Tiana Walsh basks in role in film celebrating black women

AS the sole Jamaican in a short film which was Oscar-nominated in 2020, Tiana Walsh is still basking in pride.

The film, To the Girl that Looks Like Me, was directed by Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah, a graduate of the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, who has been making big strides in the film industry.

It is described as an experimental poetry piece that celebrates black women who continue to thrive in a system that was not built for them.

The film was among four others in the experimental category for domestic and international film schools in the Student Academy Awards.

“I proudly represent for Jamaica. To be a part of a film that was nominated is an overwhelming, grateful feeling. Grateful to the director and grateful to God, a whole lot of gratitude. The Oscars is the most prestigious award. It’s very hard to get nominated so I feel honoured to be a part of a film that did. I’m an established actress, a part of a film that was Oscar-nominated, I have many opportunities now, I am over the moon happy about that,” she told All Woman.

Explaining how she got involved in the film, 24-year-old Walsh, who is from Ocho Rios, St Ann, said the director communicated with her through e-mail in which her role of the character Nimdee was discussed.

“Ewurakua Dawson Amoah is an outstanding director in the industry, her storytelling is remarkable, and after hearing what the film and my role was going to be about, I was honoured to be chosen by her to be a part of this film,” she said.

“My role in the film included me looking into the film and saying, ‘Stop letting them tell you, you sound white when you speak in full sentences’. This is one of the most iconic lines in the film. So, for me, it’s been a powerful experience that I got the opportunity to speak strength into those words. Acting for me is about telling a story, important stories, and that’s what I got to do playing this role, I was able to step into my character’s world and become her and tell a story,” she said.

For Walsh, acting is “beautiful, hard work” and not all about money and fame as portrayed on television.

“It’s moreso carrying the weight of these characters to tell a story in movies and TV shows. I study lines, and when I study them it’s my job to figure out which acting technique to use, then I have to try and figure out how my character feels and then essentially become the character and that’s a big job, so it’s not easy. But trust me when I say it is very rewarding,” she said, noting that the film has taught her a lot about trusting her instincts and helped her to become a powerful, established performer.

Along with the film being Oscar-nominated, it was nominated at other film festivals, including Raindance Film Festival, Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, and Toronto Black Film Festival.