THE HOLLYWOOD BLACK FILM FESTIVAL OFFERS
PROGRAMMING, PANELS, AND
PARTNERSHIPS
(October
24, 2012 – Hollywood, CA) – Tanya Kersey, Founder and Executive Director, is
excited about the 2012 season of the Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) with
an exciting line up of films, panels, panelists and festivities over a four day
period. HBFF happens October 25 – 28,
2012 and will be hosted at The W Hotel, 6250 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA
90028. The Opening Night will be held on October 25 @ 7:00 PM. All films will
be screened around the corner at the Montalban Theater, 1615 Vine Street,
Hollywood, CA.
Note To Self, the Opening Night Film, centers
around a handsome and popular student-athlete who embarks on a journey of
self-realization while navigating the choppy waters of a love triangle. The
film stars Christian Keyes, LeToya
Luckett, Richard T. Jones, Brian McKnight, Eva Marcille, Clifton Powell,
Valarie Pettiford, Jason Weaver, Brely Evans, Sebastian Siegal, Willie Taylor,
Mishon Ratliff, Brian McKnight, Jr. and more. Trey Haley directs from a
script by Christian Keyes. ND Brown,
Eric Tomosunas, Veronica Nicholas and Keith Neal are the producers. Gregory
Anderson and Reginald Jones are the executive producers. The film is produced Tri Destined Studios and
Swirl Films, and is being distributed by One Village/Image Entertainment. Following the screening there will be a
Q&A with the director, writer and cast, and a college-themed after-party
will follow.
Festival
goers can look forward to three (3) FREE Events; Monologue Slam with Twinkie Byrd
and Celebrity Friends (Actor Omari Hardwick, Sparkle; Actress Erica Hubbard, Akeelah
and the Bee; Actress Naturi Naughton, Fame,
Actress Kym Whitley, Greg’s Anatomy &
Oh Drama) on
Saturday, October 27 @ 5:15 PM, followed by Michael Baisden presents the HBFF
Storyteller Competition Live Staged Reading (Kenny Lattimore, Keith Burke, Jermaine Jacox,
Alexia Peebles, Danny Delloyd, Sy Richardson, Roger Payano, Marvin Gay and
Adenrele Oji-Allen) @
7:00 PM. On Sunday @ 11:30 AM with Faith in Films: A Conversation with DeVon
Franklin.
The
HBFF has an impressive list of panelist which include notable names such as Amber Rasberry, Director
of Development, 34th St Films, a subsidiary of Tyler Perry Studios; Bentley
Kyle Evans, Creator/Executive
Producer, “Love That Girl” (TV One); Billy Hawkins, Motion
Picture Literary Agent, Creative Artists Agency (CAA); Brian Dobbins, Talent
Manager, Partner, Principato-Young; Christopher
Mack, Vice President, Warner Bros. Workshop; Dana Sims, Talent Agent, ICM; DeVon
Franklin, Senior Vice President, Production, Columbia Pictures; James Lopez, Senior Vice President,
Production, Screen Gems; Karen Horne.
VP, Entertainment Diversity Programs, NBC Ent/Universal Television;
Entertainment Attorney Matt Johnson;
Robert Mendez, Senior Vice
President, Disney/ABC Television Group; Traci
Lynn Blackwell, Vice President of Current Programs, The CW Network and
Casting Director Twinkie Byrd.
Three Key Sessions you
don’t want to miss: New Avenues To Finance, Produce & Distribute Films on Any Budget on
Friday, October 26 @ 11:45 AM; Master Class: Film Producers Roundtable
on Saturday @ 2:45 PM and the Pitchaton on Sunday @ 1:30 PM.
The HBFF closes with the
world premiere of 24 Hour Love, which showcases seven
stories of everyday people experiencing love, laughter, life and relationships
of the heart … the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The film stars Melinda Williams, Tatyana Ali, Keith
Robinson, Eva Marcille, Flex Alexander, Chico Benymon, Lynn Whitfield and Darius McCrary. Fred Thomas directs
from a script by Don B. Welch. The
producers are Eric Tomosunas and Don B. Welch. Following the screening there
will be a Q&A with the director, writer and cast. The festival wrap-party will follow.
