Stomp the Yard

[hazelle]

pardon my jumping in...but just watched the stepping program on ESPN2 tonight...amazing....the brotherhood and sisterhood displayed are fantastic!! but the trailer for the STOMP THE YARD did hit me just as you said...like Annapollis didnt do anything for the Naval Academy, or any other movie which is just seeking an audience but not for the enrichment of the school or organization...for me, I would like to know the true beginning of stepping in colleges. Tried to do it on line but not good enough. I know it has to have a wonderfully historic and important source. My kids all did Color Guard and they worked as hard as the groups on the ESPN show....know how tired and exhausted they got but the adrenaline was amazing until they got thru their moment--then they practically drooped from relaxing. The commercialism of the show was also apparent due to the movies' support and the many trailers shown and the source of the checks for the winners came from "Army Strong" the US Army. Who knows? But despite the commercialism, I adored the show and am furious that the tv programs all had it wrongly advertised...if it werent for GC, wouldnt even have known about the show!! Dumbass ESPN

[RBL]

Originally Posted by LuckyCharm85

"After the death of his younger brother, a troubled 19-year-old street dancer But his efforts to get an education and woo the girl he likes are sidelined when he is courted by the top two campus fraternities, both of which want and need his fierce street-style dance moves to win the highly coveted national step show competition."

Based off this I would say the "art" of stepping will NOT be preserved.... it will be another media flick

[Kamryn]

It would be a shame if they put all that talent to waste by producing just "another media flick". They have some serious talent. I hope they use it well. Colombus also choreographed for the "STOMP World Wide Tour"! I'm telling you, this man is amazing! He taps, and his Hip-hop is on another level. Man, I've seen him pull off some miracles making some people look good stepping and doing hip-hop! Although I'm a big fan, I'm not trying to be biased. I'm being honest. They have a good person for the part, I just hope they know it, and they bring it! One person doesn't make the movie, the team has to be great together.

P.S. Besides dancers are getting a little annoyed with the little media dance flicks, that water down the true essence of the art. They're getting a little stale... But I'll keep my hopes up since I know Columbus stars in it.

[LoisLane]

Came across this, what do you think?

