By Susan King

ACTOR Derek Luke complains with ultra-mock seriousness that making Spike Lee's World War II drama, "Miracle at St. Anna," set for release Sept. 26, was like being in the real military.

"You never get a chance to go back to your trailer," says Luke, who knows he'll come up dry in this fishing trip for sympathy. Luke, who plays the key role of 2nd Staff Sgt. Aubrey Stamps in the movie, has nothing but admiration when he talks about Lee. "He shoots three or four or five cameras at the same time. He makes sure he gets every actor's reaction."

"Miracle at St. Anna," adapted by James McBride from his novel, revolves around four African American Buffalo Soldiers of the all-black 92nd Infantry Division who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines in a small Tuscan village after one of the men risks his life to save a young Italian boy.

Though he worked long days and weeks in Italy on the film, Luke ("Antwone Fisher") says it was a huge honor to be directed by Lee, especially since he got his big break as an actor in "Fisher," which was directed by Denzel Washington, thereby linking him to Lee in a six-degrees-of-separation sort of way. "Denzel has made more movies with Spike than anybody he's worked with. Denzel and Spike are like Bonnie and Clyde."

Lee, he says, "seems like a guy who likes rehearsal. But once you get the rhythm for the rehearsal and a rhythm for the word, then he allows you to improv if, in fact, it fits. If it doesn't fit, you'll hear it quickly."

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Hosted and co-produced by Gates, the forthcoming projects (which are expected to premiere in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively) will include “The Faces of America,” “Searching for Our Roots: The History of the African American People,” and “African American Lives 3: Reclaiming Our Past.” Each will be produced by WNET in New York, Kunhardt Productions, and Inkwell Films.

In “The Faces of America,” Gates will again put to powerful effect the latest DNA technology and genealogy, this time in a four-part examination of well-known Americans of all races and the often-surprising stories of their ancestors. In “Searching for Our Roots: The History of the African American People,” Gates will investigate the 300-year black experience in America. “Searching for Our Roots” will run eight hours total. Finally, in “African American Lives 3: Reclaiming Our Past,” Gates will conclude his popular series on the genealogy of prominent, contemporary African Americans.

“These films will give viewers, especially young people, a connection to their heritage and reinforce for all of us that a connection to the past can be a positive resource for the future,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “That knowledge can be a source of inspiration.”

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Johannesburg
Thu 4th - Sun 14th September 2008
Nu Metro
KillarneyMall

Cape Town
Thu 11th - Sun 21st September 2008
Nu Metro
V&A Waterfront

www.oia.co.za
021 461 40 27 ? info@oia.co.za

The Festival has something to suit all tastes and moods! The films? Silly, serious, sweet and sexy by turns, something for everyone... and from countries all over the world - Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA. . And the cherries on top are the fabulous filmmaker guests.

Guests include:

Bennett Singer (Director of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin). Justice Edwin Cameron selected this multiple award-winning documentary which reveals the life of the gay man who mentored Martin Luther King. Cameron will attend some of the screenings and engage with director Bennett Singer and Rustin's life partner Walter Naegle.

Lisa Thrasher (Producer of Itty Titty Bitty Committee) is an Independent Film Producer and serves as the President of Film Production & Distribution for POWER UP (Professional Organisation of Women in Entertainment Reaching UP) - she will be running a Producer's Seminar in Johannesburg and Cape Town - see the Media CD for further details.

Also in attendance will be Jamie Babbit, the Director of Itty Titty Bitty Committee. Babbit has enjoyed success as a television producer/director, serving as both for the WB television series Popular, as well as directing episodes of such critically acclaimed shows as Ugly Betty, the L Word, Alias, Nip/Tuck, Malcolm in the Middle and The Gilmore Girls.

Lisa Gornick the Writer and Director Tick Tock Lullaby is London born. Her first job was a Russian Chanteuse cabaret act where she philosophised about life in the UK amidst a set of improvised songs. She wrote several plays including Only Men Need Apply about trying to get into politics, and My Daughter Carries the Gun about women's role in resistance. Her first feature, Do I Love You? (2003), a philosophical comedy about love and its labels, won 3 awards at international festivals.

Katrina Deaton, is the Writer, Co-director and actress in Underneath. A Philadelphia native, she attributes her passion for flmmaking to divine intervention. Although writing screenplays is her true love, Katrina claims poetry and song writing are her mistresses. She recently fnished writing her second feature Kathy's Daughter, an autobiography, along with a few shorts and TV pilots she's working on distributing.

Underneath - Trailer

Los Angeles, CA (Billboard Publicity Wire/PRWEB ) August 15, 2008 -- Percy Miller (formerly Master P) announces the launch of Better Black Television (BBTV) a family friendly network that will provide positive content for a black and brown culture that will appeal to all races with a goal to bring people of color a choice when turning on their television.

