FilmDistrict continued its Dead Man Down screening program this week with showings in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. WGCI personalities Tony Sco and Leon Rogers bared a Mid-West snow storm to host the Chicago screening at Chatham 14; tv host Tanika Ray
charmed the Los Angeles audience at the Landmark West LA as she
described the film as an action love story; and WPGC on-air jock FREEjoked with her DC listeners at West End Cinema. Here’s what a few folks had to say about Dead Man Down:
“I
am an action drama nut, so this movie definitely spoke to me. Colin
Farrell gets finer by the day and all I could think about was Terrence
Howard saying I have a car and a driver. Overall, it was a really good
movie. There were some parts that was a little slow to watch, but I love
when you can figure out who the bad person is.” – Free, TV/Radio host
1. The black male is seen through the eyes of the audience as the true superhero. The critics are wrong..its a black movie so we have to learn our history.
2. We have to know our history. The movie, "Red Tails", tells our story..the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. Its flawed, but so is every biopic.
Today, in London's Leicester sq was the UK screening of: Red Tails, George Lucas' twenty-three year vision of making a film about the Tuskegee airmen. The film is about the first squadron of African American pilots trained in the US military.who served in World War II in Italy. Lucas selected a brilliant cast of actors to portray the unsung heroes who fought in Berlin against the Germans in 1944. Cuba Gooding Jr as: Major Emanuel Stance | Terrence Howard as: Col. A.J. Bullard | Nate Parker as the whiskey drinking: Marty "Easy" Julian and Neyo, who played a satisfactory role as: Andrew "Smokey" Salem just to name a few.
"Truth Hall" is the winner of multiple awards including the International Black Film Festival’s Audience Choice Award, The International Black Film Festival’s Best Feature Award, San Diego Black Film Festival’s Best Comedy Award, among many others.
Some dirty little secrets are about to come out! Riskier and more provocative than Waiting to Exhale, Truth Hall examines the bonds of friendship linking a group of African-American women who were inseparable in college. But now, years after graduation, they reunite for a wedding and find that they have drifted apart. Lingering grudges and long-buried passions from their college days ignite...setting off a firestorm that could stop the wedding and destroy their cherished friendships.
Collins Pennie, who will be playing Malik in the upcoming feature film remake of "Fame", will be doing a live, interactive web chat on "The Rob Redstone Show."
Before becoming an award-winning Sundance film featuring comedian Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, and Lenny Kravitz, Push was a hard-hitting, ground-breaking novel from Sapphire. Written from the perspective of C. Precious Jones, an illiterate young black girl living in '80s Harlem, it pulls no punches, using graphic details and coarse language to create an authentic image of urban life below the poverty line. Not the urban life of shows like The Wire, where drug dealers are kings, but the life of everyday folks put through not-so everyday trauma.
Through no fault of her own, Precious is born to a father that rapes and impregnates her twice, a mother that abuses her in just about any way imaginable (and some that are beyond a reasonable mind), and a community that knows what's going on, but turns a blind eye as silent enablers. By Precious' own sometimes contradictory thoughts, she exposes some of the backwards dichotomy of urban life: belief in the fantasy that "white is right" and light is beautiful mixed with a distrust of white people, especially police and those in authority; though the first two people in the book that actually see her as a person are white -- her "maff" teacher that suggests she has an aptitude for math, and Mrs. Lichenstein that realizes Precious' current school is not doing it for her and pushes her to an alternative school. These two could have helped Precious due to ulterior motives, but the fact remains that when nobody cared about her, those two helped set her on the right track.
The right track was entering Ms. Rain's reading and writing class at Each One-Teach One. There Precious is no longer the overweight, mother of two babies by the age of 17 (both her children and siblings), ugly girl, but part of a community of other girls from similar backgrounds of abuse and rape. Under Ms. Rain's strict, yet compassionate, tutelage, Precious learns to read and write. More importantly, Precious learns about trust, friendship, self-expression, and self-actualization.
Basically that sounds like your normal feel-good, urban-life story. In some ways the book is, but the presentation of the book separates it from others of its ilk. As mention before, the book is written in the voice of Precious. But she starts off illiterate, speaking with improper English, misspelled words, and what can only be described as "hood talk." What is interesting is the way the writing and language matures in the narrative as Precious gains more mastery of the English language. Spelling becomes better, less use of profanity, vocabulary is increased, and ideas are clearer.
Precious also begins to think of herself differently, too. She begins to question if she really is ugly, as everyone else considers her, and if she could one day become a beautiful person like the white and light-skinned women she pictures as the epitome of beauty; she questions if beauty is really inside or outside. She doesn't want to end up like her mother, who lives off the system and refuses to do anything with her life, and aspires to obtain her G.E.D. and go to college, and is disgusted with the idea of "wiping the ass of ol' white folks" to make a living. Only in America can an illiterate girl aim for such lofty heights.
