Trailer Alert: New Indie Horror short film "Danger Word"

Here is a short film that I have literally invested in, because I believe we need more films of this type that need to be highlighted and showcased! It's about time that we get to see a Black/African American indie/horror story. I hope this is the beginning of more stories of this nature, maybe even an Octavia Butler film!!

Husband and wife team Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes have hit the jackpot with this one. As a fan of horror and sci-fi films this short film definitely piqued my interest and has me yearning for more.

So just in case you have not heard about the film here is a brief synopsis:

DANGER WORD is a short horror film in post-production, directed by Luchina Fisher (Death in the Family), adapted for the scree by award-winning writers Steven Barnes ("The Outer Limits", "Andromeda") and Tananarive Due ("My Soul to Keep"). 

This film is 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 stars Frankie Faison ("The Wire", Silence of the Lambs) and Saoirse Scott (The Hunger Games, "One Life to Live")

The trailer is here check it out below (Side note: When you watch it make sure to set it to High Definition for the full effect) :

Although the film has reached its goal funding wise you can still contribute to the post-production!
And if you are into reading you may want to check "The Living Dead 2" which is where the original story came from as well as the novels "Devil's Wake" and "Domino Falls", the series that grew from the original short story.

For more information about the film and how you can contribute check out the site here: Danger Word Film . Trust me when I tell this film is going to do big things mark my words!!

So make sure to spread the word and tell your friends!!

'Restless City' becomes 4th AFFRM released film!!

And this is why I love the movies!!

Just announced today the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM) has acquired the 2011 Sundance Film Festival selection Restless City.

Directed by Andrew Dosunmu, Restless City tells the story of an African immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City where music is his passion, life is a hustle, and falling in love is his greatest risk.

A screenplay by Eugene Gussenhoven and produced by Katie Mustard and Matthew Parker, with executive producers Audra Alexxi Jones, Munu Elifituri, David Raymond and Tony Okungbowa. The film stars Sy Alassane, Nicole Grey, Danai Gurira, Anthony Okungbowa, Babs Olusanmokum. Cinematography by Bradford Young, with editing by Oriana Soddu and costumes by Mobolaji Dawodu.

Restless City is AFFRM's fourth feature film joining I Will Follow, Kinyarwanda, and Middle of Nowhere.

The newest AFFRM film will be released April 27th in the following selected cities ATL, LA, and NY!

For more information about the film go to Restless City Film !!

Let's make sure to support folks!!

Check out the official press release below...

Theatrical Distribution Collective Dedicated to

Black Independent Cinema Announces Third Release

RESTLESS CITY

Official Sundance Selection To Be Released April 27, 2012

“In this intense twist on the American Dream, director Andrew Dosunmu vividly captures the pulsating dynamic of New York city's pan-African community, a robust aggregation that subsists amid an often hostile foreign environment. “Restless City” is a mesmerizing glimpse into a culture and community that is only superficially seen by indifferent New Yorkers.” – Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter

Los Angeles, CA (March 1, 2012) – The African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement has acquired U.S. theatrical rights to the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection, RESTLESS CITY. Directed by Andrew Dosunmu, RESTLESS CITY tells the story of an African immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City where music is his passion, life is a hustle, and falling in love is his greatest risk. The film will be released in theaters April 27, 2012.

RESTLESS CITY will mark the third feature from African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, the theatrical distribution entity powered by the nation’s top black film organizations. The collective activates quality black independent films with simultaneous theatrical engagements in select cities.

The company’s inaugural feature was the critically-acclaimed drama, “I Will Follow,” released in March 2011, followed by the Sundance Audience Award winner for World Cinema KINYARWANDA on December 2, 2011. Most recently, the collective jointly acquired MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Winner of the Best Director Award, with Participant Media for U.S. theatrical distribution.

"Both in its narrative and visual quality, RESTLESS CITY takes my breath away. Andrew Dosunmu is a brilliant artist who has crafted a stunning, groundbreaking film.” said Ava DuVernay, Founder, African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement. “We’re thrilled to work with Andrew and his passionate team to share this gem with film lovers.”

