Category Archives: film

Mumia, Inc. (Second In A Long-Running Series)

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Here’s a blurb from Entertainment Weekly about my filmmaker friends.

And the award for Most Unlikely Announcement the Week goes to Colin Firth (Love, Actually) and Livia Giuggioli-Firth. The married couple are producing In Prison My Whole Life, a feature documentary about a young white British man named William Francome with an unusual connection to controversial death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal. ”He was born on the day that [Philadelphia police] officer Daniel Faulkner was shot,” explains Firth, ”[which is] the crime for which Mumia was condemned [to death]. Francome’s [American] mother, being something of an activist, made him aware of this all his life. Every birthday has marked the incarceration of this man on the other side of the world across this huge cultural distance. It’s connected him with something that would otherwise be very, very far away.” 

Firth, who only learned of the Abu-Jamal case after his wife introduced him to Francome, is working with director Marc Evans (My Little Eye, Snow Cake) to follow Francome’s exploration of the case and its place in the development of African-American culture and political awareness over the last quarter-century. ”We’re not really taking a position of who is innocent or not of that crime,” says Firth (who is nonetheless firmly against the death penalty), ”but more the fact that Mumia himself has become such a catalyst for political passion on both sides of the argument.” Firth and Giuggioli-Firth plan to have the film completed in time to screen at next year’s Cannes Film Festival.

I Know You're Watching This Tomorrow Night

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National PBS Premiere on P.O.V.
Tuesday, September 19 at 10 p.m.
(check your local listings) 

In the wake of his stepfather’s death, Thomas Allen Harris embarks on a journey of reconciliation with the man who raised him as a son but whom he could never call “father.” As part of the first wave of black South African exiles, Harris’s stepfather, B. Pule Leinaeng, and his eleven comrades left their home in Bloemfontein in 1960. They told the world about the brutality of the apartheid system and raised support for the fledgling African National Congress and its leader, Nelson Mandela. Drawing upon the memories of the surviving disciples and their families, along with the talent of young South African actors who portray their harrowing experiences, “Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela” tells an intimate story of family and home against the backdrop of a global movement for freedom. A co-production of the Independent Television Service (ITVS), in association with P.O.V./American Documentary and the National Black Programming Consortium.

See "American Blackout" To Find The Missing Black Vote

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If you’re in La La, here’s an important film on Black voting suppression. Ask Sundance.

 “American Blackout” Comes To Los Angeles

An award-winning exposé that chronicles systemic attempts to undermine the Black vote from 2000 to 2004.

We’ve told you about continued attempts to suppress the Black vote across the country and given you ways to take action. Now we want to let you know about a powerful film that brings the issue of voter suppression to the big screen— “American Blackout,” by GNN‘s acclaimed director Ian Inaba.

“American Blackout” is a jarring yet entertaining film that paints a comprehensive picture of voter suppression in 2000 and 2004. It has already won numerous awards, including the prestigious Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The film features never before seen footage that captures the tactics used to suppress the Black vote, testimonials from members of Congress, stories from Black voters denied the right to vote, and even those involved in perpetrating suppression.

In screenings across the country—from the rural Midwest to urban centers—“American Blackout” has galvanized audiences that care about the health of this country’s democracy.

“American Blackout” is an important tool for educating ourselves and others, and ultimately for saving our democracy. Not only does it lay bare the problems of our democracy—it also helps us understand what it will take to fight back, and inspires action.

We believe this film has the potential to start a national dialogue and expose how partisan interests systemically push eligible voters out of the political process. It could help everyone to come to terms with the systemic disenfranchisement that has plagued democracy in this country.

Please join us in watching this important film.

For more info or to see the trailer, visit the American Blackout website.

Thank You and Peace,

— James, Van, Gabriel, Clarissa, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team

Mumia, Inc. (First In A Long-Running Series)

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In other anniversary news, more and more folks working on documentary films as the 25th anniversary of the Faulkner fatal shooting approaches this December.

From Philadelphia City Paper:

Shame of the City II: Mumia Returns

Wynnefield filmmaker Tigre Hill is in preproduction on a documentary examining what happened at 13th and Locust streets on Dec. 9, 1981, when Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was shot and killed by Mumia Abu-Jamal .

Hill has tackled controversial topics before. His last documentary, Shame of a City, chronicled the 2003 mayoral race between Democratic Mayor John Street and Republican challenger Sam Katz . It followed the campaign through the FBI bug found in the mayor’s office and the convictions of Street fundraiser Ron White and City Treasurer Corey Kemp .

In his new project, with a working title of 13th and Locust, Hill said he wants to show what really happened that night and explore the international Abu-Jamal phenomenon.

He expects to conduct extensive interviews with numerous subjects from both the Faulkner and Abu-Jamal sides.

“What I really want is to interview Abu-Jamal’s brother,” said Hill, “because I don’t think he has ever testified.” He declined to say if he was taking a position on Abu-Jamal’s guilt, and has no plans to try to interview Abu-Jamal, aka Wesley Cook , who was convicted of fatally shooting Faulkner in the face after the officer had stopped his younger brother for a traffic citation.

The Free Mumia movement grew out of supporters who claim Abu-Jamal was framed; two out of the four witnesses on the street, who identified Abu-Jamal as the killer, later changed their statements, and the gun found near the scene was never confirmed to be the murder weapon. Abu-Jamal never testified at his own trial, maintaining he had inadequate legal representation. A jury convicted Abu-Jamal and he was sent to death row. Then, a district judge overturned Abu-Jamal’s death sentence in 2001 because of discrepancies during the trial. There was no new trial, but the prosecution appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate the death penalty. If that effort is successful, Gov. Ed Rendell , who was district attorney at the time of the murder, would have to sign Abu-Jamal’s death warrant.

