A racial slur shared during sex uncouples a black man from time and place.

"Black Boy Suffering Is A Mood." is a semi-autobiographical short film from writer/director Vince Maui, a frequent collaborator.

Made in 2022 and released in 2023, the film went on to win 'Best Short Film' at the Pasadena International Film Festival.

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Note from Vince Maui, the Writer & Director:

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Mr. Rogers had a quote that said “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”

I took his words to heart.

Black Boy Suffering is a Mood is semi-autobiographical short film that allowed me to express wound and shed pain. As a black man raised in America, I feel layers remain to that experience which are not typically talked about nor explored. I feel there’s a stigma in broaching uneasy emotional scars that can be, at times, either purposely or ignorantly inflicted; ultimately overlooked in favor of discussing broader & more accessible monochrome issues. And with this short film, I had wanted to translate and visually compose those feelings.

Writing it was the easiest step, making the thing was scary and rewarding. By the point this was being prepped for production, I purposely took the step of emotionally distancing the semi-autobiographical hold I had on the script, while still allowing those originating emotions to ultimately guide the film. The best takeaway I had from this production is that the best type of collaborator you can ever have is with someone you trust, because disagreements will almost always yield the best suggestion. And I was fortunate to have that on this film, many times over.

Shot over two nights in late spring of 2022 in Fullerton, California, an incredible assembly of talent worked tiredlessly to achieve the end product.

To say that I was nervous about finding the right actors due to the film’s subject matter would be a great understatement. Mason, Maria, Celina, and Reina – the four actors featured on screen – collectively went above and beyond in their committment in portraying the subject matter. Their physical and emotional endurance was a feat; and their trust in the material I aimed in dramatizing is something I’ll forever be grateful for.

Erin Tillman was our incredible intimacy coordinator for the project. A brilliant collaborator, her wealth of expertise in navigating the intricacy of intimacy between actors as well as assuring a safe environment for these scenes was invaluable.

Erik Turcious was the cinematographer for the project. He had spectacular recognition of composition. I loved working him because he expressed a real sense of always wanting to serve the story in his shots. I learned alot from working with him and the camera crew he led in assembling.

Erik Bakshi, a frequent collaborator, served as lead producer and on-set AD. He accomplished miracles on a daily basis throughout the production and I was glad to have him on board. Throughout pre-production, filming, and post, he was truthful, direct, and habitually mindful of the project’s needs; in short, everything you’d ever want in a collaborator.

I’m truly thankful to everyone who came aboard up this project, as well as those who gave me the courage to pursue it.

– Vince