I've written several screenplays, won awards, had my work optioned and I am very close to many agents, producers and directors also- and to suggest that movies that perpetuate black stereotypes are made for "white" audiences is far fetched.

I can assure you Soul Plane, Booty Call, All of Master P's films, House Party, Baby Boy, etc...these movies were not made to appease white audiences.

We'll have to agree to disagree. In my experience, media which we think is made for us is often consumed mostly by White youth. Just as Whites make up 70-80% of the consumers of hip hop, today's minstrel show, they make up many of the consumers of other media which are in line with the same images and themes that hip hop puts out.

Thank you. :) I thought I was the only person wondering why they didn't just do this. :confused:


I guess this is the ultimate catch-22 for those in entertainment. Does social responsibilty to your race/ethnic group superceed creativity? (Creativity meaning the right to create or produce whatever you want - where its music, screenplays, etc. regardless if its for pure entertainment or eucation). Thoughts?

This is what I was thinking. The lawyer in us... tee hee.

"Stomp the yard"..what the hell?
 

From what I understand about the creation of this movie, as you all may have seen by now, one of the main dudes behind the creation of this movie is an ALPHA. Now, I thought that Drumline was wack as hell, and I pray that this movie isn't too wack either because of what the power of stepping means to those who have actually stepped in representation of their organizations. I don't think that we have to be so eager to de-mystify pledging and an action that is associated with becoming greek. Some things should be kept as secretively important as the secrets themselves. Now, I know that when we step, its in front of non-greeks and greeks alike, but, the power is in knowing that its all sacred and doesn't have to be added to the pile of hollywood entertainment. Stepping ain't 'crunkin' and all of that other stuff. Stepping is bigger than that.

"06!" the 7thSonofOsiris

I'm lost, 7thofOsiris, umm, what organizations do you know that have pledge periods?

What are we showing the public?
 

What are all the D9 showing the public?

Well, our organizations are about stepping because it is fun and hyped. I like wearing cute paraphrenalia, etc....

Then when an interest pops in and says all that chit, we clown him or her for uttering that...

Well, we are about wearing jackets with all our line names, and line's names and numbers and times and dates we crossed with our chapter name...

Then when an interest pops up and says he or she wants to join because our "crossing jackets" are fly, then we clown them for uttering that...

Well, we throw up signs and yell our calls when we are amped or hyped up. We say chants that belittle other D9 organizations during stepping. We "disco dance"--as some old head's think--around with "junie bug flips", hopping all over the place. Hayle, my last UG dance, they just line danced "round and round" in circles...

Then when an GDI sees that and makes a smart remark commenting on the level of NEGROES THINKING--WE ALL GO FOR THE JUGULAR! Trying to re-educate him or her, etc.

Why did we join? I don't need to know that answer, but it leaves us to think about the true meanings of each of our sororities and fraternities...

Well, I'm gonna have to side with the Alphas... Not because I share strong kinship toward them. But because I think the D9 is more than what the trailer shows. And by that little amount, like my soror said, when they had the guy recruiting the interest, it was inaccurate.

Besides, the boot leg will be out and none of "this" really matters... :rolleyes:

As far as black filmmakers and the ability to make a movie:

Being a filmmaker is tough. Very few African Americans are involved in the entire process. Things have to get "greenlighted" to have a go ahead to get exposed or recorded on film or digi-arts equipment.

Editing time alone costs $1000 per hour. And if you want sound in that movie, well you probably will have a discussion with an A.S.C.

And folks are making little movies on YouTube and elsewhere.

Anyhow, we really fail to support black filmmakers. Oh we support the Spikes and the Will Smiths and maybe Ice Cube and Samuel L. Jackson & Denzel. But do we support my Soror Julie Dash?

This movie is something close to our hearts for 100 years... The director is an Alpha. But the storyline and plot are weak and difficult for folks to stomach...

Because it demarks all our organizations as some of entertainment rather than service oriented.

How will we keep our organization's non-profit status if all we have is a "song and dance"?

December 20, 2006



To Whom It May Concern:



Previously, I disseminated a written notice of the Fraternity's objection to references to the Fraternity in the film "Stomp the Yard." The Fraternity made its concerns known to Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Screen Gems, Inc. and Rainforest Pictures. After several weeks of meaningful and productive discussions with the executive leadership of Sony and Screen Gems, the film has been revised to the satisfaction of the Fraternity. Sony and Screen Gems have also agreed to make a donation to the MLK Memorial Foundation.