RESTLESS CITY is directed by Andrew Dosunmu, from a screenplay by Eugene Gussenhoven. Katie Mustard and Matthew Parker produce, with executive producers Audra Alexxi Jones, Munu Elifituri, David Raymond and Tony Okungbowa. The film stars Sy Alassane, Nicole Grey, Danai Gurira, Anthony Okungbowa, Babs Olusanmokun. Cinematography by Bradford Young, with editing by Oriana Soddu and costumes by Mobolaji Dawodu.

The deal was negotiated from African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement by Gordon Bobb of Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein and Lezcano and by Ronna Wallace of Eastgate Pictures for the filmmakers.

History is Made at Sundance Film Festival by Director Ava DuVernay!!

Well if anyone said there is no room for Black Indie film, then they have not met Ms. Ava DuVernay!

She's on a roll!! On last night, Ava DuVernay became the first African-American woman to win US Directing Award: Dramatic for her second feature film, Middle of Nowhere. 

 The movie stars  Emayatzy Corinealdi as a young woman struggling to maintain her identity while her husband (Omari Hardwick) serves an eight year prison sentence.  The groundbreaking director tweeted a pic after her historic win:

Just last week Middle of Nowhere premiered at Sundance, and has received remarkable reviews from critics and audiences alike.  So much so that the film has been picked up for distribution by Participant Media, partnering with DuVernay’s African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM) for Middle of Nowhere to be released in theaters later this year. I cannot wait!!

Films like this just prove that there is still quality in the movie industry especially as it relates to African Americans!! 

Black Savant Cinema gives a round of applause to Ava DuVernay, the cast and AFFRM on this outstanding achievement!! 

KUDOS!! Keep doing your thang!!

Another Film Project To Support "Canopy"

As you all know I am all about making sure films get the exposure that they need and deserve, and this one right here is no different. While perusing through the internet (S/O to Cazembe Abena for the FB post) I found this promotional video for an upcoming film titled Canopy from screenwriter/producer Okorie Johnson.

"Canopy is coming-of-age/romantic comedy that takes place in Atlanta during the 90s and the first decade of the new millennium."

For more information and details about the film check out the following sites: www.canopythemovie.com and www.facebook.com/canopythemovie !!

GOOD STUFF!!

New Indie Film To Put on The Radar..."Middle of Nowhere"

I have always been impressed with Ava DuVernay's work! She is truly amazing and it shows through her work. Without a shadow of doubt I had to feature her upcoming indie film Middle of Nowhere, it makes its world debut at Sundance Film Festival in less than two weeks! Check out the new poster and trailer below:

Here is the synopsis as well...When her husband is incarcerated, an African American woman struggles to maintain her marriage and her identity. 

The cast includes Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo, Omari Hardwick, Lorraine Touissaint, and Edwina Findley.

Just those few moments take your breath away, grab your attention and make you yearn for more!! Definitely looking forward to seeing this in the theaters!

Interview with Kinyarwanda director/filmmaker Alrick Brown

Kinyarwanda interweaves six different tales that together form one grand narrative that provides the most complex and real depiction yet presented of human resilience and life during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.  

Grace Gipson (Medium Rare/ Black Savant Cinema) spoke with filmmaker Alrick Brown about the reasons behind bringing this kind of  story to the big screen and his role in the film industry.

Grace Gipson: I noticed that you have a background in English and Education and was curious on what made you decide to become a filmmaker?

Alrick Brown:   I wanted to have a bigger classroom and film was a way to reach more people.  But I have always admired film, I have always loved it and I am always going to be a teacher and an activist and film is just the way for me right now.  I am a writer, I’m a bunch of things, so yeah I guess film is the medium.

GG:  How were you able to make sure that each of the tales had an equal voice to form the overall narrative?

AB:  I didn’t think about it in a sense of equal voice because your always going, when your watching a film you have to know whose perspective it is, whose story it is. And I knew it was the young girl’s story basically and the young boy’s story and all the other stories/elements gave you perspectives on this historical event.  However the even weight that you are speaking of is just making sure that the audience cares about all of the characters. You either fall in love with them, listen to them, respect them, or just care what happens to them.

