By Dennis J. Freeman
Black filmmakers are out and about touting their projects more than ever. A recent weekend in the land of the stars reflect that dynamic. There are a gazillion film festivals going on around Hollywood these days. There are a plethora of up and coming talent looking to see their faces on the big screen for the first time.
Producers and directors shop and promote their products, hoping a big-time studio find enough interest in their work to land a contract deal. Each film festival presents its own uniquely distinctive voice. The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) adds its own flavor to the mix, giving many independent black filmmakers, actors and behind-the scenes workers opportunities to showcase their creative works.
While the HBFF centralized its location in Hollywood and held its opening night premiere at the famed Los Angeles Film School, a coming out of sorts took place on the other side of town for renowned filmmaker Spike Lee. Filmmaker Michael Pinckney joined forces with actress Juliette Fairley at Mayme Clayton Museum Screening in Culver City, California to moderate a discussion a screening of select scenes from his film, “You’re Nobody Til Somebody Kills You.”
Executive Produced by Spike Lee, “You’re Nobody Til Somebody Kills You,” stars Doug E. Fresh, Ed Lover and Big Daddy Kane. Actors who turned out for the screening included Al Lover and Al Thompson who both play rappers in the film.
When Fairley candidly asked Pinckney how much money Spike Lee contributed to the $600,000 production, Pinckney admitted that the legendary filmmaker lent only his name but no cash.
“Spike’s superstitious since self-funding his first film The Answer, which nobody ever heard of,” said Pinckney to a gracious audience that laughed.
Fairley is playing a co-starring role in Pinckney’s current directing project called Colors of Love, a TV series written by Crystal Roman and co-produced by Shawn Luckey. The Mulatto Saga actress originally met Pinckney on the set of the Spike Lee directed TV pilot M.O.N.Y. for NBC in 2007.
“I am thrilled to be working with Michael again because he’s a champ,” said Fairley who wore a stunning purple dress on the red carpet. “He’s a steady worker who has trained with the best.”
Dorez Douglas, who produced a weekend special for ABC, took a special interest in Pinckney’s next project about the life of Bobby Brown.
“Writing a script and filming a movie about a legend who is still living has special challenges,” said Pinckney. “Because his life isn’t over and there’s more to come from Bobby.”
Douglas won’t have to look too far to get some up-to-date material on Brown, who stars in the film “Get Out of the Way,” which was featured in this year’s HBFF. A former R&B star, Brown plays the role of a music mentor to a young protégée in the film. Brown’s movie wasn’t the only thing creating buzz at the HBFF.
The theme behind this year’s HBFF was to educate, empower and enlighten with panel discussions on finding money for directors or producers to make their films, learning the nuances of film distribution and pitching the product. Many of these films probably won’t make the studios’ cut list of must-haves.
But the empowerment of the having black films being allowed to be seen by the public through the HBFF has generated buzz of excitement from those with projects in the festival. With black films having gone MIA (missing in action) from major studio lots other than the robust Tyler Perry-movie and entertainment machine, the HBFF has been an annual constant for the past several years where African Americans can see themselves and the variety of topics and issues they deal with daily.
The HBFF film stories are as earthy and real as any mainstream movie projects. Over the year, the HBFF films have given African Americans an opportunity to see themselves up close and personal. There’s love, romance, action, comedy and drama, and all of the things that comes with just living life. The HBFF have done an excellent job in presenting those types of stories over the years.
This year was no different.
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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