The Fraternity raised its objections to the Film without regard to financial remuneration, but to protect its history and its legacy. The removal of all references, in the film, to the Fraternity is based in part on the fraternity's leadership insisting that we observe our written policies and internal protocols' regarding the commercial use of our symbols and marks.



Sony's decision to make a donation to the Washington DC MLK, Jr. Memorial Foundation Project, Inc., is very much appreciated, and helps to secure, in history, the legacy of our brother, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and helps to celebrate his selfless contributions to the fabric of America and the world. The construction of this memorial on the national mall is the only one dedicated to an African-American.



(Signature would not copy...fyi)

Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.

General President

Sorry but the motivation seems monetary to me...

Well, I may not be grasping the full picture but I understand them to be saying that they demanded that the symbols, etc. be removed and it seems that they are saying that they were. That does not appear monetary to me but moreso a protection of their name. In my earlier post, I noted that the guys were wearing other non-Alpha Phi Alpha letters so maybe this was a trailer done after the revision.

All that money and frustration. The silly, very silly, filmakers could have simply *started with* different letters to begin with. What a waste of time and money.

ETA: I just saw the full trailer when I went to see "The Pursuit of Happyness" and Alpha Phi Alpha para and folk wearing it was all in the movie ... still. Oh well, I'm sure they got it.

Here is the rub. While I have since found out that Alpha Phi Alpha is supporting us in our issue with BSP, where was AKA when all of this started? Does AKA think they can get something for their 100th from these jokers or what? It seems that AKA jumped to the support of Alpha, their 'brothers' but is ghost when it comes to DST. After all, DST and AKA have a shared history. I guess we will see what happens when "BSP:The Genesis" is released....

Frankly, I think the BSP issue is much bigger than STY. After all, STY is a fictionalized account where the appearance of the trademarks is incidental to the movie whereas BSP is purported to be a documentary about a specific organization which is directly in violation of copyright and all other applicable laws.

Also, I don't hear anything from NPHC on these issues. I know that NPHC won the suit against converse but why not support the individual organizations that are battling this same issue? If there is information out there, please share because I haven't seen it!

Has the NPHC or the Council of Presidents met since the lawsuits were filed? If not then there wouldn't be statements of support until that happened and it was voted on.

So this is the same as "The Yard" movie that I just saw the commercial for? Seems like a "Drumline" for stepping.

Just like with "Drumline," I'll wait for people to see it and tell me it's good. Then I'll catch it at the dollar cinema or DVD. I waited FOREVER to actually get over my skepticism and watch "Drumline." Good movie but I'm glad I caught it at home instead of at a regular theater.

question?
 

Phi_Sweetie
 

Phi_S,

We won't hold it against you. Only non-asked questions are stupid questions, and before we let you go out there and see these dumb ass movies: Stomp Hard, and this other dance movie, and think that they represent us, I will re-direct you to some BGLO names. What you will learn once you have made this journey is, that there a few things that is of a common bond in regards to these organizations. When you have figured out what commonality there is, then you'll be ready Grasshopper. Lastly, understand that all of the below listed organizations are phenomenal, especially that FIRST one. Look up the following when time allows:

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated

Much obliged Grasshopper...

Not a dumb question but one that's been asked a lot on this board. So see the "search" function. ;)

does anyone else think it is majorly WACK that the "college" the characters are attending is called "Truth University?"

Black
Greek
Lettered
Organizations

Stepping is essentially an African American rythmic dance form many BGLOs and others perform.

Hopefully it's Sojourner Truth University.

stomp the yard bothers me on a few levels....
 

First of all, I never thought I would be considered "Old School" until a neo at work (maybe I am old school because I always think of folks after me as neos) told me that fifteen years in Delta makes me older whether I like it or not. Having said that, here's the point.

Stepping back in the day was never a reason to pledge. If someone dared just to step, it was usually obvious and the person never made the process at all. Sure, prior to pledging, my friends and I oohed and ahhed at probate and step shows, but they didn't draw us in. We were interested in the organizations themselves, their visions and goals, and their impact on the community. Stepping was the rite of passage that happpened at the end. It was a privilege reserved for fraternity and sorority members only.

