AUDIENCE COMMENTARY
See What the Audience is Saying about Minstrel vs. Puppet!
““After experiencing the film Minstrel vs Puppet (MVP) I was absolutely floored to say the least. The authentic and overwhelmingly accurate perspective the piece provided for its two respective principal characters was not only informative, but also transformative. This short film succeeded in transforming the way in which I view both types of women which uniquely represented two opposite ends of the female spectrum as I’ve come to know it. Also, while the information presented was indeed steller I was perhaps even more impressed with the artistic delivery of the piece. Not only was it captivating both visually and audibly but it was also filmed in such a high quality manner that I felt like I was actually a part of the film. Each element of the film did a great job of delivering on what I have come to desire as a consumer (and producer) of arts, culture and entertainment. Consequently, I highly recommend all that are able to take advantage of the opportunity to experience this amazing display of creative expression curated by the amazingly talented Hannah Bonecutter of BoneClutter ™ .” ”
““Minstrel vs Puppet is an innovative and creative body of work that portrays the conflict many women experience in society. Performed as a spoken word piece, Hannah does a phenomenal job poetically articulating the battle that women go through when trying to balance multiple identities and societal stereotypes. As a male, it was eye-opening to witness the identify conflict that many women are forced to balance every day. Minstrel vs Puppet is a performance everyone should watch to gain a better understanding of gender-based stereotypes and the pressures women have to deal with.” ”
““The film is exceptionally transcending, compelling, and sparks conversation amongst the two characters. The film is outstanding and keeps you wanting to watch it until the end. The quality is professional and the lyrics are powerfully written. If I could recommend one film for the whole world to watch. I would choose this one!””
““MVP is a bold commentary on the difficult decisions two women of color must make throughout their lives to survive in the intrinsically misogynistic and capitalistic world we live in. On the surface they seem to be so different, but in reality, like all of us, these women’s perspectives represent two sides of the same coin. This power packed movie contains hard hitting exchanges of verbal assaults and clever defenses that are delivered through a brilliantly written poetic diatribe. For the heady and artistically driven aficionado this is a one of a kind must see film that relentlessly invokes the senses and challenges engaged spectators to question their own world views, paradigms and dilemmas with morality.
MVP is a cleverly directed film infused with a soundtrack and cinematography that vividly brings the character’s palpable tensions to life. The fuel that sends MVP out of this world is the riveting portrayal of rival characters played by a single actress. Hannah Bonecutter is nothing less than sensational in her debut as a film writer, executive producer and leading actress. MVP truly lives up to its name and stands in a league of its own as the first of a bold new cinematic genre: poetic edutainment.””
““MVP, a masterful creative write, read, direct, and performance. Hannah Bonecutter rises to the occasion in this resonating performance. Hannah truly solidifies herself as a Leading Actress in her depiction of two societal women stereotypes in Minstrel vs. Puppet. This Film is a must see and a future study for artists inspired by duel character performances. Edgy yet honest, I wasn’t sure what I was experiencing at first. Then the competitive, character dramatization set in. I found myself saying “Mmm!” punch line after delivering punch line. Minstrel vs. Puppet, just a remarkable work throughout. Looking forward to seeing more of Hannah Bonecutter in future works.””
““I was blown away by this film. The juxtaposition between the two identities was powerful and thought-provoking. The performance was so strong that I didn’t realize the same actress was playing both parts until the credits rolled! Although entertaining, what was most striking about Minstrel vs. Puppet was the emotion and discussion that it evoked. I would highly recommend this film to anyone.” ”
““MVP is a great piece of artistic design and one that depicts the struggle that Women of Color have to face not only in a group of their peers, but also in the social society that they belong. It is indeed beautifully orchestrated in concept and delivery. It is a timeless film that will span over many different cultural platforms. Hannah utilizes her talents to deliver a message to all who will listen and gives a call to action that should be heeded. A great example of seeing and hearing a void and strategically filling that void with a film of robust subject matter that speaks in volume a strong message that cannot be overlooked.” ”
““I saw “Minstrel v Puppet” at the Cleveland International Film Festival in April and was blown away. As all great films do, the short shook me and forced me to look at an issue from a new perspective (actually, a brilliant clash of two perspectives). It is beautifully written, deftly directed and wonderfully performed and packing an emotional punch.””
