Rob Munday
A film born out of a friendship between collaborators Nasir Bailey and Jackson Kroopf, NASIR is a simple, heartfelt 17-minute documentary focused on themes of acceptance, identity and family. Allowing its viewers to spend time in the company of its titular transgender protagonist, throughout the film we witness him share a deeply personal moment with his relatives as the short provides a raw and honest reflection on the transition process.
Kroopf, a S/W alum with You Know Where, first met Bailey when they collaborated on his 2015 narrative short BobbyAnna, a film about a budding romance between two women. From that point their friendship grew and the pair collaborated again on a feature screenplay which made the second round of the Sundance Screenwriting Lab. Although that film is yet to see the light of day – Kroopf explains the “realities of narrative feature funding” led them to put their attention elsewhere – the duo still felt compelled to create something that was reflective of the safety and trust they find in their collaborative space. And so NASIR was born.
“Our friendship has played an indelible role in each of our lives for the last seven years”
Described by its creators as “a film made by two friends about queer love”, the pair revealed, in conversation with Short of the Week, how their support towards each other was key throughout the process: “Our friendship has played an indelible role in each of our lives for the last seven years across cinematic and musical collaborations. Through short film productions, film festivals, failed screenplays, and court cases, there has been one consistent presence: supportive, creative affirmation. We have both changed a lot since we met each other – Nasir’s voice is a little deeper, Jackson’s attempts to apply cat-eye shadow are improving. The process of seeing one another step into a truer version of ourselves, simultaneously shedding and growing, is layered into the heart center of this film.”
Opening with a visual sequence showing Nasir receiving testosterone injections, the short is built around an hour long recording the musician made on his 30th birthday. “I don’t feel like I was meant to be a biological man”, he declares, before adding that he felt like he was “meant to be a trans man”. It’s a straightforward exposition, but incredibly effective. Not only have the filmmakers instantly introduced the scenario of their film, they also established the heart of their piece – Nasir’s honest approach to life. Throughout the rest of the short, it’s his personality that shines through and though you feel his nervousness and vulnerability as he makes those phone calls, ultimately this is a positive film about owning your identity and receiving the support to do so.
“Using wider compositions and tripods, these shots evoke the stage-like nature of Nasir’s coming-out moment” – Bailey & Kroopf reflect on their filmmaking choices.
The filmmaking is also essential in this regard, as the creative process seems driven around capturing the authenticity of the situation and present an unfiltered account for a viewer who may never get to experience it. The long takes filming Nasir on the phone are particularly successful at this, as we eavesdrop on his seven-minute conversation with his cousin, the majority is shown from a locked-off camera shot, placing its audience in the room, like a friend sitting on the sofa for support. The choice of camera, 16mm and digital 2k, and cinematography is also a key element in creating the intimate, personal feel of the film. The two styles complimenting each other, with the 16mm footage used for more reflection-driven moments focused on the past, while the crisper digital imagery captures the present as Nasir affirms his identity. In the end, the styles mix as the musician performs a song composed for himself, creating a beautiful moment where the visual style perfectly reflects the mood, as Nasir’s past and present align to create a place of harmony and contentment.
Following a successful festival run, where NASIR had its world premiere at BFI London, won the Grand Jury Prize at the DOC NYC Shorts Competition, and was released by the new Los Angeles Times Short Docs team, Bailey is now working on his debut King Nasir of ATM album, as well as his first scripted short film as Writer/Director. Kroopf is in production on a hybrid, feature documentary on the art of survival, with support from the Sundance Institute, as well as in development with two scripted, feature screenplays, one of which will see Nasir reprise his role as Bobby in a hybrid coming of age film about queer friendship.”