Trouble with the 2007 American Black Film Festival (ABFF)?

It seems that much confusion has developed between filmmakers and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). This film festival is scheduled to take place from Friday October 25th to Monday, the 29th of this month. However, there have been zero announcements about what films are screening at the film festival. Encouraging or even expecting filmmakers to prepare for something at the last minute is unprofessional. There may be good reasons why there is no list or notifications up yet. There could have been some kind of last minute changes or a very important emergency. Still, filmmakers and those who plan to attend should not be left to wonder what is going on.

A member of one Black Filmmaking group stated that these announcements were scheduled to be made September 17th. It is now the middle of October and it seems that there are still not any announcements about the upcoming American Black Film Festival. One the festival’s website, there is a schedule of events. However, the individual films are not listed. How is someone supposed to know what’s playing and on which night?

Filmmakers who are waiting to find out if and when their film will play at the American Black Film Festival have less than two weeks left. That does not give one time to prepare for travel and promotion if they are out of town. Even for locals, this can make it difficult to get the word out about upcoming movie screenings.

That concerns me, especially when other filmmakers have submitted films, been accepted and have plans to attend. I will have to stay up to date on this film festival before submitting my own films. This does not seem like the American Black Film Festival, because it is one of the more popular festivals for African American films. However, I haven’t attended or even submitted a film before. Therefore, other filmmakers who have worked with this festival in the past and are working with the organizers now know much more than I do. Hopefully, there will be some kind of announcement or notifications sent to filmmakers very soon.

The American Black Film Festival website states that films will be announced on the 22nd of October. That does not make a lot of sense, but who knows? Maybe everything will turn out well. Good luck to all filmmakers who have questions or concerns about what is going on with their film at this film festival. Maybe it was a down year. Things (No profanity here) happen.

*This post is part of the Film Festival Wednesdays Series. Enjoy and Stay Tuned for more news on film screenings and awards. Make sure to check out independent films in your town and online! Support Independent filmmaking!

Technorati Tags: ABFF,, Film+Festivals,, Black+Film+Festivals,, Movies,, Film+Screenings

Musical Intercourse for Everyone

There is a new social networking website in town, unlike many others that cater to a broad range of interests. IndieMV - Musical Intercourse has launched and many music fans should be very excited about this new social networking website. It is focused on independent music and brings together musicians, bands and regular people who enjoy good tunes. With the dozens of social networking destinations and music related websites online, it can be easy to get lost in a whirlwind of junk. Some of these websites have become redundant. That is due to the fact that most of them are just imitating other sites and marketing themselves as a gathering place for anyone and everyone.

It can be very difficult to gain exposure within these types of platforms. Even on the most popular websites, independent bands and musicians are competing with mainstream artists who are backed by major record labels. How can an independent musician find an audience when there are Justin Timberlake banners all over the website? That is where this social networking website comes in. Musicians can upload their own videos and list date for upcoming shows. Music lovers can also use the website to upload their videos, responding to another post or a concert that they recently attended.

Users of IndieMV - Musical Intercourse can even customize their interests and preferences, making it a more personalized experience. Users can also share photos, access interviews and more. This online destination also holds contests and provides opportunities for independent musicians to gain even more exposure through major concerts that the website presents. Musicians also have a chance to be featured on the homepage where they can gain more exposure and an even wider fan base. If you are an independent music artists, there are also opportunities to be interviewed by the site's own VJs, share on downloads and traffic and partner on other projects. If you are a fan of indie music, this website features exciting sliders that let you control what you find on the site. Therefore, rock music lovers who enjoy country sometimes but dislike pop music can bypass the bubblegum stuff altogether. It would be corny to categorize IndieMV - Musical Intercourse merely as a Social Networking Website.

It is actually a fun Music Experience and offers so much more than other places where musicians and their fans tend to be buried among other unrelated industries and community members. This is where you can find fresh music from talented artists and also find a place to hangout and find news about upcoming concerts in or near your town. If you are a music fan or musician, start building your profile now to be part of the evolving IndieMV scene!

Why 99 Cent Bags of Doritos make you Fat

R@punsell of Flickr

Halloween is coming up and many single citizens, families, friends and couples plan to have a scary movie night with lots of horror flicks and junk food. It is easy to grab the closest snack while watching a rental, something from your DVD collection or the lastest HBO special. However, many of these snack items are unhealthy, much like the greasy popcorn at hundreds of movie theaters. Doritos and other 99 cent bags of chips are one of the most popular snacks that can add to weight gain. Here are the reasons why:

Inexpensive price is attractive
Many consumers try to find ways to save money on groceries and snacks. This is where one can get into trouble when purchasing Doritos. Small bags of chips cost around 25 cents. While this is every inexpensive, the larger 99 cent bag is more attractive. It may be due to the fact that the Doritos are not too large to become a burden. They are still small in size but large enough to hold more chips. The 99 cent price tag for Doritos is also very cheap. This makes many consumers choose the larger bag because it provides more for your money.

Large Bags are eaten at once
Once the 99 cent bags of Doritos are purchased, they can be eaten in one sitting. These bags are rarely saved for a few days. Both men and women can complete a full bag of 99 cent bags of Doritos while watching television. It is easy to eat all of the chips because the portion is enough to satisfy your hunger while not making you sick. Many people would not eat a large family sized bag of Doritos due to fear of getting sick or fat. However, no one really pays much attention to the intake of 99 cent bags of Doritos once they are opened.

Doritos have lots of calories and fat
Many people who purchase snacks never pay attention to the nutrition facts. This is one reason why 99 cent bags of Doritos will make you fat. The regular nacho cheese flavored Doritos has a ton of fat and calories. This is one of the many processed snacks that also include saturated fat. None of this is healthy and will contribute to weight gain. These snacks are best when eaten in moderation. However, men and women tend to eat 99 cent bags of Doritos more frequently because it is cheap and contains a desirable amount of chips.

Purchasing 99 cent bags of Doritos may become habitual
Since larger bags provide more chips, you will eventually skip the smaller items altogether. This will create a habit of purchasing large bags of Doritos that you eat in one sitting. Over time, multiple purchases of 99 cent bags of Doritos will make you fat. Repeat purchases will cause you to eat more than necessary. The calories and fat adds up after a while and your body will suffer. It is important to pay attention to all purchasing habits during your next trip to the grocery store.