““Minstrel vs. Puppet is an amazing creative exploration of the intersectional challenges facing African-American women. Ms. Bonecutter deftly articulates two of the choices facing Black people & women on a daily basis: use their sexuality/physical attributes as a means of survival & success or travel the more traditionally approved path of higher education, which could possibly lead to the board rooms of corporate America. Through her film, Ms. Bonecutter illustrates how both characters are victims of the same system & how their blindness to that fact creates an unbridgeable schism between them. As the Minstrel & the Puppet, Ms. Bonecutter’s performances simultaneously exude sexual boldness & intellectual elitism, which perfectly convey how too often this leaves an oppressed community looking down on each other instead of looking up to the one pulling the strings. This is a must see!””
““The title of the film made me curious before the opening sequence ever began. I soon realized after meeting both characters that I was not as progressive or empathetic when it comes to the experiences of my fellow women of color. This film beautifully explored the multifaceted and diverse perspectives of success-seeking, hungry women. Viewers will soon realize that these are women who are not only stereotyped by their gender and color, but also exploited for their drive to survive in spite of their circumstances.
At some point you will want to vilify each of the characters for their unique experiences and judgment of each other but find it impossible to take a side. Yet, you realize that there are forces outside of this conversation to blame for their disgust in one another. The reason these women can’t identify with each other is because they are both strong female characters to whom society enjoys pitting against one another.
Their “feud” is just an entertaining spectacle used to mask the brutal reality of living as a woman of color in post civil rights era America. This film begs the question.. “Is it possible for the black woman to live the “American Dream” without forfeiting some part of her identity?”
Hannah Bonecutter is a fearless producer and actress in this film willing to stand in the middle of a conversation that most artists have not explored for fear of being misunderstood. Playing both characters who stand on opposing sides and yet finding commonality in their physical appearance was a great move for Bonecutter. This piece is culturally relevant and necessary in a time where society values appearances instead of real stories that bring humanity together in a very authentic and painful way.””
““To see art at its purest form. In people. Perfectly crafted and amplified to give people a deeper look into today’s cultural eccentricity. An absolute masterpiece in constructive, character division. I love the simulative nature of the characters from different standpoints of life. The project will Touch the masses, Apropos to the direction of this film, the message is iconically masterful.””
“Aside from being an audience viewer of Minstrel vs. Puppet, I had the wonderful opportunity to do the makeup for this film. Being behind the scenes is amazing because you get experience the time, work, labor & dedication to put together something that was at one point just vision, but soon became reality. I have known Hannah for many years and her dedication to her craft is inspiring and encouraging to not only myself, but also others around her. I love how she thoughtfully and creatively brought 2 worlds/identities that women in today’s society battle and spoke TRUTH to the struggle of trying to obtain as well as maintain them. Hannah has always been fearless and bold, but shedding light on issues that matter most to her has served to push her to go deeper to continue to speak out on real life struggles and issues going on in the world. Minstrel vs. Puppet is not just a story, but also a reality that had no limits in breaking down barriers to promote thought provoking discussion and self-evaluation. Hannah put her all into creating this film, from the filming team to making sure every detail aligned with the vision she had in mind. ”
““Minstrel vs. Puppet operates as a continual dialogue between two women of color working to define themselves, and success in a society that is systematically designed to keep them down. These women (both played by Hannah Bonecutter) strive for the same thing, yet they speak in direct opposition with one another, trading insults with a vicious anger born out of resentment. Resentment at what their ancestors were put through, and of a society that does not place inherent value on people of color and their individuality. This idea of cultural suppression is smartly touched upon through the use of the terms “minstrel” and “puppet”, which were historically used by the media to belittle black people. Additionally, the film beautifully uses aspects of spoken word poetry and music to highlight some cultural contributions to the arts.
What has stuck with me most about the film though, is its depiction of how systematic racism pits people of color against one another to perpetuate the racial divide in our country. The Minstrel and Puppet share many similarities. They are resourceful, cunning, among other things. But they are also part of a capitalist society created by white men. A society built on the lie that if you conform to certain ideals you will achieve respect and success. And herein lies the dilemma. The Minstrel sees the puppet as someone under the thumb of the white capitalist ideal, and sees herself as more authentic. On the other side of the coin, the puppet sees the Minstrel as perpetuating stereotypes, and views herself as a beacon of class and success. Because of what society has shown them their entire lives, these women believe the two cannot coexist. They grow to resent each other, and thus enforce the power dynamics of a misogynistic, racist system. Having one actress play both roles underlines this point in a powerful way. Ms. Bonecutter’s performances are physical in nature, each line punctuated with sharp movements accentuated by quick cuts.
Minstrel vs. Puppet conveys intentionality in its ideas while remaining open to personal interpretation. It also manages to touch on a number of topics from racism to how social media plays a role in society without overwhelming the audience. It’s a film worth viewing, and one that inspires difficult conversations.””
