Park Pictures announced today an exclusive virtual release of AG Rojas’ GODCHILD, a visual and musical celebration of the works of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Originally intended to tour the country as part of The Smithsonian Institute’s Men of Change exhibition, while the tour is paused, Park Pictures has stepped in to make the film available on https://www.godchild.film/ on June 4, 2020 for an exclusive one-month run. GODCHILD is directed by AG Rojas with a special directorial contribution from Sonia Hernandez and co-written by Darol Olu Kae.
“I was looking to fold space an time, to create imaginary dialogues between Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and the present. We traveled to places of great cultural significance, including John and Alice Coltrane’s home in Dix Hills where John wrote A Love Supreme. And Grace Cathedral where Duke Ellington performed his Concert of Sacred Music. In my mind, I was curious if the transcendent acts that took place in those environments could somehow be in communication with, for example, the artist Maria Paz crafting one of her sculptures in Oakland. Or my friend Sonia Hernandez’s mother rigorously tending to her garden in Norwalk. All in all, you are invited to sit and meditate with the imagery and with the music. It was created in collaboration with hundreds of people around North and South America, all contributing just as much as myself,” said Director AG Rojas.
GODCHILD was created as part of the Smithsonian’s Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth, which shares the essential stories of thousands of significant African-American men who are rendered invisible by a society that does not know how to see them. The exhibition highlights the journeys of revolutionary men – Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B Du Bois, Kendrick Lamar. People who have altered history and culture through politics, sports, science, entertainment, business and religion. Achievements within the legacy and traditions of the African American journey: excellence in spite of society’s barriers. In heralding the contributions of notable men across decades, Men of Change highlights deep parallels between the past and present. Summary courtesy of the Smithsonian.
AG Rojas’ primary focus is on honoring marginalized peoples through the intersection between community, architecture and image- making. In 2017, AG and Kamasi Washington presented their contribution to the Whitney Biennial: a 30 minute audio visual installation entitled “Harmony of Difference.” Over the past 10 years, AG has directed music videos for Jack White, Spiritualized, Run The Jewels, Florence + The Machine, Kamasi Washington, Zack de la Rocha, and Emeli Sande as well as global advertising campaigns for Nike, Apple, Adidas, and more. Most recently his Nike spot “Just Do It: Caster Semenya” won the Bronze Glass Lion and was shortlisted for Film Direction at the 2019 Cannes Lions.
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