Black Art/Independent Films

[loyola llothta]

Half of a Yellow Sun
@CJVisuals

Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT on STARZ IN BLACK.


Based on the award-winning novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun is a romantic drama set in the backdrop of 1960s Nigeria during the country’s turbulent civil war. The film centers around the diverging destinies of two sisters, Olanna (played by Thandie Newton) and Kainene (played by Anika Noni Rose) who are glamorous twins from a wealthy Nigerian family. Upon returning to a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria after their expensive English education, the two women make very different choices. Olanna shocks her family by going to live with her lover, the “revolutionary professor” Odenigbo (portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his devoted houseboy Ugwu (played by John Boyega) in the dusty university town of Nsukka; Kainene turns out to be a fiercely successful businesswoman when she takes over the family interests, and surprises even herself when she falls in love with Richard (portrayed by Joseph Mawle), an English writer. Preoccupied by their romantic entanglements, and a betrayal between the sisters, the events of their life seem to loom larger than politics. However, they become caught up in the events of the Nigerian civil war, in which the lgbo people fought an impassioned struggle to establish Biafra as an independent republic, ending in chilling violence which shocked the entire world. Half of a Yellow Sun takes the sisters and their lovers on a journey through the war which is powerful, intensely emotional and, as the response of readers around the world has shown, it is a story which can touch everyone’s heart.

WHO: Thandie Newton (For Colored Girls, The Pursuit of Happiness) who plays Olanna and Anika Noni Rose (For Colored Girls, Dreamgirls, The Princess and the Frog) who portrays Kainene, star alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, the STARZ Original Miniseries “Dancing on the Edge”) as Odenigbo, a revolutionary professor. The international cast also includes Joseph Mawle (Richard), John Boyega (Ugwu) and Onyeka Onwenu (Mama).

WHEN: The U.S. television premiere will debut on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT on STARZ IN BLACK.

 

[Roman Brady]

^ saw it on bluray they say the book is great unfortunately the director of the movie didnt know what he was doing

Sometimes its good to sit out of some discussions breh... sit this one out.

 

[loyola llothta]

A New Wave of Black Filmmaking: Experimental and Black Speculative Indie Films

October 2, 2014

In recent years, it has become relatively easier to produce your own short films, TV shows, commercials and music videos. Increased access to technology and platforms on which to display films, such as smartphones, YouTube and Vimeo, and alternative resources for funding to create these films, such as crowdfunding and small artists grants, have ushered in a new era of filmmaking for Black creators. Increased access to the tools and technology for producing films has also given independent filmmakers space to experiment in their work. A brief survey of the contemporary Black independent film scene yields a long and ever-growing list of experimental and Black speculative (including horror, Afrofuturism, sci-fi, fantasy, fan fiction) short cinema, film trailers, music videos and other projects. There are enough Black experimental and speculative films out there to warrant their own festivals and screening series.

The BlackStar Film Festival, for example, is an annual, Philly-based film festival focused on work by and about people of African descent, featuring films that are often overlooked from directors, writers and producers working in narrative, documentary, experimental and music video filmmaking. This past year, BlackStar screened The Next Movement: Experimental Shorts, featuring, among others, Afronauts directed by Frances Bodomo,moonrising directed by Terrance Nance, and Negus: Lee “Scratch” Perry directed by Invernomuto. The Future Weird, a Brooklyn-based short film screening series curated by Derica Shields and Megan Eardley, features sci-fi, experimental, speculative and weird short films by directors from Africa and the Global South envisioning the future. The Future Weird screens films along several themed tracks, including Remote Control, Non-Resident Aliens, Visions of Excess, and In Search of a Black Atlantis; with each screening drawing on a range of materials: commercials, music videos, newsreels, and colonial archives, and frame films. Black Radical Imagination is a traveling short film series that focuses on futuristic, surreal, sci-fi, and experimental narratives that provide visions and commentary on post-modern society through the state of current Black culture. Curated by Erin Christovale and Amir George, Black Radical Imagination has themed installments that feature shorts by Jacolby Satterwhite, Cauleen Smith, Jabari Zuberi, and others.

