This short film, an unofficial, live action rendition of the video game Portal, a puzzle game from not that long ago, is from Dan Trachtenberg, an up and coming director. I heard about it on one of my favorite film podcasts Slashfilm and had to check it out. This is what you can do with a little time and a little money (I use the term ‘little’ loosely). If you’re not familiar with the game it’s actually pretty interesting. Here’s the wiksplanation.

Hip Hop captured one second at a time; Can the city of New York be framed in a 3″ x 5″? Can a culture be preserved in street photography? Ask Charlie Ahearn, director of Wild Style, and this film documenting Shabazz who was “defining hip hop before it had a definition.”

No really. Go ask him.

The BAMcinemaFest screening will take place on Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 3:30pm in Brooklyn, NY. A Q&A with director Charlie Ahearn and Jamel Shabazz himself will follow.

peeps it.

via IndieWire

Originally aired on the BBC in ’96 (I doubt my neighborhood could get this channel back then), check out this doc about Scott-Heron. Prolly appropriate to go ‘head and re-air this right about now. What say you?

via @hypebeast

Gil Scott-Heron – LEGENDARY. Period. Here’s the poem.

———

The Television Will Not Be Revolutionized.

Idiot boxes of the world unite! To fight off the effects of intelligence, replace smart quotes with fart jokes, substitute sense with scenes from “Martin,” let the baby’s bathe in that glow and learn all manner of things they don’t really need to know!

The Television Will Not Be Revolutionized!

Channel the content of some rambling nonsense deep into the annals of yo’ subconscious, deprogram and depress chasing some televised success, be them, that, they and those be everything but in control,

The Television Will Not Be Revolutionized!

Small claims Court drama, teenage baby mamas, Osama watching Osama, Celebrity Endorsed indoor saunas, the perfectly cooked piraña and other cannonfodder for you to ponder, all at the speed of imitations of life while the smoke of war gets inhaled thru the peace pipes, be still my beating heart and scare my brain from thinking thoughts as i sit intoxicated by the delights, sarcasm and 3 strikes thrown by my favorite pitcher in a sound surrounded, 3 dimensional, high death, full color mixture, wholly unsocializing and completely uncensored,

The Television Will Not Be Revolutionized!

By this one-eyed monster most of the world was raised, and by this hero most of the world was saved, and to this master most of the world is slaves, it factors your fears with actors and cheers from a live studio audience pushing you to engage in a heroic act of thoughtlessness for the grand prize of a little bread, fleeting fame in the circus and every thought in yo head,

The Television Will Not Be Revolutionized!

“Ain’t no changing me” said my flat screen TV, No More Che’s to the rescue, or Black Panthers to correct you, just coaxial cables and satellite signals to connect you to a world that doesn’t really look like it does on TV, where everything is much shorter, fatter, uglier and in disorder, where u have to do it now because there are no digital recorders where if the present gets boring you can just fast forward,

The Television Will Not Be Revolutionized!

So there will be no revolution, or paradoxically ironic televised public execution of the entire worldwide televising institution, there wont even be a celebritized, televised trial of old baby blue, cuz you see my dear friends the television will not be revolutionized but what about the revolution that should taking place inside………………….of you?

By Wasalu “Lupe Fiasco” Jaco in Dedication to that guiding light of a human being Gil Scott Heron

via @ClutchMagazine

This is one of my homies from high school. Still doin it. And apparently it’s the year of cuttin’ off the lox. But the dopeness is in the roots. Always been a fan. And now, so will you.

In case you can’t read that… “Passion Fruit: The Other Chicago Black Movement” is a collection of watermelon- themed representational images, posters, photographs and original artworks that explore the American watermelon, not as a fruit, but a former symbol of racial stereotype now transformed into a positive and cultural icon. The exhibit pays tribute to the Chicago-based Black Arts Guild (BAG) Turtel Onli founded in 1970 to help launch the careers of its members. BAG adopted the Red, Black and Green watermelon as its logo, and initiated a creative battle to deconstruct the negative applications of watermelon images into a positive and creative symbol. Check it. African-American Cultural Center.

Commissioned by Miami arts collective Borscht, the initiative paired Miami reared filmmakers with local musicians. In this case, Miami born and raised Strike Anywhere partner Barry Jenkins paired with Miami Chill Wave artist MillionYoung to create this slice of life piece inspired by the MillionYoung track Chlorophyl. Screening is April 23rd.

