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NOMMO NEWS GREETINGS: A series of workshops offered by Blackfilmmakers.net and Positive Productions, Inc. are being offered in the Capital City. August 2004 marked the premiere of a Scriptwriting workshop with instruction by Haile Gerima. Held at Mypheduh Films, housed in the Sankofa Video & Bookstore (www.sankofa.com) building on Georgia Avenue in Washington, DC, workshops contributed to the development and empowerment of storytelling, and writers connecting with their story from their passions within. Workshops gave writers alternative approaches from that of Hollywood. Eight aspiring scriptwriters successfully completed eight three hour-sessions which contributed to the development and sharpening writing skills for screenwriting. Actors & Directors Workshops are now being offered for Spring 2005. Classes begin March 17, 2005 and run through April 21 every Thursday (lectures), and Saturday (labs) for a total of ten classes. These workshops are designed to serve two inseparable aspects of dramatic films: the Actor and the Director. Gerima will focus on the art of directing, which includes intensive training of how-to work with actors, and the process involved in directing independent films. 10 classes = $500. Pre-register today! Early registration deadline February 28, 2005; contact: Ada at Ababino@aol.com for an e-application and more information. GRIOT Cinema Showcases: FILMMAKER HIGHLIGHTS November 28, 2004 marked the end of Griot Cinema showcases @ The City Museum in Washington, DC only after 5 months of Sunday screenings at this state-of-the-art location. The City Museum just celebrated its 1-year birthday, yet, due to financial difficulties, they closed their doors to exhibitions on November 28, 2004. The museum space will continue to be available for rentals to book special events (www.citymuseumdc.org). Blackfilmmakers.net begin the cinema showcases 4 days a week in 2002 at Erico Café, an intimate West African restaurant on U Street, NW, with a commitment to showcase a diverse array of Black Independent Films and African Cinema before moving to the City Museum in June 2004. One door closes, another opens! Once identified, a new location will be announced for 2005 screenings of the ongoing Griot Cinema film series to offer audiences consistent screenings of alternative cinema with a world-view. NOMMO FILMMAKERS SELECT UPDATES: FILMMAKER HIGHLIGHTS Legendary and Emerging filmmakers are ready to share their knowledge, experiences, and images with hungry audiences around the world. Thirst no more! Book a filmmaker speaking engagements on-line. Don't delay, book ahead; plan your event today! There is magic and a 'power' in our words and images. Celebrate Black History 365 days a year - www.blackfilmmakers.net. HAILE GERIMA in addition to his teaching posts at Howard University, Gerima will conduct workshops in March. He wrapped on shooting his next feature film Teza in Ethiopia in the late summer 2004, and is now focusing on editing. He is also in development of two upcoming documentaries, one on the Maroons, and the second part of Adwa: 1896 (which will soon be on DVD/video) entitled, Children of Adwa Part II. Bookings: February 9 - University of Maryland @ College Park, MD (www.umdcsa.com); February 10th University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. (www.stthomas.edu) RAOUL PECK has a new gripping historical feature on Rwanda genocide that is scheduled to air on HBO on March 19, 2005. "Sometimes In April" a powerfully touching new film tells the story of a Hutu army officer married to a Tutsi. He becomes separated from his family at the start of the genocide. Ten years later he remains committed to find out what happened to them. The film, which depicts real life events on the tragic genocide of an estimated 800,000 people in 1994, received its world premiere in the capital, Kigali, in front of the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, and an emotional crowd (which included survivors of the killings) of several thousand in mid-January. Moving between Rwanda, New York and the International Criminal Tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania, Peck skillfully uses flashbacks to tell the story of one family while describing the broader context of how the genocide unfolded, and showing the results of the world's failure to intervene. CHARLES BURNETT is gearing up to work on a new feature to be shot on location in southern part of Africa this spring. The working title "Nujoma: Where Others Wavered," is about the struggle for Namibia's independence, based on president Sam Nujoma's biography. EUZAN PALCY moves production of a documentary she's completing in her hometown, Martinique. Pre-production is underway, production begins in March. On the Emerging Filmmaker Front: SHARI LYNN HIMES is working on her first feature film. ADA M. BABINO is working to complete a documentary on a legendary jazz bassist. She assisted with the DC premier of the world-music feature by Ethiopian director; Wandwossen D. Dikran entitled Journey to Lasta (www.journeytolasta), and continues with the development and programming for Griot Cinema in Washington, DC. EDGAR PATTERSON DAVIS has moved to LA and works with the sitcom One-On-One. MAXI COLLIER continues to run dvfilmmaker.com and work on the completion of his hip-hop documentary, Paper Chasers (www.paperchasers.net). LUCY GEBRE-EGZIBHER, SOWANDE TICHAWONNA and DARRYL L. WHARTON-RIGBY are all in development of narrative scripts. Get another perspective to filmmaking, understand the value of telling your stories from your own unique perspective, learn more about the experiences and significance of creating alternative films -- Book Independent Filmmakers as well as Film Practitioners for the Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall 2005: Charles Burnett, Euzhan Palcy, Raoul Peck, Menelik Shabazz, Shirikiana Aina, Ada Babino, Edgar Davis, Sowande Tichawonna, Lucy Gebre-Egziabher, Shari Lynn Himes, Darryl Rigby-Wharton, Maxie Collier, or Kay Shaw.
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If you have any information or resources to connect to Black filmmakers, practitioners, or fans/audiences, drop us a line or post at our website. Nommo news is sponsored by Jezebel Filmworks.
NOMMO NEWS ARCHIVE: NOMMO TIPS!: *Filmmakers: Keep the faith & keep pressing on to create your product; it's therapeutic! *Film Fans: If you like a film and want it to succeed, take charge and help market it yourself. Word of mouth works wonders! *Educational Institutions: book early for Spring Semester - ABabino@aol.com / (202)232-3400. Nommo news and updates is sponsored by Jezebel Filmworks. |
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