ZimbabweOnTheWestCoast6

Featured Zimbabwean artist Thomas Maphumo speaks on the children of Zimbabwe. Thomas Maphumo is in exile. He and his band, the "Blacks Unlimited", along with a local African American Jazz Trumpeter, Khalil Shaheed creates great "Afro Jazz Infusion". I cannot get the rhythms out of my head.
ZimbabweOnTheWestCoast 6

ZimbabweOnTheWestCoast5

Zimbabwe's Oliver Mtukudzi and his band, The Black Spirits made an appearance in Oakland, CA in 2006. I had a golden opportunity to speak with him and some of his band members. Here's what they had to say.

Episode 4

Featuring the music of Dominion Accapella, under the direction of Valerie Brown; and the KTO Project, a Zimbabwean/American band founded by Kelly Takumba Orphan (former student of the University of Zimbabwe).

More scenes of my Beloved Binga Rural Community and Lake Kariba and Ntengwe's own.
PlanetaryLiberation No. 4

Episode 3

Ntengwe's children of Binga continue to sing their hearts out to the world in an attempt to share their feelings as we journey beyond the middle passage (the journey on slave ships from Africa to America) to present time...living and performing and remembering the dreams of those ancestors that survived the passage. We are all living the ancestors' dreams...as Composer, Jacquline Hairston and other well known musicians and performers share theirs.


Planetary Liberation No. 3

PlanetaryLiberation No.2

The host of Echoes of Africa and I continue our radio interview on Ntengwe for Community Development in Zimbabwe. The episode features more photos of the elephants and nature scenes of Zimbabwe, as well as scenes from everyday life of the people. Ntengwe youth meet at their home office for meetings. This is where I stayed during the time of my 2004 visit to Binga, Zimbabwe. Also shown are photos from the opening ceremony for their new "Drop-In Center" which opened it's doors during 2006. The "Drop-In Center" was designed and donated by the Japanese Embassy. I saw the final blue print (2004)at while I was there, before it was actually built. The center provides a place for the children to come and have breakfast before school, in the mornings and do homework after school and have more meals.(when there's food in Binga) Some of the children are seen clad in new clothing and tennis shoes donated from Europe for the ceremony in honor of the opening of the Ntengwe Drop-In Center.

At a service at the East Bay Church of Religious Science in Oakland, CA, I managed to capture footage taken during a service that empowers children and communities.

ZimbabweOnTheWestCoast6

Zimbabwe on the West Coast

Featured Zimbabwean artist Thomas Maphumo speaks on the children of Zimbabwe. Thomas Maphumo is in exile. He and his band, the "Blacks Unlimited", along with a local African American Jazz Trumpeter, Khalil Shaheed creates great "Afro Jazz Infusion". I cannot get the rhythms out of my head.
ZimbabweOnTheWestCoast 6

Planetary Liberation Episode 1

This first Episode explains how it all began for me. A visit to Ntengwe for Community Development in Binga, Zimbabwe. Ntengwe is a not for profit organization which targets youth, orphans and vulnerable children, and women infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. Founded by my Sisteren, Elizabeth Markham who spent many years growing up in Africa. Many of her ideas and goals were conceived here in the Bay Area as a dream to empower the children of the Tonga and Shona Tribes of Zimbabwe.

This first episode introduces the children and their music from the CD, “Tuli Bamuchaala – We are The Orphans”. The creative process began with participatory research of over 500 children and the formation of a 200-voice children’s choir. The children composed their own songs, ten of which are featured on the CD. The children sing about AIDS and how it is taking the people they love away from them. World renowned Zimbabwean musician, Oliver Mtukudzi came on board in January 2003, when he traveled to Binga district to produce and contribute his much loved vocals to the recording of the CD.

I am proud to introduce the music of these beautiful african children. Their CD was first aired in the US in the summer of 2005 on Radio Station KKUP, in San Jose, CA.
Planetary Liberation No. 1

Last week's screening of my latest video was good. Somehow I thought it was far from finished, however, it really was more complete than I thought. Sometimes my mind will work a little overtime. The video portion worked. Compression was a lot better than my last piece, my transitions and effects worked. My mentor, Evan Donn's comments were "very good".

