MCNY Adds a Second Day to 2nd Annual Short Film Festival April 7th and 8th 2011

Moviemakers and MBA students collaborate once again for the Metropolitan College of New York’s 2^nd Annual Media Management Short Film Festival from 6-9 p.m., April 7^th and 8^th in the school’s Conference Center at 431 Canal Street, New York, NY.

“Telling Stories – Shaping Dreams” is the theme for this year’s festival, which includes a moderated movie industry panel and a filmmakers roundtable on April 7^th, followed by the screening of the selected short films on April 8^th. The festival, which grew out a classroom project, has crystallized into a platform for burgeoning filmmakers, and provides real time project management experience for the school’s media management students. The event is a win-win situation for the featured filmmakers and the school says Dr.Tilokie Depoo, Professor & Director of Business Programs for MCNY.

“I am looking forward to this year’s festival and it’s maturation into an established annual industry event,” Depoo says. “This event represents an opportunity for the concretization of theoretical MBA competencies by our students, from the demonstration of their leadership skills, to their ability to work as a team, to their use of organizational and fiscal management skills, while it showcases the wonderful collaborative efforts of our students and the media industry.”

The event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact George Kevin Jordan at 917-701-5540. Information is also available on our Facebook page for “Metropolitan College of New York 2nd Annual Short Film Festival.”

ABOUT MCNY

Founded in 1964 by educational pioneer Audrey Cohen, Metropolitan College of New York has been dedicated to helping students achieve their academic dreams for over 46 years. The only one of its kind in the country, the one-year Master of Business Administration in Media Management at MCNY is a unique Purpose Centered Education program geared towards achievement-oriented, media professionals. The curriculum balances traditional MBA competencies with those particular to the media industry. To accommodate working professionals, classes meet on evenings and weekends. For more information about the school or the Media Management program visit us at www.mcny.edu or call 1-800-33-THINK.

Gay Films hit the Big Screen this 2010 Holiday Season

"Violet Tendencies" is a romantic comedy about Violet, the last of the fag hags who endeavors to leave all her gay friends behind to find a man of her own. The film stars Mindy Cohn (who played Natalie on Facts of Life), Marcus Patrick, Jesse Archer - who also wrote the screenplay, Samuel Whitten, Kim Allen, Adrian Armas, Armand Anthony and Casper Andreas who also directed. It's set to premiere in New York City on November 5th.

I Love You Phillip Morris, Steven Russell is happily married to Debbie, and a member of the local police force when a car accident provokes a dramatic reassessment of his life. Steven becomes open about his homosexuality and decides to live life to the fullest - even if it means breaking the law. Steven's new, extravagant lifestyle involves cons and fraud and, eventually, a stay in the State Penitentiary where he meets sensitive, soft-spoken Phillip Morris. His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life together prompts Steven to attempt and often succeed at one impossible con after another. In theaters December 5th.

Zolra's Corner: The Addiction to Romantic Comedies

Months ago, I began to ask this question in my head. It was right after watching the romantic comedy Along Came Polly, starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston. I have been dieing to see this movie and once I saw it, my love for romantic comedies have returned.

For me, I am not a huge person when it comes to romance. If you come by my house, there will be no Danielle Steel on the bookshelf unless the stories were completely funny. However, growing up, I have been a huge fan of comedies ranging from sitcoms like The Golden Girls, The Big Bang Theory, The Nanny, Will and Grace, Two and a Half Men, and the runaway new show on TV Land Hot in Cleveland. Then there are shows like Sex and the City that is not only a comedy, but it centers around the romance. For most of us, that's considered a romantic comedy.

Once I realized I love romantic comedies, it has become a major addiction. Every time there is a movie in the theater, I automatically run to see it. The recent romantic comedies I've seen were Just Wright and Sex and the City 2. Now I got my eyes aimed at Valentine's Day right now.

Then I went to the library, looking for novels that could satisfy me. After searching through the books, I finally saw a novel that fully interested me. It was a novel called Angels by Marian Keyes. The moment I read it, I felt romantic comedies flowing through my veins. Ever since then, Marian Keyes has become one of my favorite authors.

Last year, we were both overwhelmed watching the runaway hit film Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom, the movie based on the hit series on Logo. There are a few differences I see between Noah's Arc the tv series, and the movie. The tv show is considered a dramedy. It centered around the character's relationships and everyday life. Then there was the drama surrounding the issues around the gay and lesbian community. So when I went to see the movie, I considered it to be the same as the tv show. Then I when I saw it, I said to myself "This is a romantic comedy".

There were no issues surrounding the community at all (unless you include the problem surrounding Wade's side of the family). This was mostly about how the characters fixing their relationships, and it also centered around a wedding. If you been to a gay wedding like this in the movie, you will believe me by saying it's a romantic comedy. The press agrees too.

After watching the gay community react in their everyday life, and seeing them completely interested in these kinds of films most of the time, it got me thinking.

Do gays love romantic comedy or does every single individual on the planet want to make their life exactly like a romantic comedy.

