Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: the basics
 

Another dynamic Delta.

:D

Update: Screening on Black Sorority Project
 

http://rsvp.blacksororityproject.com/

NYC Premiere Screening of the Black Sorority Project, the Exodus
The Story of Delta Sigma Theta, a ground breaking documentary film

Screening Friday June 23, 2006
Tribeca Cinemas
Lower Manhattan
8:00 pm screening - Full
9:00 pm screening - Just Added
Free Admission



BLACK SORORITY PROJECT, THE EXODUS
Derek & Jamar Productions presents the first installment in a new two-part documentary series, The Black Sorority Project. "The Exodus" chronicles the life and times of twenty-two women at Howard University, who as students, changed the course of American history forever. By defying the barriers of race and sex, they courageously joined the Women's Suffrage March and formed a new sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, that grew to become one of the nation's most formidable women's organizations. The timeless voice of Tamara Tunie (Law & Order: SVU, As The World Turns) transports you back in time on a photographic journey into the world of these Howard co-eds in the infancy of their burgeoning group, in the year 1913.

Black Sorority Project, The Exodus leaves no stone unturned: light skin versus dark skin, the myth of black unity and the triumph of women's achievement against the odds. With cutting edge special effects, blistering commentary and a stellar cast of actors and scholars, Black Sorority Project is an innovation in modern-day storytelling and an untold chapter in women's history.

This should be interesting.

Sorors, I am sure that many of you have heard this by now, but for those who haven't. The official word from our National President is that the national board has taken no action to endorse this movie. She also requests that sorors do not participate in anyway that will imply endorsement or support by Delta, including forwarding the link about the Project.

Sistergreeks and Sisterfriends, I thought you should be aware of our stance on this, too.

Just an observation
 

^^^
This is only an observational point. Nothing more, nothing less.

The site in question is now indicating that it is planning to show open screenings during the Delta National Convention in Philadelphia next month. It appears that if Delta won't come to the filmmakers, the filmmakers will come to Delta. Go figure...

In any event, this will most likely be the ultimate litmus test as to whether or not this Executive "gag order" holds out by the membership.

Nevertheless, I hope all the Deltas who attends the convention have a great time and if any of you happen to see the movie, lemme know if it was any good, 'cause I am a little curious about it myself.

Carry on...

^^^^Yes, I saw that they are doing a screening on July 27. Our convention doesn't start until the 29th so most folx are getting in the 28th. But you are right they are promoting it as if it is part of our convention.

Did anyone see they have the question "Are you a member of DST?" Why? So they can show Nationals how many people attended the movie? Whatever...:rolleyes:

And I also see they put a disclamer on there. If they would have consulted Nationals on this they wouldn't have to do that. Also, I want to know where they got their info from. ISOS?:confused: :p

For the sorors: A copy of Dr. Rice's letter is in the Members Only section of the national website.

I just want to see so I can make my own comment based on what I saw with my OWN eyes. I think that is the only way I can make a legit arguement.

A legit arguement about what? The issue is not whether the movie is accurate or not (which I doubt it will be,) but the fact it was made without our permission. And they will be making money off of us.

And from what I have been told, this is just their first step. They plan to do this with the other NPHC orgs as well. So if this flops maybe the others won't have to go through this.

Legally, a filmmaker doesn't need permission of the entity in question to make a movie portraying them.

Example in point.

The 1997 movie Titanic won 11 Oscars and amassed millions of dollars in box office receipts. IIRC, director James Cameron didn't ask the Cunard Shipping Lines (successor of the White Star Line) for permission to portray the ship and the disaster (although this was the 8th theatrical protrayal of the disaster--and in one of the movies Titanic's Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall served as technical advisor in "A Night to Remember" in 1967--but I digress). Nonetheless, the movie was filmed, screened, and the rest is history.

Point is, I don't think these filmmakers are trying to capitalize off Delta any more than James Cameron was trying to capitalize off the White Star/Cunard Line. Granted, it would have been nice and would have served as a bonus if they did get Delta's NEB's blessing, but if not, so what? You cannot legally reserve the right (copyright/trademark/patent) to a historical event, which is essentially all this is and all this comes down to.

Just a thought.

They may not need permission per se but there are images that are in fact copyrighted/trademarked (just ask Converse) and I am curious as to whether or not any of those things were used in the movie. In addition, it is important to make clear that this "project" is in no way associated with or endorsed by Delta and that there has been no quality control whatsoever as to the accuracy of the facts in the story. If they had wanted to make a movie depicting what life was ike for Black women in the early 1900's they could have done that mentioning the formation of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta with out making an unauthorized movie about either's history. None of this means they couldn't make the movie but, for me, it means that I am not interested in it and will make others aware of its pitfalls and Delta's position.

