SPIKE LEE TO BE HONORED AT AUCTION BENEFITING CHILDREN¹S CHARITY, CAMP BROOKLYN, ON WEDNESDAY, DEC 9

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will present the 20th Anniversary Mickey Mantle Community Service Award to director and actor Spike Lee as well as Denise Arbesu of Citibank at an annual sports and entertainment fantasy auction benefiting Camp Brooklyn on December 9th.

Camp Brooklyn was founded by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to give children from low-income homes an opportunity to attend a sleep-away camp no cost to the camper. The Camp Brooklyn Fund gives these children a chance to leave their urban environment and learn about teamwork, loyalty, wholesome health habits, responsibility, personal respect and appreciation for nature, all of which are a part of a child¹s education at summer camp.

Since 2002 Camp Brooklyn sent more than 1500 Brooklyn children to summer camp. To help raise funds - - and send over 400 children to camp in 2010 - - Camp Brooklyn will auction off a number of unique and exclusive items at the event, including:

·A walk-on role In Spike Lee¹s next movie
·A Bruce Springsteen signed acoustic guitar
·A week-long stay along the Amalfi Coast in Italy with breakfast and gourmet
dinners in a sea view room at the 4-star rated Hotel Bonadies
· 4 or 5 day Carnival Cruise, sailing from the Port of New York
·An Alex Rodriguez #13 autographed New York Yankees pinstripe jersey

In addition to the above, a vacation package with Carnival Cruise Lines, VIP seats to the Late Show with David Letterman, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, getaways to Orlando, Salt Lake and Las Vegas and over 50 other items will also be auctioned.

The week leading up to the event, Camp Brooklyn will also host several items on-line at www.charitybuzz.com. This on-line auction will begin on Tuesday, December 1st and close at noon on December 9th. All on-line items will then be available for bidding at the event.

Tickets are $200 and available to the general public. All proceeds will benefit Camp Brooklyn. Tickets include a full buffet dinner, open bar, the award ceremony hosted by Jamie and Marty Markowitz and silent and live auctions with Q104¹s Ken Dashow as the auctioneer.

To purchase tickets or donate to the Camp Brooklyn Fund, visit: http://www.active.com/donate/campbrooklyn2009

Details:
Camp Brooklyn Fundraiser
Wednesday, December 9th.
6pm-9pm
Mickey Mantle¹s Restaurant
42 Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
(business attire recommended)

For more information, please contact Karen Rosenberg at Empire Events Group, Inc. 212-625-1025 or email: karen@empireeventsgroup.com or Brendan Gilmartin at Shore Fire Media (bgilmartin@shorefire.com) 718-522-7171 x. 12
Nancie S. Martin at Shore Fire Media (nsmartin@shorefire.com) 718-522-7171 x. 23

Media Coalition For Artists Of Color

The indigenous people of the Americas had no idea that the Thanksgiving Dinner with the European Pilgrims would become a "Last Supper" for their people throughout the "New World".
in this issue DV Republic Leadership Blogging in the Liberated Zone Media Coalition Networking Salon Martial Arts Challengers: Karate vs Kung Fu Blogging in the Liberated Zone

DV Republic provides a media digest to trigger online discussion in the "public square" of the DV Republic liberated zone. We monitor the intersection of media, technology, and social justice to bring you the latest news and information that deserves your attention and commentary.As a DV Republic citizen, we invite you to post your comments and engage in this dynamic online discussion.

Media Coalition Networking Salon

The next Media Coalition of Artists of Color networking salon will be November 30, 2009 and features a talk with Neema Barnette, a pioneering filmmaker among African American women in film and TV. This event is being held at the Dwyer Cultural Center in Harlem and hosted by the International Communication Association with the Harlem Arts Alliance.The International Communication Association is reaching out to alumni of the Community Film Workshop, Third World Cinema, and Institute of New Cinema Artist (INCA) and encourages them all to register and attend this event.The Media Coalition of Artist of Color includes African American Women in Cinema, Asian Cinevision, BFF, Black Documentary Collective, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, dvRepublic, National Association of Latino Independent Producers, and Tribeca All Access.

Magnolia Pictures presents Adrienne Shelly’s SERIOUS MOONLIGHT

Opens in theaters on December 4, 2009

Director Cheryl Hines (Actress on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, “Waitress”) Starring Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell and Justin LongDirected by Cheryl Hines. Written by Adrienne Shelly. Produced by Andy Ostroy and Michael Roiff High-powered Manhattan lawyer Louise (Meg Ryan) is touched when she comes home for the weekend to her upstate getaway house to find it strewn with rose petals by Ian, (Timothy Hutton) her husband of 13 years.

