THE OBENSON REPORT

Covering Cinema From All Across The African Diaspora
Showing posts with label gay cinema. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gay cinema. Show all posts

It's A Greenlight For "Noah's Arc!"

I've never watched Noah's Arc, and don't know much about the show, but I've heard and read about it, usually quite positively. I can't think of any other program on American network or cable television that tells stories primarily about the lives of gay black men. That alone should make it a groundbreaking series!

I read that the show has been on hiatus for some time now (possibly cancelled), but the good news for fans of Noah's Arc is that a feature-length film has been green-lit and is currently in development. The film is expected to be out by late 2008 or early 2009.

Check out JasmyneCannick.com for more info including a clip featuring the star of the show, Darryl Stephens and Patrik-Ian Polk, the creator of Noah's Arc, announcing the above story. Afterwards, be sure to read her critical article entitled, Hollywood’s Black Gay Conundrum. It's a solid, revelatory piece! We rarely give much "airtime" to those black films that tell the stories of that "other" group of marginalized people. Of course I’m referring to the gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual BLACK population - a group that is even more invisible in cinema, both mainstream and independent. We are all connected, and are all in this struggle together. For those of us talking about affecting overall change, and helping empower marginalized groups of people around the world, we simply cannot ignore any one specific group of people who fall under that umbrella as well. If we claim to be against oppression and marginalization of any kind, then it should be an all-inclusive fight, and not just selectively so.

Episode 25 - The Obenson Report on Black Film / Cinema

Episode 25 - The Obenson Report on Black Film / Cinema
Sponsored in part by ActNow Foundation

Recorded Monday, November 19, 2007, 9PM
TRT 60 Minutes

TOPICS DISCUSSED:
- Industry news and notes.
- My review of BROTHER TO BROTHER.
- Brief discussion on watching gay-themed black cinema. Your input?
- Listener phone calls.
- The "Capable Tenth" funded black film studio. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE WHATEVER YOU CAN. SEE INFO BELOW.

Got something to say? Call the show's voicemail hotline at 1-800-765-7249 and leave a message there; and if it's worthwhile, I'll play your message on the show.

OR, email me you comments at talk@obensonreport.com; or go to http://www.obensonreport.com/ and leave your comments.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE "CAPABLE TENTH" FUNDED BLACK FILM STUDIO

1. Go to the ActNow website – www.actnowproduction.org.
2. Click on the "donate/volunteer" link.
3. Click on the "Network For Good" link at the top of the page.
4. Follow the directions as they are presented to you.
5. I tried it and it took no more than 5 minutes from start to finish.
6. IMPORTANT **** When asked to designate your donation for a specific fund or purpose, be sure to enter "Capable Tenth Black Film Fund." ****
8. You can opt to be an anonymous giver, or scream it from the rooftops.

OR, just write your check or money order, payable to "ActNow Foundation Film Account," and mail it to ActNow Foundation, 138 South Oxford Street, Suite 1C, Brooklyn NY 11217. ActNow is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax deductible. In the memo section, be sure to write, "Capable Tenth," so that we know exactly where the funds should go.

FILMS MENTIONED