The Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts is pleased to partner with Professor King Britt’s Blacktronika Series to present G*d Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines on Friday, November 3, 2023, at 6:00 pm. This film screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A with director Kristian Hill and producer Jennifer Washington.

Blacktronika: Afrofuturism in Electronic Music, honors all the innovators of color and their undeniable contributions to electronic music

About the Film

The story behind one of Detroit’s great contributions to world culture: Techno, the electronic music phenomenon created by Black artists in the 1980s that transformed dance music internationally and blossomed into the multi-billion dollar industry of EDM today.

https://detroittechnomovie.com/

About the Director

Documentary Filmmaker Kristian R. Hill has over 25 years experience in film, television, and entertainment media. Kristian was born in Detroit, MI, a city whose prideful history would come to define much of his work. With encouragement from his parents, he got involved in the computer arts at an early age. His attraction to video editing gave him an entryway into the world of television, leading to early credits like Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense and other projects with the NFL Network, HBO and Apple. Driven by a thirst to tell authentic stories, Kristian eventually began focusing on producing and directing as much as editing.

In 2014, Kristian garnered an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Best Children's Television Program for “Postcards: Mandela.” Later that year, his short film, "Electric Roots: The Detroit Sound Project," was selected to screen at the Court Mértage - Cannes Short Film Corner. Both projects, he directed, shot and edited. In 2022, Kristian made his feature-film directing debut with ‘God Said Give ‘em Drum Machines - the Story of Detroit Techno’; at the world renown Tribeca Film Festival. Through the making and rollout of the film, he has earned speaking engagements at the School of Cinematic Arts - DePaul University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Documentary Lab, British Film Institute - London Film Festival, and the Hirshhorn/Smithsonian Museum to name a few.

Currently, Kristian is living and working in Los Angeles where he is an in demand editor; in addition to his growing reputation as a director and executive producer. His next project “Welcome to Rap City” is a three-part docu-series presented by BET and Mass Appeal premiering on the BET Network - October 2023.

About the Producer

Born and raised in Detroit, filmmaker, and author Jennifer Washington is inspired by the rich musical culture of her city. Since co-founding Washington Hill Pictures, she has produced several audio-visual works and events that accredit the Black artists in her hometown who have transformed the world with their innovative works. By illuminating the city's musical legacy, her work champions the campaign for Detroit to be recognized as an official music capital of the world. Her latest endeavor God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines: The Book is available now, which chronicles her 13-year filmmaking journey of producing her first feature film God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines - coming soon to a screen near you!

Location

The Mosaic 113 Auditorium is located in the Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts at UC San Diego (Mosaic Building).

Parking

The closest visitor parking is located in the Scholars Parking underground parking structure (map). Weekend parking is $2/hour.

Questions

Email surajisranicenter@ucsd.edu