Unfortunately, as Louise quickly discovers, Ian is not expecting her and has laid out the spread for his much younger girlfriend (Kristen Bell) who was meeting him for a secret getaway. In fact, he’s in the process of writing Louise a letter explaining his intention to leave her for good. But Louise has other plans--one thing leads to another, and Ian soon finds himself held captive by an oddly cool Louise who calmly explains that she won't release him until he professes his love for her and commits to working on their marriage together. And when Ian’s impatient mistress shows up, not to mention an opportunistic gardener (Justin Long), that’s where things start to get really weird.

Movie Review: Frailty

I know this movie is an oldie...but its also a goodie. "There are demons among us" echoes the voice of Mr. Meiks played by Bill Paxton as a man who has a vision by an angel and becomes a messenger of mercy from God to destroy demons. In the movie Frailty, the story begins with Fenton Meiks played by Matthew McConaughey as man who claims he knows the man who is known as the God's Hands killer. He admits that the serial killer is his own brother.

From there Meiks tells the story to FBI agent Wesley Doyle played by Powers Boothe the story of his childhood and what it was like growing up in a single parent home with his father and brother. His father is sent on a mission from God to destroy the demons that are among us. These demons appear in human form and young Fenton believes his father is killing innocent human beings and not demons.

Fenton tries to tell the local police that his father is crazy, but no one believes him. Soon after Fenton is punished by his father forced to stay imprisioned in the backyard of a makeshift dungeon he created for disposing the bodies of his victims.

This film is a thriller/horror film that will have you on the edge of you seat minute by minute. Stunning performance by Bill Paxton, who also directed the film. A late review, but a film certainly worth its wait!!!

The summary of the movie ends here, because there is a pretty intense plot twist that shall remain secret until you have seen the film, but let's just say as someone who can predict a plotline very well, I didn't see it comin! As a sidenote; it was good to see McConaughey in a film where he didn't play a stoner or a wisecrackin douche who has commitment issues with women. Of course this film came out in 2001 and he hasn't really played against type since. Poor Matthew.

City's film business in a cliff-hanger? - Crain's New York Business

City's film business in a cliff-hanger? - Crain's New York Business

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2009 Screenwriting Expo

Sup peeps!
if you're in L.A. from OCT. 16th - 18th, this is one event you DON'T want to miss! Use the ISA code and receive 10% off your registration!



2009 Screenwriting Expo
For information or to register go to: click here.
If You Are Or Want To Be A Screenwriter, Here's Why You Should Attend The Screenwriting Expo...

SAVE 10% on Registration with the discount code below!- 135 seminars to improve your screenwriting and your skills at selling your scripts - A chance to hear and ask a question of our Guests of Honor: famous screenwriters and producers (so far this year, William Goldman, John Cleese, producer/exec Mike Medavoy, CSI’s Anthony Zuiker, Karey Kirkpatrick, Shane Black, Franklin Leonard (creator of The Black List) and Emmy-winning TV writers/producers James Manos and Erik Bork are on the program). - Network: rub elbows with 2,000 other screenwriters, agents, producers, directors, screenwriting teachers, and script consultants.

- Visit the exhibit hall for discounts on every screenwriting supply, book, or resource imaginable

- Practice pitching your stories at Pitch Boot Camp, then pitch your script and maybe close a deal.

- Save 10% off the registration fee with this coupon: ISA If you're a seasoned pro, the Expo has great tuneup and specific-topic classes for you -- writing an opening, character arc, dialogue, endings, pitching, managing your career. If you're an absolute beginner, the Expo is the place to start. It even has classes on how to use the screenwriting software of your choice.

If you're somewhere in between, they you're like most Expo registrants. From October 16-18 (Fri-Sun), the 2009 Screenwriting Expo will once again host the best pitch event in existence: The Golden Pitch Festival. With the best collection of studios, production companies, agencies and management companies we've ever presented, the Golden Pitch Festival gives you unparalleled access to industry professionals at top companies who are actively seeking new clients and material. For legal reasons, many of these companies must reject unsolicited material from unrepresented writers year-round - yet for 3 days this October, they've opened their doors exclusively for you!

Companies attending this year include Warner Bros, UTA, Gersh, Lionsgate, Summit, Imagine Entertainment, Relativity Media, Laura Ziskin Prods., Kurtman/Orci, Smoke House (George Clooney), Phoenix Pictures, and many many many more! The sooner you register, the better shot you have at nabbing slots with these amazing companies,. The ON-SALE date for these tickets is just A COUPLE DAYS AWAY. Make sure you are part of our attendee list so you will have your chance to get your idea out there. Come to the 2009 Screenwriting Expo – you won’t regret your decision!