>> December 5, 2006
>>
>>
>>
>> Darryl Matthews, General President
>>
>> Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
>>
>> 2313 St. Paul St. >> >> Baltimore, MD 21218
>>
>>
>>
>> To: Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.
>>
>> General President
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Rob Hardy
>>
>> Executive Producer, Stomp the Yard
>>
>>
>> Re: Stomp the Yard
>>
>>
>> Brother Matthews:
>>
>> What a wonderful Centennial year it has been for our fraternity! Yet as
>> we celebrate this great milestone, I am deeply saddened after reading
>> your November 30th correspondence to the members of Alpha Phi Alpha
>> Fraternity Inc, regarding our motion picture.
>>
>>
>> Stomp the Yard presented us with an opportunity to do something that no
>> film has ever attempted on this level: feature Black Greek Letter
>> Organizations in the most positive of lights, as pillars of economic
>> stability, community service and brother and sisterhood within the
>> community. It is difficult to make ANY movie in Hollywood. You can only
>> imagine how difficult it was to make a film about a young
>> African-American male who finds hope, redemption and becomes a better
>> person through his experiences with a fictitious black fraternity at a
>> Historically Black Institution of Higher Learning. These are not
>> 'commercial' themes by Hollywood standards. These are, however, positive
>> ones that should be embraced and promoted by the African-American
>> community, especially those fortunate enough to understand the benefits
>> of higher education and fraternity life.
>>
>>
>> At no point does our film "juxtapose gang activity and Black Greek life".
>> What this film does is illustrate how lives can be enhanced by the
>> experience of college life.
>>
>>
>> It is troubling to me that at a time when we as a people face the reality
>> of inexplicable police slayings in New York, vile racist rants in LA and
>> many other social, economic and political issues around the country -
>> that you would choose this movie as a cause to unify and call to action
>> the fraternity's membership (as well as that of other Black Greek letter
>> organizations). The fact that you've taken this stance without responding
>> to my repeated attempts at contact and without having seen the film first
>> is disconcerting. In fact, you were one of the first people I attempted
>> to contact when we finally were given the green light to make Stomp the
>> Yard. Yet those attempts to reach you went unanswered. After sending
>> materials and conversing with your Executive Director, an in-person
>> meeting was finally set for us to discuss Alpha's support for the movie.
>> Neither you nor your Executive Director showed up at the meeting or had
>> the courtesy to provide an explanation or reschedule. The first
>> correspondence I received from you was the "call to action" you sent to
>> the entire brotherhood.
>>
>>
>> Our goal for this film is simply to make college life seem accessible to
>> all. In a society where the value and relevance of Black
>> Colleges/Universities, and Black Greek letter organizations are under
>> increased attack, the mainstream circulation of the types of images in
>> our film can renew interest among our youth.
>>
>>
>> One of the most encouraging things I overheard someone say after an
>> advance screening of Stomp The Yard was the fact that "they thought it
>> was just a dance movie" but after seeing it, it underscored the fact that
>> they wished "they could've pursued higher education, and that every young
>> black kid should see this movie."
>>
>>
>> At Rainforest, we share your vision of protecting the legacy and
>> promoting the future of our great fraternity. Stomp the Yard is a part of
>> that vision. We have done nothing illegal. Everything we have done was
>> within our legal rights as filmmakers. We did not disparage or tarnish
>> the images or logos of ours or any other organization. The inclusion of
>> real life members of Greek Letter organizations was a genuine attempt to
>> highlight these great organizations to a generation that questions the
>> relevancy of their very existence. It's unfortunate that Alpha feels the
>> need to urge other Alphas to not support a film made by Alphas. I wish
>> that we'd had the opportunity to sit down and settle this matter as
>> Brothers instead of having your lawyers attack myself, my partner, my
>> company and my film.
>>
>>
>> I am a proud 13-year brother of Alpha who has given much of my adult life
>> to upholding the aims of the fraternity. You and I have had a personal
>> relationship for over ten years. Our first film Chocolate City (which
>> also featured fraternity members) was screened, per your invitation, at
>> the 1995 Alpha Phi Alpha General Convention when you were the Executive
>> Director. Based on your appreciation for our work you personally
>> employed our company Rainforest Films, to create the Official video for
>> the fraternity the following year. While President of my college Chapter
>> (Beta Nu, Florida A&M University), we were selected as the Outstanding
>> College Chapter of the Year (1996) for all of Alpha, an award we earned
>> with your support. Further, my producing partner (and line brother) Will
>> Packer was District "College Brother of the Year" in 1996. As recently
>> as last month Will and I were selected to receive the Metro Atlanta
>> Centennial Award of Excellence as part of the Alpha Centennial
>> celebration in Atlanta. We have spent the last 10 years of our lives
>> upholding the light in an extremely difficult and challenging industry.
>> Alpha prepared us for many of the obstacles that we have had to overcome
>> in our path. We would never, ever do anything to tarnish the good name
>> of our beloved fraternity.
>>
>>
>> Film is one of the most powerful mediums in contemporary society. It
>> allows us to capture the attention of various generations of viewers at a
>> single moment in time. What better way to introduce and educate others
>> about the benefits of higher education than a film such as this. Although
>> we may differ in our methods for reaching our youth, I hope that you will
>> at some point take the opportunity to see the film and the spirit in
>> which it was made, before passing additional negative judgment. As we
>> work to move beyond this issue I look forward to a day when we can
>> galvanize the collective brotherhood, with a call to action that will
>> help push a social, economic or political agenda to better our entire
>> community. I will be the first person to help spread that message and
>> lead the charge.
>>
>>
>> Fraternally Yours,
>>
>> Rob Hardy
>> www.stomptheyard.com

[Senusret I]

Hi Lois!

As other great posters have said on this board.....

We. Got. This. Thanks.

[Choo-ChooAKA]

"Trademark infringement" is vague. Are the Alphas averse to such an avenue of "publicity," or do they simply want to be paid for the use of their letters? Are the producers refusing to pay them or does the national office feel Alpha should not be associated with a Hollywood picture? In other words, is it an ethical or a monetary issue? Neither of the letters make this clear to me.

[evaclear04]

The letter is well put...
I'm on the fence. I watched the trailer and read the bio for the story...again still on the fence

[AKA_Monet]

I kinna hate to be blunt, but I'm gonna do it...

