KALAMAZOO (MICH.)– Last Fall up-and-coming film director MJ Harrell shared a video with then co-worker Sonya Bernard-Hollins. Harrell had provided hands-on training in videography to members of the Merze Tate Explorers. He would even accompany them to record an exclusive interview with costume designer Ruth Carter, just days before her historic Oscar win for Best Costume Designer for her work on Black Panther. The students later would repay Harrell for his time by participating in the remake of a video he had recorded years earlier.
“MJ shared a video of his rap song, “Little Miss Perfect,” said Bernard-Hollins, founder of the Explorers. The song was about a high school girl who had pressures of home and school life drive her to drugs and a potentially, death. While our organization focuses on exposing youth to college and careers, our media focus helps youth create media to share what they learn with the world. The message in Little Miss Perfect was something I felt our students needed to be a part of.”
The partnership paid off. According to a recent press release distributed by Public Media Network, Local media artist and producer M.J. Harrell’s music video, Little Miss Perfect, was named the “Best Music Video” among Access Center Professionals in the 2020 Hometown Media Festival. This comes on the heels of other public media recognitions for the video created in 2019 including Best Music Video at PMN’s Say Something Media Festival in 2019.
After Harrell shared his vision of a remake of his former video, the Explorers sought the support of Atiba McKissick, principal of Hillside Middle School to serve as the backdrop for the school environment. Explorer parents Atiba and Cherise Ward allowed the use of their home where friends Ryan and Alicia Wyman made their debut as actors and parents of the lead character. Even parent Lumumba Shabazz played the role of a teacher. In addition to Explorers playing the role of extras, Bernard-Hollins’ own children, Shamiel, Syann, and Sasha also starred in the video. While they at first were reluctant to take part, they soon embraced its message.
“I thought the message was really important. There are a lot of teens who feel the weight of trying to live up to what others see they should be. It is important for people to see we do have pressure. Videos like this give us a way to talk about it,” Syann Hollins said.
McKissick used the video as a discussion tool in his school as he required all students to watch it. In addition, the video has been recognized by other public media outlets for its message video production led by Harrell.
Harrell uses media to bring to life various issues in the community. In the release submitted by Public Media Network regarding Harrell’s recent award, Harrell is quoted in regards to the recent protests on racial injustice: “Although this song doesn’t directly relate to what’s going on in recent events, I think it’s crucial that we actively work toward being more united as a people. I would like to pay tribute to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many countless black and brown people who have lost their lives due to police brutality. The prejudice of any kind should have no place in our society. I hope that this song is able to inspire current and future generations to do better than the ones before us.”