Women of the World Concert at the Apollo Theater

     The Women of the World (WOW) Concert at the Apollo Theater in New York was the culminating event of four days of activities presented by the Apollo Theater and London's Southbank Centre focusing on women's issues and empowerment. In a series of workshops, seminars, panel discussions, film screenings, mentoring and other sessions; politics, science, sex, war, power and activism were among the topics examined by women of diverse backgrounds. In the program booklet, Apollo Theater Executive Producer Mikki Shepard describes the WOW festival as "a multidisciplinary celebration of groundbreaking socially-conscious female artists, activists, and thought leaders reflecting the diversity and dynamism of Harlem, New York City and the world." Shepard says further that the festivals goals are to "celebrate the formidable power of women and girls; to effect change; remind us of our history; draw attention to injustice," and for women to enjoy and appreciate being in each presence. 

     The WOW festival began in 2011 under the leadership of founder Jude Kelly who established WOW at London's Southbank Centre. To date, WOW festivals are held internationally in fifteen cities across the globe including Australia, the UK, Egypt, Somaliland, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and in New York and Baltimore in the U.S.  Kelly maintains that the WOW festival is a global movement giving voice to women at a time "when female voices have become immensely powerful across the globe as a force for positive change." Through this network, women unite "so they can debate questions and make new solutions together." Women of the World seeks to explore the concerns and "celebrate the potential" of women and girls that are seemingly neglected by governments and institutions. 

Photos from the WOW Concert by Titilayo Akanke

                                         
                                             Jessica Care Moore on stage at the Apollo Theater

Spoken word artist Jessica Care Moore's Black Women Rock Orchestra provided a dynamic performance at the WOW Concert at the Apollo Theater. According to the website, www.blackwomenrock.com, the goal of the group is to showcase "the music and stories of Black women who build institutions around their craft," to pay homage to women of the past who have opened doors of opportunity, and empower young female musicians, vocalist and poets "tell their stories on their own terms."

                                  

 (Right) Jessica Care Moore

Detroit native Jessica Care Moore began her writing career as a college journalist at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan and Wayne State University (Detroit). She later became a news writer for Fox television in Detroit. Her introduction to poetry began at Detroit's Cody High School, an interest which she pursued seriously after the death of her father at whose funeral she impressed people with the reading of an original poem. She honed her craft and performed locally at various Detroit venues until she decided to move to New York in 1994. In 1995, she earned a spot on the famed, Showtime at the Apollo talent competition and held the number one spot for five consecutive weeks. Her audience continued to expand as did Moore's career.

In 1997, Moore began her own publishing company, Moore Black Press. She published her first volume of poetry (her own work) titled, The Words Don't Fit in My Mouth (1999). Her other works include a one-woman stage play, There Are No Asylums for the Real Crazy Women, written in the late 1990s; The Alphabet Verses the Ghetto (2001); and The Poetry of Emcees: A Comprehensive Anthology of Hip Hop Generation Writers Known to Rock the Pen. Moore appeared in the film, Slam, performed at the U.S. Comedy Festival as part of producer Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam, as has worked with a host of artist including Nas, Roy Ayers, KRS-One, Gill Scott Heron, and Patrice Rushen, Ossie Davis, CeCe Winans, Gregory Hines, and Amiri Baraka. 

     Detroit rocker Stephanie Chris'tian

Steffanie Christi-an's CD, Way Too Much (2014)

Bassist Nik West

Bassist Nik West

Christi'an and Moore

Center: Bassist Nik West and Jessica Care Moore

DJ Stacey Hotwaxx Hale provided music before and after the live performances.

Grammy Award recipient, Macy Gray closes the WOW concert.

Sundance Film Festival 2015: The Volunteer Experience

     

Titilayo Akanke standing in front of a banner at the Sundance Film Festival Co-op.

Working at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival was an exciting, valuable, and memorable experience. Approximately 1800 volunteers from around the globe assist with various aspects of festival operations including serving as theatre crews, transportation assistants, staff for special events, inventory signage personnel, crowd control assistants, and providing general and logistical information. Volunteers have the option of working full time for the duration of the festival; working half-time (half-fest) choosing either to work the first or second week; or assuming a more flexible schedule and working a minimum of twenty-four hours (sign-up volunteer) over a given period of time. 