As mentioned before in my October 17th blog, my lastest featured Zimbabwean artist Thomas Maphumo and his band, the "Blacks Unlimited", with a local African American Jazz Trumpeter, Khalil Shaheed. It was a great "music infusion". I cannot get the rhythms out of my head.

Next month I will be filming him during a live radio broadcast. This will be very interesting as well as exciting. Thomas Maphumo is one of those musicians in exile. Can't wait to hear him speak on it. I'll keep you posted.

I'm currently preparing two more movies. One on the first of a new concert series at the Jazz Conservatory in Oakland, and another one at a live jam session of jazz musicians in Berkeley featuring Jazz Trumpeter Rasul Siddik. Rasul, an African American Brother, is a trumpeter who has lived in Paris, France for over a decade. He made a rare Bay Area appearance in October. Some of the same guys who performed at the Jazz Conservatory were there jamming with him and MacDIVA was definitely in the House.

That's it for now. Thanks for hanging with me.

Peace & Love!

Below I've listed three things I'm going to do differently on my next film.

1. Compression: I like working in several programs. Final Cut Pro, After Effects and iMovie. I find integrating FCP and AF with iMovie gives iMovie the pop it needs. However, the mistake I made with my previous film was not being mindful of the compression rates before transporting from one program into the next. With the compression rate being consistent in each program I can expect better clarity throughout the entire film.

2. "Thou Shalt Not Zoom". Instead of going from a wide shot to zooming in on a close-up, I will pause first and zoom second. No zooming! Why? Because it's all wrong! Over all, things will generally look better and be easier on the physical eye.

3. In this next episode I will bring in a different Zimbabwean Artist, Thomas Maphumo and his band, along with Africian American trumpeter Khalil Shaheed for the integration of African Music with American Jazz. Since my mission involves the Ntengwe Children of Zimbabwe's Orphan Project, the music from their CD will also be used as a backdrop. The results: melodies and beats that one will always remember.

Peace Out!

The programming for HDTV article from the Mark Cuban weblog "blog maverick" is all about marketing and not digital workflow per se, but it is when you look at the future of technology which is marketing, marketing and more marketing. Just more creative, more expansive and very different.

Production of Series 1 has been ongoing for sometime now. Approximately a month. I had been very busy rolling with my crew "It Donned On Me" Productions. We've been on a roll since the summer and we are now known as an "award winning" film crew, "I know that's right! More on IDOM later. As for the current episode I'm working on: It is a continuation of my shorts done on the African Diaspora. I've been at 4 minutes for the past week. Because it was not screened last week at CSM as planned, I've had an extra week to bring it down to 3 minutes. It's not been easy.

I've actually done two individual projects that are basically the same. The first one started out in FCP. I also did some editing in iMovie and exported that media into FCP, and also dropped in some AE. I have had some technical problems with my computer running slower than normal, files going off line and problems editing the audio in FCP

In the second one I exported some FCP and AF media into iMovie. Here, the audio is easier to work with. I managed to get more done in less time.

I actually like combining all three programs, FCP, AE and iMovie. Sometimes iMovie alone can be pretty weak. This is when I call in my back up team (FCP & AE). It is when I enjoy working in iMovie the most. I do however, know of some dudes that can work the shit outta some iMovie. Have you thinking you're having a conscious awakening while still in the dream state kinda lookin film. I'm talkin bout Joe Kirsch, Apple Store, Burlingame; and Lucky, Apple Store, Cupertino...yeah, he's that good. Lucky is really Da Man, he is also a DJ. Anyone who crosses paths with him knows it. Joe Kirsch did. Lucky was the first person I met when I lived on the penninsula. I guess there are no accidents in the Universe.

