Spike Lee and the Blackristocracy

An article published today in New York Magazine offers insight to Spike Lee's lifestyle and his place in the Blackristocracy (or black upper-class).  Apparently, Spike Lee's success as a filmmaker did not guarantee his place in the black upper-class, in fact, Spike would have to marry into this elite circle.  Spike Lee's wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, daughter of Phillip Morris' highest ranking black executive, continues:

The last thing Lillian and George Lewis wanted was for their daughter Tonya to marry "an entertainment type," she says. "Philip Morris is a conservative corporation," and it didn't help that "Spike is mum."

Her quote continues that joining this elite group of black businessmen, lawyers and doctors was historically determined on one's family lineage, although recently there had been a shift to meritocracy.  While Spike Lee's father was a noted musician, he was not a member of the Boulé, like Tonya Lewis Lee's father. 

With books like Our Kind of People by Lawrence Otis Graham, revealing some of the organizations and customs of the black upper class, it appears as though this group is becoming more discussed within the national media.  While I believe that class stratification is present in most, if not all, healthy societies, I could not help but wonder what others think about class stratification within the black community.

I mean, if a successful filmmaker like Spike Lee is still somewhat seen as an outsider in this elite circle, who deserves to belong and who doesn't?  Do organizations like The Links, Jack & Jill, and the Boulé (just to name a few) uplift the black community or create a bigger divide?

What do you think about this age-old question?

Leave It To Wikipedia: African-American Film Directors

While I was working on compiling a list of African-American film directors to include on this blog, I found that the community-built wikipedia has already beat me to it. Here's a link to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:African-American/Black_film_directors

Purchasing A Movie Ticket is a Vote

During the summer of 2001, Bill Duke came to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to screen Deep Cover. While Deep Cover may have come out in 1992, this screening was special for two reasons:
(a) This was the DVD premiere of the film and (b) Bill Duke was available to answer questions following the screening.

Please Note: Well, before I get into the details of the Q&A held after the show, I would be remise if I did not mention that this film screening was taking place during the 2001 Black Theater Festival held every summer in Winston-Salem.

So back to the Q&A...

Bill Duke said something that has stayed with me ever since. In fact, I try to share the following message to other people I talk to about film.

Bill Duke made the statement that one's decision to pay for a movie that is playing in theaters is essentially voting for more films like that. While this may come of no surprise to some people, Bill Duke's statement helps reveal to casual moviegoers that Hollywood executives like to make movies that are profitable. The best way an executive can tell if a future movie is profitable (and it is sooo hard to tell) is to compare a previous success to a projected project. So, if you like movies like Soul Plane you should go and see them so that more movies will be made like that - and if you don't like those kind of movies... DON'T WATCH THEM!!!

Ok... maybe Soul Plane is a bad example but the fact still remains that watching movies in theaters is a form of an expression of one's opnion.

Lastly, the most important time to watch a movie (I mean when the movie executives are paying the most attention) is always opening weekend. That is when movie execs hope to recoup most of their funds.

This post has a point (I promise)...

So, this leads me to The First Weekend Club, run by the Black Hollywood Education and Resouce Center, which encouages all moviegoers to cast their vote for intelligent and meaningful films that positively portray African-Americans by going to see these films during their first weekend.

Have a look at their website... look around... and if you're interested... GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

List of African-American Directors

I'm currently working on a list of African-American film directors. This list will be available as a resource to those who are interested. A part of this blog's purpose is to provide this sort of information in one convenient location.

Look back for an update. Please feel free to suggest someone.

Chris Tucker in a non-Rush Hour Film

Chris Tucker is back and it's not Rush Hour... (well, almost)

The guardian reports that Chris Tucker is slated to star in a Hollywood remake of a Bollywood movie about a gangster who pretends to be a MD whenever his parents around. This story's twist is that this gangster, to be played by Chris Tucker, actually has a change of heart and decides that he really wants to become a doctor.

The article continues:

The decision marks a turning point for Bollywood, which has specialized in Hollywood "copycatting" scripts. In many cases there is little but language, actors and production values to separate America's films from their Indian imitations.

