San Diego Black Film Festival 2014

I've begun this year with a bang by attending the San Diego Black Film Festival, held at San Diego's Reading Gaslamp Theater, January 30 - February 2nd. I found out about the festival via a weekly email from OfficeTeam detailing upcoming events in San Diego. I had almost forgotten to read the email, but noticed it as I was closing down my laptop on Friday evening. Once I read it I raced home, changed clothes, and then blazed a trail  for the Gaslamp District to attend the Industry Party at 9pm.

Once I arrived at the Reading Theater and collected my ticket from Will Call, I was informed the party didn't start until 10pm. Dangit! I could have used that extra hour to prepare for evening. But it was cool. I walked down the street to Seersucker's and enjoyed a nice meal. I returned to the theater just as the staff was admitting guests into the party.

I had a great time! I met so many wonderful authors and filmmakers, promoting their works. Ready to snap a bunch of pictures, I reached into my purse for my camera and realized I'd left it at home. So my new friend Elva Nelson Hayes, author of Unnamed, snapped a few photos and sent them to my phone.

Elva Nelson Hayes (left) Claudia Ross and Stefhen Bryan (Right)

The gentleman to my right is Stefhen Bryan, writer, director and actor in the stage production, Doodu Boy. I wish I had been able to catch his performance at the Santa Monica Play House. Perhaps one day he will bring his production to San Diego (hint). The next performance will be held at the Soho Playhouse in NYC, March 2nd. If you live or will be in New York City, be sure to check it out!

The following day, I returned to the festival, this time attending showings of In Da Cut  directed by Lamont A. Coleman (winner for best Inspirational Film), Momma's Own, and The Devil Goes Down. Momma's Own (written and directed by Harrell Williams) and The Devil Goes Down (directed by Nicholas Julius) are short, poignant films; leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. I would recommend them both.

The screenings started late; therefore, ending late. I feared arriving late for the dinner ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel, five to six blocks away. As soon as In Da Cut ended, I bolted from the theater and raced back to the Marriott Gaslamp, changed, and then hurried over to the Hard Rock Hotel to attend the awards dinner. Much to my relief, the event hadn't started, so I had the opportunity to mix and mingle a bit before dinner.I met an interesting man at the bar, Winston A. Young, director of the film The Light Is Still On. Thanks for the libation (wink)! I will view his works soon, posted in several parts on YouTube.com.

Shawn Batey, Claudia Ross

Assigned to table 23, I sat with Shawn Batey, the Producer of The Changing Face of Harlem, nominated for best documentary. Although I had missed the screening of her documentary earlier that day, I purchased the DVD. It is an excellent documentary, where Batey provides her audience with a unbiased presentation of the different philosophies surrounding the revitalization and future of Harlem, showcasing the differing perspectives of each of the vying stakeholders, each attempting  either to retain or to gain control of this historic community. I'm working on my review of the film and will publish it later this week. 

Sitting to my left were Rommie Martinez (Make Up Aritst) and Dave Rutherford (Steadycam Operator), two members of the crew of Tula the Revolt. I haven't seen this movie as of yet, but plan to do so. The film received great reviews and won for Best Picture at the Film Festival. Danny Glover is one of the stars of the movie.

After dinner, Robin Givens (Head of the Class, A Rage in Harlem, Boomerang) emceed the awards ceremony. The ceremony began with a award to Bill Withers, who screened his documentary Still Bill (which I missed). He gave a great speech, summing up his career and life experiences. He looked great, cooing to his fans with his sultry and sexy voice; he is Still Bill.

Sunday February 2nd was the final day of screenings. Although pooped, I got of bed to hike over to the Reading Theater, following a fabulous brunch at The Broken Yolk, to catch the last few flicks of the festival. First up was Tim Lopes - Historia de Acanjo, written and produced by Bruno Lopes. In the film, Bruno recounts the life of his late father, Tim Lopes, a legendary investigative reporter in Brasil, and the events leading up to his murder. The film was great. Although the subtitles skated across the screen a bit too fast at times (please take into consideration I'm a slow reader), the film still proved to be moving, gripping the audience's interest and compassion for not only Tim, but the Brazilian people as well, from the very first moments of the film. I recommend this film. Afterwards, the Bruno engaged the audience in a short question and answer session, granting everyone a better perspective on the life of his father.  

