WAKE UPPPPPP!!! 25th Anniversary of the Spike Lee's 'School Daze'

This closing line was a line that would stay embedded in my heart and mind forever!!

Can you believe it has been 25 years since the release of Spike Lee's second feature film, School Daze. This movie in addition to watching A Different World were two of the main reasons I would attend an HBCU (specifically Clark Atlanta University).

School Daze was based on the collegiate experiences of Spike Lee at the historical AUC (Atlanta University Center campus (Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morris Brown College). In addition, it would discuss fraternity and sorority life, HBCU homecoming, and even tackle issues of race/racism, skin tone bias, apartheid, and other issues affecting the African American community/diaspora. 

We may laugh, sing, dance, and cheer with this movie; but when it is all said and done there was some hard-core solid material that hit the screen. Even to this day we are still discussing many of these issues. I remember when I was an RA back at CAU, I would make sure to always show the incoming class this film. When it all boiled down there was this sense of "black uplift", pride, and an understanding that we always have to do better.

Interestingly, Roger Ebert would state, "There is no doubt in my mind that 'School Daze' in its own way, is one of the most honest revealing movies I've ever seen about modern middle-class black life in America."

So tell me...Are you awake?

"The 2012 Inaugural Black Vintage Movie Series"

Calling all my Atlanta folks!!

The Black Vintage Movie Series, Inc. invites you and your family to join them on June 16th, 2012 as they celebrate those  who helped pave the path for today's African Americans actors/actresses in the Motion Picture Industry. The inaugural movie series is also presented by Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall.


'The Black Vintage Movie Series' showcases select films from 1920-1950. Founded by Jeff Bellamy, the 'Black Vintage Movie Series' was inspired by Bellamy's father's enthusiasm for black films from the Great Depression. This era represents a time when families were more tightly structured, when going to the movies meant that women and men dressed impeccably. It was a night out on the town and people carried themselves with respect. During this time actors worked with very limited technical resources and musicians played without the benefit of sound enhancement. 


Check out the schedule here:
2:30 pm Imitation of Life
5:00 pm Lecture- Bright Boulevard, Bold Dreams
7:00 pm Carmen Jones
9:30 pm Q&A with acclaimed author Donald Bogle


The movie series will take place at The Balzer Theater at Herren's (84 Luckie St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303). Tickets are as follows:
          Individual Screenings: $19 in advance, $21 day of the show, $15 for groups of 10+
          Full Day Pass: $28 in advance, $34 day of the show, $25 for groups of 10+

Tickets can be purchased via phone (1-877-725-8849) or online .

Countdown to 'Restless City' 2 DAYS!!

OK ATL, NYC, LA Are you ready?!!

AFFRM's Restless City is coming to a theater near you!!

Trust me when I tell you this is a film you do not want to miss! 

I had the opportunity to see a sneak peak preview and I was blown away to the 20th power!! This is beautiful story that touches every part of the soul!!

And as a special treat for my ATL folks you can catch the movie on Friday and then party on Saturday!!

And just in case you missed the trailer here it is... 

 

So what's your next step...selecting a showtime and purchasing your ticket http://www.affrm.com !!

"Clap (One Day)" A Short Film from Pharoahe Monch

For all my hip-hop fans check out this short film from hip artist Pharoahe Monch, Clap (One Day). Pharoahe Monch premieres his first visual from W.A.R. (We Are Renegades). Monch evokes raw emotions as he brings viewers on a journey of a police raid gone dramatically wrong.

The film stars Gbenga Akinnagbe ("The Wire"), Kim Howard, and Josiah Small. As a special bonus for fans who buy Pharoahe Monch's W.A.R. album from iTunes will receive the short film with purchase.

Day 2 of Black Movie Month "Set It Off"

We are moving right along folks with Day 2 of Black Movie Month, and today's spotlight is the 1996 crime/action film directed by F. Gary Gray, Set It Off!!

The story of four women in Los Angeles, CA who have to turn to the life of robbing banks in order to survive. All for different reasons they decide to plan and execute a robbery. And although you want to feel sorry for them, the characters performance will not allow that to happen. Each of them fight "tooth and nail" until they can't fight anymore. The great thing about this film is that it can be applied to just about any situation in life and still be credible. Lest I not forget the movie's central focus is about four black women taking charge of their lives and the people in them, that in itself speaks volumes.

In my eyes this film would jump start the career of Kimberly Elise more than anyone else. Her role was so innocent and heart-wrenching you truly felt her pain. Although she was the most shy and timid she was also the most surprising. Elise has the ability to really transform into a character and play it all the way to the end! Also Set It Off would be one of the few films where we would get to see Blair Underwood in a positive light. So often he plays the bad guy, and don't get me wrong he plays it well, but it is refreshing to see a loving sensitive side to him as well.

Set It Off is another great black film with a matching soundtrack!! Some of the hits would include "I'll Be Missing You" (one of my personal favorites) performed by Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Brandy, and Tamia, "Don't Let Go" by En Vogue, and "Come On" by Billy Lawrence featuring MC Lyte.

Make sure you add this to your library if you have not already!!

Set It Off (Theatrical Trailer) by NakedBrotha2007

Day 1 of Black Movie Month "Cooley High"

Today's Black Movie Month feature is that of Cooley High! This movie is definitely on my Top 25 of Black films and holds a place in my DVD collection. Just this past week I have talked about this movie with three different people so I figure this needs to be the first movie I spotlight.

This 1975 film directed by Michael Schultz and based on the Chicago high school with the same name, is the perfect example of what a classic Black film should even in 2011. It's filled with laughter, tears, and life changing experiences. The film would star Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs.

In the mid-1960s, a group of high school friends who live on the near North side of Chicago enjoy life to the fullest...parties, meeting new friends, and hanging out. Then life changes for two guys when they meet  a pair of career criminals and get falsely arrested in connection with stealing a Cadillac. We get a chance to follow their lives through the end of a school year and the end of their high school lives.

Some even think of this film as the "black American Graffiti" because it takes us down memory lane as we look at a group of black teenagers about to graduate from high school; who are getting ready to embark upon the rest of their lives.

To date Cooley High ranks #23 on Entertainment Weekly's list of "50 Best High School Movies". The movie would even go on to inspire the R&B group Boyz II Men first album Cooleyhighharmony, and remake the tear jeaker song "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye". And to think this film almost got an Academy Award, so deserving.

Trailer Alert: Let's Make a "Joyful Noise"

Hitting the internet waves just moments ago is the new trailer for the upcoming movie Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah, KeKe Palmer, Courtney Vance, Jesse L. Martin and Dolly Parton. Some have called it a cross between Sister Act and Glee.

This musically driven story (which by the way has a love story between Keke and Jesse) brings together the sounds of gospel, pop, country, rock and R & B with some memorable songs, performed by the cast, from a wide range of artists, including Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Chris Brown, Sly & the Family Stone along with others.


It is set to hit theaters January 13, 2012.