83rd Annual Academy Awards Winners

The Oscars have come and gone. The biggest complaint circulating the wire this year was the exclusion of African-Americans from the nominees. Actors like Anthony Mackie and Idris Elba say the black film communities are getting lazy and need to step up their game, pull the resources together and make more movies. I can agree with this and we also need to get in the theaters and support these movies also because it is a business and the monetary success of one leads to others receiving a green light.

As I take a look at the list, The King's Speech and Inception had the most wins followed by The Social Network. I was disappointed that Waste Land for best documentary and Black Swan for editing didn't win, but I have not seen the winning movies Inside Job and Social Network. Here is the list of winners:

Best Picture - The King's Speech
Actor in a Leading Role - Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Actress in a Leading Role - Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Actress in a Supporting Role - Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Animated Feature Film - Toy Story 3
Art Direction - Alice in Wonderland
Cinematography - Inception
Costume Design - Alice In Wonderland
Directing - The King's Speech
Documentary Feature - The Inside Job
Documentary Short Subject - Strangers No More
Film Editing - The Social Network
Foreign Language Film - In A Better World
Makeup - The Wolfman
Music (Original Score) - The Social Network
Music (Original Song) - Toy Story 3
Short Film (Animated) - The Lost Thing
Short Film (Live Action)  - God of Love
Sound Editing - Inception
Sound Mixing - Inception
Visual Effects - Inception
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - The Social Network
Writing (Original Screenplay) - The King's Speech

Fifth Annual Texas Black Film Festival Begins

The Fifth Annual Texas Black Film Festival begins tomorrow running from Feb 23 - Feb 26 at the Studio Movie Grill in Dallas. This is a good film festival to meet and greet filmmakers and the only festival in Texas that caters to the African-American niche. Ya'ke Smith's Katrina's Son will screen on Wednesday and Thursday starting at 8:00 PM. Katrina's Son won the Jury Prize at the 2010 Austin Film Festival. Also playing, will be a feature film from the UK, Sus. This film is set in 1979 on election night and mostly takes place in a police interrogation room where a suspect is questioned after his pregnant wife is found dead. It will close the festival on Saturday.

To see the full list of official selections click here.

Here is a previous article about TBFF:
Texas Black Film Festival Accepting Submissions

Blacktino Trailer Released

It's finally here! The full trailer has been released for the dark teen comedy Blacktino. Sad, fat, black, latino, nerd. It doesn't get any worse than that reads the tagline. Blacktino is scheduled for a world premiere on the opening night of the SXSW Film Festival on March 11, 9:30 PM, at The Paramount Theater. The film stars Austin Marshall, Devyn Ray, Tiger Sheu, Denise Williamson, Bryan Jackson, Conrad Gonzalez, Timeca Seretti, Danny Trejo, Jeff Fahey, Selma Pinkard and Daryl Sabara.

This is Aaron Burns first directorial debut from a screenplay he also wrote. It's produced by Spy Kids and Sin City's Elizabeth Avellan. This movie was filmed in Austin and will premiere in Austin. It should be well received by the locals who can pass on the buzz to the thousands of attendees during SXSW.

Here is the synopsis:

Blacktino is a dark teen comedy about an overweight half-black, half-hispanic nerd named Stefan Daily. He was raised by his black grandmother in a medium sized suburb of Austin, TX. Struggling to find his place in a mostly white high school, Stefan finds sanctuary among the eclectic mix of social outcasts in the school's theatre department. In the tradition of the great teen comedies of the last thirty years Blacktino will ensure that the torch of teen angst continues to burn bright. 

Here are previous articles written on Blacktino:
Dark Teen Comedy 'Blacktino' Set For Production
Extras Needed For Funeral Scene in Blacktino

Texas Black Film Festival Accepting Submissions

The submission deadline for TBFF has been extended to January 15. You can submit shorts/TV pilots, features, documentaries and animation films.

TBFF will host three full days of entertaining and insightful films, workshops, and events. Programmed for family entertainment and inspired by the African-American experience, this festival will provide filmmakers an opportunity to reach audiences with films seldom recognized through major theatrical release.

The Fifth Annual Texas Black Film Festival will be held from February 23 - 26, 2011 at the Studio Movie Grill in Dallas.

"Mother Country" Trailer

'Mother Country' follows a young African American man, Dwight Porter, an unwilling criminal on the run. After committing murder, Dwight goes remorseful and leaves his environment with a goal: walk across the United States in search of a former teacher, the one person who believed in him.

'Mother Country' is written, directed and produced by Maria Breaux. Check out the trailer below:



Mother Country Trailer from Mother Country on Vimeo.

CTAAF 2010 Community Accomplishments

2010 is coming to a close and we would like to take this time to reflect on the good amongst the community for theater, film and TV this past year. With your help, we would like to compile a list of all your accomplishments. This list includes completed items that have been viewed by the public. This is your time to brag and simply let the world know you've been active over the past year.

Here are some of the accomplishments of 2010 based on the entries on our Facebook page:



"Kings of the Evening":

• Filmed in Bartlett, Texas, Released on DVD
• 2011 Black Reel Awards Nominee -  Outstanding Indie Feature Film

Ya'ke Smith:

• "Katrina's Son" - Director - 2010 Austin Film Festival Winner Jury Prize Narrative Short
• "Katrina's Son" - Director - 2011 Black Reel Awards Nominee - Outstanding Indie Short Film

Herman Whitney III:

• "Katrina's Son" - Actor

Gina McCauley:

• "Namaste" - short film - Director
• The Root 100 List of Young Achievers and Pace Setters

Kelley Phillips-Glover:

• "U Better Sing" - web series

Timeca Seretti:

• "Drama" - short film - Austin Film Festival official selection

Will Martin:

• "East of the Highway" - short film, Director

Henry Smith III:

• "East of the Highway" - actor

Armsteady Nguvu:

• Fox Living Room Wars
• "Steady Shooting" - short film

Angela Burns:

• Casting assistant - Beth Sepko

T.K. Henderson:

• Started CTAAF
• "Triad" - actor 

Jay Curtis:

• PBS National Commercial
• "Another Days Journey" - Producer
• "Dark Rise New World Order" - Producer

Rakeda Lashae:

• "The Fix" - Director

Mariah Robinson:

• "Can't Take It With You" - Stage play - Actor

I know I've missed plenty of accomplishments. Help me by documenting names, info, and links in the comment section or you can send the info to me at (quincy dot minor at gmail).

Free Millennium Theatre Holiday Movie Matinee

The Millennium Theatre will be screening 'The Grinch That Stole Christmas' for free on Saturday, December 18th 10:15 am. I would honestly say that I have never visited this theatre. I haven't simply avoided it, but it only screens one movie at a time and its closed Sunday through Tuesday. Currently, 'Unstoppable' is playing in the theatre. I actually want to see this movie so this may be my ticket to get there.