tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120937162024-03-12T23:09:13.405-04:00Proud: The Story of USS MasonIn World War II, 160 African American sailors fought the Nazis, challenged the Navy ... and won. <br><br>Heroism ignored for 50 years comes alive in this action adventure film about the only World War II warship with an African American crew. Based on a true story.
<br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-56473403690536619842007-07-10T06:46:00.000-04:002007-07-10T10:00:37.077-04:00Civil Rights Stories and HollywoodThe original screenplay for PROUD was completed not long after the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Proudly-We-Served-Men-Mason/dp/1557504660">book</a> was published in February 1995. Certainly an untold compelling story about real American heroes would be snapped up and made into a feature film.<br /><br />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 <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0350258/">Ray</a> -- to bring the story to the screen. There was also a Hollywood attitude of, "there's already been a Black war movie," the classic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097441/">Glory</a> in 1989.<br /><br />As this outstanding story by <a title="Send an e-mail to Ann Hornaday" href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/ann+hornaday/">Ann Hornaday</a> points out:<br /><br />"Not surprisingly for the movie industry, the answer is portrayed as purely<br />economic; and equally unsurprisingly, economics in Hollywood are inextricably<br />interwoven with the still unresolved issue of race."<br /><br /><p>Read the full story in today's <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/09/AR2007070901476.html">Washington Post</a>.</p><p>Side note: How good does "<a href="http://www.focusfeatures.com/talktome/">Talk to Me</a>" look? Don Cheadle does it again, bringing to the screen the story of DC radio and TV personality Ralph "Petey" Greene.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-49216384375745681992007-03-29T06:42:00.000-04:002007-03-29T06:47:19.390-04:00Tuskegee Airmen in DCToday 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.<br /><br />Nice story with video in <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032802509.html">The Washington Post</a> and it made the front page of today's print edition.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-49816243942250240562007-03-24T09:11:00.000-04:002007-03-24T09:12:49.798-04:00ABFF 2007 in Los AngelesSUBMIT YOUR FILM NOW!<br /><br />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. <a href="outbind://8-00000000B5BD02E7B2F9754FB8847F42D8042439A4763B00/mission.html" target="_blank">Click here to read more about the ABFF Mission</a>. Take home one of the fest’s indie film awards, cash prizes and more...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-48824491386996371252007-02-24T10:10:00.000-05:002008-11-13T07:30:36.881-05:00Now on Comcast OnDemand<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qwh344qC67g/ReBVjjPnjxI/AAAAAAAAAAw/uxxiwOAbXnU/s1600-h/starzinblack.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035118452644744978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qwh344qC67g/ReBVjjPnjxI/AAAAAAAAAAw/uxxiwOAbXnU/s320/starzinblack.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />PROUD is now available to <a href="http://www.comcast.com">Comcast</a> subscribers who receive <a href="http://www.starz.com/appmanager/seg/s?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=starz_inblack" target="_blank">Starz inBlack</a>.<br /><br />Watch PROUD anytime for free as part of your Comcast subscription!<br /><br />Now through March 22, 2007Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-36965505255757893602007-02-19T16:05:00.000-05:002008-11-13T07:30:37.081-05:00PROUD in NYT Movies<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qwh344qC67g/RdoSjzPnjwI/AAAAAAAAAAk/_bj-JKUDq7Q/s1600-h/nytlogo153x23.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033355939800387330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qwh344qC67g/RdoSjzPnjwI/AAAAAAAAAAk/_bj-JKUDq7Q/s320/nytlogo153x23.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Jason Buchanan of the All Movie Guide gives a nice description of PROUD for the <a href="http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=325665">Movies section</a> of the New York Times. </div><div></div><br /><div>Also it's worth checking out the review just to get a look at the <a href="http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/trailer.html?v_id=325665">new trailer</a> Lions Gate produced for the DVD release.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-50259799134986979142007-02-04T09:56:00.000-05:002007-02-04T10:08:32.052-05:00PROUD on Starz inBlack<a href="http://www.ussmason.org/images/starz_500.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.ussmason.org/images/starz_500.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p>PROUD will be broadcast in February and again in late March on <a href="http://www.starz.com/appmanager/seg/s?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=starz_inblack" target="_blank">Starz inBlack</a>.