The accolades have been virtually non-stop since the film and its star bowed at the Sundance Film Festival in January, this year. And while the director of that film, Benh Zeitlin – Beasts Of The Southern Wild – likely won't have much difficulty building on the success of the film, as his career as a filmmaker blossoms, what about its star, Quvenzhané Wallis?
I've watched her spellbind hosts and reporters in interview after interview, as audiences watch in wonder, charmed by the young lady's personality. But I keep waiting to read an announcement about her being cast in any future feature projects.
Granted she's 8-years-old, and I suppose work is scarce for young black girls, but I actually think she'd be a hot property right now, and directors would be fighting over themselves to cast her in something… anything… if only to capitalize on all the press she's been getting for her performance in Beasts (press that even includes talk of an Oscar nomination).
Unless I've just missed an announcement, but I've been watching fairly closely, with my antennae on alert for any news about Ms Wallis that doesn't have anything to do with Beasts Of The Southern Wild.
I suppose there could be some deals in development that haven't been officially announced yet, as I think the world would be really interested in seeing what she does next. I know I am. Ok, so maybe not the entire world, but you know what I mean. She's been everywhere, and has become an instant celebrity, practically overnight, thanks to director Zeitlin's request that she fill little Hushpuppy's tiny, but simultaneously massive shoes.
She's, as I said in my review, a miniature force of nature with a natural onscreen charisma, and her performance only seems to get better as the film progresses, and more is required of both her and the character she plays.
And that's why I'm looking forward to seeing the short film titled Boneshaker by Frances Bodomo – a Ghanaian filmmaker based in New York City, and Columbia University grad; currently an MFA Candidate and Dean’s Fellow at NYU’s Graduate Film Program.
We featured Boneshaker in April, and I think it'll be Ms Wallis' first post-Beast film, which I would say instantly raises the film's profile, something that I'm sure Frances is aware of. At least, I would think so.
Boneshaker centers on "a Ghanaian family, lost in America, [that] travels to a Louisiana church to cure their violent daughter."
The film stars Quvenzhané Wallis, and it certainly has my attention, based on the short 40-second teaser embedded below, if you haven't seen it yet:
Watch: