My Boys

Howard Professor Haile Gerima's "Teza" in Cannes 2009

During the Cannes film festival I was able to meet with a former professor of mine Haile Gerima whose film "Teza" premiered during my time at the Cannes Film Festival. I took a course called Third World Cinema where we critiqued and analyzed the meaning of films from the third world. I admired Gerima for his ability to think outside the box and for his efforts and success in the art of independent film. This film "Teza" really surprised me though. Seamless editing, the story was flawless and more so moving to the core. I found myself crying a couple of times during the movie because I felt like I really understood to a certain degree the importance of film after viewing Gerima's film. Storytelling is the essence of film. So it dawned on me the reasons it is important to learn from all of your experiences. Traveling abroad also opened up a whole new world and worldview. I knew that some things like music videos and hip hop where all that some people knew of America but when you actually experience someone asking you point blank about Hip-Hop like that's all you are about it is different. People expect you to know as many languages as them just like we expect them to know English when they come to America. But back to the film "Teza." It made a true imprint on my mind about what I was put here to do. It all comes down to the simple things in the end... the protection of family and their stories. It is a great task to hold but life is the melting pot from where we pull our stories and "Teza" is a beautiful story that the world needs to experience.

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

Sometimes (a poem for the haters)

Sometimes I wonder why
You look me straight in the eyes
and smile a smile of lies
Catty women full of hate
"Well hate on me hate on me
I can see so clearly"
smile in your face...
all the time they want to take your place
backstabbers backstabbers
Sometimes I wonder why
you think I can't see through your bs
chummy with me sometimes
next minute I can't tell the ocean from the sky
but I digress
steer clear of my life
I don't have the time
Sometimes I wonder what to say to you
next thing I know my words are misused
fake people with two faces
seems in my presence you change faces
quick to get next to me when the brew is boiling hot
when the gettin is good
but quick to jump ship when it's not
In life it's never what you expect
sometimes you have to smile through the cries
smile through the lies
I know my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
but that's no reason for you to hate so hard
Get your own swagga get off mine
In my mind I cool the fire the brews within
you never know what goes on in the mind of a hater
but i wish I knew sometimes



© 2009 Washington, DC

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

Mon chocolat au trésor

I wrote this poem last night about this bouncer I met at a club the other night in France. Have never spoken a word to him but I keep running into him by chance....


" Mon chocolat au trésor "

Chiseled features/
Skin smooth & sleek/
Move extra smooth/
Don't miss a beat/
Eyes piercing mine/
I can feel the heat/
Is he reading my mind?/
Is all I can think/
Never had the pleasure to finally meet/
standing so tall upon thy two feet/
Eyes so deep I can't ponder/
Filled with mysterious wonder/
That's why the magnitude is Great & I must return/
Mon chocolat au trésor is reminiscent of a dream/
The night I longed to speak thy native tongue/
Kiss thy cheek til your heart's undone/
Breathe past your neck til' the chill dilludes peril/
Handsome is my chocolat treasure/
You make me dream of new things to come/
All these thoughts but the words I've spoken are none/
I have only the gazes we have shared/
Silent conversations that only we were aware/
Yet I know somehow the magnitude of the connection is rare/
I cherish the chiseled features of a man so smooth and debonair/
I spotted one night while the France lights I perused/
I kept thinking... /
A man of this measure I had been deprived/

Mon chocolat au trésor , the sexiest man alive.

1:00pm France 6 hours ahead of EST time






As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

The Journey of PurpleReels... here we go Cannes

I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity. I have learned so much in such a short time. Was fortunate to meet the Director of Stomp the Yard and have learned that it is best to stay in motion. I've learned about pitching films, acquiring agents, distribution, gaining the proper rights for films etc. It is less about talent and more about lasting in the game! For real everyone's path is different and only the strong and truly passionate survive! I'm doing my daily journal and keeping tabs on the latest films while missing my family and American food tremendously. It is no wonder everyone here is so skinny lol, they don't eat... and the quantity of food is way less than we are used to in the US. I've learned a little French and am mingling with the people of France. Got on the bus today it was so crowded... I just looked up and took a picture and the girl next to me laughed... I am grateful to have had this opportunity to sit down and immerse myself in the world of film. I was featured along with my internship "Vision Films and Music" in the magazine Cannes Market which is published daily here in Cannes. I haven't figured out how to find the pic but when I do I'll be sure to post it. So in closing I'd like to leave you with a quote:

