In celebration of the 20 year anniversary and Frameline DVD release of a landmark film in the history of LGBT cinema, One in Ten presents a rare public screening of Tongues Untied.

Marlon Riggs's portrayal of homophobia and racism caused controversy during Tongues Untied's original 1991 airing on PBS's P.O.V. series and contributed to the national debate about the National Endowment for the Arts funding for art with nudity, gay themes, and pointed political commentary.
 

Post Screen Discussion "African-American and Gay: 20 Years Later" Featuring Ron Simmons, PhD - Executive Director Us Helping US and Cast Member Tongues Untied Sylvia Rhue - Director of Religious Affairs, NBJC Earl Fowlkes - President, Int'l. Federation of Black Prides Moderated by Earl Plante, NBJC and One in Ten

Presented in collaboration with   National Black Justice Coalition,  DC Black Pride  and Sixth & I Synagogue,  600 I St. NW  Don't miss Riggs' landmark and controversial film! March 26     7 pm - $10

For information: One in Ten

For tickets: Sixth & I Synagogue

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The Oscar Award winning director Anthony Minghella, suddenly died on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, of a fatal brain hemorrhage following neck surgery. It's reported by New York Post newspaper, that Mr. Mingella praised Ms. Scott, stating that, "She is extremely stellar. I think she can be a real star", he raved as she was recently directed in his upcoming flick, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency."

Mr. Minghella's past works are "The English Patient", "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Cold Mountain." According to Mr. Mingella's publicist, Jonathan Rutter, said the filmmaker had surgery last week for a growth in his neck, he was recovering well, so this a sad surprise.

I can only imagine what plans he may have had for Ms. Jill Scott. Even watching her on "Girlfriends", and the film work that she's done after, you can tell that she's a natural, the camera loves her. She's in touch with her blackness, her gender, and a classy lady.

What a loving gift to Jill, to have in print that this respected director, wanted the world to know that she may become one of our greatest movie stars.

Rest in peace, Mr. Minghella.

I have a feeling that you are right in regard to your vision of Ms. Jill Scott.

Remember you heard it first, at GBMNews.com

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Known as "Boi Wonda" , Kirk Shannon-Butts graduated from Chapman University's Cecil B. DeMille's School of Film and Television, in the class of 2000 and has received his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Film and Television. While studying, he was able to assist celebrities: Robert Townsend (Hollywood Shuffle), actor, Samuel L. Jackson, and actress, Anna Maria Horsford (Television's Amen, and such movies as Nutty Professor II) during different projects.

This talented brother is about to blow up as he's completed various short films such as "Beneath the Surface", and, my favorite, "Complete Abandon". In the next few weeks, "Blueprint", his first feature will premiere. I thought that I had better interview this "Boi Wonda" genius before Hollywood beckons.

The Interview :

John: How old are you?

Kirk: That I will never tell the year. (Laugh) I will give you my birthday.

John: Ok, the year you were born. (Laugh) I mean the date?

Kirk: September 1 and I accept gifts. (Both of us laugh)

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By Akinyi Princess of K’Orinda-Yimbo

When Flame was sixteen, he left his parents’ place to live in a home where he learnt the “gangsta” trade. When Mamadee was ten, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) collapsed, dashing her dreams of wearing the Thälmann pioneers’ red scarf. When Adé was fifteen, his father was killed and he left Nigeria for Leverkusen in Germany. Xavier Naidoo learnt early from his parents that owning a car made one respectable in the community.

These artists grew up as German children of African fathers and German mothers (except for Xavier whose father had some Indian ancestry and D-Flame whose father was an African-American GI soldier), and all of them finally grew up without their fathers. Yet they have made it big time through determination, self-will and religious faith. Their paths never crossed till an African from Mozambique, Alberto Adriano, was brutally killed by three Nazi youths in a park in the Eastern German city of Dessau. Following the murder, more than twenty of the best-known African-German musicians joined up to found the band project Brothers Keepers. They recorded the maxi Adriano (Last Warning) and the album Lightkultur on which they were partnered by their female counterpart, Sisters Keepers. And they visited, and still visit, schools in East Germany to talk to schoolchildren. The documentary film- Yes I Am - tells the story of Flame, Mamadee, Xavier and Adé and the story of the Brothers Keepers / Sisters Keepers. It tells of the power of music and shows how good it feels to raise one’s voice as a group. Looming large in the background is of course the tragic story of Alberto Adriano.

