E-video

The watermelon woman / written and directed by Cheryl Dunye ; produced Barry Swimar, Alexandra Juhasz.

Dunye, Cheryl, (screenwriter,, film director,, actor.). Swimar, Barry, (film producer.). Juhasz, Alexandra, (film producer.). Crenshaw, Michelle, (cinematographer.). Taylor, Annie, editor and co-executive producer, (editor of moving image work.). Shapiro, Paul, 1956- (composer (expression)). Turner, Guinevere, (actor.). Walker, Valarie, (actor.). Bronson, Lisa Marie, (actor.). Cheryl Dunye (Cheryl), Guinevere Turner (Diana), Valarie Walker (Tamara), Lisa Marie Bronson (Fae "The Watermelon Woman" Richards). (Cast).

Summary:

Cheryl Dunye's debut feature is as controversial as it is sexy and funny. Cheryl is a twenty-something black lesbian working as a clerk in a video store while struggling to make a documentary about Fae Richards, an obscure black actress from the 1930's. Cheryl is surprised to discover that Richards (known popularly as "the Watermelon Woman") had a white lesbian lover. At the same time, Cheryl falls in love with a very cute white customer at the video store (Guinevere Turner from Go Fish). Such are the complexities of race and sex in this startlingly fresh debut, which has been attacked by conservative Congressmen for having been funded by the NEA and lavishingly praised in the editorial pages for being charming and courageous.

Record details

Physical Description: 1 online resource (1 video file (approximately 86 min.)) : sound, color
Publisher: [New York, NY] : First Run Features, 1996.
Copyright: ©1997

Content descriptions

General Note:	Originally produced by First Run Features in 1996. Digitally preserved and remastered by UCLA Film & Television Archive as part of the Outfest UCLC Legacy Project"--Title screens. Streaming video file. Originally released in 1996; re-released
Restrictions on Access Note:	Access restricted to ECU students, staff and faculty.
Creation/Production Credits Note:	Cinematographer, Michelle Crenshaw ; editor, Annie Taylor ; composer, Paul Shaprio.
Participant or Performer Note:	Cheryl Dunye (Cheryl), Guinevere Turner (Diana), Valarie Walker (Tamara), Lisa Marie Bronson (Fae "The Watermelon Woman" Richards).
Language Note:	Soundtrack in English.
Awards Note:	Winner, Best Feature Film, Berlin International Film Festival.
Source of Description Note:	Description based on online resource; title from title screens (Kanopy, viewed November 4, 2019).