Looking Forward to 2014

I came into 2013 realizing that I needed to prove myself -- especially when it came to this blog. In 2012 I didn't post frequently and by the summer of that year, between being swamped with work and a hectic schedule overall, this blog kind of fell by the wayside. There were entire months without a single post. If you want to get better at something you have to work at it on a continual basis. In 2013, I set out to do that.

Since then there have been a lot more posts on FilmSwag and I can honestly say I've gotten better at being more consistent. I've also learned from a lot of blogs and contributors alike from this thing we call the internet. Whether it was current events, movie reviews, or focusing in on particular issues, I tried to do my best in covering them and going beyond what you might see on just a typical news site. Along with that, I think it's important to look under a variety of stones per say when it comes to topic ideas. These could be news sites, fellow blogs, twitter streams, Facebook posts, or good old fashion television.

As we step toward 2014, collaboration is a goal that I'll be focusing on. I'm looking forward to working in conjunction with other blogs/bloggers and possibly doing some interviews as well. I'm still working out the concept of FilmSwag Features which would be short videos of people doing artistic works and talking about their passions. Don't know when that'll start, but I'll keep y'all posted. Once again, as always, THANK YOU to all of you who have read this blog or shared it with someone. I definitely do appreciate it. Oh yeah, if you dig this blog, feel free to like our Facebook page which is just to the bottom right of this article. Peace & Blessings in 2014 folks.

Looking Back At Some Popular Posts in 2013

2013 was a year full of ups, downs, achievements, and controversies.  Here are some of the noted/popular articles featured on this blog over the last 12 months.

January
Slavery Makes A Comeback in Recent Films

February
As Black History Month Comes to a Close, The Education Must Continue

March
Still Thanking Black Starz 11 Years Later
Howard University Students Making A Difference in Chicago

April
Remembering Roger Ebert

May
A Shooting Breaks Out, But National Coverage Is Slow to Follow

June
A Little Girl, A Bowl of Cheerios, and A Whole Lot of Hate

July
Fannie Lou Hamer Speaks Out on Voting Rights and Police Brutality

August
Remembering Lee Thompson Young

September
Russell Simmons, Harriet Tubman, and the Continued Degradation of Black Women
Barry Jenkins on Being A Black Filmmaker

November
Andrea Lewis Debuts in "Black Actress"

December
The Importance & Significance of 12 Years A Slave 

When the Guy On the Poster Isn't the Star of the Film

Interesting news out of Italy these last few weeks in reference to the premiere of "12 Years A Slave" and how the film is being marketed. According to a woman who lives in Italy and planned on seeing the film, the "12 Years" poster barely featured lead actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, but instead prominently displayed white supporting actors Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender. Here's the photo.

While the act of downplaying black actors/actresses in the marketing of a film is not a new one, it certainly is striking when the main character of said film is black and is barely shown in the poster. It's even more jarring when the film is about slavery. According to multiple reports, the posters have since been taken down and were not officially supported by the film's distribution company. Thoughts?

Usher & Alicia Keys - My Boo (2003)

Closing out 2013 with a love song. Merry Christmas everyone.

My 2013 Movie of the Year

2013 was quite a year for black film. There were more movies featuring black folks in prominent roles then I can remember in quite sometime. Who knows if that continues going into 2014, but we'll see. With that said, here are my picks:

Movie of the Year: Fruitvale Station

Excellent job by actor-director duo Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler. I remember when the murder of Oscar Grant took place in January 2009 and it affected me deeply. I felt Coogler and Jordan did a damn good job of depicting Grant not as a saint, but as a human being with triumphs and flaws just like everyone else. Though you know the ending going in, it still tugs at your heart to see it all play out in the film

Runner-up: 12 Years A Slave & Lincoln

"12 Years A Slave" is not an easy movie to watch, but it is certainly one that is worth watching. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives an Oscar worthy perfromance as Solomon and Lupita Nyong'o deserves consideration as well for her role as Patsey. As for "Lincoln," Daniel Day-Leiws is just that good. Though "Lincoln" technically came out last year, I wound up seeing it to a packed theater last February.