There are a few reasons why the Alpha's and now, AKA's are boycotting "THIS" movie:

There are some parts in it that one cannot gage from the trailer, which comes too close to a "perceived" ritual of intake... I personnallly don't care to know what the MIP rituals of Alpha's are, but I am willing to "fathom" that there is some "focus" on one aspect of it, that pissed off the Old Head Alpha's...

Which comes to my second part, most the old head's HATE stepping... Some hate it with a passion. So, during the Alpha's centennial, they are asking do we have to hype ourselves up by stepping? Then this movie comes out to add insult to injury... I have heard them, "all these boys wanna do, is step... When you need dem at Alpha University, where are they? But when we sing the International Hymn, where are they... Blah, Blah, Blah"

It's like, this separation between the generations thing again... This is how the young folks market to each other. Just 'cuz some old heads hate it doesn't mean it's "gang activity". Who are these young folks "archetypes". At the same time, the young folks have to understand on how to communicate to the elders. They are a WEALTH of information...

We no longer do the civil rights protests from the 60's... Let it go... Besides, some racists have found a way to ignore it... Or even Suffragate...

We "myspace" and text msg. Hayle, we could have a "virtual Greek Organization..." I wouldn't like that because there is hella Community Service that's sorely needed and folks fail to volunteer generally...

But then, that may be a societal problem, where young folks are just ungrateful now and think things are owed to them... They barely had to suffer unless a parent was utterly dysfunctional...

Who knows?

[PhDiva]

AKA_Monet: I guess I can see both sides of this debate. I can agree with the Old Head perspective, we do need so much work done in the community but it seems that many younger folks take for granted the rights and privileges other people died for and service is the least of their worries.
But at the same time, with Black student enrollment in college declining and thus our presence on campuses (esp. PWIs) being so low, what other means do the D9 organizations have to spark initial interest but through highly visible and entertaining activities like stepping? It might be a good idea for both groups to brainstorm ways to grow memberships without losing touch of our founder's respective legacies. The fact of the matter is that our younger generations will have to carry on the work of our organizations and if they (as if I'm old) are not involved in the governance and decision making, I worry if our relevance will be lost.

Regarding the letter, it was well written and quite compelling but if not officially given the green light to use Alpha trademarks, I don't think legally the movie producers have any other choice but to remove them. It would be nice, but probably unlikely, that we'll ever know if this is about money or ethics.

PhDiva

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

IWhich comes to my second part, most the old head's HATE stepping... Some hate it with a passion.

That may be the situation in Alpha, but in my experience that is not an overeaching sentiment. My mother until she died at 84 always bought tickets to the step shows at our conventions and conferences. She and the rest of the "Delta Dears" clamored for the best seats, because they loved the step shows.

As an old head myself, I too, enjoy the shows. What I don't like are obscenity and sororities acting like frats, but that's a whole 'nother issue.

As for this issue. Again the fundamental issue is trademark infringement and folx feeling as if they can just represent our orgs without properapprovals. That to me is a no brainer. If you aren't willing to go through the proper channels, what are you hiding about the end product?

And again, if you really just wanted to make a point with the movie why not just fictionalize the names?

[BGLO Scholar]

Hello All:

I'm Dr. Gregory Parks, co-author of African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. I'm begining a very limitted national lecture tour if your campus is interested in hosting me. For more information, please contact blackgreekscholar@gmail.com.

Cordially,

Gregory Parks, Ph.D.

[dzdst796]

I saw the movie with my husband and we both enjoyed it. I think it was done well. I was not feeling the howling though. That was definitely WACK!!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by dzdst796

I saw the movie with my husband and we both enjoyed it. I think it was done well. I was not feeling the howling though. That was definitely WACK!!

LOL. The howling was wack but the stepping in the BEGINNING of the movie was wacker.

[Lady of Pearl]

I haven't seen it of yet but heard some reviews which makes one wonder if stepping is all that fraternity life is about and will we be attracting possible members as just a result of that. What also concerned me that on the opening day of the movie it grossed something like 38 million but Sony only gave 650,000! to the Martin Luther King Memorial come on they surely could have gave at least a million!

[Senusret I]

I try not to judge the charitable actions of others, even Oprah.

<--- Does not know what it takes to make a movie, so I don't assume whether a million is a drop in the bucket or not.