Are you kidding me? That is exactly what they are trying to do. Starting with the Founders painting, this is what they set out to do. Heck, the artist (and one of the producers) is an Alpha. Why didn't he make a movie of his own frat--it is their 100th anniversary? Could it be that he didn't get permission?

Precisely.:cool:

Good questions
 

Good questions.

My answer would honestly be: I'on know. Ladies first, perhaps?

A follow up question I have is "Why Delta? (as opposed to the other 3 GLOs)" Another one would be "What would this company do with the profits from the movie? (assuming they amass such)"--the answer that probably will be to parlay those funds into another "Black Fraternity/Sorority Project" movie. But I'm just guessing.

Just a thought-provoking question: Would you have felt better if they used all the elements of Delta's founding but took a Dragnet-style approach to sorority identification (the names have been changed to protect the innocent).

I know of one movie (Fraternity Row) that took that approach with regards to an actual hazing death (a pledge died during initiation choking to death on a piece of liver--the fictional frat portrayed was called Gamma Nu Pi, the actual fraternity involved was the Kappa Sigma fraternity at USC back in 1959).

Is the central issue here the mere portrayal of such a movie, getting the org in question's blessing, or historical accuracy?

You know, I think the answer (at least part of it) can be found here. Believe it or not, I stumbed across this surfing GC tonight.

You know what, I actually believe you, only because if it wasn't the case, I think a lot more of the Black (and mainstream) communities would be in the know about this venture and that there would be word out trying to market the movie. There has been very little, if any, marketing of this movie to the general public, which causes me to wonder if the primary intended audience for this movie is the Delta membership, and the general public as an afterthought.

NoChaser, you post literally made me go Hmmmmm.

Anyway....we'll see what happens.

The same things stated regarding Alpha 's name, symbols, etc. applies to Delta. If you go on to our website their are procedures for becoming a licensed vendor for that reason. Again, that is why I am curious as to whether they use our name symbols and other protected in the movie. For their sakes and ours, I hope not.

;)


.........................

It is also on the home page. ;)

Thanks, mama. I wonder when that was updated.

This official response from President Rice should make any debate null and void. :D

BLACK SORORITY PROJECT, THE EXODUS
TO: Chapter Presidents
FROM: Louise A. Rice
National President
DATE: June 9, 2006
SUBJECT: “BLACK SORORITY PROJECT, THE EXODUS”


Many of you may have received invitations to, or have heard about, the first public viewing and screening of a painting and film entitled: "Black Sorority Project, The Exodus" (that supposedly is about the history of Delta). Please be advised that the Executive Board has taken action not to "in anyway, endorse, support, sponsor, approve of, or [become] involved in this project” or any project marketed under a slightly different name.

Therefore, I am asking Chapters, Regions and members not to take any action with respect to this project that would in anyway suggest that Delta endorses or otherwise supports this project, including forwarding the referenced information (link to the project), as requested by the project's marketing team.

If you have any questions, please direct them to the Executive Director or me at dstemail.bsp.org@deltasigmatheta.org.

We have also placed this information on our web page in the Members Only Section. Please also share this information with all your chapter members.

Thank you for your support.

Sorry to bring this up again but I was thinking about this the last few days...

Since this movie has been released and (I assume) it will be on video/DVD, I wonder if those who are pursuing Delta will take the info they receive from the movie as gospel instead of doing their research and reading ISOS. I'm deeply concerned, especially if this movie has inaccurcies (sp). What do ya'll think of this?

Soror you know they will. Then they'll be salty, with the sorority, when they don't make it. I'm very upset that not only are non-Deltas supporting this venture but so are many sorors and other NPHC members. Also, from what I've been hearing, not only does the movie have inaccuracies but the portrait does, as well. :mad:

Only the idiots will be moved to the point of this movie becoming the undeniable truth without doing further research--before or after the informational.

Moving forward, Sorors. ;)

interesting.....
 

So I was surfing the net and looked at DELTANet (and I know the back story) but she is doing exactly what Soror President has asked not to happen. There is also this letter that appears on the site as well. Comments?

---------------------------------------------------------------
"If You Ask Me, by Frankie Lou"
The Baltimore Afro-American
June 17, 2006 - June 23, 2006
Page A3

DEREK FORDJOUR, producer of "The Black Sorority Projecy: The Exodus", the story of Delta Sigma Theta, a groundbreaking documentary, has invited me to New York for the screening of the film. The producer's disclaimer states: "The Black Sorority Project is an independent historical initiative and is in no way funded, supported, endorsed or promoted by the present day organization Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The views expressed herein are objective, unbiased and based solely on scholarship and historical record."

