tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34874123337185318122024-03-05T02:58:55.687-05:00FilmSwagDiscussing the mediums of film, television and media, in relation to people of color and society.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-76281401252364284892016-06-26T00:49:00.000-04:002016-06-26T00:49:39.297-04:00Packing Our BagsI want to thank the thousands of you who have read this blog since its inception almost 5 years ago. I know I haven't posted in 5 months as work, life, and other responsibilities have taken up the lionshare of my time recently. However my passion for film and media as it relates to people of color has never waned. That's why I'm moving FilmSwag from blogspot to WordPress. The sites new domain name will be www.filmswag.org. Much of the same topics covered on this blog will be covered there as well. Let's continue to get educated.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-21023895915005800572016-01-25T23:09:00.000-05:002016-01-30T21:12:24.104-05:00Breaking Down the #OscarsSoWhite Blowback<br />
When the Oscar nominations were announced earlier this month, people were once again stunned. For the second time in as many years, all the nominees for the acting and directing categories (with one exception) were white. Same goes for the Best Picture nods, which all centered on stories revolving around predominately white casts. As you can imagine in the social media age that we live in these days, the blowback was as swift as it was predictable .<br />
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Within hours the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag was trending and a number of people in and outside the Hollywood industry were being asked to opine on the topic at hand. I found it interesting the number of 'mainstream' news organizations that were quick to lambaste the Academy Awards for their lack of representation, when in fact many of their own newsrooms aren't exactly beacons of diversity either. Hey Pot, say hello to my main man Kettle.<br />
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This issue of a lack of diversity at the Oscars is hardly a new one. The fact that only a handful of black folks (not to mention Latinos and Asians) have won an Oscar since Hattie McDaniel became the first to do so back in 1940, is sadly not surprising. What is surprising is that The Academy (the group of individuals that vote and determine who is nominated and who wins an Oscar) still does not see the error in its ways.<br />
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<a href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2016-01-13-1452718270-9107319-OscarsChrisRock-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2016-01-13-1452718270-9107319-OscarsChrisRock-thumb.jpg" height="183" width="320" /></a>For starters, The Academy's membership is overwhelmingly white and male and older than the general population. That right there should tell you something. Now current Academy president Cheryl Boone Issacs (the first person of color to hold this title), was <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-et-mn-academy-voting-diversity-20160120-story.html">dismayed at the lack of diversity and recently pledged to implement some changes to address the issue</a>. The fact remains however that the Academy Awards are simply a reflection of the Hollywood industry. Which is to say that as the industry currently sits, many people of color simply are not getting the opportunities in front of, as well as <i>behind the camera</i> that many of their white counterparts have no problem acquiring. Much of this can be attributed to who runs the major studios and who they decide to bankroll.<br />
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It's no secret that there is not a single person of color in Hollywood who can Greenlight a film. By Greenlight, that means they have final say on whether or not a picture is made. So when people wonder about the paucity of roles for black folks in the studio system, there's your Exhibit A. Many of the directors and producers within the studio system just so happen to look like the people who head these same companies, so it's a bit of an 'Old Boys Network' if you will. That's not to suggest that Hollywood won't take chances on black actors or directors, they're just simply not as likely to when compared to whites in the same positions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of Stallone, CREED was shut out of the Oscars</td></tr>
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The old Hollywood system is slowly changing however. While often feeling like their stories weren't being told, or being told in a way where whiteness still occupied the frame, many creatives of color have been using different avenues to get their material out. One such avenue has been the independent route. Ava DuVernay started <a href="http://www.arraynow.com/">AFFRM</a> (which is now called ARRAY) which markets and distributes films by people of color, many of whom whose stories don't fit the traditional studio model. Groups like ARRAY help amplify the voices of members of communities who for far too long have had their stories silenced for a number of reasons. Speaking of independent projects, "Dope," one of my 2015 movies of the year, was an independent film.<br />