FYI – Jenkins made this film the weekend before SXSW so this guy definitely has a plan of trajectory. Make it happen, mayne.

via Shadow and Act

You ain’t never heard crazyman Morgan like this before…unless you bought his new book. It was definitely surprising to hear this dude crying on NPR…twice. It was astounding. I can honestly say that I had no idea. But don’t take my word for it…listen

Architecture through the cinematographic lens. The visual fusion between the third and the seventh arts.
This brief description describes the declaration of aesthetic principles that underlies the “Third&Seventh” project:
A FULL-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already built spaces.

Best if watched in full screen mode. Dope.

On the streets of Madrid, advertising posters have been replaced by simple text messages. A takeover, in the fullest sense of the word, found an international group of artists – including Bronco, El Tono, Luzinterruptus, Ron English, Various & Gould, Space Hijackers, and Specter TrustoCorp – hit Madrid on March 30, 2011 replacing traditional advertisements with their own messages. Within an hour, everything had changed. More pics after the jump.

via CuratedMag

(August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011) – The G Funk Era

Hebru Brantley is a prolific artist whose work could be best described as narrative meets surrealism and together they had a baby called afro-futurism. On March 18, 2011 Hebru Brantley’s show Afro-Futurism (Impossible View) will open at the Zhou B Art Center located at 1029 W. 35th Street, Chicago. Opening is from 6:00pm-10:00pm. To inquire further about the show, contact the curator/general manager, Michael at m@zhoub.com.

more on Hebru after the jump…

The collection of new works presented in Afro-Futurism (Impossible View) touches upon the spirits of children that are not jaded by the social and economical restraints that plague our society. The subjects presented in the works wear the looks of contemplative young adults having to deal with life’s complexities prematurely. Rather than to simply deal with it, these subjects choose to escape into a fantastical state where they idealize a young, heroic character aptly known as Flyboy.

Flyboy is a character that is seemingly able to vest all of his enemies and life’s oppositions through his wit, enigma, and of course, his flying ability. Flyboy is a true peoples’ champion and a natural star to many, from the hopeless dreamer to the couch potato. The Flyboy wears large, yellow goggles in lieu of a cape, cowl, or tights. The goggles serve as a distinct part of Flyboy’s charm, ability to self-transform, and his undying goal to be an iconic symbol for hope and power. The goggles are simply a call to action.

The Flyboy is derived from Brantley’s attempts to commercialize the idea of an ethnic hero. In examining African-American history, Brantley chose to explore the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen while creating a series of characters by using Japanese anime as a muse in order to bring a modern, futuristic feel to his work.

Video directed by Terence Nance, original score by Lion’s Share Music Group. Note-to-self: Fans who buy the album on iTunes will receive the film with the purchase.

via okayplayer

Also, $5.00 from every shirt will be donated to the Lupe Fiasco Foundation, so support a good cause while looking dapper.  You can purchase the Dumb It Down tee at the Enstrumental site now.

via @FakeShoreDrive

It’s in Austin, TX. Go if you can or at least send a doppelganger. RSVP here.

via Wooster Collective

His film has been nominated for Best Documentary. The Academy has requested, nay, DENIED his presence at the awards ceremony. It’s as if they’re worried he might pull some type of crazy prank or something. Imagine that.

Thanks to SlamXHype, Curated and MediaBistro.

A short, self-reflective film showing the fit surviving in LA brought to you by SAS.  Album out 2/22/11.

via Nah Right

A documentary in three parts.  Bob Marley Museum. Hope Road. “Land of Promise”. Behind the scenes. Watch.

via highsnobiety

Tahir Jetter is a filmmaker. He was at Sundance for his short film, Close. It’s actually quite wonderful. He’s working to make it a feature length film.

via DCtoBC

via Popsop

via Shadow And Act

INFLUENCERS In-Depth Series focuses on Steve Stoute, a member of Fortune’s “40 Under 40″ A-Listers, is responsible for major corporate collaborations with major icons such as Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, and Lebreezy.  Check the vid where Stoute speaks on the market for “cool” and how corporations are changing how they do business as a result of its consumer influence.

via slamxhype

The series follows 4 black women living in LA on “spiritual, professional and romantic journeys to make their dreams reality.” Entourage meets Sex in the City, is how they describe it. Check the trailer and see for yourself.

#goodblacktelevision

ps – above photo is of the members of Brown Paper Dolls (Dana Gills, Asha Kamali May, and Jeanette McDuffie)

@shadowandact

More pics after the jump.

@slamxhype

Kinda speaks for itself. Rather, he kinda speaks for himself. Don’t do shrooms.

@slamxhype; @dj_erok