(Full
schedule below)
About the HBFF
Founded in 1999, The Hollywood
Black Film Festival aims to enhance the careers of emerging and established
North American filmmakers through a public exhibition, competition program and
industry panels. Known amongst the
entertainment industry’s powerbrokers as, “The Black Sundance,” the festival
brings independent works of accomplished and aspiring black filmmakers to an
environment encompassing the mainstream Hollywood community and Southern
California film-going audiences. The festival’s goal is to play an integral
role in discovering and launching independent films and filmmakers by bringing
them to the attention of the industry, press and public.
HBFF Sponsors
HBFF 2012
is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. Official
sponsors are NBC/Universal, Wells Fargo, Nike and Studio
System. Supporting sponsors are Greenhouse Studios and QR
for Film. Participating sponsors are Clear Essence, Dama
Tequila, Final Draft, Hawaiian Springs Water, Baisden
Filmworks, Motions Haircare, Syncom and Waves
& Trails Travel. Festival friends include CC Nails, Cofer
Entertainment Group, Creative Handbook, Emma's Cupcakes, Glidecam and Sony
Creative Software. Blackpr.com and Naija Standard
Newspaper are media partners. Dama Tequila, D's Original Take Out Grill, Hawaiian Springs Water, One Village Entertainment, Tri
Destined Studios, Swirl Films and Southern Girl
Desserts are the Opening Night sponsors. Additional thanks to
the W Hotel and The Montalban.
###
HOLLYWOOD BLACK FILM
FESTIVAL
October 25-28, 2012
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
·
All Films will be screened at the Montalban
Theater, 1615 Vine Street, Hollywood 90028
·
All Panels will be held at the W Hotel, 6250
Hollywood Bl, Hollywood 90028
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
7:00 PM OPENING NIGHT FILM
Note To Self
Note to Self follows a
handsome and popular student athlete coming of age during his senior year of
college, as his world begins to fall apart due to his mom’s failing health and
the reappearance of his father after 16 years.
Director: Trey Haley;
Writer: Christian Keyes; Producers: ND Brown, Eric Tomosunas, Veronica
Nicholas, Keith Neal; Executive Producers: Brett Dismuke and Christian Keyes;
Production Companies: Tri Destined Studios, Swirl Films; Distributors: Image
Entertainment, One Village Entertainment
Key Cast: Christian Keyes, LeToya Luckett,
Richard T. Jones, Brian McKnight, Eva Marcille, Clifton Powell, Valarie
Pettiford, Jason Weaver, Brely Evans, Sebastian Siegal, Willie Taylor, Mishon
Ratliff, Brian Mcknight, Jr. and more.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
10:00am
Packaging
& Pitching Your Project and Yourself with Heather Hale
You need to be prepared to
talk about you and your project at any time or place. In this workshop you'll
develop and sharpen your pitch, polish your presentation skills, and learn how
to clearly convey your passion and the marketability of your film, TV or new
media project.
Speaker: Heather Hale,
Director/Screenwriter/Producer/Script Consultant, et al
11:15am
New
Avenues to Finance, Produce & Distribute Films on any Budget
Independent film financing
and distribution of a film can be tricky. You can pitch a film project, but you
must also be able to dance to music of the investor. It’s their stage, and they don’t like indie
filmmakers looking for funding. Come find out how the availability of
commercial distribution opportunities for films at any budget level is changing
as the industry embraces an explosion of
new and unconventional resources for financing, producing and distributing
independent films.
Moderator: Brickson Diamond, Blackhouse
Foundation Chair & Philanthropist
Panelists: Travis Stevens,
Founder, Snowfort Pictures; Kathryn Arnold, Filmmaker; Darrien Michele Gipson,
SAG Indie, Hal Sadoff, Consultant (former head of ICM's international and
independent film department)
12:00
pm (An Afternoon of Docs)
Hubbles’s
Diverse Universe (FILM)
The scientific research and experiences of six African
American and three Hispanic American astronomers and astrophysicists are
presented in this documentary. ‘Diverse’
refers to both the ethnic diversity of the scientists who appear in the film
and the diverse set of astronomy topics explored. The film as four chapters: Science,
Diversity, Mentoring and Outreach, and NASA’s contributions.