Gotta work out the kinks with the audio and be ready for screening tomorrow night.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Since last year I've become a fan of Josh Oakhurst, kindred sprit to many of us. He is the perfect example of making shitty video look worth it. He literally turned shit to sugar in his "5 Star Basketball Camp" video made with shitty MiniDV. For me, it is the key to creativity. That's right...letting the creative juices flow. I am learning there are lotz o ways to get your work out there and money should not be an issue. You just gotta do something. Actually, I think it's not a bad way to start out. The more mistakes you make...sometimes...the better you get, and the more costly your project if you're working high end. And mind you, mistakes...they do happen. Sometimes they are blessings in disguise and sometimes not. I've learned that when you work cheap and get good, by the time u get the higher end equip, you're rocking and rolling. It's just a matter of "working that timeline" or making the timeline work for you. The secret is in the "keyframing" BA-BE...the keyframing. I'm working it.

Gone Y'all!

Since the release of the music CD of the children's recording with Oliver Mtukudzi, Tuli Bumachala (We are the Orphans) I have worked diligently to promote the music of these beautiful children whom I spent time with. Aside from using their photos and songs as a backdrop for my previous short films, each year since my visit I've done a radio talk on San Jose, California's Radio Station KKUP's Monday show "Echoes of Africa". The show is hosted by Emmanuel Nado (a native of Cote Avoire). It is a music and news talk show on the "Continent".

Last year Oliver Mutazudzi once again made his annual pilgramage to Oakland, however, this time he'd joined forces with an African American Doctor, Dr. Scott and the community of Allen Temple Baptist Church of Oakland who journeys to Zim several times a year to bring medical services to the people and the area surrounding Harare (the capital of Zimbabwe).

The first of this series focus is Oliver Mutakudzi and his band, the Black Spirits and their visit to Oakland, CA. in 2006. I was first acquainted with Oliver during my Ntengwe Visit in 2004. Ntwengwe Community for Development is a not for profit organization based in rural Binga. (See Photo) I spent time in the bush with the people and their experiences with HIV and AIDS. Around that time Oliver recorded a CD with the Ntengwe Orphans entitled Tuli Bumachalla which translates to "We are the Orphans". When I spoke with him in 2005 after his Oakland performance he told me personally that he was amazed at how these children wrote and composed their own songs and how talented these children are in their expressions of being alienated from the rest of society because their parents died of these deadly diseases.

A TASTE OF WHAT'S COMING!

As previously stated, the next five series will represent different view points and experiences consisting of art as culture and entertainment, weaving stories of experiences to the connection that is a direct result of the "middle passage" from Africa to America. Let's face it, we are living proof of the ancestors dreams. We all have come a long way baby. I will now reach back to Africa with the emphasis on Zimbabwe as we bridge the gap to modern day rural Zimbabwe, (a country governed by dictatorship) and the psychological and social issues surrounding these experiences as it parallels to what's happening in modern day America. Featured live musicians are Dominion A Capella and the TKO Project. Also, music from the CD "We are the Orphans" performed by the Ntengwe Orphan Choir featuring Zimbabwe's own Oliver Mtukudzi.

The footage I'm using for the series is more about spontaneity then anything. At the present time I am working with already existing footage that needs editing. Realizing I've come a long way in a short time I am challanged with using my editing skills to make okay on the spot...no time to set up tripod or proper use of lights in a big crowd...this is a golden opportunity...ready, set, go kind of thing.

Not very easy considering shaky footage, no mics and crowds of people all around. I am determined to give it my best shot.

I have five series that are now in progress. The series will be a continuation and expansion on the previous works done on the African and African American Diaspora with Zimbabwe and it's children as a backdrop. I've come a long way since last year and I'm continuing to grow and expand in my knowledge of producing film.

In the first of these next five series I will focus on Zimbabwean musicians and American musicians who share a strong connection to the Zimbabwean experience as they sometimes share the same stage in the Bay Area's Multicultural East Bay.

Upcoming Internet TV Shows - Series 1 - 5


Most Africans and African Americans believe the history of Africa has never been included nor properly represented by educational institutions in America. Simply put, African history is not included in the primary and secondary school curriculums. As a result there is a lack of knowledge that borderlines the type of ignorance that seperates people, races and cultures due to this lack of knowledge and understanding.

On the other hand there are those who want to learn and/or enhance their knowledge and experiences of relationships more fully with Africa through a variety of educational media and techniques that create memorable experiences.

