August 17, 2017 

By Lapacazo Sandoval 

Contributing Writer 

The 2017 Sundance Institute Vanguard Award was presented to filmmaker Dee Rees at the Sundance Next Fest, in Los Angeles. Rees credits include “Pariah”, HBO biopic “Bessie” and “Mudbound”, which has been building positive word-of-mouth and strong praise from finicky film critics since it screened at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Often called a “vanguard” for her independent thinking — from the very beginning—it’s her reputation of putting in the work that really garners her such industry respect. Rees’ roots with the festival run deep — starting with her NYU thesis of the short film version of that would become her full-length “Pariah”. This helped get her noticed by the Sundance Institute, leading to what is now a ten-year-long relationship with both the organization and its affiliated festival.

The Vanguard Award presented by Acura was founded in 2011 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program and its founding director, Michelle Satter. It celebrates an emerging artist with creative independence and includes a cash grant and mentorship from industry professionals and Institute staff.

In Hollywood, it might appear that receiving an award is rather easy but earning a Sundance Institute Vanguard Award requires significant “skin in the game”, because in celebrating an artists independent spirit, it’s also highlighting their creative resourcefulness at making their dreams materialize without the deep pockets of Hollywood and the laundry list of compromises that often accompany entrance into Tinseltown’s inner circle.

Rees is an alumna of the Sundance Institute Screenwriters, Creative Producing and Directors Labs and has been the recipient of the Institute’s Time Warner Fellowship and Annenberg Film Fellowship.

Rees is the sixth recipient of Sundance Institute Vanguard Award; past recipients include Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash”), BenhZeitlin (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) and Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”).

Her next feature, “Mudbound” is adapted by Rees and co-writer Virgil Williams from Hillary Jordan’s remarkable debut novel, Mudbound. Rees preserves Jordan’s strategy of spreading the narration between six different characters, three from each family. It’s a powerful equalizing device that puts everyone on roughly the same level, despite the fact that the Jacksons are not only tenant ­farmers on the McAllans’ land, but African-American to boot, locking them into a lower social position in 1940s Mississippi.

The historic drama “Mudbound” sold to Netflix for $12.5 million.

The Sundance Next Fest ran August 10 – 13 in Los Angeles.

August 10, 2017

Aries March 21 - April 19 

Changes could be in the cards early this week, and they could affect the social groups or people you hang out with. Certain friends may leave your circle, but others will join over time. You could also benefit from some downtime and pampering if you need to recharge your batteries, so think good food, more rest, and a chance to unwind. As Mercury enters its retrograde phase, it might also be a good idea to back up important documents and files.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 

Tensions could emerge that are related to your work/life balance and your relationship between your family and worldly responsibilities. This can be an opportunity to clear the air and explain to others more about your intentions. Even so, you might need to make a radical decision concerning your job or a personal ambition. It’s also possible that events could alter your plans anyway, and new opportunities may become available as a result. Time spent in good company can help you feel more upbeat.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 

This week, feelings could reach a peak and be a cause of intense discussion. If you and another can’t see eye to eye, matters could intensify, with the possibility of a falling out. But if you can approach this more sensitively and be willing to put yourself in the other person’s shoes, a more positive solution may be found. Communicative Mercury, your guide planet, turns retrograde at the end of the week, which could be a cause of misunderstandings if you aren’t careful.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 

A financial matter may need attention, particularly if it’s something you’ve so far avoided. With a lunar eclipse across your money axis, you might need to make a swift decision or take action to settle a key matter. However, this can also be a turning point for you and perhaps an opportunity to reorganize your affairs. On another note, it might be wise to check the details, particularly when signing anything important, as interactive Mercury turns retrograde on Saturday.

Leo July 23 - August 22 

With a lunar eclipse early in the week, relationships could go through a period of instability. Feelings that have been held back may come out into the open, and this could encourage you or another to make a key decision. If you can wait a few days until things calm down, you’ll find it easier to make the best choice for you and others. And while you’ll do better if you can be firm with others, a compassionate aspect could see you being very flexible.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 

Something may need to change, and with a powerful lunar phase showing up today, it could be your routines, habits, and daily schedule that need to alter. With a strong focus on a more secluded and spiritual sector of your chart, the current setup could encourage you to step back and see things in perspective. An event may have disrupted your routine, and now you need to make alternative arrangements. Whatever the situation, take your time before making a key decision.

 Libra September 23 - October 22 

Your approach to leisure activities and your social life could change this week, and the change may have been brewing for some time. You may be looking to move in new circles, make new friends, or involve yourself in activities that can harness your creative potential. To do this, you might need to move away from situations that no longer serve you. Don’t feel guilty. The cosmos is encouraging you to say goodbye to one chapter of your life and hello to another.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 

It may be decision time this week, and this could involve tension with family members concerning career plans or a key ambition. This matter may have been bubbling away beneath the surface for some time, but now it could come out into the open. This can be a good time to clear the air, even if doing so involves some complex conversations. With interactive Mercury spinning backward from the end of the week, it would be just as well to approach this carefully and sensitively.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 

If a certain matter has brought up objections in the past, these could intensify over the coming week. You could be locked into an argument that causes a rift with another if you aren’t careful. But this event could also encourage you to take a closer look at your opinion. It’s an opportunity to put yourself in another person’s shoes and see things from their perspective. Doing so could make quite a difference to the outcome of future conversations.