Director: Dean Tapia, Producer: Lisa Boags – Running
Time: 27:00
12:00
pm
Innocents
Lost: Teenage Girls Struggles (FILM)
This edgy documentary will explore drug use,
prostitution, gang-banging and other issues that make up the lives of three
young girls.
Producer: Dana Hanna, Producer: Joy Sudduth –Running
Time: 47:00
12:30pm
Hollywood
101: I want to be an Actor, Writer, Director or Producer –Where do I
start?
This
workshop and panel discussion will focus on resources for the beginner actor, writer, director producer,
will discuss the importance of networking, and give information on developing
your talent so when they opportunity comes, you’re ready. We will have SAG,
WGA, DGA, & PGA representatives
on hand as well as a networking expert.
Moderator: Mark
Travis, BOYDEN ROAD PRODUCTIONS
Panelist:
Sheldon Candis, Writer; Datari Turner, Producer; Dorian Missick, Actor; Matthew
Cherry, Director; Ashida Onrae, Host/Speaker; Amber Rasberry, Director of
Development, 34th St. Films, a subsidiary of Tyler Perry Studios;
Nzingha Stewart, Writer, Producer, Director;
1:15pm
Bringing Diversity to Show Business: Talent &
Workforce Diversity
There
are a multitude of business opportunities in the studio and network
systems
for talent in the areas of acting, directing, writing and producing. However,
there are also behind the scenes jobs ranging from accounting, development,
graphic design, legal
and printing services to marketing, video production and editing. This 2-‐part
session is geared toward up and coming creative and business professionals who
want to learn the secrets to obtaining opportunities to share your talent to
the major studios
and networks.
Panel 1 – Talent Diversity: (1:15pm - 2pm)
Diversity
executives from ABC, FOX & NBC/Universal will discuss how to be seen by
studios/networks. They will answer a wide range of questions including: What
does it take to be taken seriously by the studios/networks? How to cultivate
contacts
within the studio and network systems? How does a studio/network go
about
selecting diverse talent? How can diversity representatives help me? How do I
meet and find the right advocates within the studio and network?
Moderator:
David Brownstein, Career Coach
Panelists:
Karen Horne, NBC; Tiffany Smith, CBS; Kimberly Myers, WGA; Robert
Mendez,
ABC; Christopher Mac, Warner Bros.
1:30 pm
Mas Man:
The Complete Work (FILM)
It is the only film made about the man who
reached 80 per cent of the planet in a single night.
Mas Man (The Complete
Work) explores Peter Minshall’s leap from designer in the Trinidad Carnival to an artistic director of the
Opening Ceremonies for three Olympic Games, based on
his knack for ‘making
what is small seem big in an Olympic stadium.’
Producer/Director:
Dalton Narine – Running Time: 89:00
Panel 2 –Workforce Diversity (2 – 2:45pm)
What
does it take to work with the studios and networks? There’s a need for
more
than just diverse talent but a more diverse workforce. In this panel HR &
diversity
executives will discuss the experience necessary and available positions
with
the studios and networks.
Moderator:
Debra Langford
Panelists:
TBA
3:00pm
Creating Content in Today's
Multi-‐Platform Marketplace
This session will address the
new landscape and opportunities facing content
creators working across
platforms in film, television and new media technologies.
Panelists: Dennis Dortch,
Filmmaker; Dave Mann, VP of Business Development, Poptent Productions; Rachael
McLean, Digital Media Executive, JuntoBox Films;
3:30 pm
Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution
(FILM)
In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the
1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles made a
statement of its own – a fashion
statement. The legendary event pitting
the five lions of French
couture Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint
Laurent and Pierre Cardin with five American
designers Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne
Klein, Stephen Burrows and Bill Blass created a
cross-stitch of change across fashion, race,
business and catwalks. When African
American
models Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, Alva
Chinn, Billie Blair, Norma Jean Darden, Barbara
Jackson, Jennifer Brice, Romana Saunders and Amina
Warsuma boarded the plane to Paris, they
Had no idea they would help change the course
of fashion and pull off its biggest coup.
Director: Deborah Riley Draper – Running
Time: 82:00
4:15pm
How to Write a “Fundable”
Business Plan
If
you’re interested in funding financing your film, you’ve got to start with a
business plan
Which
connects the creative process and the business side of filmmaking. In this workshop you will learn how to
utilize tools and access the information needed to develop a business plan that
can actually get your project funded.
