Y’all know how much we love documentaries. Today we’re discussing the hilarious, profound, and deeply moving “Introducing Brian Broome” with producer and director Chris Ivey.

The film is based on Brian Broome (duh!), Pittsburgh-based award-winning author of the memoir Punch Me Up to the Gods. It is a series of intimate conversations with other Black Pittsburgh creatives, including:

• Deesha Philyaw, award-winning author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Y’all remember Deesha when we interviewed her about her book, now being made into a series for HBO Max!)
• Damon Young, columnist and author of What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker
• Vanessa German, citizen artist and creator of the photo series The Blacks

Interspersed among the conversations are a few fabulous dramatic/comedic reenactments. You will love them! 

Awesome quote: “There is no thing in the world that is more important than you living the life that you want to live.” —Brian Broome

While the film is ostensibly about Brian, we also get a peek at this defining moment in time as some of these creative geniuses are getting ready to leave Pittsburgh—once ranked a top “livable” city in the United States, but not for Black people. Chris Ivey—who is known for bringing a keen and unflinching eye to urban issues, such as gentrification in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh and the Grenfell Tower fire in London—also uses this film to shine a spotlight on a city that has never supported its Black artists.

While we do share spoilers in this episode, feel free to listen even before you watch the film. You’ll be falling all over yourself to watch if you haven’t yet!

You can rent the film on Amazon or Vimeo.

https://www.introducingbrianbroome.com