South Africa

I just returned from a 12 day trip to South Africa. Se te deziem fwa mwen ale an Afrik Di Sid e mwen byen amize’m. Last year, I was commissioned by the South African Government, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Association for Transformation in Film and Television, to train their filmmakers on navigating the American Film Market. In that capacity, every year, I present comprehensive instructional seminars in major South African cities (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth).

Durban, South Africa.

Durban, South Africa

 

Cape Town, South Africa

 

Something must've been hilarious. Cape Town, South Africa.

During my seminars, I teach filmmakers how to navigate the American Film Market, how to digest and understand distribution and sales agreement, how to pitch to executives with limited time, how to attract investors, the numerous pitfalls of co-productions with companies overseas, and I give an overview of the city Los Angeles in all of its glory. Each seminar lasts approximately 6 hours. Following the seminars, my Melange Media team and I mentor the filmmakers throughout the annual AFM, which includes coordinating and managing the group’s AFM office in Los Angeles and throwing parties on its behalf. We work closely with the South African Consul General to organize intimate dinner parties for the group at the Consul’s private estate.

A few things I learned about the South African film market that I would like to share with you:

• Sineas Afrik Di Sid ap cheche ko-prodiksyon ak lot nasyon. Yo byen prepare, yo gen bel ekipman moden e yo gen sipo gouvnman tou (ki  tre enpotan), anpil rabe ak “incentives” pou fim. Yo ta renmen fe fim ak peyi tankou Ayiti.
  
  
  Sineas Afrik Di Sid ap cheche travay avek akte nan lot peyi. Yo renmen entrodwi akte lot nasyon nan fim yo. Li enpotan ke akte a pale angle.
    
  
  Gouvenman Afrik Di Sid ap cheche ede Sineas Afrik Di Sid ki gen koule nwa. Se paske peyi-a pase anpil tan anba mize apated, kidonk kounye-a, yo vle dedomaje ras nwa kite soufri anpil avan liberasyon peyi-a an 1994.
  
  
  
  
  Afrik Di Sid gen anpil zon ki ka bay bon jan vale a prodiksyon. Pa egzanp, gen de fim Bollywood ke yo fe an Afrik Di Sid, paske gen zon ki sanble tet koupe ak Lend, e gen yon gro popilasyon endien nan zon nan. Gen lot zon avek anpil zanimo (Elefan, jiraf etc.), e bel plaj, bel mon. 
  
  
  Afrik Di Sid gen anpil respe pou Ayiti. Tout kote’m pase, depi mwen di mwen se Ayisyen, tout chapo bese, tout respe monte. Moun sou moun ap di’m jan Ayiti se yon peyi djanm, avek yon istwa enconparab.
  
  
  The South African filmmakers, led by Mayenzeke Baza and Pascal Schmitz, will be in Los Angeles to attend AFM from November 5^th to November 12^th. The office is room 316 of the Loews in Santa Monica and the South African stand is on the 8^th floor. I will be there every day with my crew. Stop by, say hello, let’s work together!!

Joanne Borgella, a Haitian Queen.

Sandy Jean-Philippe and Joanne Borgella. Joanne hosted the Evolution of Curves fashion show which helps build houses in Haiti.

The Industry lost an amazing person this week. Supermodel/Singer/Designer Joanne Borgella lost her battle with cancer. I truly don't know where to begin. Words cannot express what I am feeling right now. I had the honor to meet and work with my role model,  Ms. Borgella when participated in the Evolution of Curves Charity fashion show event for Haiti. She was an amazing spirit. In an industry that can be so volatile, catty, and nasty, she did not allow any of it to hinder her success or affect her genuine spirit.

 

I followed her career from day one. As the winner of "Monique's Fat Chance", she made her mark and let us know she was a force to be reckoned with. She moved on to American Idol and Super Model status at the most prestigious modeling agency in the world, Whilemina Models. As a Haitian entertainer I was left in amazement when I saw her grace a magazine cover and shine her on tv. I was so proud and excited to see her success. This is yet another blow to the plus size industry, to lose such a positive spirit. No one can replace her and what she represented. I send my thoughts and prayers to her family, fiance, friends and the many lives that she impacted. Rest In Paradise, Joanne Borgella.

Posted by Sandy Jean Philippe AKA SpotLightDiva (www.thespotlightdiva.com)
 

"Lakay" comes to Cali

Attention Haitians in Los Angeles! 

"Lakay", a documentary about post-earthquake Haiti, will screen in Los Angeles on October 24th, 2014 and will be followed by an after-party. So mark your calendars!

"Lakay" is fresh off its successful premiere at the Harlem International Film Festival. It chronicles the journey of two brothers who go back to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to find family members but in the end they rediscover Haiti and find themselves. 

Directed by Tirf Alexius, "Lakay" tells the tale of growing up in America during a time when it was unpopular to be Haitian, dealing with embarrassment and denial. The film delves into issues of identity and what it means to be Haitian for these brothers. While they anticipated finding a broken nation, they found instead, a vibrant and resilient people.

The film opens in select cities on October 17th, 2014. Check out Lakay's website and "like" the Facebook page for more information. www.lakaydoc.com

Check out the trailer below!

