Episode 27 - Ashley O’Shay - “Basquiat”

Black FilmmakersCinematographersBlack DirectorsBlack Producerswomen filmmakersChicago Based Filmmakers

Aug 13

August 13, 2021

In this episode, I speak with DP and director, Ashley O’Shay. We chat about the uniqueness of Chicago filmmakers, How she discovered her love for cinematography, her work on national brands, her work on Surviving R. Kelly, and her feature debut, Unapologetic, which centers queer Black women in the Black Lives Matter movement. Because we’ve got to show love for Chi-town and It’s so important for Black folks to both stand in our righteous rage and joy this week’s song is Jamila Woods’ “Basquiat” featuring Saba.

Photo Credit: Jameel Bridgewater

[Image Description: Ashley is pictured from the chest up. She stands against a black background, wears a black sleeveless top, gold hoop earrings, and makeup. Her black curly hair is shoulder length]

Photo Credit: Christine Irvine

Ashley’s Bio

Ashley O’Shay is a DP and documentarian based in Chicago, IL, whose work focuses on illuminating marginalized voices. She has produced work for national brands, including Lifetime, Nike, KQED, and Dr. Martens. She filmed the final episode of Dr. Martens' “Tough As You” series, starring the band Phony Ppl accruing over 65,000 views on social media and the web. In 2019, she co-produced the Chicago episode of KQED’s award-winning series If Cities Could Dance, which became one of their most viewed episodes to date. Her work also appeared in the critically-acclaimed Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly. Most recently, she premiered her debut feature, Unapologetic, a deep look into the Movement for Black Lives in Chicago, told through the experiences of two young, Black queer women. The film premiered at the 2020 BlackStar Film Festival and was shortlisted for the IDA Awards.

About Unapolegtic

After two police killings, Black millennial organizers challenge a Chicago administration complicit in state violence against its Black residents. Told through the lens of Janaé and Bella, two fierce abolitionist leaders, Unapologetic is a deep look into the Movement for Black Lives, from the police murder of Rekia Boyd to the election of mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Unapologetic has received support through the Ford Foundation, the Field Foundation of IL, Kartemquin Films Diverse Voices in Docs program, the Sage Fund, Firelight Media, Tribeca Industry Network, Film Independent, Bay Area Video Coalition, UC Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Workshop, Cucalorus Film Festival, Hedgebrook, Sisters in Cinema, Working Films, Perspective Fund, the True/False & Catapult Rough Cut Retreat and Chicago DCASE Individual Artists Program.