Spotlight: Othello Banaci for Yale University

Washington, Maryland-based photographer Othello Banaci recently completed a video project for Yale University. Founded in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is one of the most prestigious Ivy League institutions in the world, known for its rigorous academic programs, distinguished faculty, and extensive research opportunities. However, Yale’s history is not without its blemishes. In 2020, the university initiated “The Yale and Slavery Research Project” to acknowledge and address its past ties to slavery. Yale hired Othello and his video production company Subminimal to capture video content of the research initiative for its website and social media.

The project came about through a client referral as part of a nationwide search to find a production partner for the videos. My video production company and I did a similar project for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Smith College, as well as working on the HBO documentary “38 At The Garden.”

As a production company, we focus much of our energy on human rights pieces, so this was right up our alley. Much of the beginning was establishing a voice and a language for how we wanted to tackle each topic, then narrowing down the main stories we wanted to tell. The goal of the videos was to give a representation of the history and a visual timeline for the client’s website. Yale’s motto is Lux et Veritas (Latin for “Light and Truth”), and the university’s identity is one in constant pursuit of that.

The Project

Othello and his team spent two weeks filming on location at Yale’s campus in New Haven.

It was one of the best on-set experiences I have ever had. My team and I worked on campus, which was accessible for the most part. We had a full crew, including the Yale team: Xie, Cynthia, Jeff, and Hope. The team for this project were some of most savvy and creative partners Subminimal and I have had. The talent as well was collaborative and knowledgeable.

The biggest constraint was time. We had to schedule things based on the university’s openings, people’s schedules, and availability. We were subject to things beyond our control, such as sound in the library, central AC in an old building, or flickering light.

This project helped me focus on better communication between the client and my team, and how to keep momentum for a six month stretch, from preplanning to post-production.

We got to be a part of history. Also, what hits home for me is that I was going back to school to get my degree at the time, so I was working with scholars while pursuing my own knowledge. 

A favorite moment was walking into the Beinecke Library. We got to see some of the rarest books, and inside, it looked like it should be in Blade Runner. Director of Communitty Engagement, Michael Morand, showed us some artifacts and archives that put the weight of the project in perspective. It was like the pregame speech in the championship.

See more of Othello’s work on his website.

Credits
Producer: Courtni Banaci
Associate Producer: Dominique Curtis
Director of Photography: Alexis Chinery
Camera Assistant: Jake Norris
Camera Operator: Aaron Tucker
Camera Operator: Yilmaz Akin
Behind the Scenes: Karsten Spencer
Production Assistant: Arielle Green
Editor Historic: Sarah Krusen
Editor Modern: Nick Brengle
Sound Operator: Camila Gomide
Sound Operator: Paul Schmitz

Further Reading
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