SPONSORED BY STUDIOSYSTEMS
Panelist:
Alexa Amin, Executive Editor, Studio System News; Tanya Kersey, Founder &
Executive Director, Hollywood Black Film Festival; Bobby Mardis,
Filmmaker/Director, B. Story Pictures & Fat Chance Films; Diane Panosian,
Sales Coordinator, Studio Systey, Intelligence Division and Anthony Pinga.
5:00 PM
Dar He: The Lynching of
Emmitt Till (FILM)
In
an acting tour de force, one man performs 36 roles in the telling of the Emmett
Till tragedy.
Director:
Rob Underhill, Producer: Aravind Ragupathi, Producer: Mike Wiley –Running Time:
70:00
5:30pm
Crowdfunding: How to Get Your
Project Over the Finish Line
Crowd
funding has emerged in recent years as the new alternative to traditional
routes of funding. Sites such as
Kickstarter and Indiegogo have become the standard bears for filmmakers looking
to raise money on line. This panel will
discuss how crowd funding works, the pitfalls, benefits and a whole lot more.
Panelist:
Mychal Wilson, Entertainment & Qui Tam Attorney; Tifanie Jodeh,
Co-Founder/Partner, Entertainment Law Partners; Numa Perrier, Artist, Actress,
Producer, Black&Sexy TV; Jacques Thelemaque, President, Filmmakers
Alliance; Entertainment Attorneys Paul Battista and Michael Blaha, Law Office
of Paul Battista.
6:30 PM (FILM)
The Coalition
The
bad boys club is really not all that bad.
Young, rich and handsome…the boys know how to have a good time. They love women, fast cars and doing whatever
they want to do. They comes a time in
life, however, when karma is helped along.
When it’s done by a group of scorned women…it can prove to be
devastating.
Director:
Monica Mingo, Producer: Rich Volin – Running Time: 98:00
8:30 PM (FILM)
The Great Divide
Tosha
Landry, eccentric wife and nucleus of a circle of very ethnically diverse
friends, is a student of the ancient Indian teaching of the Tantra and Kama
Sutra. One Friday evening at the monthly
get-together, Tosha introduces a game designed to elicit feeling and impressions
men and women have about each other.
Director:
Ibrahim Yilla, Producers: Dan Garcia, Wendy Wiltz and Jason Hewitt
Key
Cast, Tichina Arnold, Darrin Dewitt-Henson, Richard T. Jones, Golden Brooks,
Rocsi Diaz and Clyde Jones – Running Time: 86:00
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2012
9:30-10:30 AM
Masters Class: Actors Edition (Part 1)
Joanne Baron & D.W. Brown
Joanne Baron is an actress, producer, and the Artistic
Director of Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio in Santa Monica, CA. Joanne studied the Meisner Technique under
Stanford Meisner and William Esper in New York, who later trained Joanne to
teach acting. Joanne is a highly
regarded actress in theater, television, and film, whose credits include
Spider-Man 2, Real Genius, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Curb Your Enthusiasm
and Mad Men.
D.W. Brown is the co-owner and head instructor of the
Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio. D.W. discovered a profound appreciation of the
Mesiner Method after extensive training and he subsequently became an
instructor. He trained actors, writers,
and directors for the past 25 years at the studio. He has conducted seminars with actors such as
Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Sean
Penn, and Susan Sarandon, etc.
10:00am
Online Social Networking, Promotions
& Building Audiences in Cyberspace
Donna
Presenter Michelle Anderson will discuss how filmmakers, writers, directors,
actors and other industry professionals can network online and promote their
brand and build audiences online. Will talk about how to capitalize online at
the click of a mouse. The Internet can help you generate word of mouth
"buzz," promote your products and talents, and to build a world-wide
audience and fan base.
Presenter: DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson, CEO, CLIC
10:30 AM
Master Class: Actors Edition (Part 2)
Aaron
Speiser has been training and coaching actors for over 25 years. Working with
the most acclaimed actors, directors, and producers in the industry, Mr.