Apiyo Amolo, Bruno Lopes, Claudia Ross

Immediately following Bruno's film, the festival presented the short film, Not Swiss Made. I love this film which is only about five minutes long; however, it spoke volumes in the time allotted to Kenyan born Apiyo Amolo's life in Switzerland, her love for her adopted homeland, and the heartbreak she continues to suffer surrounding the nation's rejection of her.

Much to my delight, I ran into Bobby Hill once again at the screening. I had met him the preceding Friday and Saturday nights of the festival. Bobby is the producer of Prayer Changes Things, directed by Marrill Clayton. Both Bobby and Bruno were gracious and allowed me to snap a photo of them.

Bobby Hill, Bruno Lopes

I had the great fortune to meet many great artists at this event; I will be sure to attend next year. For more information on San Diego Black Flim Festival, please visit http://www.sdbff.com.

Photo Gallery

Tracey Phillips Boone and Shawn Batey

Marrill Clayton and Bobby Hill

Claudia Helena Ross

San Diego Black Film Festival 2014 Winners

Madiba

Nelson Mandela made his transition on Thursday, December 5, 2013 after blessing the world with a lifetime of service. What incredible challenges he overcame and great accomplishments he achieved! After decades

in jail, he is freed; going on to liberate South Africa of Apartheid, and then to be elected President.

Once I arrived home on Friday, I turned on the evening news to watch the coverage of his passing. I expected to see grief stricken people in the streets, mourning. What I saw completely surprised me.

South Africans rejoicing in the streets.

They were celebrating his life, dancing, joyously attired, thanking the Lord for blessing their lives with Madiba. Yet when you think of Mr Mandela's life, how can you mourn and be sad? There aren't many leaders of change who lived to the ripe old age of 95 years old. Not only did he lead his nation through a revolution, but was elected President and embraced by his all South Africans, both Black and White. Now that is something to celebrate. Nope, sure can't cry about that. Once you think about it, we understand why South African's can't sit down.

Or the world for that matter. I was fortunate enough to catch the Memorial Service live, at 1am-ish Pacific time this morning. It was amazing to see the 'who's who' of the United Nations fly in from around the world to honor him. It was even better to see the citizens of South Africa rejoicing in the rain for the great leader who'd gone home to be with the Lord.

Mr. Mandela was more than a blessing for South Africa alone, but for the international community as well. It seems as if he changed the world with a gentle admonishment and a smile, but I know this isn't the case. Leaders listened to and respected him. He didn't seem to get the push-back that some leaders experience. He had a way of talking to folks, of interacting with them. He was like a grandfather, who having raised his children in the callousness of youth, now molds his grandchildren with tenderness, love, and compassion in the twilight of his years.

OK, so I'm romanticizing him. So what? I can if I want too. But much of it is true, isn't it?

Rest, Madiba, our chief.

Coming Soon! La Rose Book II Le Baton Chronicles

Coming November 1, 2013

On August 28, 1963, while waiting for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom telecast to begin, 116 year old Lela Chevalier Roberts continues her recount of the Chevalier family history to her great-grandson, Julian Charles Chamberie, with the life of her late husband, James Roberts, in 19th Century Louisiana.

Assisted by angels and heaven, James escapes his father’s hatred, forced enlistment in the Civil War’s Confederate Army, and Mammon the Devil’s repeated attempts to annihilate him by fleeing America for France and taking refuge with his cousins, Emmanuel and Jonathan. Once settled into French society, James searches for his wife, the one he has dreamed of for centuries. Much to his delight, James falls in love, marries, and honeymoons with his new bride in Milan, where she soon becomes pregnant. Yet, Mammon finds James and destroys his new family, propelling James into a battle against madness; nevertheless, James triumphs over insanity and escapes hell, returning to life once more.