 Capricorn December 22 - January 19 

At the start of the week, you may sense that something needs to change, and you may have felt this way for some time already. Over the coming days, this urge could grow stronger and possibly encourage you to take action. Doing so could be a relief and a release, even if it’s a little bit uncomfortable to let go of a very familiar situation. However, if it no longer serves you, you are certainly doing the right thing.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 

If one relationship has been under pressure for some time, this is when things could come to a head. A lunar eclipse in your sector of relating means that feelings could erupt and lead you to make an impulsive decision. If you can refrain until your emotions are more settled and you can see the lie of the land, you may be able to make a more informed choice. Quicksilver Mercury turns retrograde at the end of the week, so you’ll need to tread carefully.

 Pisces February 19 - March 20 

Health and well-being may be very much on your mind, as a potent lunar phase could encourage a fresh start. A wellness issue or the sense that something needs to change regarding your overall health could act as a catalyst. Other people may have advice for you, but it would be better to seek the services of a personal trainer or health professional that you trust. You’ll want to feel as positive and energized as possible going forward.

August 10, 2017

By MESFIN FEKADU

AP Entertainment Writer

As Dave Chappelle reflects on spending 30 years in comedy, he says he’s grateful and humble to still be living his dreams onstage.

“In all honesty, I mostly feel grateful that I survived it, and that I'm able to still do it, and that I have the respect of my peers,” the 43-year-old said in an interview Friday night following a show at Radio City Music Hall, where he was joined by The Roots, Dead Prez and T.I.

Chappelle’s residency at the venue in New York kicked off this week, and included guest performers such as Lil Wayne, Usher, Ice Cube and others. Saturday and Sunday's shows were to feature Chris Rock, while Trevor Noah, John Mayer, Lauryn Hill, Leslie Jones, Chance the Rapper, Solange, Childish Gambino, Erykah Badu and more were scheduled for upcoming performances.

“Not to tip my hand, but the next couple nights are probably one of the most expensive comedy shows ever done, and everybody’s working under the fee, everybody’s works under their fee just so we can be together in this room,” Chappelle said. “It means a lot of to me.”

Darren Pfeffer, the executive vice president of MSG Live, called the 16 shows “unique” and said the company “is thrilled to have him at Radio City for the month of August.”

Chappelle — who received some criticism about his jokes about transgender men and women during the new shows and on his Netflix special — talks about his residency, sensitive jokes and more in an interview with The Associated Press.

AP: How does it feel to celebrate 30 years in comedy?

Chappelle: What’s funny about it is my son, my youngest son, is as old now as I was when I started (at 14), and looking at him makes me understand how crazy that was to start at that age, even though at the time it felt very natural. ... People general like me — they’re always going to be people that don’t like me — but it doesn’t matter, enough people like me that I can make a living this way. After I left my television show, I didn’t know that I would ever, I didn’t think anything, that was a real tough lump I took. I can’t explain to people what the emotional content of those decisions were like.

And what’s beautiful about it is, a guy will go through something sometimes in show business and the people will get away from him. Certain people, especially people like Ahmir (Questlove) and The Roots and all these other guys, they’re always still included and it was always a little more familiar, and it meant a lot to me. Even a guy like Usher, I remember Usher one time, I was at a bar and he brought me out to a birthday party another celebrity was having; it was just nice to be included without having to be hot. It was just warm.

These types of memories I’m grateful for and I’m old enough to understand to be grateful for (it). I don’t take any of this (stuff) for granted, none of it. So there’s a lot of, being a public person, that I personally find terrifying, and I don’t really get locked into an existence of being hot or not, but night’s like tonight, it’s a breath of fresh air. Just to see that everyone’s OK; Jay-Z’s making a record and he’s damn near 50 and it’s relevant. And we’re all working.

AP: I haven’t been to a show before where they’ve locked up your phone.

Chappelle: There’s no phones or anything. If there were phones and people were posting stuff, you could get likes and maybe get followers, but if no one has a phone, that’s how you become a legend.  ... Comedy relies on the element of surprise and any part of a show taken out of the context of the show could sound — well it all sounds crazy anyway — it would sound way crazier. And it empowers me to be more courageous with the audience ... which is all I’m really concerned with ‘cause they came out.

AP: The world is very sensitive right now, and I’m wondering if you take that into consideration when you’re writing jokes. Are you altering jokes to satisfy people?

Chappelle: This is a hard question to answer. No, it doesn’t alter it. I feel like our ears are calibrated a certain way for a reason right now, and different people are sensitive to different things. I think the only way we got a shot at being cohesive and hearing each other is if we speak more freely. And I feel like there are things happening in culture that are making the audience a more discerning audience out of necessity. Mainly the fact that we’re so bombarded with so much information that we have to be more sophisticated to sift through it all. If you have presidents just dismissing things like, ‘That’s just fake news’ — Jesus Christ, it’s really serious out here. So people have to learn how to critically think and they also have to learn how to objectively listen, and that’s hard. And then there’s these phrases they got now, what do they call it? Identity politics. But (stuff) is what it is. And the core of it from my perspective is everybody’s trying to be happy and feel good and get through what seems to be an increasingly difficult life. Not difficult like we’re lifting heavy things, we don’t lift heavy (stuff), we don’t do that anymore, but all our heavy lifting is psychological, emotional, and there are some things that are happening that I look at as encouraging that the conversation will elevate. We’ll become a more soulful nation.

AP: You don’t do lots of interviews, so what is it that you want to say to people out there?

Chappelle: I always get nervous addressing people outside the context of jokes, but I do feel grateful. Not just because people come out (to see my shows), but there's a certain way people engage with me, it makes me feel like there’s an acknowledgment that I’m a person. And they don’t expect me to be perfect, which is a relief because I am not. It’s a real valuable relationship ... and I know everything I say is not for everybody. When I’m right, I’m right, and when I’m wrong, forgive me. And again, it’s not church — if you want to hear somebody be right all the time go to church, if you want to laugh at (stuff) that terrifies you, go to a comedy club. And that’s how I feel.