February 06, 2020 

By Saybin Roberson 

Contributing Writer

 

The Pan African Film and Art Festival (PAFF) is soon to kick-off at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Critics, creators and more join one another in sharing their love of film amongst the Black community. Beginning February 11-23, PAFF will debut over 150 films, host panels and multiple celebratory events all open to the public.

 

Spotlight films this year include “Hero,” “Zulu Wedding” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” which co-founder of PAFF Danny Glover appears in. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” stars Jimmie Fails and Jonathon Majors centers around a young man attempting to reclaim his childhood home - a now expensive house in a gentrified San Francisco neighborhood.

 

Glover shares his connection to the film both on a professional and emotional level, growing up in San Francisco, he remembers the effects gentrification had on his neighborhood. Mentally traveling back to when he was 29, working for the city government overlooking the changing dynamics of the neighborhood he once held a responsibility to as a child.

 

“I live in the house I lived in since I was 11-years-old. I thought about that in a relationship with The Last Black Man because this is emotional,” he said as he sat in front of his childhood home. The home which he now owns and purchased from its original owners through his parents.

 

“There were four houses, including the house I live in, with the people who knew my parents and worked at the post office. An identity that they embraced themselves. Being homeowners and being gainfully employed,” adding emphasis, “Not renters - homeowners.”

 

Still, reminiscing he shared, “They're all gone now. I'm the only one left on the block and I was 29-years-old.”

 

Now at 73, he added, “What's so tragic about this; none of the gains that they have received, the blessings they have retained, were passed on down to their children,” he continues, “San Francisco is gentrified. If I had to buy this house right now, I couldn't afford it.”

 

However, for Glover and like the main characters, the film, the attachment to their home remains. “I love this city. I love the feel of this city; I loved it,” he stated. The sentiment being a strong emotional note carried throughout the film, which critics deemed a special film after watching just the first opening scenes.

 

The Last Black Man in San Francisco won multiple awards at Sundance Film Festival, however, at PAFF the movie will be presented in an intimate fashion. Following the premiere scheduled for February 12 at the festival, a panel not only featuring actors Danny Glover and Jimmie Fails, but also community leaders Damien Goodman from the Crenshaw Subway Coalition and political strategist Jasmyne Cannick to complete the lineup. Together they will discuss the topic of gentrification and how to fight back against the displacement and alienation of people within the community.

 

As the purpose of PAFF is to allow the community to have involvement in the film industry, the panel perfectly seals the mission of the organization. Glover expressed, “[The panel] is going to be really exciting to add to the flavor of the film.”

 

As far as the festival itself, Glover is still proud and happy to have a stake in the magic created on a yearly basis. His connection to the film world but also the community and colleagues drives his purpose and keeps him going.

 

“Ayuko Babu and his incredible staff year in, year out presents such an extraordinary package of films,” Glover states speaking of his friend and fellow co-founder. “It’s unlike a lot of film festivals you go to.”

 

“Just normal, regular people, citizens of Los Angeles, citizens of that community in which the festival has its home; come and see and be a part of our extended family and in­creasingly extended family.”

 

To gather more information about Pan African Film and Art Festival, buy passes and tickets, or learn about volunteer opportunities visit https://www.paff.org/.

Category: Arts & Culture

January 30, 2020 

By Elizabeth Marcellino 

City News Service 

 

In addition to an NBA MVP award and two NBA Finals MVP awards, Kobe Bryant was also an Oscar winner.

 

Bryant received an Oscar in 2018 as the producer of the best animated short film, “Dear Basketball,” based on the poem he wrote announcing his retirement.

 

“I feel better than winning a championship, to be honest, I swear I do,” Bryant said backstage at the Dolby Theatre on March 4, 2018.

 

When the former Los Angeles Lakers guard told friends and colleagues that he wanted to be a writer and a filmmaker, they humored him, he said.

 

“That's cute, that's cute ... I got that a lot,” Bryant said.

 

“The hardest thing for athletes to do is ...  you really have to quiet the ego” to begin all over again, he said.

