Black Art/Independent Films

[loyola llothta]

Carl Weber is one of a handful of African American authors who consistently appear on the New York Times bestseller list year after year. Moving from novels to films, Weber’s screenplay brings to life the secrets and surprises of The Man is 3B, a sexy mystery about Daryl Graham (Lamman Rucker) and the cast of colorful neighbors who reside in his Queens, New York apartment building. In this tale of mystery and murder, we watch as the lives of Weber’s carefully crafted characters are turned upside down, each for a different reasons, but all of them having something to do with Daryl Graham. From his extreme attractiveness to his undeniable swag, Daryl is the man every woman wants and every man wants to be. The Man in 3B is an expertly woven urban tale that was a 2012 New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Actress Kellita Smith (Bernie Mac Show, First Family) also stars in the film as Detective Anderson alongside DB Woodside (Detective Thomas). Veteran actresses Marla Gibbs (“The Jefferson’s”) and Jackée Harry both from the 1980’s sitcom “227,” also shine. Portraying the rest of Graham’s neighbors are Anthony Montgomery (best known for his long-running role on the “Star Trek” series “Enterprise”), Brely Evans (Sparkle, BET’s “Being Mary Jane” ), Nafessa Williams (“One Life to Live”), Robert Ri’chard (Coach Carter, UPN’s “One on One”), James Black (“Anger Management”), Trisha Man (The Last Fall) and R&B Singer Olivia Longott. Veronica Nichols, Tracy Moore, Walter Nixon and Jeffrey Dumpson also produce. Eric Wycoff is Director of Photography. Chris Peppe is Editor. Stephen Adams of Alta Entertainment is representative for Carl Weber and M3B.

 

[loyola llothta]

In 1991, four African-American teenagers made the choice to engage in a series of robberies without considering how the consequences of their actions would irrevocably alter their lives. Although no one was physically injured these young men received sentences of up to 500 years.

From 2006-2013, director John Lucas follows the unfathomable journeys of Charlie Kelly, Donovan Harris, Richard “Poochie” Roderick and Frankie Porter as they cope and survive despite the harsh realities of prison. THE COOLER BANDITS documents these men in their respective stages of incarceration as they fight to maintain relationships with family and friends, and reintegrate into society after spending their adult lives incarcerated.

Through candid, intimate interviews and Cinéma vérité, Lucas captures the strength, dignity and resolve these men possess in the face of being branded “felons” for life. Released after 20 years in prison, Charlie works hard to secure his barber’s license in hopes of one day opening his own shop – to be named after his deceased younger brother. Donovan spent nearly 13 years behind bars and now struggles to hold on to his small business and provide for his family during the worst recession in 80 years. Poochie, a convert to Islam and an autodidact, is released after 20 years and pursues his dream of a college education. Frankie’s loving and supportive family endures agony as they pray and wait for his first parole hearing in 2035, at which point he’ll be 63.

Dispensing with mundane crime statistics and rates of incarceration amongst black men, this deeply affecting documentary is a testament to the humanity of four friends who continue to pursue a chance to lead productive and meaningful lives.

“It was one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen... I found the film deeply clear and humane; it’s a stunning argument (not a polemic) against the retributive and racist elements of the judicial system, and a moving (but unsentimental) account of their lives. I consider myself rather thick-skinned, but I had to pause the film several times because I found it too painful. You come to care about the people so much.” — Adam Plunkett, The New Republic

“I have a dozen reasons to tell you why this is real, but I’ll just give you one - these four men went into prison at 18 and 19 years old. They maintained their friendship, their sense of self, and really their commitment to believing that they were more than their worst moments. But this documentary is real because it just presents their life. It’s not a pitch, it’s just the world that you’ve ignored, the humanity that we’ve ignored.” — Reginald Dwayne Betts, member of President Obama’s Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Directed and produced by John Lucas; produced by Sam Pollard, Claudia Rankine, Duncan MacLean, Tracy Biga MacLean and Julie Janata; Executive Producer: Allison Coudert; Editor: Jason Pollard; Director of Photography: John Lucas; Composer: Kathyrn Bostic; Music Editor: Jason Pollard; RT: 106 mins; 2014.

THE COOLER BANDITS to screen at festivals throughout the US:

Harlem International Film Festival (New York City) – Thursday, September 11th

The Global Peace Film Festival (Orlando, FL) – Saturday, September 20th Sunday, September 21st

Justice on Trial Film Festival (Long Beach, CA) – Friday, September 26th

Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (Cleveland, OH) – Friday, September 26th

 

[loyola llothta]

The new comedy web series 'She's Out of Order,' gets distribution deal with two online platforms.

The Philadelphia made comedy web series, "She’s Out of Order," has just made a distribution deal with ClickFlick and Online Movies Box for the series, to be shown on their online platforms. In addition, talks are currently going on with AMGTV.tv to also show the series.

The show was co-created by Derek McPhatter, lead actress Teresa Michelle Lasley and director of the series Rhonney Greene who went to Morehouse College with McPhatter. Together the three of them formed their production company Under The Spell Productions. McPhatter's life partner Aymar Jean Christian,is on board as co-producer for the show.

The aim of the series is to “create a program about an African-American professional woman on the go, trying to stay to positive even when things don't go her way," according to McPhatter, who adds that “creatively, we were really aiming to share the story of a complicated African-American woman. A character who we felt reflected the kind of women we knew, beyond the expectations of Mainstream TV/Film representations of black women," and “We wanted it to be OK for her to express her positive AND negative emotions, without becoming a caricature or watered-down version of a human being."

