Your Love is a Legacy: BVW Promotes Representation & Inclusivity in New Commercial
Jewelers is proud to partner with Bryon Evans Films and ADJ Visions production company to release our new commercial, Legacy. This short film pays homage to the history of people of color in Northern Nevada.
About Legacy
Despite the rich history of Black families moving to the area during the Gold Rush, there is a distinct lack of representation and diversity both in front of and behind the camera in Northern Nevada. When we heard that ADJ Visions was looking to provide more opportunities for local talent that isn’t being represented, we were thrilled to collaborate on this project. Inspired by the often untold stories of people of color in Northern Nevada, Legacy tells a fictional tale that follows a family through generations. Through trials and tribulations, love and perseverance, the characters narrate the importance of bringing these stories to light. “We wanted to tell a story that was based in love, while still acknowledging the past and the legacy of those that came before us,” says Darius Devine, Director, Co-writer, and Co-producer. “Instead of rehashing past trauma and cliches, we wanted to focus on telling new stories and put a spotlight on the progress, love, and inspiration that can be birthed out of the hardships all of us face.”A story that lasts generations
In Legacy, the goal was to show what it would look like to have a family that handles hardship and prevails. Since there are many publications in the media that highlight the tough spots of Black history, Devine and the filmography team chose not to focus on that. Instead, they wanted to put a spotlight on the progress, love, and inspiration that can be birthed out of the hardships all of us face. “The untold history of many of our ancestors gets lost in the background, muddled with political rhetoric, and combined with the snippets of history we read in our textbooks, becoming grayer and duller than the stories ever were. This telling is a step outside the typical story we have been spoon-fed,” shares the statement on the commercial from ADJ Visions. “We are pleased to gift the audience (just as the young man is gifted in the commercial) the opportunity for their horizons to grow as they learn more about the wide range of stories that come from the past.”Celebrating love & inclusion
Historically, Black families have been excluded from the fine jewelry market, and with that means often a lack of family heirlooms. At BVW, we wanted to honor the importance of family legacies and share the message that jewelry is for everyone. It’s not just about romantic love, but celebrating family love, people of all races, and love for all genders and identities. All people experience love, and we support the representation of love for all people, including those who have often been underrepresented, like people of color and LGBTQIA+ people. As such, symbolism was an important aspect in honoring the history of Black ancestors while also shifting the narrative to share new stories of hope and positivity for the future. The heirloom piece featured in the video is the “Mptapo” symbol or the “knot of pacification and reconciliation.” Mpatapo represents the bond or knot that binds parties in a dispute to a peaceful, harmonious reconciliation. It is a symbol of peacemaking after strife.The team
BVW is honored to have collaborated with ADJ Visions on this important project. Based in Los Angeles, ADJ Visions is comprised of August Anthony Allen, Darius Devine, and Justin Tanks. The trio worked together to write and produce the script and brought in other local talents including Bryon Evans as Director of Photography, and local composer, Zack Teran, who wrote and performed an original score. We are also proud to have worked with local actors including David Hayes, Shannise Mora, Grace Hayes, LaTara Misher, Persia Ghaffary, Cody Hamilton, Steve Longley, Claire Pierce, James Short, and Sandra Dee Richardson.Learn more
If you are interested in learning more about Legacy, the full press release can be found here. To learn more about ADJ Visions and inclusivity and representation in film in Northern Nevada, visit adjvisions.com
