Keepingitreal

Outfest: Off and Running

Bratts roll out 'La Mission,' hometown-style

The San Francisco International Film Festival's opening-night party was a double homecoming for Benjamin and Peter Bratt: It took place in the Mission District, where the brothers grew up and where they shot "La Mission" - the family drama that inaugurated the 2009 festival - starring Benjamin and directed by Peter.As kids, they would sneak into the New Mission Theater a few blocks away from where the partygoers gathered. The Bratt boys' love of movies was sparked watching "Planet of the Apes" in the back of the theater when they were barely out of kindergarten. Thursday night's festivities were held in another grand movie house from their youth, the El Capitan. Sadly, all that's left of it is a splendid Mexican Baroque facade. The gutted foyer, now used as a parking lot, offered ample space for festivalgoers to congregate. The night was a bit nippy for milling around outdoors and for the dancers dressed in sequin halters and short shorts who perform with one of the bands. People could be heard lamenting the fact that the party hadn't been Monday, during the city's brief hot spell. As Thursday night wore on, they spilled over into Bruno's restaurant next door to keep warm. The Bratts were too exuberant to notice if they were cold. Asked how it felt to have their movie open the festival in their hometown, Benjamin said, "As you can imagine, it feels wonderful." This is the second time that Benjamin - who became famous as a detective on TV's "Law & Order" in the 1990s and recently appeared in the A&E series "The Cleaner" - has been directed by his older brother. The first was "Follow Me Home," a 1996 indie that wasn't seen much but has developed a following."We've formed an eternal theater troupe, and whatever Peter does I am going to be in now and forever," he said. CONTINUE READING...

Obsessed: Movie Trailer

The Outfest Legacy Project Screening Series

April 24, 7:30pm
WORD IS OUT at the UCLA Festival of Preservation

Dir. Mariposa Film Group (Peter Adair, Nancy Adair, Veronica Selver, Andrew Brown, Robert Epstein, and Lucy Massie Phenix), 1978, USA, 35mm, 135 min
Quite possibly as relevant today as it was on its debut over 30 years ago, Word Is Out: Stories Of Some Of Our Lives is widely considered the first feature-length documentary on gay and lesbian identity. Offering a vastly different perspective on gay and lesbian identity in America than the common views of the time, the film presents 26 diverse gay and lesbian individuals, who with profundity, honesty and humor, describe their struggle to live a decent life in America, despite prejudice, discriminatory laws and society's unwillingness to treat them with respect and equality.
Preservation funded by The David Bohnett Foundation with additional support provided by The Andrew J. Kuehn Jr. Foundation and the members of Outfest

IN PERSON: Director Nancy Adair., Lucy Massie Phenix
Location: Billy Wilder Theater
Tickets/Information: www.cinema.ucla.edu

 May 11, 8:30pm
WATERMELON WOMAN at REDCAT,
co-presented by the Outfest Legacy Project

Los Angeles theatrical revival
Dir. Cheryl Dunye, 1996, 85 min., screened in Beta SP

Cheryl Dunye's "saucy, daring, insidiously smart debut" (The Boston Phoenix) stands as the first-ever theatrical feature directed by an African American lesbian. The Watermelon Woman tells the story of Cheryl, played engagingly by Dunye herself, who develops a fascination with 1930s actress Fae Richards--a fictional character confined to playing "Mammy" roles in movies by a Dorothy Azner-type director. As part of the production, New York photographer Zoe Leonard shot cleverly constructed still images of Fae Richards and in the process (re)invented a history running counter to the invisibility of black women in early Hollywood and black lesbians in general. The winner of the Teddy (the Berlinale) and Outstanding Narrative Feature (Outfest) awards, The Watermelon Woman also managed to raise the hackles of unreconstructed reactionary Jesse Helms, who called the work "flotsam floating down a sewer." Funded in part with generous support from Wendy Keys and Donald Pels. In person: Cheryl Dunye
Location: ROY AND EDNA DISNEY/CALARTS THEATER, 631 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tickets/Information: http://www.redcat.org/season/0809/fv/dunye.php

May 17, 7:00pm
A Tribute to Tom Graeff (TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE, TOAST TO OUR BROTHERS, ISLAND SUNRISE)
Legacy Project Screening Series at UCLA
This evening's program celebrates the life and career of Los Angeles filmmaker Tom Graeff. Low-budget auteur, eccentric rabble-rouser, religious fanatic sent to save the world--Graeff was all of these. Unknown in his own lifetime, his fascinating, earnest and campy work is ripe for re-discovery.

TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE
Dir. Tom Graeff, 1959, USA,16mm, 86 min. In 1956, Graeff made his second independent feature film, Killers from Outer Space. Three years and several title changes later, Warner Brothers released it as Teenagers from Outer Space and a cult B-movie science fiction classic was born. Starring Graeff's boyfriend Chuck Roberts (as David Love), Teenagers was written, produced, directed, shot, and edited by Graeff, who also acted in it, supervised the music and created the notorious special effects.

Preceded by.
ISLAND SUNRISE
Dir. Tom Graeff, 1954, USA, Beta-SP, (rev. 2008), 4 min.
This short was originally created to introduce Graeff's boyfriend Chuck Roberts to Hollywood and was recently contextualized and updated by filmmaker and Graeff biographer, Jim Tushinski.

TOAST TO OUR BROTHER
Dir. Tom Graeff, 1951, USA, Beta-SP, 23 min.
Shot mainly on the UCLA campus, Graeff's delightful student film depicts campus life and the rewarding aspects of fraternity brotherhood.

Location: Billy Wilder Theater
Tickets/Information: www.cinema.ucla.edu
OUTFEST members receive $1 off admission at the box office.

Trailer: Tyson Documentary

'PUSH' FILM CAUGHT IN STUDIO TUG-O-WAR: Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. sue each other over film rights.

Lionsgate and the Weinstein Co. [TWC] on Wednesday filed lawsuits against each other over the Sundance hit "Push," throwing into question who owns distribution rights to the urban drama directed by Lee Daniels.  In its suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Lionsgate claims that TWC does not have "any right, title or interest" in the picture, which won both the grand jury and audience drama prizes in Park City, and is seeking a judge's declaration to that effect. Lionsgate filed the suit, it argues in the complaint, because of "threatened litigation" on the part of TWC over theatrical rights to Lee Daniels' inner-city tale.Several hours after the announcement of Lionsgate's suit, Weinstein Co. reps said the company had filed its own suit against both Lionsgate and sales agent Cinetic Media for breach of contract and inducing breach of contract. TWC argues there was a contract in place for the New York company to buy the movie."TWC reached a firm agreement for the rights to "Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire.' Behind their backs Cinetic Media tried to make a better deal with Lionsgate. Lionsgate was well aware of the TWC contract but went forward anyway," said Bert Fields, who along with David Boies represents TWC. Typically in breach-of-contract cases, a plaintiff would either want the contract honored or, in its place, monetary compensation."Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire," which tells the story of an illiterate, pregnant inner-city teen and her attempts to set her life right, stars Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Mo'Nique, Lenny Kravitz and Paula Patton. The story revolves around an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.The Weinstein Co. and Overture had been among the distributors circling the movie in the wake of its strong performance in Park City. Lionsgate eventually won rights to the film, it said in an announcement earlier this week, paying in the ballpark of $5 million for North American rights to the film and enlisting Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey as supporters. According to the Lionsgate suit, producers told Lionsgate that while there were discussions between producers and the Weinstein Co., no deal was made because parties couldn't come to terms over issues such as international rights and profit-sharing. The Weinstein Co., via its breach of contract suit, feels otherwise. SOURCE:EURWEB.COM

Pan-African film festival seeks a broader audience

THE executive director of the Pan African Film & Arts Festival knew from its inaugural year in 1992 that the 12-day event would be a success. “Nobody was bringing together the diverse voices of the black world,” Ayuko Babu says. “We knew our perspective as a result of colonization and slavery… . We knew we tapped into an enormous experience.” Experience expressed in “Ray,” “Lackawana Blues,” “Redemption,” “Days of Glory” and the Oscar-winning “Tsotsi” – all of which played the festival. For its 16th year, which begins tonight, more than 175 films from the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the South Pacific and Canada are featured, as well as fine art shows, panels and workshops, a festival for students and children, a spoken-word fest and a comedy night.Annual attendance hovers around an impressive 200,000 people. Not as impressive, and surprising to Babu, is the low turnout from the white community. “We haven’t been able to get the middle class white filmgoers … they’re not coming in the numbers I would have anticipated. You have a lot of people who are interested in Barack Obama … but trying to get them to know about the festival or come and participate… .”Babu suspects white viewers don’t want to leave the comfort zone of their neighborhoods. But the trip to the Magic Johnson Theatres – one of the festival’s main venues – couldn’t be easier, as he points out: “Get on the [10] Freeway and get off at Crenshaw.”The 16th annual festival opens with “Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation,” Charles Burnett’s (“The Killer of Sheep”) latest film about the long struggle waged by the African country for independence. Danny Glover and Carl Lumbly star. “It’s an epic film,” says Burnett, who hopes festival exposure will lead to a distribution deal. “It is based on true life stories. It’s living history.”Closing the festival is the premiere of the Depression-era drama “Kings of the Evening,” starring Lynn Whitfield, Tyson Beckford and Reginald T. Dorsey, who also produced the drama.“We’re working on getting a distributor” says Dorsey, who’s especially proud that the film presents African American culture in “very dignified terms… . I made a promise to myself that I would only do positive projects that had these types of sentiments.” MORE INFO ON FILMS

