Black Art/Independent Films

[Knicksman20]

Saw this during the summer. Full of stereotypes and if I recall, written by an Asian dude. Couldn't judge till I read though, cause otherwise it looks interesting.

That's disappointing fam

 

[Axum Ezana]

@bdizzle @marcuz @patscorpio @Danie84 @hyperman25 @Newzz @#SOG_soldier @ridedolo @realdarkphoenix @At30wecashout @MarsPunka

What do you think?

looks wack to be honest( due to terrible acting/cheap camera n cgi). just needs a whole bunch of work.

plus ive seen this story line with the super kid being hunted by government that needs protection/guidance from an adult so it really needs to be outstanding imo.

the vibe is too happy and the trailer makes it seem like their is no real vicious threat to his safety.

 

[↓R↑LYB]

@bdizzle @marcuz @patscorpio @Danie84 @hyperman25 @Newzz @#SOG_soldier @ridedolo @realdarkphoenix @At30wecashout @MarsPunka

What do you think?

nikka I'm 33 years old. What I look like reading comic books

 

[Knicksman20]

nikka I'm 33 years old. What I look like reading comic books

Not necessarily the comics fam but the movie. I don't read comics either

 

[#SOG_soldier]

@bdizzle @marcuz @patscorpio @Danie84 @hyperman25 @Newzz @#SOG_soldier @ridedolo @realdarkphoenix @At30wecashout @MarsPunka

What do you think?

Looks okay but won't support a black woman/ white man couple.

 

[loyola llothta]

'Cronies' (Executive Produced by Spike Lee) Gets Theatrical Dates + Trailer

On the eve of the release of Spike Lee's next joint ("Chi-Raq") comes news that an indie feature he executive produced will be getting a one-week exclusive theatrical run, opening Friday, December 11th, in NYC, at the Made in NY Media Center in IFP Screen Forward.

Titled "Cronies," the drama made its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in its NEXT <=> section. From director and screenwriter Michael Larnell, the film follows Louis (George Sample III) and Jack (Zurich Buckner), 2 young men who've been friends since childhood, who find that friendship challenged, with the introduction of Andrew (Brian Kowalski), a new friend of Louis'.

From Sundance's writeup on the film: "In his first feature, writer/director/producer Michael J. Larnell catches a universal moment, then makes it completely and utterly his own. The three young actors crackle with energy—kinetic, potential, everything—their moves and words curved by the distinctive lope of urban St. Louis. Growing up is something we do on our own, but that doesn't mean we can't do it next to someone we love."

As noted, the film is executive produced by Spike Lee.

Michael Larnell, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, is a New York based writer, director and producer. He is currently an MFA candidate at NYU’s graduate film program on a Dean’s Fellow and Kanbar Television scholarship. He has directed over 20 documentary and short films since he started his filmmaking journey six years ago.

From his director statement: "I have always had an interest in showing the difficulty and awkwardness of young men expressing their love for one another. The simplicity of childhood friendship becomes complicated as old friends develop new relationships, and the tension and competition, resulting from these growing pains is real. In hindsight, it’s also funny and enlightening. I wrote 'Cronies' to tell a different story of male friendship - one that was rooted in love, enriched with my own experiences, and brightened by the universal humor inherent in growing pains."

To pre-purchase tickets,

visit: IFP Screen Forward Presents: CRONIES.

A trailer for "Cronies" is embedded below:

 

[Knicksman20]

'Cronies' (Executive Produced by Spike Lee) Gets Theatrical Dates + Trailer

Looks good.

 

[loyola llothta]

Acclaimed British Drama 'Second Coming' (Starring Idris Elba & Nadine Marshall) Now Out in the USA

Film Movement has now released award-winning British playwright Debbie Tucker Green’s feature film directorial debut, "Second Coming," here in the USA on home video platforms (DVD and streaming), bypassing a theatrical run. The film has become available to members of Film Movement's DVD/streaming club (anyone can become a member for as little as just over $8/month), and, on February 9, 2015 non-members will have access. Visit the full-service North American distribution company's website here for more info on how to become a member: http://www.filmmovement.com/filmclub.asp if you'd like to get your hands on the film right now; or wait until it's available to non-members in February.

***

Green’s feature film debut, "Second Coming," has a premise that, religious or not, will probably pique your interest. That it’s set in present day London and that the family at the centre of the story is black, was another reason for me to get excited. Indeed, it was a delight to see a black family – a NORMAL – black family, portrayed on screen. No drugs, no knives, no guns… No drama. And therein lies the problem.

