Saturday, December 30, 2017

Overview- 2017

Hi Everyone! I know it's been awhile. I've been extremely busy revising/writing stories of my own. This year has been the most rewarding as far writing goes. The writing process for me this year has been like no other! I can tell the difference in my writing, which really excites me- and the challenges I faced as a storyteller, I can thankfully say I faced it, and conquered!

Overall, I've written SIX new scripts (3 feature lengths/3 shorts) and revised 5 scripts (yes, all feature lengths).

It's been over a year since I've directed a movie, I miss it extremely! But the work had to be put in and now the next step to this journey called life continues...continues into a NEW YEAR...!!!


Friday, August 11, 2017

Book of Towers Pt. 10- Gordon Parks

Reading Gordon Parks autobiography 'Voices in the Mirror' was one of the best experiences I had reading a book! It's an inspiring book. The troubles this man goes through and how people are used in his life to help him get ahead in life is remarkable.

I like it when he talks about learning from the situations and people in your life, not to judge, but be open to the opportunities that are presented to you. Gordon was intelligent, persistent but without being aggressive, he seemed calm and collected, respectful, and extremely talented.

He was a composer, film director, journalist, pianist, photographer, father, husband, son- he learned to use his skills (even when he didn't think he could do it). He became the first black male film director to work in the Hollywood system. He was the first black male journalist to work for Life magazine and Vogue. He was afraid of failure but he used that to compel him to do the best work he knew how. He worked with gangsters, movie stars, studio heads and musicians, etc.

I watched a documentary of Gordon Parks years ago but I never read his autobio; I'm so glad I did. He was born in Kansas, died in New York, with now his name on a museum, his own foundation and his works reserved in the Library of Congress.

Wonderful man!!



Wednesday, May 17, 2017

'Clara' is now online!

Here it is everyone! My new short movie 'Clara' has been released online (since last friday)!!
There have been many great responses already from viewers. The movie stars Nana Ponceleon (who also stars in my not-yet-released experimental short movie 'Beautiful Women Live By Night') who plays the lead role. The movie touches base on depression and insomnia.

'Clara' was filmed in Queens, NY early last year; one camera, one actress (on screen), one location, filmed all in one day. It was an emotional filming day and very fulfilling. It was a thrill working with Nana again and I'm happy people are able to view the final cut of the movie!

Here is the link, enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RuNeE-SX9s


Friday, May 5, 2017

New Titles

'Shells', which had wrapped last summer, is having it's title changed to 'Monica, Monica'. It gives the movie a more intimate feel to the character.

'Monica, Monica' is set to be released online this November.

The other movie of mine that has been given a different title is 'All Things Considered', which is Part 1 to 'The Solitude Trilogy'. It is now called 'Nadine'.





'Clara' update


Putting the final touches on the upcoming drama 'Clara'. Maxine Antoine is the editor of this short movie. 'Clara' was filmed in early 2016. This is part 2 to what I am calling 'The Solitude Trilogy'. Part 1 was released in March 2016, now titled 'Nadine' (a.k.a. 'All Things Considered')

'Clara' follows a depressed, insomniac woman who has deliberately left her daughter and ex-boyfriend to live in her own hell by herself.

This is me and Nana Ponceleon's second collaboration. One of the best experiences for me as a director and dp.  Our first movie, still in post-production is 'Beautiful Women Live By Night', was our first.

'Clara' was filmed in one day and one night, with one camera, one location and one main actress.

More updates to come...

Monday, April 24, 2017

Book of Towers Pt. 9: The incomparable Nina Simone

Nina, Nina, what an incredible autobiography she released in 1991, titled 'I Put a Spell on You'. Not only did she live a prolific life as a singer, she was a survivor. She lived through some harsh times, went through various romantic relationships and battled with bipolar. She had a enstranged relationship with her daughter and had survived an abusive marriage. She speaks about her relationship with her dad and how much she admired him and how it turned sour later on after a certain incident. The book covers a good amount in its 176 pages.

She was very outspoken, an intense and captivating performer on stage. In her bio though you get to hear from her who trained her as a piano player, how she worked her way into the music scene; the many people she met and how she lived as a black woman in America when racial tension was very high.

One of the things that stuck out for me was how much she loved music, writing songs, singing it and how she was pushed to exhaustion while performing. Music was her anchor it seemed.

The book paces well which makes it engaging from page one!





Monday, March 20, 2017

Book of Towers Pt. 8: Lorraine Hansberry

Related image

'An informal autobiography' is stated on the front cover of the book 'To Be Young, Gifted and Black', rightly so. Lorraine Hansberry is easily one of the best writers we've had in America. I'm so happy I have read her autobio. What I found great and unique about it was that the book incorporated excerpts of her plays and interviews she gave during her great success with 'Raisin in the Sun' and letters that she has written to people so on. She was a big smoker, friends with many celebrities but here we get to read what she has written in her journal it seems-and her expressions are not always pleasant. You get the sense of her isolation and how it was like for her as a black woman in America-which she so wonderfully depicted in her literature. I didn't know she wrote opera as well (Toussaint). She was well educated and wanted others to know and tell about our (black people) culture.
She was the youngest of four children in Southside Chicago- 1930.
Nina Simone wrote a song about her-same title as the book.

'Genuine drama has a way of hiding out in the essences of scenes rather than in their trappings, i think.'

-L.H.

'Look at the work that awaits you! Write if you will, but write about the world as it is and as you thinkit ought to be and must be-if there is to be a world. Write about all the things that men have written about since the beginning of writing and talking-but write to a point. Work hard at it, care about it. Write about our people: tell their story. You have something glorious to draw on begging for attention. Don't pass it up. Use it...this nation needs your gifts. Perfect them!'

-Playwright (character in Hansberry's stageplay)

'There's always something to love. And if you ain't learned that, then you ain't learned nothing.'

-L.H.

'Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.'

-L.H.