Last Week in the Green Room: From Sound to Cinema

Green Room attendees watch the premier of a local film at the Motion Picture event.

The sun is shining, summer is here, and the timing has never been better to find your peace in creative wellness. As our 6-week residency in the Green Room continues to bloom, Forbidden Fruit is thrilled with the fellowship we’ve seen developing throughout our programming. In these last weeks, we’ve had some amazing events taking place in our space, as residents and local creatives alike continue to collaborate to make the Green Room stand out in the beating heart that is the West Philly arts scene.

Ground and Sound 

Led by our own Ty and Stonez of Forbidden Fruit, as part of a special Mother’s Day program, attendees (and their mothers) found a chance to relax and unwind through guided movement, breathwork, and mindfulness practices. This movement in meditation workshop offered a chance to check back in and reflect, focusing on meditative movement and support for nervous system regulation. It served as a day to simply connect with self, as well as the mother, grandmother, aunt, and anyone else, who joined in the practice. 

Pour Back In 

Carley Simone takes the Green Room on a listening jouney during Pour Back In.

The second part of our Mother’s Day program, Carley Simone led a live sound event designed for real reflection. Throughout Simone’s workshop guests experienced a freestyle meditation with live instrumentation, featuring sounds like rain sticks, ocean drums and koshi bells. Attendants were also invited to join a collective listening experience aimed at answering the real questions of the mind- mainly, how are you really? This reflective hour reinforced the idea of the Green Room as a communal, safe space for all wellness practitioners. 

Science of Club Music 

DJ Reezey captivates his audience during The Science of Club Music

Longtime Forbidden Fruit collaborator and local artist DJ Reezey invited Philadelphians on a journey through club music, not just as a form of release, but with deep focus into its connection to ancestral tradition. DJ Reezey used his expertise in the worlds of club, afro, and soul music to transport guests into interconnectivity through music. His work emphasized the link between modern music with the rituals of old, showing how even in a world that can feel so far removed from the past we still carry the torch of our ancestor’s songs, cyphers, ceremonies, and community. 

Philly Photo Club’s Confidence Workshop

Getting in front of or behind a camera can be hard. In this workshop, Philadelphia visual artist JoLeaha Larke led a hands-on class dedicated to opening a dialogue about generating confidence for models and media personnel alike. Participants explored challenges faced with the art of camerawork from multiple perspectives, finding ways to become more confident and collaborative in work ranging from filmmaking to striking a pose. It involved experimentation with photos, as well as professional feedback aimed at helping developing artists find their own voices. 

Motion Picture 

On Friday the 22nd, the Green Room hosted a dance film showcase featuring a number of short films focused on dance and performance art ventures from around the city. It culminated in the premiere of a short film by Forbidden Fruit’s own Crux in collaboration with Daniel Krantman, telling a powerful story centering the unity between choreography, cinematography, and music. To end it all, Crux & Krantman spoke on a post-premiere panel to share insights and reflections with everyone in attendance, describing the filmmaking process and fielding audience questions. 

The Green Room Thanks You!

It was another great week for wellness, and we were thrilled to see the level of community engagement during these events. Connections like these are exactly what Forbidden Fruit strives to create within the neighborhood. We're grateful for the ways The Green Room has welcomed and hosted diverse groups of creatives, both residents and attendees alike. 

With things coming to a close soon, don’t miss the final showcase on June 7th, Soul and Soil. This immersive experience will feature performances, immersive activities, art, and a chance to connect. Come witness the community-created exhibitions, hear from the artists and facilitators who made this whole residency possible, and of course, enjoy a live set by DJ Reezey. RSVP today, tell a friend, and meet us there!