Category: Film/Television

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TED conference heads to Tanzania

TEDGlobal 2007 TanzaniaOne of the most influential annual conferences for technology, entertainment, and design (TED) is touching down in Africa for the first time. Though the main conference will take place in Monterey. California in March as it usually does, the smaller TEDGlobal win be hosted at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania, at the edge of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Previously held in Oxford, UK in 2005, this years TEDGlobal conference entitled “Africa: the next chapter” will take place June 4-7. Sponsored by AMD, GE, Google (Yes, Google), and Sun Microsystems, TEDGlobal conference will be held in Africa for the first time and promises to be an unforgettable experience with more than 50 extraordinary speakers (inventors, business-leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, artists, writers, activists, musicians and mavericks) who are “shaping Africa’s future though innovation and world-changing ideas.” In the past the TED conference has included speakers such as Al Gore (currentTV, Apple, VP of the USA), Richard Branson (VIrgin), Bono, and Peter Gabriel. TEDGlobal 2007 is organized by Emeka Okafor: entrepreneur, analyst and creator of two of my favorite blogs, Africa Unchained and Timbuktu Chronicles. One of the speakers at TEDGlobal will be Carol Pineau, CNN journalist and producer of the World Bank-sponsored documentary “Africa Open for Business.” The documentary is now on DVD.

Trailer: “Africa Open for Business”

Via AfricaIncorp and LunchOverIP

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Africa fuels Golden Globe wins

Forest Whitaker wins 2007 Golden GlobeLast nights Golden Globe awards solidified what newspapers have been saying for months. Africa is red hot for Hollywood filmmakers. Babel, filmed in Morocco and Tunisia, won for best film and Forest Whitaker (Platoon, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Color of Money) won the best actor award for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland”. While the two films are dramas, the diversity of the scenery in each film is a testament to the multitude of cultures and landscapes, which makes the African continent unique.

I haven’t talked much about “The Last King of Scotland” in the past particularly because I have yet to see it and it didn’t get much of a push at the box office. But Whitaker’s Golden Globe win is a clear example of the strength of the African continent as a source for filmmaking. Whitaker who has held various roles as actor, producer, and director is an unlikely star. Since appearing on screen in the early eighties, he has constantly worked on and off the screen developing projects. Those of us in the hip-hop community probably know him best for his Wu-Tang Clan association. It’s Whitaker’s quirkiness which made him an ideal candidate for the Idi Amin character. While critics claim the movie again put the white character at the story’s’ center, Whitaker’s intensity could not be ignored. I hope both wins send a rush of viewers to see the films, and push the profit numbers up. At the end of the day, hollywood is about making money, and if it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make sense (to produce).

“Buoyed by the critical and financial success of movies such as Hotel Rwanda and The Constant Gardener, studios are unleashing a series of films not only based on life in Africa, but shot there as well.

The cinematic migration, filmmakers and analysts say, reflects a sea change in Hollywood’s perspective about the region, once a mystery and easy stereotype for the entertainment industry.

Gone are the safari and Africans-as-savages motifs. The new films address recent history and topical subjects from terrorism to the diamond trade to long-distance runners.” – USA Today

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Golden Globes nominations give African filmmaking a boost

Chiwetel EjioforThe Golden Globe Awards are tonight and one clear winner for now is international film production. With movies like “Babel”, “The Last King of Scotland”, and “Blood Diamond” the ceremony has already set a tone for film in the near future. Though it hasn’t been publicized much, London-born Nigerian actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is up for two separate awards. One for his work as the drag queen in “Kinky Boots”, and again for his portrayal of a man who gets caught in the Thailand tsunami in HBO’s “Tsunami, The Aftermath”. Ejiofor’s “wife” in “Tsunami, The Aftermath”, Sophie Okonedo, who is half Nigerian, is up for her second Golden Globe nomination this year. The Golden Globe are considered a dress rehearsal for the Oscars, whose nominations come out Jan. 23. The Oscar ceremony will be on Feb. 25. The awards ceremony will be televised 8 ET/PT, on NBC.
Here are the African nominations for tonight’s ceremony:
* Indicates actor with African heritage or film where Africa is central character