"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.... Yes I did"

~ Barack Obama ~


Thank you so much to all of those who have supported the dream! I am so truly grateful for God has granted my desires beyond my wildest dreams

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

Eddy Duran of Duran Films

While viewing some films at the Short Film Corner in Cannes, France I came upon a film called "The Lesson Plan." It is provocative and informing for our people and our generation. The film is arranged as a lesson plan that shadows the lives of black individuals as they go through their daily lives. In each scene in the beginning the character is broken down. If you haven't read Willie Lynch The Making of a Slave I think it is time that you take a look. The thing that I like about the film "The Lesson Plan" is the way that Eddy Duran captures the way we were affected by this phenomenon. For instance:

"special and particular attention must be paid to the FEMALE and the YOUNGEST offspring" "YOU MUST KEEP YOUR EYE AND THOUGHTS ON THE FEMALE and the OFFSPRING of the horse and the n-word. A brief discourse in offspring development will shed light on the key to sound economic principles. Pay little attention to the generation of original breaking, but CONCENTRATE ON FUTURE GENERATION."

The interesting part comes here when the breaking of the African Woman is discussed

"By her being left alone, unprotected, with the MALE IMAGE DESTROYED, the ordeal caused her to move from her psychological dependent state to a frozen independent state. In this frozen psychological state of independence, she will raise her MALE and female offspring in reversed roles. For FEAR of the young males life she will psychologically train him to be MENTALLY WEAK and DEPENDENT, but PHYSICALLY STRONG. Because she has become psychologically independent, she will train her FEMALE off springs to be psychological independent. What have you got? You've got the N-WORD WOMAN OUT FRONT AND THE N-WORD MAN BEHIND AND SCARED."
These quotes are all taken from The Talking Drum

Anyway the film "The Lesson Plan" is depicted in such a way that it captures the very essence of our struggle today... for even after all of these years we are still affected. I like the scene with the teacher and the student... he puts a gun to the kid's head and forces him to pay attention. Eddy Duran of Duran Films is someone to be on the look out for. Duran Films where content is king.

Another film maker that I had the pleasure of meeting has a short film called "Marcus" which is about a single mother who cannot get over the death of her son. I liked this film because of the way the script was set up. I've seen it done before but the content made me pay attention. The film maker's name is Olu. He is from Nigeria but has been living in London for a while now. The UK has a wealth of excellence in film and I am gaining more respect for them each day that I learn more and more.

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

Chrisette Michele's "Epiphany"

Chrisette Michele is the definition of real music! I am so mesmerized by her new album “Epiphany,” her sophomore album, which just dropped May 5, 2009. Each song is like a teardrop of heartfelt poetry in your ear. I remember seeing Chrisette perform at The Black Cat in DC before her debut album “I AM” came out. She possessed such a strong presence of a lady but more so an amazing classic demeanor from the 1920s. In an interview following the debut album “I AM” Chrisette talked about how she has definitely been influenced by singers from a different era. She came to us as such a soft heartfelt young lady opening her heart to us. This album “Epiphany” can be described as the adaptation of a strong woman! She has truly grown. Her voice was already sultry like that of Sara Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday but this album is different because she takes you there! I know that I have a classic on my hands when I have no problem letting the whole CD play on repeat… this one is a winner! It is so hard to pick a favorite from this album but so far my picks are “Porcelain Doll,” “All I ever think about is You,” and “Mr. Right.” However I enjoy each song on the album equally and might not be doing it justice by picking favorites. I love the whole CD. Definitely can relate to this album. It sounds like Chrisette has been through some things and you can pick up on the passion in the songs even better when you witness it live. So I'll let you be the judge! Below are some videos from a performance Chrisette did for Vh1 SoulStage. Enjoy!


