Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
Friday, November 17, 2017
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Friday, November 10, 2017
CAN ONE QUESTION SAVE THE USA?
A year after the historically divisive 2016 elections, a new documentary
is challenging Americans to stop blaming others and question how their
own decisions and actions shape the contours of our society and our
country. By asking questions about family, money, religion, civics and
more, the film gets viewers to question whether the divisions in our
society truly stem from group dynamics, or if we're all part of the
problem as individuals.
A teaser for the film was released today to audiences worldwide.
"The American Question," produced by Guy Seemann – a political veteran and entrepreneur who's lived all over the world and directed by James Kicklighter – a Hollywood filmmaker raised in rural Georgia, profiles dozens of Americans from across the political, economic and social spectrum in search of these answers, going far deeper than just getting people together to find some superficial common ground.
The film explores this question through the lens of history, deteriorating civic education and evolving culture rather than rehashing the 2016 election. After conducting dozens of interviews of people from different walks of life all across the country, the creators believe something much bigger is at work, and that it has the potential to threaten the status of America as a superpower.
"We found that our divides had nothing to do with the election," Seemann said. "Fights spring up over core values which are supposed to unite us as a nation. Religion, speech, equality, opportunity -- these concepts kept coming up over and over again."
"This is a unique period in time, but the identity crisis we're feeling is part of a cyclical pattern in this country. After our nation unites to defeat a common enemy – the imperial British, slavery and secession or the Nazis, we tend to lose our cohesiveness. This time, though, we have to address this issue or our status as a cohesive entity – let alone a superpower – is under threat," he added.
Kicklighter continued, "there's a set of values that define what it means to be an American. I heard people from all corners of the country saying the other side did not have their interests in mind. A fascinating pattern unfolded about the broader culture here, and we are trying to figure out what's causing it and what it means."
"What's dangerous is when someone comes to a different set of conclusions based on their ideological perspective and pegs the other as an enemy simply because the other doesn't agree with their individualized ideology," Kicklighter said. "I hope The American Question helps people recognize that their neighbor is as American as they are. That's the starting point we need to get to," he said.
With entire communities in crisis due to this breakdown over America's core values, the filmmakers are looking to spark a national conversation to encourage viewers to rethink how they themselves approach their own life decisions as well as their perceived differences with their neighbors. Seemann, Kicklighter and their national team want to enable them to reconcile over the shared values laid out in the founding documents which have helped the country overcome adversity since its founding.
A teaser for the film was released today to audiences worldwide.
"The American Question," produced by Guy Seemann – a political veteran and entrepreneur who's lived all over the world and directed by James Kicklighter – a Hollywood filmmaker raised in rural Georgia, profiles dozens of Americans from across the political, economic and social spectrum in search of these answers, going far deeper than just getting people together to find some superficial common ground.
The film explores this question through the lens of history, deteriorating civic education and evolving culture rather than rehashing the 2016 election. After conducting dozens of interviews of people from different walks of life all across the country, the creators believe something much bigger is at work, and that it has the potential to threaten the status of America as a superpower.
"We found that our divides had nothing to do with the election," Seemann said. "Fights spring up over core values which are supposed to unite us as a nation. Religion, speech, equality, opportunity -- these concepts kept coming up over and over again."
"This is a unique period in time, but the identity crisis we're feeling is part of a cyclical pattern in this country. After our nation unites to defeat a common enemy – the imperial British, slavery and secession or the Nazis, we tend to lose our cohesiveness. This time, though, we have to address this issue or our status as a cohesive entity – let alone a superpower – is under threat," he added.
Kicklighter continued, "there's a set of values that define what it means to be an American. I heard people from all corners of the country saying the other side did not have their interests in mind. A fascinating pattern unfolded about the broader culture here, and we are trying to figure out what's causing it and what it means."
"What's dangerous is when someone comes to a different set of conclusions based on their ideological perspective and pegs the other as an enemy simply because the other doesn't agree with their individualized ideology," Kicklighter said. "I hope The American Question helps people recognize that their neighbor is as American as they are. That's the starting point we need to get to," he said.