The book is our generation's version of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Does that sound like high praise? Well, as with Ralph Ellison's classic novel, Push offers so much into the psyche of Blacks (in this case, urban Blacks) -- full of double-consciousness, contradictions, and such forth -- that it can be broken down and debated in volumes many times longer than the actual text itself -- just as Invisible Man did decades ago, and still does now. This book is a definite addition to any library, especially those of urban Black America.
"A. Jarrell Hayes is an author, poet, and blogger from Baltimore, MD. He has authored several novels and collections of poetry, all of which are available on his website www.ajhayes.com"
At its worst, America ’s criminal justice system represents the place where racism, greed and corruption intersect. At its best, it is inherently flawed, unjust, and unreliable, and little better than its worst.
The engine that drives this injustice system is known as the prison industrial complex. It is the theater in which the nation’s foremost method of social control-and a failed method at that-plays itself out to the detriment of society. Recent events help to underscore just how bad things are:
* First, two Pennsylvania judges were recently convicted for receiving $2.6 million in cash to send 5,000 juveniles, many first-time offenders, to two private detention centers. One judge secured the contracts for the companies, while the other judge filled up the facilities with warm bodies.
* Meanwhile, Judge Sharon Keller, presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, that state’s highest criminal court, is in a heap of trouble. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct initiated impeachment proceedings against Keller for incompetence, violating her duties as a judge and casting public discredit on the court. Now for a state such as Texas , whose justice system boasts an already pitifully low standard of integrity, with defense attorneys allowed to fall asleep during their client’s trial, this is no small potatoes. What did this self-described pro-prosecution judge do? Well, she refused to keep the court open after 5pm when she knew Michael Richard, a death row inmate, sought a last-minute appeal challenging the constitutionality of his punishment (lethal injection). The inmate was unable to file an appeal and was executed. Also, Keller rejected a new trial for Roy Criner, a mentally retarded man convicted of rape and murder, even though DNA evidence showed that he did not rape the victim. “We can’t give new trials to everyone who establishes, after conviction, that they might be innocent,” Judge Keller said. “We would have no finality in the criminal justice system, and finality is important. When witnesses testify, and when jurors return a verdict, they need to know that they can’t come back later and change their minds.” * Finally, a three-judge federal panel recently ruled that California ’s state prisons must reduce their inmate population by one-third, or about 57,000 prisoners. The judges found that the level of overcrowding in the state institutions deprives the inmates of adequate healthcare and is unconstitutional. By itself, any one of these stories shocks the conscience. We would hope that these sordid tales are the exception to the rule. However, these cases reflect a dysfunctional system that is functioning as designed by a dysfunctional society. Allow me to demystify the prison industrial complex and identify the threads that connect the crooked judges in Pennsylvania and Texas , and overcrowded prisons in California .
HOWARD UNIVERSITY’S CRAMTON AUDITORIUM IN WASHINGTON, DC
NEW YORK, NY– (April 6, 2009) – The Producers of the NEA Awards are pleased to announce the beginning of voting for the 2009 NEA Awards scheduled for Washington DC on Saturday, June 6th, 2009 at 6:00pm at the Howard University Cramton Auditorium. General public can cast their vote on the NEA website at www.nigeriaentawards.com/#awp::nominees/ and voting will continue for seven weeks and will end on May 25th. Votes will be tallied up by the marketing firm of Afribranding LLC and winners will not be revealed until announced at the Award ceremony on June 6th. For Sponsorship, Advertising, Press inquiries and any other inquiries please contact us (856) 776-8254 in the US and 234 706 110 7554 in Nigeria or info@nigeriaentaward.com or visit us online at www.nigeriaentawards.com.
About NEA
The Nigeria Entertainment Award is an annual event focused on recognizing the many contributions of Nigerian Artists to the entertainment industry across the globe. The producers of this year’s Award Show are dedicated to promoting the image and rich culture of Nigeria. This dedication has increased the awareness of this new edgy style of African Entertainment and has helped promote Nigerian acts to mainstream America.
About Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium
Cramton Auditorium opened its doors on January 8, 1961. The 1,508 seat auditorium, named for former Congressman Louis C. Cramton of Michigan is located at the corner of Sixth and Fairmont Streets, Northwest in Washington, D.C. on Howard University’s main campus. Hilyard Robinson, architect, designed and oversaw the construction of this theatre. The first guest performance held at Cramton Auditorium featured the National Symphony Orchestra in concert with the Male Glee Clubs of Howard and Georgetown Universities. Since then, Cramton Auditorium has provided the Institution and the community with the means to enrich the lives of both students and visitors academically, culturally, and socially. World leaders, key political figures and entertainers have been guests at this renowned theatre.
Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium is committed to excellence in education and the arts by initiating and supporting programs and activities that inspire, reflect, and educate the diversity of its local, national, and international community. As an essential aesthetic component of the University, Cramton Auditorium supports the educational mandate through its commitment to leadership and service in America and the global community. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
WITH his Paul Bunyan physique and Central Casting good looks, Dwayne Johnson, known until recently as the Rock, always turns heads. But as he bulldozed his way down the red carpet at last month’s Grammy Awards, Mr. Johnson — a football player turned professional wrestler turned movie star — got noticed for a less polite reason.
HOLLYWOOD STILL HAS A FEW KINKS BY: THE CEO So the oscars were on again(yawn). Another blackout year for spectacular performances from Tarji Henson and Viola Davis, and what do they get..how many awards..zero. Its the same show every year. The same song and dance. Have we really come that far Black Hollywood. Cuba Gooding Jr. tried to make light of blackface?! WTF?! Its hard out here to compete with a Joker that really put his life into the role. Who's to say that Beyonce singing and dancing with Hugh"Wolverine" Jackman isn't how we're represented best at the Oscars, but this is not true. Beyonce and Jackman gave great performances singing and dancing, but I'd like to see more statues go to Black women who have put their heart and soul into roles that they lived and breathed life into for that 120 minutes.
The Oscars is the same every year, but once in a while they will let the urban audience get a gold guy. Its really a regression to the old days of "Gone with the wind". The performance in Benjamin Button, that Ms. Henson gave was amazing and Viola Davis was great in her performance. Hollywood, you have your moment to shine, with the little gold guy. What I'm waiting for is someone to come up with an awards show that will truly give credit to actors and actresses who tirelessly fight against a system that they know is unfair. Its a hard road "Black Hollywood", but we thank you for your continued efforts to CHANGE the system.
ARE YOU INSULTED BY THIS? Robert Downey Jr a bit red-faced on Oscar nod Actor says even he was taken aback at seeing his image from the comedy 'Tropic Thunder' -- in which he plays an actor portraying a black soldier -- on TV among the supporting actor nominees. By Rachel Abramowitz January 23, 2009
What does it say about racial politics in America that two days after the first African American president is inaugurated, Robert Downey Jr. is nominated for a supporting actor Oscar for essentially playing a part in blackface? CLICK HERE FOR MORE
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - He survived abuse as a child and lived in his car at one point. Then Tyler Perry channeled his emotions into a series of popular stage plays and movies featuring his mad, black alter-ego Madea.
Now Perry, 39, helps finance and maintains total creative control of his films, his two TV shows and, as of October, his very own studio just outside Atlanta, where he is based. With Oprah Winfrey as a role model, he's looking to grow his empire, recently launching 34th Street Prods. to help bring films he loves to his loyal audience -- including the Sundance hit "Push: Based on the Novel By Sapphire."
In advance of the Friday release of his latest film, "Madea Goes to Jail," Perry sat down in the spacious, minimalist living room of his Hollywood Hills home to chat with The Hollywood Reporter.
The Hollywood Reporter: How do you describe your filmmaking style?
Tyler Perry: My stories are usually pretty predictable. The dialogue is always very simple because I am very aware of who I am speaking to. My audience is from 2- and 3-year-olds all the way up to 90, so I'm not trying to tell any extremely stylistic, artistic stories.
THR: Why has your audience been ignored by Hollywood?
Perry: For the most part people speak from their own experiences, and in Hollywood, there have not been a lot of African-Americans who have been able to tell their stories unfiltered, unedited, with no notes, and bring (them) directly to the people. That's why I love my relationship with Lionsgate: It's a no-note, we-don't-show-up-to-the-set relationship. I bring them a finished film and we test it and it usually does extremely well. click here for more
CHECK OUT HIS FILM-"STATE OF MIND" BELOW! At an early age, Jayson Baptichon exhibited tremendous interest and passion in the difference versatility and creativity of motion pictures. Born and raised in New Jersey, the talented producer/filmmaker attended Five Towns College-- Upstate New York-- in which he obtained a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts.
State Of Mind The Movie from Focus Film on Vimeo. Post graduation, Jayson Baptichon began to make himself into a brand name. He is the co-producer and chief cinematographer of a successful video series "Streets Talk DVD" and several other short films. His style, vision, techniques and dedication portrays him to be one of the most influential film personalities of his generation.
With his successful directorial debut, he is a well-known personality in different neighborhoods and communities around the country. It is just a matter of time for the world to discover this young talent that would soon lead the cinematographic industry onto a new era.
We are excited that Jayson is now part of THEBLACKURBANTIMES.COM team. We look forward to working with him.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Will Smith was named Hollywood's most bankable star in a survey of movie industry professionals released on Tuesday by Forbes.com, the Web site of financial magazine Forbes. Smith, who received a perfect 10 on the survey, was followed on the Forbes list by Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Hollywood supercouple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who were all tied with a score of 9.89. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY
