Brad Bailey
Film
2021
In his thesis film for VCFA, Brad Bailey—an avid fan of telling stories, especially those from underexposed communities—investigated the works of Marlon Riggs. Marlon Riggs was one of the most prolific documentary filmmakers of the late 20th century. His films, including TONGUES UNTIED (1989), were a bold and bracing look into the peak of the AIDS crisis and other challenges for people of color during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His work was controversial and became a lightning rod for the culture wars of that era. Bailey’s film considers Rigg’s work and legacy and assesses its relevance in today’s America.