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Tony Clomax's webseries, 12 Steps to Recovery, has taken the internet by storm since late summer. No, it's not a drug tale, but a romantic comedy set in NYC about a lovetorn actor named Parrish (played by Kaleber Soze - who also co-stars in my coming-of-age short A Little bit of More) who after being dumped by his long-time girlfriend is set up on 12 dates by his best friends Dani and Blue (Erika Myers & Stephen Hill).
Often described as 'Sex and The City meets Curb Your Enthusiasm with some cinnamon and spice', Parrish's journey back to the land of dating and love is a laugh out loud, sexy jaunt, filmed with beautiful precision by director Clomax, who also serves as Executive Producer. The series also guest stars a veritable who's-who of local New York actors, musicians, personalities, etc. which aside from the series entertainment value also helped propel it's success.
Having resumed it's new set of episodes with #7 this past Monday, read my article from the latest Film & Festivals magazine (of which I'm a recurring writer) to find out more about the genesis and future of the series; it's on pages 26 & 27.
To see 12 Steps to Recovery go to VisionTube.tv or YouTube.com/12stepswebseries
While at this year’s Urbanworld Film Festival, I was blessed enough to meet Carmen Madden, the upbeat Writer/Producer/Director of the film festival favorite Everyday Black Man. Since its 2009 debut, Everyday Black Man has made the rounds at Oakland Int’l Film Festival, San Diego Black Film Festival, San Francisco Women’s Int’l Film Festival, American Black Film Festival and became the Best Narrative Winner at the Tallahassee Film Festival, Best Narrative Winner/Programmers Award at the Pan African Film Festival and the Best Feature Winner at the Peach Tree Village Best Int’l Film Festival. And I’m proud to announce it will soon appear on DVD and VOD!
The trailer and story have been covered here on S&A before, but for those unaware it’s the tale of Moses Stanton (Henry Brown), a quiet and thoughtful man who since closing the door to his violent past, runs a small neighborhood store while watching over his daughter Claire (Tessa Thompson) who doesn't know he exists. When a young man, Malik, comes in claiming to be a black Muslim that is doing good for the neighborhood, Moses takes him on as a partner but soon realizes that Malik (Omari Hardwick) is nothing but a drug dealer seeking to destroy the neighborhood and Claire. Does Moses stand back and accept things the way they’re going or does he become the man he used to be in order to save his beloved neighborhood and his daughter? That’s the essence of the story.
I spoke via telephone with Carmen at her CLM Productions office to discuss the movie, her career, and her new distribution deal.
Well, whoever saw the episode that just aired a few hours ago realizes what I said weeks ago about Naturi Naughton appearing on AMC's Mad Men: her role was a big nothing.
**SPOILERS WITHIN**
Naturi, who for the record I enjoy as a singer and actress, played Lane Pryce's (Jared Harris) new squeeze, a somewhat shock to Don Draper (who can give an ef and has his own problems) and to Pryce's stuffy dad who meet her on a visit to the Playboy Club (or restaurant, or whatever that spot officially was) wherein we get to see her resplendent as a 'bunny', outfit and all. Later in the episode, she's officially introduced (sans bunny ears & tail) as Pryce's new lady and is dismissed as quickly. About in all, sis had about 5 lines total.
I'm still unsure why her appearance was so heavily touted (truth be told, I forgot) since basically she plays the same role another sister played as former cast member Michael Gladis' shocking girlfriend (wha? ...a Black!) - and this sis was the first non-servant featured on the show. I wanted to expect differently for Naturi, but you know what they say about wishes and horses. Considering that Pryce won't be in next week's episode (the character is taking a leave of absence) and that Mad Men only has about three more episodes left for the season, I doubt she'll appear in more than one more episode for the year. Guess headlines about her feature role were overblown and that advertising in 1965 remains as lily as it almost does today.
Still, she was good in what they gave her so I suppose she should be recognized for that.
I'd rather see Carla the maid (Deborah Lacey) brought back. At least her role had some substance and created a somewhat foil to chickenhead wife Betty Draper/Francis' January Jones.
With the new tv show Undercovers premiering next month, starring the already oft-mentioned Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who I know best at Freema Agyeman’s (#1 on my ‘Wifey List’) sister on Dr. Who, and pretty-boy extraordinaire Boris Kodjoe, I thought I’d focus on what seems to be, in a good way, a proliferation of Black men on tv shows lately. Although these guys are supporting characters, they’re playing some pretty intense roles and putting forth some great comedic and dramatic performances. Though none of these are network shows like Undercovers, they are often better (and sometimes better performing) than those.
Just wanted to let my readers (all 15!) know that our August 12th screening of the short version of my film Zemira, entitled A little bit Of More was a success. We had two back to back showings and the room was packed each time. The feedback was instrumental in our getting to the next step as a wide range of film fans, friends, family and other industry folks (actors, producers, programmers, etc) really expressed what they liked and didn't like about it. Thankfully, the latter was a bare minimum.
So Mecca and our D.P. Cisco and I and the rest of the team are going full steam ahead still in trying to make the Zemira feature happen. It's all about the getting the $$$ to finance this now.