Speiser helps actors by bringing his vast experience and depth of knowledge of
the craft of acting to his students in a simple, straightforward, practical and
inspirational way. Aaron Speiser coaches Will Smith and Virginia
Madsen, both of whom have recently been nominated for Academy Awards with
Mr. Speiser’s help. He has also coached Jennifer Lopez from the
beginning of her career. LL Cool J, Mandy Moore, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson),
Brooke Shields, Jeff Foxworthy, Shanny
Sossamon, Ashley Johnson, Shawn, Marlon, and Kim Wayans
are some of the accomplished actors who round out the list. Working with such renowned directors as Oliver
Stone, Michael Mann, F. Gary Gray, Adam
Shankman, Wayne Wang, and Peter
Berg. to name a few, has enabled Mr. Speiser to bring the latest Film
and Television techniques to his studio and clients.
11:15am
Masters Class: Writers
Edition
Television
writer and producer Bentley Kyle Evans who has been behind the
scenes
of some of television’s most popular TV productions such as Martin, The Parkers, One On
One, The Jamie Foxx show and more, will host our Master Class for Writers.
Bentley will share insight into the television writing, producing &
development process, and hopefully demystify what it takes to turn a good idea into
a great television show. There may also be surprise visits from celebrity
guests.
12:00 PM (Scheduler’s Choice Films)
Elegy
for a Revolutionary (FILM)
Two friends oppose the
apartheid-era government in South Africa.
Their choice to use violence
Tears their relationship apart.
Director: Paul van Zyl, Producer:
Stacy Ekstein – Running Time: 22:00
Operation: CTF (FILM)
Operation: CTF is about a
futuristic, weapon-based game of Capture the Flag, following four
combative team members through a
maze-structured warehouse in effort to complete their
objective and win the game.
Director: Denzel Whitaker,
Producer: Kasey Shirk – Running Time: 8:00
Seafood Tester (FILM)
A son is tired of bailing his mother out of
trouble. In order to save her from
herself, he must
Resort to extreme measures to
confront her with the truth.
Producer/Director: Darious Britt –
Running Time: 9:00
The
Bubble Gum Hit (FILM)
A hired female assassin, with a impulsive fetish for
the kill, becomes entangled between the
target and the people that hirer
here to complete the hit.
Producer/DirectorL Eric
Richardson-Hagans, Producer: Michael Francis – Running Time: 22:00
What About Us (FILM)
A family desperate to find their missing daughter soon
realize their daughter’s significance in
society is based on their social
and economic status.
Director: Deatra Harris, Producer:
Bryan Johnson – Running Time: 20:00
12:30pm
Hollywood's Top Guns: The
Truth about Packaging, Negotiating & Dealmaking
Panel
of some of Hollywood's top legal minds, agents and managers will discuss a
broad range of topics from how to get a top gun to represent you to structuring
favorable deals.
Moderator: Christina Norman
Panelists: Jelani Johnson, Talent Manager,
Generate; Matt Johnson, Managing Partner, Ziffren Brittenham; Brian Dobbins,
Partner, Principato-Young; Dana Sims, Talent Agent, ICM, Darryl Taja, President,
Epidemic Pictures, Billy Hawkins, Motion Picture Literary Agent, CAA; Everly
Lee, Talent Agent, Global Artist Agency.
1:30
PM (Programmer’s Choice Films)
A Difficult Thank You (FILM)
A mother and father are
devastated to find out that their recently deceased daughter
Signed up to be an organ
donor without their knowing. The family
is divided as the father and two remaining daughters find comfort in
corresponding with the organ recipients, white the mother sees the
correspondence as a betrayal.
Director: Edrei Hutson,
Producer: J’Vanne Yancy – Running Time: 14:00
Animal Control (FILM)
An outrageously funny, over-the-top
mock reality show that pulls the veil off a reality television and show exactly
how these pieces of crap get made! Down
and out Hollywood producer Allen Davies owes a lot of people money. After the unsuccessful attempts of his last
few projects, let’s just say finding work has been pretty slow. That is, until foreign investors hire Allen
to produce a new reality show for American television.
Producer/Director: Brian
Shackelford, Producer: Joyce Fitzpatrik – Running Time: 16:00
Junior (FILM)
Seven years after a police
raid gone wrong, a detective is confronted with the consequence of his past
mistake.
Director: Jeffrey Elmont,
Producers: Bryan Smiley, Christina Northup, Marcus Dupree
Running Time: 11:00
Saudade (FILM)
James, lynched at the turn of
the century, seeks his bride Sarah, whom he stumbles across in the present
day. Dead set on having her see him, he
haunts her, but it brings unexpected results.