Jax, played admirably by Nadine Marshall, has a dilemma. A dilemma the proportions of which you don’t really get too many clues about. Her husband, Mark, played by Idris Elba, is as perfect a husband as any woman could want. Her son, JJ (Kai Francis-Lewis) is a sweet-natured, sensitive, and intuitive child. A better realistic model of a black family you couldn’t find. However, all is not well in paradise, or indeed on earth, especially not in this particular household. Jax is in turmoil, albeit mostly internalised, leaving her husband frustrated, and her friends and family of origin knowing that something’s amiss, but waiting for her to announce her news

 

[86\*/98]

Any word on when this film is going to be completed and released?

It seems like it's going to be dope.

 

[loyola llothta]

Exclusive: Watch the First 7 Minutes of the Ethiopian Post-Apocalyptic Love Story, 'Crumbs

Miguel Llansó’s post-apocalyptic, sci-fi romance, “Crumbs” is set in an unspecified period, amid a deserted Ethiopian landscape that is the a result of a “big war.” The resplendent oddity depicts a civilization in which junk of the late 20th century is considered of high value, as we follow the film’s diminutive superhero, Gagano (played by Daniel Tadesse), a junk collector, who embarks on a surreal epic journey, which includes a witch, Santa Claus and second-generation Nazis, to name a few, who exist within this even more peculiar Oz.

“Crumbs” is both a sci-fi adventure movie, as well as a love story, with dark humor and a playfulness, as writer/director Llansó paints a very imaginative portrait, with a distinctive style, contradicting its low budget. As others have noted, it’s solid proof that filmmakers don’t need to spend millions of dollars to achieve something so striking and unique. It takes an unrestrained imagination.

 

[loyola llothta]

5 Upcoming African Diaspora Animated Feature Films to Be Aware of (Coming to 18th Cartoon Movie Forum)

“Another Day of Life”

From March 2-4, Lyon (France) will become the European capital of animation cinema as more than 700 animated feature film producers, investors, distributors, sales agents, video game companies and new media players from all over Europe and beyond will attend the 18th Cartoon Movie Forum to create partnerships and co-productions that will allow for the funding of around 20 animated feature films this year.

55 projects from 19 European countries have been selected to be pitched at Cartoon Movie: 23 of them are in concept, 21 in development, 8 in production and 2 are completed films. France will be represented by 18 projects, followed by Denmark and Germany with 5 each, Italy, Netherlands & Poland with 3 each. The variety of countries producing animated films is still growing, thanks to the vitality of the Nordic countries with 8 projects, and countries of Eastern Europe such as Poland and the Czech Republic.

Since 1999, over 254 films pitched at Cartoon Movie, with a total budget of 1.7 billion Euros ($1.8 billion), have secured their financing and have been released thanks to this annual forum aimed at strengthening the production and distribution of animated feature films in Europe.

Below you'll find 5 projects that will be of specific interest to readers of this blog, along with descriptions, countries of origin, posters/artwork, and status, all provided by the forum.

 

[loyola llothta]

1. “Another Day of Life” (France, poster above) - is a story of a reporter searching for truth during the Angolan Civil War in 1975. During his suicidal journey across the country, he is faced with situations and events that force him to reevaluate his approach to his work and life, in general. It is the dramatic account of the three months the reporter spent in civil war. (In development)

2. "The Prince of the City of Sand" (Luxemborg) - Songs are the oil that makes dreams flow, the water that makes them germinate. Because of this, Rokìa loves more than anything to listen to her grandfather Matuké and sing along with him. And it is for this that the Prince of the City of Sand, who blots out the dreams of men with sand and collects their souls, hates the storytellers. This is the song of Rokìa, the girl with the enchanting voice. The girl who will cross the desert to recover the soul that the Prince of the City of Sand has stolen from Matuké, the great storyteller. (In development)

The Prince of the City of Sand

3. "Nayola" (Portugal, Belgium, Angola) - Three generations of women are deeply plagued by Angolan Civil War: Lelena (the grandmother), Nayola (the daughter) and Luana (the granddaughter). The imagination of Luana, a 16-year-old orphan girl, reinvents her mother, Nayola, as an anti-heroine on the sheets of a journal, where memories and masks, utopias and cruelties, reality and magic emerge, mesh together and fall apart. A suspended love, a fearless quest on a military landscape, a lacerating regret, an initiatory journey under the vigilant eye of a mysterious Jackal. (In development)

