A team of young New York City Slam Poets finds its voice as it competes for the National Championship during the summer of 2016.
Just nine weeks before the national Slam Competition, five young poets’ lives are transformed as they are forced to dissect hidden pain behind their words. Conflicted on whether to write poetry that will win or create meaningful pieces that will change their lives as artists, some become frustrated with wanting to play it safe. With the help of their amazing coach Lauren Whitehead, they learn to remove the layers within the story revealing truth and honesty that inevitably brings emotion into the performances.
While slams are known to create emotional reactions in the audience, Lauren encourages her team to bring authenticity, vulnerability, and newness to their work, which doesn’t come easy. Lauren also guides them to question every aspect of their poetry, sometimes triggering past events in their lives some are not ready to face. With the current climate of hatred, racism, and bigotry in this country, the artists decide to use these very issues to make their voices heard with hopes to promote understanding and change. Challenging topics like the killing of young black males, homophobia, whitewashing the black experience and even rape are used in the competition.
What I find most beautiful as a writer myself is the process of creating a story from beginning to the end. The in-between is what many don’t see, the uncovering of layers, the courage it takes to write honesty even if it’s embarrassing, the revelations that surface about self as you dive deeper into the work. It’s beautiful to see these young individuals decide not to play it safe just to win the competition, they gain the heart to find true self-expression even if it means not being the most popular.
I love this documentary so much and not just because I am a writer but the story of five young poets finding their true selves through spoken word and sharing it with the world and creating social and political change is so inspiring. I love the relationship between the team, they are the definition of true friendship, lifting each other up even in the worst situations. I keep thinking how amazing coach Lauren Whitehead is and how I wish I had someone like her guiding me with my writing; hopefully, she is reading this and is available! She is such a generous, honest and rare human being sharing not only her expertise but opening up in such unexpected ways that is truly life-changing. This film is emotional, funny, and a reminder of how we all can create something that will not only surprise and entertain the world but change lives forever.
In Theaters Friday, September 20th
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