Sneak Preview: Nelson George and Diane Paragas' Brooklyn Boheme

Join us for a preview screening of Brooklyn Boheme, a new documentary from award-winning Nelson George, director of the HBO feature film, Life Support (2007), which won Queen Latifah a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Brooklyn Boheme takes a look back at the close-knit African American/Latino neighborhood in Fort Greene, prior to gentrification, when the community nurtured a new wave of original and uniquely talented artists, among them, Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Branford Marsalis, and many other creative innovators featured in this film.

Nelson George, Co-Director/Writer/Producer, Brooklyn Boheme; director, Life Support; author, City Kid, Hip Hop America, The Plot Against Hip Hop

Diane Paragas, co-director, Brooklyn Boheme; television writer/producer/director (BET, MTV and CBS News)

Presented with Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, Media Arts Dept., Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

Sponsored by BET

Book signing of The Plot Against Hip Hop follows.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 to 9:00 pm

WHERE: Kumble Theater, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, Flatbush Ave.

(DeKalb & Willoughby)

Don't miss next month's preview screening with Nelson George and Diane Paragas. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP at www.cencom.org. You can also e-mail info@cencom.org or call (212) 686-5005.

Death at a FUNERAL the movie

Frank Oz's 2007 black comedy laugher Death at a Funeral is given the remake treatment with an urban spin in this Chris Rock -penned production. The comedian will head up an ensemble that comes together after a death in the family, with disastrous results. Rock penned the script with Aeysha Carr for director Neil LaBute (The Wicker Man).

Starring; James Marsden, Zoe Saldana, Luke Wilson, Columbus Short, Neil LaBute, , Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Loretta Devine, Tracy Morgan, Peter Dinklage, Regina Hall and Martin Lawrence, the film centers around a funeral and all of the misadventures that happen from family secrets being revealed to the body coming up missing. Judging from the trailer and the excellent ensemble cast, this looks like a film worth watching when it hits theaters on April 16, 2010!

Dwight's Guilty Pleasure: And the Winner's Were

FlavaMen Magazine changed the way that award shows usually honor individuals, by transforming the popular night club of 708 into Atlanta’s very own Radio City Music Hall. This event was held during Atlanta’s black pride and to a sold out crowd and hosted by America’s Next Top Model contestant and celebrity BET host, Toccara. Guest hosts included iconic Otis Mack, and drag performer Ms. Ruff n' Stuff with a special musical appearance by gay hip hop artist Anye Elite. Award presenters included Dwight Allen O’Neal of Christopher Street TV, and Ray Cunningham of BET’s College Hill. FlavaMen Magazine announced its inaugural slate of Blatino Awards nominees back in July, recognizing ethnic clubs and promoters, adult stars and studios, films and websites by and for men of color. The voting took place online over the summer, open to the public, and the winners were announced at a special ceremony in Atlanta last weekend. Toccara said “This is the one of the best events I have been to, and the vibe in this room is hot.” Also saying “I didn’t know what a Top was until tonight!” (Then making a rhythmic motion of a guy penetrating another guy). “I had a great time and I can’t wait till next year, it’s only going to get better.” About the Blatino AwardsThe Blatino Awards is the first annual awards ceremony produced by FlavaMen Magazine. The awards were created to recognize ethnic clubs, porn stars and websites; for and by men of color. During the summer months, members of the general public nominated those they deemed worthy recipients of the award. The complete list of nominees and the percentage of votes they received along with pictures of the event are online at http://www.BlatinoAwards.com

The 2009 FlavaMen Blatino Awards Winners are:

Best Acting Bottom

Mr. Saukei

Best Acting Top

Dream

Best Acting Versatile

Jovonnie

Best Director

Rock from Rockafellaz Entertainment

Best Black DVD

"Raw Rods 2" (Rockafellaz Entertainment)

Best Latin DVD

"Alejandro the Conqueror" (Latino Fan Club)

Best Studio

Flava Works

Most Notable Porn Star

Castro (a.k.a. Supreme)

The web nominees are as follows:

Best Black Website

DawgPoundUSA.com

Best Blog

Rockafellaz/Rocks Blog

Best Latin Website

PapiThugz.com

Best New Website

RawRods.com

The nominees for clubs and club promoters are as follows:

Best Black Club

Traxx, Atlanta

Best Club Promoter

WassupNATL, Atlanta

Best Latin Club

Splash Bar, New York

What's That on your Head? A WIG!!!

When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl’s head! Director Jeff Stilson’s camera followed the funnyman, and the result is Good Hair, a wonderfully insightful and entertaining, yet remarkably serious, documentary about African American hair culture. An exposé of comic proportions that only Chris Rock could pull off, Good Hair visits hair salons and styling battles, scientific laboratories, and Indian temples to explore the way black hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of black people. Celebrities such as Ice-T, Kerry Washington, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughter’s question. What he discovers is that black hair is a BIG BUSINESS that doesn’t always benefit the black community and little Lola’s question might well be bigger than his ability to convince her that the stuff on top of her head is nowhere near as important as what is inside.

In Selected Cities on October 9th