"Crouching Banks, Hidden Money"

Director of “That Film About Money" — James Schamus

“We The Economy" is an ambitious undertaking but you would expect nothing less from Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions and Morgan Spurlock’s Cinelan. The partnering with other award-winning directors (including Adrian Grenier, Catherine Hardwicke, James Schamus, Adam McKay and Joe Berlinger) have produced 20 short films that drive awareness and, hopefully, a better understanding of the U.S. economy.

This short film series includes animation, comedy, nonfiction and scripted films, and cameos from Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Judah Friedlander,

All 20 films—which launched last week—are free and available to view across multiple platforms (online, VOD, broadcast, mobile, theatrical, etc.).

I experienced a strong connection to two shorts under “That Film About Money” by James Schamus.  

Mr. Schamus is an award-winning screenwriter (“The Ice Storm”) and producer (“Brokeback Mountain”), and former CEO of Focus Features, the motion picture production, financing, and worldwide distribution company whose films have included “Milk,” “The Pianist,” and the “The Dallas Buyers Club.”

Here is a fun fact, I’m such a fan of James Schamus that if—by magical intrigue—he could mange to steal all the gooey chocolate goodness in the world, not even sharing one with the “tiniest of tot” he would still remain on my  ”favorite” artist list. That’s how much I like James Schamus and I’m awfully fond of chocolate!

Recently, I had a 1:1 with Schamus to discuss “That Film About Money” which he directed. The objective of the shorts is to make the audience think about a dollar bill and how that “buck” works (or doesn’t work) inside the banking system and how it moves inside your life.

Here is what James Schamus had to share about banks, spirituality and filmmaker Justin Simien. 

myNewYorkeye: Why did you make these two short?

James Schamus: Money. They offered me “money” to make a film about money.  All 20 shorts are free.

myNewYorkeye: Sounds too simple. Please, elaborate.

James Schamus: I have a conflicted relationship both with the topic of the ‘economy’ and with the premise of the series as a whole. Indeed, the concept of the ‘economy,” even its constitution as an object of scientific study, as a thing, is relatively recent, and to me smells of an ideological maneuver wherein we replace what are essentially political relations with a mystifying body of social science ‘knowledge’ to be managed and manipulated by financial/political elites.

myNewYorkeye: Ouch, I did ask. So, what’s did you most people know about money?

James Schamus: It tuned out that some of the most sophisticated and connected people, out there, probably don’t know what a bank really is. So, it’s my job, in five minutes, to just freak you out every time you walk past a bank, for the rest of your life.  

myNewYorkeye: At five, I tried to purchased chocolate with my well earned Monopoly money.  The shop keeper tried to explain why my “paper” wasn’t the same as the U.S. “paper currency.”  In good humor, he showed me the words “in God we trust” as his final explanation to why only “that paper” only could be traded for goods. I didn’t buy it.

James Schamus: Now you know, all these years later that you were actually right and my movies tell you the reasons for that. The main purpose of a bank is to get rid of your money. The most profitable banks are the emptiest.

myNewYorkeye: Snap. A dollar ain’t a dollar.

James Schamus: In fact, I point out that the dollar bill[s] are these “magical objects” that are covered not only in the phrase “in God We Trust” but they have added a pyramid with the eyeball (which is Masonic imagery). It’s magical because you have to have belief. You have to have belief for them to work and if you stop believing in them then you stop trading them. It’s a sad state of affairs when probably the most spiritual content of our lives, on a daily basis, comes when you pass a dollar bill around telling each other (that) we trust in God.

myNewYorkeye: Thank you. Quick question, you have an exceptional eye for artistic talent. Who should we know and why?

James Schamus: Justin Simien. If you haven’t seen his film, “Dear White People,” run, don’t walk.  He hit it out the park!

For more on the film check out the official website: https://wetheeconomy.com/

"There are No Young Black Stars" so this director made, two!

A directors' love delivers a new, classic love story. Gina Prince-Bythewood is the screenwriter and director of "Beyond The Lights" a modern, compelling and utterly convincing modern love story starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw ("Belle") and Nate Parker ("The Secret Life of Bees").

