Recently, I listed LIV in my recap of the best PNW albums of 2022 for her album Pink and Orange. I mentioned in the article that LIVt is an avid filmmaker and on New Year’s Eve she re-released her short film, titled Street Lights, which she wrote and directed.
The coming-of-age story highlights Black adolescence in LIV’s hometown of Lakewood, WA. It follows two friends on the eve of their high school graduation as they pay homage to all of their favorite spots in town. In the midst of their teenage bliss, the only thing fighting against them is a curfew. Will they finish their final grade school adventure and still make it home safely before the Street Lights come on? Most importantly, though, will he remember to get the milk for his mom?!
“No one can possibly know what is going to happen. It is happening. Each time, for the first time. For the only time.” -James Baldwin. | Still from Street Lights
I love short films like this because you can stumble across it in your feed, watch the whole story play out in less than ten minutes and still feel satisfied as if you watched a feature-length film.
What starts out as a cute lighthearted, nostalgia-invoking teenage adventure, ends in a powerful statement. The cinematography is spectacular, with even the quickest shots making up substantial pieces of imagery that carried real weight to them.
LIV also featured an amazing score of local music that built with the emotions on screen. Songs include two of her own songs, “Pink and Orange,” and “Over Due” featuring EsePax, along with Jaywop’s “Carousel” and Grady’s “The Sun” featuring Kiddus and Blake Anthony.
To produce the short film, LIV collaborated with an incredible production crew and post-production crew. As well as a roster of other talented cats including Tré Scott, Shelby Poole, Karen Thomas, and Tayvon Kincaid who starred in the film.
Watch Street Lights directed by LIVt