<br /><br />Broadcast dates include:<br /><br />Saturday February 24<br />Wednesday February 28<br />Monday March 12<br />Thursday March 22<br />Friday March 23<br />Tuesday March 27<br />Wednesday March 28<br /><br />Check the <a href="http://www.starz.com/appmanager/seg/s?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=starz_inblack" target="_blank">Starz inBlack</a> schedule for times.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1156892797224572152006-08-29T19:05:00.000-04:002006-08-29T19:06:37.236-04:00Never Forget New Orleans<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2747/2174/1600/remember.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2747/2174/320/remember.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Listen to <a href="http://rhaplinks.real.com/rhaplink?type=playlist&title=%24title%24&amp;rhapid=2224490&from=Unknown&ref=blog">Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans</a> via Rhapsody performed by:<br /><br />Rosemary Clooney<br />Earl "Fatha" Hines And His Band<br />Pete Fountain<br />Billie Holiday<br />N'Awlins Gumbo Kings<br />Louis ArmstrongUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1155828191433488262006-08-17T06:11:00.000-04:002006-08-17T11:23:11.446-04:00Because things still aren't rightSpike Lee's documentary "<a href="http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/whentheleveesbroke/">When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts</a>" premieres on HBO on Monday August 21st. This will be very hard to watch but there is no way to not watch it. <br /><br />A lot of people talk about how America <em>should</em> be. Mr. Lee shows us how America <em>is</em> in "When The Levees Broke." <br /><br />I hope you can watch. As the director said in an interview, "Because things still aren't right."<br /><br />Here are a couple of related stories:<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/17/AR2006081700330.html">Washington Post</a><br /><a href="http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-6/115579710660150.xml&coll=1">The Times-Picayune</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1153939892733098022006-07-26T14:46:00.000-04:002006-07-26T14:51:32.743-04:00Remembering Carl BrashearThe 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 <a href="http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=108110&ran=175615">The Virginia Pilot</a> can be found here. It is of further interest as it includes a comments section where people write about knowing or meeting Mr. Brashear.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1151794174331105832006-07-01T18:40:00.000-04:002006-07-01T18:49:34.343-04:00In Honor of Lloyd RichardsPlease take a few minutes to read about the accomplishments of theater director Lloyd Richards who has passed at the age of 87. The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/01/theater/01richards.html">New York Times</a> has the story.<br /><br />He worked with many greats and cultivated actors and playwrights. He directed Ruby Dee in "A Raisin in the Sun."<br /><br />Mr. Richards was also a World War II veteran. He was a volunteer in the Army Air Corps and was training with the Tuskegee Airmen when the war ended.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1151206095262644082006-06-24T23:22:00.000-04:002006-06-24T23:28:57.360-04:00PROUD on Comcast On Demand<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/1600/ComLogo.gif"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/320/ComLogo.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you subscribe to Comcast Cable, PROUD is now available for $3.99 for a 24 hour rental.<br /><br />Just use your remote to go to <a href="http://comcast.p.delivery.net/m/p/com/mic/index.asp">On Demand</a>, and click on Movies.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1150490370128975302006-06-16T05:58:00.000-04:002006-06-16T16:39:30.150-04:00USS Mason in NYC<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/1600/news05252006019.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 157px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px" height="197" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/320/news05252006019.jpg" width="173" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Late May - early June means Fleet Week in New York City and here's a great photo from the event. Pictured above is Ensign Brandon McPherson of the <em>new</em> <a href="http://www.mason.navy.mil/">USS Mason, DDG 87</a>.<br /><br />Photo Credit: Elizabeth Lippmann, New York PostUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1150024218593234652006-06-11T06:31:00.000-04:002006-06-11T07:10:18.610-04:00Music and the MovieJune of course, is Black Music Month. And music serves as the jumping off point and provides much of the framework for PROUD.<br /><br />At the beginning of the film in present day, Lorenzo DuFau's grandson (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1653125/">Albert Jones</a>) and friends (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1653134/">Jeffrey Nash</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0367510/">Eric LaRay Harvey</a>) awaken DuFau (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001115/">Ossie Davis</a>) with some booming base. DuFau's memories of a World War II singer (Inga Davis) then carry us back to wartime and the beginnings of the story of the Mason. In an early scene, the simple act of watching white performers on the ship almost leads to a riot in port in Charleston, South Carolina.