AfAm Strong Representation in Film ~According to Spike Lee

[Rain Man]

A year and a half has passed since the last post. Any new thoughts or insight on this topic?

[AngelicWings21]

I think there is a lack of orginality...I just saw HONEY...and I was like what was the hype about...its an ok movie...but nothing for me to run to movies on premier nite to see...I want to see something with a plot....not the same recycled stuff that we see now...I am talking about Love Jones good...something with maturity, reality and is orginal...

Love n Basketball, Best Man, Brown Sugar, Jason's Lyric, Two Can Play that Game, Poetic Justice....all were good movies...
but they lack that special something...that makes you say PERFECT...we all know whats going to happen before the ending of the movie... I want a movie that motivates and stimulates...and not only makes me laugh...can make me cry...and say "this is one of the best"...I think some Independent Films have accomplished this... I love the movie "hav plenty" while most peeps I know are like its garbage....

I have to agree Rain Man...

On another note, I want to see a good Black erotic movie (not porno, where folx f[rea]k for the sake of doing so, around some stupid storyline), but something that makes you go "Whoooo" instead of "Ugh".

[AKA2D '91]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...film_cedric_dc

Cedric the Entertainer, star of current box office hit "Johnson Family Vacation," may soon be going back to school.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...film_cedric_dc

Cedric the Entertainer, star of current box office hit "Johnson Family Vacation," may soon be going back to school.

last paragraph from aforementioned article:

Cedric is shooting MGM's "Be Cool," the sequel to "Get Shorty," starring John Travolta (news). He next appears in Paramount Pictures' "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" and also has been tapped for Paramount's remake of "The Honeymooners."


The Honeymooners, too!?!?!!?! Aaaaw dayum. As many books that are out here being written that would make great movies, we keep remaking isht.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4


Cedric...has been tapped for Paramount's remake of "The Honeymooners."


The Honeymooners, too!?!?!!?! Aaaaw dayum. As many books that are out here being written that would make great movies, we keep remaking isht.

I am VERY skeptical that this remake of "The Honeymooners" will be successful. I have seen updated movie versions of 3 classic 50s/60s TV shows (Car 54 Where Are You, McHale's Navy, Sgt. Bilko), and they have all fell flat. Why? Because the movie writers failed to grasp the natural sense of comedy that the original TV scriptwriters had down stone cold that made these shows true classics.

You cannot take the PC laden, sexually charged, and bathroom humor so prevalent in the new millenium, and put these traits in a movie whose characters we loved them for their natural "idiosyncrasies", not because of their ability to tell a dirty joke and blast a loud fart without blinking an eye.

Besides, we already have a remake of "The Honeymooners". It's called "The Flintstones", and it's just as much of a classic as "The Honeymooners" itself. Let it be.

Speaking of Black Hollywood. Have any of you ever heard the term "Magical Negro?

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=49988

[Choo-ChooAKA]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
If an African American "independent" film with a mature, intelligent, subtly nuanced plot can generate good box office, the financing, while overall not being what it should be for films made by Caucasians, should open up a bit.

You are so right, Steeltrap! There are many black writers and producers who are making excellent films, but because they include all of the elements that many posters have referred to in previous posts as desirable, they are not deemed commercial and therefore money for marketing/distribution is withheld. These films never get to the big screen so we, as the general public, are never given the opportunity to see them. While we cry, "there are no good/original black films," folks are diligently working on their good/original black films that may win awards, but will never see the inside of a mainstream theatre.

We, as black audiences, can support them in their efforts by boycotting films that we know are stereotypical and trite, and showing up in large numbers for films (like "Antoine Fisher," which did not earn the revenue that was expected) that we say we want.

Last Sunday, I was fortunate to discover an independent film by a writer/director/producer couple that lives in the LA area. It's a light romantic comedy called "all about you" (you can find it on sale at a few stores like Target and WalMart and at Amazon.com, but it never hit the big screen). Check it out and buy the movie! You will be pleasantly surprised.

