Ep. 28: Julian Banks, "The KKKennel"

KRIME, KONTROVERSY & KKKENNELS

A Gun, a Flag, and a Punchline: This Student Film Doesn’t Flinch

In "The KKKennel," director Julian Banks throws a grenade into the trope-laden world of crime shorts—subverting expectations, confronting white supremacy, and weaving dark comedy into a racially charged thriller, all for under $2,000.

In this episode of the Richmond Film Network podcast, host Lisa Giles interviews the VCU alum about his provocative short film premiering at RFN Indie Fest. Inspired loosely by Macbeth, Banks reimagines a routine cash pickup gone wrong with two Black protagonists who land in the home of white supremacists. The story shifts genre expectations by giving its Black leads narrative control and power, flipping the usual victim dynamic.

Banks, who studied both cinema and English at VCU, emphasizes showcasing Black characters with agency—not just trauma. The controversial title The KKKennel emerged late in post-production as a stylistic and thematic nod to the film’s racial tensions. His worldbuilding choices—from the orchestral score he composed himself to the banjo music blaring under a Confederate flag—are intentionally layered and darkly comedic. With clear influences from Jordan Peele, Tarantino, and the Coen brothers, Banks still charts his own lane, crediting collaboration and trust in his crew as a breakthrough lesson.