GG:  Being a filmmaker of color do you feel obligated to bring such stories as Kinyarwanda to the big screen?

AB: Well it’s an interesting question because I’m Jamaican born grew up in Jersey, I’ve lived in France, lived in Africa and this film isn’t essentially an African film.  I was working with Rwandans to make it, so it happens to be black characters, African characters and an African American lead actress Cassandra Freeman (who plays Lt. Rose), but otherwise you know it’s a strong story. As a filmmaker I try to tell good strong stories to humanize and I’m always going try to make sure to portray African American people in the best light to kind of counter the history of negative portrayals, but I just want to tell good stories. As an African American filmmaker I do have a responsibility since I do have a camera and the voice, I do have a responsibility that I make sure that I am doing something meaningful when putting our people on screen.

GG:  Do you see any obstacles as an African American filmmaker?

AB:  There are tons of obstacles. Hollywood is a sexist, racist place and it won’t admit to that openly. You can see examples of certain black people who have excelled and you look at the numbers and you look at the statistics, it is still a very low number of us who participate.   A young white filmmaker can get an easier deal sometimes.  Filmmaking is a tough business for anyone black or white but you know just like the Depression hits an entire economy, it still hits the black people and poor people harder. So if it’s tough already, then just imagine what it is for a black filmmaker or female filmmaker. Our European counterparts can make a bad film here and bad film there and over the years have gotten more chances and so they can still take that risk.

GG: So with Kinyarwanda being considered an indie film by mainstream Hollywood standards, if you had the chance to make bigger budget films, for example,  The Help,  would you and why or why not?

AB: I’m a filmmaker and I look for any opportunities where I can tell good stories  and I try to bring my own personal humanity and my level of craft to any project that I do, irrespective of what the project is or whether it’s a studio or not. The real question is will they let me be myself, will they let me tell the story in a way that I’d like to tell it? I haven’t see The Help, I heard it’s a good movie, but again it’s another example of how we have to be, we can’t just tell a story about black people where we need a white character to mediate the experience. So the black characters are caught up in the Hollywood system and they get comfortable and they say that otherwise people will not see the movie and it’s true the way people have been socialized in this culture. When you don’t have the white character to help along the journey it’s harder to sell it.  I just want to tell good stories, whether it’s in the studio, whether it’s independent or a short film. And if I have a short film in mind I’m going to grab my camera and I’m going to make it.  I’m not going to be a slave to the system because the system dictates me to be a certain way.

GG:  What do want viewers to gain or take away after watching Kinyarwanda?

AB: You know, there’s a couple of things.  Rarely do you get a film of this… and I will say caliber because we are often criticized for not having quality on the screen, when we do political things, when we deal with African Americans or African American subject matter.  I think the quality is there and that’s a testament to my cast and crew and all the work we put in to it.  It’s easier to get a film made but it’s harder to get them seen.  So you know people are getting what they asked for, and I wish our numbers were higher and I wish more people are going out to theaters because they can’t complain now about not giving them what they want. Its there…it’s an alternative to Tyler Perry, it’s an alternative to other things.  On a purely human and spiritual level this film deals with religion and the whole positive portrayal of black people, positive portrayal of Islam. It does so many things, it infuses the idea of forgiveness as opposed to vengeance. So I would hope that this film does something that makes forgiveness a part of the dialogue.

GG:  What do have to look forward to in new and upcoming projects?

AB:  I just wrapped on an ABC episode of a new series out early next year called Final Witness that’s going to be airing on prime time. And then I’m gearing up to start work on a new film called Somebody to Love.  It’s a quaint little piece set in the US. It’s a little bit more relaxed.  It’s a love story and soul music is at the heart of it.

GG:  I thank you and wish you success with this film and your future endeavors.

AB:  Thank you very much.  I very much appreciate it.

Teaser Poster for "The Last Fall"

No words need to be said about this "HOT" poster from director Matthew Cherry's upcoming film The Last Fall...

