Black film fest features movies previously ignored
June 24, 2005, 9:42AM
Screening meaningful works is goal
Black film fest features movies previously ignored
By MICHAEL HARDYCopyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
| ENDANGERED SPECIES |
| • When: 1:16 p.m. today • Where: Shrine of the Black Madonna Theater, 5309 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For a complete schedule, access www.houston blackfilmfestival.org. |
This isn't Sundance.
Park City? Try the Bayou City. Robert Redford? Meet Mother Love.
The first annual Houston Black Film Festival kicked off Wednesday and will wrap up Saturday with an awards ceremony at the St. Regis Hotel. It features 25 full-length and short films made by predominantly black casts and crews.Founder and executive director Vanessa Mormon, who also publishes San Antonio Black Magazine, originally conceived the event as a book-to-film festival, connecting authors with screenwriters and film producers.
The screenings showcase the many independent films that are passed over for theatrical release.
Endanged Species, a documentary tracing the efforts of District of Columbia youths to clean up the polluted Anacostia River, is among the featured films. It shows how nine of the volunteers, all from public housing projects, were murdered in gang violence over the course of the 12-year project.
It's films like Endangered Species, Mormon said, that gave her the idea for the festival in the first place.
"We are disheartened that these same films do not get a wide audience, whereas you see all these nonsense like The Honeymooners make it to theaters," Mormon said. "It's an embarassment."
Robert Redford would agree.
| Brenda Z. Doby, Vice President, Senior Account Relationship Manager, Union Bank Joins Houston Black Film Festival Panel |
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| Premier Film Finance Professional Seeks Projects Roll Footage
Houston,Texas April 26, 2005 The 1st Annual Houston Black Film Festival & Book to Film Screenplay Search Festival is June 22-26th 2005, at the Omni Houston Hotel Four Riverway, Houston. This is the first ever Black film festival in the fourth largest metropolis in the United States. According to Rick Ferguson, Executive Director of the Houston Film Commission, over 150 films have been shot in and around the great filming Mecca of Houston, Texas. New Panelist Announced Some of our diverse panel guest include well-known Hollywood decision-making executives as Kathy Busby, Sr. VP Head Development Carsey- Werner-Mandabach, Fox Pictures Producer, Dawn Carter, UPN's Andrea Wiley, executive director of the Parkers, HBO's Real Women Have Curves producer, Marilyn Atlas, Mark Hernandez and many others who will converge on Houston for a roundtable discussion and to review screenplays derived from works by nationally known best-selling novelist. We hope to generate the end product, a number of quality screenplays that will result in a better selection of projects for filmmakers, actors and actresses as well.
Panelist newcomer is Brenda Doby,Vice President, Senior Account Relationship Manager, Union Bank.Ms. Doby is one of the premier finance professionals in the entertainment industry. She has utilized her expertise to finance over 50 films during the last ten years, that have ranged from independent ventures such as director Peter Bunches's "Butter" and "Behind the Red Door" staring Keifer Sutherland to blockbusters such as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". She has also financed studio Negative Pick-up transactions with all of the major studios. Screenings, Authors We have a ground breaking agenda with the launch of our Book to Film Screenplay Search where novels by nationally known best-selling authors have been nominated for film development by book clubs, bookstores, and book reviewers across the nation. The festival also encompasses discussion panels, pitch sessions, on site casting opportunities, the screening of features, documentaries and shorts screenings by major film makers as well as well films produced on shoestring budgets. We have a host of superior entries including independent films such as "Industry" by the Russell Simmons (Simmons Lathan Media Group) "Intersection", "Au Pair Chocolat," "Endangered Species" and more. Also a celebrity golf tournament, celebrity fashion show, comedy showcase, and gospel jamboree culminating with an awards gala.
There are several panels planned including a pitch fest, on site open casting call and more. The Page to Stage panel will be hosted by Houston's dynamic duo, Executive Producers, Gary Guidry & Je'Caryous Johnson of I'm Ready Productions. www.imreadyproductions.com. I'm Ready Productions brought us the stage production adaptation of Michael Baisden's "Men Cry In the Dark," & "Maintenance Man." They are currently producing, Carl Weber's "Married Men," & Eric Jerome Dickey's "Friends & Lovers." Nationally know best selling authors as Pat G'Orge- Walker and others will be on hand to sign their works. Authors interested in signing at the event or businesses interested in vendor space may contact us at info@houstonblackfilmfestival.org Vendor Opportunities If you are interested in sponsorship, vendor opportunities, product sampling etc., feel free to contact us for questions or clarifications regarding any aspect of the upcoming festival, at: Sheba Media Group, Renee Byrd at 1-888- 898-9297 ext 84. To obtain media credentials email us at press@houstonblackfilmfestival.org About Houston Black Film Festival The Houston Black Film Festival was founded in 2004 to bring a collective, cohesive and creative environment for the Houston, Texas Film Mecca; the fourth largest metropolitan city in the nation. Our focus is to proactively enhance the process of developing, producing and distributing films by black filmmakers. Its goal is also to bring a unique dominion to films by providing a program that will directly impact the viability of the quality of films introduced to the market by the implementation of such 'special projects' as The Book to Film Screenplay Search Project which aims to become an amenable bridge between proven published authors and filmmakers to bring a book to film adaptation and final projects into fruition.