Hill said a main component of the film will be the number of organizations and individuals who rallied around Abu-Jamal. With supporters contending Abu-Jamal never got a fair trial and that he was set up by “the white man,” he’s become the poster boy for political prisoners and those that oppose the death penalty.

In April, a street in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis was named after Abu-Jamal, causing a stir here. Yesterday, at 15th and Cherry streets, a large rally was scheduled for the American Friends Service Committee to welcome a French delegation that intends to defend the street naming.

Hill said he is not concerned that there have been several documentaries about Abu-Jamal over the years, such as The Framing of an Execution in 2001 narrated by Danny Glover . Hill said that film was biased and only showed one point of view.

Meanwhile, I mentioned here previously about some documentary filmmakers from the other side of the pond who are here doing a documentary about a young activist who was born the night of the Faulkner shooting. Here is a profile of one of them. The story mentions the film.

While you’re at it, check out the new CD “Who Is Mumia Abu-Jamal?” by Nex Millen/Retrospective. The debut work takes Abu-Jamal’s audio essays from 1993 to 1996 and places them in musical perspective, using great beats and melodies. The recorded asides—exiled Black Panther Assata Shakur and the late poet/activist Allen Ginsberg calls for support—are also well-produced. Shakur’s music, in particular, is the correct combination of beauty (of Abu-Jamal’s writing) and tragedy (of his confinement). Longtime listeners will find that Millen’s music adds greatly, making the essays (“Death is a campaign poster, a stepping stone to public office”) new to the ear. The unfamiliar will be doubly hypnotized as Abu-Jamal explains how racism and capitalism combine to oppress groups and individuals.

Doing For Self (More Katrina From The Prism Of Black Media)

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Here’s the press release and trailer link to the Nation of Islam’s Katrina documentary.

The provocative new documentary ‘The Unmasking of New Orleans’ includes exclusive, never-before-seen coverage and reports revealing the true nature of events in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 22, 2006 — On the eve of the one-year anniversary of what is the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, the provocative new documentary The Unmasking of New Orleans, produced by Final Call Incorporated (FCI) Broadcasting was released.

The ongoing struggle of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina is being swept away from the minds of the public as swiftly as the floodwaters washed away properties and lives when the levees breached. Is there truth to the numerous reports of rapes and murders? Who is going to tell the story of the heroic acts of the young men and women portrayed
as senseless looters by the mainstream media? It is important to obtain the truth.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan commissioned a crew from The Final Call newspaper to travel to New Orleans and film this documentary about the conditions and concerns that our people face since Hurricane Katrina, which the world must not be allowed to ignore, as we near the one-year anniversary of what is the worst natural disaster in U.S.
history.

Included in the documentary are insightful perspectives from New Orleans Councilman Oliver Thomas, Author Michael Eric Dyson, community activist “Mama D” as well as the nameless and faceless residents whose stories have not been told in this way before.

Bonus footage includes a visual tour of the Lower Ninth Ward featuring a conversation between Minister Farrakhan and New Orleans residents.

To view a trailer for ‘The Unmasking of New Orleans’ go to
http://www.finalcall.com/katrina.

Interviews and perspectives are available upon request.

The Child's Choice That Won't Go Away

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I heard about it, but I didn’t see it until today. While sitting at my desk reading about Philadelphia’s Civil Rights and Black Power movements, my filmmaker nephew, Andrew Burroughs, sent me a link to a recent documentary about shadism and Black self-hate that should be seen and forwarded around to everyone.

“Check this out it’s really disturbing,” he told me in the message field. “This is one of the reasons I’m a filmmaker.”

You’ve heard of that doll test from 1954, right? Long time ago, right? Well, think again. I’ve heard about this update for a while now, but this was the first time I’ve actually seen it. Here’s an article on the issue by my hero, Hazel Trice Edney.

The Afros and the dashikis and “Black Is Beautiful” were supposed to fix this. But as someone who constantly grapples with his own shadism (and classism) issues, I know this is a hard problem to lick.

Katrina Appointment Television

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And then the waters came. They clearly haven’t left our psyches yet—and they shouldn’t.

Anyway, Richard Prince has, as usual, done a great public service. The “Journal-isms” columnist compiled this list of Katrina network and cable coverage. The electronic onslaught starts tomorrow or so.

(Also, if you missed Spike’s documentary, the entire thing—both parts, all four acts—will air on HBO again Tuesday night.) For those with satellite or digital cable, here’s the full schedule on where and when it’ll air on HBO’s “family” of channels AFTER Tuesday.

"Militant" Black Films Wanted

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Found this email from St. Clair Bourne in my box this morn:

“MILITANT” BLACK FILMS WANTED

Isaac Julien, the veteran Black Brit filmmaker (and now video art installation-ist) is beginning to curate a show of films (docs, shorts or dramas) about the Black Panther movement in the States and other interesting and unusual films with Black Power, Black-Is-Beautiful or Black Liberation Movement themes that might have been made during that time or even in the present. He’s open to experimental films and videos that may have an art approach to that subject matter, whether made at the time or since that time.

It is for a film program at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid next year and they will pay fees for the rental and transportation of all films and videos.

He can also pay a research fee if you are interested in doing research in this area to help compile a list and bibliography with small descriptions of works.

Anyone who is interested can contact Isaac Julien in London at 011 44 207 837 9881 or through e-mail Isaac.julien@orange.net

St.Clair Bourne,
CHAMBA NOTES