Malcolm's 88th Birthday

Come out and Celebrate on Sunday, May19th

IMPACT for Living Legendz!

WOW Last Saturday we met up with Carlton from IMPACT and the talented cast of IMPACT! It was FIERCE the performance and the back stories. We met this wonderful young lady who had Lupus and she will be having a fundraiser this Saturday at the Dwyer Cultural Center. We will definitely be on  board to support this sistah.  The IMPACT REP THEATER will be performing on Malcolm X birthday at the Shabazz Center on May 19th in part of our program "Malcolm's Next Step bringing back consciousness"  they will be featured in the upcoming film.

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Living Legendz dates

Living Legendz 

Community Engagements

Filmstress Filmz is proud to announce our spring engagements.

May 19th we will be screening our trailer and participate on a panel discussion entitled 

"Malcolm's Next Step Bringing Consciousness 

Back"

Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Center

Sunday, May 19th

3340 Broadway

New York, NY 10032

5 - 7:30 p.m.

Living Legendz Fundraiser

National Black Theater

Thursday, June 6th

2031 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10035

7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

For more information check out the website

www.Filmstress.com

Shabazz Center

Last Saturday the crew from Filmstress International went to the Shabazz Center and met Malcolm's daughters. We supported a function they had on health and were impressed on the space and the people we met there. Not only did they like our agenda to have a forum entitled Malcolm The next step bringing conscious back but advised us to email them what we would like to do on Malcolm's birthday at the Shabazz Center.  We were so honored that the daughter we spoke to gave us time to speak with her more less was interested in collaborating on such an event.

Photography by Najmah53

We left that event on Saturday and went to Manhattan Neighborhood Network and I taped a show with Dietra Kelsey from the Sistah Talk TV show.  It was my first time visiting the studio on 103rd and the staff was friendly.  We got there 5 minutes before aire time but we made it, James and Jane were great they worked that show liked pros.
From there we went and met Dune and he was happy to hear the good news on what we had accomplished already for the tribute too Malcolm and also the Last Poets.  After our visit we went to the National Black Theater and supported one of Dune's friends who was in prison that was having a fundraiser upstairs.  I was feeling sick and had to leave unfortunately I missed my blogtalk radio show with Janice that night I slept right through it with my fever.  I stayed in bed till yesterday and  finally got the strength to return to the real world.  
We want to say thank you to all the folks who kept donating online on Indiegogo for the film we truly appreciate it.  We will continue to keep our fans proud of the work we are doing.

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My three wise men!

I have been raising money on the Indiegogo campaign since last week and I am so proud of the folks that have come forward to donate what they had.  Some folks have reached out to do interviews on the film and some folks have sat by silently hating.  I look forward to shooting in May and have folks on board that will be interviewed such as Jessica Care Moore who agreed to be interviewed for the film.  Jessica is a warm hearted Sistah who is originally from Detroit and her comments will be absolutely valuable to show my audience.  How Abiodun has made a positive impact on this woman is outstanding already have some footage of this beautiful Sistah at Abiodun's Tribute at the National Black Theater in 2011.  To find out more about this phenomenal Sistah click here.

JessicaCaremoore

Jessica Care Moore

  Ever since my mentor Jamal Joseph challenged me on the hook, I have been racking my mind on what will draw people to come see a historical film about our elders. 

Securing on camera interviews is truly a challenge so many folks have their hand out like I have  a million dollar budget.  Now worries because where there is a will there is a way.  

Still trying to reach out to Bryonn Bain, Saul Williams and some other folks who are doing great things now. 

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Nicholle La Vann & Jessica Care Moore at Def Poetry Jam

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Why I'm doing Living Legendz!

Many folks ask me on a regular basis why you doing this film Nicky? My answer remains the same each time because it's an honor to document these legends many are not familiar with their contributions. My hopes are to give back to my community by documenting the lives of people who have made a positive influence on African-American culture.  What better gift can we give our sons and daughters than examples of people from their own community who have paved the way.  Some folks say why? Nobody really cares anymore it's not 1970 move on.  True, it might not be 1970's but the same issues still plague us racism, prejudice, injustice and poor education. In order to move forward we must know our past that is what I have always learned.  It think it is truly an honor to highlight the lives of Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Abiodun Oyewole and Jamal Joseph.

Thanks to all of you that are supporting me on this journey as I document our legendz.

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Finding the hook...

Yesterday my AP and I visited my mentor Jamal Joseph so we could touch base with the project.  It was a great meeting, my mentor challenged me to re-examine my hook. What is going to keep people tuned in to want to watch this documentary about these three men. I thought to myself well of course the music is going to be over the top. Then as I have experienced to keep interviewing asking questions that will lead me to the meat.  My vision was to edit a discussion between them and explore the story of their lives having them come together around this discussion. 

I didn't realize that Jamal was 12 when Malcolm died, I thought he was older.  The conversation was inspiring because Jamal really hit the key points of what my audience will be looking for.  As usual I thought I had it figured out.  I was truly grateful for the brutha's time since I know he had a lot of responsibility viewing films during the spring recess.  So my homework is to revamp my hook and concentrate on how I am going to implement that into the film.