If you aren’t within reach of a film festival and if an Afrofuturist film series isn’t traveling soon to a location near you, you are still in luck – many experimental, Black speculative short films are available online for free. Pumzi, a post-apocalyptic short sci-fi film by Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu, can be found on Youtube. Noise Gate by Donovan Vim Crony, an experimental sci-fi short film about a dimensional traveling scientist who is in search of the ultimate reality, can be screened online at Vimeo. Danger Word, directed by Luchina Fisher and adapted for the screen by award-winning writers Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due (My Soul to Keep), is a short horror film about a 13-year-old girl and her grandfather who have survived the zombie plague in his wooded cabin – and how her birthday goes badly awry. The film is available on Youtube and some cable channels. FUTURESTATES.tv is a web series of short sci-fi films written and directed by veteran and emerging indie filmmakers, many of whom are people of color. The films explore possible futures through the prism of today’s global realities. Because these films are free and accessible, you can host your own mini-Black speculative film festival at your local library or community center, or gather up a few of your friends and have a Black speculative-themed movie night right in your own home.

If you enjoy these indie short films, you may be excited to know that there are several independent film projects in the works that could use your support. Nicole Sconiers, author of speculative novel Escape from Beckyville: Tales of Race, Hair and Rage, has launched Lavender Pinnochio, a production company that produces digital content (short stories, trailers, short films) to inspire an international dialogue about the issues Black women face and create complex, entertaining, challenging but rewarding roles for Black actresses. Octavia: Elegy for a Vampire by poet, dramatist and guerrilla filmmaker Dennis Leroy Kangalee, is a non-traditional vampire film currently in development about a 150-year old Black vampire struggling with the enduring legacy of colonization. Actress Reagan Gomez is crowdfunding to develop a sci-fi Web series called Surviving the Deadabout a nurse named Shayla whose city is overtaken by a deadly virus, with her father and the government somehow involved. On her Indiegogo page, Gomez says that her motivation in creating the show is because, although people of color love sci-fi movies and shows, we are rarely represented in them. “The running joke is, if there’s a Black guy in the movie, he dies first. And Black women, well … we aren’t considered at all. We’re never the hero. We never survive till the end. We’re never the stars. It’s time for that to change,” says Gomez.

That change has already begun, and if it isn’t already, Black speculative film is well on its way to becoming one facet of a new/renewed Black Arts Movement. I have highlighted only a small sample of the Black creators who are out here developing, financing, producing, writing and starring in our own films. These films are helping to decentralize the stereotypical, stale narratives and representations of the Black image that Hollywood and mainstream media have forged. The question is, will Black people support these multi-faceted representations of ourselves and our culture? Will we put our resources and attention back into our own communities so that we can continue to create and be the heroes and stars we wish to see?

Source:http://blerds.atlantablackstar.com/...speculative-indie-films/#sthash.AWNO2pYE.dpuf

 

[RAX 010]

sub for later

 

[loyola llothta]

Brother With No Game

BWNG is the UK’s #1 producer and distributor of digital content targeting a mature and culturally diverse group of inner city viewers and content creators. In less than 18 months, BWNG’s productions have attracted 820,000+ monthly views, 16,000+ global subscribers on YouTube, and a TV acquisition deal with London Live.
Home to multi-award winning web and TV series “Brothers With No Game”, BWNG TV and a host of independent shorts. BWNG are dedicated to developing a platform which best showcases the culturally diverse range of talent and narratives available in modern day Britain.

Plot:
Set in London, Brothers With No Game – The Series follows the social and romantic lives of four friends: Theo, Dorian, Junior and Marcus. Facing a ‘quarter-life crisis’, the 20-somethings come to terms with the responsibilities and dilemmas that revolve around work, family, friendships and most notably, women. Their distinctive personalities and ever-changing love lives are paralleled with a strong friendship and one evident, common, trait…they have no game.