These next five series will represent different view points and experiences. The format will consist of storytelling, entertainment, art as culture, reality segments, current events - updates on what's happening in modern day rural Zimbabwe, (a country governed by dictatorship) and the psychological and social issues surrounding these experiences as it parallels what's happening in modern day America.

FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T START THIS JOURNEY WITH ME LAST YEAR (2006)

WHO I AM?

I am a woman of power. I am a humanitarian. I have been fascinated by the origins and development of races, the preservation of cultures and customs and the various spiritual beliefs of humankind and the overall challenges involving different concepts of culture throughout the world. I am a native of New Orleans. This is where I was born and raised into adulthood. Growing up in this very colorful place where old school African American culture is infused with African culture taught me to respect people's right to be understood as they WANT to be understood and how to see the VALUE IN CULTURE because CULTURE IS VALUE.

From 1976 to the end of 1980 I spent five years in what used to be West Germany. It was an opportunity to experience the value of that culture. There I lived on the Germany Economy. I was a student at the University of Maryland European Division, a Department of the Army Civilian, and a Fashion Model on the runways of Germany.

Since early times leading up to our contemporary society, people rely on educational institutions for the preservation of our cultural collective memory. Included are indigenous groups sharing their histories, to be told and understood as they know and understand it. In keeping with this tradition, it is my intention to showcase the celebration of life and culture of African and African American Diaspora by producing 12 innovative and creative episodic intenet TV shows surrounding the psychosocial circumstances and situations the experiences represents. This in my opinion can make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and students stimulating cultural awareness and addressing the changing needs of various communities around the world.

As educator and filmmaker, I develop, implement, evaluate, produce, and direct Internet TV shows with the goal of enhancing public assess to the understanding and interpretation of a collection of historical experiences through a variety media techniques and modalities to create memorable experiences for viewers.

As a humanitarian I play a role in the empowerment of viewers to experience the African and African American Diaspora more fully through stimulating, informative and very creative educational programs that are enjoyable and represent the different view points and experiences of our diverse and ever changing contemporary society.

In 2004 I journeyed to Zimbabwe and independently established relationships with Ntengwe, Government Leaders, Anthropologist from the local museum, Minister of Education, Minister of Health & Child Welfare, Staff & Students at Primary & Secondary Schools in a rural district of Zimbabwe. Ntengwe is a non-profit making organization promoting development, especially for youth, women and children through projects and programs in art, film and video, and publications. The organization promotes community awareness of HIV and AIDS, provides income generating projects, home based care and counseling and orphan support services. While there I had an opportunity explore and experience the culture in ways that I still cannot find the words. The media I will be presenting tell the various stories intermingled with the many similarities to African American culture. I am directing and producing 12 episodic internet TV shows. The name of the show is called "Planetary Liberation".

Episode 1 PLANETARY LIBERATION

Ntengwe launched a music CD (Tuli Bamuchaala – which translates to We are the Orphans) in which the children wrote and composed their own songs that express their feeling of being alienated from the rest of society. The children recorded this CD along with Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimbabwe’s most popular music maker. Oliver’s gifts as a live performer were first introduced to the U.S. as part of the Africa Fete tour, on which he shared the stage with Taj Mahal and Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal. Oliver made an appearance in the Spring of 2002 on The Late Show with David Letterman. Oliver also co-wrote and recorded a song for Bonnie Raitt’s album in 2002.

The first episode presents a variety of still shots of the children and Oliver with their music as a backdrop. Also a live interview with Oliver Mtukudzi filmed backstage at his 2005 performance at Yoshi's Jazz Supper Club in Oakland, CA. Included is audio and visuals taken of myself in conversation with Emmanuel Nado, Host/Producer of "Echoes of Africa" in June 2005, on KKUP (91.5 FM) radio station of our live discussion on the women and children, the organization and various updates on what's happening there.

Episode 2 PLANETARY LIBERATION

While in Zimbabwe I saw the plans and sat in on meetings with the Ntengwe staff on the proposed orphan center that was to be built for the children. In March of 2005 the Japanese Embassy funded the building for the Ntengwe children while here in the U.S. a man by the name of Scott Wright and I acted on their behalf as the financial liaisons for the organization. In October of 2005 Ntengwe opened it doors to their new Drop in Center. This episode featured current events of Ntengwe Orphans and their center since August 2005. In August 2006 Emmanuel Nado, Radio Host, KKUP and I discussed the footage shot during the Center's Grand Opening.