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As much progress continues to be made by black and brown creatives outside the realm of Hollywood, the question must be asked when will they truly be welcomed in from the wilderness so to speak? I don't have a concrete answer to that, but clearly Hollywood and the The Academy will be tasked with finding the appropriate solutions. Perhaps the studios should start sending some recruiters to HBCUs, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-howard-university-coders/">like their Silicon Valley brethren have recently started doing</a>. Or maybe investing more in the local communities in the Greater Los Angeles Area to get kids from various backgrounds in the studio pipeline. For before you can get nominations, you need opportunities, and Hollywood right now is failing at both.<br />
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<br />Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-14809806458446211582015-12-31T16:56:00.000-05:002015-12-31T16:56:02.336-05:00My 2015 Movies of the YearOnce again it seems like another year has flown by. It feels the older I get, the quicker time seems to move.<br />
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In terms of pure post output, this was my least productive year on the blog since its inception four years ago. I could use the same excuses of work, side projects, and other commitments, but the truth is, I have to be more disciplined in my time management and more consistent in my posts. With that said, though my posts were down considerably this year, I did manage to make it out to see some quality films.<br />
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Last year I didn't have a movie of the year, but there were nevertheless quality films I saw like "Beyond The Lights" for example. For 2015 my movies of the year are "Dope" and "Chef." I picked these films for very different reasons above the other titles I saw over the last 12 months.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYKufQmvQ9qylVSTMIg9GvjMuLJVbqoH5rQYTmTHoR0geC6RgomgQeV6otW0ByJGIw5mIKCf2ZE6JLr2d_97iq9GJ9PhsM8vL_hXhfxy2jkKts_RUhL2p9jfYA0ypYZHVdsS1HU5RN-PS/s1600/dope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYKufQmvQ9qylVSTMIg9GvjMuLJVbqoH5rQYTmTHoR0geC6RgomgQeV6otW0ByJGIw5mIKCf2ZE6JLr2d_97iq9GJ9PhsM8vL_hXhfxy2jkKts_RUhL2p9jfYA0ypYZHVdsS1HU5RN-PS/s320/dope.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I saw "Dope" while attending the American Black Film Festival last June and the film actually headlined the event. "Dope" centers around a high school senior named Malcolm played by Shameik Moore, and his two friends who are nerds at their local high school in Inglewood, California. Malcolm and his friends get invited to a party where a shootout occurs and Malcolm runs out only to find the drug Molly has been slipped into his bag. To make matters worse, he realizes he must sell the drug without being caught/killed all the while applying to get into Harvard. While the story takes place in the hood and involves drug dealing, I wouldn't consider this a 'hood movie.' The actors and director Rick Famuyiwa do a good job of making this film feel lively and even somewhat innocent despite its serious subject matter. Zoe Kravitz is very good in this film as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJctCH9xiXh36JYPEpa5GfZ7tlXOWOvxWP8tD3Ym6e1b_78tsE0eGNA7SVD62UWm2srrSKK5i4FWI7R8itvFy8M_VCu_XHh2UnIq9nBv77QHRDaHBVkgjkYQ5kN86HCPNyyY0G0EFessN4/s1600/chef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJctCH9xiXh36JYPEpa5GfZ7tlXOWOvxWP8tD3Ym6e1b_78tsE0eGNA7SVD62UWm2srrSKK5i4FWI7R8itvFy8M_VCu_XHh2UnIq9nBv77QHRDaHBVkgjkYQ5kN86HCPNyyY0G0EFessN4/s320/chef.jpg" width="224" /></a>"Chef" is one of the more heartwarming films I've seen in years. The story involves chef Carl Casper, played by Jon Favreau, who works at an upscale L.A. restaurant and wants to change up the menu and inject some of his own style into the meals. When he is denied by the owner and told to follow the menu as is, he follows orders and is subsequently ripped by a noted food critic for being bland and boring. Casper goes off on the food critic in a very public manner befitting our cellphone crazed TMZ reality that is 2015 and ends up quitting his job.<br />
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Unemployed and unable to find suitable work, Casper's ex-wife played by Sofia Vergara, suggests he go down to Miami and rent out a food truck owned by her ex-husband Marvin, played by Robert Downey Jr. Hesitant at first, Casper takes her up on the offer and he begins to build his business. Along the way one of his former co-workers comes along to join him and so too does his son. The three of them start out locally in Miami before taking their show on the road and travelling throughout the South, building buzz along the way via Twitter.<br />
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This film is incredibly multi-layered. There's the father-son dynamic, the following your dreams aspect, and even a touching resolution at the end. I highly recommend this film to anyone, and it's also a movie that would be appropriate for just about any age group. It's currently playing on Netflix as of this writing. Here's to more quality films in 2016. <br />
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<b>2015 Honorable Mentions</b>: "The Martian" and "Creed"Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-71846155863243372612015-11-30T23:56:00.001-05:002015-11-30T23:56:01.122-05:00November Rule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The holidays are upon us and that means some dudes are having second thoughts about spending money and committing to their mates.<br />