I remember the League of Nation’s so-called humanitarian, Gilbert Murray, who blatantly asserted: There is in the world a hierarchy of races...those nations which eat more, claim more, and get higher wages, will direct and rule the others, and the lower work of the world will tend in the long-run to be done by lower breeds of men. This much we of the ruling colour will no doubt accept as obvious.

So much for civilised Christian values. There is an increase of racist-motivated violent crimes in Germany, directed at dark-skinned people or those who do not look “Northern European” enough. If one is the “typical” Spaniard, Portuguese, Greek, Albanian or Italian, one is no better off than a Sri Lankan, Chinese, Philippine, Japanese or Indian. The perpetrators come mainly from the right radical neo-nazis, especially the jobless youth. But there are to date many cases pending in courts where the German police have shot Africans (allegedly attempting to escape) on the streets or, in one case, torched an African detainee in his cell. The defence is that the detainee set his mattress and himself on fire. But how a chained detainee who had been searched and stripped of any “dangerous” objects can set himself on fire and burn to death before any help arrives, is the puzzle of the century.

German politics has a lot to do with it as well. In a country where elections seem to run non-stop (if not the general federal elections, then local government elections are running in one state or the other), the German electorate is wooed variously by blaming foreigners for taking jobs away from the Germans or living off the German taxpayers’ money as recipients of the welfare benefits. Granted, the German social welfare institution is rather generous and lawfully bound to make sure that anybody living in the country, whether German or not, and has no adequate income, still has a roof over their head, a bite to eat, adequate medical support, extra money at Christmas and clothes and shoes to wear in summer and in winter – and that for the entire family however large or small.

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"There is no Denzel here"

By David Gordon Smith in Berlin

The African-German community has a long history, but the sizeable minority is often overlooked in a country where being German is often considered to mean being white. Now a group of black German filmmakers is trying to change that.

A teenage girl finds her life turned upside down when her father, who she has never met, turns up. After some initial distrust, she begins to develop an affection for him. Even though she still blames him for abandoning her mother, she begins to understand that life is about making difficult choices -- until she finds out her father has established a new one with another woman.

The plot of the short film "Cherish" is one which many people could relate to. Winta Yohannes, the film's 32-year-old German director, wanted just that. "It's a universal story which very many Germans can identify with," she says.

But the film is more than just that. Yohannes, who was born in Eritrea and moved to Germany at the age of three, is showing her film at this year's Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) as part of the series "New Perspectives." Her film is informed by her experiences growing up in Germany -- a country where the black minority is next to invisible.

That's something the organizers, the association Black Artists in German Film (SFD), is trying to change. "We want to make people aware of the fact that black filmmakers are making films which avoid the old clichés and represent black life as we see it," says SFD's Philippa Ebéné.

Her colleague Carol Campbell feels the Berlinale presence is also motivating for black German filmmakers. "It's a form of empowerment," she says.

The series features six short films that aim to represent the breadth of black filmmaking in Germany -- from Yohannes' coming-of-age story, to "You Are Welcome!," a documentary featuring interviews with German visitors to Ghana, to "Diver," a cartoon about a German superhero.

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By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Way before Madonna borrowed this art form for her own personal gain as she launched it into the mainstream; to vogue was an artistic expression from the black gay men and women in Harlem. I can recall hearing about the annual "Balls". It was always after the fact, since it was like a secret society. It was a place where the "children" could come and be themselves.

Jose Xtravaganza, former dancer with Madonna (top) and Willi Ninja, the Legend (bottom)

At this event, competition rules as the rivalry is taken to the "run way". There, waiting are the panel of judges, who will score the competitors based on the required skill of that moment. Part Cinderella, part realness, part dance, part walk, part geisha, part boxer and part extreme, are born into the performance as the audience claps and screams with excitement. Is he a woman? Is she a man? The painted faces, the colorful outlandish clothing, the bright stage lights and right before your eyes the man, the woman becomes the character as the D.J. plays underground beats and house music. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender are allowed to come together and become one in celebration.

By the evenings end, the winners stand before the crowd, feeling like kings and queens. There are "houses" a group called by a house name, such as the house of Ninja. The name describes who they are. They're a part of a unit like a family and like gypsies.

After the movie, "Paris Is Burning" and Madonna's "Vogue", this original art form was force to go back underground, from which it came.

* In 1983, Wolfgang immigrated from Heppenheim, Germany to Newport News, Virginia in the United States. He traveled for one year as a sound and light engineer with Rock & Pop bands throughout the south. In 1984, he moved to Queens, NY, to assist his 83-year-old aunt and to continue his music business education.

