Jords 'Dirt In The Diamond (a short film)' by Renee Maria Osubu
David Knight - 6th June 2023
Renee Maria Osubu tells the story of a grieving family, within the wider context of the Black British experience, in Dirt In The Diamond, a short film that incorporates three songs from Jords album, with the same name, performed by the artist.
In the first part, we are introduced to the main characters at a family gathering at the home of the Walkers, prior to the funeral of their son, where Jords performs MoBay with Tay Iwar. It's shot by cinematographer Courtney J. Bennett in rich colour, with an intimacy that recalls Steve McQueen's 'house party' film Lovers Rock.
That is followed by the funeral of the son - the procession behind the coffin and church service - shot in stark black and white, in which we hear iPray by Jords, Wretch 32 and Miles from Kinshasa. Finally, the drama is replaced by a montage of archive footage of Black Londoners from the 1970s to the present day - including footage of era-defining protests against racism and prejudice - as Jords performs Fist In The Sky.
Renee Maria Osubu brings the personal and the political together, and interrogates the nature of grief - which one character describes as "the truest form of love" - in compelling fashion.
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David Knight - 6th June 2023
Credits
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Production/Creative
- Director
- Renee Maria Osubu
- Producer
- Maëva Demurger
- Producer
- Amara Rossell
- Production Company
- S
- Executive Producer
- Maëva Demurger
- Production Manager
- Josh Fashola
- Production Manager
- Anne-Sofie Lindgaard
- 1st AD
- Danny Rumbelow
- Archive Producer
- Fiammetta Luino
- Production Coordinator
- Chirolles Khalil
- Director’s Assistant
- Destinie Paige
- 2nd AD
- Mia Tessema
- 3rd AD
- Damilola Alokolaro
- Runners
- Thea Sun, Emma Horgan, Archie Holm Slack
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Courtney J. Bennett
- 1st AC
- Dan Deighton
- 2nd AC
- Ryan Rae
- Steadicam
- Grant Sandy Phillips
- DIT
- Andre Reid, Zion Roache
Lighting/Grip
- Gaffer
- Krunal Saadrani
- Sparks
- Anna Brooks-Beckman, Dale Healy, Shaun Witherup
- Key Grip
- Robert Barlow
Art
- Production designer
- Elena Muntoni
- Art Assistant
- Hara Spyrou, Ronni Winter, Lily Pubrick, Martine Lewis
Wardrobe
- Hair & Make-up
- Femi Konteh
- Costume designer
- Jodie-simone Howe
- Costume Design Assistant
- Grace Priem
- Costume Assistant
- Tyra Ali
- Hair & Make Up Assistant
- Ava Jones, Frances De Havas
Choreography
- Movement Director
- Léa Anderson
- Movement Director
- Lamar Lee
Casting
- Casting director
- Kharmel Cochrane
- Casting director
- Rose Powell
- Jerome
- Nasri Thompson
- Mrs. Walker
- Shereener Browne
- Mr. Walker
- Jason Deer
- Jerome’s Mother
- Aisha Davis
- Isaac
- Crispin Maccatrozzo
- Daniel
- Frederick Konneh
- Friends
- Adeniyi Andes-Pelumi, Isaiah Chambers
Editorial
- Editor
- Lainy Black
- Editing company
- The Assembly Rooms
- Sound design
- Will Berger
Grading
- Colourist
- Jason Wallis
- Colour Producer
- Olivia Jessop
- Colour grade company
- EC
VFX
- Post Producer
- Phoebe Armstrong-Beaver
Agent
- Music Video Representation
- AR
Commission
- Commissioner
- Benson Udia
- Label
- Motown Records UK
Misc
- 2nd Unit DoP
- Luis Lopez
Other credits
Sound Recordist
Joseph Campbell
Cultural Historian & Archival Creative Consultant
Sofia Akel
Additional Sound designer – Bankey Ojo
Archive Footage Courtesy of Kinolibrary
Catering
Caribbean Eatery
Caterer
Teon Blake
Portrait Photography
Kemka Ajoku
Titles Design
Ned Botwood
David Knight - 6th June 2023