Harlem Stage on Screen
Harlem Stage presents
Harlem Stage on Screen,
a film series featuring 36 provocative and engaging films
opening with the award-winning documentary American Black Out
Curated by Michelle Materre and produced by Neyda Martinez
Fri-Sun, March 9-11, 2007
The Gatehouse
New York, NY (February 5, 2007)—Now in its eleventh year, Harlem Stage on Screen (formerly The Harlem Film Festival), will be presented at Harlem Stage’s The Gatehouse, featuring thirty-six provocative, engaging and innovative documentaries, features, and shorts that resonate with and convey the spirit and passion of communities of color. Harlem Stage on Screen begins March 9 through March 11, 2007 including evening and daytime screenings. For a complete listing, please look at attached schedule [after the jump]. Tickets are $10, students $5. Special weekend passes are: $56 (full weekend), $32 (Saturday), $16 (Sunday). For more information contact Harlem Stage at 212.650.7100 or log on to www.harlemstage.org .
HARLEM STAGE ON SCREEN: SCHEDULE
PROGRAM I
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 7:30 PM
American Blackout
Directed by Ian Inaba
Co-produced & edited by Jean Boucicaut
Winner of the 2006 Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival,
American Blackout chronicles the recurring patterns of voter
disenfranchisement from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 while following the story
of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney’s questioning of the Bush
Administration about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (2006/82 mins)
Bird Losing It’s Feathers
by James Richards
Inspired by the tragic murder of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas, Bird Losing
It’s Feathers is a hard look at race, class, and hate crime in America.
(2006/9 mins)
PROGRAM II: LIFE LESSONS
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 12 PM
Unhushed!
from Scribe Video Center
The Still Standing Project is a group of volunteers looking into the history of
slavery in Camden, NJ. Their Precious Places video documents Pomona
Hall, an 18
th
century plantation owned by the Cooper family, the founders of
Camden. (2006/10 mins)
Let the Circle be Unbroken
A work-in-progress by Jason Gregory Isaacs
Gerson, a 79 year-old Capoeira master is imprisoned as a result of the
Brazilian government’s official persecution of the Afro-Brazilian art form.
Ciro, 39, represents a powerful mobilizing force for effecting change. Driven
by these two charismatic but contrasting characters, this film addresses
slavery and Brazil’s conflicted relationship with its own Afro-Brazilian
heritage. (2006/15 mins)
Sticks and Stones
by Rehema Imani Trimiew
Six-year old Rehema can read. Her educated parents challenge her
teacher’s refusal to teach reading to Rehema’s class despite her
misperceptions about young black children. Based on the filmmaker’s
personal experiences, this short narrative emphasizes the crucial role of
parents as advocates for their children. (2006/9 mins)
Whatever it Takes
A work-in-progress by Christopher Wong
Principal Edward Tom and the staff at the new Bronx Center for Science
and Mathematics (BCMS) practice tough love, motivation and discipline to
transform once failing students into college-bound scholars. This
documentory follows Tom and his vision for BCMS as a safe haven where
kids can focus on meaningful education.
(2006/12 min)
The Wannabe
by Althea Wasow
Based on a true 1980’s incident at the Palladium nightclub, a young man
chooses to cross the line between reality and fantasy and then must pay for
a crime he did not commit. (2006/24 mins)
The Birthright Crisis
A work-in-progress by Miriam Neptune
Thousands of people of Haitian descent live in the Dominican Republic
without government acknowledged citizenship. As a result, they lack access
to basic services such as education and healthcare. This short documentary
features testimonies from deportees and victims of anti-Haitian policy,
calling for a unified response from people in the Haitian and Dominican
Diaspora. (2006/12 mins)
Mis-educating The World:
The Misrepresentation of Africa in the Media
A work-in-progress by Tunga Mbia
Through investigative research, Milton Allimadi, publisher of The Black Star
News and the author of The Hearts Of Darkness: How White Writers
Created The Racist Image of Africa, raises questions about the stereotypical
and often negative images of Africans in the US news media. Seeking to
defy the dominant media image of Africa as “The Dark Continent”, he
dissects articles and the work of journalists from one of America’s most
trusted news source: The New York Times. (2006/11 mins)
3
PROGRAM III: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2 PM
I Remember Beale Street
by Reginald Brown
This excerpt from the full length documentary, recalls a once thriving black
community in Memphis, Tennessee – an epicenter for black culture in the
South and the legendary birthplace of the Blues. Wonderfully reminiscent,
the film explores how we value our culture, our music and our “sense of
place” in an ever-changing society. (1982/30 mins)
In Search of a Place Called Home: The Great Migration of
the 21
st
Century
A work-in-progress by Naimah Fuller
For hundreds of years, African Americans have been searching for a place
to call home. Fuller documents the displacement of African Americans from
Northern industrialized cities and looks at the recent wave of African
Americans who are returning to their southern homeland. (2005/10 mins)
West Grove: A Sense of Place
by Marlon Johnson & Chad Tingle
Wooden shotgun homes, mom-and-pop markets and island themed
architecture are now in the shadow of high-rise condos and chain retail
stores in this intimate documentary of a historically Bahamian immigrant
neighborhood. While undergoing big development and rising real estate
prices, this close-knit community tries to ensure that West Grove’s African-
American history is not erased. (2005/30 mins)
The Taking of South Central…Philadelphia
by Odunde from Scribe Video Center
Long-term residents facing gentrification discuss the past and future of
South Central—a historically black middle and working class community.