With entire communities in crisis due to this breakdown over America's core values, the filmmakers are looking to spark a national conversation to encourage viewers to rethink how they themselves approach their own life decisions as well as their perceived differences with their neighbors. Seemann, Kicklighter and their national team want to enable them to reconcile over the shared values laid out in the founding documents which have helped the country overcome adversity since its founding.
Thursday, November 09, 2017
SEND YOUR RESUMES, TO THE QUAD.
The producers of the groundbreaking BET drama The Quad have
selected 8 students from historically Black colleges and universities
(HBCUs) to participate in a paid internship program that provides the
unique opportunity to train in multiple departments while Season 2 of
the series is in production.
The Quad received over 250 applications for the 8 openings. The students selected for the internship are: Maya Eaddy (Spelman College); Brandon Gilpin (Morehouse College); Nia Jones (Clark Atlanta University); Trishunda Mooney (Clark Atlanta University); Kirsten Danielle Owens (Clark Atlanta University); Quenten McNair (Clark Atlanta University); Denard Thomas (Florida A&M University); and Mykayla Williamson (Spelman College).
Designed by Executive Producers Felicia D. Henderson and Rob Hardy, The Quad Internship Program gives back to the community the show represents by training the next generation of Black leaders in the entertainment industry.
"We consider it an honor to help prepare the next generation of content creators by providing them with a window into the production process. So we're giving students with a passion for television production a chance to train with seasoned professionals," said Ms. Henderson, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of The Quad and faculty member in the Radio-Television-Film Department at The University of Texas at Austin.
Interns will begin training in November 2017 on The Quad stages and locations around Atlanta, GA. There will be two internship cycles, each one providing exposure to writing, producing, cinematography, production design, location management, costume design, hair and make-up applications, and the grip and electric departments.
"We're starting with colleges and universities in the Atlanta University Center because The Quad is shot on their campuses. It's only fair that the students here get first opportunity. They have been gracious and understanding as we inconvenience their lives in our efforts to add authenticity to our show. However, we plan to expand the internship program every season the show is renewed," said Ms. Henderson. As the alma mater of Mr. Hardy and series star Anika Noni Rose (Dr. Eva Fletcher), Florida A&M University is also included in the program's inaugural year.
The Quad's second season premieres January 23, 2018 on BET.
The Quad Internship Program is sponsored by Capital Arts Media (the studio that produces the series), WaterWalk Productions (Ms. Henderson's company), Rain Forrest Entertainment (Mr. Hardy's company), and BET Networks.
The Quad received over 250 applications for the 8 openings. The students selected for the internship are: Maya Eaddy (Spelman College); Brandon Gilpin (Morehouse College); Nia Jones (Clark Atlanta University); Trishunda Mooney (Clark Atlanta University); Kirsten Danielle Owens (Clark Atlanta University); Quenten McNair (Clark Atlanta University); Denard Thomas (Florida A&M University); and Mykayla Williamson (Spelman College).
Designed by Executive Producers Felicia D. Henderson and Rob Hardy, The Quad Internship Program gives back to the community the show represents by training the next generation of Black leaders in the entertainment industry.
"We consider it an honor to help prepare the next generation of content creators by providing them with a window into the production process. So we're giving students with a passion for television production a chance to train with seasoned professionals," said Ms. Henderson, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of The Quad and faculty member in the Radio-Television-Film Department at The University of Texas at Austin.
Interns will begin training in November 2017 on The Quad stages and locations around Atlanta, GA. There will be two internship cycles, each one providing exposure to writing, producing, cinematography, production design, location management, costume design, hair and make-up applications, and the grip and electric departments.
"We're starting with colleges and universities in the Atlanta University Center because The Quad is shot on their campuses. It's only fair that the students here get first opportunity. They have been gracious and understanding as we inconvenience their lives in our efforts to add authenticity to our show. However, we plan to expand the internship program every season the show is renewed," said Ms. Henderson. As the alma mater of Mr. Hardy and series star Anika Noni Rose (Dr. Eva Fletcher), Florida A&M University is also included in the program's inaugural year.
The Quad's second season premieres January 23, 2018 on BET.
The Quad Internship Program is sponsored by Capital Arts Media (the studio that produces the series), WaterWalk Productions (Ms. Henderson's company), Rain Forrest Entertainment (Mr. Hardy's company), and BET Networks.
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