Best Motion Picture – Drama
* Babel
Bobby
The Departed
Little Children
The Queen

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
* Forest Whitaker – The Last King Of Scotland
* Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Departed
Peter O’Toole – Venus
Will Smith – The Pursuit Of Happyness

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy
* Chiwetel Ejiofor – Kinky Boots
Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Johnny Depp – Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Aaron Eckhart – Thank You For Smoking
Will Ferrell – Stranger Than Fiction

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
* Adriana Barraza – Babel
* Rinko Kikuchi – Babel
Cate Blanchett – Notes On A Scandal
Emily Blunt – The Devil Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
* Brad Pitt – Babel
Ben Affleck – Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson – The Departed
Mark Wahlberg – The Departed

Best Director – Motion Picture
* Alejandro Iñárritu – Babel
Clint Eastwood – Flags Of Our Fathers
Clint Eastwood – Letters From Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears – The Queen
Martin Scorsese – The Departed

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
*Babel
The Departed
Little Children
Notes On A Scandal
The Queen

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
* Babel (Santaolalla)
The Painted Veil (Desplat)
The Fountain (Mansell)
Nomad (Siliotto)
The Da Vinci Code (Zimmer)

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
* “A Father’s Way” – The Pursuit Of Happyness
Music By: Seal and Christopher Bruce
Lyrics By: Seal
“Listen” – Dreamgirls
Music & Lyrics By: Anne Preven, Scott Cutler, Beyoncé Knowles and Henry Krieger
“Never Gonna Break My Faith” – Bobby
Music & Lyrics By: Andrea Remanda, Bryan Adams and Eliot Kennedy
“The Song Of The Heart” – Happy Feet
Music & Lyrics By: Prince Rogers Nelson
“Try Not To Remember” – Home Of The Brave
Music & Lyrics By: Sheryl Crow

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
* Sophie Okonedo – Tsunami, The Aftermath (HBO)
Gillian Anderson – Bleak House (PBS)
Annette Bening – Mrs. Harris (HBO)
Helen Mirren – Elizabeth I (HBO)
Helen Mirren – Prime Suspect: The Final Act (PBS)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
* Chiwetel Ejiofor – Tsunami, The Aftermath (HBO)
André Braugher – Thief (FX)
Robert Duvall – Broken Trail (AMC)
Michael Ealy – Sleeper Cell: American Terror (SHOWTIME)
Ben Kingsley – Mrs. Harris (HBO)
Bill Nighy – Gideon’s Daughter (BBC)
Matthew Perry – The Ron Clark Story (TNT)

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LA Times: Hollywood’s dark approach to African films

DiCaprio and Hounsou in Blood DiamondThe LA Times has an insightful op-ed piece written by Joe Queenan a writer who has written for Barron’s, the New York Times Book Review and London’s the Guardian. The piece titled “Tarzan’s children: Why movies about Africa require white saviors” sheds some light on what Joe calls the “Just Let Bwana Do It!” series of Hollywood films which include “the Constant Gardner” and “The Interpreter”. Mr. Queenan echoes some recent criticism of the movie “Blood Diamond” about the movie’s focus on the Leonardo DiCaprio character instead of Djimon Hounsou’s character, who the story revolves around. Queenan also brings up some points about how some Africans see the West’s influence on their communities.

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This week in African style, 1/6 – 1/12/07

• Will Smith plans to move to South Africa:

• Wesley Snipes wants more Africans making films

• Chris Rock vows to help Kenyans

• Yale puts African art on a pedastel

• DiCaprio adopts a South African girl. Thats one way to open the door to immigrants

• George Clooney advocates for Darfur with film

• Adoption groups criticize Angelina Jolie who criticized Madonna who thinks EVERYONE should adopt an African baby.

• Vh1 gets Bling’d for the United Nation on February 22

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Zimbabwe failing diamond test

Zimbabwe diamond minerOn the conflict diamond front, it’s Zimbabwe who has now come under fire for it’s conflict diamond policies. Reports are surfacing that the African country is among a growing number who has not met the standards of the World Diamond Council’s Kimberley Process initiative. It’s funny to see how the council is suddenly cracking down on countries who aren’t complying with their rules. Some would say it’s following through with it’s 2006 statement of cleaning itself up, while others say it’s just a knee-jerk reaction to all the heat they’re getting. Whatever the reason, it’s a good sign I guess. Now we just need to get some independent parties in on the governing. Especially since diamond sales are gaining ground online.