Following Fordjour's invitation came a letter from the national president of Delta stating: "Many of you may have received invitations to, or have heard about, the first public viewing and screening of a painting and film entitled: "Black Sorority Project, The Exodus" (that supposedly is about the history of Delta). Please be advised that the Executive Board has taken action not to "in anyway, endorse, support, sponsor, approve of, or [become] involved in this project” or any project marketed under a slightly different name.

My Mom, Vashti Turley Murphy, was one of the founders of this sorority and is featured in this documentary, so I AM GOING TO SEE IT. I have also been asked to participate in the unveiling of the portrait of these founders, which I will do.

Derek, who is the producer of the film, is a good Alpha Phi Alpha brother like my late dad, Carl Murphy, and a graduate of Morehouse. He has assured me that the film is based onhistorical facts.

I cannot judge something I have not seen. Nor do I purport to know all the facts about the founding of this sorority at Howard University back in 1913, but I know quite a bit of what went on "inside" because my mom talked about her Howard University friends and Delta all of the time. Thus, maybe I can be a fair judge of what is historical. We'll see,

If you are a Delta soror (and there are over 200,000 college educated women who are members) and you attend this screening either in New York or Philadelphia, let me hear what you think.


Frances L. Murphy II
The Afro-American Newspaper
2519 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4602

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!:mad: :mad: You've confirmed what I've been feeling since I heard about it last year.

Good point!:D

On what Soror Orighu posted: I could somewhat understand how Francis Murphy is coming from because as a daughter of a founder, she would probably like to see how her mother and the 21 other founders are shown and to also see if the story in the movie is accurate. Now if she sees something that is not true, that would cause many problems. She is also probably soliciting feedback from the sorors who do see it to see if they feel the same way. I'm interested on the followup to this story.

I guess I'll bite.....

I ain't mad at her. That's her momma who also happens to be an Illustrious Founder. LOL. :p

Maybe this whole thing has turned into a bigger deal than it should be. That remains to be seen so I dunno. I wasn't going to see it before President Rice's letter--because I wasn't intrigued enough to see it--so I'm not really doing anything differently now that there is a formal request for Sorors to boycott it. Other than letting Sorors know the formal request has been made, that is.

Soror you and I are =>>>here<<<= with the underlined part. I never had any intentions on suppporting anything that was being produced by a non-Delta. Now I didn't view the letter, sent out by President Rice, as a boycott. I viewed it as a notice that she and EB did not support this and recommended that sorors do the same. When we say boycott, I get the vision of Deltas standing outside the screening with picket signs, yelling, etc. Which is definitely not what we would do nor is that what President Rice and the EB suggests, IMO. Just my $19.13. :cool:

What I find interesting is the inaccuracies of the painting. (A pic is on the website.) There is a link to post comments that has been de-activated since a soror wrote to question the inaccuracies.

My reasoning had nothing to do with it being a nonDelta but instead with my not being in a rush to see that story in the form of a movie. Maybe that makes me a "bad Delta," or something. LOL.

Soror, you're talking about picketing.:) Boycotts don't have to take the form of picketing. On that note, President Rice's message at first appeared to be a boycott to me. But upon reading it for the umpteenth time, it seems more like she's asking Sorors to be clear that the movie is not endorsed and to not create the impression that it is endorsed. Perhaps this does not preclude individual Sorors who decide to go see the movie on their own time because they are interested in it.

Of course, I'm still not seeing it--unless Tyler Perry (who I've begun to like over the past month) puts out a "Madea Learns About Delta Sigma Theta." :p

Yep. And Frankie is a much older soror who may not see the inaccuracies of some of the symbolisms to which she refers. I have also read (from the source) that her involvement was initiated by BeeJae. So that tells you something right there.

I noticed that as well (the comments not available anymore).....

i question the motives of the 'creators' as has been previously discussed on this thread. According to the website you can have both the dvd and portrait for a mere $125 - now that's a steal - NOT:confused: That doesn't really appear to be just a history making, telling a story documentary motive.

Unfortunately there are lots of young ladies who will get information from BeeJay and patron the film assuming information that would assist them in the future. I think what upsets me most is that Soror President asked that Soror's not encourage and she does just that.....

Well...don't let that upset you. There's a story behind everything. ;)

I think boycott is exactly what we SHOULD do!

Viva la resistance!!
Power to the people!!
No justice, no peace!!

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought this way, lol. (I have a 'thing' for boycotts and picketing, LOL)

I too, am curious as to Soror Murphy's comments about the movie. Is it as accurate as she remembers from her mother? Is it just a way to make $$? If the movie is as historic as the producers say, why not take the necessary steps to get endorsements from those whom you depict? and many other questions..

Many films "based on true stories" and reenactments aren't endorsed.