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| Houston Black Film Festival Draws Near |
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| Four, Five Three Two, One, Screen Red Carpet Event
Houston,Texas March 21, 2005 The 1st Annual Houston Black Film Festival & Book to Film Screenplay Search Festival is June 22-26th 2005, at the Omni Houston Hotel Four Riverway, Houston. Portions of the proceeds are to benefit film students at HBCU's (Historical Black Colleges & Universities.) Specifically, The Houston based, Tucker Foundation operated by Mr. John Tucker. This is the first ever Black film festival in the fourth largest metropolis in the United States. According to Rick Ferguson, Executive Director of the Houston Film Commission, over 150 films have been shot in and around the great filming Mecca of Houston, Texas. Diverse Guest PanelistSome of our diverse panel guest include well-known Hollywood decision-making executives as Kathy Busby, Sr. VP Head Development Carsey- Werner-Mandabach, Fox Pictures Producer, Dawn Carter, UPN's Andrea Wiley, executive director of the Parkers, HBO's Real Women Have Curves producer, Marilyn Atlas, Mark Hernandez and many others who will converge on Houston for a roundtable discussion and to review screenplays derived from works by nationally known best-selling novelist. We hope to generate the end product, a number of quality screenplays that will result in a better selection of projects for filmmakers, actors and actresses as well.This is an historical event that also celebrates the art of film, authors, actors and screenwriters by bringing them all together for a serious in-depth look at the quality of scripts being brought to the small and big screen. We hope to generate the end product, a number of quality screenplays that will result in a better selection of projects for filmmakers, actors and actresses as well. This is a solid, conscientious effort; one that we hope you will embrace so that we may cement its debut in Houston, the 4th largest city in the United States and a formidable film Mecca. Screenings, AuthorsWe have a ground breaking agenda with the launch of our Book to Film Screenplay Search where novels by nationally known best-selling authors have been nominated for film development by book clubs, bookstores, and book reviewers across the nation. The festival also encompasses discussion panels, pitch sessions, on site casting opportunities, the screening of features, documentaries and shorts screenings by major film makers as well as well films produced on shoestring budgets. We have a host of superior entries including independent films such as "Industry" by the Russell Simmons (Simmons Lathan Media Group) "Intersection", "Au Pair Chocolat," "Endangered Species" and more. Also a celebrity golf tournament, celebrity fashion show, comedy showcase, and gospel jamboree culminating with an awards gala.There are several panels planned including a pitch fest, on site open casting call and more. The Page to Stage panel will be hosted by Houston's dynamic duo, Executive Producers, Gary Guidry & Je'Caryous Johnson of I'm Ready Productions. www.imreadyproductions.com. I'm Ready Productions brought us the stage production adaptation of Michael Baisden's "Men Cry In the Dark," & "Maintenance Man." They are currently producing, Carl Weber's "Married Men," & Eric Jerome Dickey's "Friends & Lovers." Nationally know best selling authors will be on hand to sign their works. Other authors interested in signing at the event or businesses interested in vendor space may contact us at info@houstonblackfilmfestival.org Vendor Opportunities If you are interested in sponsorship, vendor opportunities, product sampling etc., feel free to contact us for questions or clarifications regarding any aspect of the upcoming festival, at: Sheba Media Group, Renee Byrd at 1-888- 898-9297 ext 84. To obtain media credentials email us at press@houstonblackfilmfestival.org About Houston Black Film Festival The Houston Black Film Festival was founded in 2004 to bring a collective, cohesive and creative environment for the Houston, Texas Film Mecca; the fourth largest metropolitan city in the nation. Our focus is to proactively enhance the process of developing, producing and distributing films by black filmmakers. Its goal is also to bring a unique dominion to films by providing a program that will directly impact the viability of the quality of films introduced to the market by the implementation of such 'special projects' as The Book to Film Screenplay Search Project which aims to become an amenable bridge between proven published authors and filmmakers to bring a book to film adaptation and final projects into fruition.
1645 Pat Booker Rd#103 Ste 195 Universal City, Texas 78148. |
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Aug 19, 2004
4th Largest City In the World Gets Its 1st Annual Black Film Festival Feb 24-27th, 2005, As Hollywood Celebs, TV & Film Executives, Directors, & Actors Plan to Converge on H'Town.