SKINNY the movie Premieres in NYC this weekend

FILMMAKER PATRIK-IAN POLK OF

“PUNKS” AND “NOAH’S ARC”

NEW YORK CITY OPENING OF NEW INDIE FILM

“THE SKINNY” AT THE FAISON FIREHOUSE THEATER ON FRIDAY, JUNE 8TH

The highly anticipated NYC premiere of THE SKINNY, the third feature film from Patrik-Ian Polk (PUNKS, NOAH’S ARC) will be presented during the First Annual Pride Cultural Series at the Faison Firehouse Theater, 6 Hancock Place, Harlem, NY 10027 opening Friday, June 8th with proceeds benefiting GMAD’s (Gay Men of African Decent) Charles Angel Youth Leadership Academy's 'Stop the BS' campaign- an anti gay-bullying and suicide initiative.

A sharply scripted comedy, THE SKINNY tells the story of four young, black, gay men (Magnus, Sebastian, Kyle, Joey) and their lesbian best friend (Langston), who meet up in New York City one year after their graduation from Brown University. Their plans for a weekend of fun start off well, relaxed in each other’s company as only old friends can be. But old tensions quickly resurface.

Drinking, drugs, hidden desire and the demands of promiscuity put friendship, trust and even lives at risk. In between sharp one-liners and a great soundtrack there’s a few important lessons that these pleasure-seekers must learn for themselves. Written with a real sense of the demands of urban living, these bright and believable characters will remind you of someone you know. Remaining true to his past work, Polk addresses issues in THE SKINNY that face the LGBT community such as date-rape, infidelity, and HIV/AIDS awareness.

The film stars Jussie Smollett (the former child actor of “Mighty Ducks” & “North”, and older brother of well-known actress Jurnee Smollett), Blake Young-Fountain, Anthony Burrell, Shanika Warren-Markland and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. Supporting cast includes alumnus of Polk’s past features such as Darryl Stephens (“Noah’s Arc”), Jennia Fredrique (“Noah’s Arc”), Wilson Cruz (“Noah’s Arc”) and Seth Gilliam (“Punks”, “The Wire”, “Oz”, “Teen Wolf”). The cast also includes newcomers Dustin Ross and internet sensation B. Scott.

THE SKINNY’s open-ended NYC run begins Friday, June 8th at the Faison Firehouse Theatre in Harlem (6 Hancock Place, New York, NY 10027) as the featured film of the Firehouse's First Annual Pride Cultural Series.

OPENING WEEKEND's Showtime: 3:30pm | 5:30pm | 7:30pm & 9:30pm

Tickets $15.00 purchased in advance online at Smarttix.com.

For additional details & showtimes go to Skinnythemovie.com.

LANGSTON'S a film by (4) colored boys needs your support... GIVE TODAY!!!

"I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank."
― Langston Hughes

WHAT
Whether old or young, masc or fem, prep or urban, we all share an attraction that draws us together and forces us to see the similarities in our differences...and in the club, there's no hiding from this truth.

An unparalleled collaboration between 4 noted filmmakers, LANGSTON'S is a modern portrait of gay men of color who are linked together by a tragic act.

A film by and 4 boys of color.

WHY
Together we can stop other young men of color from sinking.

Novo Film Project is dedicated to examining the questions latent in the LGBT community of color. In every project, Novo Film Project builds upon the contemporary and classic concerns and themes that remain timeless in order to introduce more "colorful" images in the cinematic landscape. In association with Off The Clock Productions, LANGSTON'S is the first feature length effort in achieving this goal.

In short, LANGSTON'S is a response to the diminishing presence of "colored folks" in mainstream film, a novel opportunity for us to tell our story and affect positive change within our community.

WHO
LANGSTON'S fuses the talents of 4 emerging, award-winning filmmakers:

Dane Harrington Joseph
Co-producer and writer of Drama Queenz, the hit comedy series about three friends and roommates dealing with life, love, and trying to make it in New York City. Now in its third season, the show has been presented at film festivals and pride events across the country, on many notable blogs and websites, and has a special partnership with BGCLive.com.

Dwight Allen O’Neal
Executive Producer/Creator/Writer of Christopher Street TV (now available through TLA Releasing) and the forthcoming spin-off series cockTALES. A notable blogger, celebrity make-up artist, and international GAYlebrity, Dwight’s work has featured in Vogue Magazine, TheFutureFoward.net, and various other hot spots across the world wide web.

Daniel Armando
Executive producer/director/writer, Boys Like You (winner “Best Male Short,” North Carolina Int’l Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) and vice president of development at Novo Film project.