The director of Gangster MD, Mira Nair, whose films include Monsoon Wedding, told the the Mumbai Mirror newspaper that she may cast some actors from the Bollywood original, and is on the lookout for Indian stars.

Anyway, Chris Tucker has been able to demand up to $20 million dollars a picture for Rush Hour films. It's nice to see that Chris Tucker is willing to branch out from the Rush Hour franchise - currently Rush Hour 3, potentially the last film in the trilogy, is in pre-production.

Word on the street is that Chris Tucker signed another deal with New Line Cinema, producers of Rush Hour, to do a picture for, hold your breath, 20 million dollars. I wonder what this other film will be...

Any suggestions or guesses?

Avid releases Free Video Editing Program... Download Here

Avid produces one of the leading video editing programs in the market. They have released a free version for students, video enthusiast and anyone else interested in editing as a means to familiarize themselves with the Avid interface.

Click this link to download Avid FreeDV.

I think that Avid's decision to offer this free software is a good move considering that Apple's Final Cut Pro has been slowly, but surely, taking over the market that Avid once dominated. Maybe as a means to overstep Apple, this new program provided by Avid will work for both the Windows and Macintosh Operating Systems.

Antoine Fuqua directs Pirelli Film Ad

In the tradition of the BMW Films series, Pirelli Tires has partnered up with award-winning directors and actors to create a short film which features their product. In " The Call," Antoine Fuqua directs John Malkovich who plays the role of a priest who has been asked to perform an exorcism on a car.

Naomi Campbell plays the demon that possesses the car... and get this - the only solution to the exorcism is a set of Pirelli tires.

I think this was an interesting commercial but one thing that stuck out to me was the fact that it was a commercial. At the end of the short film Pirelli's slogan, "Power means nothing without Control" flashes across the screen as a Pirelli tire appears from darkness.

I think that as companies begin to partner up with big-name directors to make these short film/commercials, advertising companies need to be separate these films from being commercials- in other words, not flash the company slogan and logo at the end of these films.

To the best of my knowledge, the BMW Film Series showcased what BMW cars could do by putting them in environments where the car could be tested and showcased. For the most part, we don't see a Pirelli tire flying down a highway or anything.

I would have preferred to see a Pirelli tire in action, as opposed to what I was given.

What do you think?

New Article Reveals Dave Chappelle's Motive to Leave $50 million

In an interview in Esquire magainze, to hit stands on Sunday, Dave Chappelle provides a little bit more insight into his decision to walk away from the Dave Chappelle show and a $50 million contract.

He lists the following three reasons as explanations for his leaving the Chappelle show.

Culturally: "The bottom line was, white people own everything, and where can a black person go and be himself or say something that's familiar to him and not have to explain or apologize?"

Professionally: "I felt like I was really pressured to settle for something that I didn't necessarily feel like I wanted."

Personally: "The thing about show business is that, in a way, it forces dysfunctional relationships in people."

Dave Chappelle believevs that the show was a wonderful experience and he's glad that he had a chance to create an original television show. He still plans on working on stand-up and still wants to entertain - just not in the same way.

It's important to note that the Chapelle Show's Season 1 Uncensored was the #1 all-time selling TV show ever - even beating out the Simpsons.

Dave Chappelle's latest project was Dave Chappelle's Block Party directed by French directer, Michel Gondry.

It's good to see that Dave Chappelle feels responsibility as an entertainer - it seems rare these days.

[via Yahoo News]

Queen Latifah to make Welfare Queen...

Queen Latifah's production company, Flavor Unit, received a first-look deal with Rogue Pictures and Focus Features to produce 'modest' low-budget films with the goal of making three films a year.

Her first project is Welfare Queen which is based on Dorothy Woods, a real woman who used the welfare system to create a little fortune for herself.

Personally, I'm disappointed that Queen Latifah is making Welfare Queen. Although it may be comical to make a movie about a woman who was able to cheat the system to create a little fortune for herself, I doubt this film will do much to counter the image that people on welfare are just lazy good-for-nothings.

