Day 15 of Black Movie Month "Hollywood Shuffle"

It is Day 15 of Black Movie Month!! Today's highlight will be the 1987 classic, Hollywood Shuffle. It would star Robert Townsend, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Anne-Marie Johnson, John Witherspoon, Helen Martin, Roy Fegan, and Dom Irrera.

The film tracks the attempts of Bobby Taylor to become a successful actor and the mental and external roadblocks he encounters, represented through a series of interspersed vignettes and fantasies. The film is semi-autobiographical in that it reflects Townsend's experience as a black actor when he was told he was "not black enough" for certain roles.

Hollywood Shuffle brings into light the lack of substantial roles for black actors and the misrepresentation of people of color in film and television. Through satire, the film is able to use negative stereotypes put out by mass media and turn them against Hollywood. The film's plot reveals the perceived racism behind the camera that has relegated black actors to take demeaning roles for money and a chance at stardom. This point is personified in the casting director's constant demand for actors to “be more black.”

The script also levels some criticism towards black actors who are willing to take demeaning roles. This is highlighted in the protest skit, when an NAACP spokesman (played by Paul Mooney) states at a press conference, "they'll never play the Rambos until they stop playing the Sambos." The film also offers an authentic glimpse into real middle-class African Americans in stark contrast to the roles they are offered in the film industry, and Bobby Taylor's final words in the movie's final scene can be seen as encouraging pride and respect in the community. With a budget of $100,000, of which $60,000 was funded from Robert Townsend's own credit cards, and grossing over $5 million over the first ten months of release, the film was a resounding independent success, propelling Townsend into stardom.*

Hollywood Shuffle is the quintessential film that inspired a generation of filmmakers both through its use of satire and messages of racial stereotypes about African Americans in film and television. It would also showcase the "DIY" independent style of filmmaking.

The humor in this film is so gripping and relevant that it truly shows off the skills of Townsend's in such a way that it is almost genius. And interestingly enough today this issue is still rampant and relevant in today's Black Hollywood. If only there were more directors like Townsend!

Any chance you get to support a film such as this one and others you should jump on it like "white on rice" folks. Movies like Hollywood Shuffle help to get the message across that so many would like to push to the side and forget about them. 

At the close of Black Movie Month will be the Hollywood Black Film Festival, which will feature "Chicken and Beef Presents: Monkey Gang, The Mockumentary" a movie that was heavily influenced by Hollywood Shuffle in its satire and parody of negative stereotypes, as well as its style of independent filming. 

As a special treat check out this clip with the creators of Hollywood Shuffle, talking to the creators of "Monkey Gang" about independent Black film.

**The Hollywood Black Film Festival, founded by industry insider, Tanya Kersey, will happen in Los Angeles, California from October 27th-30th. For more information go to www. hbff.org .

14th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Winners

Film Life's 14th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced the winners of their independent film awards at the Lincoln Theatre on June 26, 2010. And here are the results:

The Grand Jury Prize for Best Film: Legacy, directed by Thomas Ikimi. Starring Idris Elba, the film centers on a Black Ops operative Malcolm Gray (played by Elba) returns home after a botched mission in Eastern Europe. Holed up in a Brooklyn motel room, he is torn between retribution and personal salvation as he mentally unravels. When the walls close in, his story may be all he can leave behind. (He also received film stock valued at $5000.)

The Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance by an Actor: Golden Brooks for her performance in The Inheritance. Robert O'Hara makes his directorial debut with this film, also being produced by Effie T. Brown and her production company, Duly Noted Inc., the story centers on family friends (played by Golden Brooks, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Rochelle Aytes, Shawn Michael Howard, and D.B. Woodside) who gather during a winter storm for a 'secret' reunion at the family estate. The connection to their tortured history is one of only passing fascination. The reunion turns deadly when the elders have to make good on an ancient pact with a spirit of an ancestor. Now, it's this generation's turn to make the ultimate sacrifice. It is their duty and their destiny, but they won't give up without a fight to survive. (Prize includes $5000 sponsored by Gold Peak Tea.)