      Festival benefits are awarded based on the number of hours worked. Full-time volunteers work every day of the festival, but can see an unlimited number of films during non-working hours. Half-fest volunteers work a minimum of forty hours and receive a combination of full-time and sign-up benefits. Sign-up volunteers receive a voucher for every four hours worked which are then exchanged for theatre tickets. Working the festival allows volunteers to become part of the Sundance family, to meet and network with people who share the love of film, and to sit in the audience of film premieres.

    

      As a sign-up volunteer I was assigned the position, Special Events Assistant. For five days of the ten day festival, I worked at several Park City, Utah venues including the Legacy Lodge, The Shop, and the Festival Co-op. After picking up my festival credentials and jacket, my first assignment was a 7:00 pm to 2:00 am shift at the Day One Party, the opening event for festival goers, at the Legacy Lodge. Working with a team of volunteers, my tasks were to help set up, work coat check, and clean up and remove decorations after the event. During the course of the evening, several thousand guests attended this event which appeared to be a successful welcome to Sundance 2015.

                Below: Festival credentials 
                      (bar code omitted).

 

     I worked two assignments at another location called The Shop. The first event was a party for one of the festival sponsors, Impact Partners. There, I worked an 8:00 pm to 1:00 am shift and assisted with set-up and clean up; worked as a clicker counting attendees as they entered and departed; served as a greeter and distributed complimentary parting gifts to attendees; and was part of the coat-check team. On another day at that location, as my third assignment from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm, I worked an event for the Utah Film Center (UFC) Brunch. At that event I primarily helped with set-up and clean up and with coat check. The two events in which I was involved at The Shop both were in recognition of partners or affiliates of the festival.
                                                                                                                    

Festival uniform: silver jacket,
 black slacks or jeans, black
or  white top.

    At the Sundance Festival Co-op, I worked two different shifts: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm one day, and on another day from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm. On both days my assignments were to act as greeter, floater, and to track attendance. I worked as a greeter in two different areas. The Sundance Festival Co-op was the location in which a number of corporate sponsors hosted interactive exhibits, showcased their products and/or services, and provided free samples to festival attendees. The managers of the venue also provided hot chocolate and hot apple cider for anyone entering the co-op. 

  

   Generously distributed and quite popular were the free yogurt provided by Chobani, free Luna Bars, and water bottles supplied by Acura. Popular also was the Acura interactive activity in which guests could drive a virtual car that was constructed around them. Participants then received a complimentary digital photograph of themselves in the cars. Guests also took advantage of the opportunity to take pictures in front of the Sundance Festival banner designed and placed specifically for that purpose. The festival co-op, open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, was bustling during the height of the festival as hundreds of people visited each day.  

Photo by Titilayo Akanke

Photo by Titilayo Akanke

     As a greeter at the Sundance Festival Co-op entrance, I provided directions and information to attendees as they entered, and checked credentials of the press, directors, and producers to make sure only they were allowed in the area designated for them. In the actual exhibit area of the co-op as people entered, I checked and recorded badge information and directed people as needed. I also served as a floater whose responsibility was to circulate throughout the venue and make sure everyone (guests, volunteers, and sponsors) got the assistance or supplies they needed. As floater, I also took pictures of guests in front of the festival banner and filled in so volunteers could take breaks as required. At the co-op treats were plentiful, exhibits and activities were festive, and guests appeared to enjoy themselves immensely.

     Some 3000 applicants applied for the 1800 volunteer positions available during the Sundance Film Festival which substantially impacts the odds of being selected. Although not expressively informed of the reasons I was chosen, my experience as an intern at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2011, four years as a volunteer crew member for the Maryland Film Festival, and a background in screenwriting likely played a role. Although many of the Sundance volunteers are involved in the industry, a significant number of people are involved for other reasons. Some work in other professions or are retirees, simply love film, and volunteer as a hobby or special interest, vacation, travel opportunity, or break from their daily lives.

                                      Titilayo and another festival volunteer during a shift 

                                                   at the festival venue, The Shop.

     

     Sundance administrators selected a diverse group of volunteers in terms of ethnicity, age, and gender. Notably visible was the fact that at each of the venues to which I was assigned, women were in charge. Lack of diversity in the film industry in the U.S. is a critical issue both in terms of stories that make it to the big screen and those recognized as outstanding. Writing a story centered on African-Americans or other ethnicities, or with a woman in the lead is still considered a box office risk, and a script may be rejected in the mainstream industry for those reasons. Producers of the Sundance Film Festival appear to have tackled issues of bias and seem to be making an effort to be inclusive.

