Shake The Earth was made to support a fundraising campaign for You Make It, an empowerment organisation and race and class-inclusive movement for young, working-class women of colour in London. Having worked with You Make It as a photographer 15 years ago, one of my first jobs out of University, this was a beautiful opportunity to come full circle and collaborate with some of their incredibly talented alumni, as well as work closely with the current programme cohort.
YMI graduate Esther-Rennae Walker was commissioned to write and perform her powerful poem for the film which gives it a narrative spine and fellow graduate Leanne-Blossom blessed us with her visceral movement to elevate it further.
Special thanks to Sam Beste (The Vernon Spring) for allowing the use of his gorgeous composition.
On the filmmaking side this was, necessarily, a one-person-band affair from production to post! Special thanks to Asma Shah and Songi Bongs at YMI for production support.