Fabulousa
Flickettes
Bona to Vada
Film
At a time of Division, Immigration, prejudice and the rise of the right wing ideas and governments in the 1950s and now mirror each other.
This Film follows a Caribbean Character on a Journey to A Place where he thinks hes welcome, The reality is that The UK is a mix of Confusion of community and Prejudice .
We follow his Phycological and Cultural Journey of finding Hate and Prejudice and then people with Love and Protection and Contradiction and redemption.
My Visual Inspirations come from films and TV such as The Singing Detective, and The Maltese Falcon. In the Modern era The sci-fi Blade Runner.
I like to mix this as a signifier of Safe spaces for the Afro-Caribbean and gay community against Prejudice seeping Colour and celebration of difference.
It merges into the cold world of Film Noir like the films like Pleasantville and WonderVision as shown in the Photo.
​
Queer film inspirations come from films like Moonlight, Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, My Own Private Idaho.
​
The soundtrack to the film I want to be a mix of Rock & Roll especially as i feel the connection between the Caribbean character and the Teddy Boy is Little Richard.
The Music of the time is a mix of Jazz, Calypso, Blues, and Dancehall music. I've mixed in a Photoshop of groups and singers like the great Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald with the Modern queer music of Placebo and Garbage.
I hope this Mix of strong Musical styles and 1950s error music signifies the time of Liberation and positivity against hate and prejudice and love of the time and now.
The Merchant Navy was a place of no Jurisdiction and so for the queer community of the time was a place where they could be themselves.
​
As shown in this photo they could become Female impersonators and enjoy their sexuality and gender and become glamorous 1950s Film stars and camp it up and be Fabulosa.
​
They would put on fashion shows or Flirt with other passengers or other staff for sexual exploration and freedom from the society of the time.
Polari is a Language used by outsiders, Sailors travelers and ended up used by the gay community for reasons of safety from the Police, sexual communication, and a Bona Bitch when Vardering other Omees (Good Bitch seeing other Gay Men) in the queer clubs/pubs of the 1940s/70s in clubs.
Its history comes from the Traveling Gypsy communities and traveling actors. It then traveled from Italy and mixed with French and traveled out to sea and eventually top the Theatre community and Mollies of the 1700s. Ended up through the docks of London, Liverpool used by all the queers.
​