Mike Tyson a hit at Sundance

Mike Tyson didn’t pull any punches about his tumultuous life at the Sundance premiere of the documentary “Tyson.”“I never used to understand why people perceived me as such a monster, and then I saw the movie and it all made sense,” the heavyweight said at Bon Appetit’s Supper Club bash post-screening.But Tyson hasn’t completely changed his ways. For one thing, he’s still a control freak. “Mike told staffers he wasn’t going to come into the dining room until everyone was seated and ready for him,” said one insider.Due to more pressing events (like the inauguration, perhaps?), we had to leave the slopes in Park City, Utah, but Gatecrasher pal Neil Janowitz stuck around for the event. The ESPN the Magazine editor told us Tyson’s speech had a one-two punch.“Mike talked about how surreal the whole experience was and how the movie captured the ups and downs of his life,” Janowitz recalled. “When he hit rock bottom and things were awful, he never wanted to go through that again. But now, with the film coming out and being in Sundance, Mike says he’s the toast of the town again.”Tyson went on to say that “people are offering me a lot of p—y and a lot of money again.”When everyone in the room laughed uncomfortably, Tyson corrected the chucklers.“It’s not funny,” Tyson chided. “This stuff is detrimental. I had a hard time controlling it in the past.”The film, which sold at Sundance to Sony Pictures Classics, chronicles the boxer’s rise and fall. It begins with a young Tyson getting beaten up in the rough area of Bedford-Stuyvesant, where he grew up. There, Tyson got his first KO during a scuffle over ... pigeons.“Mike collected and raised them on his roof in Brooklyn,” Janowitz explained. “He had his first fight after an older kid killed one of his birds and threw it to the ground. After Mike punched his lights out, he saw that more people respected him, and he felt better.”While no one brought up Tyson’s winged friends, reporters did ask how he’s been passing the time lately.Said the former champ: “I’m trying to stay clean, trying to stay sober — and trying to stay out of trouble.” SOURCE OF THIS POST

BEST OF THE EAST LA CHICANO FILM FESTIVAL

One night only to see the the terrific winning films for Cine Sin Fin: the 14th Annual East LA Chicano Film Festival 2008. Awards Ceremony includes: Best Documentary Best Short Film Best Feature Film The John Alonzo Award for Cinemetography The Anthony Quinn Award for Acting The Lalo Guerrero Award for Best Sound Tract The Corky Gonzales Righteousness Award Friday, November 21, 2008, 7:00PM to 10:00PM Echo Park Film Center 1200 N. Alvarado Street Los Angeles, CA 90026 Admission price: $5 donation Discount: Students, seniors and handicapped Contact 323-265-2344 For Schedule and other info: http://www.alabrava.com

Urbanworld Film Festival (Sept.10-14) Starts Today

The start of the Urbanworld Film Festival gets underway today with the opening of 'Still Trippin'' which stars Steve Harvey in an all-new, live stand-up performance. Dedicated to the exhibition of independent and mainstream cinema by and about people of color, Urbanworld will screen 85 films at this year's festival in New York City from September 10-14. All festival screenings will be held at the AMC Loews 34th Street Theaters.

This year's selection showcases New York-based films and filmmakers celebrating local artists and communities, as well as a strong representation of international filmmakers from around the world. The 2008 slate will culminate in the special closing night screening of The Secret Life of Bees, followed by a Q&A with talent from the film including Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo ('Hotel Rwanda'), and screenwriter/director Gina Prince-Bythewood ('Love & Basketball').

The five-day festival includes feature, documentary, and short film screenings, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings and the celebrated Actor's Spotlight, featuring Queen Latifah.