Now step teams are everywhere, high schools, middle schools and churches. I know, I know, it's positive, it's reinforcing teamwork, it's nice to watch, but if Sally drives a car at 14 and goes to senior prom at 15 what's left to enjoy at the end?
So when a film depicts a step show as the highlight of the fraternal year I have a problem. It is insult to injury when the pledge process is based on potential stepmasters! Then, to avoid litigation from Delta you turn my letters around???

I'm sorry, I do my best to patronize black films, but this one will not get a dime from me.

Perhaps STY is not so much geared toward Black Greeks as it is towards the general public in an attempt to mainstream the art and talent of stepping.

In short, the losses it get from those Greeks who choose not to view it could be well mitigated by those who want to see and better understand the "mysticism" of stepping.

I have a feeling that Sony Pictures is gonna get paid for STY one way or another....

You're right Rain Man
 

Rain Man & RedBlackDelta,

Rain Man,

I think you're right. Sony made a bad decision backing this film. You can't make me believe that there wasn't a man or woman who belongs to one of our organizations, somewhere in a decision making position that should/could have given some insightful wisdom concerning the subject matter of this "boovie". Sony may re-group their dollars somehow, but initially, they may suffer during the opening week earnings. I'll be watching closely. Damn, do I sound like I want this flick to fail? I don't want the brothers and sisters connected to it to fail, but what they should have done was, gathered in a symposium or think tank setting and sought some wise counsel from representatives of every organization before deciding to make this movie. Or, maybe they didn't do that because they knew the reception they'd get.

RBDelta,

Old school is in the mindset Ma. The cool thing is, that you've probably forgotten more things about Delta Sigma Theta, than that young lady has yet to learn. Keep schooling her, she's thirsty.

You're so right about that. What's cool is that we have about a handful of sorors at work who are 30+ years in, so we get to see the whole spectrum of experience. It's amazing how things change and how others remain the same.

I am a strong supporter of the arts and disagree with art being created by committee in the way that you describe.

That's cool
 

You misread me Senusret. The purpose of seeking to assemble, was to maybe reach a positive outcome over the use of letters that were infringed upon, secondly for a "committee" to assemble to allow for discussion about how the subject matter may be altered if and when referencing true greek organizations and stepping. Lastly, you never know, maybe if there would have been an assembly with some representatives prior to the creation of this movie, it may have allowed for a better show of support, response to and outcome for this wackumentary, all of which is the opposite of what happened. Not to alter the holistic production, or to halt the artistic creativity associated with this movie, though, I don't see any art in this jokah.

I didn't misread you. Your "secondly" part of your message is exactly what I meant.

7thSon, I hear you with the committee although I don't know if I agree with it - but my point for posting is to ask the question of how is the portrayal of stereotypes here any different from what the AA man wrote or produced Boys N the Hood did? I wonder if he formed a committee to determine whether his movie would garner the support or disapproval of the portrayed population - in that case, the AA population at large. Movie directors and producers probably are often portraying whatever is in their minds w/out forming any kinds of groups or anything else to determine how it will be received by the affected population. This is just another example of that.

How is Boyz N the Hood any different on that front?

SC

LOL. I know Soror. But we both know how expensive an endeavor that can be. Guess they found another, less expensive solution.

SC

SummerC...
 

SummerChild,

The difference to me is, the subject matter in and of itself. The contrast between the making of a movie about steppin', as opposed to one about the 'hood/ gang bangin' and all of that, makes me pose the question, who would that be sacred to anyway, if only to the people who were into that lifestyle? But to make a movie that involves an action or event that is sacred to many, many who traversed the terrain to become Bruhs or Sorors, should in my opinion, be treated a little more tenuously. What is the cost for depicting the sacred nature of an action that comes as a result of a sacred journey? The cost is the demystification of the action/event and to me, the possible de-mystification of the journey. Do we have to allow everything to become demystified in our culture and commercialized? Na.