     

     Working at film festivals facilitates hand-on experience in the behind-the-scenes

operations, fosters an opportunity to network, and provides chances to view films beyond those available through mainstream sources. Alternative and independent films frequently travel the film festival circuit before they are released into theatres or on DVD. Storylines and documentary topics are more likely to explore sociopolitical issues. At festival showings, producers, directors, and cast members may be available for discussions after viewings. Invaluable information about resources, production strategies, securing financing, and casting are shared. Attending and working at film festivals is comparable to attending a conference related to one’s career, political, or social interest. The value is immeasurable and the benefits long-term.

        Photo by Titilayo Akanke

          Photo by Titilayo Akanke

Main Street in Park City at night. Photo by Titilayo Akanke

     The view of the Wasatch Range, the western area of the majestic Rocky Mountains surrounding the Park City area is absolutely stunning. Skiers and snowboarders get on and off the bus toting their gear to and from the resort areas where they enjoy both sports. One local, in his forties, said he moved to the area so he could perfect his craft, and because he skis regularly he is in the best shape of his life. In describing the mountains, another local  said they change color seasonally and take on completely different characteristics with each transformation.

The Wasatch Range near, the western area of  the Rocky Mountains. 
Photo by Titilayo Akanke

 The Wasatch Range. Photo by Titilayo Akanke

The Wasatch Range and homes at the foot of the mountains.
Photo by Titilayo Akanke

The Wasatch Range along Route 224 near Kimball Junction a few miles outside of Park City. Photo by Titilayo Akanke

Another view of the Wasatch Range along Route 224 on a cloudy day. 

Photo by Titilayo Akanke

The Wasatch Range along Route 224. Photo by Titilayo Akanke

The Wasatch Range along Route 224. Photo by Titilayo Akanke

The Wasatch Range along Route 224. Photo by Titilayo Akanke

The African Diaspora  Represented at 

     Cronies, the thesis project of writer, director, Michael J. Larnell, tells the stories of three friends dealing with issues of friendship and loyalty, becoming mature young men while still seeking the thrills of partying and chasing women, and facing the consequences of their choices. The friendship of Louis (George Sample III) and Jack (Zurich Buckner) began when they were children and has been tested by tribulation in which they both suffered immensely. The newcomer, Andrew (Brian Kowalski), could be a threat to the duo or he could be just what is needed to establish a dynamic trio that will be an even stronger unit and provide a foundation for life long friendship between the three. In terms of cinematography, the film is shot in black and white and reflects the nuances of the blue-collar community in which it is shot.

Publicity photo featuring a scene from Cronies with 

Zurich Buckner, George Sample III, and Brian Kowalski.

     Larnell is a master of fine arts candidate at New York University in the Graduate Film Program, and a student of renowned writer, producer, director Spike Lee who teaches at the university. Larnell is also the recipient of a Dean's Fellowship and Kanbar Institute of Film and Television scholarship. Impressed with the depth of the story, Spike Lee joined the team as the executive producer in this first feature of Larnell's.

Talk-back with the cast after the showing of the film, Cronies. Left to right: 
Brian Kowalski, Zurich Buckner, and George Sample III. 
Photo by Titilayo Akanke.

Two crew members and the cast of Cronies. 

On the far right, writer, director, producer, Michael J. Larnell. 

Photo by Titilayo Akanke.

     The film, Fresh Dressed, chronicles the unique fashion that developed from the Hip-Hop movement from its beginning to the present. While the music addressed the concerns of urban life, the clothing supported the culture and ultimately influenced fashion around the globe. Directed by renowned filmmaker, writer, producer, and musician, Sacha Jenkins, the film is colorful, musically rich, and includes interviews with pioneers of the fashion and music industry as well as contemporary designers and artists. Fresh Dressed tells the story of how some fashion moguls gained long-term wealth and notoriety while others enjoyed only temporary success. 

     The film highlights the fact that the the Hip-Hop fashion industry was fueled by urban's youth's desire to cultivate an identity through the manner in which they dressed sometimes with the clothing on their backs as their most valuable asset. Questioned by an audience member about the film's failure to address the perpetuation of capitalism and young people's seeming preoccupation with the exterior trappings to affirm their being, Sacha responded that while he respected the person's analysis, his goal was to tell the story of the Hip-Hop fashion industry, not to provide a political analysis. 

Publicity photo featuring a scene from the film, Fresh Dressed.

On stage during the talk-back after the film, Fresh Dressed, 

director, Sacha Jenkins. Photo by Titilayo Akanke.

