Yasmin Shiraz

Me outside my screening in San Diego's Regal Cinema

Can She Be Saved? is an official selection of the 2010 NC Black Film Festival and I will be receiving their Emerging Filmmaker award. I wanna say thank you again to everyone who has supported the film and my work as a filmmaker. I can’t wait to see my new filmmaker family when I get there. (Coming Correct, I see you! Father’s Day, I see you!)

Here’s the trailer in case you haven’t seen it.

Here’s a new letter that I received a few days ago from a Retaliation reader.

Dear Ms. Shiraz,

I’ve become one of your biggest fans. I read your book Retaliation which you said was not a true (story.) But to me, it felt real. I cried because it reminded me of my old life when I lived in Maryland. I lost my cousin to a gang in 2008. I looked up to him just like Tashera did with her brother. We did everything together when we (were) little. He got put in a foster home and I was (gonna be) next. But I made it out. I’m a 3.5 GPA student and I’m preparing to go to college to become a Registered Nurse. I enjoyed reading the book because it felt like i–the reader–was there. I will continue reading your books.

Your biggest fans,

Tamika

I appreciate Tamika for sharing this with me and letting me know of her journey. These are the letters that keep me motivated. Thank you Tamika!!! I’m sure you’ll make a great RN. Keep shooting for the stars!

Can She Be Saved? — as you have heard by now is my lil’ film that could–  screened at the Texas Black Film Festival in Dallas today. I was not in attendance as I was returning from a business trip in Atlanta but I was there in spirit. I hope the film touched many people’s lives.

Here’s the link to the festival: http://www.texasblackfilmfestival.com/

For those of you who have never attended a film festival, the point of a festival is to get industry and audience feedback on your project. Its important in the launch of a filmmaker’s career. Also, the more festivals that select your film, it validates your work as a filmmaker. So, every time I share that Can She Be Saved? was selected for a festival is such a tremendous blessing because it pushes me one step closer to doing my feature film, Retaliation. I’m claiming that each and every day.

And here’s the trailer to Can She Be Saved? Feel free to view it and rate it.

I was recently notified that my debut film, Can She Be Saved? has been selected to screen at the 5th Annual Women’s International Film and Arts Festival in Miami which is being held March 26 – April 3, 2010. I look forward to meeting my fellow women filmmakers. And for the people who indulge me and encourage me to pursue my dreams: I love you.

Here’s the trailer–Feel free to rate it. It helps or something like that:

Me taking a picture of the Can She Be Saved? girls on our 1st day of shooting!

I affectionately refer to my film, Can She Be Saved? as the little film that could. Last night when I was on the way home from the airport, I received an email that alerted me that Can She Be Saved? is an official selection of the 2010 Texas Black Film Festival. I’m thankful and honored! I want to thank the girls in the film for sharing their stories.

PERFECTION, ARIELLE, MARICKA, LADASHIA, SHAKORA, WHITNEY, SHANA, SAMARI, MARSHAY: You are my heroes! May your stories give voices to all girls who want to speak of their anger but are afraid that no one is here to listen. I heard you and I am making sure that others hear you as well.

As a parent, I hope I never have to address or experience any situation like this. I had been hearing that 80/90’s super producer Teddy Riley was in the news for allegedly attacking his two daughters. TMZ.com caught up with Teddy and asked him about what happened. He discloses it in the video below.

Watch the video before reading my comments.

1. If I have to tell a child of mine to leave my house and they won’t then I know I’ve missed something in the child’s formative years.  Something clearly was missing –like respect for the parents or honor thy mother and father–something to that effect.
2. If I collar you and put you outta my house AFTER I’ve politely asked you to leave and you come back to swing on me– then I know there is some real problem with you as my child.
3. If I physically collar you and throw you out and you come back and hit me in the face–a grown person who is your parent–then I know I have woefully dropped the ball in parenting you. Why on earth would Teddy’s daughter hit him in the face?
4. If my other child is watching nearby and instead of saying, “Hey let’s go,” says instead, “What are you doing to my sister?” and begins to attack me as well, I am writing both of them outta my will, calling the police, getting restraining orders and never seeing them again. There’s a line of things that children should not do to their parents. If Teddy’s account is true, Teddy’s daughters crossed the line.
5. People will say that Teddy should have left the house, but if it was his house, why should he have left?

I don’t know what happened in Teddy Riley’s household but attacking your parent? That is so uncalled for I can barely stomach it. If you can’t resolve an issue peacefully, step off. There needs to be no physical fights between parents and their children. SERIOUSLY. And may this be a wake up call to parents! Parent your children when they’re young so you don’t have to fight them off when you’re older. Invest time and respect into your kids and they will return it to you.

Yesterday, I received word that the San Diego Black Film Festival has selected my film, Can She Be Saved? to be screened at their film festival in 2010. The film festival is January 28 – 31. I plan to be in the house with bells and whistles. There are a lot of people that supported me becoming a filmmaker and some key people that really helped make this project be as phenomenal as it is. You all know who you are: My little sister from Hampton, My Auntie in Syracuse, My headfakin’ partner in Atlanta who went to the other HU–thanks for the support. See you on the red carpet. I will be posting photos!

Here’s the trailer in case you haven’t seen it yet.

I’ll be on WVON, The Talk of Chicago at 9:08am CST talking about girl fights and my film which documents girl fights, Can She Be Saved? I’ll be on with guest host, Monique Caradine. We’ll be taking live calls and you can listen live at www.wvon.com. We’ll be talking about what you can do to reduce teen girl fights in your community. I hope you tune in. The trailer to my film is below:

Andrea Thomas

I was doing some research today on girl fights and came across a teen girl who was attacked TODAY! According to news reports out of Chicago, Andrea Thomas, 16 was attacked while sitting in her sister’s car. The reason for the attack? A dispute stemming from her SISTER’S previous romantic relationship.

Andrea was apparently an innocent bystander and was nonetheless stabbed in the back around 2:30pm CST.

The family is saying that she will recover but this is yet another attack that was unncessary.

Please look at the trailer below of my film, Can She Be Saved? It documents teen girl fights in the US. This film was made to be shared with teen girls about why they are fighting. The goal is to “Stop The Violence.”

I look forward to your feedback. The film is for sale on my site at the store.

Can She Be Saved? Film Poster

My film, Can She Be Saved? will be screening this Saturday, November 21, 2009 as a part of the DC Hip Hop Shorts Festival at the DC Historical Society, 801 K St, NW, Washington, DC. It starts at 1pm, but my film will be shown around 2pm. I will be meeting with members of the audience in the Producer’s Lounge where I’ll be autographing copies of Retaliation–the book that inspired the film.

**It’s FREE and open to the public. It’ll be a great time. I hope to see you there.