Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/33797
The candid dialogue reflected upon the history of African-American images on the screen and through the lens of the panelists’ own experiences and insights, while grappling with the realities of an ever more diverse 21st century. Hudlin, perhaps best known as the producer of popular feature films House Party, Boomerang and Bebe’s Kids, and the president of the Black Filmmaker Foundation, stressed the importance of being proactive and forward thinking. “There is no reason for anyone to feel as if they can’t go out and make their way in this business,” he said “No one gave hip-hop permission to become a billion- dollar-plus-a-year industry; you don’t need permission to tell your story through acting, writing, directing, producing: Just go do it.” The evening began with a screening of the feature documentary film-in-progress, Oscar’s Comeback, a look at the unique town of Gregory, S.D. and its unlikely native son, the early-1900s controversial black film pioneer, Oscar Micheaux. Melodrama and culture collision abound in this account of an annual mom-and- pop film festival held in the struggling, all-white small town. Panelist Lisa Collins, director and producer of the film, has been shooting this project with her co-director and co-producer, Mark Schwartzburt, over the past seven summers. She encouraged those in attendance to take advantage of technological advances in filmmaking and distribution, utilizing digital and social media. New York Division EEO Committee Co- Chair Washington echoed the sentiments of other panelists in her belief in the power of “images that reflect who we are, who I am,” in shaping the way we relate to and understand each other. Put another way by Marshall of Orpheus Group Casting, “Maria [Nelson] and I have made a commitment to do only those projects that we believe in. And we believe in ensuring a true representation of the diversity in our society with the diversity in New York City and its independent films.” Orpheus Group Casting is responsible for films such as Girl Fight, featuring Michelle Rodriguez, and Real Women Have Curves, starring America Ferrara. Participants and attendees were leſt with a feeling of hope for the new century, aſter one of incremental progress towards greater inclusion that has been rife with unresolved racial tension, despite a historic U.S. presidential election. Hudlin articulated this optimism. “When talking about ‘mainstream,’ we must understand that the game has changed and that our world of movies and television and commercials and new media is getting browner all the time. Whether anyone else knows it or not, our time is already here,” he said. SAG National Executive Director David White said the inspirational bicoastal events were a time to assess progress that black actors have made, as well as a way to look forward. “It has been a long and oſten difficult journey for African-American performers throughout the history of this industry. In many ways, they now have more opportunity than ever before, but there is still much more to accomplish,” said White. “Black History Month is a time to reflect on the achievements of the trailblazers of yesterday, honor the efforts of today’s African-American actors and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.” click for video