While Sergio Mata’u Rapu and Myc Daz are the creative forces behind the favored Twin Cities PBS (TPT) digital series “That Got Weird,” its stars are more anonymous by design. Inspired partly by a pandemic-era meme, Sergio and Myc mix digital puppetry with a documentary approach to create shorts that tell true stories of racism with a pitch-perfect amount of humor. Take heed to the episode or read the transcript.
A unique tackle conversations about racism
A documentary filmmaker from Rapa Nui (also often known as Easter Island), Sergio Rapu has called Minnesota home for the past 11 years. As a digital series producer for TPT, he caught on to interest around producing a series on racism for the broader audience of social media. Nevertheless, as a substitute of following existing content approaches which might be more serious and subject-sensitive, Sergio wanted to provide something that would encourage greater conversations about seeing ideas, systems and preconceptions as racist quite than pointing at individuals.
It’s this approach that gives a more hopeful vision because, as Sergio says within the podcast, people can change and shift. “We will all do higher … it’s really nearly learning and connecting with other people. You’re never one thing or one other, it’s OK to make mistakes, and what you do is then apologize and move forward.” By telling stories of racism which have been felt, processed and, to a point, laughed about later, “That Got Weird” opens the door to discussions about what actions will be seen as racist, how they impact all of us and what positive change can appear to be.
“Lawyer Cat” and the funny freedom of being unknown
When on camera, vulnerable and open to criticism, having people tell their personal stories of racism will be difficult. Sergio found an answer in an unusual place – the pandemic-era “Lawyer Cat” viral video. Within the famous YouTube video from Texas’ 394th Judicial District Court, attorney Rod Ponton is unable to show off a cat filter during a Zoom call, resulting in the famous line: “No, I’m really a human being. I’m not likely a cat.”
As Sergio recounts, the video is hilarious but in addition telling in that you simply never see Ponton’s face. As a viewer, you have got no idea who he’s or what he looks like. While you hide identity, you’ll be able to bring humor to what is usually a serious situation. Running with the thought and applying it to the brand new digital series, Sergio brought on illustrator Myc Daz to create character designs and co-animate the shorts using Character Animator, a digital puppetry program. This manner, the interviewees can feel comfortable about being open and honest about their personal experiences while remaining anonymous.
From story to short
In terms of selecting subjects for the series, Sergio doesn’t have to look far to search out friends and friends of friends who’ve personal stories about racism and microaggression. As part of the method, interviewees pick their pseudonym and answer questions on how they need their on-screen avatar to look. Their persona will be different from real life – older or younger, different hair style or skin color – it’s all as much as the topic.
After the topic tells their story through an interview with Sergio, the audio is shipped to Myc with out a picture of the interviewee. As an alternative, Myc only receives the directions on how the topic would love to look. Then, self-described “character design nerd” Myc creates a sketch of the topic for approval, moving ahead to the animation stage where Sergio, Daz and others finish the short.
The result’s a series that’s getting great responses from each BIPOC and non-BIPOC audiences and is already getting used as a resource for firms and groups to assist others realize when their interactions could have been racist. Through storytelling, “That Got Weird” is encouraging people to think “how can I be higher?” and to search out creative and constructive ways to work towards that goal.
Discover more concerning the creation, process and future of “That Got Weird” by listening to the episode. It’s also possible to watch “That Got Weird” on the Twin Cities PBS website (https://www.tpt.org/that-got-weird/), follow Sergio Rapu (@smrapu) on Instagram and find Myc Daz (@MycDazzle) at mycdazzle.com and on social media.