By Alyssa Riley
He sat at a table inside Starbucks with his laptop in front of him and a latte in hand. Despite the rumbling of the coffee machines, the constant playing of Spotify’s ‘Coffee Shop’ playlists, and the reoccurring calls of names for customers to grab their orders, Michael Day, 28, often finds himself coming here to edit his projects, like “Focus” — a short film influenced by his wife that follows Denise Douglass, a Black reporter for Channel 8 News who must find a way to secure a job without compensating her pay and beliefs.
“The movie is based on the history of sexism, racism, and equal pay gap,” Day said about the film. “Black women make 66 percent of a white man’s dollar.”
As a Black rights activist and the owner and founder of DAYVISION Films in northwest Arkansas, Michael writes, produces, and directs feature films that highlight the Black experience. Throughout his career, the point he strives to make through his work is that Black people are more than their trauma.
“We have a lot to be thankful for; we have a lot to celebrate and throughout the course of my film career, I would like to share that with the world,” Michael said. “We are so much more than just Jim Crow and the Civil Rights era; we are Black excellence.”
Michael Day and NaTosha DeVon; “And the Winner Is” Behind the Scenes
Michael believes that his passion for what he does, and why he is here in a Starbucks editing a film he created, started on one random day of his senior year.
Attending a journalism class, he knew all there was to know about the tragedy of Michael Brown. He knew he had been walking down the middle of the road with a friend on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Missouri. He knew an officer had driven up and told them to walk on the sidewalk instead. He knew the situation went south just before the officer pulled out his gun and killed Brown, who was unarmed. He knew biased perspectives were flying left and right out of the media, as well.
He knew that Michael Brown could have easily been Michael Day; considering that as a real possibility hurt his heart, but it was overwhelmingly true that day.
Michael maintained a quiet presence in class when discussing similar stories because he knew the other students did not understand, and they never would – being one of the two Black students in the class. However, Brown’s story felt personal to him, and he believed that if he did not speak up then, he never would have.
After arguing with his professor about whether the killing of Michael Brown was unjust, he realized that if anyone is going to tell the world about the Black experience, it has to come from a Black person and no one else.
He decided he would be that person.
Michael Day, Destiny Miller, Lynn Jolian and Maurice Tobin; Day shows the cast their actions on camera of “Run It Back” music video; Photo taken by De Shunn Berry of Shunn B. Films
After graduating in 2015 with a degree in Journalism and African-American Studies, Michael created DAYVISION, a film company with the mission of giving “Black creators and stories power and resources by using our authentic voice and identity in the visual arts medium,” and created eight short films with the help of family, friends, coworkers, and mentors.
“I really see Michael’s work as, NO. 1, something that has been missing, particularly here in northwest Arkansas,” Ifesinachi Egbosimba, Michael’s wife, said. “And I feel like it has been closing so many gaps that are here when it comes to local film, particularly for minority groups.”
One of his most acclaimed films, “And the Winner Is,” follows Sydney Davis, who has finally won the most prestigious award for Best Film Director. Despite believing he has created more opportunities for Black filmmakers, his wife, Tonya, feels he may have compromised his morals to win.
The film won Best Overall Short Narrative at the Arkansas Minority Film & Arts Association Festival, led to him receiving the Artists 360 grant and has been screened at 10 film festivals, including ones in Arkansas, Paris, Greece, Minnesota, and San Diego.
“Mike Day influences people by addressing issues that many people don’t often talk about,” Kary Collier Jr., filmmaker, and owner and founder of Bogwood Inc. said. “… His work allows us to bring problems to the forefront and speak on them in a way that is comfortably uncomfortable thus making them productive conversations.”
Egbosimba said that growing up in Little Rock, Michael did not have the resources to pursue anything regarding film. Once opportunities were available in college, his journey of creating, educating and being an activist took off.
“He wants to make sure that children – young people in general – who want to pursue this have access to what they need to be successful,” she said.
Top: NaTosha DeVon, Justin Stewart, Tom McFetridge, Brandon Augustin and Leortice Smith; Bottom: Victoria McDaniels, Michael Day and Ryan Versey; “And the Winner Is” Cast and Crew; Photo taken by VERSAtile Optics
Additionally, Michael works at the Springdale School District as a multimedia specialist, where he also creates films and strives to bring more diversity and relation to the minority groups in Springdale’s schools.
He works on projects that he is proud of, like “800 East Emma Avenue,” a short documentary that divulges the memories of the previous home of Washington Elementary in Springdale, Arkansas.
Dan Robinson, executive director at Your Media, a non-profit organization that runs the Fayetteville Public Access Television station and channel, mentored Michael after college. There, he covered community events, public service announcements and information pieces.
“I was so thrilled when he was hired by the Springdale School District,” Robinson said. “Mike is great at working with younger people, and also celebrating things that are related to education. Michael has always been committed to education and I think it is great that he found a way to plug in and give back.”
Many people recognize Michael’s humility and selflessness through his work and actions because he wants people to succeed as much, if not more, as him. It allows him to build incredible relationships with friends and coworkers – ones that go much deeper than, simply, the work they do.
“I say, “We,” a lot. When I say, “We,” and I’m talking about DAYVISION, I’m really talking about all of my supporters and my wife,” Michael said. “But DAYVISION does not exist without people who are interested in film … So, I owe my success to God and then the tribe.”
More than anything, he wants his work to educate people on how the Black experience has so much more to offer than the trauma, and that Black people are more than basketball players, rappers and slaves.
Continuing with his passion for filmmaking and Black activism, he also hopes to move back to Little Rock and start a non-profit organization dedicated to film and African-American studies. Providing this outlet, and possibly tutoring sessions, kids who have interests in film or the arts would be the main focus.
“It is always about giving back and telling the generation that’s coming behind you that there may be barriers to overcome – you may be black, you may be a woman – but you can do this, and you have people that will support you all the way,” he said.