Posted by Tieuel Legacy! aka The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate

The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate

“People of Color Like Simple Movies”

I had a deep discussion with a young lady on the Lord’s Day.  It has been said that there are specific reasons why black people don’t go to the movies to support certain works.  I could only chime in and add a few thoughts myself because I was in total agreement.  Although she stated this in a different way (stealth-like if you will), she mirrored what I was thinking.  Black filmmakers are in trouble.  Why?

(more…)

Posted by Tieuel Legacy! aka The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate

In response to http://www.zap2it.com/movies/reviews/zap-stomptheyard-review,0,6827774.story?track=rss and many others that didn’t enjoy Stomp the Yard.

This movie is a couple of years old but I feel obligated to chime in.  I feel that most people do Stomp the Yard and the director a disservice.  The direction was good, especially when capturing the Chris Brown sequences early in the dance, and the editing really added excitement in some areas.  I’m not saying that it’s near perfect.  There are weak points.  The story is pretty cliche’ and the lines that Brian White delivered were not strong at all especially when he’s describing TNT as the most powerful explosive known to man.  I cringe every time I hear several of his lines in the movie.  I’ve seen Brian in films that allowed him more range or something out of the ordinary.  One of which was directed by Sylvain, The Escort.  Another was Brick. 

(more…)

Posted by Tieuel Legacy! aka Shawnre’

Tieuel- Many people try to break into entertainment without doing their research. There’s a wealth of knowledge out there. What type of material do you look toward to maintain your acting chops? Literature? Workshops? DVD special features? Connecting with other actors?

Omari- Theatre, theatre, theatre…it keeps me sharp. If i’m not on stage I’ll jump into a class. Uta Hagen has a nice DVD out and so does Michael Caine. I also watch the greats onscreen and the films that are nominated for Oscars. I want to study those moments, beat to beat, moment to moment. I pay attention to what they are saying when they aren’t speaking. Eyes are extremely important in film acting.

(more…)

Posted by Tieuel Legacy! aka Shawnre’

A LITTLE ABOUT MOROCCO OMARI...
35 years old // Actor, screenwriter, director // Raised on the West Side of Chicago; lives in Bronzeville

“Looking back, I had to be a storyteller; we didn’t have a whole lot of outlets on the West Side. But it wasn’t until after I was shot at* that I sat down and thought about what I really wanted to do. // When I stood onstage, I got this adrenaline rush, almost like scoring a touchdown. I knew this was it. // The gutsiest thing I’ve done, besides fight a war, is I went up to Denzel Washington** and joked with him that he was getting old and that I was coming for him. He said: “Come on. I’ve opened the door for you.” We shared a laugh. // When I ask older actors what they wish they had done differently, they always say, “Take more control of my career.” I wrote, produced, cast, and starred in my last film, so for the next one, I decided I’d go ahead and direct, too. // When I was younger, my ideal date was Thelma from Good Times. Now it’s more like Helen Folasade Adu.***”

* As a marine in Desert Storm.
** Who went on to invest in Morocco’s screenwriting debut, The Male Groupie.
*** a.k.a. Sade — and, yes, Morocco knows her full name.

Part I of the interview after the jump!

(more…)

Posted by Tieuel Legacy! aka Shawnre’

Okay, I’m sick of this **sweetpea**. It doesn’t make any **danish** sense. And you **n-words** ya’ll are laughing like the **sweetpea** is funny. You think this is a game? Ya’ll know that somebody needs to fess up. I’ve been away from the blog for 2 weeks.

Mr. Chatmon sent a note that he wants everyone to blog once a week. I have no problem with that at all. I’m gonna do the best that I can. And no, I’m not telling ya’ll **n-words** what I’ve been doing until I finish this **sweetpea**.

I was gonna come back and just be cool for a while. The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate needed to get things moving but these crackheads are getting on **danish** my nerves.

Posted by Tieuel Legacy!

The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate

“Giving Change…”

Allow me to get into character.

Deep Breath…

Scene…

I pull into the parking lot of one Houston’s favorite restaurants. My friend, a filmmaker living in L.A., is visiting Houston so he agrees to meet me there. For namesake, it is Frenchy’s Chicken found in 3rd Ward (south Houston). For your sake, imagine you are pulling into Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in L.A., Popeye’s Chicken throughout the south, or Famous Fried Chicken up north. The lines are long.

(more…)

Posted by Tieuel Legacy!

The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate

“T-Painful Genius?”

I’m amazed. I’m shocked. The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate doesn’t know what to do in these chaotic times. “Every other station I turn, every other song they churn” I hear the residue of a computerized voice. It’s not Roger Troutman (deceased). A new clown is in effect and he’s being marketed as the new genius. Well, I called him a clown but really he’s a circus act demanding attention (BET Awards ‘08 during Kanye’s acceptance…brilliant). Kanye, R. Kelly, and Lil’ Wayne have stood in line to add new hits to their storage. They’ve knighted him. They consider him the new Einstein. What’s wrong with this picture? How did he become the guest star on no fewer than 3 of the top 100 at any given moment. Why is he considered a genius?

(more…)

Posted by Tieuel Legacy! aka Shawnre’

The Devil’s Devil’s Advocate #2

“R. Kelly Did It”

Thanks to my stunt double for standing in on the pic. No, is was my twin brother.

Now talk to me. I know that you had a huge dose of R. Kelly in the news for the last six years. Now that the trial is over, the talking continues. I’ll get to the point. I wonder who really knew the truth and who didn’t. How did he get away with it? Did he pay a large sum of money? Does he really have a look alike? Did the lawyers create that much doubt with the mole?

Around the time of his indictment, there were key events and details that went under the radar. However, there was still a question of the participants’ ages but the fact that Robert himself stated that it wasn’t him in ANY of the videos added another factor to the story. First of all, you’re right. