Yasmin Shiraz

Give it to shock jock, Howard Stern, for saying what many people were probably thinking. Oprah and all the fans of Precious applauded Gabourey Sidibe’s performance in Precious, but all seemed to ignore that Hollywood is a size conscious place. With stars like Queen Latifah –who had a breast reduction–early in her Hollywood career, Oscar winner Mo’Nique losing bunches of pounds and hey, winning an Oscar afterward, how much you weigh definitely has made a difference in Hollywood.  Many other stars white, black, and otherwise have said that they can’t get work when they are over a size 2, so how is it that Gabourey Sidibe will have the “Cinderella” career that Oprah has espoused? It’d be wonderful. Sure. But old prejudices die hard. Perhaps screenwriters and producers will begin to write characters and support films for actresses that look like Gabourey. Or perhaps, when casting a role they’ll stop casting the typical 5′7″ 105lb chick. Maybe. I’d love to see it.

Truthfully, though, the decision of how Gabourey’s career will shape up is in her hands as much as it is also in the theater buying public’s hands.

Americans, typically, have been loathesome to look at anyone who was not “Malibu Girl” beautiful.

Beautiful black actresses like Halle Berry, Paula Patton, and Vivica Fox have all spoken of the lack of consideration that they are given for roles when the producer or the Hollywood engine thinks a white actress should play the role. Again, these are black women who are beautiful in their own right. As they fight the color line, how does Gabourey fight the size line?

So many successful celebrities including Jennifer Anniston and Tina Fey both admit to how their careers improved once they lost weight. I believe Jennifer Anniston said something to the effect, “The roles all of a sudden came pouring in.” I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea. If I were one to give Gabourey advice, I don’t know if I’d say keep the weight on and see if you can change people’s perceptions about those who are overweight or if I would say lose weight so that your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes will go down. Because I lean on the side of being health conscious, I would probably suggest the latter. Anyway, can one actress and all of her fans really tip the scales of Hollywood in her favor?  I’ll be watching. What do you think?

This is a movie that I plan on seeing this weekend. It involves a family coming together for a wedding. One side of the family is Latino and the other side is African American. Without having to guess really hard, I bet they won’t get a long…. Well, I’m going to go see if this film can make me laugh. It better or you all will hear about it over the weekend. Check out the trailer and full synopsis below.

“Our marriage, their wedding.” It’s lesson number one for any newly engaged couple, and Lucia (America Ferrera) and Marcus (Lance Gross) are no exception. In Fox Searchlight Pictures’ ‘Our Family Wedding‘ they learn the hard way that the path to saying “I do” can be rife with familial strife. When they return from college and too suddenly announce their marriage plans, they soon discover that their fathers–two highly competitive over-the-top egos – can wreak a major amount of havoc on their special day.

With insults flying and tempers running high, it’s anyone’s guess if the alpha dads (Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia) will survive to make it down the aisle in one piece. Lucia’s mother (Diana Maria Riva) is busy planning the wedding of “her” dreams and the only levelheaded one in the bunch is Angela (Regina King), the groom’s father’s best friend and lawyer, who manages to keep her cool when the madness reaches a crescendo.

With only weeks to plan their wedding, Lucia and Marcus soon discover the true meaning of love and find there is truth to the saying–that when you marry someone, you marry their entire family.

To my filmmaker family, I wanted to let you know that Oscar Micheaux who is considered the Father of African American Cinema is being featured on a US Postage stamp this year! Spike Lee recently said that all of us black filmmakers stand on the shoulders of Oscar Micheaux, so please share this info. The stamp will be issued June 22, 2010.

Here’s info from the US Postal Service’s official press release:

The 33rd stamp in the Black Heritage series, to be issued June 22, honors pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, who wrote, directed, produced and distributed more than 40 movies during the first half of the 20th century. An ambitious, larger-than-life figure, Micheaux thrived at a time when African-American filmmakers were rare, venues for their work were scarce, and support from the industry did not exist. Micheaux’s entrepreneurial spirit and independent vision continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers and artists.

This stamp features a stylized portrait of Oscar Micheaux by Gary Kelley. The artwork is based on one of the few surviving photographs of Micheaux, a portrait that appeared in his 1913 novel The Conquest.

Although only 15 of his movies are known to have survived in whole or in part, Micheaux has become a cinematic icon. In 1986, he was posthumously awarded a special Directors Guild of America award. In 1995, the Producers Guild of America established the Oscar Micheaux Award to honor “an individual or individuals whose achievements in film and television have been accomplished despite difficult odds.”

I’ve been to Brooklyn and everything there isn’t always fine. So, I’m going to see this movie and see if its as hot as Director, Antoine Fuqua says it is. Something tells me its gonna be a scorcher. I’ll let you all know what I thought. But, I am supporting this movie on opening night, baby!  Here’s the trailer. I hope it makes you wanna go see it!

Update: I’ve seen the movie, it was worth the price of admission. They killed a lot of people in the movie though. But I definitely like Antoine Fuqua’s style as a director. He likes Ethan Hawke who I like too. He’s such a good character in whatever role he plays.

Life is hard sometimes and we could all use a laugh. So check out this Dark Moon clip. Its funny!

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.

Me and living legend, Spike Lee

In the spirit of my Rules to Live By column, I’d like to share a portion of a short speech that Spike Lee gave Saturday night at the San Diego Black Film Festival. He talked about people subscribing to mediocrity and how as filmmakers–but also as people–we should be willing to raise the bar. To say there are all sorts of products in the marketplace that are mediocre is surely an understatement. In America, mediocrity has become a way of life.

It’s rarely about the best that you can do, it’s mostly about the least that you can do to get the job done.

Funny, often people want to put in the least amount of effort but when it comes to how they want to be treated or the types of products that they are buying, they do not want to think that someone only put forth the least amount of effort. It’s one to grow on.

Me at the Regal Cinema in San Diego

Hey peoples! My film, Can She Be Saved? is screening tomorrow at 1pm at Regal Cinemas in downtown San Diego and also on Sunday at 11am in the same location! I’m excited. It’s a big milestone. Someone told me yesterday that thousands of films submitted for this festival but only 100 made it. So there’s stiff competition.

I want to give a big THANK YOU and SHOUT OUT to Karen Willis for putting the festival on and giving us filmmakers a place to go! Much love.

Me and Kenneth Gamble

Above is a picture of me and Kenneth Gamble of Gamble and Huff. He’s one of the founders of the Philadelphia International Sound. He had a documentary that screened at the festival. And ya’ll know I love music, so I had to  get a photo with this legend.

Also, I’m not sure if everyone who is reading my blog has heard of the Village People, but for those of you OLD HEADS who know the deal, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to take a photo with Victor Willis who was the lead singer of the ORIGINAL VILLAGE PEOPLE. That was really cool cuz again I love music. Somebody out there has to remember the song, “YMCA!”

Me and Victor Willis of the Village People

Also, here’s a photo of me in front of the San Diego Black Film Festival backdrop.

And screen legend, Danny Glover kicked off the opening night reception. As I told my friends on Facebook, Danny Glover has a “God-Like” presence. Believe it. He was on his way to South Africa and then Haiti but he stopped by to support his new documentary and inspire the crowd.

Danny Glover at the San Diego Black Film Festival

Me and fellow filmmaker Michael Melvin. His film is entitled, Broken. He’s a cool cat, he hails from the Baltimore area.

Me and fellow director, filmmaker Michael Melvin

For my young fans who are obsessed with the Diary of A Wimpy Kid books, the trailer is already out on the internet though the movie doesn’t hit theaters til April. So, here it is. I hope the movie doesn’t disappoint you but honestly, its hard for a movie to give you what a book does. Its very rare that a movie is better than the book. Now, I will try to make that happen when Retaliation becomes a movie. But hey, I’m not making any promises.

This movie continues to intrigue me. I’m going to watch it this weekend. Have you seen it yet? Did you read the book? I want your feedback.

Here’s the synopsis: A young girl who has been murdered watches over her family–and her killer–from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.