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That is the basic premise of the movie "November Rule" which stars Mo McRae and Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum Tatyana Ali. They start out as partners, but McRae's character 'Steve' develops cold feet as the calendar flips to November and decides to dump Ali's character 'Leah' -- just as he has every previous girlfriend. Except this time Steve has a change of heart and realizes Leah is a true catch who he didn't truly appreciate until she was gone.<br />
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Along the way Steve's two friends represent both sides of the commitment fence: one is happily married and the other is happily single until he meets his new flame played by Lala Vasquez. All-in-all this is an enjoyable rom-com and worth a few good laughs.<br />
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<br />Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-37980453445103330022015-09-27T23:56:00.000-04:002015-09-30T09:14:34.679-04:004 Years In<p dir="ltr">In the Fall of 2011 I sat down in front of my computer armed with an idea and plenty of time on my hands (I just finished a film and was, shall we say, unemployed at the time). From that, was the start of FilmSwag. The blog celebrated it's 4th birthday this past weekend. My baby is slowly growing up.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Since the blog has begun, I've been amazed at the ever evolving deep pool of roles that people of color have been getting in television (more so than film) these last few years. One of my <a href="http://filmswag.blogspot.com/2011/10/hidden-in-plain-sight-black-actors.html">early articles</a> covered the fact that Taraji P. Henson openly complained that she was not featured in any of the ads or promos for the CBS series "Person of Interest." Four years later, it's safe to say Taraji has had the last laugh thanks to<a href="http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/empire-premiere-time-shifting-streaming-1201603790/"> some show on Fox</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It hasn't just been more roles either, but whole families coming into the fray. Two of the more well known shows "Blackish" and "Fresh off the Boat," aren't just shows with families that happen to be black and Asian, but make a point to tell the narrative through the perspective of those characters. In order to tell these stories, you need to have writers who are familiar with everyday colloquiums and norms of a particular culture. These shows reflect that. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As for the future of this blog, I'm working on some upgrades and new content. I do admit, I haven't posted much this year, but I haven't forgotten about you guys, the readers, and I will continue to try and put good material out there. Here's to another 4 more years at least. Peace.</p>
Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-59894827005279642892015-09-09T23:45:00.000-04:002015-09-10T08:59:48.543-04:00Looking Back at RudyCollege football returned last weekend just in time to whet our collective sports appetite for the coming Fall. It's this time of year where fans of teams hope to see their squad reach the College Football Playoffs and win a coveted National Championship. Last year, the world watched as a little known third string quarterback by the name of Cardale Jones beat Alabama and took care of Oregon to give the Ohio State Buckeyes their first National Championship since 2002. Coming into this season, I couldn't help but think of another unknown character who would never win a National Championship, but nevertheless became a part of all time college sports lore.<br />
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The name Rudy is synonymous with underdog stories. Here you have a barely 5 foot guy weighing 100 pounds soaking wet, who aspired to play college football at one of the most prestigious institutions in the land -- Notre Dame. After not playing for two years, Rudy is on the verge of giving up his dream all together. That is until he hears a speech from Roc, played by brilliantly Charles S. Dutton.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qoh3YkxuwVo" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-21120717291213696252015-08-16T22:31:00.001-04:002015-08-16T22:52:06.469-04:00John Singleton Looks Back at Ice Cube and Compton<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvicnLsyVbLNsGkmo_pEtGG675JwXx4H6kmcP-uFac0Uz8kQuuiXLcmh43W5bWngVVJSyL4rZ6CpY3Bh4GWrEmzUtg_m_rfQUHmS7RbOYlwO5f5g_pb8Hyl_rZ6RFA93gNdfY5tRyoLxZ/s1600/John+Singleton.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvicnLsyVbLNsGkmo_pEtGG675JwXx4H6kmcP-uFac0Uz8kQuuiXLcmh43W5bWngVVJSyL4rZ6CpY3Bh4GWrEmzUtg_m_rfQUHmS7RbOYlwO5f5g_pb8Hyl_rZ6RFA93gNdfY5tRyoLxZ/s320/John+Singleton.PNG" width="320" /></a>This has been a big weekend for folks from the Los Angeles neighborhood of Compton. The film " Straight Outta Compton" has grossed nearly $60 million at the box office this weekend exceeding initial expectations. The movie which profiles the rise and influence of members of the world's most dangerous rap group, N.W.A., has reintroduced people to early West Coast hip-hop. It's interesting to see where guys like Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are now in their respective careers compared to where they stood 25 years ago. As powerful as N.W.A. was in the early 90s, it wasn't just the music that was influencing people, but film as well.<br />