Rebounding from the loss of his wife, James remembers a love he has yet to find, his true love, his Rose, and resumes his quest to find her. When James returns to the Chevalier Mansion of New Orleans at the war’s end to save his friend from self-destruction, James discovers his Rose, Lela Chevalier. But Mammon is busy, and initiates his greatest plan yet to destroy Lela’s and James’ love, jeopardizing the lineage and future birth of Le Baton.

Available on Amazon.com November 1, 2013

We Remember

To those who lives were taken

And to those who sacrificed theirs

Thank you

It's something about the shoes

Dorothy Jones is a shoe girl. Anyone who knows Dorothy cannot deny her blatant love for stilettos. In Dorothy Jones A Jazz Age Trip Through Oz, Dorothy hits the shoe jackpot when she is transported to Oz after ingesting two martini's made with tainted bath tub gin: Ruby stilettos.

I've often wondered what this gift must have meant to Dorothy. You have to be kidding me, shoes constructed entirely of rubies? I know I would probably carry a soft cloth with me at all times to wipe the dust from them.

In any case, while sitting at my desk, the NM email ghosted in the lower right hand corner of my screen. I said, "What the heck, I can use some retail porn."

I opened the email and what I found blew my mind.

This week, my shoe dreams manifested into reality:

No,  you're not losing your mind. You think you hear the angels singing and rejoicing? Well, yes you do hear them because I hear them too.

Check out the side profile:

Rouge Absolute Crystal Suede Scallop Pump, designed by Valentino, is available at Neiman Marcus.

God must have channeled Dorothy's shoe to Mr. Valentino! They are so close to the shoe I envisioned for Dorothy, except my version sported a pesky ankle strap. I'm glad it was omitted from the real thing.

The shoe is simply beautiful. Check them out on NM's website. This dream prices out at about $3K. You can pre-order them as well...

http://goo.gl/wbRGYU

Lordy, if only I had the $$$!!!

If you want to see more of my... uh I mean Dorothy's... shoe fetish, please visit Dorothy Jones A Jazz Age Trip Through Oz Pinterest page: http://goo.gl/sDZYrD.

It's good to be Dorothy and to drop speakeasies on witches.

Eve of the Greatest March of All Time

This is a special night for me. 50 years ago today, thousands of people from around the nation, from all walks of life, arrived in Washington, D.C. to participate the following day in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Celebrities such as Lena Horne, Josephine Baker, Charlston Heston, and the March's organizer, A. Philip Randolph, strapped on their walking shoes to participate in the festivities, headlined by Dr. Martin Luther King, encouraged by Mahalia Jackson to "Tell them about the dream, Martin."

However, one young man missed this event. In La Rose, Book I Le Baton Chronicles, Julian Charles Chamberie sits at the bar of New Orleans' Hotel Monteleone, pissed off. His 116 year old Great-Grandmother, Lela Chevalier Roberts, has summoned him home to order her affairs, forcing him to miss the greatest humanitarian event of all times. Julian hadn't seen Lela since 10 years before when he was 14 years old, but what did he care. He had no desire to return to the home where his mother had fallen to her death.

Despite his pain and despair, Julian returns to the Chevalier Mansion to realize his emancipation and freedom in ways undreamed of through Lela's recount of their family history, beginning with the story of her father and slave owner, Augustus Chevalier, in 19th century St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. With Lela's story, Julian begins to uncover his true purpose and calling in life, as unbelievable as may be. I encourage all of you to read this story of the supernatural spiritual exploration and liberation of Julian Charles Chamberie, defying the truths which the color of his skin and radical beliefs may have attempted to convince him of in August, 1963.

Happy March. I hope to see you for a few moments tomorrow on the internet. Keep the dream alive.

http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Book-Baton-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00DJE9Q3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376955351&sr=8-1&keywords=la+rose+book+i+la+baton+chronicles

Why isn't anyone talking about the March on Washington, or am I the only one not in the loop?