Most importantly, assuming the lead is a black female, I doubt this movie will do anything to counter the false stereotype that the majority of people currently on welfare are black women. In fact, white women benefit most from welfare

Maybe I'm too quick to judge and Welfare Queen won't be a comical movie but will be a serious piece that critically examines welfare. However, given Latifah's track record with "Bringing down the house," I'm a little doubtful.

Time will tell what Latifah has planned...

What do you think?

[via Cinematical]

Full Frame Film Festival Report: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

This weekend, I had the good fortune to attend the Full Frame Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina. There were a number of good documentaries shown at this international festival, but one that stuck out to me was Byron Hurt's "Beyond Beats and Rhymes: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Manhood in Rap Music."

This documentary really touched on some of the misogynistic and homophobic issues found in a lot of popular Hip-Hop music.  The documentary does a good job of distinguishing between the conscious Hip-Hop artists and those who use exploitative lyrics and references to "sell more records."

I can't do justice to this film in this small space, but Mr. Hurt's focus on the portrayal of black manhood in Hip-Hop suggests that these images of "manhood" are actually over exaggerated and detrimental to many of the individuals who may follow these molds. 

The film includes guests such as Busta Rhymes, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Russell Simmons, Chuck D, Micheal Eric Dyson and a number of other celebrity commentators.  This is one of my favorite movies of this year and I recommend that everyone attempt to find a copy of this film.

Check out Byron Hurt's website.

Ice Cube to star in Welcome Back, Kotter remake

Ice Cube's production company, Cube Vision Productions, has partnered up with Dimension Films to create a remake of "Welcome Back, Kotter" with Ice Cube playing the lead role. Ice Cube was quoted as saying, "There was no bigger fan of the original show than me, and I'm very excited to be able to put a new twist on it."

What do you think about this remake?

[via Blackflix]

Spike Lee asks "with whom would you most like to drink a beer?"

Spike Lee's new television advertising campaign, "Here's to Beer," will show various celebrities drinking beers with other celebrities - some even deceased.  Budweiser, the sponsor of this campaign, wants to promote all beer to revive the low beer sales which have resulted in an increase in wines, spirits and popular cocktails.  The advertising campaign is meant to suggest that "Beer brings people together."

An ad is expected that would star Spike Lee and Jackie Robinson, one of Spike Lee's greatest heroes.  Look for more information later.

[via Blackflix]

Danny DeVito, Internet Film Distribution and Documentary Film

Yesterday at the Full Frame Film Festival in Durham, NC, Danny DeVito announced a partnership with Morgan Freeman's internet distribution company, Clickstar, Inc. This partnership will create a channel on the soon-to-be-launched Clickstar, Inc where interested audiences can view documentaries from Danny DeVito's new documentary production company, Jersey Docs.

Jersey Docs will be a means for independent documentarians to release their work to audiences around the world.

ClickStar, Inc wants to establish itself as an internet destination where audiences can purchase movies to own from their computer. Unlike some of the other internet distribution companies, ClickStar wants to showcase first-run A-list movies starring actors like Morgan Freeman and Danny DeVito.

[via ClickStar, Inc]

Outkast's Idlewild Trailer

Outkast is starring in a new movie called Idlewild which will include songs from their previous albums as well as never before heard songs.

Bryan Barber, director of many Outkast videos, has been assigned to direct the film. Some of the talent in the film include Bruce Bruce, Patti LaBelle, Ving Rhames, Cicely Tyson and a number of other celebritieis

Check out the trailer here

Comparison of Internet Video Services... YouTube wins?

So Ryan over at DV Guru provided a comparison of ten of the newest Internet video services for Internet sharing of video content. It appearsas though Youtube comes out on top as being one of the most reliable and easiest way for people to share video over the Internet. If your film has more of a grassroots and and activist spin, there are also sites like Ourmedia.org that maybe better for you.

Throughout all of these reviews, it appears as though there are many companies that are attempting to establish themselves as the premiere Internet distribution center. What sites have worked well for you?

[via DV Guru]