We might never know what types of movies we love. As long as the relationship between two individuals captures us, we will hooked on it no matter what the genre is.

LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE DISCUSSES THE ‘COST OF THE CLOSET’ DURING ITS LGBT FILM FESTIVAL

Los Angeles Black Pride (LABP), the country’s first African-American LGBT Pride organization, along with GLO TV, America’s first urban LGBT TV network, have come together to produce Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series at the Radisson LAX Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday, July 2, 2010. This free program is part of the organization’s numerous events in celebration of its 22^nd annual Pride event.

The film festival will include various independent films made by and about the African-American LGBT community, curated by filmmaker and GLO TV president Maurice Jamal. The highlight of the festival will be the hot topic conference Flipping The Script II: Beyond Homophobia in Black Hollywood, the second in a series of discussions about the often discreet world of homosexuality within the tight-lipped Black film and television community. Co-produced by openly gay writer Demetrius Bady as a follow up to his hugely successful conference Flipping The Script held earlier this year at the Writers Guild of America, Flipping The Script II will continue the discussion about the portrayal of African-American gay and lesbian characters in film and television and what role Black Hollywood plays in the positive and negative shaping of these characters. From Antonio Fargas’ drag diva Lindy in the 70s classic film Car Wash to Nicole Ari Parker’s Evie in The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love to Lafayette Reynolds of HBO’s vampire drama True Blood, Hollywood has produced a host of memorable characters that have been both praised and condemned for its depiction of the African-American LGBT community.

The evening’s discussion will also delve into such topics as the controversial issue of being “out” and Black in Hollywood and the cost of staying “in the closet;” the gains made by prominent African-American LGBT filmmakers, as well as the issue of homophobia within the black community as a whole. LABP hopes the event will encourage audience members to ask questions and to participate in the dialogue during this frank and open conversation.

Confirmed panelists include actor Doug Spearman (Noah's Arc), BET VP Austyn Biggers, GLO TV president and filmmaker Maurice Jamal (Dirty Laundry), screenwriter Jasmine Love (The District), filmmakers Faith Trimel (Family), Kanithea Powell (Finding Juliet) and GLAAD award-winners Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett (The DL Chronicles).

Founded in 1988, the non-profit LABP has a longstanding history of combating homophobia, providing L.A.-based events and programs throughout the year to the African-American LGBT community. Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series is part of LABP’s week-long celebration (July 1-5) of Hollywood Wet & Wild, this year’s theme for the organization’s 22^nd annual Pride event. The conference, Flipping The Script II, is co-sponsored by the Writer's Guild of America.

WHAT: Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series

WHEN: Friday, July 2 from 2pm-9pm (check website for complete schedule)

WHERE: Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Airport, 6225 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045

La MISSION Independent Film Debuted April 9th, 2010 @ OutFest, Los Angeles, New York & Nationally Around The Country

by Big Rod
Nubian Knights

La Mission is an independent film which is produced and stars Benjamin Bratt (yep, the same homie, Detective Curtis from Law & Order folks). I'm told this has (and also judging by the trailer) a multi-layered storyline, one of which is Bratt's character having a homosexual son and dealing with that dynamic.Check your local listings in your respective city for dates and showtimes. As for NYC, the film is playing at the AMC Empire 25 and Chelsea Clearview theaters only. Click da pic and link below for much more details.

New York Locations:

AMC Empire 25

234 West 42nd Street (Near 8th Avenue)

New York, NY 10036

1-888-AMC-4FUN

Showtimes Here

Clearview's Chelsea

260 West 23rd Street (Near 8th Avenue)

New York, NY 10011

(212) 777-FILM

Showtimes Here


Statement from the filmmakers, Peter and Benjamin Bratt

Dear Friends,
It is with great pride in the efforts of literally hundreds of people that we write to tell you that our film La MISSION will have its national theatrical release beginning April 9th.La MISSION pays homage to the neighborhood and people we grew up around, and captures the vibrancy, cultural pride, flavor and sound of this ever-evolving barrio. At the center of the story is Che, an old school reformed bad boy and single father who has dedicated his life to raising his 18 year-old son. Jess is a UCLA-bound honors student who is hiding a deeply-held secret from his macho father: he's gay.

La MISSION doesn't pull any punches. It takes a hard look at some of the prevailing attitudes that still thrive and do damage within our communities. But La MISSION also celebrates the humor, the sense of pride, and the passion for life that exists alongside the everyday struggles.

Opening weekend attendance is critical. The box office totals determine the life expectancy of the film, including its afterlife on DVD. If you, as we do, want to see more films that are authentically representative of our experiences and our communities, we urge you to support independent filmmaking by showing up at the theaters and buying tickets. It's the only message exhibitors understand--they only run films that will bring in large crowds.

Please check our website (www.lamissionthemovie.com) and also become a fan of La Mission on Facebook. There you will find details on what cities and theaters we are playing in, plus photos and information on the film and its crew.

Thanks for supporting independent cinema, and a heartfelt thanks from us for your support of La MISSION.

Power to the people!

Peter and Benjamin