The Day Eazy E Died Producer’s Notes #2
The Day Eazy E Died Producer’s Notes #2 from Trevite Willis on Vimeo.
Here’s the latest Producer’s Notes for The Day Eazy E Died. Thanks to everyone who supported the Script Reading on May 11. Special Thanks to Aleta Chappelle for the great actors, DBR (Daniel Bernard Roumain) for the awesome composition, Kwabena Charles for the photography and ImageNation for hosting the event. It definitely was a different experience and pretty special! Kirk and I are so pleased with the audience feedback, and we are moving the script forward because of it!
Thanks again!
Get Tested. Know Your Status!
The Day Eazy E Died Script Reading
ImageNation is hosting our multimedia script reading with guest DJ, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) for The Day Eazy E Died on Tuesday, May 11 at 7pm (doors open at 6:30).
Following the reading, the author James Earl Hardy will join Kirk, Daniel and myself for a Q&A.
Kirk and I are super excited about having an opportunity to hear the script read and get feedback from the audience.
Crazy hot! Soooo excited! Hope to see you there!
New Southern Fried Filmworks Channel
I just started a Southern Fried Filmworks channel on Vimeo. Please subscribe, and check the video blogs I’m posting regarding The Day Eazy E Died and other projects. I wanted the video blog to keep fans abreast on the status of the film, but also to inform up-and-coming producers about what goes into making a film. Hope You Enjoy the Channel!
Get Tested, and Know Your Status!
Children of God Festival Screenings
The festival announcements keep rolling!
Miami International Film Festival
We are so excited about screening at the Miami International Film Festival. Please check us out! Our film screens on March 13 at 9:30 pm Regal South Beach 17 and March 14 at 9pm Tower Theater 1. Early bird pricing now!
London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Now this is crazy hot! CoG is the Closing Night film for the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. We are looking for a crazy crowd, plus my birthday is the night before…so let’s kick this shit off right! Closing Night is March 31 at 9pm Odeon West End 2.
More announcements to come…stay tuned for your city!
The Independent named Kareem one to Watch in 2010
We are starting to receive a number of positive responses to Children of God. The film screened amazing well opening night at BIFF. I’m still in awe of the love!
Since then we’ve been getting quite a number of festival invites, which we’ll announce in the coming weeks. Until then, please read the Facebook article by The Independent naming Kareem one of ten filmmakers to watch in 2010…well hell I say, 2010 and onward. He’s pretty talented and a mean dance partner!
The Precious Debate: More Diverse Films Needed
For the past two weekends, I’ve had interesting conversations about “Precious.” Most of the conversations have been quite positive, but tend to demonize anyone (anyone meaning African Americans) who criticize it. Realistically, not many things escape criticism, especially a director in his sophomore effort.
Now, one article I read by Armond White seemed to have some valid points, if you are open to hear criticism. My concern in the debate really centers around that every black film has to reflect all black people (even film critic Mr. White is guilty of this). For instance, all white people are not judged by Anne Hathaway’s recovering addict character in “Rachel Getting Married”, and “Precious” doesn’t represent all black people in Harlem in the 80s.
Maybe if we support more black films such as Medicine for Melancholy and Mississippi Damned (without Oprah or Tyler Perry telling you to see it), more diverse black films can get funded and honest dialogues which exclude a film’s onus to reflect the entire black community can actually start.
SFF Options The Day Eazy E Died
New York, New York — August 2009 — Southern Fried Filmworks is pleased to announce it has optioned the rights to produce the feature film version of The Day Eazy-E Died. The film will be produced by Trevite Willis from the original script by best-selling author James Earl Hardy, and directed by emerging film director Kirk Shannon-Butts (Blueprint, Complete Abandon).
James Earl Hardy has created memorable characters in this youthful drama set in 1990s New York City. Principal photography is scheduled to begin April of 2010 in New York City coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the passing of rap pioneer Eazy- E, founder and original member of the group N.W.A.
The film is the story of Kwame Woodson, a 24-year old Harlemite. After one of his idols, rap artist Eazy-E, discloses that he is dying from complications from AIDS, Kwame realizes he can no longer ignore the disease and decides to get tested for the HIV virus – but doesn’t tell his girlfriend, Queen McMillian.