(2005/9 mins)
Finding Common Ground in New Orleans
by Walidah Imarisha
Through interviews with residents, activists and city officials, activist and
poet, Walidah Imarisha succinctly captures the pain, loss and hope of the
people of New Orleans, after Hurricane Katrina. There she witnessed the
work of Common Ground and Soul Patrol, organizations that not only
responded but provided relief before, during and after the hurricane.
(2006/7 mins)
Stubborn City
by Poojah Rangan
The resiliency of the impoverished neighborhoods of Bombay, India are
captured in this poetic short depicting how the people of this ancient city
survive and thrive, through eight feet of rain, despite the lack of government
assistance. (2006/9 mins)
Food Water Revolution
by Danya Abt
In March 2006, Veterans Against the Iraq War organized a march from
Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans in support of the victims of Hurricane
Katrina. This video documents the march and makes clear the connection
between the U.S. presence in Iraq and the government’s negligence in
responding to the needs of victims of Hurricane Katrina. (2006/13 mins)
PROGRAM IV: 3
RD
ANNUAL SALUTE TO WOMEN’S HISTORY
MONTH
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 4 PM, 6 PM
Presented as part of the fourth annual collaboration with New York Women
in Film and Television (NYWIFT)
Some Kind of Funny Porto Rican
by Claire Andrade Watkins
NEW YORK PREMIERE
In the tight knit neighborhood of Fox Point in Providence, Rhode Island, we
meet three generations of Cape Verdeans, born and raised. Uprooted by
urban renewal in the 1970s, the disbanded Cape Verdean community
scattered to other parts of Rhode Island. This feature length documentary
chronicles this community’s history, music, ties to the old country, as well
as its maritime traditions. Through a mix of visual material, the filmmaker’s
childhood memories of family, friends, textures and sounds, the film
conveys a story that is rich in human experience with scholarly detail.
(2006/82 mins)
The Youngbloods Jam in Harlem
by Carole Newhouse and Jonathan Sanders
Jazz is being kept alive more than a century after its inception and years
after pioneers established New Amsterdam Musical Association. This short
documentary focuses on a new generation of young black jazz musicians
called The Youngbloods started by trumpeter Shanelle D. Jenkins and bass
and trombone player Christopher S. Hall. (2005/24 mins)
PROGRAM V: GIRLS NIGHT OUT
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 8 PM
Presented as part of the fourth annual collaboration with New York Women
in Film and Television (NYWIFT)
A Short History of Sweet Potato Pie
by Nina Gilden Seavey
Pearl Mallory’s sweet potato pie inspires the most extraordinary and
unexpected effect on the normally sober and otherwise staid residents of
St. Mary’s Court Retirement Community. Directed by an Emmy Award-
winning filmmaker, this off-beat documentary has won numerous film
awards. (2006/17 mins)
Mother’s Nature
by Dale Pierce Nielsen
In reminiscing about her first love, an African American mother, experiencing
her daughter’s budding adolescence, reveals intimate thoughts about
knowing and respecting oneself, embracing one’s choices, and trusting the
universe. (2006/24 mins)
The Birthday Girl
by Angela Tucker
Mia, an introverted beauty, gathers her college friends together for her
birthday hoping that the celebration might change her life. As the cosmos
flow, secrets unfold and friendships are tested. Surrounded by cunning and
attractive people, Mia learns the tried and true expression, “be careful what
you wish for.” (2005/16 mins)
The Mother
by Nadine Anderson
A young woman, who left her children years earlier, returns, hoping to
reestablish her role as mother, while struggling against the notion of
irreparable damage. This haunting, experimental work which uses
abstraction to underscore the fragile ties of relationships. Fear and distrust,
longing and regret challenge these three people to really see one another.
