tv Just in Time for Black History Month-Black Hollywood TV

My Name is Micah. I am not only a filmmaker but a film lover..While trying to get one of my films financed I kept all running into the same wall-Agents/companies who kept on saying .."I don't know if we have a market for something like this right now"-Majority of scripts that I write involves black characters (Here's a shocker, I'm bla--err African American-Politcal correctness right?) involved in situations that the average male/female runs into-In other words-not catering to just the Urban romance/crime drama/christian demographic..



I started to wonder what are the options of a black filmmaker who doesn't fit in those Categories. I started to think about the films I saw this year, or last year that I wouldn't have if I haven't search deeply for them-and how I wish they were easily found. What if these films could be found just on one website? ANd for a small monthly fee you could view from hundreds of titles.

I started a crowdfunding project on Indiegogo-http://igg.me/p/327529/x/218493. Feel free to contribute or share!

Thanks!
 
sigh.. so what your saying is, that either they wont finance you is coz your black or because the main characters in your films are black... am i correct on this? if so then i think your the only one with the problem and infact your script just isnt good enough maybe at this time or just full stop.

I can think of many films where the lead character is black, so it is nothing to do with that.

infact theres a film out right now with lead blackman
 
sigh.. so what your saying is, that either they wont finance you is coz your black or because the main characters in your films are black... am i correct on this? if so then i think your the only one with the problem and infact your script just isnt good enough maybe at this time or just full stop.

I can think of many films where the lead character is black, so it is nothing to do with that.

infact theres a film out right now with lead blackman


Please let me know of a film where the black character is the leading man?
 
Please let me know of a film where the black character is the leading man?

blade
blade 2
blade 3
friday
next friday
friday after next
barbershop
are we there yet
spawn - (awesome film)
demolition man (although slyvester is the lead character, i feel wesley is just as much lead)
Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Beverly hills cop.. i mean come on

i could list more but honestly its not that hard to search.

anyway has anyone ever said that your scripts were good enough and i mean industry professionals, have you ever done any films before that got really good recognition.
 
blade
blade 2
blade 3
friday
next friday
friday after next
barbershop
are we there yet
spawn - (awesome film)
demolition man (although slyvester is the lead character, i feel wesley is just as much lead)
Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Beverly hills cop.. i mean come on

i could list more but honestly its not that hard to search.

anyway has anyone ever said that your scripts were good enough and i mean industry professionals, have you ever done any films before that got really good recognition.

Do you have a current list-Films that have been made within the last 3 years? (Other than Beasts of the Southern Wild (which up until it's Oscar Nom, I never heard of) I don't see any)..Do you have a list that is not a Franchise, Considered for the Urban audience, Not a Superhero Movie, Or deemed for the Christian Audience (in other words Tyler Perry ish")? Meaning have you seen an african american film, or a film that had an african american male or female play a major role where the focus wasn't on the color of their skin, or the demographic skin? .I.E. Anthony Mackie character in the Adjustment Bureau...Denzel Washington Character in Safehouse. I can't even say Anthony Mackie character in Gangster Squad as it is unrealistic to have a black cop in that era. This isn't really an post about me wanting to get my script read or film made (as I have backing) But another avenue for films with black characters that focus on the story and not race So if I sent a script that is Sci Fi genre,and the main character is black- whoever I sent it to (if it's good enough) would talk about the marketing of the story and not about marketing to the urban audience..George Lucas had a hard time getting Red Tails made because it was an all black cast..He Did Star Wars for God Sake!
 
Do you have a current list-Films that have been made within the last 3 years? (Other than Beasts of the Southern Wild (which up until it's Oscar Nom, I never heard of) I don't see any)..Do you have a list that is not a Franchise, Considered for the Urban audience, Not a Superhero Movie, Or deemed for the Christian Audience (in other words Tyler Perry ish")? Meaning have you seen an african american film, or a film that had an african american male or female play a major role where the focus wasn't on the color of their skin, or the demographic skin? .I.E. Anthony Mackie character in the Adjustment Bureau...Denzel Washington Character in Safehouse. I can't even say Anthony Mackie character in Gangster Squad as it is unrealistic to have a black cop in that era. This isn't really an post about me wanting to get my script read or film made (as I have backing) But another avenue for films with black characters that focus on the story and not race So if I sent a script that is Sci Fi genre,and the main character is black- whoever I sent it to (if it's good enough) would talk about the marketing of the story and not about marketing to the urban audience..George Lucas had a hard time getting Red Tails made because it was an all black cast..He Did Star Wars for God Sake!

sigh, i dont see your problem to be honest your just now refining the category to some ridiculous state.

at the end of the day, whatever makes money will sell.

