The Signer: A Montford Point Marine
A resilient American man grapples with racial discrimination and personal adversity in the segregated confines of Camp Montford Point, transforming from a young hopeful to one of the first black Marines, while secretly nurturing a Sinatra-like voice that becomes his beacon of hope and resilience.
-
Eliciana NascimentoDirectorNurse Helen Fairchild
-
Daniel BernardiWriterThe American War
-
Eleciana NascimentoWriter
-
Daniel BernardiProducerUltimate Sacrifices: CAPT Jennifer Moreno
-
Henry JohhnsonKey Cast"Himself"
-
Brenda ThreattKey Cast"Herself"
-
Andrés GallegosCameraFrom Mexico to Vietnam: A Chicano Story
-
Josh CardenasEditorGeorge Jordan and the Indian Wars
-
Project Type:Documentary, Short
-
Runtime:10 minutes 23 seconds
-
Completion Date:May 1, 2023
-
Production Budget:30,000 USD
-
Country of Origin:United States
-
Country of Filming:United States
-
Language:English
-
Shooting Format:Digital 4k
-
Aspect Ratio:16:9
-
Film Color:Color
-
First-time Filmmaker:No
-
Student Project:No
Distribution Information
-
El Dorado FilmsDistributorCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
Eliciana Nascimento is an award-winning filmmaker and an assistant professor of cinematography and film production (tenure track) in the Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University. Her works include narratives, documentaries, and commercials. Her short film The Summer of Gods premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014 and received several awards from various international film festivals. She is a member of the El Dorado Films, where she directed and edited the short documentaries Nurse Helen Fairchild and Alene B. Duerk: The First Woman Admiral. She is currently in the making of her feature documentary Oshun: The Goddess of Life.
As a black and Latina filmmaker, I found an unwavering resonance in the life of Henry Charles Johnson, whose story we narrate in The Singer: A Montford Point Marine. This film provides an avenue to examine the often-untold narratives of the Montford Point Marines, specifically from the perspective of an African-American experience, while mirroring the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that define the shared human experience. Johnson’s journey, moving from the segregational hardships at Camp Montford Point to enchanting New York with his amazing voice, showcases a resilience that is universally relatable. This film underlines the defiance of the human spirit, the ability to maintain dreams amid adversity and the power of an individual to transcend societal confines. As a filmmaker, I am committed to bringing these courageous stories of military history to life, portraying the richness of diverse experiences within the service, and hence, 'The Singer' is a project of personal significance and profound respect.