In order to join my own work and interest in African cinema, Third
Cinema and Independent film by people of color with community education
and outreach, I put together a television series entitled REELS OF
COLOUR. I host the show which airs weekly on Thursdays at 8pm on the
DCTV public access Channel 25 in Washington.
The Public Access Corporation of the District of Columbia offers
training and provides equipment and facilities so that anyone in the
local community can make programs for cablecasting on public access
channels. I took advantage of both the training and the equipment,
which includes use of the television studio, as well as the wealth of
people and knowledge in independent film in the Washington, D.C. area.
I have had as guests locally-based filmmakers and film scholars, as well
those who have passed through while touring their film or as part of the
DC Filmfest. On several other occasions I have used my own camera to
interview at events that have taken place outside of Washington. On the
occasion of FESPACO 1997, a two-person crew, which included me and the
director of photography, captured the sights and voices of African
cinema within the FESPACO infrastructure in a 30-minute documentary which
was aired in the REELS OF COLOUR series.
Presently, the series is being aired only on DCTV, so this is an
announcement especially to those who have cable access in the District.
However, this is also a note to others who may want to eventually
acquire the series to have aired on their public television or
university channel or to be included in their library media center.
Because my main goal has been to cablecast this series locally on DCTV
and I am the sole organizer, I have not yet investigated the
possibilities to have it distributed outside of this context. My
initial agreement with the filmmakers, since the programs include film
clips of their works, is to use the show for non-profit and
non-commercial purposes, (FESPACO '97 is available outside of this
series). While staying within the limits of the agreement, my main
interest is to have the series seen by as many people as possible.
If time, energy and funds permit, I will resume taping new shows in
October 1997. Below is a synopsis of the current series:
Shirikiana Aina - African American filmmaker, talks her film "Through
the Door of No Return." As co-producer of "Sankofa" she talks about how
the making of that film influenced her present work.
Ivan Al-Azm - Syrian filmmaker, talks about his student films and his
thesis paper on Third Cinema and its application to Syrian cinema.
Torriano Berry - African American filmmaker and professor at Howard
University, talks about his film "Embalmer," and horror and science
fiction films from an African American perspective.
Mbye Cham - Gambian film scholar and professor of African Studies at
Howard University, talks about his three books "Blackframes, Critical
Issues in Black Independent Cinema" (1988), "Ex-iles: Essays on
Caribbean Cinema" (1992), and "African Experiences of Cinema," (1997).
He also discusses trends in black film criticism and analysis.
Alonzo Crawford - African American filmmaker and Howard University film
professor, talks about his films, works in progress and his role as a
film activist in the community.
Alonzo Crawford - Returns to talk about how to read a film. Discussing
his film "Walk on White Nails" Alonzo discusses film narrative and the
use of cuts, pacing, camera angles to tell a story.
Edgar Davis - African American filmmaker and professor at Howard
University, talks about his film "A Jury of Her Peers." As a
Washington, D.C.-born filmmaker, he gives an inspiring message to black
youth interested in filmmaking.
Yemane Demissie - Ethiopian filmmaker talks about his film "Tumult." He
also explores identity and his place as an Ethiopian working in the
United States.
Abiyi Ford - Ethiopian filmmaker and Howard University film professor,
talks about the film production collaboration between Howard University
Department of film and INAFEC, the film school at the University of
Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso in 1986.
Parine Jaddo - U.S.-based filmmaker from Iraqi, talks about her film
"Atash" and her work in progress. She also discusses her experience as
an Arab woman filmmaker and debates around identity and culture.
Andrew Millington - Barbadian filmmaker and newly appointed professor of
film at Emerson College (MA), talks about his film "Masks" and his work
in progress "Guttaperc." He engages a discussion about the potential of
cinema in the Caribbean.
Mypheduh Films - Shirikiana Aina, vice president, returns to talk about
the history of the film company and the importance of an independent
film movement by black people.
Michelle Parkerson - African American filmmaker and black woman film
activist, talks about her film about Audre Lorde "Litany of Survival" as
well as her other works. She talks about what it is like to be a black,
lesbian and woman filmmaker.
Francoise Pfaff - Guadeloupian film historian and professor in the
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Howard University,
gives a historical, pictorial discussion of African cinema. In two
parts.
Gloria Rolando - Afro-Cuban filmmaker, talks about her films "Oggun" and
"Footsteps of Barragua."
Daniel Williams - African American filmmaker and Howard University film
student, talks about his films and works in progress. He also talks
about his work as a cinematographer.
Ada Babino - African American filmmaker, talks about her film "Middle
Passages N Roots" and why she chose the subject of hair as a theme for
her film.
Lucy Gebre-Egziabher - Ethiopian filmmaker and Howard University film
student, talks about her films and works in progress.
Black Magic Cinemaworks - Eric McClain, Tim Wilson, and Doreen Parker,
three young African American filmmakers based in Washington, D.C., talk
about their first film "Apple Crumb Panic" and their company and their
interest in "cyber-action themes and filmmaking for the "futuristic
generation."
Gaston Kabore - Burkinabe filmmaker, talks about winning the grand prize
of FESPACO 1997, his films and his role as Secretary General of the
Panafrican Federation of Filmmakers. In French with English subtitles.
FESPACO 97 - An overview of the Panafrican Festival and Film and
Television of Ouagadougou and its surroundings and an inside look at the
infrastructure of African cinema based in Ouaga. There is a glimpse of
the opening and closing ceremonies and the awarding of prizes at the
FESPACO '97 as well as a discourse by Ousmane Sembene at Place des
Cineastes on the occasion of the libation ceremony. It includes
conversations with Baba Hama, Incoming Secretary General of FESPACO;
Mariam Kabore of MICA; Ardiouma Soma, Director of the Cinematheque de
Ouagadougou; Clement Tapsoba, Editor in Chief of Ecrans d'Afrique;
Gaston Kabore, Outgoing Secretary General of FEPACI. Interviews in
French with English subtitles.
Future shows to be aired:
Coverage of the panel discussion of the "Showcase of Films and Videos by
Black Women" presented by National Public Radio and SEPIA on December 7,
1996 in Washington, D.C.
Felix DeRooy - Filmmaker from Curacao, talks about his films, his
filmmaking as a black, gay man from the Dutch Antilles.
Djibril Diop Mambety - Senegalese filmmaker, gives a wonderful
presentation as he talks about his films and how he came to filmmaking.
Wolof with English subtitles.
For information, questions or comments:
Beti Ellerson
Division of Fine Arts
Howard University
bellerson@fac.howard.edu
In-Reply-To: 199709041230.FAA14633@abraham.xc.org