<br /><br />Ultimately, and rightly so, music was a positive uplifting element to the crew during the war. Liberty in New York meant visits to the legendary clubs of Harlem. And Church music helped see them through the hard times of war, too.<br /><br />You can listen to some <a href="http://rhaplinks.real.com/rhaplink?type=playlist&title=%24title%24&rhapid=1871155&from=Unknown&ref=blog&ref=blog">PROUD The Movie</a>-era hits here via RhapLink. Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, Lester Young, Erskine Hawkins and more. All songs from Billboard's Harlem Hit Parade.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1148215739953585812006-05-21T08:41:00.000-04:002006-05-21T09:06:39.266-04:00Regarding Thomas Young's Uniform<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/1600/young_csm.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/320/young_csm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A recent email posed a question about <a href="http://www.proudthemovie.com/pages/young_aboard.html">the costume worn by PROUD's Darnell Williams</a>, who portrayed Thomas Young, the reporter on board the USS <em>Mason</em>. The email stated that while reporters did wear uniforms, they did not wear officer's uniforms.<br /><br />Good observation and generally true. However, here's a picture of Mr. Young on board the USS <em>Mason</em>, published in the Norfolk Journal and Guide on September 2, 1944.<br /><br />Young (right) was one of a small group of African American war correspondents. If it weren't for reporters like Thomas Young, the black community back home would have had almost no way of finding out about the heroism of African American troops during World War II.<br /><br />Pictured with Young is Lt. Edward Ross, the <em>Mason's</em> Executive Officer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1147637219285636062006-05-14T16:03:00.000-04:002006-05-14T16:06:59.303-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/1600/netflix.0.gif"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/320/netflix.0.gif" border="0" /></a><br />PROUD is now available from <a href="http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=70048531&trkid=189530&strkid=2820917_1_0">NETFLIX</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1147299789941088652006-05-10T18:19:00.000-04:002006-05-10T18:23:09.956-04:00<strong> In my mailbox today ...<br /></strong><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/1600/blog_dvd.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/320/blog_dvd.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1147046415748091712006-05-07T19:58:00.000-04:002006-05-07T20:00:15.763-04:00<strong>Amazon.com Now Shipping</strong><br /><br />I just received a notification from Amazon that my copies of PROUD on DVD have shipped. I hope yours have too!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1146525446719800402006-05-01T19:12:00.000-04:002006-05-01T19:17:26.733-04:00<strong>The Message Gets Out</strong><br /><br />Grandmaster Flash had The Message and so does PROUD. My sources (and they are good sources) tell me the showing in the Bronx was a sellout on Sunday. <br /><br />Plus, PROUD on DVD has jumped from around 16000 a couple of days ago to number 5463 today in the sales rankings on Amazon.com.<br /><br />Two words: Thank you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1146235780235029302006-04-28T06:43:00.000-04:002006-04-28T10:50:17.513-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/1600/dvd_cover.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/320/dvd_cover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>PROUD Available on DVD!</strong><br /><br />Release Date is set for May 9, put you can pre-order it from Amazon using the link to the right.<br /><br />Lions Gate Home Entertainment is the distributor, and oh by the way, they are also the distributor for the outstanding <a href="http://www.akeelahandthebee.com/splash.html">Akeelah and The Bee</a> which opens in theaters today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1145961949199731422006-04-24T18:44:00.000-04:002006-04-25T12:27:34.906-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/1600/poster_small.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7651/356/320/poster_small.1.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">See PROUD in The Bronx<br /></span></strong><br />Through the special efforts of New York City Council member <a href="http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/member_details.cfm?con_id=45" target="_blank">Helen Foster</a> PROUD will show in a Special Engagement <strong>April 30, May 1, May 2</strong> in the Bronx at the <a href="http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=29&exid=nai" target="_blank">Concourse Plaza Multiplex Cinema</a>. The movie will screen at <strong>5:00 PM</strong> each day.<br /><br />Council Member Foster was the first African American woman elected to a New York City Office from Bronx County. She was elected Co-Chair of the Council's Black, Latino and Asian Caucus.<br /><br />Thank you so much to Ms. Foster for her work in getting PROUD shown in her district!