Among the films being shown at the film are:

'Jazz in the Diamond District' (Director Lindsey Christian) - When Jasmine 'Jazz' Morgan loses her mother to cancer, she can only focus on one thing: pursuing her dream of becoming a singer. Defying the wishes of her father, who prefers that she return to college, Jazz spends the summer entrenched in the D.C. underground music scene. One night, after an impromptu audition, Jazz is invited to join a go–go band. With ease she falls in love with the stage and together she and the band reach new heights of popularity. But just as quickly as her success builds, so does the pressure, and Jazz desperately tries to maintain control of her increasingly chaotic life. Cast includes Wood Harris, Monique Cameron, Erica Chamblee, Andre' Strong, and Clifton Powell.

'Phantom Punch' (Director Robert Townsend) - Sonny Liston, the controversial former world heavyweight boxing champion, is brought to life by actor Ving Rhames in the biopic PHANTOM PUNCH. The film chronicles a career that began with the discovery of his boxing talent while serving time at the Missouri State Penitentiary and effectively ended with the infamous "phantom punch" by Cassius Clay. Cast also includes Stacey Dash, Nicholas Turturro, and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras.

'Ball Don't Lie' (Director Brin Hill) - With the electricity, humor and sweat of street basketball, BALL DON'T LIE is the coming-of-age story of Sticky (newcomer Grayson Boucher), a skinny 17-year-old high school junior living in Venice, California. Stuck in a foster care system that has forgotten him and living life as an outcast, it's at a community gym that he finds his home and on the basketball court that he becomes a star. After years of building walls, Sticky overcomes the greatest of odds to find acceptance and surrender to love in the unlikeliest of places. Cast includes Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Nick Cannon, Rosanna Arquette, Emilie de Ravin, Harold Perrineau, Grayson "The Professor" Boucher, Kim Hildalgo, Mykelti Williamson, Dania Ramirez, Nick Chinlund, Ricardo Chavira, Steve Harris, Melissa Leo, Robert Wisdom, James Pickens Jr., Lamman Rucker, Matthew St. Patrick, Mums de Schemer, Cress Williams, Rachel Nicks.

'I Used to Love Her' (Director Mark Harris) - I USED TO LOVE HER tells the tale of Simee Smith (Turner) a pop singer who has lost her morals in the music industry. Fed up with what her life has turned into, she heads back to her hometown of Chicago. While seeking to restore her sense of self–worth and self–respect, Simee falls in love with an unlikely match, Ramadan El–Amin (Roberson), who in turn plays a crucial role in her growth and development as a "new woman." Life gets better and better, but you cannot run from your past forever. Everything comes to light. Will Simee's history ruin her future? Cast includes Mel Roberson, Toya Turner, Simeon Henderson, Sheree Bynum, Dori King, Tiffany J. Curtis, Lil Rel, Lorenzo Hunt.

'Up With Me' (Director Greg Takoudes) - When Francisco, a teenager from Harlem, is admitted to an upstate boarding school on scholarship, he is torn between his life at home and the new environment. But when his best friend puts his own life in danger as a loyalty test to Francisco, Francisco is forced to become the one thing in boarding school that he resisted becoming in Harlem: a drug dealer. UP WITH ME is a creative collaboration between Greg Takoudes and non-professional teenagers from Harlem. The screenplay is based on months–long writing workshops with the teenagers, who also star in the movie.

'The Express' (Director Gary Fleder) - Based on a true story, The Express follows the extraordinary life of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. His fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of American sports, and his story continues to inspire new generations. Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country, Davis hurdled social and economic obstacles to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. Under the guidance of legendary Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), he became a hero who superseded Jim Brown's achievements and set records that stand to this day.

'This is the Life' (Director Ava DuVernay) - THIS IS THE LIFE chronicles a group of young artists from South Central L.A. In the early 90s, these teenagers would gather weekly at The Good Life, a health food store on Crenshaw Boulevard, to create music together. Their underground recording in 1994 influenced such stars as Ice Cube, Mos Def and Black Eyed Peas. Largely unknown to mainstream audiences, these young people attracted an almost cult-like international following.

'Tennessee' (Director Aaron Woodley) - Two brothers, Carter (Adam Rothenberg) and Ellis (Ethan Peck), embark on a journey from New Mexico to find their estranged father in the hopes of saving Ellis, who has been diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Along the way they meet Krystal (Mariah Carey), an aspiring singer who flees her controlling husband (Lance Reddick) to join them on their journey.