CHRISETTE MICHELE "EPIPHANY"

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

CHRISETTE MICHELE "BE OK"

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

CHRISETTE MICHELE "BLAME IT ON ME"

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

CHRISETTE MICHELE "ALL I EVER THINK ABOUT IS YOU"

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

Thoughts on Tavis Smiley interview with Prince

I really enjoyed the recent interview that Tavis Smiley did with Prince. He has a new album out called "Lotus Flow3r" and a lot of people are talking about how unique his website for the CD is. I mean I thought it was clever and if it wasn't unique it just wouldn't be Prince. In his recent interview he talked about how he overcame his battle with Epilepsy among other things. Every time I see this man I am even more intrigued by his expertise and discipline. I'm going to have to find his autobiography. That is one thing that I love is reading about people's lives who have made it to where I want to be. I was taught that if you surround yourself with greatness that is what you will become inevitably. As a child my parents could see that I needed a change as young as elementary school and they put me on a bus to a different school on the North side of Seattle. It wasn't about it being a white school but it was about exposing me to greater things in life. I could relate to what Prince was saying because I remember the teasing, I remember running home to my momma and all the talks we had about "being different." She always reminded me that it was ok to be different. I took that and ran with it. Having people who support you and your dream is VERY important! I remember when I was a kid my classmates used to ask me "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and now I look back and laugh but I would say, "I want to be an Actress, Architect, Own my own restaurant, Own my own Salon, write my own book, etc." They would say well you can't be all of those things ... how are you going to do all of that? I still have the blueprints for my first house that I had drawn out as a kid. That was 6th grade. I still have plans for all of those things but they are more fine tuned nowadays. I have a clearer vision because I have experienced more in life and now my crooked road is lining up.

CLIP FROM TAVIS SMILEY INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE




PRINCE "CRIMSON & CLOVER"

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

PurpleReels Review of Jazz in the Diamond District

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Jazz in the Diamond District was a unique film. There were underlying messages and I believe that at some point everyone had a universal feeling of oneness. It was different to actually see a film about DC. I felt proud to see the familiar places on the big screen like Zanzibar nightclub, Ben’s Chili Bowl, the dance studio on H st., the Duke Ellington School for the arts, and of course the Capitol. Jazz who is the main character in the film was filled with all of the charisma and drive of her mother who was sick. Her character was one who was about chasing her dreams but she ends up getting caught up. At the beginning I didn’t know for sure who the narrator was but it was clear at some point that Jazz’s sister was actually the focus because it was told from her perspective. There were many surprises in the end that had me on the edge of my seat. Some of the twists and turns I just could not believe. The two scenes that were the most powerful to me was first when Jazz went up to New York to meet with Malik who supposedly knew someone in the record business. The scene was very intense but I felt like it cut off too soon and definitely needed a transition to help the audience stay connected. I was on the edge of my seat and then saw blackness but after a few moments it was ok. The next scene that caught me off guard was when Jazz and Gabe got into an intense argument towards the end. True DC colors came out in that scene because rarely do people keep it so real in the midst of an argument like here in DC. If you pay attention you will notice the tilted shot used in the argument scene. It was risky but I think it worked and served it’s purpose. Go-go music was ever present in this film. If you want to know what goes down in DC then this is the movie to see. The whole vibe of DC is unique in it’s own way and there is no other way to explain it. For once the city grows on you it is subtlety forever present in everything that you endeavor. One thing that could have made this film even better was using pure dialog instead of music throughout all of the scenes. The music was great but just not for every scene. The script was ok and I was following along up until the point where I couldn’t figure out if Jazz was telling the truth. I will not spoil the movie for all of those who have yet to see it but overall I liked the script. I enjoyed all of it because it was real DC with no chaser! You might even like Go-Go music a little bit after going to see Jazz in the Diamond District. This film is in a category that is all its own, just like the peculiar city, that is Washington, DC.