The film opens November 14th and I'm on the strictest embargo not to share too much but, OMGosh, it's time to gush.  I'm making effort not to use every known cliche to attempt to express how well crafted this PG-13 gem is and how "root-to-foot" proud I am of Mrs. Prince-Bythewood. It's produced by Stephanie Allain, Ryan Kavanaugh, Amar'e Stoudemire and Reggie Rock Bythewood,

"Beyond The Lights"—which was the opening night film for the 2014 Urban World Festival and received a standing ovation—is the story of Noni, the music world's latest "rising like a bullet" superstar.  But the price of fame is staggering and the pressures of it have  Noni on the edge - until she meets Kaz Nicol, a young cop and aspiring politician who's been assigned to her detail.

The buzz surrounding the screening hit twitteedom like a four alarm storm alert—it's a hit!

I attended a private screening, with several executives from Essence communications, and our collective reaction turned us into "girlfriends" making spontaneous comments inspired by the spectacular performances and explosive chemistry between the leads. My hand on the Bible, I heard (at least three) my colleagues "exhale."

I'm on lip-lock until November but here is a tiny bit of my sit down with Gina Price-Bythewood.

myNewYorkeye: It's a hit. The screening audience went bananas.  The casting was perfect. Was it easy? I'm setting it up for ya, go!

Gina Prince-Bythewood: (laughing) Funny.  I was very touched by the audience reaction. The journey has been long and the need to find the perfect cast was a challenge. I learned an important thing in making 'Love and Basketball' I realized that you can fake a jump shot but you can't fake a close up, so I cast an actor. I did the same thing here.

myNewYorkeye: Gugu and Nate have the "it" factor.  How did you get that alchemy? Are you hiding "Breaking Bad" type chemistry skills?

Gina Prince-Bythewood: In the audition, Gugu went for "it," her chops are insane.  I saw the movie when she was auditioning and that's such an exciting thing to experience as a director.  I rushed home with her audition DVD , to show my husband Reggie, who is also the producer, and we were like 'OMG' are we seeing what we think were seeing?" 

myNewYorkeye: Then what happened ...?

Gina Prince-Bythewood: Then the work to get her approved began.  She wasn't known and the studio (I was at Fox at the time) kept saying "no" because she wasn't a "star."  As a director, when you find that right  person you fight for them. I decided to do a live reading for the studio executives and called Nate to come in (as a favor) to read with Gugu. I had an interior motive. I wanted to get him in and show him off.

myNewYorkeye: You rock! Is that how you pulled off such clever casting?

Gina Prince-Bythewood: No ( laughing) the journey continues. The chemistry was "right there" but ultimately Sony was like "she's not a star and were not going to make this movie."

myNewYorkeye: You are a veteran Hollywood player. I'm confident that you didn't take it personally. 

Gina Prince-Bythewood: Your right. It wasn't right for them. So, Reggie and I put in our own money into making an 8  minute presentation and Gugu wore "the music video outfit" that she wears in the film.  That's when I knew that she trusted me as a director and was willing "to go" there.

myNewYorkeye: The costume leaves "just a Smidge" to the imagination.

Gina Prince-Bythewood: She gives a very bold performance. We went back to the studios and it's crazy because they loved it and loved Gugu, loved the script but they said "but, she's not a star" and there are no young black men that are stars.'

So close but I kept getting no's. I needed that one yes.  Finally BET saw the presentation, read the script and they invested a couple million dollars.  We then went to Relativity, the very first studio that didn't question Gugu. They said: 'we see that's she's a star. Whomever you want to cast opposite as the male lead, go for it.'"

myNewYorkeye: Your script is "tight as f$&@."

Gina Prince-Bythewood:  (laughing deep and long)

Can you write that? Please?

myNewYorkeye: Done!

Faith based Hollywood

IN JESUS TIME: GOD and Hollywood

"In Jesus time" is how actress/producer Meagan Good signs her personal emails. It always makes me smile when I receive one because it's a reminder that this successful actress ("Anchorman: The Legend Continues" opposite Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig and lead character Detective 'Joanna Locasto' in the new NBC drama “Deception") is proud of her faith and is one of several, high profile Hollywood players that let their "faith flag fly!"