'Zane's Sex Chronicles' (Screenwriter Zane) - CINEMAX, in association with New York Times best–selling author Zane and Oscar® nominee and two–time Emmy® winner Suzanne de Passe, presents a new urban late night series based on the wildly popular book series of the same name. The series follows heroine Patience James and her girlfriends Maricruz, Lyric, Eboni and Ana Marie as they take on their lives in the big city, look for love and make time for male "eye-candy" and many steamy rendezvous. ZANE'S SEX CHRONICLES celebrates empowerment and liberation – both in and out of the bedroom – while weaving together unforgettable characters and intoxicating eroticism to seduce the minds – and eyes – of both men and women.

'Wu: The Story of the Wu Tang Clan' (Director Gerald Barclay) - WU: THE STORY OF THE WU-TANG CLAN is the compelling and provocative story of one of the greatest acts in Hip Hop history. Written and directed by the group's childhood friend and former video director, Gerald "Gee- Bee" Barclay, and remixed for BET Networks by Emmy Award winner P. Frank Williams (AMERICAN GANGSTER, BET Awards), Wu provides a backstage pass to rare live performances, television appearances, and new interviews with group members RZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Steve Rifkind, former CEO of Loud Records. Wu-Tang fans will love every moment of this captivating film.SOURCE:BLACKVOICES.COM

 

Movie review: 'Traitor'

Like Matt Damon's Jason Bourne, Don Cheadle's Samir Horn is an extremely reluctant, traumatized action hero: The opening scene is a flashback of a young Horn watching his father get killed in a Jeep explosion. He would probably object to even being called an action hero, although his ninja moves and steady supply of beautiful leather jackets give him away. In that deeply American way, he's just a guy doing what he's got to do. But Horn might have the honor of being the first Muslim action hero in an American big budget film. "Traitor" tells the story of former Army Special Forces explosives expert Horn, a devout Muslim and suspected terrorist, who is hunted by FBI man Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce of "Memento," who looks like a gaunt Brad Pitt) in a multinational chase. They first meet when police in Yemen, where Clayton and his partner happen to be, pick up an uncooperative Horn. The evidence mounts that Horn, who had been living in Chicago, has gone to the dark side. Writer-director Jeffrey Nachmanoff got the inspiration for the film from none other than executive producer Steve Martin, who apparently began talking about "what if" scenarios a few years ago. This is Nachmanoff's second full-length feature, his first big-budget one, and he shows an excellent understanding of pacing. The narrative is bifurcated, moving between Clayton's hunt and Horn's dangerous ascent up the ranks of an al Qaeda-like terrorist group that he joins in a Yemen prison, where he befriends a young follower named Omar (Saïd Taghmaoui from "The Kite Runner"). Although the action is broken up by occasional conversations about the nature of belief, the morality of terrorism and factoids about Islam (did you know that the literal translation of the word "Islam" is "submission"?), the film only accessorizes with deep thoughts. Horn, from the start, is the moral compass of the film, risking death to give a man food in a Yemeni prison yard, and broad hints as to his real identity are dropped from the get-go. Like any number of Western heroes and comic book good guys, Horn is a man born into his position of hero. It chose him. Cheadle plays Horn with hangdog eyes and a dour face; he takes no joy from his physical prowess, bomb-making ability and stylish wardrobe. Among "The Dark Knight," the Bourne trilogy and this, one longs for another silly Bond movie. At least Bond gets the girl every now and then, and smiles. SOURCE:SFGATE.COM

AMERICAN BLACK FILM FEST DOES L.A. AGAIN: Founder Jeff Friday kicks off screening weekend.

