Stomp the Yard

[laylo]

Originally Posted by PinkPop

Who told you this?

I grew up around the behind-the-scenes of the film industry and have always been close with actors, producers, and directors. When a film like Akeelah and the Bee is made, they know very well that they aren't going to get too many Whites going to see it.

[PinkPop]

Originally Posted by laylo

I grew up around the behind-the-scenes of the film industry and have always been close with actors, producers, and directors. When a film like Akeelah and the Bee is made, they know very well that they aren't going to get too many Whites going to see it.

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.

[laylo]

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.

[AKA_Monet]

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...

[AKA_Monet]

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"?

[AKA2D '91]

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

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by AKA2D '91

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...

[SummerChild]

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.

Originally Posted by mccoyred

Sorry but the motivation seems monetary to me...

[southernelle25]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

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.

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.

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. ...

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.

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.

Originally Posted by MeezDiscreet

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

Lord...