"This isn't really an post about me wanting to get my script read or film made (as I have backing) But another avenue for films with black characters that focus on the story and not race So if I sent a script that is Sci Fi genre,and the main character is black"

why does the main character have to be black? what point are you trying to prove? do you dislike other races because they arent black?

and actually america/england are still technically a non black countries so therefore there wouldnt be many main black cast, if you want films like that then go to brazil, africa, jamaica where the race is higher in black skin colour.

im going to be honest i hate anyone that plays the race card, we are in 2013 where more or less colour has become equal, yes there is still racism, but that doesnt mean your own race isnt racist to others either, iv experienced racism of all kinds and its just boring.

just focus on making films and let it be less about the skin colour of your cast and be more about the quality of your film.
 
Maybe you're seeing it in the wrong way..Usually when you speak of race-and you are of African American descent people look at you sideways for two reasons-They think you're asking for special treatment (which is most definitely not what this is about) or they accuse you of reverse racism (which again is not what this post is about). It happens. And already your own opinion on Race say you're Bias..But I digress..

The fact that you answered my question finding a list with those criteria with a "hands up in the sky I give up reply" speaks volumes..


sigh, i dont see your problem to be honest your just now refining the category to some ridiculous state.

at the end of the day, whatever makes money will sell.

"This isn't really an post about me wanting to get my script read or film made (as I have backing) But another avenue for films with black characters that focus on the story and not race So if I sent a script that is Sci Fi genre,and the main character is black"

why does the main character have to be black? what point are you trying to prove? do you dislike other races because they arent black?

and actually america/england are still technically a non black countries so therefore there wouldnt be many main black cast, if you want films like that then go to brazil, africa, jamaica where the race is higher in black skin colour.

im going to be honest i hate anyone that plays the race card, we are in 2013 where more or less colour has become equal, yes there is still racism, but that doesnt mean your own race isnt racist to others either, iv experienced racism of all kinds and its just boring.

just focus on making films and let it be less about the skin colour of your cast and be more about the quality of your film.
 
Maybe you're seeing it in the wrong way..Usually when you speak of race-and you are of African American descent people look at you sideways for two reasons-They think you're asking for special treatment (which is most definitely not what this is about) or they accuse you of reverse racism (which again is not what this post is about). It happens. And already your own opinion on Race say you're Bias..But I digress..

The fact that you answered my question finding a list with those criteria with a "hands up in the sky I give up reply" speaks volumes..

good luck
 
I am Legend?
Flight?
Pursuit of Happyness?
Hancock?
Hitch?
iRobot?
Biker Boys?

Oops, I take back Biker boys and Pursuit of Happyness...
Flight is a maybe since I didn't see it and not sure how race played a part.. Sorry.
Otherwise I don't care what color people are, if it's a good movie it's a good movie. It's sad that being black still has "attachments" even in film...
 
Oops, I take back Biker boys and Pursuit of Happyness...
Flight is a maybe since I didn't see it and not sure how race played a part.. Sorry.
Otherwise I don't care what color people are, if it's a good movie it's a good movie. It's sad that being black still has "attachments" even in film...

But in Biker Boyz, and Pursuit of Happyness race didn't have any effect on the story-Biker Boyz-Focus on Motorcycling racing..and Pursuit of Happyness focused on A father and Son bond..Flight was a great movie! and again the Pilot just happened to be Black..

You're right..a Good Movie is a Good Movie..But as we know (It took me a while to acknowledge this) Filmmaking is a business-It's all about making a profit-and how you figure out how to make a profit is figuring out who your target market are. I'm just raising the question that if a film is about a zombie apocalypse and the main character just happens to be black it should be marketing to the zombie lovers and not the urban audience right? And if this film can't find widespread distribution as studios don't know how/who to market it, what is the other option (other than Self distribution) for this film to be seen?
 
First, I want to flat out state - I sincerely wish you and this project all the best of luck in the world.
Honestly.

Second, you picked a tough row to hoe, man.

On the one hand, if a consumer REALLY wanted to find "exclude everyone but my own select ancestry" films... it's not really that hard to find them.
For really. It's a simple google search away. No big deal.

On the other hand, I believe it's a limited segment of the black/AA consumer market that wants "Black characters doing Black things" films and not "Some guy doing some things - and he just happens to be Black" films.
The market segment WANTS one but NOT the other. I think that's limited, but certainly a group to provide a product to, so you may be onto something there, but they may be serviced already.
(Honestly, as a European American :rolleyes:, I've NEVER gone hunting for a film which depicted my select ancestry at the exclusion of someone else's, but that's just me. I'll watch most anything, especially "Some guy doing some things - and he just happens to be Black" films.)