As Kwame waits for the results, his world is turned inside out with his dead end job at a record shop, his relationship with his daughter, his budding rap career, his attempt to reunite his older brother and father, and his love life all seem to squeeze him.
About Southern Fried Filmworks
Southern Fried Filmworks is a full service multimedia production company committed to acquiring, developing, and creating independent movies, television series and special-interest projects. Southern Fried works with home-grown and international writers and directors committed to their craft and to relating courageous, beyond the ordinary stories in their unique vision.
About Producer, Trevite Willis
Trevite Willis holds an MBA in International Business and has been continuously engaged in the production of motion pictures since 1999. She has produced music videos, short and feature films including the romantic comedy What a Man Wouldn’t Do for a Woman, and the African-American gay coming-of-age Blueprint, which enjoyed success at festivals such as the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, OutFest, NewFest, Frameline as well as others around the world. The 2008 Columbia University short film, Uncle Killa she produced earned the director a DGA Best Student Film – African American award. Also Uncle Killa was selected as an HBO finalist at the American Black Film Festival, and picked up by HBO, which began airing February 2009. Currently, the Bahamian drama, Children of God, based on the award-winning short film Float, has been selected as the opening night film at the Bahamas International Film Festival. Her music video productions have included works with Grammy nominees and winners including Shawn Mullins and Speech of Arrested Development.
“With the 15th Anniversary of Eazy E’s death next March, The Day Eazy-E Died can bring AIDS and the HIV virus to the forefront of the Black diaspora since Blacks are the highest growing sector of new HIV cases today. James Earl Hardy has created a wonderful story, and I look forward to re-teaming with Kirk to create a film that will resonate with audiences not to ignore the disease.”
About Screenwriter James Earl Hardy
James Earl Hardyis the author of the best selling B-Boy Blues series: B-Boy Blues (1994), praised as the first gay hip-hop love story and prominently featured in Spike Lee’s Get On The Bus; it’s sequel, 2nd Time Around (1996); If Only For One Nite (1997); The Day Eazy-E Died (2001); Love the OneYou’re With(2002); and A House Is Not A Home (2005). The sextet chronicle the relationship between a Buppie from Brooklyn and a homeboy-bike messenger from Harlem. Mr. Hardy recently contributed the new introductory essay to the ground-breaking Black gay male anthology, In The Life(2008).
In addition, Mr. Hardy is an award-winning entertainment feature writer and cultural critic. A1993 honors graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, his byline has appeared in The Advocate, Entertainment Weekly, Essence, New York Newsday, Newsweek, OUT, The Source, Upscale, Vibe, The Village Voice, and The Washington Post. His work has earned him two Educational Press Association Awards; Grants from the E.Y. Harburg Foundation and the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors; and scholarships from the Paul Rapoport Memorial Fund, and the New York and National chapters of the Association of Black Journalists. A recent online essay, Sylvester: Living Proof, was a GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Award finalist. He has also penned biographies on filmmaker Spike Lee and the pop music group Boyz II Men, both a part of Chelsea House publishers’ Black Achievement Series.
Born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, he divides his time between Atlanta, Georgia, and Gramercy Park in Manhattan.
“Given the horrific HIV infection rates and the conspiracy of silence surrounding AIDS in Black America, this project is very necessary. There are few films told from our perspective [on this issue], and even fewer that tackle the homophobia that divides families and prevents the kind of collective action needed to battle the disease.”
About Director Kirk Shannon-Butts
Fashionista (Glamour, Vogue, Rolling Stone) by day and filmmaker every other second of the day, Kirk Shannon-Butts, Filmmaker, is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. In 2000 Kirk graduated from Chapman University’s Cecil B. DeMille’s School of Film & Television with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Film & Television Production.
For his first film, Shannon-Butts delivered the stunningly beautiful black and white film Beneath the Surface, full of images of Black men channeling the B-Boy, the Homo Thug, the Handsome Man and the Shaved Head Muscle Guy. A blend of modern urban fantasy and erotica, Beneath the Surface is based on the Greek myth of Narcissus. Complete Abandon, Shannon-Butts’ graduate thesis film, premiered at the Jamerican Film Festival and went on to screen at Cannes, The Kennedy Center, The New Festival in film festivals throughout the world. Complete Abandon was one of twelve American short films selected to represent Pan African existence in the Diaspora. In 2004 Shannon-Butts received a Jerome Foundation grant and the Plant-a-Seed Award from 1-in-10 / Reel Affirmations for emerging filmmakers for his first feature length screenplay Blueprint. Blueprint was shot over 10 days in New York City and Upstate New York.
