"NORTH", An Upcoming Feature Film by Yvette Kendall Showcases a Horror That We Didn't Know Existed! By Barry Wilson
The Californer/10226206

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- The screenplay for 'NORTH" may be unlike anything you have ever seen. It hits all the notes for a potential blockbuster! The writer explains how the project came to be.

Kendall admits that she is inspired by the works of Jordan Peele, Misha Green, and Donald Glover. When asked for a synopsis for her upcoming featured film, Kendall shares the concept of "NORTH" with us.

She states, "The story came to me much like The GOD Maps did, as a flash of magical inspiration. I thought about all the different connotations regarding the word "North". And how it means something different, especially to Black people.

The story centers around a young African-American man who's in an interracial relationship with his fiancée, Lori. The story takes place a year before Trump becomes President. Winston, a writer for a news media outlet in Georgia, is run off his job because of an article he wrote regarding the infamous election slogan. He and his fiancée make plans to move to Chicago for an employment opportunity and a safer environment.

He decides to use this trip to pay homage to his ancestors who were left behind during the Great Migration of 1910. He chooses to take the twisted southern backwoods to stay true to the infamous journey. Unfortunately, the trip does not go as planned. The couple has no clue of the horrors and revelations awaiting them on this dark and unforgiving pilgrimage."

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This is Kendall's first feature film and there's no indication that she's going to stop there. We asked her about the unique space she is creating.

What is the genesis for the NORTH Universe?

I don't think of it as a Universe. It's more about expounding on an event that [I feel] has been overlooked cinematically. Also, using the lens of Horror to tell the tale of the Great Migration just makes sense to me. An unknown amount of Black people went missing into thin air during this event. No one looked for them because they didn't know they were missing to begin with.

So, is Horror the goal?

Not necessarily. My goal with this story is a multifaceted one that happens to be powered by Horror. There are many comedic moments that slithers around introspection, drama, and historical enlightenment. This film is many things, including Horror.

Can you share something about the protagonist?

Sure, his name is Winston Gale. His character is very complexed, in that he's a Black man that revels in defending Blackness, even within his own interracial relationship. Having said that, he would rather not experience the disparities that Black people suffer at the hands of others. So he kinda lives in this murky duality that he doesn't seem to fully comprehend. His decisions, at times can appear suspect, not only to other Black people, but to himself as well. His experiences on this trip are going to force a reckoning in him that he cannot ignore. Winston's growing pains are excruciating to watch, but captivating nevertheless.

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What about the antagonist?

That answer to that is slightly more complicated. There are many antagonists, some are people,  and some are not. Everything in this movie challenges the ideas of what "North" means to people, especially "People of Color". What is a joy for some can be a terror for others. That's all I'm willing to say about that. One of the more obvious horrors for Winston is in the encountering an "Other".  It becomes clear to him that these encounters can be potential portals to Hell.

Portals...are there monsters?

Absolutely, but not in the traditional sense of the word. NORTH is an elevated Horror experience. The fear comes from the inside and it resinates out. It lingers and festers. Some moments will make you forget about the external concerns on the screen and reckon with the internal ones that we carry around as Black people.

When can we expect to see it?

We are moving as fast as we can to get things in place. All I can say is, stay tuned. We will update everyone as soon as we can.

Learn more about Yvette Kendall at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13209033/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 and more about her books at amazon.com and various other online retailers.

Article written by: Barry Wilson
Outlet: Stravard Lux Publishing & Distribution Co.
www.stravardlux.com