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what people are saying
"From the etymology of tea-spilling to the resilience and brilliance of gay people of the area, Making Sweet Tea is both a queer history lesson and a character study. The material realities of lives in 'double jeopardy' are explored: HIV/AIDS, Black gay male friendship, gay men growing up in the American Baptist tradition, interracial dating, and stories of survival, but the charm and joy of these men never quits. With drama (and not just the Patti Labelle drag) and just enough tea being served, this is the most soulful documentary of the year. " — FRINGE! Queer Film and Arts Fest 2020, East London.
“Watching it come to life on the screen, feeling the audience catch their breath with each raw, humorous and revealing moment — was just like the poignant moments working with epj, creating the play, experiencing it unfold in all its subtle, beautiful and challenging emotions -- all over again.” — JANE M. SAKS, President and Artistic Director of Project& and Developer and Producer of Sweet Tea (the play)
“He [EPJ] is really good at what he does, as a performer, as a professor, as a respecter of our culture. And so the stories are real. And they’re all across the spectrum of gay life in the South.” — Duncan Teague, Activist, Unitarian Universalist (UU) Minister, native-Atlantan, and cast member of Making Sweet Tea to Fox 5 Atlanta
PRESS
“‘Making Sweet Tea': Out NU dean talks about new documentary.” Windy City Times, August 18, 2020.
“The All Genders, Lifestyles, And Identities Film Festival Announces Schedule For aGLIFF 33: Prism.” Broadway World, July 22, 2020.
“Utah Film Center Damn These Heels 2020: Worthy selections include documentary Making Sweet Tea and romantic drama Unsound, along with wild indulgent horror treat of Thirst.” The Utah Review, July 17, 2020.
“Utah Film Center Announces 2020 DAMN THESE HEELS Drive-In Movie, Short Films, Late Additions.” Broadway World Salt Lake City, June 1, 2020.
“Nora Gross & John Jackson explore black, gay masculinity in ‘Making Sweet Tea.’” Queerty, January 1, 2020.
“FOF #2793: Making Sweet Tea.” Feast of Fun Podcast, October 17, 2019.
“Atlanta’s LGBTQ Festival returns for 32nd year.” Fox 5 Atlanta, September 26, 2019.
“‘Making Sweet Tea’ is the gay documentary the world needs right now.” QUEERTY, October 3, 2019.
“Annenberg dean and students produce documentary about Southern gay black men.” The Daily Pennsylvanian, October 2, 2019.
“Seeing Life Through Their Eyes.” Penn Today, September 27, 2019.
“World Premiere: ‘Making Sweet Tea’ documentary film.” Princeton Arts Alumni, September 23, 2019.
“E. Patrick Johnson Gives Voice To Southern, Black Gay Men in His Book 'Sweet Tea.’“ Blavity, July 1, 2019.
“Trailer: 'Making Sweet Tea' -- a Feature Length Documentary about the Lives and Loves of Southern Gay Black Men.” NewBlackMan (in Exile) The Digital Home for Mark Anthony Neal, May 8, 2019.
“They were a gay, interracial couple in an age of relentless bigotry. The two Harolds didn’t flinch.” The Washington Post, October 16, 2018
“A Scholar Without Borders.” Diverse Education, June 12, 2018.
“From an act of listening to embodiment - a further step in the path of compassion.” OHMA, December 15, 2017.