For information or to enter, click here.

The Mourning After

There have been a number of films within the last five years that deal with circumstances around the tragedy of 9/11 in New York City. A new film by budding director, Lawrence LAW Watford called The Mourning After is about an extramarital relationship between a man and a woman and affair that took place the night of Sept 10th that would change their lives forever.

Chris and Felicia work at the World Trade Center and on the evening of Sept 10th, the two decide to rent a room in a high rise Manhattan hotel suite. The film begins with Chris and Felicia preparing to go to work when the sounds of police sirens and fire trucks surround the background. Chris' cell phone is ringing off the hook and he immediately turns on the television to see what is going on. The face of Geroge W. Bush is seen annoucing to the world that two airplanes crashed into the twin towers in New York City.

The story turns now to Chris and Felicia, who were supposed to be in that building if not for their heated affair the night before, and both live with not only the guilt of cheating on their spouses, but also the torment of what would have been if they decided to stay faithful to their partners. The film takes a dramatic turn when Chris' life after the affair changes significantly compared to that of Felicia's and the two are battling feelings of shame, pity, and resentment that comes to a climactic close.

There are solid performances in this film and stunning shots of New York City's ground zero. It's a film that shows meaning and purpose in a meaningless act that occured on September 11th. The film was shot on a shoestring budget, but asthetically looks like it was made on larger scale indie budget. The Mourning After is definitely a film worth seeing and shows an intensity in a small sliver of screen time that has you yearning for more.

The film was made on a $12,000 budget in New York City. The trailer of the film can be seen here. Please contact Lawville Solutions if you are interested in more information about the film.

Take a look at the trailer here:

Movie Review: State of Play

Grrr arggg, Don't you hate it when you've challenged your cocky ass hole friend to an old fashioned, Race ya to the end of the block style dash off?
He's huffing and puffing and right out of the gate you've got this douche beat.
You start off with a burst of energy that this, criss-crossed cardigan over chest, dick-wad can't possibly keep up with.
I mean the guys a drinker, you drink too but this guy goes heavy on the Jagger bombs.
The end of the block is just within your grasp, you can feel it, taste it. step on it dance around and laugh at his face when you reach it.
but you didn't see that pebble coming, that pebble that snuck its way into your path just as you were reaching the finish line.
The one that causes you to embarrassingly tumble down, face first to the ground.
and allows professor douche-meister with the developing beer belly and sky blue cardigan dangling behind him in the wind to steal the lead and win the race.

such is the state of State of Play. the new political thriller from director Kevin Macdonald.
oh it starts off so well, with the perfect blend of spy thriller action and political intrigue.
recapping plots is always rather tedious.. and I think a disservice to viewers, I mean the fun part about watching a flick is having it unfold before your eyes.
So I will give you bare minimum
Russel Crowe plays a seasoned reporter at a Washington newspaper, headed by a balls to the wall editor in Helen Mirren.
She's got pressure from the big bosses to turn a profit with the paper.
Ben Affleck is an up and coming political poster boy senator who has set his sites on taking down a large defense company with shady dealings, after one of the senators aides turns up dead questions are asked, secrets are spilled and Crowe is given the task of unravelling the story for the paper, did we mention however that Crowe and Affleck's characters are old college buddies, thus placing Crowe in the difficult position of having to choose between his integrity as a reporter or as a friend.

Based upon a six part television series, that aired on the BBC, Screenwriters: Billy Ray, Tony Gilroy and Michael Matthew Carnahan, pull off the balancing act of a terse political thriller and character drama, ignoring the obvious age differences between Affleck and Crowe,the casting works.
Crowe as the staunch weathered old school reporter works, Robin wright Penn as the Senators wife caught in the middle works and even Rachel Mcadams doing her best Lois Lane as an on-line division reporter works here .
The director has written a sort of hallmark card to journalism, with its get the story by any means necessary inter cut clips of coffee fueled all nighters and Sources "butter upping" (not really a word)
it seemingly gets it all right. until those last 10 minutes.
in what may be the only bad play by the director, we are subjected to not one but "two" twist endings. the problem is that only one of them really works.
the first spin at the end delivers.
Its intense , plausible and satisfying.
Had the film just closed up shop at that point we would have had a solid story on our hands.
but nooo, it had to get greedy.
That pebble in the way of my almost victory lap is a massive fossil that sends the whole story toppling down to a scraped knee.
The "real" ending seems to forced, and the way the wheels work for one of the characters to "uncover" this other twist?, well I'm just not buying it.
the film is still worth checking out.. but try and leave when you first think its over.