James Peoples
BET/Urbanworld Screenwriting finalist and writer of the first novo film project, Where Truth Lies (Official Selection, North Carolina Int’l Gay and Lesbian Film Festival). James' work has also been featured in the NBC Shortcuts festival. James was also one of the recipients for Best Science Fiction film at the Terror Film Festival.

HOW
YOU can make this happen. Through your support, you can help give voice to emerging artists, a disenfranchised community, and the individuals within that may be sinking. By partnering with Novo Film Project and Off the Clock Productions, you will bring to life work by us, for ALL of us.

Give today.

INVITE - MOVIE SCREENING: Critically-acclaimed film PARIAH Screens in Conjunction with "OUT on the Hill"

The National Black Justice Coalition in partnership with the DC Mayor's Office of GLBT Affairs will host a Special Advance Screening of the critically-acclaimed, coming-out story PARIAH on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 7:00pm, Regal Gallery Place, 707 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC.

A Q&A with Director Dee Rees and Producer Nekisa Cooper will immediately follow the screening.

A rousing success at its world premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, this deeply felt human drama is the feature debut of writer/director Dee Rees. Adepero Oduye portrays Alike (pronounced “ah-lee-kay”), a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents (Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse) in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood. A gifted student, Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the support of her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker), she is especially eager to find a girlfriend. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity. Spike Lee is among the feature’s executive producers. PARIAH is slated to open in Washington, DC during January 2012.

To view the trailer click here: http://focusfeatures.com/pariah.

To download a printable screening flyer, click here.

To RSVP, enter your name, phone number, and mailing address at this evite link.

Please note: We can only accept one email RSVP per attendee. If you plan to come with someone, ask them to RSVP separately via email.

MCNY Adds a Second Day to 2nd Annual Short Film Festival April 7th and 8th 2011

Moviemakers and MBA students collaborate once again for the Metropolitan College of New York’s 2^nd Annual Media Management Short Film Festival from 6-9 p.m., April 7^th and 8^th in the school’s Conference Center at 431 Canal Street, New York, NY.

“Telling Stories – Shaping Dreams” is the theme for this year’s festival, which includes a moderated movie industry panel and a filmmakers roundtable on April 7^th, followed by the screening of the selected short films on April 8^th. The festival, which grew out a classroom project, has crystallized into a platform for burgeoning filmmakers, and provides real time project management experience for the school’s media management students. The event is a win-win situation for the featured filmmakers and the school says Dr.Tilokie Depoo, Professor & Director of Business Programs for MCNY.

“I am looking forward to this year’s festival and it’s maturation into an established annual industry event,” Depoo says. “This event represents an opportunity for the concretization of theoretical MBA competencies by our students, from the demonstration of their leadership skills, to their ability to work as a team, to their use of organizational and fiscal management skills, while it showcases the wonderful collaborative efforts of our students and the media industry.”

The event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact George Kevin Jordan at 917-701-5540. Information is also available on our Facebook page for “Metropolitan College of New York 2nd Annual Short Film Festival.”

ABOUT MCNY

Founded in 1964 by educational pioneer Audrey Cohen, Metropolitan College of New York has been dedicated to helping students achieve their academic dreams for over 46 years. The only one of its kind in the country, the one-year Master of Business Administration in Media Management at MCNY is a unique Purpose Centered Education program geared towards achievement-oriented, media professionals. The curriculum balances traditional MBA competencies with those particular to the media industry. To accommodate working professionals, classes meet on evenings and weekends. For more information about the school or the Media Management program visit us at www.mcny.edu or call 1-800-33-THINK.

Gay Films hit the Big Screen this 2010 Holiday Season

"Violet Tendencies" is a romantic comedy about Violet, the last of the fag hags who endeavors to leave all her gay friends behind to find a man of her own. The film stars Mindy Cohn (who played Natalie on Facts of Life), Marcus Patrick, Jesse Archer - who also wrote the screenplay, Samuel Whitten, Kim Allen, Adrian Armas, Armand Anthony and Casper Andreas who also directed. It's set to premiere in New York City on November 5th.

I Love You Phillip Morris, Steven Russell is happily married to Debbie, and a member of the local police force when a car accident provokes a dramatic reassessment of his life. Steven becomes open about his homosexuality and decides to live life to the fullest - even if it means breaking the law. Steven's new, extravagant lifestyle involves cons and fraud and, eventually, a stay in the State Penitentiary where he meets sensitive, soft-spoken Phillip Morris. His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life together prompts Steven to attempt and often succeed at one impossible con after another. In theaters December 5th.

Zolra's Corner: The Addiction to Romantic Comedies

Months ago, I began to ask this question in my head. It was right after watching the romantic comedy Along Came Polly, starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston. I have been dieing to see this movie and once I saw it, my love for romantic comedies have returned.

