Black and White Trypps Number Four (2008)

In the fourth iteration of the Trypps series, the film delves back into the familiar black and white hues, echoing the first two installations. However, Black and White Trypps Number Four is more than a mere concert film; it's a subtle commentary on race, presented through the raw footages of Richard Pryor's electrifying stand-up act. The title adeptly encapsulates the duality of racial identity, while the visuals challenge this concept. The film employs a distinctive Rorschach blot effect, manipulating images to portray Pryor as frequently "white" as he is "black", provoking viewers to question their preconceptions of race and color. The aggressive flickering induces an afterimage effect, allowing colors to subtly bleed into the black and white world, metaphorically dismantling the constraints of racial and material constructs. As articulated by Russell, the film leads us to perceive "black and white as a fiction", thus rewriting the narrative of race and film material.

Black and White Trypps Number Four is a documentary movie directed by Ben Russell.

Black and White Trypps Number Four is currently streaming on Fandor.