Dancing in September

[Ideal08]

Good Morning, Ladies!

Has anyone ever seen the movie Dancing in September, with Isaiah Washington? I watched it this weekend, and though a little disturbing, I think it was a really good movie, and thought provoking to boot. I just wanted to see if anyone else had seen it, and if so, what did you think about it?

[CrimsonTide4]

I liked it. It will be on again sometime this week in case you missed it. It struck me especially after reading Blind Ambitions by Lolita Files that it is tough to work in Hollywood and stay true not only to yourself but your race and integrity. I had a discussion with one of my students who called Nicole Ari PArker's character a sell out. I disagreed with her because I think she was trapped with being a success and doing the right thing. It is hard to do both. I felt for James' character. Success went to his head and without a mentor to keep him balanced and to help him deal with the trappings of success plus his own struggles with manic depression, he did not handle his child's mother and child's death.

I read on BP that this was supposed to parallel or show the downfall of Good Times. When i find the article I will post it here.

I definitely liked the movie. It was thought provoking and provided an honest glimpse into Hollywood as a Black writer, director, etc.

[CrimsonTide4]

This is the review of DANCING IN SEPTEMBER from BP:

Once upon a time, a famous television writer wanted to do a show about a Black family living in the ghetto. At the time, his idea seemed risky. Sure the writer had already produced several hit shows. But those shows had featured White actors. Would White television audiences really want to bring Black faces into their homes every week? And would Black television audiences support a series that tried to deal with the hardships of a struggling, low-income family?

Well to the surprise of many, the show was a hit. White audiences were willing to invest in the lives of Black characters. And Black audiences eagerly embraced a show about people who looked like them and dealt with their problems. The writer was hailed a genius. Civil rights groups like the NAACP rejoiced. And everyone was happy. Until everything went terribly wrong.

Eventually the show became a victim of it`s own success, as pressure to maintain its high ratings led to new demands. Comedy, which originally had helped to balance the show`s dramatic tension, became the show`s new focus. And one cast member, probably the least talented member of the ensemble, became the new comedic star- prompting another cast member to quit the show in protest.

For a while, audiences tuned in to laugh at the outrageous new antics, and ratings stayed strong. But as the show`s star became increasingly buffoonish, it was apparentthat the series had betrayed its original vision. Ratings fell, and the show was canceled.

In a nutshell, that`s the story of the 70`s TV show Good Times. But it might as well be the story of half a dozen other Black TV shows. And if you`re curious about why this cycle plays out over and over again, check out the new HBO movie, Dancing In September.

The movie explores the struggles of a Black screenwriter and a Black TV executive who fight to get their show on the air, and then face a series of compromises in order to keep it there. Along the way, the writer (Nicole Ari Parker of Showtime`s Soul Food) and the TV executive (Isaiah Washington- Get On The Bus, Out Of Sight) fall in love, only to have their relationship tested by the same forces challenging their careers.

Writer and director Reggie Rock Bythewood knows his material, having worked in Hollywood for years as executive producer of New York Undercover and a writer on A Different World. Bythewood is also perfectly qualified to tell the romantic side of this story about industry insiders, his wife, Gina Prince-Bythewood, wrote and directed Love And Basketball and directed Disappearing Acts, also for HBO.

Occasionally, Bythewood makes the mistake of over emphasizing his message at the expense of developing the romantic story line, but on the whole his writing is smart and his characters are well developed. The beautiful Parker is particularly good, clearly enjoying the chance to play a solid female lead.

Dancing In September, which refers to celebrating the start of a new TV season, is worth watching not just because of its strong storyline about interesting characters. It`s also worth watching because it explains why so many other TV shows aren`t this good.

[Discogoddess]

I was glad to see the movie find its way to the screen, but I thought that it didn't develop the characters enough (why does Tommi turn into the type of exec. producer she hated in her last gig?; who James really was as a regular person then famous actor), nor did certain subplots make much sense (James' babymama's boyfriend being the catalyst for the dramatic end of the TV series). On my Blackpride-O-Metor, I would say this gets a 6.4 out of 10.

Can I just say though, I love Nicole Ari Parker? Her acting was great in this movie, and I really like her in Soul Food; she balances my disgust with Vanessa Williams on a weekly basis.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by Discogoddess:
I was glad to see the movie find its way to the screen, but I thought that it didn't develop the characters enough (why does Tommi turn into the type of exec. producer she hated in her last gig?; who James really was as a regular person then famous actor), nor did certain subplots make much sense (James' babymama's boyfriend being the catalyst for the dramatic end of the TV series). On my Blackpride-O-Metor, I would say this gets a 6.4 out of 10.

Ok, Soror DG, you are cracking me up over here with the 6.4!!

I wish that they had developed the babymama's boyfriend's part a little better, too. I mean, I did miss the first 20 minutes or so of the movie, but at the end of the movie, I was left thinking, was it really that deep, and if it was, why? Did I miss something at the beginning? Well, in re-reading your post, DG, I see that you already said it didn't make much sense, so I guess I didn't miss anything, after all. All I know is we were sitting there like, WTF?? That's the part that was disturbing. That and the whole relationship ending and him accepting that job and all of that. The whole ending was wild.

[CrimsonTide4]

I am LMAO @ Blackpride O Meter.
There was some character development that was missing.

I did not like how she knocked Malik's character down but I think based on her previous experience with the white producer from WINSTON and SHELLEY that Malik was her with a conscious. He was the reminder of what she stood for before her show became we have to infuse this with more comedy. That is also why she declined the CPAA's award as far as portrayal because she knew that her show had the "cooning" element that she knocked other shows for.

This movie for me while not the greatest helped shed the light for me as to why some of our well loved BLACK shows have been infused with either a White presence or more buffoonery.

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Black is a mystery, and part of my history. Black is bold and worth a hell of a lot more than gold.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by Ideal08:
I was left thinking, was it really that deep, and if it was, why? Did I miss something at the beginning?
NO
In the beginning she spoke about how the "tube" kept her family together, but not together for long...

All I know is we were sitting there like, WTF??

So was I!

But the music was tight!

[Discogoddess]

I tuned in at a little past 8, CST, so I think I missed some of what happened, but not enough to explain the lack of character/subplot development.

I agree the music was cool. Made me pull out my multi-volume Earth, Wind & Fire set and sing along to "Can't Hide Love," "I'll Write a Song for You," (if you ever want to listen to some deep lyrics, listen to that song!), etc. Didn't mind the new-school versions of EWF's cuts, but I HAD to get in touch with the original!

[Ideal08]

Ok, different movie this time. Did anyone watch the anthology of Black short films last night? I thought that they were really good. I just love how TV programming is the bomb in February. Anyway, I think my favorite was the short film about the Black and White women and their relationship. It was real. So did anyone else watch this? What y'all think?

[1 Woman of Virtue]

I watched it (the Black Filmakers Showcase) and I really liked it. I think the one with the two women (black/white) was the best. Maybe in part because their dialogue mirrored a few conversations I have had w/ my white friends/colleagues.

But, what I really appreciated was the part at the end, when the woman in the other room was attacked. It showed, in my interpretation anyway, that on top of all the things we deal w/ racially, as women we still have so much more to go through. I wish I had taped it!