Here is the couple's website: http://www.faithfilmworks.com/

If the above link doesn't work, just cut and paste this URL: http://www.faithfilmworks.com/

I would love it if you would post your thoughts on the film after you've seen it!

[AKA2D '91]

"Maid in Manhattan" director Wayne Wang is in early negotiations to shoot "Last Holiday," a comedy remake with Queen Latifah taking the lead role originally played by Alec Guinness

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ilm_holiday_dc

[HederaNaturale]

The black films discussion in the Alpha Phi Alpha forum prompted me to think of this. Anyone in the Charlotte area might be familiar with Dennis Darrell, film afficionado and the man responsible for exposing a lot of southern black independent filmmakers to a wide audience (if Charlotte can be considered a wide audience ) There are a lot of small film festivals in the area throughout the year, and they're usually listed in Creative Loafing or Darrell can be contacted at dcdarrell@hotmail.com to get put on the mailing list. (my mom also puts together asomewhat-weekly distribution list of events if anyone's interested, PM me)


For anyone who's interested in independent films and will be in the CLT, Friday, June 25th is the date for this year's "Shorts in the Spirit" I'm not sure of the time, but I'm pretty sure admission is $10, and the event will be at Spirit Square, 345 N. College Street. Anyone who can go SHOULD!! I went last year and LOVED IT... there really were a few comedies, a few dramas, and a LOT of messages, as the advertising says. As soon as I can look up what time it'll be, I'll get back here and post it up.

ds

[pink8]

I'm currently a film student and I've been absolutely outraged at some of the "Black Films" that have been coming out lately. i.e. "Soul Plane" ...... Uuuuughhh!!!! If we as black people continue supporting stereotypical movies like this then the "Good Black Films" are never going to get funded, Instead movies like "Soul Plane" and "My Baby's Daddy" will continue to make the big screen.

[AKA2D '91]

Lee: Black Representation Strong in Film

2 hours, 3 minutes ago Movies - AP



ATLANTA - Filmmaker Spike Lee says black representation is stronger than ever on screens, big and small, but the true power in entertainment lies behind the camera.





"We have to get in gatekeeper positions," he said Tuesday. "We have to get those dual law and MBA degrees and work up the corporate ladder because everybody can't be an actor, everybody can't make a record."


Joining a discussion panel at his alma mater, Morehouse College, Lee led a retrospective of his films and shared his thoughts on the challenges facing blacks in the entertainment industry.


Acting is not where the power is, he said. "Even Denzel (Washington), he's getting $20 million a movie. But when it comes time to do a movie, he has to go to one of those gatekeepers."


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ople_spike_lee

[Steeltrap]

^^
Shelton Jackson Lee (yes, Spike's gubmint name ) is absolutely right. The actors may make the money, but the directors, producers and writers control the images.
It's sort of the same thing at work with television in terms of news directors, producers, etc.

[Ten/Four]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
^^
Shelton Jackson Lee (yes, Spike's gubmint name ) is absolutely right. The actors may make the money, but the directors, producers and writers control the images.
It's sort of the same thing at work with television in terms of news directors, producers, etc.

I hate to see certain "Black" movies like those some of you mention. I put Black in quotation marks because most of the executives for these movies aren't Black.

I've worked on both film and TV productions. In film only certain directors have total control over their films (Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas). It's what's called a "final cut clause." The director has to approve the final version of the film before it can be released. Notice the names I mentioned also write and produce their own films. Most writers and directors aren't in the financial position to do so. The studio executives make the final decisions.

Sadly, artists are constantly having work censored or re-editing based on test audiences.

[Ten/Four]

If you're looking to watch a good Black film, check out Lackawanna Blues on HBO.

http://www.hbo.com/films/lackawannab...ategory4_show0

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by Ten/Four
If you're looking to watch a good Black film, check out Lackawanna Blues on HBO.

http://www.hbo.com/films/lackawannab...ategory4_show0

I saw Lackawanna Blues last week. I think it was a very good movie.