Beyond the March: filmmakers travel cross-country to highlight racism in Canada
A pair of best friends - one black, one white - are facing a camera lens on how Canadians are interrupting anti-Black racism.
Mark Holmes and Matt Cappuccitti's documentary "Beyond the March" has taken the duo across the country; from Vancouver to Toronto, and now Halifax.
The film's foundation came in the aftermath of George Floyd’s 2020 murder in Minneapolis. Holmes says those events made him recognize a shortcoming in his own understanding of Canada.
"I'm a Black man and I don't know what's the Black community is doing to stop anti-Black racism,” says Holmes.
Cappuccitti says Floyd’s death gave him an empty pit in his stomach which is when he decided to call his friend with an idea.
"Let's get the camera. Let's do something. Let's see what's happening because this isn't going to stop,” says Cappuccitti.
The two friends grew up on the same street in Mississauga and have known each other for about 40 years.
Holmes has a background in journalism. He and Cappuccitti are funding the documentary on their own.
They say anti-Black racism still persists everywhere.
“Although it may look different in Canada, it's still happening in Canada,” says Cappuccitti.
Their trip to the East Coast included a stop at Angel Gannon's ‘A Walk Through Africville’ exhibit.
“In places like here in Nova Scotia, it's always been here and I don't know why that is and I want to find that out,” says Holmes.
While in Nova Scotia, the pair are interviewing Africville historian Irvine Carvery, spoken word poet El Jones, and Stop the Violence protestor Quentrel Provo, along with other community leaders.
Holmes says it isn’t the Black communities’ responsibility to solve a problem they didn’t create.
“We need the white community. We need that allyship, otherwise nothing is going to get done,” says Holmes.
The two friends say they care deeply about the subject matter, as they envision a world beyond black and white.
"The toughest thing in the world when you hear a family member or friend make a joke, make a comment, is to actually call them out on it, right. Its makes us all uncomfortable, but if we don't things will perpetuate and nothing is ever going to change. So have the difficult conversation,” says Cappuccitti.
"Cause if you don't act it's just going to keep on going. So do something. Take action, “says Holmes.
The documentary is expected to be released in March 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”