Directed by award-winning filmmaker Emmitt H Thrower, Spray Can Stories features not only in-depth personal interviews with legendary Tats Cru members BG 183 and Nicer, but also provides a fascinating glimpse into the entire hip-hop culture that emerged in the Bronx. After viewing the film, I had the opportunity to pose several questions to Emmitt:
What inspired you to produce a film focused on graffiti, particularly Bronx graffiti culture?
Growing up in Brooklyn in the early ’80s, I wasn’t all that aware of graffiti. I always liked to draw, and a few of us began writing our names with chalk in public spaces, but it never went any further. Years later, when I moved to the Bronx, I became intrigued by graffiti—its raw beauty, its democratic spirit, its impact. It was everywhere around me, and I was eager to explore its history and learn more about it. Once I did, I wanted to share what I discovered with others.
Who is your intended audience? The film is such a powerful educational resource—students around the globe are certain to love it.
My intended audience is broad. It includes anyone engaged in hip-hop culture, as well as those interested in learning how an illicit art form born in impoverished neighborhoods became a global phenomenon. As BG 183 and Nicer relate, they went from asking local stores for wall space to earning thousands of dollars creating ads for worldwide corporations.
What would you like your viewers to walk away with?
A deeper understanding how this original American art form began, along with an appreciation for the young people who started the culture.
How did you decide when and where to incorporate AI?
I was drawn to the visual impact of AI and the way it could be incorporated into the documentary as an added element to enhance the narrative. I also appreciated how AI allowed me to revisit the past and capture the sense of community that hip-hop culture fostered. My son was especially helpful in this particular aspect of the film’s development.
What were some of the challenges you faced in producing this film?
I kept asking myself how to create an immersive story that would authentically capture this rich culture and engage audiences. Another major challenge was overcoming the suspicion of the graffiti artists I had initially approached.
How did you support the production?
It was made possible with regrant funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs administered by the Bronx Council on the Arts. I supplemented these funds with some of my own.
Although Spray Can Stories has already been nominated for and won several awards, it hasn’t yet debuted in New York City. How can folks see your film?
Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky with Tara Murray