For me, I am not a huge person when it comes to romance. If you come by my house, there will be no Danielle Steel on the bookshelf unless the stories were completely funny. However, growing up, I have been a huge fan of comedies ranging from sitcoms like The Golden Girls, The Big Bang Theory, The Nanny, Will and Grace, Two and a Half Men, and the runaway new show on TV Land Hot in Cleveland. Then there are shows like Sex and the City that is not only a comedy, but it centers around the romance. For most of us, that's considered a romantic comedy.

Once I realized I love romantic comedies, it has become a major addiction. Every time there is a movie in the theater, I automatically run to see it. The recent romantic comedies I've seen were Just Wright and Sex and the City 2. Now I got my eyes aimed at Valentine's Day right now.

Then I went to the library, looking for novels that could satisfy me. After searching through the books, I finally saw a novel that fully interested me. It was a novel called Angels by Marian Keyes. The moment I read it, I felt romantic comedies flowing through my veins. Ever since then, Marian Keyes has become one of my favorite authors.

Last year, we were both overwhelmed watching the runaway hit film Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom, the movie based on the hit series on Logo. There are a few differences I see between Noah's Arc the tv series, and the movie. The tv show is considered a dramedy. It centered around the character's relationships and everyday life. Then there was the drama surrounding the issues around the gay and lesbian community. So when I went to see the movie, I considered it to be the same as the tv show. Then I when I saw it, I said to myself "This is a romantic comedy".

There were no issues surrounding the community at all (unless you include the problem surrounding Wade's side of the family). This was mostly about how the characters fixing their relationships, and it also centered around a wedding. If you been to a gay wedding like this in the movie, you will believe me by saying it's a romantic comedy. The press agrees too.

After watching the gay community react in their everyday life, and seeing them completely interested in these kinds of films most of the time, it got me thinking.

Do gays love romantic comedy or does every single individual on the planet want to make their life exactly like a romantic comedy.

We might never know what types of movies we love. As long as the relationship between two individuals captures us, we will hooked on it no matter what the genre is.

LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE DISCUSSES THE ‘COST OF THE CLOSET’ DURING ITS LGBT FILM FESTIVAL

Los Angeles Black Pride (LABP), the country’s first African-American LGBT Pride organization, along with GLO TV, America’s first urban LGBT TV network, have come together to produce Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series at the Radisson LAX Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday, July 2, 2010. This free program is part of the organization’s numerous events in celebration of its 22^nd annual Pride event.

The film festival will include various independent films made by and about the African-American LGBT community, curated by filmmaker and GLO TV president Maurice Jamal. The highlight of the festival will be the hot topic conference Flipping The Script II: Beyond Homophobia in Black Hollywood, the second in a series of discussions about the often discreet world of homosexuality within the tight-lipped Black film and television community. Co-produced by openly gay writer Demetrius Bady as a follow up to his hugely successful conference Flipping The Script held earlier this year at the Writers Guild of America, Flipping The Script II will continue the discussion about the portrayal of African-American gay and lesbian characters in film and television and what role Black Hollywood plays in the positive and negative shaping of these characters. From Antonio Fargas’ drag diva Lindy in the 70s classic film Car Wash to Nicole Ari Parker’s Evie in The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love to Lafayette Reynolds of HBO’s vampire drama True Blood, Hollywood has produced a host of memorable characters that have been both praised and condemned for its depiction of the African-American LGBT community.

The evening’s discussion will also delve into such topics as the controversial issue of being “out” and Black in Hollywood and the cost of staying “in the closet;” the gains made by prominent African-American LGBT filmmakers, as well as the issue of homophobia within the black community as a whole. LABP hopes the event will encourage audience members to ask questions and to participate in the dialogue during this frank and open conversation.

Confirmed panelists include actor Doug Spearman (Noah's Arc), BET VP Austyn Biggers, GLO TV president and filmmaker Maurice Jamal (Dirty Laundry), screenwriter Jasmine Love (The District), filmmakers Faith Trimel (Family), Kanithea Powell (Finding Juliet) and GLAAD award-winners Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett (The DL Chronicles).

Founded in 1988, the non-profit LABP has a longstanding history of combating homophobia, providing L.A.-based events and programs throughout the year to the African-American LGBT community. Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series is part of LABP’s week-long celebration (July 1-5) of Hollywood Wet & Wild, this year’s theme for the organization’s 22^nd annual Pride event. The conference, Flipping The Script II, is co-sponsored by the Writer's Guild of America.

WHAT: Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series

WHEN: Friday, July 2 from 2pm-9pm (check website for complete schedule)

WHERE: Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Airport, 6225 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045