 

[loyola llothta]

Second Coming

With her film debut “Second Coming”, playwright Debbie Tucker Green has created an intriguing if meandering portrait of an ordinary London family torn apart by the miraculous and the unexplained. Nadine Marshall plays Jax, a woman married for over twenty years to hard-working railway worker husband Mark (Idris Elba). Ever since having their first child JJ (Kai Francis Lewis), now 11, the couple have grown distant, partly due to experiencing four traumatizing miscarriages.

And yet, when we meet Jax, we learn through vague, cryptic conversations between her and a friend that she’s several weeks pregnant, despite being told by doctors that she can never conceive again. She and Mark have not been intimate in months, she hasn’t had any affairs, and as she struggles to come to terms with her mystery pregnancy, her relationship with both her husband and her precocious young son implodes.

 

[loyola llothta]

French filmmaker Céline Sciamma's coming-of-age drama "Bande de filles" (it's English language title will be "Girlhood") film follows Marieme, a high schooler who feels oppressed by her family environment, dead-end future prospects, and the rowdy boys in her neighborhood, whose life gets a much-desired lift when she meets a group of 3 free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her dress code, and quits school to be accepted by her new friends, hoping that becoming a part of their clique will provide her with the escape she's long wanted.

The film, which made its world premiere as a 2014 Directors’ Fortnight selection - a Cannes sidebar which is distinguished by its independent-mindedness, and its non-competitive nature, striving to be eclectic and receptive to unlikely forms of cinematic expression - was picked up by Strand Releasing for USA distribution, earlier this summer, which is obviously awesome for those of us in the USA.

Plans are for an early 2015 release, so we'll have to wait a little while.

new trailer

 

[Bruce LeRoy]

Damn... I havn't hread of ALOT of these flicks posted on here... I'm gonna try and check some of them out...

That Supremacy flick sounds somewhat similar to an old exploitation flick "Fight For Your Life".... about the black faimly taken hostage by escaped white convicts....

 

[loyola llothta]

TV Directing Still Dominated by White Men, New DGA Report Finds. No Real Improvement in Diversity Hiring Practices During Past 4 Years

Another year, another report on the lack of diversity in the film and TV industry - specifically behind the camera this time around, courtesy of the Directors Guild of America, which, yesterday, released a report on the number of non-white and non-male directors hired to direct primetime episodic television, between 2013 and 2014, and across broadcast, basic cable, premium cable, and high budget original content series made specifically for online consumption.

In its report, the DGA says that it looked at more than 220 scripted series, and 3,500 episodes, produced in the 2013-2014 network television season, and the 2013 cable television season. And here's what they found:

• Caucasian males directed 69% of all episodes;
• Minority males directed 17% of all episodes;
• Caucasian females directed 12% of all episodes; and
• Minority females directed 2% of all episodes.

Shocking news, right? White men still dominate key behind the camera positions within the industry.Here's how the 2013-2014 season compared to the 2012-2013 season:

• The percentage of episodes directed by Caucasian males decreased from 72% to 69%;
• The percentage of episodes directed by minority males increased from 14% to 17%;
• The percentage of episodes directed by Caucasian females remained static at 12%; and
• The percentage of episodes directed by minority females remained static at 2%.

So, a slight improvement certainly, but maybe a bit deceptive, especially when it comes to the percentage of episodes directed by "minorit males," which increased by 3%, but, as the DGA report states, that 3% rise can be entirely attributed to the high number of episodes directed by a single director - Tyler Perry - who directed all episodes of three television series that he also produced, again, accounting for the entire 3% gain.

Certainly the scenery hasn't changed at all for "minority female" TV directors.

The report also shared its "Best of" and "Worst of" lists of TV show diversity hiring practices. In the "Worst of" corner, series with the least amount of diversity in terms of who they hire to direct episodes include shows that I'm sure many of you watch religiously; like "Boardwalk Empire" (0%, meaning not a single woman or minority directed an episode all season. This one is a repeat offender, because it was also on last year's DGA's "Worst of" list),"Hannibal" (0%), "Resurrection" (0%), "NCIS" (8%), "CSI" (9%; also a repeat offender); "The Blacklist" (10%), and more.