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Many actors would balk at the thought of playing a closeted homosexual on the big screen, but for actor Razaaq Adoti it was just another day on the job.

Razaaq Adoti

Born in England to Nigerian parents, Adoti maybe somewhat of a newcomer to Hollywood , but his star is very much on the rise thanks to roles in movies ‘Amistad, ‘Black Hawk Down’ and ‘Doom.’ With an explosive role in the thriller ‘Cover,’ the theatrically trained Adioti is finally staking his star in Hollywood . Samantha Ofole-Prince caught up with the actor to hear about his latest project.

A lot of actors would probably be a little nervous to play a gay character irregardless of the circumstances. Did you view the role with caution when you initially read the script?

I am aware that the script fell through a few actors hands before it reached my lap, but it’s a great script and when you look at the cast that’s been assembled only a fool won’t want to be part of this project. I want to play a full range of different characters and one of the beautiful things that excite me about this profession is that I am able to do so. I am trying to do the kind of movies that hopefully will allow me to inspire someone else and allow my family to be proud and me to be fulfilled at the same time.

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By Chris Jordan

Actor Leon Robinson certainly isn't ducking for "Cover." That's the name of the new Bill Duke film in which he stars. It tackles the issue of bisexual men, or those on the so-called down-low, in the African-American community.

Leon Robinson

"In my opinion, a man and women's sexuality is their own business, but if you're sleeping with men or sleeping with women, (your partner has) a right to know so they can make a decision on their own," says Robinson, who's usually billed as just Leon.

"Cover," which also stars Aunjanue Ellis, Razaaq Adoti, Vivica A. Fox, Louis Gossett Jr. and Patti LaBelle, explores the shadowy world of married men in Philadelphia hooking up with guys without the knowledge of their wives or girlfriends.

Although the film was shot and takes place in Philly, it's a national problem, specifically within the African-American community, according to filmmakers.

"Bill Duke told me a story, and it was very touching," says Leon. He said someone he knows "contracted HIV from her husband of seven years, and she found out that he was living a double life -- and instead of killing somebody, he said, 'let me make a movie about it.' "

The problem occurs when straight women -- who aren't aware of their men's behavior -- are infected by their down-low partners. The rate of HIV diagnosis for black males is nearly seven times that of white males, and the HIV diagnosis rate for black females is more than 20 times that of white females and nearly four times that of Hispanic females, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Gil Cates apologies to Whoopi for not including her in the montage at this year's, 2008, Academy Awards telecast, "past and present". I find it strange that Ms. Goldberg has played host in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2002 but was somehow forgotten. It wasn't until someone mentioned it on "the View" did the "powers that be" realized the mistake or oversight, as it were.

Not only that, Ms. Goldberg is a "Best Supporting Actress" winner, this handsome golden statue that she keeps on top of her bookshelf. Whoopi, who most of the time, appears strong fought back tears when speaking about how she felt "left-out" of this special celebration of "Oscar's" history. Perhaps its because we, "people of color", have had so many other "people of color" host the Oscars. And we, "black folks" have had so many Oscar Award winners. NOT!

We are told to get over the black thing, but how can we, when society continues to remind us. How could you forgot Whoopi but remember her buddy, Billy Crystal.

By Justin B Smith, Sr.Journalist

J.C. Carter

My friend Ty Lattimore granted me an interview a couple of months ago and I was so excited. In the interview one of my questions to him was about other porn actors and he mentioned one of my favorites, Mr. J.C. Carter. Ty hooked me up with J.C's e-mail, but I was pleasantly surprised by J.C's phone call. This muscular 5'6, brown skinned beautiful man was a gentleman and a scholar. He was very exuberant to accept the interview as I was to give it. I told J.C. that I had been a fan of his since I discovered that I was gay. His hazel eyes and beautiful caramel muscular framed man always had my attention. I never knew whether it was his shaved head, tattoos, or beautiful smile that drove men crazy but he seemed more than that. I was impressed with his poise and intelligence especially when he told me he is a Criminal Justice major with a minor in Psychology and enjoys bodybuilding and traveling. At the end of the interview I said to J.C, "What can I call you since I know J.C. is not your real name?" He said, "You can call me friend but my real name is _______". He told me to call him anytime I was in town so we could hang out and I can't wait.

JC Carter is a hot, defined black gay porn star who made movies in the late 1990s and beyond. He grew up on the South side of Chicago, attended a catholic grammar school and was raised as a catholic.