The HBO Short Film Award: Stag and Dow, directed by Daniel Patterson and John Staley. Stag and Doe is the story of Christian and Camille on the eve of their wedding night. With the promise of "forever" looming, Camille presents Christian with a unique proposition: one last "freebie" before the wedding, on the condition she gets to do the same...What will they decide?

The HBO Star Project grand-prize winners: Emayatzy Corinealdi of Los Angeles and Stephen Hill of New York. Emayatzy Corinealdi has played a range of characters, from a naive and tough teenager in the cable pilot Katrina, to an over-zealous and independent divorcee in indie flick Cordially Invited. Her latest projects include an episode of the ABC show 'Romantically Challenged;' independent films entitled Legend of The Black Lotu's and The Dating Game of which the short version has been chosen as an official selection for the Cannes Film Festival. Stephen Hill is noted as a genuine talent with onscreen charisma. He receives positive industry nods from Susan Batson (Black Nexxus Inc.) NYU Graduate Film, HBO/HBO Sports, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and Adcolor, among others. (Star Project is an international acting competition for emerging multicultural artists.)

The Career Achievement Award: Lee Daniels in celebration of his success and in recognition of his great talent. (ABFF Honors Past honorees have included Spike Lee and Melvin Van Peebles.)

The 1st Annual National 'Rising Icons' Award: Chrisette Michele talented Def Jam R&B singer. 'Rising Icons' is a TV series on BET network honoring the spirit of musical excellence by recognizing the world's most influential new-found artists.
 
The event was hosted by director Robert Townsend.

Rewind Wednesday: The Mighty Quinn

"THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE CHIEF SUSPECT. They know each other too well to let a little thing like murder get in their way."
Man oh man when I tell you this week is going by super fast it is zooming, but I can't forget to bring you today's Rewind Wednesday Flick: The Mighty Quinn.

This is one of those films that you have to go dig deep in the closet, and if you are like me you got it on VHS and need to update to DVD format! The Mighty Quinn gave us the opportunity to see Denzel Washington a budding actor at the time take some international roots. This 1989 film set in the caribbean would star some amazing actors and actresses including Denzel Washington, Robert Townsend, Mimi Rogers, M. Emmet Walsh, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and James Fox. Based off the novel written by A.H.Z. Carr titled "Finding Maubee".

When police officer Xavier Quinn's childhood friend, Maubee, becomes associated with murder and a briefcase full of ten thousand dollar bills, The Mighty Quinn must clear his name. Or try to catch him, which could be even trickier. (Written by http://www.imdb.com/SearchPlotWriters?Renee%20Ann%20Byrd%20%7Bbyrdie@wyrdbyrd.org%7D )

Famed film critic Roger Ebert would give the film an overwhelmingly positive review, stating itwas one of the best films of 1989. Ebert would give the film film four stars. The high point, he said, was Washington's performance:
The film stars Denzel Washington in one of those roles that creates a movie star overnight. You might have imagined that would have happened to Washington after he starred in "Cry Freedom" as the South African hero Steven Biko. He got an Oscar nomination for that performance, but it didn't even begin to hint at his reserves of charm, sexiness and offbeat humor. In an effortless way that reminds me of Robert Mitchum, Michael Caine or Sean Connery in the best of the Bond pictures, he is able to be tough and gentle at the same time, able to play a hero and yet not take himself too seriously.

Overall this was an excellent film which highlighted the acting ability of several actors. It is one of those films you can look back on 10 years later and say that's a "great movie" lets pop it in!!



A little known fact: The U.S. did indeed issue a $10,000 bill in the early 20th century. However, it is incorrectly described by one of the characters in the movie as having a picture of "The President." The real $10,000 bill featured Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury during the American Civil War.