Directors’ Statement
Rashaad Newsome and Johnny Symons

Assembly is the product of two distinct yet complementary visions, brought together by our shared desire to challenge the dominant narratives that have historically constrained the stories of marginalized communities. As filmmakers, artists, and storytellers, we are deeply invested in creating work that speaks to our personal experiences and expands the possibilities of what storytelling can be.

Rashaad: My approach has always been rooted in the practice of collage, not just as a method for assembling different mediums like animation, live performance, sculpture, music, and computer programming, but also as a philosophy — deconstructing the world around me and reconstructing it into a more liberatory, expansive, and inclusive vision that transcends my own lived experience. I’ve always been drawn to exploring the complexities of Blackness and Black queer identity, which are too often oversimplified or misrepresented. These nuances are deeply embedded in Assembly. The documentary form allows me to expand my work beyond the confines of galleries or performance spaces and bring it to a much wider audience. It’s not just about capturing the process behind the creation; it’s about using the medium as a tool for decolonization, to challenge and disrupt the outdated systems that dictate whose stories get told, how they’re told, and who gets to tell them. Through Assembly, I’m actively reshaping those narratives into something more inclusive and expansive.

Johnny: For me, Assembly is a continuation of the work I’ve done throughout my career, documenting queer lives and movements through observational storytelling to reveal the intricacies of LGBTQ existence. My focus has always been on capturing real, intimate moments, and that experience brings a powerful layer to this project. While I’m stepping into Rashaad’s world of avant-garde performance art, I bring with me a deep connection to queer culture and community. In this film, I’m not just an observer documenting a process; I’m part of a collaborative journey. Rashaad’s multi-disciplinary, cross-collaborative approach pushes the boundaries of what film can do, and by blending my observational style with his, we’re discovering new ways to tell our stories together.

Together, our unique perspectives and practices converge in Assembly to create a film that resists categorization—blurring the lines between art, documentary, performance, and activism. The film, much like its title, becomes an assembly of voices, histories, and visions, showcasing how art can serve as both a mirror to society and a tool for liberation. In capturing this process, we are not only revealing the inner workings of a groundbreaking exhibition but also inviting the audience to witness the profound impact of Black queer creativity on the world stage.