He has done over 40 videos and won the 1998 Grabby Awards Best Ethnic Performer of the year for his efforts.

JC Carter has become a true great Black American superstar. Watch for his new upcoming video project with http://www.forbiddenfunk.com/ due to begin filming in March 2008.

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By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

The Award Winning, "Eye Was Blind", independent film has won for the Best Feature Film Drama Award and was recognized in Los Angeles and New York City to sold performances. It gives you a chance to look into the private lives of everyday families and what they may be experiencing.

Betrayal. Murder. Skin color. Interracial relationships. Self hatred. Religion. The film questions, "What can a dark skin man do for you in America?" It also questions, "Is my family dysfunctional?"

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By Mick LaSalle

(1957-1994)

Film

A few years back, when the San Francisco Film Critics Circle first convened, an award was created for a Bay Area artist or exhibitor who had made a considerable contribution to the art of film. Prizes usually have honored names attached to them, which serve as the standard for others to live up to. When the name Marlon Riggs was suggested, there was no need for debate. Since then, the Marlon Riggs Award has become a signature Bay Area honor, just as Riggs, in the years since his death, has become a symbol of committed documentary filmmaking that challenges audiences and explores social and political issues.

He was born in Texas in 1957 and educated at Harvard University. He moved to California in the late 1970s and earned a master's degree in journalism from UC Berkeley. He apprenticed to several filmmakers, and in 1986, still in his 20s, he completed "Ethnic Notions," a study of how various racist images have been used in American culture to foster slavery and discrimination. It showed at the San Francisco Film Festival and secured his reputation as a new voice in documentary film.

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By Subhash K. Jha

Indian Actor Siddharth says he is ready to play a gay role

Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) "Rang De Basanti" actor Siddharth says he is ready to play a gay role because he feels sexual orientation is a natural and personal choice.

Siddharth, who has just done Vishal Bharadwaj's "Blood Brothers" and is busy with Chandan Arora's "Striker", said: "As an actor I play roles based on reality. Sexual orientation is a natural and personal choice. I see no reason for it to affect my decision to accept a project."

"I have close friends who are gay, and they are as intelligent and caring, if not more, than my heterosexual friends. I think it's time we started respecting them and giving them their much-deserved freedom to just be themselves," said the actor, according to whom India is a homophobic country.

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The film "Blueprint" is showing at the “Best of” African Diaspora Film Festival in New York City on Monday February 25th  9:50 PM at the BAM Rose Cinemas 

Film Review 

Keith is a reserved, straitlaced transplant to New York City from Los Angeles; Nathan is a street-smart, potsmoking Brooklynite who lives on the edge — or so he’d like Keith to believe. At first glance, nothing about these two young African American college students suggests romantic compatibility. But a casual courtship gradually develops amidst minor bickering and disagreements — those familiar interstices inside which nascent love restlessly takes shape. 

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By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Has it been 30 years already? Yes, indeed, it has. Funny just a few years ago, I couldn't find the Wiz, had to bid for it on e-bay.

This priceless movie celebrates 30 years with Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as the Scare Crow, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man, Ted Ross, not related to Diana, as the Cowardly Lion. Supporting cast members were Mabel King, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor, the Wiz.

I can recall when this movie was released, and the haters were in full force. Everyone was upset with Diana because they felt that Stephanie Mills, who played it on Broadway, should have done the movie. Diana explained that when you read the book, "The Wizard of Oz", it did not define an age. I love Ms. Ross but wanted Stephanie to play it as well, I had seen it on Broadway and Ms. Mills was unbelievable.

Diana's Wiz was in the Harlem, NYC, and many felt that it was too afro-centric but Ms. Ross wanted something that all children of, perhaps, poor families and of color could related to. It wasn't that she was putting her people down as some believed, what she was trying to express is that you can always reach out of whatever situation, take a giant step.

Sid Lumet, director and, Lena Horne's, son in law, received bad reviews, probably because he was white and not because it was a bad film. Mr. Quincy Jones did the movie score and it made you want to jump out of your seat, especially when you arrived at the Emerald City, with each color change, green, red then gold, you wanted to visit this colorful place.

It's funny but now this movie is called a classic and is 30 years old.

Happy Birthday!

By Joe Neumaier

Talk about whipping up a frenzy!

On Thursday, the first official teaser trailer for "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" will debut on "Good Morning America" between 8 and 9 a.m. - well before the hotly anticipated action flick opens on May 22.

Steven Spielberg is again directing, and George Lucas producing, the sure-to-be blockbuster followup to their "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984) and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989).