A good story can warm our hearts, soothe our souls, or open our minds to a new way of thinking. Stories help us to understand the world around us through articulating common experiences and sharing joy, laughter and healing. Sometimes a good story allows us to feel connected to humanity, and some leave us with an unforgettable experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Cast, production schedules and locations will be announced soon.
# # # #
Producer Trevite Willis, director Kirk Shannon-Butts, and screenwriter James Earl Hardy are available for interview by appointment.
Please contact:
Steve Thompson / Thompson Communications
580 Haddon Avenue; Collingswood, NJ 08108
609-386-0019
steve@thomcomm.net
The Day Eazy E Died
After one of his idols, rap artist Eazy-E, discloses that he is dying from complications from AIDS, Kwame Woodson, a 24-year old Harlemite, starts reflecting on the choices he has made in his life, realizing he can no longer ignore the disease, and decides to get tested for the HIV virus – but doesn’t tell his main squeeze, Queen McMillian. Keeping this a secret from Queen isn’t easy – especially when he claims he is too tired to get buzy.
As he waits for the results, his life goes on: Working as a salesperson at a record store; deejaying at local clubs; composing raps with his homeboy, Miguel “M.C.” Colon; helping to raise his six-year-old daughter, Rae, with his high school sweetheart, Denise Young; and trying to reunite his father, Vinton Woodson, Sr. (“Pop”), and older brother, Vinton Woodson, Jr. (“Vint” or “V”), who have not spoken in five years since Vint revealed he is gay.
The story unfolds in 1995, starting on the day Eazy-E’s lawyer announces he is hospitalized (March 17) and ending a couple of days after Kwame receives his results (April 7).
Children of God
Children of God follows Jonny and Lena who are on personal journeys to resolve their internal and external conflicts.
Jonny is a young depressed white Bahamian artist who faces losing his scholarship at a local University if he does not live up to the potential his professors believe he has. Faced with this challenge, after severe beatings from homophobic bullies, and rejection from his alcoholic father, Jonny escapes from his gritty inner-city life in Nassau to the under-populated and dramatic Bahamian island of Eleuthera.
Lena Mackey is an extremely conservative forty year old anti-gay activist who upon finding out that her husband is not who he represents himself to be, believes that the only way to fix problems in her life is to limit the rights of homosexuals. She heads Eleuthera for the purpose of galvanizing the community to oppose gay rights.
When Jonny arrives, he meets a curious young man by the name of Romeo. Together these two embark on a series of physical adventures that not only inspire Jonny to paint but gives him a new zest for life. Lena is taken in by a gregarious local pastor who challenges her beliefs and slowly opens her mind to new experiences. However, things are shaken up when Romeo’s family shows up and puts an end to Jonny’s romantic dreams and Lena’s husband decides to fix the problems in their marriage. After opening up about himself, Jonny retreats into his former closed self. He must choose between finally giving up on love, career and his happiness or moving forward fearless and courageously. Lena is left with the decision of choosing between what her head tells her to do or following what is in her heart.
Children of God takes the audience along Jonny and Lena’s ride that reveals life’s humor and bravery.
Children of God to open Bahamas Int’l Film Festival
My postings have been very light to say the least lately, b/c I’ve been crazy in development for the doc project. BUT! That’s not the case today. I’m pleased to announce that Children of God will be the opening night film for the Bahamas International Film Festival, Dec. 10-17!
BIFF is a fantastic regional festival. I had the opportunity to attend last Dec, and one of my favorite features was the panels…which were held outdoors, steps from the ocean. Just lovely! So, I hope you join me as we screen this powerful film to the home audience! Should be an amazing experience.
We look forward to many more festival announcements in the next year.
Seeds of Love: A Reproductive Documentary
Seeds of Love: A Reproductive Documentary examines the emotionally and financially taxing decision for men and women to seek fertility treatment to start a family after 30 years old.