The 12th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) kicked off in Los Angeles this week with a star-studded opening night screening of the classic film “Carmen Jones.”Introduced by Academy Award winner, Halle Berry, the film captures this year’s festival theme;romance and sexuality in black cinema. Spawned from the need to see and showcase films of, by, and about African Americans, the event is capturing great artists, great audiences and the eye of Hollywood.“The ABFF is an international film festival that started about 12 years ago at the Acapulco Black Film Festival,” said fest founder Jeff Friday. “It’s a five-day event geared to give black filmmakers from around the world the opportunity to showcase their movies, as well as give black actors and black artists a chance to showcase their work. [This] is bringing the aspiring artists community together with the accomplished community and with media and corporations, and throwing them all in one captive environment and watch all the magical things happen.” Based on the history of American cinema and black films, for that matter, it’s no wonder it took Friday to create this kind of internal “magic” in order to bring black film to a much deserved platform. “It’s important because there are not many vehicles to showcase black art and that extends beyond film and entertainment,” Friday said of the spark that led to the creation of ABFF. “I used to go to the mainstream festivals around the world just as a film fan and I would rarely see films that were either made by black people of starred black people or were really about the black experience. You just wondered, 'Do African Americans make movies?' Then in 1997 I was with two good friends, and we decided to model a festival after Sundance – a black film festival. What we discovered is that there are many black films. In fact, we had 19 film submissions our very first year and this year we got 400. There are black movies out there, it’s just somebody’s got to take it on to give them a place to be seen and that’s what we decided to do.” Originally, the festival was held in Acapulco, Mexico and held the name the Acapulco Black Film Festival. After a five year stay in south of the border, the festival came Stateside in 2002 and became the American Black Film Festival –it’s new host town, Miami. After another five-year stint, Friday and co switched coasts and headed to Hollywood, and for the second year, the event is taking place in Los Angeles. SOURCE:EURWEB.COM

6th Annual Oakland International Black LGBT Film Festival

FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
(note: all films are not listed here - see website by clicking here)
All screenings $10 All tickets go on sale 45 minutes prior to showtime -
Click here for Parkway Theater Info
The Parkway Theater also sells beer & wine and has a complete great menu of food

BLUEPRINT
Thursday, August 14 / 9:15pm
Directed by Kirk Shannon-Butts
USA, 2007 / TRT  75 Min
Click here for film summary

U People
Friday, August 15 / 6:30pm Directed By: Hanifah Walidah, and Olive Demetrius
USA - TRT: 77 min.
Click here for film summary

SHIRTS AND SKINS
FRIDAY, August 15
9:15pm
Director: Leola Westbrook
TRT 6O minutes
America's first all gay basketball
Team & reality show comes out at the "sneek-peek" screening of SHIRTS & SKINS
Click here for film summary

Saturday, August 16
3:00pm
Short & Sweet
A selection of provocative shorts
about the lives of Black LGBT people.
Click here for film summaries

The Sakia Gunn Film Project
Sunday, August 17 - 2pm Directed By: Chas Brack
TRT: 55 min
The Sakia Gunn Project is a documentary that tells the story of Sakia, a 15 year old charismatic, dynamic young woman who was out and proud about being an 'aggressive' woman and tragically murdered as a result. Click here for film summary

Friends and Lovers: Ski Trip 2
SUNDAY, August 17 / 5:00pm
Directed By: Maurice Jamal
USA - TRT: 90 min
We proudly conclude the festival with a new film by (Oakland Native) Award winning Director, Maurice Jamal  FRIENDS AND LOVERS: SKI TRIP 2
Click here for film summary

Paramount Theater 2025 Broadway - Oakland Saturday, August 16 /8pm Donna Summer Live!
Also for a complete list of film-festival events, click here! SPONSORED BY HIV STOPS WITH US CAMPAIGN

 

 

DIVA (Diverse and Inclusive Visionary Artists) is proud to host the LA Premiere Screening of MULLIGANS

DIVA (Diverse and Inclusive Visionary Artists) is proud to host the LA Premiere Screening of  MULLIGANS, starring Charlie David (Dante's Cove, Kiss The Bride, A Four Letter Word) and Thea Gill (Queer As Folk) this FRIDAY JULY 18 at the FORD Ampitheatre as part of 2008 OUTFEST, The 26th Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.  Official After Party to follow at FRESH! FRIDAYS at ELEVEN hosted by DIVA, JEFFREY SANKER and PAUL NICHOLLS. We would like to pitch this movie for a story on your outlet/blog or calendar listing THIS WEEK. Director, cast and producers are available for interview. Mulligans – 'The Graduate' for a new generation.  A shocking affair between a father and his son's best friend leaves a family to pick up the pieces. Directed by Chip Hale Produced by Charlie David and Linda Carter
Written by Charlie David

Please find enclosed the press release.

Official Website:    http://www.mulligansthemovie.com

Link to Pictures/Publicity Stills (Courtesy of Charlie David):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31639733@N00/sets/72157606205738667/

     Link to Trailer:    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99srJ340d8E

    Link to Behind The Scenes/Interviews with Cast and Crew:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9rVH5DNR7k

Thank you so much for your interest in the film and looking forward to hearing from you!