     Sacha Jenkins is a native New Yorker who has chronicled the evolution of Hip-Hop culture since its inception. He is the recipient of a fellowship from Columbia University. He is the author of rapper Eminem's biography, The Way I Am, the producer of (The White) Rapper Show which airs on VH1, and was the music editor for Vibe magazine. Jenkins is involved in the production of the two magazines ego trip and Mass Appeal. He also works in partnership with the New York based media company, Mass Appeal. 

     Publicity photo (left to right), Chris Pine, Margot Robbie 

and Chiwetel Ejiofor in a scene from Z for Zachariah

     The film, Z for Zachariah depicts an apocalyptic scenario in which a young woman (actress Margot Robbie) struggles to maintain her farm untouched by radiation which appears to have destroyed most of the planet.  When a scientist (actor Chiwetel Ejiofor) wearing a radiation proof contraption discovers her, the two establish a platonic friendship that will surely evolved into a passionate romance. That prospect is interrupted when yet another male stranger (actor Chris Pine) wonders onto the property. The competition for her affection ensues while the three develop plans for their continued survival. Human emotions reveal the best and worst in each and influence choices that impact their future. Written by Nissar Modi, Z for Zacharian is the third feature of director, Craig Zobel. His other works include Great World of Sound which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, and Compliance which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

                                   Publicity photo of singer Nina Simone 

     The Netflix documentary film, What Happened, Miss Simone, weaves archival footage, interviews, and performances to depict the life and struggles of songstress and Civil Rights activist, Nina Simone. Trained at first in classical music, Simone is best known for her soulful mix of jazz, blues, and folk music, and for lyrics that spoke to the African-American experience. The story explores her life as a child during the Jim Crow Era, her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, her historical performance at Carnegie Hall, and her life abroad in Liberia and France. What Happened, Miss Simone is one of over 15 films produced by award winning documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Moxie Firecracker Films, Liz Garbus. 

Publicity photo of Nina Simone. Property of Netflix/Moxie Firecracker Films

Publicity photo: The Black Panthers: Vanguards of the Revolution 

Photo property of Firelight Media

     The Black Panthers: Vanguards of the Revolution, is the eighth film of documentary filmmaker, Stanley Nelson to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The work includes archival footage and interviews with people from around the country who were involved in the movement that produced the revolutionary organization known as the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. Members, lawyers, police officers, journalists, former FBI agents, historians, and others provide testimony about the emergence and eventual decline of the legendary Black Panthers. In the fall of 2015, PBS Distribution will showcase the film in select theatres, and will broadcast it as part of the PBS series, Independent Lens in the winter of 2016.

     Nelson maintains that "The Black Panthers made an indelible imprint on American culture and politics. The story of the rise and fall is essential history for understanding the times we live in, and the complicated political dynamics that are still at play."

     Nelson's other films include Freedom Summer, Freedom Riders, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, and The Murder of Emmett Till. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Fellow, and the National Humanities Medal awarded to him in August 2014 by President Barack Obama. His company,  Firelight Media, of which he is a co-founder, provides a Producers Lab for new filmmakers. Visit www.firelightmedia.tv for more information about the the upcoming distribution of Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.

 Publicity photo of writer, producer, director Ousmane Sembene (right) 
Photo property of Galle Ceddo Projects

     Directed by biographer Samba Gadjigo, and produced by Gadjigo and Jason Silverman, the film, Sembene! chronicles the life and work of legendary Senegalese filmmaker, Ousmane Sembene. The film includes archival footage and interviews with some of his closest friends and colleagues. Known as the father of African film, Sembene's work presents the culture, history, and sociopolitical issues affecting Africa in films such as Moolaade (2004) Faat Kine (2001) Guelwaar (1992),  Camp Thiaroye (1988), Ceddo (1977) Xala, (1975) and Black Girl (1966). 

     Gadjigo, considered the foremost authority on Sembene's life and work, is also the director of the documentary, The Making of Moolaade, and the author of Sembene's biography, Ousmane Sembene: The Making of a Militant Artist (2010). An award winning producer and director, Silverman is the current cinematheque director of the Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe. He served as the director of the Taos Talking Picture Festival, and has produced events for the Smithsonian Institute, the Lensic Performing Arts Center (Santa Fe), the Tribeca Film Festival, and the Lannan Foundation. 

For more information about black films from around the world, visit www.cinemaoftheafricandiaspora.com

Contact info: cinemaoftheafricandiaspora@gmail.com

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