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Friday, April 19, 2013
"42" Was Jackie The First? #30 Orlando Cepeda Speaks of #42
and Science Editor, John Fowler did you know about John "Bud" Fowler?
Yes, baseball was racially integrated before Jackie Robinson. Bud
Fowler's era was before the "Color Barrier" was imposed. This is why it
is very important people of all colors and ethnic backgrounds should
know history.
Hindsight is 20/20 and today such an integration or merger would be
more about incorporating two leagues and not just about one player much
like the ABA and NBA in 1976. Following the ban on integrated baseball
teams, Jackie Robinson was the first Black player to break the "Color
Barrier." Robinson did so with grace, determination, and dignity
knowing he was making an historic difference in spirit and economics for
millions of people of color. He not only broke the "Color Barrier,"
he also stood up for his rights in the U.S. Army and would not move to
the back of the military bus. This was eleven years before Rosa Parks
stood her ground by keeping her seat.
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Ten Days or So To Love L.A.
By Jacquie Taliaferro
La'HiTz*In LA - Diaspora - Images & Awards
Pan African Film Festival (PAFF)
I love LA, at least for 10 days or so. LA it not really the same during "Awards Month.” As The Pan African Film festival kicked-off their 20th year, it did so with the
World Premiere of Tim Story' s Film "Think Like a Man" Based on the best-selling book by Steve Harvey. The cast includes Gabrielle Union and Chris Brown.
Speaking of CB, Big-Ups for his Grammy win and also Larry Batiste's our Bay Area own, for producing the music for the Pre-Grammy Show!
Back to PAFF (.org), which is, back in the same spot at Crenshaw & MLK Jr. Dr. the old Magic Johnson Theaters (after a short hiatus in Culver City). It is unfortunate that there are not more theaters able to host the Super Films at PAFF and the other Film Festivals, so that others can make it out of the festival circuit.
"Toussaint Louverture" was the Big Winner with three awards. Directed by Philippe Niang and starring Jimmy Jean-Louis (NBC’s "HEROES" fame), “Toussaint Louverture” is the long awaited two-part epic film of the life of Haitian revolutionary, who led the first successful slave revolt in world history by defeating the Imperialist armies of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Other highlights of PAFF include: "Dark Girls" by Bill Duke & D. Channsin which features interviews with Viola Davis and many others; The Story of Lover Rock," a UK Documentary directed by Menelik Shabazz, Lover's Rock, often dubbed “ romantic reggae” is a uniquely Black British sound that developed in the late 70’s and 80’s against a backdrop of riots, racial tension and sound systems.
Also another World Premiere "Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day" Directed by Neema Barnette, starring Blair Underwood, Sharon Leal and Nicole Beharie and "We the Party" Directed by Mario Van Peebles, starring Snoop Dogg, YG, Michael Jai White, Sally Richardson-Whitfield, Melvin Van Peebles and a group of New-Comers. These films are Hot!
Academy Awards - Diaspora & Images
The Academy Awards is one of the most talked-about, celebrated, controversial, most watched, written about and generally fussed over event in America. It is up there with the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA All-Star Week (it was on the same day West won) and the World Cup; wait not the World Cup. The rest of the World is World Cup Crazy but not the US. Most of the world does not care about the Academy Awards especially outside of English speaking countries. How many know Tan Wei won Best Actress for “Crossing Hennessy” at the Chinese Film Media Awards or British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) presented David Yates, the 2011 John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in Directing and by the way in 2007 Denzel Washington was honored with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award in Film Excellence. BAFTA has given tribute to their counterparts “across the pond” for at least 25 years.
.
FESPACO (Festival Pan-Africain du Cinema et de la Television de Ouagadougou) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa hosts one of the largest Film & Arts Festival in the World (every two years). How many people know about this festival let alone who won what?
The Academy Awards has marketed itself very well. That Gold stature is coveted and can become real Gold-Cash if taken advantage of upon winning. Every other year, if not every year, the Black Issues come up. Are we being recognized and for what and how many of us.