Spike Lee courts controversy by criticizing Clint Eastwood and the Coen brothers

Perhaps Spike Lee has decided that a good offense makes for a better defense if he is snubbed by the Academy Awards again this year. How else to explain his slam of a trio of Oscar-winning directors — Clint Eastwood and the Coen brothers - who could well be competing again this year. As per Reuters, Lee was in Cannes to promote "Miracle at St. Anna," his upcoming WW II drama about the heroic efforts of four African American soldiers in Italy. He took the opportunity to criticize his fellow filmmakers. "Clint Eastwood made two films about Iwo Jima that ran for more than four hours total, and there was not one Negro actor on the screen," he said. "If you reporters had any balls you'd ask him why. There's no way I know why he did that. That was his vision, not mine. But I know it was pointed out to him and that he could have changed it. It's not like he didn't know."Clint Eastwood picked up his ninth and 10th Oscar nods for producing and directing one of those two films Lee referenced —"Letters From Iwo Jima" — in 2006. While Eastwood lost those races, he has 4 Oscars on his mantle — a pair each for producing and directing best picture winners "Unforgiven" (1992) and "Million Dollar Baby" (2004) — as well as the Thalberg award.And as for the Oscar-winning directors of "No Country for Old Men," Lee had this to say: "I love the Coen brothers; we all studied at NYU. But they treat life like a joke. Ha ha ha. A joke. It's like, 'Look how they killed that guy! Look how blood squirts out the side of his head!' I see things different than that."Joel and Ethan Coen won three Oscars last year for producing, directing, and adapting "No Country for Old Men" and another for their original script for "Fargo" in 1996. Between them, they have another seven nominations for editing, writing, and producing. SOURCE:REUTERS

Trailer To Jada Pinkett Smith's Film 'The Human Contract' Now Online

 

Very recently at the Cannes Film Festival, Jada Pinkett Smith was out there showing her directorial debut dramatic film 'The Human Contract' for potential distributors. Pinkett Smith wrote the script, and husband Will Smith and Overbrook's James Lassiter, and Ken Stovitz are exec producers, along with Tycoon's David Grasso and David Dinenberg. Starring in the film are Jason Clarke ('Brotherhood'), Paz Vega, Ted Danson, Jada Pinkett Smith and Idris Elba. The film centers on Julian Wright (Clarke), a charming and mega-successful businessman who hides a secret from the rest of the world which tears his soul apart every day. With his personal life in shambles, Julian will find himself willing to travel down the rabbit hole, as it were, when he meets Michael Reed (Vega), a gorgeous stranger who entices Julian to forget his rigid corporate world and try a more bohemian lifestyle, a decision that will not only affect his own life but those of his boss and co-workers, as well as inspire his half-sister Rita (Pinkett Smith) to re-examine her life with her abusive husband. Producing the film are Dawn Thomas, Miguel Melendez and Mike Jackson. There are only two actresses, Troy Beyer (Love Don't Cost A Thing) and Kasi Lemmons ('Talk To Me'), who have made the transition from acting to directing, and now you can include Pinkett Smith. Pinkett Smith will next be seen in theaters this Fall on September 12th when she's featured with Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes and Annette Bening in 'The Women'. Clarke will be this summer opposite Jason Statham and Tyrese Gibson in 'Death Race'. Click here for the trailer SOURCE:BLACKFILMS.COM

Mike Tyson Embarrassed By Upcoming Documentary on His Life

This week during the Cannes Film Festival in Paris, filmmaker James Toback will unveil his new documentary, "Tyson," an in-depth look at the life of Mike Tyson. The film contains segments from over 30 hours of interviews with the former champ, plus highlights and lowlights from his career."I look at it now and I'm embarrassed I did it," Tyson told the New York Times. "There's a lot of information people didn't need to know. I don't know who I am. That might sound stupid. I really have no idea. All my life I have been drinking and drugging and partying and all of a sudden this comes to a stop. I never thought I would live to this age."The film will not only talk about the successes the soon to be 42-year old Mike Tyson had in his career, but also his marriage and bitter divorce from actress Robin Givens, his three-year prison sentence for rape and his squandering of 400 million dollars on his way to bankruptcy. Tyson's drug abuse is also looked at in the film, but he's currently been clean for 15 months and is looking to get his life straight and narrow. There's no word on when the film will be hitting theaters in the states, but it said to be a powerful film. SOURCE: BLACK VOICES

Cannes '08: First stop for Oscar?

