Ramell Ross: Director of Nickel Boys Makes Camera a Key Character in Film
Entertainment·New
The Nickel Boys director RaMell Ross uses the camera as a character. Nickel Boys director and co-writer RaMell Ross explains how he navigated the complex relationship between audience and subject in his critically acclaimed new film.
Background and Research
RaMell Ross dove into Nickel Boys with a uniquely useful background. As a Black man raised in the South, the filmmaker had the knowledge and experience necessary to adapt Pulitzer Prize-winner Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys for the screen without too much additional research.
He looked into a previous non-fiction book, The Boys of the Dark, as a seminal jumping-off point. Both books were based on a series of reports about the Dozier reform school in Florida, where the forensic project uncovered the harsh treatment of boys, many of them Black, over its decades in operation.
Character Perspective
When crafting his film, Ross drew from his own experiences to create a story reflecting the realities of Black strife during the Jim Crow-era. His background allowed him to place himself in the characters' shoes, particularly Elwood and Turner, two young Black men trapped in the Nickel Academy.
Ross's hands-on experience and attention to detail in camera work played a crucial role in the film's creation. By using the camera as a character, he explored themes of voyeurism and the subjective experience of being Black in America.
Visual Storytelling
Ross's specific framing techniques and focus on point of view turned Nickel Boys into a commentary on truth and perspective. By choosing to keep most of the violence offscreen and focusing on characters' reactions, he aimed to engage the audience's imagination and emotional connection to the story.
His approach to depicting trauma through subtle cues like eye contact and movements away from violence highlights the characters' experiences without explicit visuals. This method allows viewers to form a deeper connection with the characters and their stories.
Conclusion
RaMell Ross's innovative use of the camera as a character in Nickel Boys creates a compelling and thought-provoking viewing experience. By drawing from his background and expertise in visual storytelling, Ross offers a unique perspective on truth, trauma, and the complexities of human experience.