This is by far one of the most dysfunctional relationships that exists.
Sidney Poitier, the first “Negro” to receive an Oscar for Best Actor graciously accepted his award:
He has since received a Life Time Achievement Award from the Academy in 2008.
In a Hollywood Reporter article Spike Lee is quoted: “In 1989, Do the ‘Right Thing’ was not even nominated [for best picture],” said Lee, with some mock outrage. “What film won best picture in 1989? ‘Driving Miss Mother F—ing Daisy!’ That’s why [Oscars] don’t matter,” said Lee. “Because 20 years later, who’s watching ‘Driving Miss Daisy?’
In the Spike Lee directed film “Malcolm X,” Denzel Washington’s masterful, almost reincarnation of Malcolm X in 1992 received a Best Actor Oscar nomination; yet he won the top award in 2008 for a less noble role in “Training Day.” He masterfully played the part of the acceptable stereotypical Academy Awards voting gallery expectation of a Black man. He and Halle Berry both broke a barrier that year with her getting the Best Actress Oscar for “Monster’s Ball,” as a downtrodden Black woman, yet again an acceptable stereotypical Academy Awards voting gallery expectation of a Black woman.
Gorgeous Halle and brilliant Denzel beautifully were symbolically packaged as bookends of the underlying story of the Academy’s gritted teeth defiance of Black artistic excellence.
Okay. Okay. Let’s not forget Octavia Spencer did win the 2012 Best Supporting Actress for her role as a defiant maid in “The Help.” I am sure Hattie McDaniel is smiling from heaven. Also, Sean P. Diddy Combs won a Best Documentary Oscar for “Undefeated,” about a North Memphis high school team of underprivileged football players.
Actress Mary Pickford, co-founder of United Artist (UA), Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), director Cecil B. DeMille, and producer Irving Thalberg started the Academy in 1927 with two aims: to mediate labor disputes and improve the movie industry’s image (today those aims would translate into ameliorating hiring practices and improving the industry’s diversity in images).
Black actors have won 13 Academy Awards over the years, in fact, by 12 people (Washington has won two). But that's out of a possible 332 given out since 1929, an infinitesimal 4 percent.
Denzel Washington said of the Academy, “If the country is 12% Black, make the Academy 12% Black; If the nation is 15% Hispanic, make the Academy 15 % Hispanic, Why not?
“I don’t see any reason why the Academy should represent the entire American population. That’s what the People’s Choice Awards are for, “said Frank Pierson, a former Academy president.
Time to let it go. Any good relationship counselor would say, "Go and lead a happy life and start by being free of what ‘they’ think.” Simply said, however, if you are in the film industry in America, Oscars present an artistic golden ring, a “bling bling” you can’t “ch-ching” ignore as artist or audience.
The NAACP Image Awards
The 43rd NAACP Image Awards was held just prior to the Academy of Awards and for many it is the Award Show of award shows.
Yes, the "Star Power" was in the House starting with Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, Diahann Carroll, Louis Gossett Jr., Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Loretta Devine, Alfre Woodard, Anika Noni Rose, Andre Braugher, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright, Laurence Fishburne, Vin Diesel, Tatyanna Ali, Tracee Ellis Ross, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Omar Epps, L.L. Cool J, Zoe Saldana, Wendell Pierce, Common, Hill Harper, Lenny Kravitz, Vanessa Williams, Mike Epps, Sandra Oh, Corey Reynolds, Idris Elba, Taye Diggs, Tracy Morgan, Taraji P. Henson, Jenifer Lewis, Rosario Dawson, LaVan Davis, Cassi Davis, Robert Townsend all hit the red carpet.
Chairman's Award winner was Cathy Hughes, the Founder and the Chairperson of Radio One, Inc., the largest Black owned and operated broadcast company in the nation. Now a publically owned company, Radio One, Inc. makes Hughes the first and only Black women to chair a publicly held corporation.
