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.

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

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).

www.thedayeazyedied.com

BECOME A FAN

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.

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.