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Subject: "Can an epic black movie without black cliche work? " Previous topic | Next topic
Wordman
Member since Apr 11th 2003
11224 posts
Fri Jun-12-09 12:47 AM

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14. "Can an epic black movie without black cliche work? "
In response to In response to 13


  

          

Yes and no. A lot of it comes down to definition.
What's "BLACK"?
What's "CLICHE"?
What's "WORKS"?
"BLACK" - On some "for us, by us" shit? I say possibly, but probably not. It's that line Denzel said in Mo' Better: "If we had to depend on black people to eat, we would starve." No one checks for Spike Lee's movies, even fewer check for other black directors, which causes a lot of black directors to not even be interested in doing "black" work. The only "black" films that "work" ("work" by h'wood standards) rely on those cliches and stereotypes.
"CLICHE" - Technically, the "black version of _________" movie is a cliche. But I can say this. I'm noticing a change, a change I hope I'm at the vanguard of, from "We can do it too!" then to "We can do it better!" and now towards "We can do something else!" So I believe yes without cliche is possible, if for no other reason than that sentiment.
"WORKS" - To me, this is the biggest linchpin. Because "works" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. A film "works" if it finds its audience. But if that film's audience is only a few people, then the film "didn't work". I believe there's an audience for say, a black independent indie ala that new movie coming out starring the nice guy from The Office. Is that audience large enough to sustain/warrant a studio putting in millions of dollars? Probably not. This is the single biggest thing holding up black movies. Because a minority of a minority, in all likelihood, won't generate returns. It's the same reason there are no major h'wood films of/about Native Americans, why there are no women action flicks, and why they don't make stereotype-free black movies. The cats in charge do not see the profit.
Personally, my interests lie in my nephew. I would like him to grow up, see the films I was part of, and not feel ashamed that this is what paid his college tuition.


"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams

  

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'90s "urban crime flick" - I NEED YOUR HELP! [View all] , Wordman, Thu Jun-11-09 01:21 PM
 
Subject Author Message Date ID
NEW JACK CITY
Jun 11th 2009
1
RE: '90s "urban crime flick" - I NEED YOUR HELP!
Jun 11th 2009
2
Not being black,
Jun 11th 2009
6
NEW JAZZ CITY -- make it happen
Jun 11th 2009
3
ha
Jun 11th 2009
7
Bluez in da Hood
Jun 12th 2009
15
      It's bigger than B.B. King
Jun 15th 2009
19
maybe NEW JAZZY DRIVE
Jun 11th 2009
4
Just don't release it at the same time as the Sticky Fingaz flick
Jun 11th 2009
5
I have no say on the release of films I write
Jun 11th 2009
8
      I'm just fuckin witcha fam. Good look either way tho.
Jun 11th 2009
10
           ahahahahaha
Jun 11th 2009
11
David Simon is doing an HBO series on Jazz in N'awlins
Jun 11th 2009
9
I was this close to telling him
Jun 11th 2009
12
      now THAT would have been hilarious!
Jun 12th 2009
16
           trust,
Jun 12th 2009
17
                RE: Laugh to keep from crying, my man...
Jun 16th 2009
21
Black Sci-fi opera
Jun 11th 2009
13
      Remake of brother john
Jun 15th 2009
18
           this is one I've seen some interest in
Jun 15th 2009
20
                It could work - Chedale or Underwood
Jun 19th 2009
22
                     oh yeah, it could work
Jun 20th 2009
23
                          Solid - keep me in the loop. Thanks.
Jun 21st 2009
24

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