President's Award winner: "The Black Stuntmen's Association" (BSA) was founded in 1967 to train, protect, preserve, and honor the memory of Black Stuntmen and pioneers of the motion picture and television industry. Prior to the BSA, white stuntmen were painted black (“paint-down”) to do stunts for Black actors until the organization gained momentum during the Civil Rights Era to gain employment for stunt people of all races and genders.
Vanguard Award winner George Lucas was on hand to receive his award.
Many of the top TV Shows were nominated with their Stars in attendance: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Closer,” “Treme,” “Thurgood,” “Luther,” “The Big C,” “Glee,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” “Men of a Certain Age,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Private Practice,” “CSI: NY, Modern Family,” “Desperate Housewives,” “The Game,” “Love That Girl,” “Southland,” “Person of Interest” and the list goes on…
I ❤LA at least for 10 days or so and covering Awards Month is about the best “ten days or so” LA can produce for this native San Franciscan.
###
Redux--Jacquie & Harry in Jamaica, plus glimpse of Sheryl Lee Ralph. They talk about "Carmen Jones" & "Buck and the Preacher Man"(collaboration with Sidney Poitier)
La'HiTz*In LA - Diaspora - Images & Awards
Pan African Film Festival (PAFF)
I love LA, at least for 10 days or so. LA it not really the same during "Awards Month.” As The Pan African Film festival kicked-off their 20th year, it did so with the
World Premiere of Tim Story' s Film "Think Like a Man" Based on the best-selling book by Steve Harvey. The cast includes Gabrielle Union and Chris Brown.
Speaking of CB, Big-Ups for his Grammy win and also Larry Batiste's our Bay Area own, for producing the music for the Pre-Grammy Show!
Back to PAFF (.org), which is, back in the same spot at Crenshaw & MLK Jr. Dr. the old Magic Johnson Theaters (after a short hiatus in Culver City). It is unfortunate that there are not more theaters able to host the Super Films at PAFF and the other Film Festivals, so that others can make it out of the festival circuit.
"Toussaint Louverture" was the Big Winner with three awards. Directed by Philippe Niang and starring Jimmy Jean-Louis (NBC’s "HEROES" fame), “Toussaint Louverture” is the long awaited two-part epic film of the life of Haitian revolutionary, who led the first successful slave revolt in world history by defeating the Imperialist armies of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Other highlights of PAFF include: "Dark Girls" by Bill Duke & D. Channsin which features interviews with Viola Davis and many others; The Story of Lover Rock," a UK Documentary directed by Menelik Shabazz, Lover's Rock, often dubbed “ romantic reggae” is a uniquely Black British sound that developed in the late 70’s and 80’s against a backdrop of riots, racial tension and sound systems.
Also another World Premiere "Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day" Directed by Neema Barnette, starring Blair Underwood, Sharon Leal and Nicole Beharie and "We the Party" Directed by Mario Van Peebles, starring Snoop Dogg, YG, Michael Jai White, Sally Richardson-Whitfield, Melvin Van Peebles and a group of New-Comers. These films are Hot!
Academy Awards - Diaspora & Images
The Academy Awards is one of the most talked-about, celebrated, controversial, most watched, written about and generally fussed over event in America. It is up there with the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA All-Star Week (it was on the same day West won) and the World Cup; wait not the World Cup. The rest of the World is World Cup Crazy but not the US. Most of the world does not care about the Academy Awards especially outside of English speaking countries. How many know Tan Wei won Best Actress for “Crossing Hennessy” at the Chinese Film Media Awards or British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) presented David Yates, the 2011 John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in Directing and by the way in 2007 Denzel Washington was honored with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award in Film Excellence. BAFTA has given tribute to their counterparts “across the pond” for at least 25 years.
.
FESPACO (Festival Pan-Africain du Cinema et de la Television de Ouagadougou) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa hosts one of the largest Film & Arts Festival in the World (every two years). How many people know about this festival let alone who won what?
The Academy Awards has marketed itself very well. That Gold stature is coveted and can become real Gold-Cash if taken advantage of upon winning. Every other year, if not every year, the Black Issues come up. Are we being recognized and for what and how many of us.
This is by far one of the most dysfunctional relationships that exists.
