ffrom fastocreate.com
We’re guessing that issues of social justice are more important to you in your storytelling than what might sell in Hollywood, but we think it can’t hurt to know what topics are in the zeitgeist – as well as some things to avoid. This interactive graphic gives an overall view of many ‘problems’ a professional script reader found in recent script submissions. Take them with a grain of salt – and then get back to telling your story! Click HERE for the graphic and blog post.
from Fox.com
Both Sleepy Hollow and Almost Human have ‘interracial’ pairings. Nichole Beharie (Sleepy Hollow) and Michael Ealy (Almost Human) are really strong actors and I’m thrilled they have the opportunity to lead (at least co-lead) TV shows. Both hour-long dramas also include dialogue and story lines that look squarely at the issues of ‘race’ and racism. Here’s a terrific post by Slate TV critic Willa Paskin (@willapaskin) – with specific examples from both shows: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2013/11/almost_human_and_sleepy_hollow_reviewed.html
Unfortunately – as I stated on the post about The Neighbors – the networks are still limiting these relationships to science fiction themes, but it’s a start.
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We are thrilled to launch Episode 1 of the MXRS Podcast – bringing you the story behind the stories. Our first several episodes are in partnership with the Asian American Literary Review and its Mixed Race Initiative. Editor-in-Chief Lawrence-Minh Búi Davis is our first guest. Join us as our conversation winds its way through language, how we identify ourselves, the origins of the Mixed Race Initiative and its components, making our work more accessible, and much more. TRANSCRIPT: MXRS Episode 1 Lawrence-Minh Búi Davis To SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES – click here: MXRS: The Stories Behind the Story
Lawrence with Interns: Carrie Wolford, Andrew Mayton, Maggie Yiin, Esther Kwon and Thornton McKinney
GoodDocs.net is a a new distribution company that lends support to filmmakers in a number of ways:
1) They can help you sell your film in the educational market
2) They can help you develop a curriculum for your film to make it more attractive to schools
3) They arrange speaking engagements for the filmmakers whose films they represent
4) They can offer consultations on grantwriting
5) They can help with the research in pre-production all the way through distribution
We are eager to see your Mixed Roots Story on film – and GoodDocs.net might be the perfect partner to help you complete and distribute your film!
Here’s the link to the website: http://www.gooddocs.net/
We’re so excited about this! Lenny Kravitz will play Christopher Walken’s son in Little Rootie Tootie – a film about a family of jazz musicians. They begin principal photography in January, which means the film’s release is at least a year away – but we’ll keep you posted on any updates.
Garcelle Beauvais has been in a number of TV shows and films, and she’s also the co-author of children’s book I Am Mixed (here’s the link to our post about the book: https://mixedrootsstories.com/i-am-mixed-reserve-your-copy-today/
Beauvais is in a new film by Ghanaian filmmaker Leila Djansi; here’s a blog post with pictures from the production: http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/exclusive-1st-look-pics-poster-for-leila-djansis-and-then-there-was-you-starring-garcelle-beauvais?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
We screened this wonderful film at the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival, and the film went on the screen at several other festival and garner awards. If you are interested in, or planning to, make a documentary film about the Mixed experience, we highly recommend you watch this one so you’re aware of what has already been done.
Here’s the link to the website where you can purchase the film: http://www.twn.org/catalog/pages/cpage.aspx?rec=1363&card=price
from abc.com
If you are at all interested in media representations of the Mixed experience, The Neighbors is an important situation comedy to watch. It airs on ABC at 8:30 (7:30 Central) and is in its second season. The show centers around two families: The Weavers – Debbie, Marty and their three children – are a ‘white’ urban family that has moved to a gated community in search of a quieter life. Their neighbors are aliens from the fictional planet Zabvron – and they are a Mixed family. The father is European, and his name is Larry Bird (they adopted human names to try and fit in). The mother is also European, and she’s played by the wonderful actress Toks Olagundoye (whose father is Nigerian and mother is Norwegian). Her character’s name is Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Their children are Dick Butkus (‘white’ red-haired Ian Patrick) and Reggie Jackson (Tim Jo, who is Korean American). The ‘interracial’ pairings in the show include: Larry Bird and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (in a not-as-common ‘white’ man/’black’ woman match), and Reggie Jackson falls in love with the Weaver’s teenage daughter, Amber. In the second season Amber and Reggie continue to solidify their relationship, especially when it becomes threatened by a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Zabvronian who insists she is Reggie’s soul mate. Although the writing sometimes falls back on cliches and stereotypes, the actors are really strong and when the writing is good there is a lot to ponder here about ‘race’ and racism.
from abc.com
The first season is out on DVD and if you have time over the holidays, I’d recommend watching it from the beginning. If you want to check out one episode to see if you like it, Season 2, Episode 4 is a particularly poignant show on the Mixed experience. Jackie and Debbie have become best friends (another wonderfully portrayed ‘interracial’ relationship), but Jackie has been feeling neglected – so Debbie offers to do anything that Jackie wants to do. Jackie has an appointment to get her hair done at a ‘black’ hair care salon in LA., not everything you presume will happen happens as a result. The show doesn’t shy away from some relevant contemporary topics – and for a sitcom I was impressed at its approach.
BUT, the fact remains that the interracial couple is made of aliens – a harsh reminder that Hollywood still isn’t completely ready to embrace Mixed relationships in ways the rest of us have been doing for centuries.
One of our favorite media blogs, Shadow and Act, is running this short film contest. If the story you tell includes the African Diaspora experience – submit your work – and let us know how it goes!
Here’s the link to the contest: http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/enter-the-s-a-fantastical-short-films-web-series-contest-win-a-cash-prize?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
This is a documentary series by Dash Harris (twitter handle: @InADash) on racial identity and the African Diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean. Click here to learn more about the series: http://negrodocumentary.com/
Here are some quotes about the series from the tumblr blog:
“I was soooo inspired !!! Your project on educating the world about Afro-Latinos through your documentary Negro, is so amazing.” -Jisela Rodriguez
“Though the issue is very sad, it’s beautiful how so many conscious people are in this documentary speaking their stories. I’m a Black-American and I do have relatives from Mexico and I hardly know much about them because I felt we were too different to even get to know each other. This documentary has changed my mind,”
“Viva los afrodescendientes! viva latinos! I love this. I have shared this as much as possible! Keep up the good work”
“Loving this docu-series! I cannot wait to see what’s coming next. Very proud of how this project is portraying *us*! -Lidia Anain
“You have no idea how much your first piece has amazed me in every level. I related to every single second if it. I relate to this documentary so much I cannot even begin to write down all the things that are in my mind…it’s insane to see a series just about me. That is literally me. It has touched me beyond words….I can’t even wrap my head around it. Please keep up the good work. i support you.” -Jasmine Oufkir Cruz