Directors Abdi Ibrahim and Jonathan Salmon have released Who Am I, a short initiative film that is an unapologetic ode to the relationship between Black life and the art it creates. The film serves as a visual poem highlighting over 40 Black Seattle artists of all disciplines, ages, complexions and backgrounds in their environments as they recite a poem about the authenticity of their craft.
Who Am I is a call to action to fund two Black-led grassroots organizations in Seattle (Choose180 and Creative Justice) dedicated to restructuring the youth incarceration system in the county.
Ibrahim and Salmon felt a shift in their responsibility as artists to their community back on June 1. After the tragic death of George Floyd, Ibrahim and Salmon joined thousands in Downtown Seattle to protest against police brutality and systemic racism in Black and Brown communities in Seattle. As they protested on this day, Police began to shove, pepper spray, gas and shoot rubber bullets at Ibrahim and Salmon, among thousands of others. This experience left the directors scared, angry and determined to do more as artists and spawned the creation of Who Am I.
The film is the centerpiece of a social media campaign designed to raise awareness for each Black artist and creative involved as well as to generate the most funds for the donation campaign.
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Credits
Production/Creative Abdi Ibrahim, Jonathan Salmon, directors; Randi Cerf, producer; Akunna Amaefule, Devonnie Black, William Dutcher, writers; Justin Jeffers, DP; Mitchell Overton, 1st assistant camera; Keegan Ellington, production sound. Editorial Niles Howard, editor. Music Sango, composer. Postproduction Dimitri Zola, colorist. Audio Post Jeff Malen, postproduction sound. Featured Artists (all from the Greater Seattle area) Abdi Ibrahim, Akunna Amaefule, Aramis Johnson, Ari Glass, Bakari Hayes, BigFaceRay, Bruce LeRoy, C Malo, Campana, Carlisa Williams, Darien Muongvang, Devlin Dinish, Edouardo Jordan, G Baby, Hanan Hassan, Himi Martin, JD Rainey, Jada Washington, Jak Knight, Jordan Nicholson, Jordan McLin, Justin Jeffers, Keegan Ellington, Khris P, Kianna Lewis, Liv, Meron Menghistab, Neveah Thompson, Nyles Davis, Perri Rhoden, Perry Paints, RaNiyah Cooper, Rell Be Free, Remix Young, Sango, Shotta Pistol, Sol, Taylor Fester, TiQuida Spillman, Tiffany Hammonds, Ugly Frank, Umi Wagone, Upe Moore, William Dutcher, YiZjuani Waston
Isn’t it nice to know that some things are still real?
In a world increasingly crafting fakes, replicas, and perfectly rendered simulations, there are fewer and fewer places that still celebrate authenticity.
On a day dedicated to lighthearted hoaxes and twists of fate, it seemed a perfect time to release a film that explores what’s real, and not.
That tension sits at the center of “L’ultimo Uomo Reale” (“The Last Real Man”), a new film from Team One and director Sebastian Strasser, in partnership with the marketplace for authenticated luxury resale, The RealReal.
Conceived as a response to The RealReal’s 2024/25 “Ask Yourself What’s Real” campaign theme, the film pushes that question further, by exploring the growing tension between perception and reality in today’s digital world.
At a moment when much of the industry is using AI to scale content, this work flips the lens—using it as both subject and storytelling device. A humorous, slightly unsettling take for anyone who still values the real thing.
Directed and rendered by Strasser, the piece constructs a hyper-real world that feels convincingly human—until it begins to fracture. Subtle glitches give way to a full unraveling, exposing a carefully engineered illusion.
“We’re moving into a world where ‘real’ is no longer a baseline—it’s a premium,” said Chris Graves, Chief Creative Officer, Team One. “We wanted to create a story that lets the illusion hold just long enough to feel convincing—then disrupt it, so you’re forced to reconsider what you’re actually looking at. Because what carries value now isn’t just craft. It’s credibility.”
Team One was inspired by The RealReal’s authentication process... Read More
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