I find it strange. The 50th Anniversary of one of the greatest human rights events in history is approaching, but no one seems to be talking about it. At least I'm not hearing or reading about it. I know it's coming because the event is the back drop for the opening of my book,  La Rose Book I Le Baton Chronicles. Granted, I don't have cable, but anyone who follows me on Twitter knows that I keep up with my news outlets. I haven't seen anything on CNN, Reuters, MSNBC, or FOX websites. If they posted something, I missed it.

But maybe it's just me. I don't catch everything on the internet.

I did find a few articles on Black Voices: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/black-voices/
BET offered some travel tips: http://www.bet.com/news/national/photos/2013/08/march-on-washington-travel-tips.html#!040213-national-action-network-convention-logo-nan
Okay. Well here's an article on NBC news: http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/week-long-celebration-marks-50th-anniversary-march-washington-6C10963042

OK, so maybe it is just me. However, since we're getting closer to the walk, I'm guessing there will be more buzz about it. But gee whiz, maybe some folks may have wished to attend in person. Now we're under seven days before travel; plane tickets will cost a fortune.

I think that we, as a nation (me too), have been more focused on other things, like the hottest song in the country, celebrities babies, political sex scandals and petroleum selected foreign wars and unrest. Who wants to discuss equality, voting rights, jobs or our children murdering each other? Something may change in the world if we did and who wants that? Better keep it under our hats.

But yeah, there will be a March in Washington on Wednesday, August 28th. Please visit http://50thanniversarymarchonwashington.com/ for more information and a schedule of events.

Quick Accusation

I'm on Tumblr now. It seems cool; I'm still getting my feet wet though. Want to follow me? You may be able blame me for something later if you do. Ha!

http://lafleur2009.tumblr.com/

March On Washington 50th Anniversary

On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 America will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, forever altering the course of American History. Although many may believe the March to be the brainchild of Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Council (at least I had), it was organized by A. Philip Randolph, leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and political activist.

Growing up in the 70's, I always fantasied what the March must have been like for those fortunate enough to attend. I have missed major events in my adulthood, such as the President Obama's inaugurations, due to either financial limitations or obligations at home. In my novel La Rose, Book I Le Baton Chronicles, 24 year old Julian Charles Chamberie also suffers the same misfortune. An activist in the Civil Rights Movement, Julian is summoned home to New Orleans by his 116 year old Great-Grandmother Lela Chevalier Roberts on the eve of the March on Washington. Although furious with his grandmother's request, Julian skips the March and returns home to visit her once more, expecting her to die soon.

Available on Amazon.com

As the March on Washington challenged the collective conscience of America, Lela  challenges Julian.  In preparation for his end time role as the Keyholder, Lela transports Julian through time and space to the La Rose Plantation in 19th century Louisiana,  reacquainting Julian with his life as Lela's father and slave owner, Augustus Chevalier. Lela captivates Julian's mind, soul, and spirit with her oral narration of the story, compelling Julian to examine his own inner turmoil, wounds, and strongholds which have dogged him across several lifetimes. Yet, Lela not only wishes for Julian to come to terms with his past life, but to learn how deal with the Archangels and Fallen angels who have battled for control of him throughout the centuries, and who continue to do so,  seeking take hold of the Chevalier Family for all time. With her account of their family history, Lela offers to Julian the opportunity to take hold of his true purpose in life and his freedom.

If you wish to learn more about the March on Washington and upcoming events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March, please visit http://50thanniversarymarchonwashington.com/events/.

La Rose, Book I Le Baton Chronicles is available on Amazon.com.

Cocktails With Janice Ross

Check me out on B

logTalkRadio.com with Janice Ross, author of Damaged Girls Series. she's promoting new authors like me. 😁 @LaFleur2009: RT @JGRWriter: Tune in for Saturday Cocktails w/ @LaFleur2009 on 8/10/2013 8:00 AMEDT #BlogTalkRadio  http://t.co/9glCjdVusC