It's an Anniversary

The Mercedez Benz Super Dome

 There are some anniversaries we sometimes don't want to remember. 16 years ago today Katrina changed my life in a very big and traumatic way. I thought I was over the PTS, but I guess it never goes away. About 6 years ago, I can't really be sure, but I was watching the news and there was some flooding somewhere and it brought me back to that day. Every time it rains now I think about flooding. Although I know where I am now the water would never get that high it is still something I can't shake. 

I dread when I am working and it starts raining. I just take it easy and am always grateful when I make it home safely.

I have been trying  not to watch the news and I actually didn't know there was a hurricane heading toward NOLA. It was pretty much the same way when Katrina happened. Once I did find out about the hurricane I had decided to stay. Since some of my neighbors were staying I didn't feel like I would be alone.

About two or three weeks ago, I went to the Twin Oaks library for the first time. I would have liked to have gone to the Central branch, but it is not open on Sundays. Saturdays I stay home and do stuff around the house.

I picked up several DVDs that happened to all be documentaries with the subject of black moments in Films and movies and history. One DVD Horror Noire was about Blacks in the horror genre. BaadAssss Cinema was a look into the films known as Blaxploitation. Dark Girls, it didn't say it was a documentary on the case, but it was interesting just the same. I didn't think a lot of what is covered was still as big of an issue as it showed. Just goes to show I've been out of touch. Dark Girls focuses on racism within the Black race. It's a myth, but yes, black people can be racists.

Through the lens darkly is a documentary about black photographers. All of the documentaries have been very interesting and educational. Through the lens darkly was not what I was expecting. There were images on the case that I didn't hear them talk about. It was inspiring. I hope I can start photographing people where I feel safe.

The documentary on The Black Panthers was one I was definitely interested in seeing. I was a kid when I heard about the Black Panthers, but there was one event that has always stayed with me and that was Black Sunday. I was about 7 or 8 years old and because of the neighborhood I lived in, black families were urged to put black ribbons on their doors.

The Black Panther chapter in New Orleans was housed in the Desire project in Eastern New Orleans.

The purpose of me going to the library was to see if I could find some films or movies I had missed out on, but I was also looking for a DVD I had seen of an Alvin Ailey production. I didn't know the name and it had to come in from another branch. There were two DVDs and so I said why not?

The DVD I had never seen is about the preparations of the dancers as they prepare for a show in St. Petersburg, Russia. There was a special feature that you can watch the actual show which was really entertaining. Still, the actual DVD that I wanted to see is my favorite. It includes Alvin Ailey's favorite, but I have my own. Alvin Ailey made it possible for many blacks to live out their dreams of becoming dancers.

Thanks for stopping by and do come back again. Keep an open mind.

Movies, double feature

Last night was another double feature night. Friday Foster  (DD)with an all star black cast, starring Pam Grier, Yaphet Kotto, Carl Weathers, Eartha Kitt, Thalmus Rusallas, Godfrey Cambridge, Ted Lange and Scatman Crothers to name a few. Pam Grier plays Friday Foster, an ex-model turned photographer for Glance magazine. She is sent out on an assignment that gets explosive and when a friend is murdered Friday gets involved. This was in interesting to watch because of all the talent that is in the film. When one needs a job, one does what one has to do.

The second feature was Panic Room (DD) with Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Dwight Yokam and an unknown named Kristen Stewart. (She went on to be a part of one of the biggest franchises, Twilight.) It’s an okay film about a woman with too much money, recently separated who buys a home way too big for two people. After only a few nights, the home is broken into and the story unfolds as to who, what and why? Luckily for the mother and daughter the house came with a Panic Room which is where the burglars want to be.

Here is my new rating system. DDDDD highly recommend. DDDD It should be watched. DDD Entertaining DD So so if you like the stars. D Just out of curiosity watch it.
(I like all movies. Even those that most people don’t like, it makes for great conversation.)


Thanks for stopping by and keep an open mind. Become a follower while you are here.

The Back Story

      A few days ago I had a conversation with some people that didn’t like to hear about a stars personal life because it interfered with them watching their movies.

I’m sure I’ve written about this before, but most of the stars that I really like were no longer around by the time I came along. I was two years old when Marilyn Monroe passed away. I saw her films when I was young and then at some point I was interested in the woman behind the films.
It all started when I found out she had posed for Playboy. I remember wanting to be like Hugh Hefner and Howard Hughes. By the time I got to High School that changed when I read Malcolm X, but there was still a part of his life where he was surrounded by women.

The camera loved Marilyn Monroe. There aren’t a lot of bad pictures that were taken of her. They are all sexy, bubbly and full of personality. Marilyn Monroe embodied sensuality.