On Monday, February 8th at the Brecht Forum (451 West Street btw. Bank & Bethune Streets, New York, NY) filmmaker Clairmont Chung will be screening what looks to be a fantastic new documentary on Guyanese scholar, activist and author Walter Rodney, best known as the author of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (1972), who was assassinated in 1980 for his wide-reaching and popular political beliefs of post-independence Guyana and other countries in the West Indies.
Educated at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Rodney was awarded his PhD with honors in African History. An advocate for the downtrodden in the Caribbean, Rodney was among the many who fought for the empowerment of Black folks of the region and publicly rejected the authoritarian role of the middle-class political elite, making him especially poplular among Rastafarians in Jamaica with whom he shared his vast knowledge of African history. When the Jamaican government banned Rodney in October 1968 from ever returning to the country, riots broke out because of his advocacy for the working poor in that country, eventually claiming the lives of several people and causing millions of dollars in damages. These riots, which started on October 16, 1968, are now known as the Rodney Riots, and they triggered an increase in political awareness across the Caribbean. This is documented in his book, The groundings with my brothers.
Walter Rodney is a personal hero of mine. I always said that eventually I would do a doc on him but I'm glad that Chung beat me to the punch. Come out and support it if you can.
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.
From the date above one can see that it's been some time since I've decided to post to my blog updates on my screenwriting forays.
To let you know:I've revamped A SONG FOR MARY to make it focus more on my main characters, everyone's favorite tormented soul singer DeAngelis. I really love this new version even though it's now less of a love story and more of a character focus. But it's stronger and more sell-able I think.
As for my collabo, it's still going. We're in the final stages of editing, finally :)My partner hooked up with an old associate of her's who know owns his own literary agency - with a screenwriting division. However, she's moving out of town to live the good life with her now-fiance. 'Course, I was the last to learn all of this marriage/going to live in Portland, OR stuff, but nonetheless we gotta get representation and either get this thing sold or produce it ourselves. Whew!
I've started preliminary work on my next feature, a horror/comedy based on a 25-minute short I wrote for this bull$#^! writing contest I entered last year (three guesses on how far I got with them...c'mon...guess!).
My homeboy and fellow writer Ant decided to help each other fully flesh out any new literary ideas before starting to write so we started to do that with this. We had a really good, long, but helpful session for his newly projected screenplay and I can't wait to read his first draft. The story is really dynamic y'all, een though it may be kinda propaganda-based. We'll see. As for my own, we need another session since there are some story aspects that I need to think through before coming back to fleshing it out more.
That's it for now. Hopefully I don't overextend myself and I'm able to keep this blog running.
I decided sometime early last year to keep a blog about my writing.
That makes this really pitiful as today is March 24, 2007 and this is my first entry.
I’ve been really busy though.Besides my regular j-o and my side business I’ve also been working on my writing and editing skills including a script collaboration and online lifestyle newsletter, respectively.So please, cut a brother some slack and allow him to, oh I dunno…vent about his times, both good and frustrating.Unfortunately, they’re not in that order.
I’m working on the re-write (again) of my love story script.For those not in the know, I sent the previous version out late last year and got some positive feedback on it.And although it is simply these particular insiders’ opinions, I do indeed think my script is overall better with their recommended changes.Ergo, here I am still trying to finish it up. Funny thing, when I finished the previous final version I thought it would indeed be that...the final.Never say final OUT LOUD my fellow writers.Much to my chagrin it needs that extra push.
So here I am on a lovely Springtime afternoon, just one week after I spent 1.5 hours digging out my car from the snow (damn plows!) working on my baby.
The writing is going very well.Aside from toning down one character (technically two), omitting a few others and adding emotional depth to my protagonist and her brood, I’m truly somewhat satisfied with the direction it’s taking.I think any writer saying they’re fully satisfied with their work is akin to an actor saying “Good luck!” to another.
The only negative I find when working on a love story is that it makes me think too much about my past girlfriends…especially my last one.I wasn’t in love with her or anything, and vice-versa, but still, with her being the previous one I guess she still stays on the forefront of my mind when it comes to couple-hood.Don’t get me wrong, I’ve dated since then of course, but I suppose since those were simply that – dates – the resonance isn’t there.But let me not get off topic – I was talking about thinking too much about the past.
My characters, without giving anything away, care for each other deeply and are afraid to admit it.I wonder - Does anyone out there think that way about me?I know I don’t care deeply for anyone right now.But I got to this “thinking too much about the past” stage asking myself the aforementioned question.I did care a lot about my last girl.I really dug her.I enjoyed spending time with her.Sometimes I think I was a bit too laid back with her though.And perhaps that lack of, shall we say…intensity (?) helped drive her away.I was loving, I was spontaneous.But I did perhaps take it too slow.
Is that what’s wrong with the male lead in my script?Is he too careful as well?I know why I was – the earlier part of last year was hellish for me – and I know why he is.And they’re both truly valid reasons, not excuses. But I’m now realizing that I may have taken aspects of his personality in my life.Since my story idea is three years old now I’m forced to wonder:Am I treading on Charlie Kaufman territory here?!?
