Civil Rights Stories and Hollywood

The original screenplay for PROUD was completed not long after the book was published in February 1995. Certainly an untold compelling story about real American heroes would be snapped up and made into a feature film.

Not the case at all. It took ten years for the film to be produced and it took a benefactor -- much like in the case of the making of Ray -- to bring the story to the screen. There was also a Hollywood attitude of, "there's already been a Black war movie," the classic Glory in 1989.

As this outstanding story by Ann Hornaday points out:

"Not surprisingly for the movie industry, the answer is portrayed as purely
economic; and equally unsurprisingly, economics in Hollywood are inextricably
interwoven with the still unresolved issue of race."

Read the full story in today's Washington Post.

Side note: How good does "Talk to Me" look? Don Cheadle does it again, bringing to the screen the story of DC radio and TV personality Ralph "Petey" Greene.

Tuskegee Airmen in DC

Today in Washington in a ceremony at 1 PM the Tuskegee Airmen will receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that Congress can give to civilians. Speakers include Colin Powell who received the medal in 1991.

Nice story with video in The Washington Post and it made the front page of today's print edition.

ABFF 2007 in Los Angeles

SUBMIT YOUR FILM NOW!

The 11th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) – a five-day retreat and international film market – taking place in Los Angeles, October 25-29, 2007, is calling all filmmakers for entries. Click here to read more about the ABFF Mission. Take home one of the fest’s indie film awards, cash prizes and more...

Now on Comcast OnDemand

PROUD is now available to Comcast subscribers who receive Starz inBlack.

Watch PROUD anytime for free as part of your Comcast subscription!

Now through March 22, 2007

PROUD in NYT Movies

Jason Buchanan of the All Movie Guide gives a nice description of PROUD for the Movies section of the New York Times.

Also it's worth checking out the review just to get a look at the new trailer Lions Gate produced for the DVD release.

PROUD on Starz inBlack

PROUD will be broadcast in February and again in late March on Starz inBlack.

Broadcast dates include:

Saturday February 24
Wednesday February 28
Monday March 12
Thursday March 22
Friday March 23
Tuesday March 27
Wednesday March 28

Check the Starz inBlack schedule for times.

Never Forget New Orleans

Listen to Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans via Rhapsody performed by:

Rosemary Clooney
Earl "Fatha" Hines And His Band
Pete Fountain
Billie Holiday
N'Awlins Gumbo Kings
Louis Armstrong

Because things still aren't right

Spike Lee's documentary "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" premieres on HBO on Monday August 21st. This will be very hard to watch but there is no way to not watch it.

A lot of people talk about how America should be. Mr. Lee shows us how America is in "When The Levees Broke."

I hope you can watch. As the director said in an interview, "Because things still aren't right."

Here are a couple of related stories:
Washington Post
The Times-Picayune

Remembering Carl Brashear

The US Navy's first African American deep sea diver, Carl Brashear, has passed at the age of 75. A story about Master Chief Brashear's life from The Virginia Pilot can be found here. It is of further interest as it includes a comments section where people write about knowing or meeting Mr. Brashear.