Episode 3 PLANETARY LIBERATION

The third episode starts integrating the people of Binga, Zimbabwe with the people of Oakland, California. It symbolizes and pays tribute to the positive state of consciousness around the journey of the middle passage African Americans made from Africa to America and the journey the women and children of this rural community of Zimbabwe are taking to self love, self discovery and self acceptance to the modern world. In addition, this episode celebrates the pride of the Oakland, California Community.

Profound Peace! & Thanks for hanging out!
D2


FYI: Episode 3 is located in the February 10, 2007 post
Episode 2 is located in the May 10, 2006 Archive (the archives are listed directly on the right hand side)
Episode 1 is located in the April 8, 2006 Archive

Planetary Liberation, 3rd Episode

It's a Wrap 2006! Hello 2 double 07. Last year 2006 was filled with excitement and anticipation and success for me. A lot of connecting. Just stuff showing up all over the place. I AM SO GRATEFUL! I started 2006 with the intention of inhaling as much about multimedia as I possibly could. I had another radio interview on KKUP Radio Station down in San Jose on a show called "Echoes of Africa" where I once again presented the music (written and composed by the children who's parents are either living with or died of HIV and AIDS related diseases and other vulnerable children. The organization is called Ntengwe for Community Development. Once again it was an honor to be representing the organization I spent time with in Zimbabwe. I presented my 3rd Episode of Planetary Liberation at Dolby Digital lavatories in San Francisco. Learned a lot from just hanging out in the multimedia vib. Met lots of cool people along the way.

Completed 3 of 12 episodes on my African/African American Diaspora presentation. And started editing episodes 3 through 6 simultaneously...Don't ask why...It's just the way things started showing up inspite of some of the technical difficulties I experienced.

The year started with me taking a long look at all the footage I have that was shot in Africa and repeatedly looking at and trying to decide what footage represents the messages I'm conveying. Shot some good stuff from the hood (Oakland/Berkeley). Especially a lot of music. Things jumped off with the TKO Project, featuring Kelly Tukumba Orphan, American born young woman who studied at the University in Zimbabwe, came back here and formed a band with other Zimbabwean musicians and Americans. The Great Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits, Zimbabwe's largest music maker made his annual stop at Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland's own Jack London Square where they "Tore the Roof Right Off the Mother". Oliver's shows are not to be missed. You get two shows in one...their performance on stage as well as the Zimbabweans dancing in the audience. I also got good footage featuring, Dr. Jackie Hairston, Arranger, Composer; Sistah Linda Johnson, choreographer; and other great singers and musicians. I later caught the TKO Project performing at another function honoring Dr. Jackie in Oakland.

Flipping the script to the political side of things, I've got good footage of our California Congressman Ron Dellums (in the running for Mayor of Oakland) giving a speech at a local union hall to a group of union members and volunteer supporters (including me) campaigning for his colleague Sandre Swanson who was in the race for the 16th District Assembly Seat. In his speech Dellums said he would win and why. (smile) A profound speech it was! The energy that surrounds that man is incredible.

And he did, by the way, win...And also, by the way, I was at his Black & White Inaugural Ball on January 8, 2007 with the camera in hand...Happy New Year to me, huh! Saw some familiar faces from the black side of Hollywood. I did have an opportunity to speak with the beautiful Kellita Smith, actress on the Bernie Mac Show (she plays Bernie Mac's wife, Wanda; Actor, Richard Gant who is actually a bay area native (Berkeley). A lot of us know Richard Gant from Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor II where he plays the father of a character played by Janet Jackson. How do I know him? We go way back...I was his student back during my college days back in the 70's. The best is yet to come with all the editing I'm doing. Production is still ongoing.

Thanks for being apart of my journey and the best to all of you.

It's a wrap 2006...Whad Up 2 Double 07!
Profound Peace
Out
D2