The American Film Market

 

It’s that time of the year! The American Film Market (AFM) kicks off in less than a month. AFM is one of the biggest markets in the world. It attracts buyers, sellers and film makers from across the globe. I will be travelling to South Africa soon to prepare a group of filmmakers for AFM and for a trip to Los Angeles. Then I will attend the market with them from November 5^th to November 12^th. Stop by our office at the Loews – Room 316. AFM has released a great guide to “working” the market. If you have a movie to sell and plan on attending AFM, here are three basic items to keep in mind. 

(     1) Start early. 6 weeks before AFM is pushing it! Register early so that AFM can give you access to the database. That database is a treasure trove of contact information for sales agents and distributors. Once you have access to the database, that’s when the real work begins. Sift through the list and find the companies that are most compatible with your project(s), send emails to them requesting meetings during AFM. Keep in mind that those meetings will likely be scheduled for the second half of the market.

(  2) Remain open. Once at the market, show up on time for your meetings, keep an open mind and a positive attitude.  You never know who you’ll meet in an elevator or at one of those fancy parties at nearby hotels. Make sure to attend happy hour in the Loews atrium. Bring business cards and give them out!

(  3) After the market. Follow up. Send a quick email thanking companies you met with or people you connected with during the market.

    

     Check out AFM's advice here --->HOW TO WORK THE AFM

     See you at AFM!

The African Oscars

Update #2

Actress Falia Justima arriving at the African Oscars. Falia was the people's choice for favorite actress for her role "Mea Culpa", a film she wrote and executive produced, directed by Samuel Vincent.

 ----------

NAFCA (The African Oscars) is happening right now in Los Angeles. And while we're not present, we will be sure to repost pics from Haitian attendees and nominees. Check out pics from filmmakers Jean-Luc Senelier whose film "Of Sentimental Value" is nominated for 4 awards. 

Director Jean-Luc Senelier and guest at the African Oscars.

*Photos Via Jean-Luc Senelier

 "Of Sentimental Value" screened two days ago in Los Angeles and our dear friend and actress Derlyne Joseph snapped some shots for us!

Actress Derlyne Joseph (with her beautiful headpiece) and friends at the screening of "Of Sentimental Value".

Director and cinematographer Jean-Luc Senelier at the screening of his film "Of Sentimental Value."

Chris Rock is a Haitian Hero in "Top Five"

"Top Five" is one of those films where someone writes a check to the filmmaker and says "lay thine hands on this money and go forth and make your movie." It's every filmmaker's dream. No studio or financiers controlling your artistic vision. And truly Chris Rock did whatever the heck he wanted to do in this film and it worked. It is a hilarious movie. It's not pretentious. There's no "message". It's nearly 2 hours of raunchy hilarity. The depth of a couple of characters surprised me. Like Gabrielle Union who plays a superficial reality star. In one scene, she breaks down and I felt her pain for a second. Just a second then back to the funny. Warning: If you're a prude, when the movie gets to Houston 2003, close your eyes. 

Chris Rock plays Andre, a comedian, recovering alcoholic, who is now sober and has decided to do serious movies. His first dramatic movie is called "Uprize", a feature film about Bookman leading the Haitian revolution. Haiti is weaved throughout the film. The Haitian flag appears in several scenes. Unfortunately, no one takes "Uprize" seriously. Some people just can't see this comedian in a serious role. Others are too consumed with his upcoming wedding to a reality star to care about his career. And many are just upset that he would make a movie about killing White people. That joke is repeated throughout. A movie about the greatest slave rebellion of all times, Black slaves killing 50,000 Whites, that was not acceptable. White people were mad. In one scene, Andre says "George Bush killed thousands of Brown people in real life and I can't kill 50, 000 Whites in a movie?" Given the difficulties filmmakers have had to make a movie about the Haitian Revolution, most notably Danny Glover, that part of the film struck a cord with me. 

"Top Five" has numerous very funny bits, including a Seinfeld, Adam Sandler and Whoopie Goldberg cameo. But its most hilarious moment? D.M.X. what y'all really want?!?

The Haitian surprise in "Timbuktu" at the Toronto International Film Festival

Yesterday, I Attended the screening of "Timbuktu", an Abderhamane Sissako film. It is heart wrenchingly beautiful. It depicts, in delicate detail, the beauty of a small village struggling between being African, being Muslim, submitting to rebel extremist rule, yet staying true to one's ancestral African roots. It is most relevant now that the world is learning about ISIS and Boko Haram. Sissako did a fantastic job of telling a love story interwoven with conflict and violence. He artfully depicts the foreign hands at work in conflicts such as the rebel occupation of Timbuktu. 

I've read many reviews of the film, few mention the "Vodou" element and a certain crazy woman. None specify that the character is Haitian. So when I heard Creole and the words "Port-au-Prince" in the film, my heart skipped a beat. This woman was the only one who refused to obey draconian sharia laws requiring her to not just cover her head but wear gloves to cover her hands and socks to cover her feet. Hers was the only home where people could dance (something that was forbidden). She paraded around with a cock on her shoulder, a long train trailing behind her without regard for the rules. She screamed about the earthquake and being cracked and broken. This role is played brilliantly by Kettly Noel.

Cohen Media acquired the US rights to the film after its premiere at Cannes (it won the Ecumenical prize) earlier this year. I sure hope everyone gets to experience this film.