Pic Of The Week (Girl Power)

The Golden Globes aired last night.  Actress Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) shut it down in a gorgeous Ralph Lauren ensemble.  Talk about Girl Power!  Whew.  Gah.  Gorgeous.

Top 10 Things I Learned At BronzeLens Film Festival

I attended the BronzeLens Film Festival for the first time recently in Atlanta.  'Tis was great!  I met some awesome people, learned lots of stuff and was totally inspired by some amazing films.  Here's a snapshot of my take-aways: 

1. Be nice. (Stephanie Allain, Roger Bobb and Reuben Cannon stressed this.)
   
   
2. Know the who, what and why of your project. (The 'pitch')
   
   
3. Submit your films to International Film Festivals.
   
   
4. Allot 30% (roughly) of your film budget for marketing.
   
   
5. Work with people who see the world the same way you do.  -Pearl Cleage
   
   
6. Know and understand copyright laws and distribution tactics.
   
   
7. Learn how to work around issues that get in your way.
   
   
8. Develop your audience. Develop your content.  Sell it to a network.
   
   
9. Identify your passion and be an expert in that.
   
   
10. Hope is not a strategy.

Me and Pearl Cleage 

Change Is A Good Thing: Sparkle 2012

1976

Ok so, I have a confession to make.  When I heard that Hollywood was set to remake the movie Sparkle, I was soooo disappointed. Jordin Sparks as Sparkle?  Whitney Houston as Effe?  I said to myself, self (I call myself 'self'), "Why would anyone want to touch that movie.  Like, why???"  Because...the original version of Sparkle is everything. EVERYTHING. 

It's my favorite movie of all time. I fell in love with it as a kid and I've been in love with it ever since. The story. The characters. The music. They should have called it "Unforgettable" because once you see it, you'll never, ever forget it. The original movie was released in 1976. Over 35 years later, here comes the remake....

Sparkle 2012.  Two-thumbs up!  Brava!  Yeeeessss!      

The remake vs. the original - are there similarities?  Sure.  Is the remake entertaining?  Absolutely.  But, this is a very different movie.  You'll see three sisters who want to sing.  An overprotective mother.  Conflict and consequences.  But, it is....different.  And like most remakes, this version isn't a soulless carbon copy.     

The 2012 story line isn't nearly as gritty as the original.  The characters are familiar, but more flawed and endearing. The music is so freakin' dope (R. Kelly produced the soundtrack)!  And yes, the ending is predictable.  But the road to get there had twists and turns that were layered, complex and full of surprises. 

2012

And Whitney?  One word:  Awesome.  (That being said though, I was totally not prepared in any way to hear her voice.)  Her version of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow?" Jesus. You could hear a pin drop in the theater.  Beautiful.    

As I write this post, I'm having a huge slice of humble pie. Silly me.  My expectations for this film were extremely low. I mean really, does Hollywood ever get it right when it comes to remakes?  Not often.  But, I believe in giving credit where credit is due.
 
This adaptation of the original Sparkle stands on its own. It's a refreshing bright light in a world that believes that reality TV "stars" and Madea are authentic representations of my community.  It's not perfect, but it is inspirational. And it's a great reminder that change is good, if it's in the right direction.  

Most Memorable Lines from "The Help"

Real Quick:  If you haven't seen the movie 'The Help', go check it out.  I won't go into the storyline.  By now, everyone knows...  Some people loved the movie, others despised it.  Make the decision for yourself.  *Click here to read my review of 'The Help'.* 

Love it or hate it, it'll definitely make you pause, think and re-think.  Here are just a few of my favorite lines from 'The Help':    

"You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."  -Aibileen

"Love and hate are two horns on the same goat."  -Charlotte Phelan

"Minnie don't burn no chicken."  -Minnie

"If you can love your enemy, you already have victory."  -Preacher Green

"Eat My Sh*t.  I said.....Eat. My. Sh*t."  -Minnie 

"Courage sometimes skips a generation. Thank you for bringing it back to our family."   -Charlotte Phelan