I agree with you about the creative mindsets that make movie magic, with no true concern about the affects of the pre-affected population. But to what cost is there, during the making of a movie that depicts and details Doughboy and Tre' growing up in the hood? You have to decide that yourself. For me, there was nothing sacred lost when that movie was made. No one was trying to keep the secrets of bangin', mystified. The nation was already keeping record of the African American lives that were lost, decade to decade, year to year. But, there was a cost to making that movie. As a matter of fact, one cost that was immediate was when real lives were lost when fights and crap broke out at the movie theaters nationwide. An additional cost was, when those actions by some of us AAs, actually confirmed some of the stereotypes that existed about us, prior to that movie.

7thSon

7thSon, I guess in order to get my point one would have to identify with the people in the Boyz N the Hood movie as AAs, not merely as gangbangers. As an AA, I felt that those stereotypes would pervade the minds of our nation as to what generally goes on in our neighborhoods, which is not the case in many instances. In the same way, the nation as a whole will generally be deceived as to what stepping is really all about. My analogy was to make the point that I don't know how realistic it is to expect movie makers to consult with populations that may be affected by however the movie maker is portraying a group. For example, although you don't identify with the gangbangers, probably the portrayal of AA men as gangbangers has shaped the way in which others view you. Not that I care about that, but my point is just that no one asked *you* before they went making that movie...although it probably had an affect on the way that you are viewed so why should we expect these AA men to ask us now that this movie may affect the way that BGLOs and stepping is viewed?

The probably *should* ask but even if they did, do we expect them to change the story if the reaction is negative? Shoot, they didn't even change the story in the face of a threat of a lawsuit. Stubborn, stubborn.

SC

On your campuses, to whom do you promote step shows? How about your organizations in general?

I have always gotten the impression that information on the D9 was on a sort of "need to know" basis, and was never really exposed to it, though I was very involved on my campus. The first time I learned about stepping was at a presidents retreat attended by NPC, IFC, and NPHC groups.

Maybe I misinterpreted the messages that I got about intake, and generalized them to the point where I didn't want to ask anything about BGLO's, but my point is, if your groups are worried about the impact of this movie, combat it by educating more people about your orgs.

Interesting. The last trailer I saw of the film, no one was wearing any letters at all... just blank hoodies.

*Wait, just saw it again. There appears to be something on the shirts in the first clips. I can't make it out. :rolleyes:

True, but they did make some changes. I would like to see more of us speak out just as passionately regarding these other films too. Whether a film is glorifying violence or minimizing the significance of our institutions, when it is creating a false and dangerous image of us to us we shouldn't stand quietly by and allow it to happen.

Lord...

The campus and community.

I saw the trailer on Tues. when I went to see Dreamgirls. It was much longer than what is shown on TV and did show the letters.

Now it is possible they changed the movie, but not the trailer.

That's great. My guess would be that most of those people are smart enough to realize that the step show may be a big event, but it hardly defines your sorority/fraternity.

I think that if you promote your orgs, and have been doing so all along, then nobody is going to change their whole opinion based on one movie. Don't get me wrong, I certainly understand why some orgs would choose to boycott, but one movie shouldn't undo years of history in anyone's mind.

Many people are attracted to the things that seem entertaining. Just like other GLOers who identify with Greek Week and fraternity parties but not service and scholarship. I believe this is just more salient for BGLOs due to the history of media misrepresentation that blacks have had in this country, as well as what BGLOs were founded to represent.

My understanding is that the formal boycott is really about the unauthorized use of letters and not about people's perceptions of us. I understood the informal boycott to be about people's perceptions of us based on the movie.

Understandable. Even as a member of a GLO on a mixed campus, I knew more about step shows than about any other activities done by the Black Greek Council, and I would guess that they knew even less about us. I would agree, though, that it was worse for the BGLO's, because I suspect they really did a lot more service than most of the IFC and PHC chapters.

I guess my earlier point is that, for better or for worse, there is a certain shroud of secrecy surrounding the D9. Is that intentional, or is that just the impression I get from the closed nature of intake?

FWIW, step shows have alway impressed me with the amount of dedication, teamwork, and tradition that goes into stepping, and I hope some of that will come across in the movie.

While matters regarding membership intake are not discussed in a general forum such as GC, other aspects of BGLO life, such as community service, has never been a secret. Why? Because that is the basis for our organizations.

AKA owes DST naught.