Project Brief
This thesis centers Black contributions in America — past and present — by spotlighting women who embody a maximalist consciousness within their professions, even as their impact is historically minimized. Through symbolic archetypes like the Queen, the Maven, the Alchemist, and the Power Broker, this work reclaims narrative space and affirms that Black womanhood is not only foundational — it is the Blueprint. I produced, Directed, and edited this film to showcase how as Black women we shape every facet of American culture — from politics and fashion to music, healing, and innovation — yet their impact is constantly erased, minimized, or repackaged without recognition. They are hyper-visible in influence but invisible in credit, often forced to navigate systems that extract from them while denying them power and ownership.
Despite systemic minimization, operate with a maximalist consciousness. Through archetypes like the Queen, the Maven, the Alchemist, and the Power Broker, this project reclaims their narrative, illustrating that Black womanhood is not a trend — it is the foundation, the blueprint, and the future.
THE LADY OF LINEAGE
Symbolizes: Legacy, resilience, and ancestral power.
She carries the bloodline of brilliance — the strength, grace, and leadership passed down through generations of Black women. The Queen doesn’t just inherit power; she builds upon it. Her presence affirms that lineage is not just biological but cultural, spiritual, and revolutionary. She reminds the world that we come from royalty — and still embody it.
Creation, nurturing, and generational wisdom.
She is the root of culture and the source of all things — protector of legacy, life-giver, and healer. Her presence affirms that Black women are not only caregivers but also cultural architects, grounding progress in ancestral knowledge and spiritual power.
THE ALCHEMIST
Symbolizes: Transformation, creative rebellion, and cultural innovation.
She channels Black cultural influence into iconic style. The Alchemist takes what’s raw and refines it into brilliance — turning struggle into fashion statements and everyday expression into global trends. She challenges the theft of Black creativity and reclaims the spotlight as the true source of style.
Symbolizes: Authority, strategy, and self-determination.
She embodies the unseen hands behind influence, making decisions, shaping outcomes, and claiming space in industries and institutions that have historically excluded Black women. She moves with intention, demands respect, and changes power dynamics by her very presence.
The Maven
Symbolizes: Knowledge, Preservation, and Storytelling.She is the voice of the people a keeper of oral traditions, truth, and history. The Maven safeguards culture and language, resisting erasure by passing wisdom forward. She doesn’t just inform she empowers through truth-telling and narrative control.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
1.) After Effects
2.) Premiere Pro
3.) Adobe Audition
4.Canon Camera
1.) After Effects
2.) Premiere Pro
3.) Adobe Audition
4.Canon Camera
Process
This film began as a response to the erasure of Balck history in the focus of spotlighting Black women’s cultural contributions across history. The process was rooted in deep research, personal reflection, and intentional storytelling. Each archetype — The Queen, The Maven, The Alchemist, Mother Earth, and The Power Broker was crafted to embody a facet of Black womanhood that is often overlooked but undeniably foundational.
I started by identifying the symbolic roles Black women have held through time , not through Western definitions, but through the insight of ancestral power, cultural memory, and lived resilience. From there, I developed visual narratives for each archetype, choosing aesthetics, styling, movement, and sound that amplified their energy and message.
Production involved assembling a team that understood the sensitivity and pride within the project. Wardrobe pulled from streetwear, traditional garments, and high fashion, blending past, present, and future. Filming focused on gesture, texture, and symbolism from soil, gold, and hair to mirrors, smoke, and flame all chosen for their layered meanings in Black cultural history.
Post-production was about refinement: color-grading to emphasize mood, sound design to heighten impact, and editing to allow each archetype to breathe in her own right — while still forming part of a unified story. The final piece becomes not just a film, but a form of visual reparation — one that honors, amplifies, and immortalizes the legacy Black women have always carried.
INSPIRATION
This film draws HEAVY inspiration from Black Is King by Beyoncé, a visual masterpiece that reclaims African heritage and celebrates Black identity through powerful storytelling, fashion, and symbolism. Watching it reminded me of the importance of representation — how visual language can restore pride, preserve legacy, and shift the cultural narrative. I was especially moved by how Beyoncé positioned Black women as divine, ancestral, and central to the story. That same energy shaped my vision. I wanted to create a piece that, like Black Is King, uses archetypes, lush visuals, and layered meaning to affirm that Black women are not just participants in culture — we are the origin.
“THE BLUEPRINT” film