Grey Area

The title of Monona Wali’s UCLA thesis film, Grey Area, refers to the spaces of compromise that seemingly have to be made to survive in white society. The film revolves around an African-American woman reporter for a local television station who must seemingly compromise her political principles to keep her job, just as a former Black Panther Party member gets out of prison, only to realize that the old comrades in the struggle have moved on with their lives. It is also a plea for community development in Watts and other black L.A. neighborhoods, a concern that connects many of the L.A. Rebellion projects.

—Jan Christopher Horak

Available for research at UCLA

Printed in collaboration with the New York Public Library from the original 16mm A/B roll b/w negative and the original 16mm track negative. Laboratory services by Fotokem.

New print funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Getty Foundation.