don-t-go-tellin-your-momma_resized

Don't go tellin' your momma

by Topaz Jones/Simon Davis/Jason Sondock

Short Film 16’45

In 1970 a group of Black educators in Chicago developed a flashcard set of the alphabet to provide Black-centered teaching materials to a vastly white landscape of text books and learning materials. Through 26 individual scenes, each representing a letter and artist Topaz Jones' corresponding update to their meanings, Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma is a view into his and America's Black identity.

With

Rodney Jackson

Emma Janice Jones

Topaz Jones

Francis Perez

Kaity Rodriguez

Ivy Sole

Tariq Trotter

Keith White

Release

French Release on 28-01-2021

Awards

  • Short Film Jury Award in Non-Fiction, Sundance Film Festival, 2021

  • Special Jury Award in Narrative Short, SXSW Film Festival, 2021

  • San Francisco Film Festival 2021 - Winner - Inaugural Mid-Length Jury Prize

  • Bronze winner, Sound Design, Clio Awards, USA, 2020

  • 2021 HollyShorts Film Festival - Best Documentary

  • Nominated for Grand Jury Award in Music Video & Narrative Short, SXSW Film Festival, USA, 2021

  • Nominated Gold Hugo in Best Documentary Short, Chicago International Film Festival, USA, 2021

  • Nominated Golden Starfish Award in Documentary Short, Hamptons International Film Festival, USA, 2021

  • Nominated Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short, Nashville Film Festival, USA, 2021

  • Nominated Young Cineaste Award, Palm Springs International ShortFest, USA, 2021

  • Jury Award for Jury Award in Best Short Film, Philadelphia Film Festival, USA, 2021

  • Nominated for New Jersey Shorts Competition, Montclair Film Festival (MFF), USA, 2021

  • Nominated for Cinema Eye Honors Award Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking, Cinema Eye Honors Awards, USA, 2022

DIRECTED AND WRITTEN BY

Topaz Jones
Simon Davis
Rubberband
Jason Sondock

PRODUCTION

Smuggler Patrick Milling Smith
Frenzy Films Elsa Rakotoson, Julien Berlan

TECHNICAL TEAM

Executive Producer Kevin Storey

Producer Luigi Rossi

Creative Direction Eric J. McNeal

Cinematography Chayse Irvin, ASC

Still photography Chayse Irvin, ASC. Jason Filmore Sondock

Collage animation Jason Filmore Sondock

Costumes designed Eric J. McNeal

Edited J.M. Harper & Nate Katz

Production designed Madison Hatch

Casting directors Katharine Mateo, Nouri Hassan

Location Manager Don Shapira

1st Assistant Director Lionel Cineas

2nd Assistant Director Kenny Williams

2nd 2nd Wendell Sisnett

Line Producer Raven Jensen

Production Manager Lucy Rennick

Production Coordinator Sasha Abed, Lia Mitchell, Nick Jones

Associate Producer Josh Sondock, Francesco Rizzo

Line Producer for Pick-Up Shoot Taylor Russo

1st AC Jasmine Chang, Alice Boucherie, Nicolas Lopaz