Play it Safe is a short film directed by Mitch Kalisa. The film is influenced directly by his time at a prestigious drama school, and how this perceivably liberal and safe space has just as much ingrained prejudice as other predominantly white space. Starring BIFA’s Best Newcomer and one of Screen’s Stars of Tomorrow Jonathan Ajayi Play it Safe is selected for AFI and is available on MUBI worldwide.
Mitch uses his own experiences to underpin his cinematic pursuit: to break convention and boundaries and tell rich stories from diverse unheard voices. Focusing on complex and often challenging tales, and giving them a visceral character and performance driven platform.
When did you first explore your passion for film?
I was very passionate about films from around 10, throughout my teens. I thought I wanted to act but by 16, I knew my passions were writing and directing. I did some terrible short films in sixth and it wasn’t until I got to University that I really started to engage with film seriously.
Tell us about your short film, Play it Safe.
Play It Safe is about Jonathan, a character who is coaxed into playing a racial typecast in a fellow student’s play. At the same time it’s a story about unconscious racism by those who think of themselves as above prejudice.
What inspired you for the film?
My own experiences inspired the film. Firstly, my experiences going to weekend drama classes as a teen, the absurd experiences of animal study classes always stayed with me. Then the experience of being a Black man working in predominantly white liberal spaces. I was always struck by how often I would still find myself experiencing micro aggressions and other racially fuelled transgressions in what was perceived to be a ‘safe space’. The combination of these ideas led to Play It Safe.
How are you breaking convention and boundaries?
I think a lot of films that explore similar themes are very quick to be moralistic and come down on a side. I wanted to create a film that felt open and pulled the audience into a conversation rather than letting them leave with one specific message.
Share your mission for this film.
I think the film highlights an issue that tends to be hard to talk about, hopefully it’s a great starting point for conversation. My mission for the film would be for it to start a conversation around the themes. Whether that’s people at a screening or teachers and their classes.
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