While there are numerous reasons why men and women are waiting until their 30s or 40s to start a family, a growing number of them are finding it difficult conceiving. The proportion of the female population that is infertile increases with age. Fertility drops dramatically around the age of 35. Fecundity, or the ability to conceive, naturally decreases over time as part of the normal aging process.
About one third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems. Even though fertility is less reliable for women of older ages, approximately 20% of women in the United States have their first child at or after age 35. Age-related fertility decline is not only a female factor. It has been discovered that while only 8 percent of men younger than 25 fail to impregnate their partner after a year of trying, that number grows to 15 percent after age 35.
Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in reproductive medicine, because more women and men are waiting to start families. As more people are seeking advanced reproductive techniques, such as Intrauterine insemination, In vitro fertilization or Zygote intrafallopian transfer, to assist in achieving pregnancy, the ceiling of reproduction has been lifted slightly such that almost any healthy woman even after 30 years old can successfully mother a child. The risks are high and take a toll mentally and physically.
Seeds of Love will intertwine personal video journals of men and women undertaking advanced reproduction with archival footage and interviews of couples, single women, family, friends, medical professionals, and psychiatrists.
First Year, First Choice: Alabama Education Reform
In 2006, an international study on student achievement revealed that the U.S. ranked 25th out of 30 nations in math achievement, and 24th in science. According to the report, the disparity “created the equivalent of a permanent, deep recession in terms of the gap between actual and potential output in the economy.”
Today, in the midst of a severe recession in America, the McKinsey Group reports that in the nation’s largest cities, only 53 percent of young people are graduating from high school on time; Meanwhile the median income for high school dropouts is $14,000, compared with $48,000 for college graduates. Yet 63% of American high school graduates who did not go to college say that if their high school had raised its standards, they ‘strongly feel that they would have worked harder.’
Ranked among the lowest in the country for college attendance rates, the State of Alabama has decided to put that claim to the test. Under a brand new initiative beginning with the 2009 incoming freshman class, all high school students in the Heart of Dixie are now required to pursue a high-level diploma, and to participate in a rigorous curriculum – including tougher math and science courses, along with foreign language study – that was optional until now. The initiative is known as First Choice.
Shot in cinema verité, First Year, First Choice explores the inaugural year of this ambitious plan from the perspective of students and teachers living in economically disparate regions. Viewers watch each character navigate their way through the failures and triumphs of an unusually difficult school year, when teachers are pushed to their limits, students are held more accountable than ever before, and families can’t always provide the emotional and financial support a young adult needs to achieve his or her goals.
While it charts the implementation of a potentially groundbreaking public school initiative, First Year, First Choice becomes a window into the real-life struggles an American community faces — inside and outside the classroom – when they ask the next generation to live up to their personal and economic potential.
Check out the website, www.firstyearfirstchoice.com
Film Finance: It’s Tough Out There For Everyone
According to DHD, Matthew Garrahan, the Los Angeles Bureau Chief for the Financial Times has written an article about Time Warner absorbing the cost of production b/c Village Roadshow is still seeking a credit facility. Although this might seem oh so irrelevant for indie producers, especially African American indie producers, I want to point out why keeping track of this is important. As I’m approaching the end of post production on Children of God, additional funding was needed to finish post. I went to pitch to investors and most had committed to additional funding. Two weeks later the economic climate continued to sour with wealthy investors holding their purses, and we had to wait months (missing a number of festival deadlines) to secure the final funding.
In essence, I’m just stating that if the Majors are having trouble…it trickles to private equity investors as well. Really don’t be fooled, the economy is horrible. But don’t be discouraged either, there are investors willing to make the risk (that’s how they got super wealthy in the first place). You’ll see the box office on fire the summer, albeit with BIG budget hits, and that will be quite a selling point for a meager indie film. So, read the Financial Times article and keep abreast of the nature of the industry. It does affect all of us even the low budget of us.
