By Rachael Dionisio
Amongst the vibrance and diversity of student-run organizations within Boston University’s cultural landscape, a reinvigorated resurgence in Black representation has emerged. Thanks to two passionate students, BU’s first Black student film society, BlackBox, has successfully bridged the gap between cultural community and creativity. After hearing from alumni that many Black organizations and pre-professional societies existed when they attended BU, co-founder Lynn Asare-Bediako realized that most of these had faded away. She then offered the idea of BlackBox to Lydia Evans, junior Film & TV major, and the two partnered up fall of 2022 to restore Black culture in media and entertainment.
“We wanted to facilitate a space where Black students can enjoy films and just hang out,” said Evans, co-founder and now Vice President of BlackBox. Already studying film and TV with a minor in journalism, Evans stressed the importance of immersing yourself in new experiences, pre-professionally or socially, to find a student group that never hinders your ability to be inspired.
“What I learn inside the classroom is just as important as what I learn outside of the classroom,” said Evans.
Typical meetings in BlackBox are filled with equipment workshops, community-building sessions, and game nights to foster a balance of obtaining professional film knowledge and socializing. Black students should have a safe place to meet other Black students with similar interests, according to Evans. The society also creates a film every semester, starting with preproduction and production in the spring. Currently, members are pitching their ideas and choosing positions of interest for this semester’s project.
Recently, the society hosted a Halloween-themed movie night in collaboration with UMOJA, BU’s Black Student Union, in the College of Arts and Sciences on Oct. 26, where students watched Bodies Bodies Bodies, a horror-comedy film.
“[BlackBox] couldn’t exist without the Black clubs that already exist,” Evans said.
In continuation of its quest to celebrate Black creativity and foster community engagement, BlackBox held its first film festival on Sept. 22. More than 70 students attended to watch the top films from Black student filmmakers in the Greater Boston area, naming the top three out of seven films as finalists after professional judging. The festival was a great success in enhancing community engagement and building awareness of the society, according to Evans.
Evans’s one and only goal for the society is that it is maintained and sustained. She hopes that members will take over her and Asare-Bediako’s roles as President and VP after they graduate so Black students can always have a space to express their creativity. The lights may dim after each premier, but the Black brilliance of BeatBox shines on, a beacon of cultural unity and shared passion for the arts.
“As long as it’s still here, that’s all I can ask for,” Evans said.
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