On the other side of the ring, the "Best of" list (shows that hired women and minorities to direct at least 40% of episodes in the 2013-2014 production cycle): "The Game" (100%!!), "Hit the Floor" (100%), "The Real Husbands of Hollywood" (100%), "Single Ladies" (100%), "Power" (75%), "The Following" (67%), "Homeland" (67%), "The Good Wife" (50%), and more...

You can check out both lists in full via the DGA's website here.

The bar graph above highlights the lack of any real improvement in diversity hiring practices in episodic television during the past 4 years. In short, male directors still directed 86% of all episodes; white male directors directed 7 out of every 10 episodes; and women and "minority male" directors combined, still directed just 3 out of every 10 episodes. Forget any significant improvements for "minority female" directors.

For its efforts, the DGA (who really have no say over what directors are hired for jobs) shares in the report that the organization is implementing its own diversity initiatives, including negotiating diversity provisions during the collective bargaining process; meeting directly with studios, production companies, and individual shows; tracking and publicizing employment statistics; appointing prominent members to the National Board’s Diversity Task Force; supporting the Guild’s member diversity committees; supplying those who hire with lists of experienced diverse directors; and calling attention to talented, diverse voices through the DGA Quarterly magazine, the DGA Student Film Awards, and the DGA Diversity Award.

In the most recent collective bargaining negotiations, the Guild negotiated a provision requiring each of the major television studios to establish a television director development program designed to expand opportunities for women and minority directors in episodic television. Additionally, the Guild negotiated the establishment of an industry-wide Joint Diversity Action Committee, to meet at least every four months, to enhance communication and provide regular feedback on the studios’ diversity efforts as well as to address industry-wide diversity issues. The first meeting is scheduled for October of this year.

Over the past four years, DGA executives and members of the Diversity Task Force have held dozens of meetings with studios, production companies, and individual shows specifically to address diversity in hiring. At these meetings, the DGA presents employment statistics that bring non-diverse hiring practices into stark relief, and provides a contact list of experienced women and minority directors to make it easier for producers making hiring decisions. This list can also be obtained by any production company by contacting the DGA. While not every meeting has resulted in improved diversity, the DGA is pleased to see that some shows have made a noticeable improvement following these meetings.

Additionally, the Guild’s African American, Asian American, Latino and Women’s Committees continue to hold networking events with producers, networks and studio representatives to introduce talented directors to key producers and television executives; program educational seminars; and organize tribute events to highlight the excellent work being done by diverse directors.

Check out the full report, which contains much more info breakdowns on the above facts and figures, here.

 

[loyola llothta]

“Burning An Illusion” - Dir. Menelik Shabazz (1981).

Pat is a single woman, employed, financially independent, carefree and living in her own flat in London, until she meets suave and smooth talking Del. The two start dating and it isn’t long before Del moves in with Pat.

At first, things seem rosy between the them, that is, until Del quits (or loses) his job. As newly unemployed Del becomes more complacent with his situation, fully relying and taking advantage of the care that Pat and her job provide for him, their relationship takes a quick downward spiral and it isn’t long before things heatedly escalate.

Burning An Illusion is a powerful and important film for so many reasons. Not only does it feature a black woman as the central character, Pat - played by Cassie McFarlane - is a woman with complexities that defy stereotypes of black women throughout the history of Western cinema. She’s both strong and sensitive, defiant and desperate, lovestruck and lonely.

The film also tackles a number of issues related to gender roles and expectations within the Afro-Caribbean British community, black consciousness, race, class and other socio-economic factors that personally affect the film’s many characters.

In making this film writer and director Menelik Shabazz, born in Barbados, became the second black filmmaker to produce a feature film in Britain. Shabazz is also the founder of the BFM (Black Filmmakers) Film Festival in England.

The film won the Grand Prix at the Amiens International Film Festival in France, and actress Cassie McFarlane won the Evening Standard Award for “Most Promising New Actress”.

Burning an Illusion and director Menelik Shabazz were honoured with a Screen Nation Classic Film Award in October 2011.