The Mourning After

Here is an inside look at the upcoming film "The Mourning After" directed by Lawrence "Law" Watford.

The film is "The Mourning After"… It’s the story of two corporate executives who were supposed to be in the World Trade Center on 9/11, but instead were in a near by hotel room having an affair. They reunite 3 years later, still deeply affected by the event and why they survived.

The script is an adaptation of a one-act play, written by David Ray. Lawrence’s grad school classmate. "I always loved the story. I was there when David pitched it back in film school. The challenge for David and I was figuring out how to make the most tragic event in U.S. history a backdrop and not the story itself."

The script was originally written in 2002 and was a finalist in filmmaker.com’s short screenplay competition in 2004. But while there was a lot of interest in the topic, nobody thought it was a safe bet as a film…

In 2005 Lawrence contacted David after he completed his last film "A Christmas Wish" and asked if the script was still available… It was and Lawrence immediately began the development… His first target was pitching to actress, Nia Long in 2005. "Melvin Van Peebles introduced me to her at the American Black Film Festival, where "A Christmas Wish" premiered… I asked her if she was interested in producing and she said yes and went from there, but it didn’t develop pass that point"… the project needed funding.

Before he knew it years had passed. During that time, he brought on some friends to help in the development, but the lack of funding made it impossible keep them from other immediate and pressing commitments out in LA.

As more time passed, and having no new material to show Law became antsy and began to randomly reach out to Hollywood talent in the hope that they’d be as attracted to the dramatic nature of the project as he was. "I know that there are a lot of well-known actors in Hollywood, who are pigeon-holed into comedies, or adventure, or television and I was hoping that one of them would see the project as mutually beneficial… I provide them with material that allows them to really demonstrate their chops and they provide me with the celebrity that will help me get the film out in major film festivals"

Law’s efforts eventually paid off when actress Keesha Sharp (Girlfriends) decided to come on board. "Before she came on, there was no project. Just a lot of hope. But once she said she was in, the shoot date became whenever she was free and the budget became whatever I could raise to make it happen"

In an effort to make it worth Sharp’s journey from LA to New York, Law began to search for another Hollywood male to co-star. To help in that effort he brought on talent agent Angela Gulizio, of G&G Talent. "I met Angela on the set of "I Am Legend" and we hit it off. She’s tough and no nonsense, but a genuinely good person who I felt I could trust"

Lawrence and Angela began contacting talent reps, who he thought were attracted to the "audacity" of the concept and the script. "we had interest from Kevin Bacon’s reps, as well as Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers). The last meeting we had was with Malik Yoba. We had a great lunch and we were close, but his schedule didn’t allow for him to participate"

In the end it would be the intense and fast approaching schedule, coupled with an inflexible budget that would leave his film starless.

Law would eventually pull from his friends and the production became a cast and crew of familiars, with some new additions. "The crew was fantastic! We shoot for 5 days with a crew of 5, plus 2 interns… but in the end, everyone, including the actors were taking on crew positions"

Law admits that the schedule was grueling, with one day going as long as 17 hours. "It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I know that a no budget indies are like that, but I can’t wait for the day when I can do this as a low budget idie with 14 hour days and three weeks to shoot"

With the film almost ready for release, Law is hoping to score big, with a spot at the major national and international film festivals, where he hopes the subject of 9/11, along with the films intense drama would connect will audiences.

You can contact Lawville Solutions at:

Publicist: Donnette Dunbar, Dash Media 212-758-7394

Visit the Lawville Solutions website at http://www.lawvillesolutions.com/

Where My Blacktors At?

As of lately this movie reviewer has been watching her fair share of black romantic comedies. When I was talking to my best friend about this situation she put it simply because "Girl you're black , and looking for love." Maybe. Or maybe I was watching them because I cant find my quality black romantic comedies and black love stories in the theaters any more!!

Remember there was a time from about 1999 to 2004 when we had this nice steady stream of black romantic movies. Films such as Brown Sugar, The Wood, The Brothers, Two Can Play That Game, Breaking all The Rules, Deliver Us From Eva, Love Jones, Love and Basketball and to me the top of the heap The Best Man. It also would include what I've branded the "Black Pack". The most common players in these movies would include Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan and Gabriel Union with a few supporting characters like Omar Epps, Vivica Fox, Nia Long, Tamala Jones, maybe a rapper turned actor like L.L. Cool J and Queen Latifah to round out the cast.

