Saturday, September 21
CHANGING THE GAME
7:00 PM
FILMS
R.A.W. TUBA
“I like the tuba because it reminds me of my life, it’s the underdog.” That’s Richard Antoine White, whose biography reads like a manual in how to overcome odds. White grew up intermittently homeless on the streets of Baltimore, and went on to become a world-class symphony musician, professor and the first African American in the world to receive a Doctorate in Music for Tuba Performance. He’s got music in him, yes. But he’s also got a drive rarely seen, even in the most competitive artistic circles. As he puts it, “the only thing that will stop me from being successful is death.”
+ Post-film Q&A with Film Subject Richard Antoine White
Inspired to take action? BALTIMORE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS
Baltimore School for the Arts is a public, urban high school serving a racially and socioeconomically diverse group of aspiring artists. It prepares the next generation of the creative workforce by offering inspiring arts and academic training to high school students as well as opportunities in the arts to younger children and the greater community through its TWIGS and community outreach programs. Discover More
Changing the Game
Directed by: Michael Barnett
For young transgender athletes, the sport they love often turns into a minefield of controversy. Either decried as cheaters if they excel, or barred from competing among the gender they identify with, positive outcomes are rare. But when a sport is a lifeline, what is fair? This exceptional film mines that question through intimate portraits of three trans athletes. Mack isn’t allowed to wrestle boys in his home state of Texas — leaving him to demolish the competition as he wrestles girls. Sarah nordic skis in New Hampshire with the girls she identifies with, but admits that she holds herself back. And Andraya runs track with girls in Connecticut — but has to fend off brutal criticism when she prevails. For these athletes, media attention and ugly remarks (mostly by adults) only fuel the fire of confusion that is teenagehood. As Mack puts it so poignantly, “It feels like I’m winning but feels like I’m also losing at the same time.”
Inspired to take action?
IT GETS BETTER PROJECT
The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. Growing up isn’t easy, especially when you are trying to affirm and assert your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can be a challenging and isolating process – but, the good news is, no one has to do it alone. Discover More
GUEST SPEAKER
Richard Antoine White
Film Subject, R.A.W. Tuba
Richard Antoine White, aka R.A.W. Tuba, grew up intermittently homeless in Baltimore, and went on to become a world-class symphony musician, professor and the first African American in the world to receive a Doctorate in Music for Tuba Performance. He is the subject of R.A.W. Tuba (Mountainfilm 2019).