 

[loyola llothta]

Selma

Telling the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic voting rights struggle, the film’s release will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the landmark legislation.

David Oyelowo leads a cast that includes Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Colman Domingo, Tim Roth, Giovanni Ribisi, Keith Stanfield, Andre Holland, Tessa Thompson, Kent Faulcon, Oprah Winfrey and more, in a film produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B and Christian Colson (who won an Oscar for producing "Slumdog Millionaire").

Paramount Pictures is releasing the Pathe UK-backed project. Paramount Pictures has set a Christmas day initial limited release date for, followed by a nationwide theatrical expansion on January 9, 2015.

 

[loyola llothta]

BET Founder, Robert L. Johnson, Launches UMC - the Urban Movie Channel

Robert L. Johnson
Robert L. Johnson's RLJ Entertainment Inc. today announced the launch of UMC - Urban Movie Channel, a digital channel that will feature "urban-themed" movies.

UMC can be found at: www.urbanmoviechannel.com.

Johnson is, by the way, the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET - at the time of its launch, the first cable television network aimed at African Americans), which he sold to Viacom many years ago for a tidy sum, making him one of a tiny handful of black billionaires in the USA.

Johnson, now the Chairman of RLJ Entertainment, said on UMC’s launch, "As founder of BET, I have gained a deep understanding and knowledge about the African American and urban consumer and the entertainment content that appeals to them. UMC was designed so that the African American and urban creative community could directly reach consumers in a way that removes many of the restrictions associated with the legacy content development and distribution models. As more video is consumed over broadband, we believe that we can quickly become the preeminent provider of quality urban entertainment to what has largely been an underserved, yet highly engaged audience. I am convinced that urban consumers will gravitate to the economic and entertainment value proposition of UMC and that the creative community will embrace UMC as the best way to reach their loyal fans and benefit financially from showcasing their outstanding work product."

UMC will launch with a free trial period for subscribers through February 4, 2015, and with a suggested retail price of $4.99/month or $49.99/year thereafter, but with a special limited time introductory pricing of $2.99/month or $29.99/year to start.

Programs previously released by RLJE under the One Village brand will be incorporated into UMC’s library, which will also include titles from RLJE’s existing Image independent feature film line.

Miguel Penella, CEO of RLJE stated, "As one of the largest independent distributors of entertainment content with nascent propriety streaming channels like Acorn TV, we are uniquely positioned to fulfill the vision of our chairman and deliver to the urban audience an unprecedented library of high quality video content. We are confident in RLJE’s ability to acquire, distribute, and monetize existing and original content that will appeal to the urban community across the growing number of distribution platforms."

Among the titles launching are live stand-up performances featuring Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, and Charlie Murphy; documentaries "Dark Girls" and "I Ain’t Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac;" the feature films "All Things Fall Apart" starring 50 Cent, Mario Van Peebles, and Ray Liotta; and "The Suspect" starring Mekhi Phifer. Bestsellers include the stage play production of "What My Husband Doesn’t Know" by David E. Talbert.

Traci Otey Blunt joins RLJE as Corporate Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Affairs and will oversee the company’s marketing, public relations and investor relations, as well as the promotion of the UMC channel.

"I am confident that with Traci joining the RLJE management team, her expertise will be beneficial to the company as a whole and help our strategic launch of UMC," said Penella. "She will promote the channel and grow its subscriber base by building new and cultivating existing relationships which will ultimately have a strong impact on RLJE’s digital platforms," he concluded.

Among RLJ Entertainment's holdings are Acorn, Image, One Village, Acacia, Athena, and Madacy brands. The company owns, produces, and exploits intellectual property rights in various formats, including DVD, Blu-ray, digital, cable and satellite broadcast, VOD, streaming video, downloading, and sublicensing.

 

[86\*/98]

BET Founder, Robert L. Johnson, Launches UMC - the Urban Movie Channel

.

The idea is cool, but I don't like the name, or the founder....

 

[86\*/98]

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

I ordered this and it streamed with no subtitles.

 

[Dwolf]

The idea is cool, but I don't like the name, or the founder....

Urban though