(2006/5 mins)
Mariposa
by Elvira Carrizal
A young, ambitious photo-journalist is determined to get to the bottom of
the disturbing disappearances of countless young Chicana women across
the border in Juarez, Mexico. In her determination to understand the truth,
she loses sight of potential danger and fights to save her own life. (2006/14
mins)
Stutter
by Janice Ahn
A jilted woman’s New Year’s Eve gets turned upside down after she meets
a seemingly harmless new guy. What she thought would be a fun date,
becomes a painful experience. (2006/13 mins)
Flat
by Nanobah Becker
A mother and daughter prepare for a special celebration. Not even a flat tire
and complicated circumstances can dampen their spirits and a bittersweet
reunion. (2006/8 mins)
Girls Night Out
by Sarah Duran
Three best girlfriends, two of them in relationships, hit the town after one of
them believes she has been “stood up”. When they arrive at their favorite
loung, they are stunned by an unexpected threesome. (2006/5 mins)
PROGRAM VI: TIES THAT BIND
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2 PM
Tears and Tortillas
by Xochitl Dorsey
While making tortillas and listening to the favorite song of her late husband,
abuela reminisces and sheds a tear. Unbeknownst to her, that tear creates
one very special tortilla. (2006/4 mins)
Conversion
by Nanobah Becker
A Christian missionary’s well-intended visit turns tragic for a tribal leader in a
remote corner of a Navajo reservation trying to recover from illness. (2006/9
mins)
El Viaje (One Day Trip)
by Cady Abarca
Two 13 year-old boys, Gonzalo and his best friend Tito, embark on a
journey to one of the most sordid and sleaziest places in Lima, Perú. There
one of the boy’s devastating secret is revealed and the event marks the end
of their innocence. (2006/17 mins)
Surface of Things
Directed by Keith Davis
A young couple grapples with an issue that will impact the course of their
future. In the process, they discover a lot about themselves and how a
decision can change them forever. (2006/11 mins)
Testify
by Darius Clark Monroe
In a prominent Southern Baptist church, we discover the truth behind a
broken relationship between a father and son. Pastor Cyrus Biggs’ son
Gene is an AIDS patient. After Sunday service, Pastor Biggs receives and
unexpected but familiar visitor who says he must visit his son. When the
Pastor and son meet, a secret truth is revealed. (2005/12 mins)
Ousmane
by Dyana Gaye
Dakar, Senegal. Ousmane is an amazing 7-year old, who personifies the
meaning of Christmas. Although he has few material possessions, he asks
for little for himself when writing a letter to Santa Claus. (2006/15 mins)
Betty la Flaca
by Hugo Perez
Skinny Betty might just as well not exist given the lack of attention she gets
from men, including her boyfriend Carlos. Her co-worker, Reina,
recommends she have some work done to enlarge and enhance the most
important part of the body. When Betty arrives at a homegrown ‘clinica’,
she has no idea how much impact a little ‘work’ will have on her life.
(2006/7 mins)
PROGRAM VII: REVOLUTION AS ART
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 4:30 PM
One People
by Al Santana and Laura Fowler
World Premiere
Aliyah, a revolutionary filmmaker, and her sister, Valerie, a performance
poet, challenge each other on the purity of art, and the need for art to
inspire social change. Together, they discover a politicized Lorraine
Hansberry, her vision and commitment to use art to raise the level of
understanding about social injustices. (2006/35 mins)
Lorraine Hansberry: A Drama Beyond the Stage
A work-in-progress by Tracy Heather Strain
Artist and activist, Ms. Hansberry, publicly participated in the struggle for
civil rights, nationalist movements, feminist issues, and gay/lesbian rights.
At 28-years old, she became an international celebrity for her ground-
breaking play A Raisin in the Sun and in 1965 died when she was only 34-
years old. This documentary reveals the constraints imposed upon art in
protest. (2006/13 mins)
8
A Raisin in the Sun
by Bill Duke
The Youngers, an aspiring working class Chicago family, struggle to realize
the dream of escaping ghetto life. This 1989 television version of
Hansberry’s flawless screenplay, starring Danny Glover, Starletta DuPois,
and Esther Rolle, reveals the plight of all who have failed dreams when
confronted with the reality of poverty, segregation and racism. Featuring
segments from the video and never before seen scenes from the original
stage play, followed by a discussion with Executive Producer, Chiz Schultz.
(171 mins)
Harlem Stage on Screen presented by Harlem Stage at The Gatehouse.
The Gatehouse is located at 150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street
(across from Aaron Davis Hall). To get there by subway, take the 1 train
to 137th Street. Exit and walk two blocks south to 135th Street, then
two blocks east to Convent Avenue.
Tickets are $10, students $5. Special passes $56 (weekend), $32
(Saturday), $16 (Sunday).
For more information and directions, contact 212.650.7100 or log on to
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For those of you who have not checked the Gatehouse, this a perfect opportunity. I couldn’t be prouder of living only two blocks away and getting to see so many good shows here. Now they’ve taken up my greatest love, film! Gotta get the full pass!