Sidney Poitier, the first “Negro” to receive an Oscar for Best Actor graciously accepted his award:
He has since received a Life Time Achievement Award from the Academy in 2008.
In a Hollywood Reporter article Spike Lee is quoted: “In 1989, Do the ‘Right Thing’ was not even nominated [for best picture],” said Lee, with some mock outrage. “What film won best picture in 1989? ‘Driving Miss Mother F—ing Daisy!’ That’s why [Oscars] don’t matter,” said Lee. “Because 20 years later, who’s watching ‘Driving Miss Daisy?’
In the Spike Lee directed film “Malcolm X,” Denzel Washington’s masterful, almost reincarnation of Malcolm X in 1992 received a Best Actor Oscar nomination; yet he won the top award in 2008 for a less noble role in “Training Day.” He masterfully played the part of the acceptable stereotypical Academy Awards voting gallery expectation of a Black man. He and Halle Berry both broke a barrier that year with her getting the Best Actress Oscar for “Monster’s Ball,” as a downtrodden Black woman, yet again an acceptable stereotypical Academy Awards voting gallery expectation of a Black woman.
Gorgeous Halle and brilliant Denzel beautifully were symbolically packaged as bookends of the underlying story of the Academy’s gritted teeth defiance of Black artistic excellence.
Okay. Okay. Let’s not forget Octavia Spencer did win the 2012 Best Supporting Actress for her role as a defiant maid in “The Help.” I am sure Hattie McDaniel is smiling from heaven. Also, Sean P. Diddy Combs won a Best Documentary Oscar for “Undefeated,” about a North Memphis high school team of underprivileged football players.
Actress Mary Pickford, co-founder of United Artist (UA), Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), director Cecil B. DeMille, and producer Irving Thalberg started the Academy in 1927 with two aims: to mediate labor disputes and improve the movie industry’s image (today those aims would translate into ameliorating hiring practices and improving the industry’s diversity in images).
Black actors have won 13 Academy Awards over the years, in fact, by 12 people (Washington has won two). But that's out of a possible 332 given out since 1929, an infinitesimal 4 percent.
Denzel Washington said of the Academy, “If the country is 12% Black, make the Academy 12% Black; If the nation is 15% Hispanic, make the Academy 15 % Hispanic, Why not?
“I don’t see any reason why the Academy should represent the entire American population. That’s what the People’s Choice Awards are for, “said Frank Pierson, a former Academy president.
Time to let it go. Any good relationship counselor would say, "Go and lead a happy life and start by being free of what ‘they’ think.” Simply said, however, if you are in the film industry in America, Oscars present an artistic golden ring, a “bling bling” you can’t “ch-ching” ignore as artist or audience.
The NAACP Image Awards
The 43rd NAACP Image Awards was held just prior to the Academy of Awards and for many it is the Award Show of award shows.
 | |||
| Harry Belafonte & Sidney Poitier 2012 NAACP Image AwardsClick this Link for Harry & Jacquie Interview in Jamaica Back in the Day-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6-bw7JeFm0 |
Yes, the "Star Power" was in the House starting with Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, Diahann Carroll, Louis Gossett Jr., Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Loretta Devine, Alfre Woodard, Anika Noni Rose, Andre Braugher, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright, Laurence Fishburne, Vin Diesel, Tatyanna Ali, Tracee Ellis Ross, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Omar Epps, L.L. Cool J, Zoe Saldana, Wendell Pierce, Common, Hill Harper, Lenny Kravitz, Vanessa Williams, Mike Epps, Sandra Oh, Corey Reynolds, Idris Elba, Taye Diggs, Tracy Morgan, Taraji P. Henson, Jenifer Lewis, Rosario Dawson, LaVan Davis, Cassi Davis, Robert Townsend all hit the red carpet.
 |
| Jacquie Taliaferro and Robert Townsend at 2012 NAACP Image Awards |
President's Award winner: "The Black Stuntmen's Association" (BSA) was founded in 1967 to train, protect, preserve, and honor the memory of Black Stuntmen and pioneers of the motion picture and television industry. Prior to the BSA, white stuntmen were painted black (“paint-down”) to do stunts for Black actors until the organization gained momentum during the Civil Rights Era to gain employment for stunt people of all races and genders.