 

An Oscar gave him “a sense of validation,” Bryant said.

 

Asked how the business of storytelling differs from sports, Bryant said, “I think the hardest part about it ... is when you're playing basketball... (you need to) get out of the way of yourself ... in writing, it feels like you have to get into a deeper connection with yourself.”

 

Making the short film took him well out of his comfort zone.

 

His then-11-year-old daughter, Gianna, who was killed with him and seven other people in a helicopter crash Sunday in Calabasas, helped push him forward, Bryant said, by telling him, “You always tell us to go after our dreams, so man up.”

 

Working with composer John Williams – who has won five Oscars among his 52 nominations – didn't hurt.

 

“John speaks about music as if each key has its own soul,” Bryant said. “It's just an amazing experience ... he's a real-life Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

 

Bryant also said he had some great mentors.

 

He remembered calling talk show host and producer Oprah Winfrey for advice and spending an hour on the phone with her “walking me through every step of the way ... how she built Harpo (Productions),” the multimedia production company she founded.

 

Television producer Shonda Rhimes was another source of inspiration and help.

 

“You just continue to learn from the best of the best of the best,” Bryant said.

Category: Arts & Culture

January 30, 2020 

By Stacy M. Brown 

NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent 

 

It’s been nearly 34 years since legendary hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC “walked through concert doors, and roamed all over coliseum floors,” as they performed their groundbreaking single, “My Adidas.”

 

Now, the famed sneaker company that inspired the 1986 hit song is honoring Run (Joseph Simmons), DMC (Darryl McDaniels), and the late Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell).

 

Adidas Originals announced it has collaborated with Run DMC to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Superstar silhouette sneakers famously worn by the Hall of Famers throughout their career.

 

According to the footwear outlet, Sneaker Bar Detroit, Adidas will release the sneakers in three color options.

 

The first release is black and white, with high-resolution red color. The second reportedly contains a white core with black stripes and a high-resolution red color. Images for the third sneaker hasn’t been released, but each includes Run-DMC branding throughout, with the letters “JMJ” emblazoned along the heel.

 

The sneakers have a retail price of $150, so it’ll cost a little cash if you want to be like Run-DMC and have Adidas “funky fresh and yes cold on my feet.”

Category: Arts & Culture

January 30, 2020 

By City News Service 

 

The second wife of the late Kristoff St. John filed a $1.16 million claim against the actor's estate, saying the money is needed for the benefit of their 16-year-old daughter.

 

Allana Nadal's petition, filed Jan. 21 in Los Angeles Superior Court, states that the estate funds would be used to provide $5,721 a month in child support for Lola St. John through her scheduled graduation in June 2021, amounting to about $165,880.

 

The balance would consist of $1 million in life insurance proceeds that Nadal maintains should have been distributed to her daughter.

 

Nadal was married to St. John from 2001-07 and maintains the money she is seeking was guaranteed to her daughter under the former couple's 2007 divorce judgment.

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Deborah Christian previously appointed St. John's father, Christopher, and the actor's other daughter, Paris, as temporary special co-administrators of his estate. A permanent administrator will be selected later.

 

Christopher and Paris St. John disagree over the validity of a will the elder St. John alleges was handwritten by the actor before he died. The will states that the actor wanted his personal savings and money to be shared between Paris and Lola St. John at a split of 25%  and 75%, respectively.

 

Dated Aug. 12, 2017, the will requests that the actor's father be made executor of the estate.

 

Last June, 27-year-old Paris St. John filed a petition challenging the validity of the will. She has also maintained a neutral third party should administer the estate.

 

   The judge has not decided on the will's validity. Paris St. John was born while the actor was married to boxer Mia St. John from 1991-95.

 

St. John, who played Neil Winters on “The Young and the Restless” for almost 30 years, was 52 when he died of hypertrophic heart failure on Feb. 3, 2018, at his Woodland Hills home.

Category: Arts & Culture

Page 814 of 1617