The vibrant energy of the Notting Hill Carnival, a celebration of culture and diversity, finds a new look in “Mas Resistance,” a visual arts project masterminded by Alex Urquhart, a graduate from the MetFilm School, London.
His new project fuses spoken word, video, music, and performance to archive and promote the art of Mas – a unique form of storytelling through costume that has long been a cornerstone of the Carnival’s vibrant scene.
Directed by Alex and produced by classmate, Valentina Kuplinova, the project represents a collaborative effort of 12 master’s students at the famous film school.
‘Mas Resistance’ has received support from the Arts Council England and features contributions from notable artists, including Vernon ‘Fellow’ Williams, a founding member of the Notting Hill Carnival, Allyson Williams MBE, a co-founder of the Genesis Mas Band and board member of the Carnival, and Malika Booker, a Forward Prize-winning Guyanese poet.
The inspiration behind “Mas Resistance” came from the family of Symone Williams, the Executive Producer.
Alex said: “Symone was educating me about her culture and then trusted me with its representation, which I found incredibly brave and generous.”
Alex explained that this project is not just a portrayal of the Carnival; it’s a counter-narrative to what he believes is the often misrepresented and racially skewed portrayal of the event in mainstream media.
He said: “Notting Hill Carnival is constantly misrepresented in the media as a dangerous event, and this is the result of racist media coverage.”
“Mas Resistance” aims to educate and provide insight into the cultural significance and history of the Carnival, which often remains overshadowed by its sheer size.
“I wanted this film to combat those negative representations. Due to the event’s scale, it’s easy to miss the parade and therefore miss the cultural significance of Carnival’s history. Films can be powerful educators – I wanted the film to give some much-needed access to that culture”, explained Alex.
The documentary’s style is heavily influenced by the works of Isaac Julians and John Akomfrah, as well as the scholarly insights of Stuart Hall and bell hooks, guiding the filmmakers to steer clear of typical tropes in representing black culture.
“We wanted the film not to define Carnival, but to transmit how some parts of it feel. Documentaries tend to want to be the definitive and complete version of events, but with Carnival, that isn’t possible or appropriate, as the experience of the event is contested and ever-evolving.” Alex added.
The filmmaking process, enhanced by Alex’s experience in MA Directing, involved the demanding task of condensing hours of footage into a coherent narrative, reflecting the contested and ever-evolving experience of the Carnival. The project, born from the ‘Industry Project’ module at MetFilm School, owes its existence to the connections made with Symone Williams.
Collaboration with artists from the Carnival community was a key aspect, with Symone playing a pivotal role in establishing these connections. “Our interest was genuine, and I think people could feel that”, said Alex, explaining the team’s commitment to authenticity and community involvement.
He said: “Initial research began with understanding the history of West Indian islands impacted by colonialism, following the journey from Trinidadian plantations to British streets.
“With this colonial legacy in mind, I was looking for more collaborative, less hierarchical creative models, and found out about concepts such as Community Co-Creation and Community Authorship,” explained Alex.
“These models are all about sharing creative control, but also inviting the communities being represented to feedback on and influence their representation throughout the process.”
“Mas Resistance” recently screened at the Ealing project as part of a larger three-day exhibition and is slated to feature in various film festivals across the country and worldwide. Alex has also organised a fundraising campaign to cover licensing costs for songs and archive footage used in the film.
This innovative project is a genuine tribute to the Notting Hill Carnival, a demonstration to the power of community storytelling, and an important step in preserving the cultural narratives often lost in history.
