Thursday, November 19, 2020

Two Independent Films to Watch Out for This Season - 32 Weeks and Getting to Know You

 



Two independent films to watch out for this season - 32 Weeks and Getting to Know You

32 Weeks tells the story of a young woman with amnesia, who is torn between the new man in her life that she can’t remember and her ex who she can’t forget.  I loved the idea and story of the film - a love story hidden within, digging deep to find a true love even when on a surface level "you can't seem to remember." The film is filled with clues and mysteries that add up to its final resolution. A clever twist and interesting plot that will keep you guessing till the end!

Indie Rights is planning a digital release for the film on November 24, 2020.  The film was written and directed by Brian Cavallaro (Against The Night, The Last Movie Star) and produced by Arielle Brachfeld and Jonas Smensgard. 32 Weeks stars Nicole Souza, Nicole Rainteau, Scott Bender, Cameron Tagge, and KiDane Kelati. 

STAR RATING: 4/5


Getting To Know You stars Natasha Little (War of the Worlds, Night Manager, Vanity Fair), Rupert Penry-Jones (M.I.5, Persuasion), Rachel Blanchard (You Me Her, Fargo), Linda Kash (Best In Show) and stand-up comedian Mark Forward, along with Duane Murray, Ace Hicks, Zach Smadu and Christopher Jacot.


Getting To Know You is about unrequited love, true love, falling in love and anything and everything in between. I was smitten by the script and its depth, its honesty and truthfulness. Unlike other romantic comedies, this one tells it like it is - life is unpredictable, raw and sometimes a bit too real. In most love stories, we find cliches or happy endings, but here we find love that doesn't necessarily end up the way we expected. I loved watching how two strangers fall in love, their complicated feelings, their real and relatable stories, the internal conflicts, as well as their progress. It is a film and story we rarely get to see in such detail, such character development and internalization of conflict. This is by fa, one of the best and most in depth film scripts I have ever seen written. 

 

The film was written and directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin (The Bet, If I Were You).

The film will release on VOD and Digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango Now and all major cable/satellite platforms on Tuesday, November 24.

STAR RATING: 5/5



Saturday, November 7, 2020

Top 3 Films at the SCAD Savannah Film Fest

 


The SCAD Savannah Film Festival took place virtually on October 24-31. It showed a variety of incredible, award-winning films in comedy, documentary, animation and shorts. Honorary guest of this year's festival were Samuel L. Jackson, Millie Bobby Brown, Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Hudson, Billy Crystal, Tessa Thompson, among others.

My Top 3 favorite films of the fest were:

1. Francesco - Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky

Photo Courtesy: francescofilm.com

This incredible documentary showed an insight into the work and legacy of Pope Francis. With vivid imagery, intense conversations and documented footage from his life, we are able to take a closer look into his humanitarian work and the influence he had on the world. We could also see the complexity in his character and admire his down-to-earth humane qualities. The contrast of the current world we live in and the one before Covid 19 is clearly shown in the documentary but Pope Francis' work never stopped regardless. He is shown battling issues like LGBT rights, climate change, immigration, among others, while trying to make the world a better place. I can't help but feel inspired and humbled from his work and legacy.

Film Rating: 5 STARS

2. The Way I See It - Directed by Dawn Porter

Photo Courtesy: imdb.com

For anyone who feels nostalgic towards the years of Presidency of Barack Obama and First Lady Michele Obama, this documentary is for you. I cried watching it as I was moved with every footage, every picture and every act of kindness shown to the world from President Obama. The film was based on the bestselling book by photographer Pete Souza who acted as the official photographer for Presidents Ronald Raegan and Barack Obama. He captured the true essence of Obama's office and showed through his photographs the humility, empathy and power of a true leader. As I watched the film, I was able to get a better insight and understanding for him as a political leader, father, husband and a human being. 

Film Rating: 5 STARS

3. I'm Your Woman - Directed by Julia Hart

Photo Courtesy: imdb.com

I absolutely fell in love with this coming of age film about the strength of one woman and single mother left to fight for her and her baby's safety. As a mother and woman myself, I love to see strong women portrayed in films and their development as they take on life's challenges. Rachel Brosnahan did an incredible joy playing this complicated woman who displayed true and raw emotions like fear, denial, strength, love. The film was set in the 1970s and it puts Rachel's character to the test after she is betrayed by her husband and her life has been endangered. I couldn't help but admire her character and her flaws, as well as her qualities, as Julia Hart successfully directed this deeply felt film and what it takes to survive as a woman not just in the 1970s but also in today's day and age. The film will be available on Amazon Prime on December 11. 

