CU alum Katrina Miller's 'The Silence of Quarantine' amplifies voices of local Black elders, a 'generation of warriors'

Apr. 11—Pre-pandemic, Katrina Miller — creator of Blackat Video Productions — could be found at concert venues, like Boulder Theater and Red Rocks, recording high-energy shows. With live entertainment pretty much coming to a stop in 2020, the director turned her efforts to a new film project.

"The Silence of Quarantine," Miller's 30-minute documentary, showcases how certain older members of Boulder's African American community have been affected by the isolation and disruption in routine brought on by the arrival of the global health crisis of COVID-19.

The compelling film introduces viewers to seniors Elmira Davis and the late Johnnie Davis (no relation), two Boulder women who worked with the county and school district to bring better education and opportunities to youth.

Johnnie Davis, who passed on July 29, 2020, is believed to have been the first African American teacher in the St. Vrain Valley School District.

With emotional interviews, archival and fresh footage, the story spans over 113 years of Boulder history and spotlights the impact Second Baptist Church — now located at 5300 Baseline Road — has had throughout the decades and today.

Elmira Davis, now in her early 90s, founded Second Baptist's first gospel choir in the early 1960s and formed several other choirs in different states.

In just half an hour, Miller manages to capture the importance of connection, not just for members of the congregation — who revel in fellowship, hymns and Sunday sermons — but for us all.

We caught up with the filmmaker to find out more about her latest release, what she hopes viewers take away from it and what we can expect from her next.

Daily Camera: Love that your film gives the viewer a look into Boulder's African American community and two such prominent seniors whose lives were impacted by the lockdown. What inspired you to want to share these stories?

Katrina Miller: Last spring, I was approached by Minister Glenda Robinson about creating a COVID-related documentary for a small community grant. She had the idea to interview seniors, most of whom were her family friends she had been connected with through the church for decades.

Initially, I was most excited about presenting historical accounts from seniors in the area. Once I started working on this project, I became attached to the characters and personally invested in their stories. There is little recorded history about the African Americans that have lived in this area and I feel it is important to establish these roots if our community ever plans to have more diverse and equitable population. Knowing the contributions of Black people in the community can offer a sense of pride and belonging to us all.

Of course there is the COVID aspect. I think in some ways people expect for this film to blatantly highlight the disparities in COVID testing and care. You won't find that specific storyline in this feature, but you will get to see a generation that marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that boycotted racist establishments and were the first to attend desegregated colleges. The tragedy is that we are losing this generation of warriors in the most cruel way. This pandemic is turning out to be one of the biggest villains they have ever had to face in their lives. I feel it is important to record their stories while we can in order to adequately preserve history.

DC: What would you say was the most rewarding aspect of making this documentary?

KM: Alongside studying broadcast journalism at CU, I also minored in history and I've worked with the Museum of Boulder on exhibit videos for the past 10 years. Because of this, it's always a delight for me to share historical accounts alongside the personal stories from that time. I see the spark in people's eyes when they learn something new and knowing these connections helps to trigger a wider sense of humanity and unification.

Also, I really loved meeting all of the characters, especially Mother Elmira Davis. She always charmed me on set with her smile, and as a concert video director, I closely related to her passion for music. After our first interview, I found myself dancing and waving my arms as she played the tambourine to a lively gospel song her son Billy (Davis) put on the CD player. I am honored that they invited me into their home to film during this difficult time and that they have become friends to me. Tedd Davis (son of Johnnie Davis) and his wife were also gracious. I couldn't believe that upon first meeting me, he gave me a large container full of precious family photos to take home and scan. All of this generosity reflects the spirit of the Black community here in Boulder. You get this sense of this unyielding support in the film, but it is also important to know that this same structure enabled me to create it. Many of these people put their trust in me solely based on a positive character reference from Minister Glenda Robinson and this is just one more reason why her help was such an asset to making this film happen.

DC: What are you hoping viewers take away from the documentary?

KM: I want viewers to leave with a sense of knowing these women and their value to the community. We have all had our own battles to fight during this pandemic. I've talked to medical professionals, educators, working parents and everything in between and found out that we've all had to adjust our lives in some way. I feel that the plight of seniors is especially hard because they are being denied the very quality of life that would keep them healthy and sharp. We are losing our parents and grandparents and have not been granted the chance to comfort them in death or grieve properly. With that, the oral history of this great generation is also disappearing.

To that effect, I hope viewers appreciate that they are getting some insight on the history of this area as well. Globally, we are all connected in the fight against COVID and in Boulder, we are also all united through our community's history. We don't have to look far to find common ground and find understanding between one another and we need more of that right now.

DC: Are you currently working on any more projects that should be on our radar?

KM: I am currently working on the biggest project of my life. "This Is [Not] Who We Are" is a documentary that looks at how Boulder views itself as a happy, diverse utopia of liberals and the reality that it has the same problems with racism as everywhere else. This form of gaslighting only helps to drive BIPOC away from the area. We had more African American people living in Boulder during the era in which Elmira and Johnnie were young women than we do at this time. "This Is [Not] Who We Are" will feature interviews with prominent Boulder leaders that are working to create racial equity and unify our community. They will talk about the history of the area, their personal experiences and what it will take to change it all. I am directing this film alongside Beret Strong. John Tweedy is our editor and they both own the company, Landlocked Films. (They) already have more than a dozen films under their belt.

DC: Do you plan on screening "The Silence of Quarantine" anywhere this year?

KM: I am still exploring what I'd like to do with this film. I feel what I've created is a treasure because there is nothing else out there that is as detailed about Boulder's Black community as this. I'd love to see it screened at a local film festival where I can invite Minister Glenda and some of the characters to speak on a panel about themes brought up in the film and the state of our African American seniors. I believe this film is worthy of screening at festivals right in our backyard and would be a great way to show love to Black community here. In the long term, I'm working on a slightly shorter version of the film to submit to PBS. For now, it's available on YouTube so watch it there while you can.