Check out the first episode.

 

[loyola llothta]

Several award-winning African films, including Cannes’ Jury Prize 2010 winner "A Screaming Man", are now available for streaming in the US on leading African VOD platform Buni.tv.

US-subscribers to Buni.tv’s premium service Buni+ can also enjoy a curated selection of top African films including Nigerian blockbusters (FLOWER GIRL, CONFUSION NA WA, HOODRUSH), popular Kenyan movies (NI SISI, NAIROBI HALF LIFE, THE RUGGED PRIEST) or hilarious South African comedies (GOG’ HELEN, SKEEM).


Viewers also have access to a range of free content, including award-winning short films, cult Kenyan and Nigerian political satire programs "THE XYZ SHOW" and "OGAS AT THE TOP", and various documentary programs or short formats.

 

[loyola llothta]

“Supremacy”

Director: Deon Taylor (US/Narrative Feature/2014/114min)
Based on a true story. On the day he is paroled from prison, a white supremacist and his ruthless girlfriend kill a cop. While authorities cordon off the neighborhood, the couple breaks into a house and takes a black family hostage. Over a long night of terror, a subtle psychological struggle ensues between the family patriarch, an ornery ex-con himself, and the convict as the patriarch must rely on his wit and understanding of the racist mind to find a plan to free his family, but not before he confronts his own brand of bigotry and anger. Stars Danny Glover, Joe Anderson, Dawn Olivieri , Derek Luke, Evan Ross, Lela Rochon, Mahershala Ali and Anson Mount.

 

[loyola llothta]

Web-series

Milk + Honey Series

Milk + Honey is a scripted series that follows the spiritual, professional and romantic journeys of four young and ambitious women navigating the lights, smoke and mirrors of hollywood. Executive produced by idris elba & brown paper dolls

Idris said: “I decided to get involved with Milk + Honey because of the strong demand for content that is relatable and authentic” states Elba about his involvement with the project, “Brown Paper Dolls has an intuitive way of displaying positive images of women throughout the series.”

As right now its on a hiatus.

milkandhoneyseries.com

Smoke and Mirrors

Too often in love, people are not straight shooters. Enough of the time people don't simply lay their cards on the table and let the other make an educated decision. With no "carfax" you are left to take people based on what's in front of you but that's not always their real selves. It's an optical illusion. "Smoke and Mirrors" centers around the life of newly single, filmmaker Sonny Richard, who must reacclimate himself to the complexities of male and female relationships, just when he thought he had it all figured out.

 

[loyola llothta]

Scrapper (director is white)

Did you know that scrap metal is America’s 4th largest export? Hollis Wallace does, and he makes his living driving the streets of Seattle looking for it. A metal scrapper, he spends his days trudging through Seattle, amidst alleyways, dumpsters, junk heaps, and dockyards, hoping to come across the riches that come from found copper, aluminum, and other such treasures. Able to support his ailing mother with his monetary return, Hollis is set in his ways, content with his lot in life. When he meets an 18-year-old runaway with her own troubles, he finds his routine challenged, and soon he finds that there is more to life than the cast-off scraps of others. They end up forming a friendship but the forces in their lives threaten to destroy their new bond. Stars Michael Beach (Soul Food, Sons of Anarchy), newcomer Anna Giles and Aidan Gillen (Game Of Thrones, The Wire).

 

[pete clemenza]

Did I mention NewlyWeeds.. its on netflix

 

[loyola llothta]

Desordres (chaos)


Vincent, Marie and their son have just moved from Paris into a farm near a small town in the south of France. He is a history and geography teacher, who looks forward to a quieter life, some kind of return to nature. His wife, a renowned international pianist, who retired in spite of her young age, has decided to follow him but almost unwillingly. From the very beginning, Thibault, one of Vincent's students, invades his family and slowly the couple, whose desires seem now so far away, falls apart. But Thibault's intentions are not at all motivated by love. And he will do anything to achieve his goal


on Amazon Prime

 

[NobodyReally]

Great thread, let's keep it going. And thanks @loyola llothta for all of the great recs.

 

[Arris]

ay @loyola llothta where do you find out about these movies? put me on

 

[loyola llothta]

ay @loyola llothta where do you find out about these movies? put me on

a lot of blog sites on cinema of the african diaspora. tumblr. kick-starters. VOD channel. Film Festival. my local small film showings.

 

[loyola llothta]

Restless City

Director: Andrew Dosunmu

Djbril is an African immigrant living in Harlem who survives on his passion for music and a job as a courier. When he meets a mysterious and vulnerable woman, Trini, he goes against all that he has been told to save her from a reckless life.





on Netflix.

 

[loyola llothta]

An Oversimplification of Her Beauty

Writer, Director, Editor: Terence Nance

This short film is part animation, part reality. Terence Nance takes the viewer on a roller-coaster ride through his relationships with many woman to better understand the complexities of feelings when he is stood up by a woman who he is highly interested in. Oversimplification received Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in 2012.

 

[loyola llothta]

In the big city, gender war rises. Sex is prohibited because of a genetic deadly virus. Ruled by hate and anger, boys and girls grow up apart from each other, forming rivals gangs. Among these lost teenagers, Kenzell and lesya will fight adversity and defy all the rules in order to live their love and restore peace.

Kickstarter:

The goal is to raise $189,000 to shoot a "kick-ass" pilot episode for the series; and with 44 days still to go in the Kickstarter campaign, $34,000 has already been raised, which is certainly a very good start, and bodes well for the rest of the campaign and meeting its goal.