Director: Evita Castine,
Producer: Allison Melanson – Running Time: 6:00
Stare Straight Crew (FILM)
An inside look at the wacky
world of rival Staring champions as they train for the next World Championship
and the affection of their Master guru.
Director: Paul
Aspuria, Producers: Juan Sotelo, Raymund Aranda – Running Time: 7:00
The Death of a Prince (FILM)
When a troubled teen stumbles
upon an ancient book he is confronted with his past, present and future through
the life and death of a young African Prince.
Now he must take actions to alter his fate or succumb to the same fate
as the prince before him.
Director: A.R. Hilton, Producer: Joseph Francis –
Running Time: 24:00
1:45pm
The Business of Acting
Directors
discuss their films and careers, the industry, and the building blocks
needed
to successfully develop a directing career.
Moderator:
Jacque Cofer, CEO, Executive Producer, Cofer Entertainment Group
Panelist:
Actors Kym Whitley, Christian Keyes, Dondre Whitfield, Ana Maria Horsford, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield.
2:45pm
Masters Class: Producers
Roundtable -Film
All
projects face the same basic challenges – from developing material, finding the
money, building strong collaborative teams, and ultimately, taking the project
from script to screen. This is a roundtable discussion with seasoned and
successful film and television producers and production executives who share
their experience and offer concrete advice on producing for film and
television. Moderator:
Panelist:
N.D. Brown, Chairperson/CEO, Tri Destined Studios; Ryan Jones, Director of
Production, Morgan Creek Productions; Niija Khykendall, VP, Production, Warner Bros.
Pictures and James Lopez, Senior Vice President, Production, Screen Gems
3:00
PM (50 Shades…)
Even
Me (FILM)
Even Me confronts the overwhelming
crisis of HIV/AIDS among older adults 50+.
Defying the
Myth that HIV/AIDS is a gay or
young person’s disease, this revealing documentary depicts the
devastating impact of this epidemic
on the heterosexual, older adult population and
communities of color.
Producer/Director: Megan Ebor –
Running Time: 24:00
How Tiger Can Get His Swag Back (FILM)
With the help of the mystical Brotha Vance, Tiger
Woods embraces his African-American
heritage to make a comeback and win
the heart of the ultimate sista—Michelle Minaj.
Director: Xl Greene, Producer:
Michael Watkins – Running Time: 6:00
The Last/First Kiss (FILM)
Two twenty-something strangers accidentally encounter
one another in a park and forge an
unexpected connection. Following which a spontaneous but short lived
romance develops
between the two.
Producer/Director: Andrea Ashton,
Producer: Andrew Stoneham – Running Time: 16:00
The Ultimate Wingman (FILM)
No situation is too tough for the Ultimate
Wingmen. This fearless, secretive,
private, group of
Men are on call 24/7 to step in and
interfere, occupy, or remove nagging friends so that hopeful
men can meet their possible wives.
Directors: Sedric Veal, Jorge
Sanchez, Producers: Carl Herard, Lanre Idewu, Tobijah Tyler
Running Time: 13:00
White Space (FILM)
White Space follows the
inner life of a deaf performance poet as he makes his debut at an open-
mic night for a hearing
audience.
Director: Maya Washington, Producers: Freddy F. Hakimi,
Samantha Manalang
Running Time: 9:00
4:00 pm
Masters Class: TV Producers
Roundtable
All
projects face the same basic challenges – from developing material, finding the
money, building strong collaborative teams, and ultimately, taking the project
from script to screen. This is a
roundtable discussion with seasoned and successful film and television
producers and production executives who share their experience and offer
concrete advice on producing for television.
Panelist:
Traci Lynn Blackwell, Vice President of Current Programs, The CW Network; Chika
Chukudebelu, Executive, BET Network; Debra Curtis, Senior Vice President of
Current Programming, eOne Television; and Charles Murray, Writer.
4:30 pm (Black Men in Film)
Operation Home Front (FILM)
Best
Selling Author Ezekiel Anderson is at a spiritual crossroads that is costing
him his marriage. On the brink of
divorce, a divine intervention hopes to remind Ezekiel of life’s true gifts.