Overall folks we are coming along still raising money on indiegogo and still plugging to get the word out on the film.  Feel free to donate and check in we are working on a great historical film and need your support.

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Jing...Well

Today's Knowledge

"A village can be changed and the people can move away, but a well cannot be changed or moved, it remains the same.  When water is drawn from a well, the bucket or jar must be raised from the bottom in such a way that it doesn't hit against the sides of the well.  Otherwise, the bucket or jar may be broken and the goal remain unachieved."

We are excited today to meet with Jamal Joseph and get some feedback on our progress with research and development.  

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Fundraising 101

Fundraising has to be the most nerve wrecking responsibility in the world. I have been putting my hand to the plow in different fundraising techniques from having a talent show, to now being on Indiegogo encouraging folks to donate to our campaign.  I believe it takes a certain kind of strength to ask and get money from strangers not to mention folks you know.  For a week now I posted for people to donate on facebook and unfortunately folks don't donate they just like the page. Come on people is what I want to scream this is our history!
My next attenpt is ask for a donation through all the emails and send out an email to at last thirty people asking for support for the project not including other big potential investors. I'm ready to ask ellen (TV SHOW) since she gives a lot of money away on her show if she can assist.
It seems like my crew keeps falling short of responsibilities that they are tasked to handle.  I am thoroughly aggravated about folks attitude about the project. Actions speak louder than words and I always give folks room to hang themselves.   It has finally come to a head that some people just need to go back to their hole and stay there because they are dragging me down and having me fall behind schedule when they decide not to do their part.
Tomorrow I am meeting with Jamal Joseph and pretty excited about that meeting. I will be giving him the up-to-date status of the project and what goals we have next to tackle. I really feel all alone out here with no help, like I'm swimming in place.  Not sure if I should stop go find a job and pay for the crew myself.  Just frustrated with folks with the same old bullshyt story I'm gonna help and they never follow through always an excuse.


My goals are to mainatin a positive attitude even when folks let you down. I know at the end of the day my name is on this project and I have to put my best foot forward.
Today is a great day and I will continue to have faith my ancestors aren't gonna let me down!

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Malcolm The Next Step, Bringing Conscious Back

This year will be the 48th year of the passing of Malcolm X and Last Poets 45th Anniversary!

I have been moved this year to want to pay homage to Malcolm and the Last Poets because I think we should re-examine what the next step was if Malcolm was living for people of color.  Many of our youth are infected with the illusion that its all about the benjamins which really points towards an individualized way of thinking.  Dr. Jeffries has pointed out out on many occasions that its a western way of thinking and that we as Black people have to think collectively as a community.  I strongly believe that Dr. Jeffries has a good point because as I interact with the youth that is their main ideology of thinking.  How much money and materialistic shyt can I obtain to let folks know I have arrived. I ask them over and over arrived at what?  Even my own Sun, Versace is smitten by this same type of propaganda which I will challenge everyday of my life till he gets it.

My friends and colleagues also believe that there should be some type of panel discussion around the issue of what do we now as people of color? How do we move forward and progress and leave all the stigmas behind.  What is our responsibility to our community? How do we survive in a failing economy? 

I think most folks who want change have the issue of how do we make money in our community and also be conscious. How does the revolution put food on my table? That is a great question.

I think what people fail to realize is that they can't conquer without having a plan and a team.  I believe that in the 70's made the LAST POETS so strong is that had a voice that encouraged people to think and be unique to think outside of the box.  They were revolutionaries by using their voice and music to inspire and get the message out there for revolution.  The issue today is what revolution are we fighting is the 99% occupy against corporate banks, is it against the NRA for gun control?   It seems to me we have so many issues but if we go back in history just thirty years back they had a reason for revolution. Where did Malcolm leave off? Can we as a community pick up where Malcolm left off?

"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything.  They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about change".                                                   Malcolm X, Malcom X Speaks 1965

The LAST POETS featuring Bootsy Collins

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Indiegogo Today!

We will finally go live today on our Indiegogo campaign. Yes, all of you who have been wanting to support can now do so by making a generous contribution to our campaign.  Please feel free to review our trailer and comment we look forward to hearing back from folks on our progress and what they would like to see.

Please feel free to review our trailer we are 

still in research and development.

Photography by Go Ikemoto

It was brick cold last week as we taped interviews on 125th street in Harlem. Posing the question had they heard of our subjects and if so what did they remember.  Many of them did not know and some of them knew just one person we were talking about but didn't know the rest. I had to educate a few people on Jamal Joseph and Dr. Jeffries but it was okay that is the purpose of the documentary is to educate and inspire action for change.

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We are excited and look forward from the generous support from you.  Remember all donations are tax deductible from the IRS.  Thanks so much in advance we are so excited to start this rich historical documentary that can be utilized by our children and our children's children for years to come.

Thank you so much for your support!