This past weekend those faith power players broke "spiritual, creative and financial bread" at the Merge Summit, one of the largest events for people of faith and it's multifaceted programs.

Held in Los Angeles, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel nearly 100 of the industry’s top entertainers and executives, including Ms. Good and her husband, DeVon Franklin (SVP of Production, Columbia Pictures), lead more than 20 interactive panel discussions, workshops and Master Class sessions covering music, television, film, creative development, branding and new media.

The Summit, co-founded by Dr. Holly Carter and Robi Reed, is presented in association with Walgreens, Wellness Interactive, Inc. and Entertainment One.

The celebrity roster included Anthony Anderson (ABC’s “Black-ish”), Laurence Fishburne (ABC’s “Black-ish”), Tracee Ellis Ross (ABC’s “Black-ish”), Boris Kodjoe (BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood”), Common (Rapper/Actor), Lala Anthony (“Think Like A Man Too”), Terrence Jenkins, Erica Campbell (Mary Mary), Derek Luke (“Baggage Claim”), Clint Culpepper (President, Screen Gems), Dondre Whitfield (ABC’s “Mistresses”), Yvette Nicole Brown (NBC’s “Community”), Bishop Charles E. Blake (West Angeles Church of God In Christ), Lynn Whitfield (Emmy Award-winning Actress), Suzanne de Passe (de Passe Jones Entertainment), Harry J. Lennix (NBC’s “The Blacklist”), Edwina Findley (Tyler Perry’s “If Loving You Is Wrong”), Cast of Oxygen’s “Preachers of L.A.,” to list a few.

My chats with Megan center on the subject of balance and how she maintains her sincere love of God, career and being married to a Hollywood insider, who is also a minister.

Correct, DeVon Franklin, SVP of Production, Columbia Pictures/producer is also a minster.

In Jesus time—indeed.

"My love for GOD makes everything possible," shared Megan. "My life keeps getting fuller and I love giving back. I'm filled with joy, the kind you can only get from knowing The Lord (GOD)."

In addition to acting, Meagan runs her own production company and is involved in the independent film community. Some of her producer credits include "Miles From Home," which she starred in opposite actor/director Ty Hodges and "Video Girl," in which she also stared.

"I have a dream project brewing," Megan teased. "It involves music and faith. I'll share more. Until then, In Jesus time."

"In Jesus Time."

NEW YORK CITY EARNS 22 Emmy Awards and makes the city proud!

"If you can make it here," the popular ballad exclaims, "you can make it anywhere. New York, New York."

The popular phrase seems to be ringing true, especially with the recent wins that the city racked up at the 2014 Emmy Awards. A whopping 22 Primetime Emmies were earned by productions that are shot in New York City.

That's news that deserves celebration especially since the film and television industry contributes approximately $7.1 billion to the local economy annually.

That's billions of dollars trickling down to every sector of Gotham. The wins clearly made Mayor Bill De Blasio and the Media & Entertainment Commissioner Cynthia Lopez, "Made In New York" proud.

“Thousands of New Yorkers work in front of the camera and behind the scenes on ‘Made in NY’ TV shows," said the Mayor. "Were proud to see so many of our hardworking residents recognized by the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards. From The Good Wife to The Colbert Report, our city’s thriving production industry is made up of countless award-winning actors, directors, costume designers, sound mixers, set decorators and others. Today’s 22 Primetime Emmy Awards confirm once again: New York City’s TV industry is growing more talented every day.”

Commissioner Cynthia López, recently appointed to her job as "media czar" for the

Mayor’s Office, shared De Blasio opportunistic view that the big Emmy win is an indicator of better financial days ahead for this growing sector of the city.

“The ‘Made in NY’ series honored by this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards show just how talented NYC’s creative community truly is," gushed Lopez, she continued.

"This year’s Emmy Award winners run the gamut from digital series like "Orange Is the New Black" to cultural institutions like "Saturday Night Live," "The Good Wife" to "The Normal Heart," with countless others in between. We've never been more proud to have these iconic productions call New York City home.”

To see the full list of winners go to -

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/news2014/080114emmyawards2014.shtml.