Ile Saint-Honorat, France -- Just two days away from the official start of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and we find ourselves roaming the tiny island of Saint Honorat, a hidden gem and home to a monastery where for 15 centuries French monks have been living and praying in silence. How ironic -- this quietly peaceful sanctuary is only a 20-minute boat ride from the Croisette, just past all those multimillion-dollar yachts parked out in the water, and directly opposite the world's most famous industry gathering. Its complete solitude stands in stark comparison, oblivious to the cinematic zoo about to take place on the other side. It would be hard to imagine if any of these monks could pick Harvey Weinstein out in a lineup. Nevertheless, in the anything-but-peaceful world along the famous Croisette, workers are prepping for the onslaught of producers, executive, buyers, sellers, stars, wannabe stars, hustlers, tourists, journalists, movers, shakers, power players, pretenders and cineastes all headed to Cannes for the May ritual that makes the French Riviera the destination starting on opening night, Wednesday. That's when the red carpet will be laid down, just a couple of hours before celebrities and dignitaries start arriving for the first film: Fernando Mereilles' "Blindness" starring Julianne Moore and Gael Garcia Bernal. Humongous versions of the festival's official poster, a David Lynch photo of a platinum blond Monroe clone wearing large dark glasses, were being hoisted above the Palais steps early Monday morning. Huge advertisements and giant placards dwarf the famous Carlton Hotel, showcasing big studio summer behemoths that are decidedly more "Indy" than the "indie" types in the official competition. Billboards of all sizes touting " "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (having its world premiere and junket here on May 18), "Hancock" and "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," among other commercial titles, are a clear signal this fest is determined to merge its trademarked "art and mart" in ways that will have all eyes on this corner of the world for the next couple of weeks. SOURCE:LATIMES

JAM MASTER JAY DOC OPENS HBFF: 'Two Turntables and a Microphone' explores DJ's unsolved murder.

The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) has announced that "Two Turntables and a Microphone," a music documentary about the life and untimely death of Jam Master Jay, will have its world premiere as the event's opening night movie. Sponsored by One Village Entertainment, the premiere will take place on Tuesday, June 3, at 8 p.m. at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills with scheduled guests Russell Simmons, Reverend Run, Jay-Z, LL Cool quot;This is an amazing time for us," says Brett Dismuke, Vice President of Acquisitions and Urban Programming for Image Entertainment and head of its One Village Entertainment division, the film's distributor. "'Two Turntables and a Microphone' is an outstanding film that not only celebrates the life and career of one of hip-hop's pioneers but it also gives us a history lesson as to how this worldwide phenomenon came about."Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was gunned down in his Queens studio in October 2002. Security tapes of the incident mysteriously disappear, the five witnesses are uncooperative and no one is talking...until now.'Two Turntables and a Microphone" documents the investigation of the Run DMC DJ's unsolved murder while revealing the history of hip-hop and mainstream rap along the way. Exclusive, candid interviews with Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Run DMC, Method Man and more offer insight into Jam Master Jay's life - including information that could finally help police solve the murder. Opening night tickets can be purchased here.

Tribeca Film Festival

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The Tribeca Film Festival has followed through on its promise to trim its slate, announcing Tuesday a features lineup that's nearly 25% smaller than last year's.The six-year-old festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, responded to criticism that it has grown too unwieldy. "There's been elephantitis at film festivals worldwide," artistic director Peter Scarlet said, noting the reduction of features from 159 last year to 122 this year."Festivals are getting bigger and bigger, and with the digital revolution more films are getting made," Scarlet added. "There's a limit as to how much new information people can process."The previously announced opening-night film, scheduled for April 23, is Michael McCullers' surrogate-mother comedy "Baby Mama," starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The festival runs through May 4 in various Lower Manhattan venues.Twelve narrative and 12 documentary competition features competing for $100,000 in cash prizes were announced Tuesday, along with 21 Spotlight features.New works from notable filmmakers include Shane Meadows' teen-friendship comedy "Somers Town," Rosa von Praunheim's autobiographical adoption documentary "Two Mothers" (Meine Muetter), animator Bill Plympton's dark comedy "Idiots and Angels" and Melvin Van Peebles' character study "ConfessionsofaEx-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha."The Plympton and Van Peebles films highlight another effort on the part of the festival to emphasize fiction films. Tribecas has established a strong reputation in documentaries, but its scripted efforts have been less notable.     Comedies were a large part of the Sundance Film Festival in January, but they will be less of a factor here. "There were more comedy submissions, but they either weren't very funny or didn't translate from other cultures," Scarlet said. SOURCE OF THIS STORY