Side note: Djimon Housou’s role as the fisherman in Blood Diamond is earning him some good recognition. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the Academy Awards.

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Oprah leads African girls to success

Oprah's African girls schoolOver the holidays the media was abuzz when Oprah Winfrey opened her school for girls in South Africa. No stranger to charitable endeavors, this one however struck a nerve with all kinds of people. While many saw the effort as a positive one, others questioned the racial mix of the school and why Oprah chose Africa instead of the USA. I’m on Oprah’s side for this one. Out of all the celebrity Africa efforts Oprah has been one of those who has properly used her celebrity status to focus on the true issues. From her support of Bono’s Product RED to her feature on blood diamonds, she’s used her talent to focus on the issue at hand though it’s been with mixed reviews. I think the school for girls is a good idea which is sure to be duplicated by other celebrities. For all the criticism she has received, I think this is one move that deserves some recognition. And it surely sets the pace for Africa initiatives in 2007.

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Botswana Bushmen win land after DiCaprio appeal

Botswana Bushmen await ancestral land decisionEarlier this week the NY Daily News rang the bell on the newest blood diamond match this time between Russell Simmons and Blood Diamond director Ed Zwick. The director’s critisism comes as the latest part of the fallout from Simmons’ fact-finding African diamonds mission. Since last week’s press conference, Russell has been fending off all kinds of hits about what many perceive as his being a puppet for DeBeers. Everyone from the hip-hop press to Rush Limbaugh have an opinion on diamonds now. I think Russell hurt his business more than ever. As Zwick and Simmons continue their match, the winners of the week seem to be Botswana’s Kalahari Bushmen who just won their diamond filled land back from Botswana’s government. It seems they have Leonardo DiCaprio to thank.

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Akon nominated for 2007 Grammy Award

AkonSo word’s in on the 2007 Grammy Awards nominees and my boy Akon is front and center. These are the categories and which he and other African artists have been nominated in. The awards ceremony will be begin at 8pm EST on February 11, 2007 and will be shown live on CBS
* African artists are in red.

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
(For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)
• Smack That
<ahref=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akon”>Akon Featuring Eminem
[SRC/Universal Records] 

•      Deja Vu

Beyoncé Featuring Jay-Z
[Sony Urban Music/Columbia] 

•      Shake That

Eminem Featuring Nate Dogg
Track from: Curtain Call — The Hits
[Aftermath/Shady/Interscope Records] 

•      Unpredictable

Jamie Foxx Featuring Ludacris
Track from: Unpredictable
[J Records] 

•      My Love

Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I.
Track from: FutureSex/LoveSounds
[Jive Records/Zomba Label Group]

Best Traditional World Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
• Music Of Central Asia Vol. 2: Invisible Face Of The Beloved: Classical Music Of The Tajiks And Uzbeks
The Academy Of Maqâm
[Smithsonian Folkways Recordings] 

•      Endless Vision

Hossein Alizadeh & Djivan Gasparyan
[World Village] 

•      Hambo In The Snow

Andrea Hoag, Loretta Kelley & Charlie Pilzer
[Azalea City Recordings] 

•      Golden Strings Of The Sarode

Aashish Khan & Zakir Hussain
[Moment Records] 

•      Blessed

Soweto Gospel Choir
[Shanachie]

Best Contemporary World Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
• Tiki
Richard Bona
[Decca] 

•      M'Bemba

Salif Keita
[Decca] 

•      Wonder Wheel

The Klezmatics
[Jewish Music Group] 

•      Long Walk To Freedom

Ladysmith Black Mambazo
[Heads Up International] 

•      Savane

Ali Farka Toure
[World Circuit/Nonesuch]

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Nas shines on with diamonds video

Nas, Leonardo DiCaprio in studio - Blood Diamond soundtrack
With a new album nearing release, one of hip-hop’s elder statesmen and baddest lyricists, rhymes about blood diamonds. This video is for the track “Shine On ‘Em” from the Blood Diamond movie soundtrack which Nas is reported to have scored. Good work Nasir. Now you need to let a real Sierra Leonean in on the track. Kanye did.