Fertile meeting ground for movie execs and Black indie filmmakers, the 2007 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Los Angeles may represent another milestone in Black Cinema. But as a travel publisher, I was immediately struck by the soulful ambience of so many accomplished sistahs and brothers at the Sofitel Hotel setting in Beverly Hills. Inside the hotel, flava’ was evident from the lobby to the second floor, where the main ABFF activities occurred.  A small, but pleasant collection of corporate sponsors and studios hosted booths to promote smoothies, insurance, make-up products and movies – what a combo! I was particularly struck by CodeBlack, BETJ and Our Stories Films supporting American Black Film Festival. Their executives, present throughout the festival, created an air of personal promise for filmmakers and actors alike.

    The CodeBlack booth was well tended with informative staff.  CodeBlack as a Black-owned, film production and distribution company was a breath of fresh air. Trailers of their new movies suggest a refreshing confidence about the future of Black films and the writers, directors, actors, cinematographers and others getting foundational experience for long careers. I also noted that CodeBlack has a deal with 20th Century Fox to produce 6 original films and is a contracted management partner to BET. Could it be that things are finally looking up creatively for BET?

 

    That caused me to see BETJ booth at the festival through a new lens. I set aside my negative impressions of BET since they lost Tavis Smiley and Ed Gordon. I’m glad I did. BETJ, gradually becoming a distinct brand from BET, is targeting college-educated African Americans. Their movie and TV programming aims to recapture the many viewers like myself they lost years ago. I’d say they deserve a second look.

    The onsite Lincoln Lounge, featuring a 2008 Lincoln crossover and sports coupe, was a little something extra. Futilely, I hoped for a chance to win one of those smokin’ hot vehicles. I’ll bet hundreds of visitors felt the same as they approached ABFF’s “Off The Red Carpet” interview area and lounge.

    The festival showstopper was the COO of Bob Johnson’s Our Stories Films studio, who was interviewed in “Off The Red Carpet.” For those not up to date on Black Hollywood, Tracey Edmonds is the COO of Our Stories. She’s developed a number of critical and box office successes for cinema and TV, including Soul Food. When she speaks, people listen. And the plans she spoke of herald a new era of quality Black filmmaking. Since we’re a travel website, I won’t get into the details of their plans, but SoulOfAmerica.com will share a sampler interview (below) with one of the ABBF filmmakers and trailer links to movies that played at 2007 ABFF.

    The Business of Comedy symposium on the last day was also special. Bob Sumner of Def Comedy Jam hosted a panel that included Bill Bellamy, Nielsen Entertainment, Kid Capri and other notables sharing insights about the good and bad of being a professional comedian. With an crowd of comedians, reception was enthusiastically appreciated.

    There are two areas I hope the ABFF improves next year. Some filmmakers needed a high definition projector to showcase their movie, but where limited to standard definition projectors. Maybe Sony will step up as sponsor. The 2nd floor festival area also needed a large calendar of events for everyone who could not quickly locate the calendar in their registration packet. Those caveats stated, Jeff Friday and his staff are to be commended for a polished and productive event.




    Ask Actress Lia Johnson about her romantic comedy, I’m Through with White Girls, and she flashes the same winning smile that captures her leading man’s heart in the film. Completed in 21 days for less than $1 million, the production has garnered a slew of honors, including Best Narrative Feature at the prestigious Pan African Cannes Film Festival and now Audience Award for Best U.S. Feature at the 2007 American Black Film Festival.

    Though pleased about the awards, Johnson is more excited about the kind of film she starred in and co-produced. “I was really passionate about making films that were multi-cultural, that reflected the world that I live in and that I feel everyone lives in,” she says. 


    With its provocative title, I’m Through With White Girls promotes diversity but sounds more radical than it is.  Mild-mannered Jay Brooks is a nerdy black man (played by Anthony Montgomery) who decides to give up his singular focus on white women to find a sister to be his soul mate.  His “Operation Brown Sugar” has disastrous results.  But soon Jay meets the quirky Catherine, played by Johnson and described as a “Half-rican Canadian,” and learns that relationship issues extend far beyond race.

    Johnson and her identical twin sister, Phyllis, jumped at the chance to produce the film after reading the screenplay by Hollywood writer, Courtney Lilly.  His television credits include “Arrested Development” and “Everybody Hates Chris.”

    The film’s world premiere at the Pan African Cannes Film Festival generated unexpected buzz.  “Usually romantic comedies don’t place in the award categories,” Johnson says, noting that I’m Through With White Girls took home both the Best Narrative Feature and the Audience Award.  “It’s really important that the audience, reading subtitles in French, really connected with the film.”

    Johnson and her sister are traveling extensively to promote the project, and they seem to pick up another award at each festival stop on their schedule.  So far, they’ve won Best Narrative Feature at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, the Roxbury Film Festival in Boston and the Hollywood Black Film Festival.  They also won Best Romantic Comedy at the Houston Worldfest Film Festival, and Johnson picked up a Best Actress award at the Atlanta International Film Festival. Audiences in Europe also embraced I’m Through With White Girls, according to Johnson. The film generated lots of press in Amsterdam and played to sold-out screenings in London.  “I’d never done publicity in Europe. So I don’t know how people found our about the film, but the same discussions the film inspired here were inspired there. The same multi-cultural audience that’s excited about the film here were excited about the film there.”

    One of Johnson’s favorite travel destinations while promoting the film was Martha’s Vineyard. “It was so much about leisure time – walking, going to the beach, reading, not a lot of television watching.  There were a lot of people relating to one another and a lot families spending time with each other,” she says.  “And that’s why travel is so important. It puts your world on hold and allows you the space to do what you need to do to relax and rejuvenate for the friends and family that are in your life and who need your energy.”

Toronto

Columbia

Las Vegas