On yet a third hand, if you're looking to provide a platform to new AA filmmakers that want to show their film products to cater to the market you're suggesting then that may be quite difficult to ensure a significantly broad enough audience even knows to come looking at the proposed BlackHollywood.TV site.
Doable, but a challenge.

Good luck with your campaign and project. :):yes:

Also, your campaign has been added to the ongoing list! http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=39742&page=11
 
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Thank you for that!

Obviously if you really want to waste a hr or two, google search away lol..but who has time for all of that? That's why there is Netflix, and Redbox. etc.

And it's really not about excluding-it's about diversity. I don't go out looking for films that have my selected ancestry-I dislike Tyler Perry Films. Any films that has to do with Hip Hop Music. Anything that has anything to do with the "hood" or a "brotha" trying to find a way to make that dolla (holla!!!) gets bypass. Although I love Spike Lee, I rather see him direct another film on the same path as 25th hour than Jungle Fever..I'm looking forward to Oldboy. I love the Film Beginners. Roman Polanski film's Carnage (almost) made me forget his past.Steven Soderbergh is a God. I think Quentin Tarantino is a Genius! And the only reason I haven't seen Django is because I heard it featured a Rick Ross song. I'm still going to see it I just going to wait to display my outrage in the comforts of my own home.-I'm saying this all to display my "diverse" taste.

It is definitely a challenge..But I believe a site like this is doable!

First, I want to flat out state - I sincerely wish you and this project all the best of luck in the world.
Honestly.

Second, you picked a tough row to hoe, man.

On the one hand, if a consumer REALLY wanted to find "exclude everyone but my own select ancestry" films... it's not really that hard to find them.
For really. It's a simple google search away. No big deal.

On the other hand, I believe it's a limited segment of the black/AA consumer market that wants "Black characters doing Black things" films and not "Some guy doing some things - and he just happens to be Black" films.
The market segment WANTS one but NOT the other. I think that's limited, but certainly a group to provide a product to, so you may be onto something there, but they may be serviced already.
(Honestly, as a European American :rolleyes:, I've NEVER gone hunting for a film which depicted my select ancestry at the exclusion of someone else's, but that's just me. I'll watch most anything, especially "Some guy doing some things - and he just happens to be Black" films..)

On yet a third hand, if you're looking to provide a platform to new AA filmmakers that want to show their film products to cater to the market you're suggesting then that may be quite difficult to ensure a significantly broad enough audience even knows to come looking at the proposed BlackHollywood.TV site.
Doable, but a challenge.

Good luck with your campaign and project. :):yes:

Also, your campaign has been added to the ongoing list! http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=39742&page=11
 
Thank you for that!

Obviously if you really want to waste a hr or two, google search away lol..but who has time for all of that? That's why there is Netflix, and Redbox. etc.

And it's really not about excluding-it's about diversity. I don't go out looking for films that have my selected ancestry-I dislike Tyler Perry Films. Any films that has to do with Hip Hop Music. Anything that has anything to do with the "hood" or a "brotha" trying to find a way to make that dolla (holla!!!) gets bypass...
You're quite welcome.

IDK why you believe it takes an hour or two to find these films.
'T'ain't no big whup, but maybe I'm just ornery.

Yeah... pitching that "diversity" angle is gonna be tough, and I believe key.
There isn't any EXPRESS "European American films only" site, however I'll give a small concession to the whole Hollywood marketing machine as being de-facto cracker-centric.
IDK. Can't help you there any.
From a marketing standpoint, I think that if you concentrate your thoughts, insights, and efforts into precisely defining how BlackHollywood.TV fosters diversity that will go a very long way towards your goal.

And we're both in the same boat for what we find as entertainment.
I kinda get sad at A) token black guy in a cracker cast (The Watch), and B) stereotypical racist stock characters as you described. Ugh. I just wanna see guys and girls doing their thing where their skin tone and bone structure are hardly relevant to their skill set and decision making abilities.

Less this --->
Menace61.jpg


More this --->
syriana20.jpg


And this --->
FreemanBruce9.jpg


And this --->
5279901safe-house-movie-2012.jpg
 
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There is another side of this. Perhaps, the stories you are writing are just not marketable on a grand level. It is rare that industry professionals straight up tell you that your story, script, or premise just will not make money. In your case, they are telling you POINT BLANK that they do not feel confident that they can recoup on their investment.

That may be an African American thing to some extent, but mainly it is a money thing. No one will invest in a product they do not feel will be worth their time, unless they like losing money. In this case, it may be that your film is truly not marketable on a LARGER SCALE.

Think of it like this: There are plenty of Lifetime movies and Scify movies that would NEVER make a cent on the big screen. Why? They are not marketable on a grand scale. They have to cater to their niche.

Now, are their racist people out there? Heck yeah. I once had to quit a web design job because the client wanted me to help him create a racially offensive website for his segregated professional sports league.

