MUST SEE DOC: A Cultural Experience Shared Globally..."The Fade: A Clean Cut Documentary"

"3 Continents, 4 Barbers, 1 Cut - The Fade. It is more than just a haircut."

I am definitely all about a great documentary that can not only educate, but inspire and entertain the viewer all at the same time. So often people feel that documentaries are just boring films that talk about nature, some foreign technology, or a business venture that you have no clue how it can even work for you. Well today while doing my normal browsing of the net I stumbled upon a trailer that immediately caught my attention.

The barbershop has been a place of solace for many, a place for men (in particular) to get their daily news and gossip, and for young boys a place deemed essential as a part of the coming of age process. For many men and women a good haircut is also necessary to one's physical make up. That one haircut can transform you from the "Average Joe to the The Man!!"

Directed by Andy Mundy-Castle (Giving up the Weed, David is Dying) along with Big Bright Films The Fade: A Clean Cut Documentary is an up close and personal feature documentary that explores how "the Fade" is simply more than just a haircut. The Fade... is a film that presents an exclusive look into four barbers (which include Johnny "Cakes" Castellanos, Shawn Powis, Faisal, and Offori 'Tupac' Mensah) lives who are responsible for the images of some of the worlds major icons (i.e. Jay-Z, Elephant Man, Adrian Lester and others).

As a whole, this film provides a smooth and harmonious journey from Accra to London to New Jersey to Kingston paralleling prevalent themes of masculinity, identity, business, and culture. With only time and space separating these barbers, The Fade... aimlessly demonstrates the power of a mobile enterprise that produces many different individual goals and aspirations within distinct and diverse communities.

 

Sidenote: Now if you happen to be in London on next month (September 8th), the film will be screened at the British Urban Film Festival in the Genesis Cinema.

When it is all said and done...It's nothing like seeing a brotha with a fresh fade...."oooooo weeee so fresh and so clean!"

Another film that NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!! “Black Men, Afraid of Dark”

As you all know, Black Savant Cinema is always in support of new and upcoming film projects. Some time ago I had the opportunity to feature this inspiring filmmaker Mya B . And now she has a documentary that she has been working on that will add a different light to the way black men are viewed and treated in this country through the film, Black Men, Afraid of Dark, formally known as Silence 2: Black Male Sexuality. 


According to the filmmaker, the purpose of the film is to analyze some of the damaging stereotypes about black men being violent, angry and oversexed and offer a balance to that by talking to black men of various ages and backgrounds about their family upbringing, how they define manhood, losing their virginity, black relationships, stereotypes and the in between.  


"This journey has been an amazing one for me in the beautiful men, some of you I know and the evolution I have gone through in discovering the black man in a different light for myself."


Some of the men interviewed include Vondie Curtis Hall, Steele of Smif-N-Wesson, Malik Yoba, Kevin Powell, NY Senator Eric Adams, Dr. Llaila Afrika, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and Phillips Bradford (grandson of man that had Ota Benga in the Bronx zoo), Tom Burrell, Sam Greenlee, Lou Myers, Independent hip hop artists (mikeflo, Chen Lo, Hasan Salaam, etc) and black men from all walks of life and backgrounds. 


Black Men, Afraid of Dark, is a film that is necessary in order to heal the world at large who have judged the black man based on these detrimental stereotypes.  


So please take a few moments to donate to the "Black Men, Afraid of Dark” Kickstarter campaign . No donation is too small. Every dollar amount of your donation will go to the paying my celebrity appearances, animation and post-production.  For being so generous you will receive a limited, Shoot Films, Not People “Hoodie” in honor of Trayvon Martin and other black men killed by the hand of other because of these stereotypes, a special edition DVD with behind the scene footage, a film credit, a signed poster, and an invite to one of the hottest pre-screening parties hosted by a celebrity host and guest DJ.


Now if after all of this you are still not convinced check out the trailer below:

"It is time for the black man to stop being feared but revered.  

He is more than a stereotype.  

Let’s help change the way the world views and responds to him."  ~Mya B

OSIRIS: The Series

Now I typically focus my blog on the genre of film, but I could not help but showcase this new web-series called OSIRIS. Having the elements of espionage, science fiction, the supernatural, and a gritty crime fiction theme, you can't go wrong. I think what got my attention first was the title "Osiris" having some background of the person that this character is named after piqued my interest even further. And S/O to the city of Atlanta for its diverse backdrop. So I watched the first episode and I am hooked!!

   

“Osiris” is a new 10-episode indie scifi/thriller web series featuring gritty crime fiction, espionage and the supernatural. Much of its inspiration comes from classic network shows such as Lost, True Blood and 24. Filmed with very little money, the filmmakers hope to entertain as well as demonstrate that film creativity can still flourish without a Hollywood budget. 

The series follows the title character Osiris, a man with an eternally extended warranty on life. He can never die. If he’s shot, he comes back. If he’s stabbed, comes back. Even if he’s blown up, he comes back…in exactly 37 minutes, every time, in excruciating pain. This has been happening for over 300 years. 

He’s become a cocky, tough-as-nails, suave womanizer that treats people like dirt because everyone he’s known eventually dies. All except for one person, his great great granddaughter, Paula. She’s one of the few people that know of his unique gift of immortality. She’s also one of the only people that can keep him in check. 

As the series begins, Osiris is tasked to track down a missing witness in a federal murder trial, which not only unravels a conspiracy but also unveils clues to the true nature of his eternal life. 

Every other Wednesday, beginning Sept 28th 2011, a new 8-10 minute episode will premiere right here for free!


All I could say is wow, the storyline/plot, the characters, everything this is a webseries that you do not want to sleep on. If you are familiar with the "Blade" comic and movie series it takes on some similar elements.

To get more information about the series, the cast/crew, and to actually watch the episodes go to OSIRIS: The Series . All 8-10 minutes is worth your time.