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In 1991 a young up and coming director had a major splash with the release of his film Boyz in the Hood that told the story of a group of friends trying to make it out of their South Central L.A. neighborhood. They guy who directed that flick was a man by the name of John Singleton. It was Singleton who also gave Ice Cube his first acting gig and it's something that Cube is grateful for even to this day. Check out the clip below to hear John Singleton talk about Boyz in the Hood and the impact N.W.A. had on him in this 2013 interview on Canadian television.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bETUsP14_yk" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-43934203062056531942015-07-26T14:14:00.000-04:002015-07-26T14:16:51.913-04:00Getting A Seat at the TableAs we move through the last week of July and trudge through the dog days of summer, it's worth remembering that the looming shadow just beyond the horizon, is our national reminder that football season is coming. Training camps began their annual commencement this past weekend, and a deluge of journalists will be there to report every touchdown, failed snap, and pick-six that takes place. One of those journalists is getting some much deserved shine.<br />
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Josina Anderson is a well respected journalist who has covered a multitude of sports over the years, but is probably best known for her NFL coverage. She's be stationed at training camps, given live reports from the field, and as black woman, has stood out in an industry that has long been dominated by men.<br />
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So that's why it was good to see her not in the field this time, or outside some training facility, but with a prominent seat (literally) during a recent discussion on Raiders QB Derek Carr. We don't often see women -- especially black women -- with seats at the table when discussing sports, so it was certainly refreshing to see this. Much props, Josina. See you on Sundays this fall.<br />
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13269609">http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13269609</a><br />
<br />Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-9961431316961189982015-06-07T13:02:00.001-04:002015-06-07T13:02:11.457-04:00Super Producer Will Packer Offers Words of WisdomTo say these are good times for Will Packer would be an understatement. Between movies and now not one, but two, new TV shows on deck, Packer is definitely making moves within the industry. It's good to know however that he isn't above sharing some wisdom with the public.<br />
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In an informative and revealing interview with New York hip-hop radio station Power 105.1, Packer discusses how he got started in the industry, the current projects he's working on, and gives some advice for aspiring filmmakers and producers.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mZDddOIizVw" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-19376066850152413022015-05-31T20:00:00.000-04:002015-05-31T20:00:23.735-04:00Brandon Todd Rises to New HeightsThere's a good chance that I'll never dunk a basketball in my life and I've learned to accept that. However, this video which features Brandon Todd -- a guy all of 5'5 -- has inspired me to think maybe there is some hope after all.<br />
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This video featured on <i>The Atlantic</i> website tells of how Brandon Todd always wanted to be able to dunk a basketball despite his short stature and limited hops. He put his body through hell and made some serious sacrifices all for just the possibility that one day his hard work would result in him doing something he'd always dreamed of but never achieved -- dunking a basketball. See if his work pays off.</div>
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This is probably the longest I've gone without blogging since I started FilmSwag some 4 years ago. It wasn't for lack of ideas -- there have been plenty -- but more of a self evaluation on where I plan to take this blog. I've been researching, attending conferences, meeting folks, and generally gaining a broader perspective on blogging and my purpose in it.<br />
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While I always enjoyed writing about film and media, I've lately been asking myself what do I bring to the table that's different than what you'll find on other sites, and how can I better showcase not only my work but others as well? So I'm thinking for now: less articles, more photography, increased video, and testimonials. Might also be abandoning Blogspot altogether -- stay tuned.<br />
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As for the foreseeable future however, I do plan on blogging more consistently and giving you guys, the readers, better and more unique content. Thanks for visiting.<br />
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- WarinWarinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-35945105094263311082015-03-31T22:45:00.001-04:002015-03-31T22:45:17.411-04:00Top 15 Mistakes Beginner Filmmakers Make<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t1myw_0W5E8" width="650"></iframe><br />