The content on the channel will contain a wide arrangement from health and fitness, animation, financial planning, reality TV, sitcoms, dramas, movies, responsible hip-hop music and videos, politics, sports and entertainment news, educational children's shows as well as teen and family programming. Production has begun and will be based out of California, New York, Louisiana and Florida. In addition, BBTV is in the process of purchasing local cable channel affiliates across the country.

These visionaries all share the common goal of enhancing the current television landscape for this highly coveted demographic currently monopolized by only a few significant providers, with fresh, innovative, uplifting and above all family-friendly entertainment. Envisioned and headed by its Founder, P. Miller, a legendary music, film, and television entertainer as well as world-renowned African-American entrepreneur and social activist, Better Black Television is guided, staffed and supported by a highly skilled, talented, and above all dedicated team of professionals that have been working for more than 5 years to make this dream a reality.

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"I felt compelled to produce this festival after I learned from Debra (who is also a filmmaker) that there was only one Black LGBT film festival in the world at that time." Hawkins said. But after doing some research, he said that it was clear that the closest thing to a Black LGBT film festival that existed in America were the film screenings that sometimes took place in hotels during Black Gay Pride celebrations around the country.

Festival co-producer Debra Wilson said; "When we held our first screening in 2003 at the Parkway Theater, there was a line down the street, I was a little shocked, but I knew that we were filling a void." Hawkins said that even the one other film festival that existed when the Oakland festival began six years ago, has resorted to offering free screenings on a very small scale.

Oakland is home to some of the world.s most notable black gay and lesbian film-makers to include the late Marlon Riggs (Tongues Untied & Ethnic Notions) and more recently award winning directors Debra Wilson (Butch Mystique & Jumpin. The Broom) and Maurice Jamal (Dirty Laundry & Ski-Trip) who's films have also been shown on MTV- Logo. Another unique characteristic of Oakland is that it is home to the largest population of African and African-American LGBT people in Northern California, according to a recent survey by the International Federation of Black Prides.

The festival takes place at Oakland 's landmark Parkway Theater, located at 1834 Park Blvd , August 14-17. "Opening night, we selected a RETRO film from African-American cinema that resonates within the Black LGBT community. Last year we chose The Wiz and this year we will screen Mahogany." Hawkins said. Mahogany will also be presented in memory of former owner of the Historic Bates House, Joe Ware, who died earlier this year. "Joe was a major supporter of the film festival and hosted the filmmakers at the Bates House at his Bed & Breakfast along with the annual opening night reception. Joe Ware was the epitome of class and often opened his business to the Black LGBT community when no one else would" Hawkins said.

This year.s festival selections include: Logo's (from MTV Networks) Sneek-Peek screening of its ground-breaking new reality show "Shirts & Skins," which is scheduled to premiere on LOGO in mid September. Shot in San Francisco and Directed by talented African-American director Leola Westbrook, the show follows the true-life story of the San Francisco Rockdogs, a young all-star gay basketball team who must reunite to uphold their city's three-generation legacy of international gay games gold medal, and national tournament wins. The Bay Area Premiere of Oakland native, Maurice Jamal's latest offering - Ski-Trip 2 (Friends & Lovers), part romantic comedy, part drama, part Hollywood spoof and all signature Jamal. Hanifah Walidah.s, U People - A documentary steeped with sexy, intelligent women who have gathered together to make a unique music video; BLUEPRINT Director and Out 100 honoree, Kirk Shannon-Butts, tells the story of Keith, a reserved conservative transplant to New York City from Los Angeles and Nathan a street-smart, pot smoking Brooklynite who lives on the edge. Pariah - Pariah is a coming-of-age drama about a lesbian teenager who unsuccessfully juggles multiple identities to avoid rejection from her friends and family and The Sakia Gunn Project - documentary that tells the story of Sakia, a 15 year old charismatic, dynamic young woman who was tragically murdered. Sakia was out and proud about being an 'aggressive' (woman who dresses in masculine attire but does not necessarily identify as either lesbian or female-to-male transgender.) Sakia held promise as a basketball player and was looking forward to becoming an upper classman at Newark.s West Side High.

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By Nonye Iwuagwu, Nigerian Interviewer

In Nigeria, movie directors are not usually known, because they are behind the camera. But that is not the case with Dickson Iroegbu. Since he came into the industry, the scriptwriter and movie director/producer has always been in the news. But Iroegbu also has many scandals trailing him. He speaks with ‘NONYE IWUAGWU about the scandals and a new project he is doing with Onyeka Onwenu.

