There’s a new must-see on our radar: Seek No Favor, a Brooklyn-shot short film by independent co-directors and filmmakers Elle Clay and Leilah Weinraub. The film captures the humor, style, and complexity of contemporary Black and queer experiences — and the best part? It stars Ajani Russell, the ultimate HommeGirl (who we first shot back in Volume 6). A skateboarder, actress, and model, Russell is best known for their role as Indigo in Skate Kitchen and HBO’s Betty. Blending action, fashion, and feeling, Seek No Favor celebrates underrepresented voices in a way that perfectly reflects the HommeGirls ethos of unapologetic individuality.
The film’s visual style complements its storytelling, with stylist, David Friend blending Hollywood remnants and pieces from young American designers like Telfar and No Sesso into a look of controlled chaos.
Ahead of the film’s NYC screening at Gush Gallery’s Cum to Our Opening, we spoke with Ajani about their approach, the film’s humor and style, and what drew them to this unconventional role:
What drew you to this role?
The story, the script. I thought the characters were very complex, which I enjoy, and the meaning behind writing it was very sentimental to the writers, which I always appreciate. I felt like they put a lot of themselves into this piece, and I love bringing to life these characters that I feel like come from real emotional places.
Also, like, a hair story. I love a hair story. Hair is so important to me and, like, such a big part of culture growing up, and, like, hair was how I bonded with so many of my family members — my cousins, my sisters, my mom, my grandma. Like, doing each other's hair was such a big part of growing up.
How did you prepare for your character?
By watching a bunch of Keanu Reeves movies and also I watched Leilah's film The Shakedown, which I hadn't seen yet.
What was your experience on set?
My experience on set was so wonderful. Everybody was lovely. I spent so much time with the hair and makeup people because, obviously, you spend a lot of time with them when you're in a project. I also like working with real people — it didn't feel stiff or rigid in any way. We were all comfortable around each other, everyone on set. I love being on a project where I know everybody's name. It felt like a big family.
Was there a particular moment on set that stood out to you?
I think there was a moment where I was introduced to the cat in the scene, and Renee and I were sitting on the floor petting the cat, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is really cute.’ It just felt really sweet and natural. And, not like I'm at work, but like I'm doing something fun and something that I care about. You know, connecting with your co-stars is so important.
How did the costume design inform or shape my performance?
The stylist David [Friend] was really amazing to work with. They had so many cool looks.
It could have gone in so many different ways, but at the end of it we were all very happy with what I was wearing, and I was like, comfortable, which was very important because there's all these action scenes. It felt like my real style: a mix of, like, comfort and super casual, like, but with a dash of fun—like, a little pizzazz.
The outfit really informed the character. Monroe is very... We just wanted her to be super cool. As cool as she is dorky and anxiety-ridden and nervous. And I think that made her more real.
What excites you most about sharing this project with the world?
It is funny. So the first time I saw this film, I was laughing. I was laughing because of the warm memories that I had while filming it were coming back to me, but also just… it was so beautiful to see it all come together. And it was not how I envisioned it at all, but it was very special.
How do you hope Seek No Favor contributes to conversations happening in culture right now?
Well, I think this project is super cool because… It's like a fantasy, it's a Black story, it's like filmed in a very beautiful way. It's on film, like a 70s action, Black exploitation film, which is one of my favorite genres because, you know, it really allows Black people to be funny in a way that's like personal to them and like just for us.
Written for us, by us, all that great stuff. And, you know, it's… it's not going to be for every audience.It knows who it's for, which I really love. Conversations and culture happening right now. I mean, so much going on in culture. Being queer myself, it's like I'm watching the rights of so many queer people, LGBTQ people, get taken away every single day in this country, all over the world. It's... horrible.
It's really crazy to think that this happens so frequently and how close to home it always happens. But I feel like we face so much discrimination, even, you know, despite how far we've come. It's still so prevalent.
Black lesbian love. Beautiful. We need to see more of it. I wish there was more of it. And because I wish there was more of it, I'm making more of it. You know? Just making the stuff that I want to see. This is something that I would have wanted to see if I saw the ads for it. So I'm so happy that I get to be a part of it.
Anything else you’d like to highlight about the project?
What was really an important part was the highlighting of Elle's cousin [Steve Perkins], who was wrongfully murdered by the police. And I think that was such a beautiful note, like undertone to the film. Like, it's… something that should be acknowledged, even if it's in a small way or a big way. Like, these are things we can't forget — the injustices that our community faces. And, you know, l think that we created a family on this project.
Seek No Favor screens at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, October 21, as part of Gush Gallery’s Cum to Our Opening at Company Gallery, 145 Elizabeth Street, NYC.
Seek No Favor was Shot with Gilga and Gummy Films
Image credit: Elle Clay & Leia Jospé
October 2025