‘Naked Acts’ archived by BFCA, restoration premieres 30 years after shooting
Thirty years after it was initially shot, “Naked Acts” gets a theatrical release despite director Bridgett Davis thinking the film had run its course. The Black Film Center & Archive — which houses the film as part of its larger Bridgett Davis Collection — contributed elements toward the film’s restoration, which premiered on February 7 at Lightbox Film Center in Philadelphia.
“Naked Acts” follows aspiring actress Cicely (Jake-ann Jones), who has just landed her first major role; however, it requires a nude scene. As a sexual assualt survivor and the child of a Blaxploitation star known for her sex appeal and a survivor of sexual assault, Cicely has a strong aversion to disrobing in public. With the support of her boyfriend, Joel (Ron Cephas Jones), she attempts to overcome her fear.
“I think that the beauty and the sensitivity in which the subject matter is handled is very nuanced and tastefully, artistically done,” BFCA Director Novotny Lawrence said. “You can tell that this was a very personal and important film.”
“Naked Acts” first debuted in the 1990s, but it never received wide theatrical release. The film laboratory DuArt was initially in charge of the preservation and showcasing of the film until it announced the closure of its archive in 2013.
Davis decided to donate the film’s materials to the BFCA, hoping it would be an important artifact for researchers and guests. The donation included 17 video cassettes, 32 reels of film, two posters, and additional paper materials related to the film’s production.
Black film curator Maya Cade, founder of the Black Film Archive website, first encountered “Naked Acts” — which was not widely available for viewing — in the fall of 2022 during her residency as a programmer at IU Cinema. She had previously visited the BFCA in the fall 2021 as a research fellow to watch 30 Black films.
Cade contacted Davis via social media, and together they began the restoration and remastering process, which was a collaboration between Lightbox Film Center at the University of the Arts Philadelphia and Milestone Film.
Because the BFCA had been carefully preserving the “Naked Acts” materials, they were able to piece together and upgrade the film to 4K resolution.
“I think that this demonstrates that as a repository, first, our materials are going to be safe. When these things come up, they’re also going to be made accessible,” Lawrence said. “We are here to help preserve the legacies but also ensure that when something like this is a possibility, it can happen.”
The BFCA, established in 1981, is the only archival repository in the world that is wholly dedicated to collecting, preserving, and making available historically and culturally significant films by and about Black people. It maintains a database of over 8,000 films and offers a space for scholars, enthusiasts, and even curious visitors to learn and study the legacy of Black film.
“When we look at film as not merely just entertainment, then you come to recognize how valuable archiving and preserving those stories are, particularly in a time right now when many states—including Indiana—are working as hard as they can to suppress Black histories,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence is proud of the work the BFCA is doing and of the opportunities it can give Black filmmakers like Bridgett Davis. He feels that “Naked Acts” is a great example of why it’s so important to preserve Black films and their legacies.
“To be in a position in which we are making sure that those legacies are going to sustain, it makes me incredibly proud. It’s very meaningful. I would say that I’m overcome by emotion about it oftentimes. It means that I think I’ve chosen the correct vocation,” he said.
The BFCA continues to actively acquire new collections and restore films. They will be hosting several events this fall, including a visit in September from Academy Award Winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott, known for his work on the film “BlacKkKlansman.”
“It (the BFCA) is a fabulous space. It’s for everybody. The staff is welcoming, and if you come for a tour, we will blow your mind. Just come and experience the BFCA because it IS an experience,” he said.