Reelblack mourns the
loss this weekend of comedian Bernie Mac and Oscar-winning songwriter
Isaac Hayes.
Ironically, both appear
in Malcolm Lee's upcoming comedy SOUL
MEN with Samuel L. Jackson and John Legend, to be released
this November.
Reelblack TV's Big
Sis had the opportunity to interview Bernie Mac at the red carpet
premiere of PRIDE, where he had some very interesting comments
about the roles he thought in the future. You can check it out
here:
Reelblack recommends
"The Original Kings of Comedy," "The Bernie Mac
Show: Season One" and "Life" on DVD.
Isaac Hayes had an
incredible career. Over five decades--from co-writing many hits
for Sam and Dave at Stax Records to voicing the role of Chef on
South Park, his talent touched millions of people. He is still
perhaps best known for writing the Oscar winning "Theme From
Shaft." Below is a youtube clip demonstrating his compositional
style. The full "making-of" can be found on the original
single-disc DVD of SHAFT.:
Reelblack also recommends
the incredible "Wattstax" "Stax: Soul Comes Home"
and "Truck Turner" DVDs.
WE'RE
A WINNER!
Thanks to
everyone who made our BEST IN PHILLY SHORT FILM SHOWCASE A Success.
Special thanks to all our filmmakers and Bill Duke and our Friends
at FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT, who provided giveaways for the night.
*****
PHILLY
FILMMAKERS ARE DOING BIG THINGS
Ben
Foster on Montel Williams on July 9!
TIVO ALERT!
Best In Philly Short
Showcase Alum BEN FOSTER will appear on the "Montel Williams"
show on JULY 9th (check local listings for airtime & channel)
Ben will be featured
as a young Entrepreneur. He will be talking about his films, new
book & upcoming projects.
When you purchase a copy of the "KID PATROL" book for
only $10.00, you will receive a free copy of his Award-winning
"KID PATROL"
movie Limited time offer July 2nd-July15th.
(Book may be ordered
through Ben's website) To learn more about Ben Foster or for bookings,
visit his website; www.benfosterfilms.com
*****
Early
Mike D. Film Streaming Exclusively on ChrisRock.com
Reelblack founder Mike
D's early student film, WHO IS CHRIS ROCK (1989) is now streaming
exclusively at www.chrisrock.com
under the "Videos" heading.
The 9 minute short
is the earliest documentary portrait of the now legendary stand
up comedian, who just launched a line of Hallmark greeting cards
(available at Wal-Mart) and will appear live at the Borgata Hotel
on August 15.
*****
Robert
X. Golphin's Latest Film To Debut at The Downbeach Film Festival
Reelblack TV's Robert
X. Golphin's New film to Premiere August 8th. Please make sure
to join the cast and crew of "Beautiful Man In The Buff"
at the first Downbeach
Film Festival in New Jersey on Friday, August 8th, 2008 at
1130AM.
The short subject drama
was written and produced by, and stars Robert X. Golphin (The
Great Debaters), and is based on the Parisi Award finalist feature
length screenplay. For More details, please visit http://robertxgolphin.com/news.html
Bryan
Greene A Winner at The Newark Black Film Festival
Best In Philly Short
Film Showcase Alum Bryan Greene received Honorable Mention, Short
Film for his Project, Something In The Way Of Things, a music
video/experimental film featuring the words of Amiri Baraka and
the music of the Roots. It will screen several times between July
30 and August 1 in Newark, Trenton and Asbury Park. Visit for
http://www.newarkmuseum.org/museum_pages.aspx?id=240
details.
*****
JUSTICE
FOR HER Wins At Philafilm
Justice For Her, directed
by Aginah Carter-Shabazz, produced by Bianca M. White and Aginah
Carter-Shabazz, Editor Les Rivera, Cameraman Charles Gossett with
music composed by Emmy Award-winning Rodney Wittenberg recently
received the SILVER AWARD at the 2008 Philafilm Festival in the
Documentary category. The trailer for JFH was screened as part
of Reelblack's Best In Philly Short Film Showcase in May. Congrats!
*****
Ursula
Rucker on WHYY's On Demand
Ursula Rucker, the
subject of Reelblack's forthcoming documentary entitled POET,
is currently featured on Comcast Cable's WHYY On Demand.
To find it, select:
On Demand; >>
Get Local; >> WHYY;
Arts and Culture; >>
On Canvas; >> and then Ursula Rucker.
****
Get
Well, Big Sis
Big Sis, Reelblack
TV's very first on-air host was recently involved in a freak fall
which landed her in the hospital with broken bones in both her
legs. We're happy to report she's in good spirits and on the mend.
If you wish to send her a get well greeting, feel free to email
it to info@reelblack.com
and we'll forward them her way or you can post a message on her
myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/llimar
*****
Upcoming
Screenings and Events
Reelblack Presents
PARIS BLUES This Friday at The Urban Education
Center, 7PM
Soul Food Cinema Presents
ALL ABOUT US Friday July 18 at Point of Destination
Cafe
Reelblack, UrbanPhilly
and Uwishunu Present A GOOD DAY TO BE BLACK AND SEXY,
Thursday July 31, The Bridge Cinemas
Reelblack recently
had the opportunity to chat with John Witherspoon of The Wayans
Brothers and Boondocks fame. He was very candid with us, providing
insights on his 30 plus years in Hollywood. click the image above
to check it out.
Actor/ Director BILL
DUKE's (Predator/Deep Cover) latest film, the controversial thriller
COVER was shot entirely in the City of Philadelphia. It is being
released nationally to DVD on Tuesday May 13 by Fox Video.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
click any image to order your copy through amazon.com
COVER: Valerie Maas
(Aunjanue Ellis) is a happy homemaker whose life falls apart when
she discovers her husband of 15 years has been leading a double
life -- and that his extracurricular activities may have exposed
her to the AIDS virus. Vivica A. Fox and Louis Gossett Jr. co-star
in director Bill Duke's thoughtful and complex drama examining
the repercussions of the "down low" lifestyle.
Reelblack and Fox are
giving you a chance to win a copy of this great new film on the
day it hits video stores.
click image
for more details about this event
Simply
attend our BEST IN PHILLY SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
this Tuesday night
at International House,
3701 Chestnut Street (7pm) this Tuesday May 13. One lucky
ticket holder will win a copy of COVER. We will also
be giving away 1 copy each of the following just-released DVDs
also courtesy of Fox:
NORA'S HAIR SALON 2
A heart warming and funny story of Nora's beloved salon after
she willed it to her two nieces, Lilliana (Tatyana Ali) who wants
to keep the salon and Simone (Stacey Dash) who wants to sell it.
The two estranged cousins are forced to evaluate the true meaning
of happiness and the genuine value of family. www.blackchristianmovies.com
A GOOD MAN IS HARD
TO FIND
Based on the musical
stage play of the same name, A Good Man Is Hard to Find, is the
story of three women who each undergo romantic crises that challenge
their personal and spiritual relationships. Each must overcome
personal demons, resist temptations and withstand bad decisions
so they can learn how to find and hold on to, a good man.
Can't make
the event? Keep posted for more chances to win as the
Summer moves forward.
click the image above to check out Reelblack's
exclusive coverage of the Philly cast and crew screening for COVER
in February.