When I read or hear about what an actor went through to get a role or during the production it makes me want to see it depending on the actor. If there is controversy surrounding a film even before it gets distribution I’m sometimes curious about it.

I watched several movies, Harsh Times with Christian Bale. I’ve watched this film many times. Christian Bale is really an intense actor. Now that the Batman trilogy has come to an end, I’m curious to see what he does next.

I can’t say how many times I’ve actually watched the film Making Love. When it was available on Laser disc I purchased it. Then when it became available on VHS and finally on DVD. The back story makes this film so much more appealing. It was very controversial for its day and yet now so many people don’t see the big deal or even like the film. It’s a difficult choice that an actor makes to take on a certain role. Today the more drama behind a role the more people want to see it. That wasn’t always the case. Harry Hamlin was basically an unknown and Michael Ontkean and Kate Jackson were television stars.
Of course every film has moments that don’t seem real, but sometimes life doesn’t seem real. It’s as if we are looking at ourselves in slow motion.
Last night I watched Left Behind with Kirk Cameron. I was just going through my catalog to see what I wanted to watch and I had pulled out a film, but then decided I would watch Left Behind.

There was a moment during Katrina when I felt as if I were having a flashback of the film. I keep thinking about writing a story of my experience. There are several reasons for wanting and needing to do this. One is its good therapy and the other is that it’s a story like all of the others that needs to be told. Of course sometimes I feel as if people are tired of hearing about Katrina. Still, I get asked about it sometimes. I’ve often said of all the people that went through that traumatic experience, they all have a story to tell and each story even though people may have been side by side have something different to say.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.


http://artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://vimeo.com/27482821

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

Thanks for stopping by. Come back soon or become a follower to know when the next entry is posted.

Movies in New Orleans

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. There have been many films that have been made in, about and around New Orleans. Most of the films are rather quirky, B style movies. With the exception of A Street Car Named Desire and I think Jazebel, but films that were made after I was old enough to appreciate films weren’t so good. Jeopardy opened a door of better made films, but still there were some things that you would never see in New Orleans. When it rains, you won’t find a crowd of people with umbrellas unless they are at a bus stop or in a second line. The umbrellas would be sporadic. We don’t have meetings in cemeteries unless there is probably a drug deal or you are actually on the tour. You certainly won’t meet late at night. Interview with a Vampire changed everything and then there was Runaway Jury which I thought was interesting. I’ve always thought that if I would do a documentary I’d like to do one on all of the places in New Orleans that were used in films.

In any event, Benjamin Button is a good film. It’s interesting and the story flows very well. New Orleans always looks good on film and its been the inspiration for many of my great photographs.

I wasn’t expecting some of the back stories in NOLA, but I had figured out the front story. I glad that the background story was very subtle. It gave me some ideas for my story.

I highly recommend The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

I’m watching Charlie Rose as I write this with Quentin Tarantino. Quentin is one of the greatest writers around. I love the way he handles dialogue and it is the way that I like to write. I feel what people have to say is important, but I can be very descriptive and I know people can speak volumes without saying a word.

Become a follower of this blog and check out my videos and other blogs.

Thanks for stopping by and keep an open mind.

www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

Come back again soon.

When The Levees Broke

I finally made myself watch the documentary by Spike Lee of the traumatic aftermath of Katrina. I had been putting off watching the DVD that I had borrowed from a friend until I felt I was ready. I wasn’t sure what type of emotions would come out of watching the documentary, but I’ve done a good job at getting myself over that hurdle. By not blocking things out I can deal with things that bring back the memories of that week of being in NOLA.

The documentary gives me a different perspective on the days that followed and the views of celebrities who are from NOLA and their families along with some average people and politicians. The documentary also captured how some of the stories were escalated into incidents that didn’t actually take place. It also caught people in the act of looting for survival and out of stupidity. It was understandable when you heard someone stole water, clothing, food, diapers, etc., but it made no sense to see someone stealing a television when there was no power. In times of disaster people don’t always think clearly. There were many mentally disabled people roaming around the city. Their medications had run out and there was nothing that anyone could do.

When the Levees Broke is a 3 disc DVD told in four acts with two additional segments.
The DVD includes, Spike Lee’s commentary which is optional. Phyllis Mouton LeBlanc, Wendell Pierce, Terrence Blanchard, C. Ray Nagin, Louella Givens, Dale Girard, Sean Penn, Fred Johnson, and many others. The DVD doesn’t sugar coat anything, even from the people that are talking.

www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
www.dcinemafile.blogspot.com
www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088
www.n4cersworld.com
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

I’ll add more links soon.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…