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

The Village in Me

A poem dedicated to my family who is ever striving for their dreams... I will always love you!

The Village in Me

Life is a peculiar thing you value one thing after another some things last for a lifetime some things lose meaning in the end looking at life from different angles different viewpoints and scenes will frame & change your values & opinions in some ways & material things will lose their gain they say trouble don't last always but how do you erase the pain? the one you confide in time & time again the people you hold so dear to you Momma, Daddy, sister, brother, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends the only people who matter in the end it takes a village to raise a child they say everyday I grow older and wiser yet a little more of my village fades away now they've passed the baton to me & whether i'm ready or not the babies are looking up to me I can go on from day to day to make the world a better place for the babies & this is why we need our family for who else loves us unconditionally No one but Momma & Daddy So for the village in me I strive to succeed for the family but most of all for the babies


written by Purple
© 2008 Washington, DC

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels

PurpleReels gives Obsessed Five Stars

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It was my plan to see the movie the day that it came out to help with making it to the number one spot however I ended up seeing it this past Friday, May 1st. Everyone had their own opinions about Beyonce this and Beyonce that but I went in with a different outlook. I found myself immersed in the content and subject matter of the movie because it flowed so well. Usually I will find that if the script is horrible I am usually so distracted that I end up focusing on different shots and why they used this source of light instead of another. I felt that the script was great and because of that it allowed me to focus on the actual story like a regular movie goer. For me going to see one movie can mean seeing it three different times and from three different perspectives if it's a good movie. I will watch first for my own pleasure and then I'll actually study the editing techniques used and find myself wondering why the director, editor etc chose to go that route. The second time just gets my creative juices flowing and gives me insight as to how I can use those techniques to create my own. The third time I will listen for the music score and lighting that give cues to what is about to take place. Another word for that is suspense. If the music is done correctly I should be able to predict what is going to happen next. In Obsessed I didn't even have to go back to see the movie again because it was in sync the whole way. I am overly critical when it comes to films and that is why I have given "Obsessed" five stars. Idris Elba takes his character and makes it his own and the scene that illustrates this the most for me is when Sharon (Beyonce Knowles) finds out about Lisa (Ali Larter). He takes on the character so much so that you find yourself losing yourself in the movie. I looked up a couple of times and people's mouths were open and I laughed because mine was too! I was very surprised at Beyonce's role as Sharon because she really got to prove herself as an actress in this movie. Other movies always made her seem like Beyonce and not the actual character but in "Obsessed" she is Sharon! I will always remember this line "You think you're crazy... I'm gonna show you crazy..." oh and let's not forget "You touched my child?" I remember an interview Beyonce did with Entertainment Tonight when she talked about Sasha Fierce her alter-ego... I believe that she showed up in this movie. I felt the rage and anger that Sharon felt but I also felt equally the dismay that Derek felt when he got caught up in the situation that he did. I am not one to ruin movies for people who have yet to see them but I'm sure everyone has heard about the "Cat Fight" scene in the movie. All I can say is hold on to your seats! Walter Murch talks about seamless editing in his book "In the Blink of an Eye" and that sums up the movie "Obsessed." It is not a surprise that it has reached the mark of #1 movie in America because it deserves that and much more. When I heard that Beyonce and her father had a hand in directing the movie I was equally elated if not even more ecstatic for their success! For it is one thing to be as successful as Beyonce and her family have become in the music business but to reach a mark this great in the film business is the pinnacle of success if not far more than one could even hope or imagine. So if you're sitting down wondering if you should go see this movie... all I can say is why not. You have nothing to lose but all to gain. The next movie on my list to see is an independent film by Lindsey Christian called "Jazz in the Diamond District." Now I love the Jazz Scene in DC and I love independent film so this is a must see. I have to support fellow independent filmmakers. More to come... but til then be blessed...

As always remember to be "REEL" and stay on the MOVE!

"Purple Reels The Go Getter"
http://www.youtube.com/purplereels

http://www.twitter.com/purplereels