Good Job, Good Effort: The Butler

Listen, I appreciated "The Butler" and I enjoyed the performances of Forest Whitaker, Oprah, David Oyelowo and even the cameos by David Banner and Mariah Carey. The cinematography was very good and the story wasn't bad; but I still left "The Butler" feeling somewhat disappointed. Certain scenes seemed completely unrealistic - even for film - such as when David Oyelowo's character, Louis Gaines, goes from marching with Dr. King one moment to sitting at a home in Oakland lounging with the Black Panthers the next. I left feeling that the movie, while good, could have been more.

The Men Who Would Play Mandela

On December 5th, the world said goodbye to Nelson Mandela, one of the truly great leaders of the 20th century.

The freedom fighter who fought tirelessly against a racist government regime, only to be imprisoned for 27 years on a barren island, and to be elected president just four years after being released, is the stuff of fairy tales -- but all of it incredibly true. Not only was Mandela's journey the stuff of legends, but it made for good theater as well. So it should come as no surprise that Nelson Mandela's rise from prisoner to president has been adopted numerous times on the big screen and Mandela himself portrayed by a variety of actors. Here's a list of a few of them starting with the most recent.

"Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom" (2013)
 Mandela portrayed by Idris Elba

When A Producer Has Had Enough

After 25 years of producing films, Ted Hope is moving in a new direction.

On his website, Hope outlines some of the reasons for leaving the field of producing. Chief among them is the increasingly shrinking profit margins and having to do less quality work just to stay afloat. Hope admits that he will continue to produce and develop films, but only those that lift the conversation above the fray.

Hope's story is not that different than many people I've encountered in my now almost 5 years working in and out of the film industry. Many people do get disillusioned. The long hours, tight deadlines and not always knowing where your next paycheck is coming from, is not for the faint of heart. Even worse can be reformatting an idea because the 'studio' wants changes or wants to appeal to a larger audience.

Despite all this, people are still making films. You can continue to bang your head against the wall, or find a way to scale it. If the studio says no, find another venue. Whether it be webisodes, blogs, film festivals, or six second videos, people in 2013 are finding a way. Like Hope himself admitted, though he's leaving the system he will continue to make films, but on his own accord. Many people work day jobs to finance their passions and in this industry, you always got to have a steady source of income from somewhere (the student loan people don't care about your dreams, just that you pay your bill on time). I don't find Ted Hope's commentary deflating, but rather, inspiring. This man is quitting so that he can do what he wants to do without comprising his soul. We should all be so lucky.

Glenn Lewis - Don't You Forget It (2001)

Akilah Hughes Provides Tips For Your First Black Girlfriend

Blogger and comedian Akilah Hughes provides a humorous look on some tips and suggestions while dating your first black girlfriend.

The Importance & Significance of 12 Years A Slave

When it comes to the film "12 Years A Slave," which hit theaters a few weeks ago, my recommendation is to see it while it's still playing. This article isn't so much a film review as it is a look at some of the themes at play in "12 Years A Slave" and its larger significance on society beyond the realm of cinema.

I went to see "12 Years A Slave" about a month ago with a lady friend, and at $14 a ticket (Manhattan prices) I was hoping that this film would live up to the all the praise it had been receiving up to its theatrical launch. It certainly did that for me and more as it left me intrigued and analyzing a number of topics upon leaving the theater.



"12 Years A Slave" tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man kidnapped and sold into slavery, and the harrowing 12 years of his existence in America's 'Peculiar Institution.' Through his eyes we see the horrors of slavery up close: a mother having her children sold from her arms, brutal beatings, working on the plantation, and a sense of despair festering throughout the film like rotting meat on a summer afternoon. Though "12 Years A Slave" is the story of Solomon Northup, it really could be the story of any enslaved black person at that time. But because the story is specific to Solomon and based on true events, it simply can not be dismissed as an over-dramatization or the imagination of a director like last year's "Django Unchained." "12 Years A Slave" gives an unflinching and very hard look at American slavery and quite frankly, it's a story that needed to be told.

Ava DuVernay on Work

"The only thing that moves you forward is your work."

                                                      - AVA DuVERNAY, October 2013