After "GMA," the footage will be available at the film's official site (www.IndianaJones.com), as well as at Yahoo! Movies, and in theaters.

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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Movie Trailer

 

 

The movie wins for best film, actor and actress at the 39th annual ceremony.

By Susan King

"The Great Debaters" was named best film of 2007 at the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards on Thursday evening. The inspiring film about an African American debate team in the 1930s also earned best actor and actress honors for director Denzel Washington and co-star Jurnee Smollett, respectively.

The awards, which honor projects and individuals that promote diversity in the arts, literature, motion pictures, recording and television, were telecast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. D.L. Hughley was the host.

On the television side, Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" was named outstanding comedy series, "Grey's Anatomy" was named outstanding drama series, and "Life Support" was named best television movie, mini-series or dramatic special.

Acting awards were given to America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty"), Omar Epps ("House") and Chandra Wilson ("Grey's Anatomy") among others. The full list of winners is at TheEnvelope.com.

During the telecast, Stevie Wonder was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.

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The Great Debaters
Movie Trailer

I get many emails inquiring about casting opportunities on the Noah's Arc movie. Well casting is now underway, but unfortunately we cannot accept submissions from actors with no agency representation. But if you're a professional actor- preferably based in L.A. or NYC- with a reputable agent, then here's your shot. We are casting one role for a 19-20 year-old black male.

 

 

The casting notice has gone out through the casting breakdown service. Before you ask me what the casting breakdown service is, it's the service that networks and studios use to inform all the talent agents of casting opportunities. So if you're a professional actor with an agent AND you can play 19-years-old, then tell your agent to find the Noah's Arc casting notice in the breakdowns and submit your headshot and resume for consideration. That's all the info I can provide, so before you email me a bunch of questions, re-read this post, lol.

Patrick Ian Polk MySpace Page

Patrick Ian Polk's Blog

According to the Gay Network Logo, Noah's Arc will be made into a movie. The rumor mill has been chatting this up since the last season of Noah's Arc aired on logo. Noah's Arc is a story of a group of gay African-American friends navigating through life and love in the city. This showed gay men of color in a new light. Noah's Arc gave black gay men a new visibility and life outside of the confines of the DL lifestyle or being HIV positive.

The show was cancelled, to much dismay, leaving audiences wondering what was going to happen to "Noah's Arc". The main characters of the show are Noah, a writer and his three friends Alex, Ricky and Chance.

Also according to Logo the film's working title is set to be Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom. Obviously, there should be a wedding in this film, but who's wedding? I guess we will just have to find out.

Supposedly the movie will start where the series left of where Noah's X- boyfriend Wade, Jensen Atwood, was in a bad car accident and was thrown from the car with Noah rushing to his aid.

Production begins in March and openly gay lead Darryl Stephens (Noah), Doug Spearman (Chance), Rodney Chester (Alex) and Christian Vincent (Ricky) are set to return, with other casting to be announced soon.

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By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

What can be said about this powerful beautiful black phoenix who has risen from New York City's Chelsea area, from controversy and from out of her own darkness in the world of drugs? Moving forward to a brand new day, what can be said about this proud, assertive, mother, grandmother, friend, multi-talented performer who's career spans "Broadway", television, comedy, producing, writing, directing, and singing, who has been known to think differently from the norm? Who has been known to think outside of the box?

She has been a godlike fire changing the world around her. Not by choice but by being herself. She was taught and she was allowed to dream. She dreamt that one day her prints would be in the cement at Mann's Chinese Theatre and not only are her foot prints there, her hands and braids are too. With a host of movies and awards behind her, Caryn Elaine Johnson, now Whoopie Goldberg, has done pretty well for herself, all within her own rules.

From Improv groups to HBO specials, to being the first person of color and women to host the Academy Awards. She continued to make changes, by God's grace and strength. There have been times when she was not understood by the African American community but still she was there, standing firm and non-judgmental.

When asked about her last name, Goldberg, and being Jewish, she explained that she's Jewish from her mother's side of the family. Up to this point, there were people who believed that the Europeans were the original Jewish people but if you study history, you will discover differently. I can also recall when Ms. Goldberg mentioned the possibility of having Chinese in her blood line, however, DNA test, broadcasted in the 2006 PBS documentary of African American Lives discovered her genetic makeup to be 92% West African and 8% European, still way before it became possible for such research, Ms. Goldberg, in her way was saying to the world that she is more than her hair, her face and her brown skin.

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