my head I was like, holy shit thats the name right there”. It’s like, how far can you stretch a rubber band before it snaps. It felt really fitting to that point in my life and the book as a whole. A lot of good and a lot of bad around me.
Creating anything is an act of giving. How do you hope people, and those featured in its pages, receive the book?
I think it’s going to be cool for people who are in it because most of them don’t even know the pictures exist. I haven’t really been sending or showing anyone pictures because then they just end up on Instagram and in my head thats basically the trash can. I think some people won’t get it and others will. I don’t really mind. Everyone grew up doing different things.

It’s like, how far can you stretch a rubber band before it snaps. It felt really fitting to that point in my life and the book as a whole. A lot of good and a lot of bad around me.

Culture

I Only Came For the Parties

Between Rihanna and A$AP Rocky surprise appearance to the open bars, food trucks, and dance floors, the party was wild. As I arrived at the ranch, I was immediately met with a friend of mine running up to me saying, “Pookie and Jett are here. We NEED to party with them.” We began the hunt after stopping by the Passes.com table for some cotton candy. With a wrist full of stacked bands on one arm and a drink in my other, I hurried past Justin and Hailey Bieber before reaching the packed dance floor. It must’ve been close to sunrise when I finally came to and headed for the exit. Walking out, I ran into my friends who told me they just drove in from LA and NYC just for the party. This being my 10th Coachella, I'd probably stay home next year if it weren’t for this party.