Are there stereotypes out there? Yes. I am having to create my own films because no one perceives me as the "Leading male" type.

The key for you is to discover your market. Find out who finances movies similar to yours and approach them. If they turn you down, then it probably has more to do what is written on the white than what is pigmented in skin.
 
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Of Course it's a Money thing..That's really the point.

Before hearing how George Lucas describe how hard it was to get Red Tail to The theatres I would have said it's maybe the stories I'm presenting. But being that it is on a larger scale-much bigger than me, my projects or my writings, I think there is evidence out there of the lack of diverse roles.

Hollywood is a business-It's hard to get any films made-Franchises, remakes, sequels, super hero movies, and best selling novels runs the industry (Ex: They turn a children story turn them Superhero Witch Hunters and are already talking about an sequel). If I was a white male with white characters in my screen play I still wouldn't get that far..Fact. My gripe is not with that...No problem accepting that--

My gripe is the boxes (target market) The Industry try to put in when you have maybe an semi all black cast. Now it's an "African American Film"-Not a Sci Fi Film. It's not a War Film, it's an African America Film..It's not a Crime Drama, it's an Urban Film. So If you present a film to the studio and they don't see how they market it, or you don't have a clear market demographic because it doesn't fit the average per se then obviously the investor isn't going to see any potential in it.

So my idea is to develop a website where Films of all Genre that contains black cast are accepted without being placed in a stereotypical box. Emphasis on Indie Films.

g

There is another side of this. Perhaps, the stories you are writing are just not marketable on a grand level. It is rare that industry professionals straight up tell you that your story, script, or premise just will not make money. In your case, they are telling you POINT BLANK that they do not feel confident that they can recoup on their investment.

That may be an African American thing to some extent, but mainly it is a money thing. No one will invest in a product they do not feel will be worth their time, unless they like losing money. In this case, it may be that your film is truly not marketable on a LARGER SCALE.

Think of it like this: There are plenty of Lifetime movies and Scify movies that would NEVER make a cent on the big screen. Why? They are not marketable on a grand scale. They have to cater to their niche.

Now, are their racist people out there? Heck yeah. I once had to quit a web design job because the client wanted me to help him create a racially offensive website for his segregated professional sports league.

Are there stereotypes out there? Yes. I am having to create my own films because no one perceives me as the "Leading male" type.

The key for you is to discover your market. Find out who finances movies similar to yours and approach them. If they turn you down, then it probably has more to do what is written on the white than what is pigmented in skin.
 
Well i feel the problem is split between the white man and the black man

They are too concerned on skin colour and making sure everyone knows about it, whereas if they just said here's some great guys/girls then people would focus less on where someone is from.

We have in the uk a radio station called choice fm they publicly announce in every advert bringing you the latest in urban black music, this pisses me off coz if there was a station for middle class white man then some heads would be turned.

Black history month is the most racist themed scheme to remind people of black people's contributions and their history.. Well it's time to abolish this and just class it as history, how about a olive skinned history month? We should stop promoting the term black white yellow purple green or whatever, and just class it as one people with different ethnicities?

But no unfortunately the media and government inject segregation by labelling.

I'm not racist I'm just sick of hearing certain races getting preferential treatment to keep them sweet.

Iv had people been racist to me all my life but it only makes me stronger..
 
You are abolutely right....Black History Month is not needed because to confine's ones contribution to a nation to just a month is ridiculously stupid..It should just be History. The only reason I mention it as an ploy for my project. But as far as preferential treatment-Believe me when I say..I don't get none..at all..Neither do my family..or my black friends..Maybe the Media got you believing stuff that was conceived by exteme right wingers..Maybe the stereotypical roles you seen on TV/and film have you forming a opinion on race. Maybe it's the reality shows.. Can you see why Diversity is important?

Well i feel the problem is split between the white man and the black man

They are too concerned on skin colour and making sure everyone knows about it, whereas if they just said here's some great guys/girls then people would focus less on where someone is from.

We have in the uk a radio station called choice fm they publicly announce in every advert bringing you the latest in urban black music, this pisses me off coz if there was a station for middle class white man then some heads would be turned.

Black history month is the most racist themed scheme to remind people of black people's contributions and their history.. Well it's time to abolish this and just class it as history, how about a olive skinned history month? We should stop promoting the term black white yellow purple green or whatever, and just class it as one people with different ethnicities?

But no unfortunately the media and government inject segregation by labelling.

I'm not racist I'm just sick of hearing certain races getting preferential treatment to keep them sweet.

Iv had people been racist to me all my life but it only makes me stronger..
 
Strong points all around. But, we can not change the world debating online. We can discuss ways to help you get this film made.

Let's talk about bringing your artistic vision to the masses.
 
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