Join the Media Man on his journey to Screenwriting infamy.
Cheer for his triumphs!
Feel for him as he stumbles!
But know, truly know, that he is destined for greatness.
In my quest to figure out good Xmas and Kwanzaa gifts for my people this year, I realized we always recommend movies, DVD's and VODs, but I've seldom read about good books here on S&A. So, I've compile a great list for of Black cinephile-based books for the filmgoing audience. Some you’re definitely familiar with, others maybe not, but nonetheless here it is:
Donald Bogle’s books
I’ve been reading Bogle's books for 20 years now, so considering I’m just on the precipice of my (eek!) mid-30’s, that’s saying a lot of the amount of Black film knowledge that he’s imparted to the masses for decades.
Whereas most of the feature-length movies had very serious topics, the shorts were mixed with a high emphasis on comedy, most of them very good.
Latin Lazer! Red Velveteen! Cadillac Carter! Lady Blaze! These are the SHEROES, one of the most fun MVAAFF shorts. Represented at the fest’ by writer/producer and co-star Teri Benjamin, SHEROES is a tounge-in-cheek romp about four young women who discover they have super abilities beyond those of mortal women who under the tutelage of their Professor X/Niles Caulder-type African mentor train to control their powers in order to save the world from a pre-destined evil hell-bent on taking over the world (cue bad guy music)! Full of charming characters and cute special effects, this amusing short – part of a soon-to-be web series according to Benjamin - is worth keeping an eye on. Check out the SHEROES webpage for more amusement.
Still reeling with renewed inspiration for ZEMIRA, I’m fresh off the bus (and ferry, and other bus…) from the 2009 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, an amazingly refreshing and upbeat gathering founded and run by husband and wife team Floyd Rance III and Stephanie Rance, two of the coolest and accessible programmers I’ve ever met.
In no specific order, here I’m going to highlight my favorite films and filmmakers from the festival, especially touching of filmmakers who took a chance with their work. I should note to any of the filmmakers reading this, I did miss some of the films from Day 1, so no offense in not mentioning your work. Also, time permitting, I may highlight some other good films from the festival as well.
Features – Documentaries & Narratives
Filmed with a gritty style that complements its theme, Business Is War was among the premiere features shown this past week. Directed by Kemal Gordon, the film centers on Dennis “Dutty” Sykes, a brilliant Boston hustler who’s always able to get the best of merchandise for his clients – from Gucci bags to rare wine – but is smart enough to stay away from consuming street violence. But this isn’t a ghetto film folks. Dutty, like a true hustler, is sharp enough to realize that the hustle game can’t last much longer and seizes upon an opportunity to move into the corporate world and uses his business skills to climb up that ladder quickly. But just like the streets, there are people in the corporate world trying to bring him down as both of his lives crash in on each other. Played with true charm by newcomer and Boston local Christopher Bennett, Business’ Dutty is an extremely likeable character that has you cheering for his success. The rest of the cast stands out as well, especially Corey Rodrigues as the comedy relief character Black, Wayne Stephens as the muscle of Dutty’s crew Zookie, and John Depew as Dutty’s boss Mr. Smith. Check out more on the film at http://www.biwthemovie.com and the trailer below.
The docs stood out at MVAAFF too, though in all fairness there were more of them than narratives. Chief among the best were Harlem’s Mart 125: The American Dream, a historical journey from the 1960’s through present day that examines the perplexities surrounding 125th Street, the main commercial zone/strip of Harlem. Delving into issues of gentrification, racism, mismanagement and straight greed, director Rachelle Gardner’s nine-year examination into this area, best known for the world-famous Apollo Theater, brings to light the struggles of the vendors who once sold their wares and services on the strip and were then pushed into a mini-mart that quickly became run down not because of the community and vendors who often made repairs themselves, but by those who put them in that box themselves – akin to creating a ghetto. A few looks into the audience during the screening, with their eyes steadily forward on the screen, no fidgeting, or taking steady swigs of water, and the like made me fully realize that no matter where Black folks are from, Harlem really is the greatest focal point in America for Black culture. Though Harlem’s Mart 125 has screened at other venues in the past, this was the first fully-complete version of the film ever shown – so look out for it soon. There's even more info on the website: http://www.harlemmart125.com
In line with the ideals of Harlem’s Mart 125, were Return to Mexico City and Les’t we forget. Return, which won the Saatchi & Saatchi Producer’s Award, went into the timeless and emotional story of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the two African American 1968 Olympic Games runners that as an act of protest against the mistreatment of Blacks back home in the USA, decided to raise their fists into the air during the awards ceremony for the race they both won. Most people are unaware of how this act of defiance practically destroyed these two men’s lives to the point where they hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in over 25 years. But producer/director Joie Walls dramatically unfolded those events and showed us both men’s reunion and return to the 40th Anniversary of the Games. Although already airing on ESPN this past February, this is worth a look.