<br /><br />Please take a moment to <a href="http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/email_form.cfm?con_id=45">contact her office</a> and say thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1144287751948933902006-04-05T21:42:00.001-04:002006-04-05T21:48:31.320-04:00<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56098982@N00/123565771/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/39/123565771_3860282947_m.jpg" /></a><br /></div><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Photo of the Day</span></strong></p><p>Photo of the day on <a href="http://www.dcist.com/">DCist</a>: The World War II Monument in Washington DC.<br clear="all"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56098982@N00/123565771/">Stars</a> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/56098982@N00/">nayr</a>. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1143804985436982682006-03-31T06:25:00.000-05:002006-03-31T06:37:06.660-05:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Some Good News on the "Digital Divide"</strong><br /></span><br />I remember President Clinton talking about this ten years ago but as one might imagine I haven't heard or seen much about it in recent years. This is a very <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/us/31divide.html?hp&ex=1143867600&amp;en=1f2932d1bfa86422&ei=5094&partner=homepage">upbeat story in today's New York Times</a>. There's been progress and the drop in hardware costs has helped but high school is still way too late to be introduced to the internet.<br /><br />But this story does illustrate some positive steps. And yes, the "Billy Johnson" referred to in the article is in fact the NFL's legendary "<a href="http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/coachbio.jsp?id=10779">White Shoes</a>!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1142824554482956872006-03-19T22:14:00.000-05:002006-03-19T22:15:54.496-05:00<strong><span style="font-size:130%;">ABFF Writers' Lab</span></strong><br /><br />Calling All Screenwriters!<br /><br />Are you a writer on the path to becoming a professional screenwriter? If so, it's time to hone your craft. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, American Black Film Festival (ABFF), in association with HBO Films, will host a seminar for up to six qualifying writers designed to provide career guidance for emerging screenwriters.<br /><br />The HBO Writers Lab is a mentoring program that will offer practical insights into what to expect from script writing as a profession, with the goal of providing an encouraging and supportive environment in which to openly discuss story, the creative and "notes" process, and the challenges of writing under the guidelines of others. The session will be led by HBO Films’ vice president, Sam Martin, who oversees the development and production of feature-length projects for HBO Films. Among her most recent projects are the Emmy® and Golden Globe-winning "Lackawanna Blues" and "Empire Falls," as well as "Sometimes in April."<br /><br />The HBO Writers Lab will assist in preparing selected participants for collaboration within the studio system and beyond. For entry applications, please visit <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.abff.com">www.abff.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1142100164377886652006-03-11T12:52:00.000-05:002006-03-11T13:02:44.390-05:00<strong>Getting PROUD in ... Idaho</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />On Sunday March 5th, PROUD's Denise Nicholas was the special guest for the <a href="http://www.ibhm.org/">Idaho Black History Museum's</a> reception and screening of the film. On Saturday there was a reading and book signing for Ms. Nicholas' new novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932841105/104-9270925-4983160?v=glance&n=283155">Freshwater Road</a>, a story about a woman's journey into adulthood during the political and social upheavals of the civil rights movement. A portion of book sales purchased from the museum will go support its programs and activities.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12093716.post-1141786680829725042006-03-07T21:42:00.000-05:002006-03-07T22:19:43.240-05:00<strong>Rebuild the New Orleans Library</strong><br /><br />Much of the New Orleans Public Library system was destroyed by Katrina. For example, in the hard hit lower Ninth, there was "nothing salvageable" at the MLK Branch. <br /><br />The <a href="http://nutrias.org/mlking/mlkphotographs.htm">photos are hard to look at</a>, but important to see.<br /><br />The <a href="http://nutrias.org/">New Orleans Public Library</a> is asking for any and all hardcover<br />and paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to restock<br />the shelves after Katrina. The staff will assess which titles will<br />be designated for its collections. The rest will be distributed to<br />destitute families or sold for library fundraising. Please send your<br />books to:<br /><br /><strong>Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations<br />New Orleans Public Library<br />219 Loyola Avenue<br />New Orleans, LA 70112</strong><br /><br />If you tell the post office that they are for the library in New<br />Orleans, they will give you the library rate which is slightly less<br />than the book rate.<br /><br />We are donating a number of books including new copies of "Proudly We Served."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0