A Study for Sundance and Women in Film Premieres at Sundance 2013

Below are links to some information on a project I helped work on (with a whole host of hard-working undergrads and a fellow cohort member) for Sundance Institute under USC Annenberg's Dr. Stacy L. Smith, Dr. Katie Pieper, and Marc Choueiti. The study investigates barriers for women in film, and more specifically in independent film, and was really interesting to work on. The full report will be up on Sundance's website soon and I will make sure to share that link with you all.

The New York Times
http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/21/sundance-study-finds-more-women-behind-camera-of-indie-films/?ref=movies

The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/study-women-behind-the-camera-fare-better-in-independent-film-but-still-lack-parity-with-men/2013/01/21/4d158090-6408-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html

The LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/moviesnow/la-et-mn-sundance-2013-women-lag-men-even-in-independent-film-study-finds-20130120,0,712589.story

I guess I can now say that my research has been featured in some major newspapers huh?

Black Films at Sundance 2013

I realized that none of the films I suggested you all look out for included black films. BET and the Root made sure to let us know what black films would be shown at the festival and here are a couple of the films and documentaries that I am personally interested in and may be of interest to you. I will finish up this post by talking about whether or not I am "more" excited about what might be considered the "white" films of Sundance or the "black" films of the festival and why.

Fruitvale

This Forest Whitaker-produced film stars Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer and tells the story of Oscar Grant, the 22-year old Bay area resident who was killed by BART officers at the Fruitvale train station on New Year's Day 2009. I remember when this murder (yes, murder) took place and it still resonates. I want to see how writer and first-time director Ryan Coogler tackles this true story and conveys the ending of Grant's life.

Milkshake

Dark teen comedy. The examination of the tragic sex life of a kid who strives to be something he can't be: black. A black girlfriend who he keeps on the down-low. And the backdrop of the 1990s including the OJ Simpson trial and Marion Barry's re-election. The question is why wouldn't I want to see this film?

Vipaka

This film isn't actually at Sundance. It's at Slamdance, which is taking place in Park City, Utah right now as well. The thriller stars Forest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie, Mike Epps, Nicole Ari Parker and Sanaa Lathan. I'm excited to see a black thriller as opposed to the usual one black person who happens to be in a thriller or horror film who dies in the first 30 minutes. Thank you Forest, thank you.

Anita

This documentary is about Anita Hill, the black woman who addressed an all male, white senate committee and detailed sexual harassment by then Supreme Court Justice nominee Clarence Thomas. This documentary gives us a glimpse into the personal life of Anita Hill as well as the friends and family that stood by her through everything. This documentary is of personal interest to be because it touches on one of the most divise figures and events in Black America. Who to side with? Who to believe? And does it even matter were just some of the questions raised and this will hopefully give another perspective on the story.

The Stuart Hall Project

This documentary by John Akonfrah looks at the life and work of Jamaican-born cultural theorist Stuart Hall. Having lived in England since 1951, he is one of the Britain's foremost intellectuals and a staple in sociology and communication theory. I have an intellectual crush on the man (encoding/decoding = brilliant) and will be seeing this documentary.

Music lovers should look out for Twenty Feet from Stardom, which is a documentary about back-up singers and their lives so close to stardom, as well as Muscle Shoals, which is a documentary that takes a look at the amazing music created at FAME studios in the tiny town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama by artists like Mick Jagger, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

Now for the matter of whether or not I am "more" excited about the black films at Sundance than the "white" films. I just love good stories and good storytelling. Of course I am happy to see so many films with predominantly black casts and black producers/directors at Sundance (not that many is not all that many, but I'm sure that there aren't that many films directed and/or produced by women either), but my hope is that one day there will just be films at Sundance. We are a long way from there however. Also, I long for the day major movie commentators and sites will include "black" films in their considerations of films on which to comment on and bring attention to before Sundance. We shall see! 

Also the Indiewire's review of the Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete is already out and this film starring Jennifer Hudson and scored by Alicia Keys didn't quite cut it in their opinion: http://www.indiewire.com/article/sundance-review-alicia-keys-scored-inevitable-defeat-of-mister-and-pete-loses-its-way.


For more information about black films at Sundance see the articles below:

"14 Black Films that Matter at Sundance," The Root, http://www.theroot.com/multimedia/14-films-matter-sundance

"African-American Films at 2013 Sundance Film Festival," BET.com, http://www.bet.com/celebrities/photos/2013/01/african-american-films-at-2013-sundance.html#!010413-celebs-sundance-inevitable-defeat-of-mister-and-pete-still

Sundance 2013: Films to Look Out For

The 2013 Sundance Film Festival begins tomorrow, and though many of you are distracted by awards season, click the photo below to see some Sundance films selected by Moviefone as ones to keep in mind:

Out of these 15, I have selected my top 5 "have-to-see" films:

1. jOBS

(It's the most anticipated film at the festival and it's about Steve Jobs. Who are we kidding here?)

2. Don Jon's Addiction

(It's Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut. Who wants to miss that?)

3. The East

(Ellen Page and anarchists. I don't see how it could go too wrong)

4. Stoker

(The fact that I get to see Nicole Kidman in something frightening again pleases me to no end. It's probably because she frightens me a little in general)

5. Breathe In

(This one I have some doubts about because the older man, younger girl story has been done many a time. However, I will be giving it a chance)

The Runner-up: The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman

(It looks like Shia is getting all Ryan Gosling in Blue Valentine on me. Hey, we might like it)