Nayola

4. "Mutafukaz" (France) - Angelino is just one of the thousands of deadbeats living in Dark Meat City, a ruthless megalopolis in sunny California. At day, he runs the streets of the city delivering pizzas; at night, he squats a seedy hotel room with his pal Vinz and an army of cockroaches that are now part of the family. Following a scooter accident caused by the heavenly vision of Luna, a girl with jet-black hair, the young man starts experiencing violent headaches doubled with strange hallucinations (or maybe they are not) of being chased by men in black suits. Angelino has no doubts: he is a target. Why him? Following a terrifying manhunt, he is finally captured and learns the truth about his origins... (In production)

Mutafukaz

5. "Heart of Darkness" (France) - A Brazil-set version of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness." Rio de Janeiro, in the near-future, riot and corruption-laden - we follow Police officer Marlow, who is asked to find a certain Captain Kurtz (a famous policeman who has gone missing in mysterious circumstances). The mission has to be carried out in a boat, undertaking a dangerous journey through the favelas of Rio de Janeiro (the same favelas that were the setting for cross-over films like "City of God"). (In development)

Heart of Darkness

 

[loyola llothta]

Trailer: Pre-'Star Wars' John Boyega Shines in 'Imperial Dreams' - An Overlooked Gem in Need of Distribution

A film that made its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival (where it won the the Best of NEXT Audience Award), Malik Vitthal's debut feature, "Imperial Dreams," which stars John Boyega, is being shopped for distributors at a time that should benefit from the fact that Boyega is certainly a much bigger star than he was when the film premiered 2 years ago, thanks to the worldwide success of a *little* film called "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (you may have heard of it).

Boyega was cast in "Star Wars" soon after "Imperial Dreams" premiered at Sundance, and suddenly he had to go away to play Finn. And so the film had to essentially *wait* for him with very good reason, because the notoriety he would get from co-starring in a global phenomenon like "Star Wars" surely would help in selling the indie drama to distributors, as well as increase its box office potential.

So 2 years later, "Imperial Dreams" will hopefully soon be coming to a theater near you.

The filmmaker has released a first trailer for the film, which is embedded at the bottom of this post.


-'''-----
Making its Los Angeles premiere on August 9, Malik Vitthal's debut feature "Imperial Dreams" tells the story of a young ex-convict seeking a better life for himself and his son. It screens in Next Fest, Sundance's annual film and music showcase at the Ace Hotel.

It's easy to see why the film took the Best of Next Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in January, as it represents classic and heartfelt storytelling at its best. But as an understated drama set in the crime-ridden Imperial Courts housing projects of Watts, Los Angeles, it runs the risk of being overlooked as a story we've seen before.

The plot centers on Bambi (John Boyega), a 21-year-old newly released from prison and looking to jumpstart a writing career in order to turn his life around. But as soon as he hits the streets of his old neighborhood, he's confronted with challenges that threaten to pull him back into a life of crime. Most pressing is the need to care for his four-year-old son Day (played by twins Justin and Ethan Coach), who's been left in the care of his drug-running Uncle Shrimp (Glenn Plummer) after Bambi's girlfriend Samaara (Keke Palmer) is locked up on charges of her own. Bambi's brother Wayne (Rotimi), cousin Gideon (De'aundre Bonds) and drug-addicted mother Tanya (Kellita Smith) do their best to welcome him back into the fold, but their needs only threaten to trump his own goal of earning money while keeping his hands clean.

 

[loyola llothta]

ARRAY Films 'Ayanda' Now Streaming on Netflix (Indiegogo Partnership Announcement)

First, the distribution company founded by Ava DuVernay has announced the Netflix releases of its most recent acquisitions: Sara Blecher's "Ayanda" and Takeshi Fukagana's Spirit Award nominated "Out of My Hand."

Set in the vibrant, Afropolitan community of Johannesburg’s Yeoville, "Ayanda" is a coming-of-age story of a 21-year-old "Afro-hipster," who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, when she has to fight to save her late father’s legacy – a motor repair shop - when it is threatened with closure. She’s thrown into a world of gender stereotypes and abandoned vintage cars once loved, now in need of a young woman’s re-inventive touch to bring them back to life again.

The film stars Fulu Mugovhani and Nigerian actor OC Ukeje, with a star-heavy South African cast that includes Ntathi Moshesh, Kenneth Nkosi, Jafta Mamabola, Thomas Gumede, Sihle Xaba and veteran star of stage and screen, Vanessa Cooke.

This is director Sara Blecher's follow-up to her critically-acclaimed "Otelo Burning"

 

[Box Cutta]

So what happened with that Bilal joint? Anyone seen it?

@loyola llothta