Making Sweet Tea is a documentary film that chronicles the journey of southern-born, black gay researcher and performer, E. Patrick Johnson, as he travels home to North Carolina to come to terms with his past, and to Georgia, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C. to reconnect with six black gay men he interviewed for the book, Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South—An Oral History. Johnson transformed that book into several staged plays over the course of a decade. The film combines documentary moments from the men’s lives a decade after the publication of the book and from Johnson’s life, depicting both how the men have changed and been changed by the book and play. The film also covers the complexities of Johnson’s relationships with the men, with his family, and with his hometown in western North Carolina. One experimental component of the film is Johnson’s re-staging the performance of the men’s narrative in their homes, in their churches, or on their jobs, sometimes with them directing him and/or with them in the scene. Blurring the line between art and life, Making Sweet Tea offers a rare glimpse into the lives of people rarely given a platform to speak, while also demonstrating how research, artistry, and life converge.

Making Sweet Tea

The story of Sweet Tea spans more than a decade. Starting off a scholarly book by E. Patrick, it has since been adapted into a one-man show and is now a feature length documentary. Each iteration highlights different characters and topics in the lives of these black gay men of the south

Live Q&A with the filmmakers of Making Sweet Tea

A live Q&A with the filmmakers of Making Sweet Tea

Virtual Admission

Donation to {{name}}

Donate

Gift Cards

These are all the passes tied to your account. Now, use our online schedule to reserve tickets. You can access your tickets via {{my_tickets_link|"My Tickets"}} or via the PDFs attached to each ticket order confirmation email. {{buy_pass_link|Looking to buy more passes?}}

These are all your purchased tickets. Open this page on your phone, and at the door tap the "Show Barcode" button and show your screen to the attendant. Prefer paper? Print the PDF attached to the order confirmation email, or click one of the gears below and select "Download tickets PDF". If purchasing multiple tickets, be sure to print or show each unique ticket barcode.

https://watch.eventive.org/silverscreen/play/6054f7c715c7f200bb757e22

None available

Tickets

The Silver Screen Series, a gathering place where documentary films can be shown and shared. These films draw on the humanities values of biography, history, culture, and ethics. They are about the stories that define us, connect us with each other, express our values and convey our experiences.

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.