Jamaica Kincaid Documentary

FAIN: TD-256254-17

Women Make Movies, Inc. (New York, NY 10001-5059)
Stephanie Black (Project Director: January 2017 to January 2024)

Development of an 86-minute documentary film on the life and accomplishments of Jamaica Kincaid, an Antiguan-born novelist and poet.

We are requesting a $75,000 development grant in support of an 86-minute documentary film on the life & work of Caribbean writer Jamaica Kincaid. The documentary will trace her life from her childhood in colonial Antigua,to working as an au pair in Scarsdale, N.Y. as a teenager, to becoming the first black female staff writer for The New Yorker at age 26. Kincaid’s extraordinary path, her unique literary & frequently controversial voice will be brought to life through evocative documentary images set to narrated audio excerpts from her novels, rare archival material, interviews with scholars, and cinema verite footage reflecting daily life of the now 67-year-old writer. If awarded, the grant will support development of the film's content with literary, historical, and social science scholars; pre-interviews & archival research; a sample reel; & the writing of a comprehensive script outline.