These films would be like any other romantic comedy. You know the whole boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, some issue happens where they are mad at each other, then they make up and get together and all that jazz. The only major difference would just be the color of the cast and usually some comedian would be in it to be the comic relief. Not since the blaxploitation movies of the 70's and the break dancing/rap movies of the 80's had we seen such a large swell of movies that showcased new upcoming black actors. These movies were enthusiatically recieved by audiences of all colors. So why arent' they in the movie theatres now!?!

However, if I were to walk down the aisle in Blockbuster video or go on Netflix I would see a long list of straight to video black films that I've never even heard of. Does Hollywood think they are non-profitable so they put them straight to DVD? Were we not supporting these movies like we should have? Is it because Black Folks watch too many damn bootleg movies so these films werent seeing the profit that they should have? Maybe. But also we have to look into finding good material to film, because if I have to sit through another film like the Seat Filler I will hurt somebody.

Fortunately Tyler Perry has been picking up some of the slack in recent years with the black romantic comedy through his blockbusters Diary of Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, and Why Did I Get Married ?just to name a few. Bottom line is we have to support these films, because in the end no matter what race you are you're just watching a good movie. And that is what it's all about.


So excuse me, it's time for me to watch my guilty pleasure B*A*P*S

NY indieseen readers!! I want to hear your opinions on black films. I wanna hear what your favorite black romantic comedies and black love stories are. Email me at moviechik80@hotmail.com

Movie Review:The Seat Filler

Well I came across this film on my Netflix queue, because it was a recommended movie and it was a watch instantly film, so I said “Hey, why not.” In this movie Duane Martin (remember him? Mr. Tisha Campbell) is Derrick a man trying to find his way in life and LA. He has a law degree and MBA, but alas no job. That means crashing at his friend’s apartment and taking the bus.

In order to get some extra cash to pay for his classes that prepare him to take the California State Bar Exam he becomes a seat filler. You know one of those people that sits in empty seats at award shows whenever someone goes to the bathroom, doesn’t show up, etc. While sitting in a seat at a music award show he meets R & B singer Jhnelle (played by Kelly Rowland in a major acting stretch), who literally falls into Derricks arms when she breaks a heel. They strike up a conversation and she sees what a nice and good looking guy Derrick is. However, Jhnelle doesn’t realize Derrick is merely a seat filler and thinks he is actually in “the business”.

Jhenelle sees Derrick at another awards show and thinks he is in fact Alonzo Grant the man whose seat he is filling. Derrick keeps up the charade of being Alonzo Grant, who is a powerful entertainment lawyer, because he is afraid that Jhnelle will find out that he isn’t rich, powerful, or drives a sports car. Derrick also goes to such great lengths as “borrowing” a Bentley, posing at Alonzo Grants office, and pretending to be a VIP at the club. Also while he is dating Jhnelle he starts missing his bar exam classes and he has to deal with her jack ass of a playboy ex-boyfriend (Shemar Moore playing a soap star. Once again an acting stretch).

Ok. So let me say I really watched this movie because Shemar Moore is in it, and I still have my high school-girl crush on him. I looked at the imdb page and saw it was released in 2004 and I wondered “Why didn’t I hear about this movie before?” I’ll tell you why. It went straight to DVD because this movie isn’t all that great. It had not one, not two, but three writers which include Duane Martin, Tisha Campbell-Martin, and Mark Brown to write this? Plus as a Romantic Comedy its “Comedy” really missed. DeRay Davis is the so called comic relief as Derricks friend EJ, who I didn’t find funny so much as annoying. Every time he cracked a joke I thought “Could you please SHUT UP!!!!”

The movie had potential with an interesting premise with the whole seat filler aspect (and honestly I wish I could be one to earn a little extra cash), but its just totally a by the numbers romantic comedy and entirely predictable. Don’t even get me started on Kelly Roland. As pretty as she is, I kept thinking as I watched her perform her songs in the movie “She ain’t no Beyonce!” She just doesn’t have that OOOMPH, IT, RAZMATAZZ that some popular perfomers’ have.

Even as much as I want to support my Black Romantic Comedies, I just cant stand behind this one. It seemed to drag on even at a mere 1 ½ hours. Now everyone has a different opinion and if you want to check it out and see for yourself then I say go ahead, but don’t come back whining to me that you want that 90 minutes of your life back.

I give it 1 ½ out of 5 tickets.