Vanguard Award winner George Lucas was on hand to receive his award.
Many of the top TV Shows were nominated with their Stars in attendance: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Closer,” “Treme,” “Thurgood,” “Luther,” “The Big C,” “Glee,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” “Men of a Certain Age,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Private Practice,” “CSI: NY, Modern Family,” “Desperate Housewives,” “The Game,” “Love That Girl,” “Southland,” “Person of Interest” and the list goes on…
I ❤LA at least for 10 days or so and covering Awards Month is about the best “ten days or so” LA can produce for this native San Franciscan.
###
Redux--Jacquie & Harry in Jamaica, plus glimpse of Sheryl Lee Ralph. They talk about "Carmen Jones" & "Buck and the Preacher Man"(collaboration with Sidney Poitier)
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
LaHitz & Wright Enterprises Salute Willie & Mary Ratcliff 12/29
W.E. & LaHitz Fete SF BayView Publishers at "Our Media Matters" Theater Night at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre 12/29
Thursday December 29, 2011 7:00pm
Lorraine Hansberry Theater 450 Post St.
San Francisco, CA
Event Phone: (415) 474-8800
Event Website: W.E. & LaHitz Fete SF BayView Publishers at "Our Media Matters" Theater Night at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre 12/29 website
Categories: Community, Performing Arts
Price: $45 General Admission; $55 VIP-use code WE
Wright Enterprises and LaHitz Media present "Our Media Matters" Theater Night in honor of Willie and Mary Ratcliff, Publishers of the San Francisco BayView Newspaper, 7 p.m. Thursday, December 29, 2011 at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre's new home. The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is now located in the heart of Union Square at it's new home 450 Post Street, 2nd Floor of the Kensington Park Hotel.
Enjoy a 7 p.m. No Host Bar Reception, followed by a short ceremony honoring Willie and Mary Ratcliff at 8 p.m. and the production of "Rejoice" written by Ron Stacker Thompson founder of the Oakland Ensemble Theatre and directed by Margo Hall. 9:45 p.m. it's the VIP After Party with special guest Tony Saunders, bassist extraordinaire who will be highlighting his new CD "Romancing the Bass." The evening
will include an art exhibit by Bayview Artist Malik Seneferu.
Tickets are $45 for general admission and $55 for the VIP AFTER PARTY WITH CAST which includes the ceremony, play and performance by Tony Saunders.
Call 474-8800 with promotion code "WE" to purchase tickets. Call Jackie Wright at 415 525 0410 for sponsorships beginning at $500 with promotion and visibility to include the event and through January 2012. "Our Media Matters" benefits YMAP (Youth Media Arts Program) of the San Francisco BayView Newspaper.
For more information, visit the website for W.E. & LaHitz Fete SF BayView Publishers at "Our Media Matters" Theater Night at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre 12/29.
venue:
Lorraine Hansberry Theater
450 Post St.
San Francisco, CA 94
Invited Guests include Danny Glover
Danny Glover, Jacquie Taliaferro, Jackie Wright at LaHitz & W.E."s "Soundtrack for a Revolution" Screening and Fundraiser.
Carl Lumbly and Delroy Lindo May Stop Through at "Our Media Matters"
LaHitz Media & Wright Enterprises have hosted events at international venues such as the Cannes International Film Festival.
Thursday December 29, 2011 7:00pm
Lorraine Hansberry Theater 450 Post St.
San Francisco, CA
Willie & Mary Ratcliff
San Francisco BayView Newspaper Publishers
Event Phone: (415) 474-8800
Event Website: W.E. & LaHitz Fete SF BayView Publishers at "Our Media Matters" Theater Night at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre 12/29 website
Categories: Community, Performing Arts
Price: $45 General Admission; $55 VIP-use code WE
Jackie Wright of Wright Enterprises, Jacquie Taliaferro of LaHitz Media with former District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre.