Producer/Director: Donre Walker, Producer: Joanna Ellenbeck –
Running Time: 20:00
Peace on the Streets (FILM)
Young
Black men in major metropolitan cities all around America are dying. Rappers from the
San
Francisco Bay Area have gotten together to express the issue via this music
video.
Director: Bobby Mardis, Music: Cholly J, Writers:
Cholly J, Stephen Ashford & Bobby Mardis
Running
Time: 6:00
The Extortionist (FILM)
When
a depressed and introverted man comes home to his happy son, he has to recount
the tales of the past in which an extortionist controlled his life.
Producer/Director/Writer:
Logan Williams – Running Time: 10:00
The Gift (FILM)
Best
Selling Author Ezekiel Anderson is at a spiritual crossroads that is costing
him his marriage. On the brink of
divorce, a divine intervention hopes to remind Ezekiel of life’s true gifts.
Producer/Director/Writer:
Harold Jackson III – Running Time: 16:00
They Lost It (FILM)
A young man is hit with the
realization that his mistress and father are set to wed. He then goes into panic mode, devising a plan
to keep his wife and father from finding him out.
Producer/Director/Writer: Harrell Williams – Running Time: 28:00
5:15 PM
Monologue Slam w/Twinkie Byrd and Celebrity Friends
Actors will have a chance to
show off their acting skills by performing a 1-minute monologue of their choice
in front of a panel of judges. The panel
will offer feedback to the actor and give them notes on improving their
audition. Actors should treat this like
an audition.
Panelist: Tracy “Twinkle” Byrd, Casting Director,
In the Twink of an Eye Casting; Actor, Omari
Hardwick, Sparkle; Actress Kym Whitley, Oh Drama/BET; Actress Naturi Naughton, The Client
List; and Actress Erica Hubbard, Akeelah and the Bee.
KYM WHITLEY
6:00 PM
The Eugenist (FILM)
The
Eugenist is a feature length horror film from director and author Tariq Nasheed
following a group of college students who discover strange activities going on
in a mysterious abandoned school.
Producer/Director/Writer:
Tariq Nasheed, Writer: Aaron Strongoni – Running Time: 72:00
7:30pm
Storyteller Competition Live
Staged Reading & Reception hosted by Michael
Baisden
Live
staged reading of the 3 finalist scripts in the festival's storyteller
Competition. Presented by Michael Baisden, the reading will be directed and
cast by veteran stage director/writer/producer Don Welch (The Bachelor Party
and The Bachelorette Party).
Starring: Music artist Kenny
Lattimore; Sy Richardson(Repo Man); actors Keith Burke, Jermaine Jacox, Alexia Peebles, Danny Delloyd, Roger
Payano, Marvin Gay and Adenrele Oji-Allen.
8:00 PM
Against the Grain (FILM)
Isaiah Johnson, an inner-city kid from Oakland, California, has an
opportunity to attend an
Elite University. In his first year
of college, he struggles to maintain his grades, attempts to remain loyal to his troubled childhood
friends, and valiantly tries to capture the hear of his dream-girl. But when he arrives at a crossroad, he’s
forced to choose between his past and his future.
Producer/Director/Writer: Elias Mael, Executive Producer: Mayon Denton
Running Time: 87:00
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2012
11:30am
Faith in Films: A Conversation
with DeVon Franklin
SPONSORED
BY WELLS FARGO
You’ve
seen him on “Super Soul Sunday” with Oprah Winfrey, now producer and preacher
Devon Franklin takes centerstage at the Hollywood
Black Film Festival’s Infotainment Conference in “Faith in Film: A Conversation with DeVon Franklin.”
Ten
years ago DeVon started in the business as an assistant and today he is a
rarity: an African-American studio executive at the forefront of
Hollywood. He currently serves as Vice
President of Production for Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures
Entertainment where he oversaw the remake of one of the summer’s biggest hits, The Karate Kid, starring Jackie Chan and
Jaden Smith, which grossed over $350 million worldwide. He also worked on The Pursuit of Happiness and
Hancock starring Will Smith, the faith-based hit Not Easily Broken, produced by Bishop T.D. Jakes and the upcoming
romantic comedy, Jumping the Broom starring
Angela Bassett and Paula Patton.