Film Rating: 5 STARS

For more on the SCAD Film Festival, visit: https://filmfest.scad.edu/

Friday, November 6, 2020

Warrior Mom Brandy Martin - Lost A Daughter to Gun Violence, Making a Difference in the World

 

Brandy Martin/ Photo: Tiffany Frank

I had the rare and amazing opportunity to connect with one strong warrior woman who is making a difference in the world - Brandy Martin. Through her grief and despite her pain, she fights for others who have gone through loss to help them find peace and share their stories.

Brandy Martin is from Chicago. She is a widow and a mom of two children. She lost seven people in eight months, two of which were her sister, 37-year-old Felon Smith, and her 22-year-old daughter, Akeelah D. Addison.  They died a week apart from one another. Smith was struck and killed by a train on the CTA red line on June 27, 2019 and Addison was shot and killed from gun violence in the early hours of July 5, 2019. 

Felon Smith/ Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin


Akeelah D. Addison/ Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin

The pain that Martin experienced didn't destroy her, quite the opposite - it pushed her to go beyond and help others who have lost loved ones due to police brutality, gun violence, sex trafficking, among many others. That's why she started making and working on her documentary "No Love" so she can help shed light on untold stories and tell them as they are - raw, authentic and real.


"I started the documentary two months after the death of my sister and my daughter. I cried out for attention to their cases to make sure people don't forget to say their names. It was put on delay and it wasn't until two months down the line that I decided to put a hold on the documentary because I didn't have the budget or mental strength for it. I started it again in September of this year. The documentary became bigger than my tragedy and grief. I wanted to share it with others who have all suffered from  gun violence, domestic violence, negligence, mental illness, sex trafficking and police brutality," said Martin.

Photo: Tiffany Frank

Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin

Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin

Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin

Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin


In her documentary, Martin is highlighting untold stories. She calls the moms who have experienced a loss or death, "warrior moms." "Although it is rough they are looking at someone who went through this and is able to tell it and has survived it enough to continue to become great. Maybe there is a little girl going through it and she doesn't know there is a way out, a strength within herself to overcome it."

Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin


In the documentary, there are stories about missing children, cold cases that have happened 37 years ago, among many others. She hopes that people will get some answers because of it. "I am also paying tribute to these stories to a lot of families that are not involved to let them know I genuinely care. I want the world to pay attention to their pain and victims. Often their stories don't get told."

Martin was raised by strong women who taught her what it is to fight. "I see things in color when I should see them in black and white.  I am a broken person who is always looking to fix someone else to make sure they never feel the way I felt in my 43 years. I have seen death all around me my whole life. It affects you especially with a loss of your child."

Martin shares how losing her child created feelings of guilt in addition to her grief. She said she constantly questions herself if she could have done something to stop what happened to her daughter and protected her better. This is what makes her so empathetic to other people who have lost someone because she understands how they feel. 

Photo Courtesy: Brandy Martin


"A big piece of you also died with the victims. I understand you can't sleep. I think when you lose your people you need more support and love. It will never be ok. We will never get that normal day we are searching for. They are never coming back and that part of your normal life doesn't exist and for mothers who bear their children stolen and taken away by gun violence it is a big loss. We are not supposed to burry our children. They are supposed to burry us.  Days go by and you learn how to continue to live. You will forever grief and that type of loss when they are taken and even when they are lost is what is unbearable."

Brandy Martin/ Photo: Tiffany Frank


She encourages the ones who are in pain and have lost people they loved to keep fighting and speak up. "The shooters are not going to speak up. The streets won't talk and the dead can't talk for themselves. It's our job and mission for the ones we say we love and for other mothers and for people who are already going through it because it is a war we will never stop. We will forever be rallying. My daughter can't fight this fight so I need to do it for her. Lean on God and trust him in your darkest hour. I am a strong and spiritual person. I trust God with everything. I want to spread love and light."

Martin says that the world is experiencing changes and a shift bigger than Covid 19. "It is a spiritual shift," she says. "Many people are not prepared for it." 

Martin has a weekly podcast, Redd Spot TV, which takes place every Wednesday LIVE on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. She also has her own entertainment company, Big Redd Entertainment. 



Martin has started a foundations to pay tribute to her killed sister and daughter, called #NOLOVEONTHEPLATFORM #NOLOVEONTHESTREETS.



Martin has set up a Toy and Coat Drive for the victims of gun violence and anyone is welcome to donate to her cause. 


You can follow Brandy on: 
Facebook: @BrandyMartin
IG: @followmysmile_ Red
Twitter @BigRedd_ent