The Magi of "Rejoice" Stanley Luther, Michael Spratt, & Rudy Guerreroas
Enjoy a 7 p.m. No Host Bar Reception, followed by a short ceremony honoring Willie and Mary Ratcliff at 8 p.m. and the production of "Rejoice" written by Ron Stacker Thompson founder of the Oakland Ensemble Theatre and directed by Margo Hall. 9:45 p.m. it's the VIP After Party with special guest Tony Saunders, bassist extraordinaire who will be highlighting his new CD "Romancing the Bass." The evening
will include an art exhibit by Bayview Artist Malik Seneferu.
Tickets are $45 for general admission and $55 for the VIP AFTER PARTY WITH CAST which includes the ceremony, play and performance by Tony Saunders.
Call 474-8800 with promotion code "WE" to purchase tickets. Call Jackie Wright at 415 525 0410 for sponsorships beginning at $500 with promotion and visibility to include the event and through January 2012. "Our Media Matters" benefits YMAP (Youth Media Arts Program) of the San Francisco BayView Newspaper.
For more information, visit the website for W.E. & LaHitz Fete SF BayView Publishers at "Our Media Matters" Theater Night at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre 12/29.
venue:
Lorraine Hansberry Theater
450 Post St.
San Francisco, CA 94
Invited Guests include Danny Glover
Carl Lumbly and Delroy Lindo May Stop Through at "Our Media Matters"
Thursday, July 7, 2011
LaHitz@Cannes 2011 & African Diaspora Unity
The 64th Cannes International Film Festival kicked into high gear with a galaxy of stars, writers, directors, producers, distributors and folks from all walks of life celebrating the film industry.
Robert De Niro head of the Jury voting “Tree of Life” as the competition overall winner and his jury colleagues actors Uma Thurman, Jude Law and Martina Gusman; the writer Linn Ullmann (daughter of Liv Ulmann and Ingmar Bergman); and the directors Mahamat Saleh Haroun, Olivier Assayas and Johnnie To awarded the “très” shy American director and writer, Terence Malick with the prize for the long awaited film, but he was not present to receive it.
Cannes is the only place I know where international business, partying and philanthropy mix. Deal after deal is made with over €700,000 Euro a day circulating through the 10-day festival. Any and everything from films to PR and marketing for films to theater chairs and popcorn makers are bought and sold.
Most “screenings” (showing of films in Cannes) have a party or reception before or after. Beyond grand screenings and the Red Carpet of the Palais, the dream of screening at Cannes is still viable for filmmakers. Most independent filmmakers show their films at the theaters outside the Palais, utilizing the Star, Lumiere, Gray d’Albion Hotel and similar venues. These screenings can cost between €500 to €1,500 Euros depending on date, time and location. Buyers, distributors, and media are invited to these private screenings.
One of my sayings is in Cannes is “Party with Purpose.” And the Macbach Party with Quincy Jones, Kanye West, and new singing sensation, Aloe Blacc, “I Need Dollars” was a super event to help mentors around the world.
African and Caribbean Cinema Industries were well represented. Marc Nekaitar, head of Agora along with the Hollywood Reporter had a wonderful reception and award presentation honoring international star Eriq Ebouney, (recipient of the LaHItz@Cannes Sojourner Truth Award) and South African Film Commissioner, Eddie Mbato, President of the South African National Video Foundation (also a recipient of the Sojourner Truth Award(African Diaspora Unity). Other international stars included Jean Pier Bekolo, Jean Roke Patoudem. Reuben Cannon’s (Tyler Perry’s Executive Producer) protégé Patrick Cunningham was in the African Diaspora mix at Cannes. Cunningham, a producer for the non-afro-centric film “Martha Marcy May Marlene” received accolades for his film being in Cannes' Un Certain Regard category.