 

How come you enjoy being behind the camera? I enjoy creating characters and watching them become what I made them to be. I enjoy being there without being known. I enjoy expressing what I have inside me. The only way I found I could do that was by writing scripts, producing and directing movies. I have refused to do anything that will give me visual fame. I thought I should concentrate on my arts and not be distracted. I enjoy a situation where I am being discussed and people don’t know I am the one being discussed. But many people know you still. Unfortunately, because of my dreadlocks, you can place some form of identity on me. Before now, I didn’t have all of that. I could go anywhere, do anything and get away with it. But it is all show business. I had to devise a means of having a special identity. I couldn’t be more fulfilled in any other profession as I am as a film director. Don’t you feel bad that the actors you made have shone brighter than you? If I suffer from an inferiority complex, I would have felt bad. But I don’t. I know who I am. What I am is not a mistake. I don’t want to be like any other person. If I were having some ambition, I would have felt that way. But if you have observed, I can’t be at any function and anybody would have reasons to think I have been outshone, unless I am not myself. You can’t be everywhere. You have to choose a direction and do well in that direction. I have not finished exploring the artistic values that I have in me. When I am through with it, I could be aged by then, it might be too late for me to start acting. No actor can take the shine off the director. It is only in Nollywood that value is not given to the man behind the camera. But in all, the directors still matters. Viewers still call and appreciate what I do. I relate with the actors. They are my friends and colleagues. Without them there would not be me, and without me there wouldn’t be them. We co-exist in the environment we have found ourselves.

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"There still isn't a Disney princess that's African and it's very difficult because our daughter's getting into princesses right now and it upsets me," she told OK! Magazine.

Evidently she was unaware of Disney's plans to release "The Princess and the Frog," with the first African American princess in Disney's history. While it would be easy to say "that's nice" and leave it at that, such a barrier-breaking undertaking can't come without controversy.

Previously, the film was to have starred Maddy, a chambermaid to a snobby white girl, with a voodoo priestess fairy godmother and a heartfelt desire to be with a white prince. Disney was instantly hit with a barrage of complaints from critics. The name "Maddy" sounded too much like a slave name or even like "mammy," a stereotypical black woman, rotund and matronly.

Under the pressure of rising critiques of the film, the storyboard was completely scrapped. The new film now features 19-year-old princess Tiana, who finds herself in 1920s New Orleans and a country that has never had a monarchy. The prince is reported to have been changed to a man of Middle Eastern heritage and will be called Naveen. The race of the villain is also reported to have been changed.

The film will bring back such Disney alumni as John Musker and Ron Clements, directors of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin." Randy Newman is slated to compose the songs and score. The voice talents include John Goodman, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, Angela Bassett, Peter Bartlett and "Dreamgirls" star Anika

Noni Rose providing the voice of Tiana. When completed, "The Princess and the Frog" will be the 48th animated film by Walt Disney Animation Studios.

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Now he’s parlaying his affection for black cinema into a new Web site, www.iloveblack movies.com.

“The idea came from doing research for the documentaries,” Edwards recalled. “I had such a time struggling to find out any information about black movies on the Web. There weren’t that many sources out there no matter what search engines I was using. It was barren.”

Edwards envisions his site as a one-stop market for reviews, essays, photos and even merchandise about black-themed movies.

“We’re trying to build up a reference source that people can use. Right now most of the stuff on the site is things I’ve written, but I’m not arrogant enough to think I’m the sole source of information on black movies, so we’re making it wide open. I want to build up a list of regular contributors.

“We want essays, historical documents … eventually we’d like to create a Black Movies Hall of Fame. Most important, we want to get people talking about contemporary and historical black movies.”

In two months of operation iloveblackmovies.com already has found an audience, Edwards said. “We’re getting hits from all over the country. People like the idea. The most common response we get is ‘It’s about time.’ Which is sad in 2008 but at least shows we’re moving in the right direction.”

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As much as Jews, Christians and Muslims spar with each other, there's actually one thing all three religions agree on: Homosexuality is a sin. While documentaries on gay Christians (For the Bible Tells Me So) and Orthodox Jews (Trembling Before G-d) have had their moments in the spotlight, the struggles of homosexual Muslims have never been thoroughly explored. Enter filmmaker Parvez Sharma, who compiled nearly 400 hours of footage from a dozen countries to produce A Jihad for Love, a fiery titled documentary chronicling the lives of gay and lesbian Muslims.

Sharma, who sometimes adopted the guise of a charity worker or tourist to film in hard line Middle East nations, has assembled a brilliant lineup of subjects. Over the course of 80 minutes, Sharma speaks to a gay imam, a cross-dresser in France, a middle-aged lesbian couple and an Egyptian man arrested, jailed and tortured after trying to attend a gay disco. It's a shame then that we never really get to know each person, since Sharma is too keen on jumping from one story and locale to the next, never allowing us to get much insight into why these people remain so devoted to a religion that would rather see them dead.

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Batman, which opened on Friday, took $66.4m (£33.2m), which was also a single-day box office record.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, it cost $185m (£92.5m) to make.

Critics have praised the film, which stars Christian Bale as Batman and the late actor Heath Ledger, who plays the Joker.

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