This one is for the ladies!! Go ahead and marinate on this folks!

"Things Never Said" Trailer Alert

I got a little treat for you all and it's HOT!!

Things Never Said is a a 'Love Jones' for the new millennium, this story explores a young woman’s quest for self worth and purpose as she struggles to find the meaning behind her choices and her voice through spoken-word poetry.

KALINDRA STEPNEY (Kal) is an emerging spoken-word poetess, someone who willingly speaks her thoughts, but she’s an artist who has yet to find her voice.

A native of California, Kal has dreams of taking her poems to New York and the infamous Nuyorican Cafe stage. Haunted by a miscarriage and saddled with RONNIE, a husband who’s angry and without direction – he uses his fists as a form of speech, Kal tries desperately to find an outlet for her struggling voice.

Adding to her distress is best friend and poet compatriot DAPHNE, also grappling with love liabilities. Her boyfriend STEVE is a lout who willfully and regularly takes advantage. Kal doesn’t approve. These scenarios, coupled with the surprise and uncertainty of new love CURTIS JACKSON, hit Kal where she’s most vulnerable. Just as she helps Curtis with unchallenged perceptions about a past relationship and his estranged young daughter, Curtis’ influence leads Kal to dig deeper, to find her voice, confidence and sense of self worth.

Things Never Said is writtend and directed by Charles Murray and stars Shanola Hampton, Elimu Nelson, Omari Hardwick, Tamala Jones, Dorian Missick, Michael Beach.

To see the trailer check them out on http://www.facebook.com/ThingsNeverSaid !

"I Will Follow"...A MUST SEE FILM!!

"If you walkaway, walkaway...I walkaway, walkaway...I will follow"

With much anticipation, I along with a girlfriend of mine went to Phipps Plaza in Atlanta, GA to go see the new independent film I Will Follow. Award-Winning director Ava DuVernay does an awesome job of painting a picture of the personal struggles with grief and loss. 

This movie was phenomenal, you can't help but look at your own self and family and see big or small pieces of your own life. I could totally relate with the main character Maye, when you invest so much emotionally into a something or someone, you can drain every bit of existence. But somehow that light at the end of tunnel becomes a little clearer and you can begin the fight again!

Amazing how the 12 people that come into the main character's life on this one day, give her these individual moments of clarity whether directly or indirectly. I am still in awe with the fact that in one day you can lose something, but on the flip side can gain sooooo much. You could feel that true honesty that was evoked within the film whether good or bad, it was the TRUTH!!

I must say each character played their role quite impressively. I can't think of any other set of actors/actresses to play each of these roles. Maye (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) who plays the protagonist, exemplifies the ideal women (regardless of race). She tries to do everything in her power to bring happiness and peace to others, but is lacking that same happiness for herself. Her story is one that may can and have identified with in today's society. Then you have Blair Underwood's character (Evan), even with distance playing a factor you learn the lesson that everything is not always about you! For me the character of Troy (Omari Hardwick) portrays the glowing past, and the realization of what could've been. He presents the straightforwardness that we want in a man, but sometimes cannot always handle. Now probably the most powerful role was that of Amanda (Beverly Todd), even though we don't get to formally meet her, we are introduced to the lasting spirit that she leaves behind. It's the little moments that we get to see of her by herself as well as with Maye that just melt your heart. As my mom would say, "they showed out!!"

Another highlight to the film, was the music! Everything was so fitting and it just flowed oh so naturally!! It just had a soothing effect, that just relaxed your mind. I think its brilliant how the name of the movie, is named after a great U2 song, quite fitting. Music almost becomes a hidden theme, because the music is what seems to be the glue that holds everything together. Throughout the film we are surrounded by musical analogies, that just take the film to another level! Just outstanding!

I Will Follow is not a film with a lot of bells and whistles but it doesn't need it, the stands on its own and with ease. If you get nothing else out of this film, hopefully you become more aware about breast cancer, and the various journeys that the women partake. There needs to be more films like this so that we can truly benefit and appreciate the arts.

A MUST SEE!!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (One of the few movies that I give a perfect score too!!)