(l-r) PAULA PATTON and ANGELA BASSETT in
JUMPING THE BROOM
In
this up-an-close and personal conversation, DeVon sits down with Tanya Kersey,
HBFF Founder/Executive Director (http://www.tanyakersey.com)
to discuss Faith in Films, the secret to successfully balancing life in
Hollywood and faith. Following the
discussion, DeVon will be signing copies of his book, Produced by Faith (http://www.producedbyfaith.com)
.
Thanks
to the generous support of Wells Fargo, admission is FREE if you
pre-register. On-site registration is
$30 if you don’t pre-register before midnight on October 27.
Speaker: DeVon Franklin, Vice President, Production,
Columbia Pictures/Sony
11:30 am (Students &
Shorts)
Barbarsol (FILM)
A
story about a man that desires a bond with his elderly father. He realizes that he is running out of time
due his father slipping further into dementia.
What he comes to realize is he needs to now turn his attention toward
his own son.
Director/Executive
Producer: Ralph K. Scott, Writer/Producer: Kiara C. Jones
Running
Time: 20:00
Malachi IX (FILM)
Running
Time: 20:00
A Tar Baby is Born (FILM)
The
popular stories featuring the trickster Brer Rabbit can be traced back to the
oral storytelling tradition of African slaves who brought this device to the
plantation. Upon hearing these stories
while working as a newspaper apprentice on the plantation, a white journalist
by the name of Joel Chandler Harris became so fascinated that he adapted and
complied them in a book form in 1881, creating the fictional character Uncle
Remus to narrate the stories.
Director/Writer:
Theron Smith – Running Time: 3:00
Astorgos (FILM)
When
a rumor sprouts up questioning Mathew’s little brother Nathaniel’s sexuality,
Matthew is faced with the choice of either accepting Nathaniel for whom he is
or breaking the bond of their relationship forever.
Producer/Director: Solomon Onita, Jr. – Running Time: 13:00
Why Do You Have Black Dolls? (FILM)
A
documentary that explores the history, beauty, and pride that is the black
doll. Through its characters it reveals
that the black doll is more than a plaything; it is a cultural artifact that
represents the history of the people it depicts.
Producer/Director: Samantha Knowles – Running Time: 25:00
1:30pm
Pitchathon
A
panel of seasoned writers, producers and executives discuss how to craft a
compelling pitch in 30-60 seconds. Also, how to excite and entice your
listener, in order to get them to want to read your script and more…
Moderator:
Richard Willis, Jr CEO & Executive Producer, Mozzell Entertainment Group
Panelist:
Jeff Byrd, Director, Feather Films; Mark Cartier, Producer; Mike Regen, Senior
VP of Acquisitions, RBC Film Group; Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein, President, Noble
House Entertainment and Chay Alexander Wright, Owner/President, Look Alike
Production.
1:45 PM
The Black Kungfu Experience (FILM)
This
action-packed documentary chronicles kungfu’s black pioneers and heroes,
exploring a dynamic intersection of African-American and Chinese culture.
Producers/Directors: Martha Burr, Mei-Juin Chen – Running Time:
57:00
3:00 PM
He Heard My Cry (FILM)
Jay is faced with a
dilemma while torn between two best friends, his fiance’ allege
infidelity/pregnancy, and the new apple in his eyes, he must make a decision
between heaven and hell.
Director/Writer: Ervin
Riggs, Producer: Ivan Anderson – Running Time: 100:00
6:00 PM (CLOSING NIGHT
FILM)
24 Hour Love
The greatest feeling in
the world is when you learn to love!
This feature showcases seven stories of everyday people experiencing
love, laughter, life and relationships of the heart. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly..It’s all
here. 24 Hour Love…what a difference a day makes!
Don B. Welch,
Writer/Producer; Fred Thomas, Director and Eric Tomosunas, Producer.
Cast: Malinda Williams (Soul Food); Tatyana Ali
(Fresh Prince of Bel-Air); Keith Robinson (Dream Girls); Eva Marcille (Cross
Over); Angell Conwell (Baby Boy); Flex Alexander(Snake On a Plane); Chico
Benymon (Because I Love You); Lynn Whitfield (Stepmon); and Darius McCrary(Transformers).
Running Time: 91 minutes