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This guy knows his stuff.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-85295514015696054712015-02-24T08:43:00.001-05:002015-02-24T08:43:24.911-05:0060 Years Later, Same Questions Still Being Asked<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u-LBKO_kO4Ov1D-NHyq48_kFXl9B3CrjslB_rqLuuMoG4yHeW_cAU_uCaGH3fjsI91IGzUtRCjAM5CALcCJBsa8KODCkebgibZNV-Bs2arPJYTYbEa86XTCWI_waiDFMZTjlpAhGTvNK/s1600/hollywood+let+negroes+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u-LBKO_kO4Ov1D-NHyq48_kFXl9B3CrjslB_rqLuuMoG4yHeW_cAU_uCaGH3fjsI91IGzUtRCjAM5CALcCJBsa8KODCkebgibZNV-Bs2arPJYTYbEa86XTCWI_waiDFMZTjlpAhGTvNK/s1600/hollywood+let+negroes+love.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
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I had a brief Twitter discussion the other day in regards to Will Smith's later feature film titled "Focus." Based off the trailer, Smith plays some sort of con man and brings in a young woman (Margot Robbie) under his wing, who together they try to swindle the wrong guy and all hell breaks loose. Being that this is Hollywood, it seems fitting that Smith's character and Robbie's have some romantic dealings with each other over the course of the film.<br />
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What's striking about this to me is that once again Will Smith, one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, (save for a few duds) has a white woman as his romantic interest. Some of you may be reading this wondering what exactly is the problem with this in 2015? The problem is that we still see far too few examples of black men and women loving each other in major Hollywood motion pictures.<br />
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Will Smith himself lamented about this very issue 10 years ago when the film "Hitch" was released. In that film, Smith plays an elite level matchmaker who meets his equal in his female counterpart played by Eva Mendes. Smith said something along the lines that Eva Mendes was chosen as his love interest because had they cast a white woman in the role, it may not have gone over too well here in the States, and had a black woman been cast, the movie might not do well in Europe with two black leads. So the studio decided to play Solomon and chose a Latina instead.<br />
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This has been an issue time and again in Hollywood and it's something that still persists at a time when the Oscars are as white as they've ever been going back to 1998. I remember Gina Prince-Bythewood mentioned that when she was originally pitching her 2014 film "Beyond The Lights" to some of the major studios, they pushed her on why did she have to have two black leads. Why couldn't she just cast Channing Tatum in the role that ultimately went to Nate Parker?<br />
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It's questions like these that bring me to the photo above. It's a magazine cover from 1955 depicting Harry Belafonte and the magnificent Dorothy Dandridge. 'When Will Hollywood Let Negroes Make Love,' was the pertinent question at the time. 60 years later, the answers aren't any more clear.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-20126354395919489752015-02-21T23:55:00.000-05:002015-02-21T23:55:14.768-05:00Kindred The Family Soul - Where Would I Be (2005)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/du7njrkF-Ik" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-29497835117061296132015-02-10T22:05:00.001-05:002015-02-10T22:05:54.582-05:00Straight Outta Compton Trailer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="395" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OrlLcb7zYmw" width="600"></iframe><br />
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The Film hits theaters this August.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-57339301522393835222015-01-27T22:49:00.004-05:002015-01-28T11:25:18.744-05:00Understanding Basic Film ShotsBack in 2013 I had the privilege of interning for a well known web series and got served a crash course in basic cinematography. Little things in terms of where the camera is located in relation to what is being filmed and how it's later edited, made a big difference on how I consume media today. Here are some examples from the reality show, "Welcome to Fairfax."<br />
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<b>The Establishing Shot</b>:<br />
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- The first shot you see in a new scene or segment is usually called the establishing shot. The reason why it's labeled this is because it's important to establish to the viewer (i.e. you) where exactly the next scene is taking place. In this first shot we see Mizzle (the guy in the shirt that says 'Youth') and Rick Ross (the real former drug kingpin Rick Ross from which the rapper by the same name took as his alias). Both are walking through a pair of open doors that look like the entrance to some coffee shop.<br />
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<b>The Single</b>:<br />
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- The single shot is rather simple: it features primarily one person in the frame, hence the term single. Here we see Rick Ross' face quite clearly and even some of the letters on his shirt. We can also get a somewhat blurry over the shoulder shot of Mizzle which is to show that the two of them are in conversation. What you won't see is that there is probably a guy on Mizzle's right shoulder (Ross' left side) who is holding a reflector to get more light on Ross' face for the camera.<br />