The Caribbean Film Commissioners from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago headed by Tony CoCo-Viloin ( Guadeloupefilm@cr-Guadeloupe.fr) and Jean Michel Gibert (www.calypsorosediva.com) all met for a round table discussion about the future of the Caribbean Film Industry. One of the many things talked about were the co-productions with other countries and better distribution of Caribbean films to other parts of the world. The Caribbean contingent hosted two parties, one featuring internationally renowned Tobagonian singer “Calypso Rose” and a humdinger of a rum punch.
Playboy again did their party at Richard Nilisson’s Villa Oxygene in the French Riviera hills, complete with champagne, pool and bunnies. Some of the money raised is going to the Playboy Foundation.
This year the main attraction winners were: Palm d’Or- “The Tree of Life” directed by Terrence Malick; Grand Prix (tie)- “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” directed by Bir Zamalar Anadolu’ da -Nuri Bilge Ceylan; Le Gamin au Vélo (The Kid With a Bike) directed by Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne; Jury Prize- “Polisse” directed by Maïwenn; Best Director, Nicolas Winding Refn for “Drive;” Best Screenplay, Joseph Cedar for “Hearat Shulayin (Footnote); Best Actress, Kirsten Dunst, in Melancholia” directed by Lars Von Trier; and Best Actor, Jean Dujardin in “The Artist” directed by Michel Hazanavicius.
As a sidebar to film festivals, LaHitz Media followed up the Cannes International Film Festival working with the San Francisco International Film Festival (Co-directors Kali Ray & Katerra Crossley) being an integral part of adding several films to the World Premiere of acclaimed local filmmaker Kevin Epp’s “Straight Outta Hunter’s Point 2.” With less than four weeks turnaround LaHitz helped to garner the work of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Mario Van Peebles-“Things Fall Apart;” “Black, White, and Blues” directed by Mario Van Peebles; Trevor D. Rhone’s “One Love” directed by Rick Elgood and Don Letts; Actor and producer Shabaka Henley’s (“Collateral,” “Crash,” “Miami Vice,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”) “90404 Changing” produced with his wife Paulina Sahagun and directed by Michael W. Barnard; and LaHitz’s Jacquie Taliaferro’s own submission “10-10 Gotta Win.”
Here’s a list of links that give a glimpse of some of the African Diaspora films making the rounds: www.Festivaldufilmpanafricain.org; www.PAFF.org;www.africanfilm.com;www.ABFF.com;www.OIFF.org;www.SFBFF.org;www.nyadiff.org;www.bronzelensfilmfestival.com; www.langstonblackfilmfest.org;and www.urbanworld.com.
LaHitz@Cannes 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
LaHitz@Cannes 2011
Jacquie Taliaferro
LaHitz Media's Jacquie Taliaferro knows in the film world that the road to fame and glory often begins at the Cannes International Film Festival. He's on the ground following the happenings....
Jack Black, Angelina Jolie kicked off the publicity for "Kung Fu Panda 2" in front of worldwide media at the Cannes International Film Festival. Bottom line of the story: they did it for their kids.
 |
Synopsis: In "Kung Fu Panda 2," Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But PoÂ’s new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Jerry was Gold for the SF 49ers in the Draft
NFL Hall of Famer &49er All Time Great Jerry Rice &
Flimmaker Jacquie Taliaferro @ Lake Tahoe Celebrity Golf Tournament
When entering the NFL Draft, coaches and franchises should remember sometimes you have to dig deep to get gold. For the San Francisco 49er's it was deep in the heart of Mississippi where they struck gold drafting Rice from "Mississippi Valley State College." Who Knew? He'd be the all-time NFL leader in touchdowns scored with 208, selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times (1986–1996, 1998, 2002) and named All-Pro 11 times in his 20 NFL seasons and that he'd win three Super Bowl rings playing for the San Francisco 49ers and an AFC Championship with the Oakland Raiders. His 48-yard touchdown catch in the 4th quarter in Super Bowl XXXVII made him the first player ever to catch a touchdown pass in 4 different Super Bowls.
Joel Thorman says the Kansas City Chiefs used the NFL Draft to fill some holes for the team. Upcoming season will prove if they got a few gold nuggets filling those holes.
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