Check It Out: NYWIFT Power Breakfast w/BETs Stephen G. Hill
Unfortunately, I am traveling next month, and will be unable to attend the NYWIFT Power Breakfast w/BETs Stephen G. Hill on May 13. Yet, I encourage you to attend. As a member of NYWIFT and an enthusiastic Power Breakfast attendee, I find the Power Breakfasts inspiring. Generally held in an intimate setting, the speakers tend to understand the audience, women filmmakers, and provide insights into their experiences. So I urge you to check it out!
L’Uomo Vogue ama Blueprint! Bello, bello, bello!
Having just returned from the historic African premier of his debut feature film Blueprint at FESPACO in Burkina Faso, Kirk Shannon-Butts is now featured in the “Generation Next” March 2009 issue of L’Uomo Vogue.
If you can find one, check it out…then transcribe it to SFF! SFF is still amazed by the love Blueprint continues to receive. The DVD release will be announced in the next few months. So, we appreciate more love in the Fall!
SAG and AMPTP Saga Over
For those who endured my rants (FB, Twitter and here), the madness is over, at least for now. SAG and AMPTP finally reached a tentative agreement, according to DHD. So, summer production with SAG actors might not be as risky, yay!
Indie Filmmaking During SAGs Ongoing Saga
Per yesterday’s rant on my FB page, I want to actually discuss how SAGs Guaranteed Completion Contracts (or waivers) are helpful to indie filmmakers (or rather how halting the waivers is not helpful). After reading yesterday’s post on Nikki Finke’s DHD blog, it is incomprehensible to fathom why SAG thinks this position helps them against AMPTP. Everyone understands that SAG wants the best contract possible, but was it fully realized that by halting waivers to indie filmmakers would not hurt AMPTP.
The point of obtaining the waiver is indie filmmakers can feel certain that if SAG strikes before the end of production the film gets completed. In this economic environment, SAG will not find the votes to strike. But who knows! If we are lucky to raise funds, the last thing we can handle is a walk out for a strike. So the security of a waiver ensures SAG actors will not walk off set, and we don’t lose money and time. And yes, I am a bit more sensitive, because I have a film being packaged to film this summer.
Blueprint in Africa
I was really excited to hear that Blueprint, directed by Kirk Shannon-Butts was making its African debut at the prestigious FESPACO in Burkina Faso. This was the 40th anniversary of the biennial African film festival. To imagine the scope and size of this great festival, the festival drew 35,000 for the opening ceremony! Check out the BBC coverage of the festival.
I will definitely update you on the DVD release. We are excited to get this to the market after an absolutely, wonderful festival run. Adding the trailer shortly…once I figure it out!
All Digital Production/Post-Production
Just finished listening to KRCW’s The Business Feb 16 edition (definitely listen). In this program, Dean Devlin discusses his all digital production facility, Electric Entertainment and how his television show, Leverage never leaves out of the house. Since Leverage is shot on RED, Devlin has created a central server where all the files from the camera are stored, and the post workflow stems from it.
I think this is a fascinating development especially for black indie filmmakers. As a producer who had the opportunity to have a film shot on RED, I am a believer of the incredible ease of the post-production workflow, and the cost savings not having to transfer, etc. Now, what I find most encouraging is the possibility of never having to create a print. An indie filmmaker can create a digital file, be it Quicktime or what have you, and if there is a digital screen in your neighborhood (that’s another discussion), a film can be screened with just a laptop, and without any degeneration.
Random Thoughts…Production in This Economy
Two months into the new year, new film projects dominate the focus. I have a number of filmmakers with some dynamic projects. In this economy, it seems the smaller budget films are now in the forefront. In the past month and a half, investors are starting to hold on to their money more tightly. So, making smart niche films which appeal to specific audiences and turn a profit are the key for the next two years, at least. Also, since distribution companies are paying rock-bottom prices, small personal films flexing a filmmakers creative muscle seem like the smartest bets right now.
Features
Southern Fried Filmworks develops between 3-5 features and 4-5 television programs at once. Right now we have a full slate of projects in development , the majority of which are at final script and ready for packaging. We will continue adding more as we have capacity to develop high quality materials.
We accept unsolicited submission by writers, agents and co-producers of any genre of materials, but prefer innovative projects geared to diverse audiences and niche markets.
Please email a one-page treatment or synopsis (do not send full scripts) and Southern Fried will contact you if we are interested in your material Your original script must be registered with the WGA.