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<b>Opposite Side Single</b>:<br />
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- This is basically the same as the last shot except reversed with Mizzle in the foreground and Ross off to the side. Again, singles in this manner really serve just to show that the two characters are engaged in conversation and also to assist the editor so that the viewer isn't seeing a conversation from just one character's viewpoint.<br />
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<b>Wide Shot</b>:<br />
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- This shot shows the two characters in the middle of the frame and the rest of the eatery, along with some other people in the background. The words "Welcome to Fairfax" appearing at the bottom left of the screen subtlety tell the viewer this is the last shot of this scene before a commercial break.<br />
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These are just some simple shots but are used regularly in TV and film alike. That's why it can take hours to shoot one scene because of all the different angles involved. It's worth it though as each shot allows the editor more freedom to piece everything together and make it look seamless by the time it hits your TV screen.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-57528386251159119702015-01-25T18:14:00.000-05:002015-01-25T18:14:53.043-05:00Youssou N' Dour feat. Neneh Cherry - 7 Seconds<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wqCpjFMvz-k?list=PLpM0rIgR6BUrcmXjSeQf0hwauM9R-fJwA" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-75256196202955073762015-01-18T23:14:00.002-05:002015-02-01T10:54:30.529-05:00Thoughts on Beyond The Lights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weeks ago director Gina Prince-Bythewood, penned an open letter urging audiences to see her latest film, "Beyond The Lights." Having had the chance to view the film twice myself, I wholeheartedly agree more people should see this film.<br />
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"Beyond The Lights" stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as pop star Noni, and Nate Parker as Kaz, the police officer who saves her life after an apparent suicide attempt. After saving her life, Noni and Kaz become close and their relationship evolves, much to the chagrin of their doting parents.<br />
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Throughout the film we see the evolution of their relationship and despite coming from two completely different worlds, we see them as just two people in love attempting to put aside the distractions.<br />
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What we really struck me with "Beyond The Lights" is that as the film progresses we see the varying layers of Noni and Kaz's lives peel off as both are struggling to find themselves while exploring each other. Another underlying theme of the film deals with the hyper sexualization present within the music industry, specifically as it relates to female artists. "Beyond The Lights" is probably out of theaters at this point but should be coming out on Blu-Ray/DVD in February. I definitely recommend giving it a look.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-43812537109423241912015-01-10T15:31:00.000-05:002015-01-10T15:31:45.748-05:00A Look Back at 20142014 was a year of progress and one of resolve for me.<br />
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It was during that calendar year I really upped my camera equipment game: camera mount, overhead light, microphone, and a new tripod. On top of all that I got some editing software as well. Even picked up some books on producing in the process.<br />
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In terms of covering films and Hollywood, I was happy for Lupita Nyong'o winning an Oscar at last year's Academy Awards. I made proud to see another woman, and former movie of the year winner on this blog -- Ava DuVernay -- receive critical acclaim across the board for her film "Selma." Not to mention Gina Prince-Bythewood and her moving film, "Beyond The Lights."<br />
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In 2014 there was the continued rise of the web series and we can began to see web success spill over into the more traditional medium of television. Issa Rae is working on a show for HBO and the creators of BlackandSexyTV are doing a show for HBO as well. TV shows like "Blackish" and "How to Get Away With Murder" showed network TV executives (again) that shows featuring characters of color can not only succeed, but thrive, especially in the realm of social media.<br />
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Despite this progress, most films released from the major studios are still overly white and male focused. That old door however is being pushed against harder and harder every year. People want to see themselves on screen, and in 2014 people of color are making that happen through many different forums. Let's keep this going in 2015. Let us continue to get educated. <br />
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<br />Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-73494024972611069602014-12-25T17:36:00.000-05:002014-12-25T17:36:14.486-05:00Millions March NYC<br />
