Love and Hip Hop Cast on ‘Django Unchained,’ Use of N-Word in Movies #loveandhiphop

Rashidah Ali at the Season 3 Premiere Party for "Love and Hip Hop"Quentin Tarantino’s violent slavery western “Django Unchained” is shaping up to be his highest grossing movie yet -- one that could potentially also nab an Oscar for Best Picture. Despite all that has turned out well for this movie so far, there seems to be growing outrage over Tarantino’s excessive use of the n-word in Django. Opposing sides of the controversy are even debating whether he was justified in using it at all.

Since there is no shortage of platforms being created for community leaders, filmmakers, movie critics or historians to add their two cents on this matter, it would be more fitting to hear from those who actually represent an area of entertainment that possesses similar themes of violence and derogatory language: rap music. I recently caught up with rapper Consequence and reality TV star Rashidah Ali at the NYC Premiere bash for Season 3 of their hit VH1 series “Love & Hip Hop.”

Neither appeared to be familiar with all of the n-word drama surrounding “Django Unchained,” which is refreshing at a time when there is negative backlash over something so trivial, in a relative sense. Consequence was reluctant to speak on it because he hasn’t seen the movie. Ali, who also has yet to check out Django, however, insisted that -- no matter what the medium -- alternative language should be considered in lieu of what we have been accustomed to using for so long.

“As much as I would love for us to find another word to use as a term of endearment, it’s become second nature to us,” she says. Ali adds “I use it myself sometimes and it’s not ever in a negative format but it would be absolutely great for us as a people to come together and find another world to use because the n-word represents nothing but negativity. From time to time, when I’m angry, I have found myself slipping up and doing that -- we should certainly find another word to use when referencing one another.”

I think if more people were like Consequence and Ali -- waiting to watch the movie first before jumping to conclusions and being quick to condemn Tarantino for Django; and being mindful of one’s own language and/or behavior before critiquing someone else’s -- I bet there would be a lot less Django grief (n-word or not) among audiences and critics alike.

Season 3 of “Love & Hip Hop” premieres Monday, January 7 at 8pm on VH1

‘I’m Fine, Thanks’ in a Nutshell -- Extended Edition #indiefilm

Grant Peelle's directorial debut “I’m Fine, Thanks” is a fast paced documentary produced by Adam Baker, with a catchy soundtrack.

"I'm Fine, Thanks" DVD and Poster BundleIts bright, crisp and welcoming scenes are uplifting amidst tales of self-doubt, panic attacks, deteriorated health and most importantly -- longing. The subjects are longing for the day when it feels good to get out of bed in the morning; to live a fulfilled life, whatever that looks like.

Through home video footage, interviews with people who each have a different definition of the American Dream, clips of his crew and narrated tours of a cross-country road trip to end complacency, Peelle makes it clear that “the day” to finally go after a dream never comes to those who just sit back in their rut and wait for it to arrive. The day to live a dream is today. The time is now. “I’m Fine, Thanks” blends humor, adventure and sometimes tragic reality checks that illustrate one thing - being fine is a miserable way to live.

No one has to bathe his or her brain in caffeine just to tolerate a job that he or she hates. No one has to work so many hours that he or she develops a hole in the intestine after sleepwalking for days on end while ones’ immune system plummets. It is heartbreaking -- alarming even, to climb a ladder, reach the top and then realize that you have it leaned up against the wrong wall. Realizing that you don’t even know what the right wall is, however, is even scarier. Continuing on paths that disappoint you is one way to guarantee that it will never be found.

Actresses Virginia Wilcox, Claire Kennedy-Vega and I at the East Coast Premiere of "I'm Fine, Thanks." Photo by Dave LaTulippe; Courtesy of Grant Peelle.

When people follow their dreams and live a life that is in alignment with who they are, they don’t answer the question “How are you?” with “I’m Fine, Thanks.” They respond with “I’m fucking great! Never been better. How about you?” 

I don't know about anyone else, but that's the kind of response that I'd like to make more often than not. It beats the alternative!

What started as my attempt at writing a short review turned into this extended assessment. So, it looks like there will be two review series from now on at this blog: short reviews such as the one on “Blitz” and not-so-short ones such as the one on “Player Hating: A Love Story.”

The Daniel Craig “Method” of Filming a Scene - Do Whatever Works! #indiefilm

"Method actors suggest that you do sense memory exercises every time you do a scene. I use every method I can. Whatever works, I'll use." - Daniel Craig on his nameless role in the gangster film "Layer Cake."

While initially shooting the main scenes for a short motion picture that I’m working on, it has become obvious that some of the rules taught in schools and books about production need not apply to this particular project. Blocking scenes -- an often essential part of the moviemaking process, is one of these rules. Most filmmakers, film professors and related experts will probably tell you that blocking is necessary for everyone including cast and crew to know where to stand or which directions to move in a scene.

Yes, blocking makes things move quicker and easier since people know how they are going to fulfill whatever role they’re playing (acting, makeup, focus pulling, cinematography, etc.) in the production. I won’t deny that. Blocking can also cause confusion, divides focus and lead to actors forgetting other important parts of the scene, such as the dialogue -- something that was brought to my attention this month. On this current project, I’ve started to realize that sometimes, blocking is not a useful method for which to set up some of the scenes that we’re shooting.

British actor Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond in “Skyfall” does not adhere to one particular method of preparing for a movie scene. Instead, Craig utilizes whatever helps him get into character for the particular role and production that he is involved in. Perhaps, it would do many filmmakers some good to take a page from his book of setups and preparation -- including me.

For the most part, it does not matter how you get to your destination, so long as you make it there. What started out to be so simple in concept became a little more involved than I anticipated. Now, I must adapt and adjust where necessary to make sure that the bigger picture is not lost in the shadows of minor details like whether a guy sips his cup of tea before or after he walks through a door. It doesn’t really fucking matter -- just get him moving; and no, this scenario is not from the production I’m in the middle of now. That would be too easy.

Thank You all for visiting and interacting with this blog. I know that it’s behind on the Monday Movie Meme (let’s just skip this week, ok?) and the King Dong series among other posts. I will do what I can to keep this thing going and not lose my mind in the process.

If you have any requests with regards to these blog series or any others (movie cocktails, reviews, festivals, events, interviews, etc.), feel free to send them my way.