Les’t we forget depicts the experiences of enslaved African women and brilliantly compares them with the feelings deeply embedded in the souls and spirits of modern day Black women and ultimately their families. It doesn’t ignore the effect on Black men, but with shocking images and accounts delves into how enslaved Africans were brought over to the Americas then bred like cattle and disregarded as such when their usefulness ran out and how that affects African American life today. More powerful than other docs I’ve seen in the past on slavery – and I’ve seen a lot! - Les’t we forget is necessary viewing for all.
10-20, the overall winner of the festival’s HBO Feature Film Award, tells the story of EJ Henderson, a young man that discovers at that sensitive age of 13 that his entire life thus far is a lie as he’s given back to a mother her never knew. As he grows older, EJ attempts to channel his anger into art through poetry, but also tries to find control and acceptance in the cold hard streets. Directed and co-written by Terrisha Kearse, “10-20 derives its name from the Florida law that guarantees a 10-year sentence for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and 20 years to life if the gun is aimed at a person with the intent to shoot or kill.” Based on real-life events that lead to the incarceration of a close family member of Kearse’s, 10-20 is well acted and crafted film well deserving of its recent and most-likely future award status. Most recognizable of the cast is one of my long-time favorite actresses, the grossly underused Toy Connor, who most of our readers will recognize from as Tyreeka, Sean Nelson’s girlfriend from “The Corner.” (Stay tuned for info on another alum from “The Corner”)
All of the films above, as well as many of the short films I’ll review in Part 2 of this coverage, encapsulate what I most liked about the festival selections as well as film in general – the personal film. Films that reach into your spirit or your mind and tug at it at the most unexpected moments. Films that come from the heart. Cinema. It’s a beautiful thing y’all.
Last Wednesday’s fundraiser for ZEMIRA was a huge success.Yes, Team Zemira got some great donations for the film (thanks again!) as our audience was entertained by our incredible talent:
You can find out more about our benefit’s headliner, Jesse Boykins III at ww.thebeautycreated.com.This young brother had all the ladies in the room smiling, nodding their heads and caught up in the rapture of his music; all the fellahs thought the brother was good too.Talented is too stilted of a word to describe Jesse’s music, so just go to his ‘site and both listen to snippets AND buy his music so that two years from now when this brother is accepting huge awards, you can exclaim to your friends, “I’ve been a fan of Jesse’s for years!Where’ve you been?!?”
Our opening musical act, the ubër-talented hip-hop artist SoSoon - the truest Hip Hop representative of the working & thinking man/woman brought a wonderfully gritty sensitivity to our benefit.Go to www.sosoonmusic.com to hear his music (‘Underclass’ is a personal fave) and see more about who SoSoon is.His music is what ZEMIRA is all about.
The national exploits of renown poet Delana R.A. Dameron can be found at her website: delanadameron.comand at a bookstore near you with How God Ends Us, selected by Elizabeth Alexanderas the fourth annual winner of the South Carolina Poetry Book Prize.
You may have missed her performance at our benefit, but feel free to watch one of the tightest young poets on the scene, Kayan Ali James here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUUUE3MZol0) for just a taste of how she flows.
We may have been up in the Bronx, but my man WordSmith Jones killed it our June 17th benefit Brooklyn style!You can both hear & purchase a CD of his soul-discovering poetry at www.reverbnation.com/wordsmithjones
Not only did she stand out at the literary arts movement for teens UrbanWord NYC
(www.urbanwordnyc.org), but as a finalist at the 2009 NY Knicks Poetry Slam, the (only!) 17 year oldThiahera Nurse ripped it(!) at our benefit.We’re so thankful that she got to represent a key demographic we’re approaching for this movie and she’s a prime example of what guidance and self-awareness can do for a young person from the ‘hood.
My partner Mecca’s old friend, and now one of my new favorite poets, Timothy
“Prolific” Jones can be found at www.AndreMauricePress.com, of which he is both founder and CEO.André Maurice Press is an outlet for the published voices of the hip-hop generation and is dedicated to cultivating talent, and providing writers with a means through which to transform their expression into a vehicle for economic empowerment. Being creative and getting paid for that talent – now that’s what’s up.
The smooth yet powerful poetic musings of Charan Pa mainstay on Prolific’s Indelible performers/writers crew, flowed sweetly for us as well. A poet/performer/educator transplanted from Chicago to New York, her work uncovers the stigma and effects of racism on modern society.Check her out here in NYC, and in Philly and DC as well.Charan P. is in high demand.
And of course we can't forget to mention my man DJ Prototype who keep the audience both entertained with hot beats, head bopping music and even mad funny sound effects throughout the entire night. You can catch up to him on his blog at: http://thedjprototype.wordpress.com/ where he displays his mindset, critical thoughts on Hip-Hop, and other artistic endeavors.
THANK YOU once again to all of our talented musicians and poets for helping make this fundraiser a big success!
As some of you may be fully aware, but others may not, the latest screenplay I've been working on - a collabo with fellow writer Mecca Woods - is going to my directorial debut. Never thought I'd be doing that, but it just feels right and we're going to make that happen.
Now, it's not that I fully abandoned A SONG FOR MARY. I love that script, but it's just not working out despite the labor of love that I put into it. I dunno. We'll see what happens - but Zemira is the future.
