By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
Baltimore native Imani Nia Robinson brings back the nostalgic feel of 90s classics like “Living Single” and “A Different World” with her new show, “3 Blind Mice.” Now, the show’s pilot has gone viral.
The story follows Naeemah, played by Robinson herself. A Black woman adopted by a White couple, Naeemah grew up in a predominantly White community. Seeking a deeper connection to her roots, she transfers to a historically, Black college in Baltimore where she meets a diverse group of friends— each at a different stage in their own lives— who help guide her on a journey of self-discovery.
Robinson first devised the concept for the show while in high school at the Waldorf School of Baltimore. At the time, she was the only Black girl in her class. Her best friend referred to her as an “Oreo,” meant to describe a Black person who adopts mannerisms, interests or a way of speaking stereotypically associated with White people.
“I was just trying to figure out who I was, my identity and how I could feel a sense of belonging. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, there really isn’ t a TV show out there about a Black protagonist who feels othered within the Black community,’” said Robinson. “I thought there was also humor in that, and I wanted to create a character that I could act and star in as myself. It evolved into the ‘3 Blind Mice’ that you see today.”
The show’s themes of identity and belonging that inspired Robinson also resonate with the cast, each of whom brings a unique perspective to the story. Another cast member born and raised in Baltimore, Arthur R. Fitzhugh III, who plays Kevin, related to the themes through his own experience with family dynamics.
“As a kid, we used to go to family reunions all the time. Over time, that dwindled away, and our connection to those previous generations pretty much died out,” said Fitzhugh. “That’s a common story for a lot of Black Americans, especially because we don’t have those roots that go back to an African tribe or country. My lineage starts and ends in Baltimore to my knowledge.”
At the heart of “3 Blind Mice” is the trio of Naeemah; Brittanie, played by Natasha M. Gallop, and Muffin, played by Crystal T. Johnson. Gallop, an historically Black college and university (HBCU) graduate herself, was especially drawn to the diverse depiction of HBCU culture.
“I really loved the fact that we get to expose audiences to all of the beautiful things about different varieties of Black culture,” said Gallop. “We’re not a monolith.”
For Johnson, her character gave her an opportunity to explore a person she always wanted to be. Starring as Muffin has supplied an outlet for her to learn how to be more authentic and outspoken.
“I looked at her as my chance to go back and reconnect with some of the parts of myself that I might have silenced or quieted,” said Johnson. “She made me think about all of those times where I wanted to stand up for something or be that mama bear in a group, and I actually didn’t.”
The cast filmed the entire pilot in Baltimore over the course of five days, putting a spotlight on Coppin State University, the 125-year-old HBCU on Baltimore’s West Side, and other symbols associated with Charm City, such as the Domino Sugar sign.
The show was released on YouTube on Aug. 4 and had more than 30,000 views as of Aug. 19.
Robinson said she wanted Baltimore to feel like its own character in the story. She previously acted in “The Wire” and wanted to challenge the negative narratives surrounding the city.
“It was important for me to show the charm of Baltimore— how it’s really beautiful, how we have a really big arts community and Black-owned businesses and different neighborhoods that people don’t even know about,” said Robinson. “I wanted to shine a light onto that.”
“I want people to feel excited and proud of how we represent this city,” she said.
Getting “3 Blind Mice,” produced was not an easy journey. After years of trying to get the show on its feet with other production companies, Robinson’s mother, Noni Robinson, encouraged her to start her own studio, Faith and Purpose Productions.
“When your child has a dream that’s bigger than you imagine, you learn from it, you grow and you ride the wave. She was so diligent, focused and motivated. I understood the depth of her desire, and I also understood at a young age how creative and talented she was,” said Noni Robinson, executive producer of the show. “If I’m being honest, I did not expect it to grow in the way that it did. It’s been a tearful and proud moment.”
Director Letia Solomon said she was immediately drawn to the Robinsons’ mother-daughter dynamic and the heart in the script. This combined with her understanding of what it’s like to struggle with identity led her to join the project.
Solomon said shooting was a heavy lift. The production included more than 100 cast and crew members.
“This was a huge project that we had to figure out, but I was able to make sense of what they wanted to do in the time they wanted to do it in,” said Solomon. “And, you know what made it easy? Imani is a great actress. She made my job easy. She made my job fun. I felt like we were painting with her performance.”
The pilot has garnered recognition, including awards for Best Indie Pilot at the 2024 Essence Film Festival and Best Series at the 2023 Queen City Film Festival.
If the show is not picked up by a larger network or streaming service, Robinson and her team plan to keep producing it independently through Faith and Purpose Productions. Still, they are looking for partners, investors and financiers to help bring future episodes to life.
They’re also hoping to secure Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott for a cameo down the line.
As the response from viewers has been overwhelmingly positive, Robinson and the cast and crew say they have much more in store for Charm City.
“Please, Baltimore, stick with us. We love you so much. We’re so happy that we have your backing,” said Robinson. “You are part of the ‘3 Blind Mice’ family, and this is not going to be the last time you hear of us.”
Great Job Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