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About a week and a half ago, I had the opportunity to film some of the protests taking place in New York City following the deaths of unarmed men Michael Brown and Eric Garner at the hands of law enforcement. It was a powerful experience and one that will stay with me for a long time.<br />
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Thousands of people of various races and nationalities came out to protest the deaths of not just Mike Brown and Eric Garner, but the litany of people of color whom throughout the years have been killed by police. I was honestly surprised by the number of white people I saw out at Washington Square Park for this march as it shows that it's not just black folks who are fed up with this mess. I'll be including more videos of interviews and other happenings at the protest in the coming days.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VHKRvSXQN_A" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-56601792814765845502014-12-25T15:13:00.000-05:002014-12-25T15:23:01.461-05:00TLC - Sleigh Ride (1992)Merry Christmas, everyone!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iGLB96S2--U" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-2359239339211947072014-12-22T16:34:00.000-05:002014-12-22T16:35:46.082-05:00Black Digital Media Members Speak on Diversity and More in New Emerging PlatformsSaw this last week and thought it is an interesting view from some media professionals on where they feel the future of media is going -- specifically regarding people of color. The event was put on by the National Black Programming Consortium and featured a panel of experienced media professionals.<br />
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One of the things that struck me was not only the continued development of television as a venue for telling stories (as opposed to feature films) but how ideas and stories that can fit into a series platform instead of a just one time two hour special, are seen as much more valuable. If you have some time, definitely check it out.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EaVWB2JoSRI?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-20017282803141612562014-12-21T23:58:00.000-05:002014-12-22T00:21:01.540-05:00When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong: Sony Pisses Off Wrong Dictatorship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a no good, terrible, horrible, very bad week for Sony Pictures Entertainment. From being hacked last month and having numerous memos and internal documents leaked, to cancelling press for their film, "The Interview," to shutting the movie down altogether, it has indeed been a week to forget. Oh and there were those rather crude comments about President Obama and some movies he might like.<br />
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As amusing as this fodder might be, it's worth noting that a major Hollywood film is not coming out because of serious threats made against it and its parent company -- Sony. This sets somewhat of a dangerous precedent as it has been argued what happens if someone else makes a movie that pisses people off? Is that film also going to be pulled from theaters? George Clooney gave a <a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/hollywood-cowardice-george-clooney-explains-why-sony-stood-alone-in-north-korean-cyberterror-attack/ar-BBgYNgR">very interesting take on the matter</a>.<br />
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The United States has implicated North Korea in the hacking scandal but the real question is what happens now? Sony is poised to lose millions of dollars in advertising and production already spent on "The Interview," and they're not getting those funds back. That's a serious hit for any studio. Let's see how this one plays out.Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-21731696313110476222014-12-17T23:54:00.000-05:002014-12-22T00:22:07.099-05:00Chris Rock on Working in HollywoodWith the release of his latest film, "Top Five," last week, Chris Rock has been on the press junket giving interviews and publicity in support of his movie. Rock was recently interviewed by <i>The Hollywood Reporter</i> and gave some candid quotes on his experiences as a black man working within Hollywood. The whole article is definitely worth a read. Below is a quote Rock gave on what exactly it means to cross over.<br />
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"<i><span style="font-size: large;">If someone's people don't love them, that's a problem. No one crosses over without a base. But if we're just going to be honest and count dollars and seats and not look at skin color, Kevin Hart is the biggest comedian in the world. If Kevin Hart is playing 40,000 seats a night and Jon Stewart is playing 3,000, the fact that Jon Stewart's 3,000 are white means Kevin has to cross over? That makes no sense. If anybody needs to cross over, it's the guy who's selling 3,000 seats.</span></i>"<br />
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<br />Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487412333718531812.post-52634123378834258002014-12-07T20:56:00.002-05:002014-12-07T20:57:01.445-05:00Alicia Keys - You Don't Know My Name (2003)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_ST6ZRbhGiA" width="640"></iframe>Warinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016533265253640812noreply@blogger.com0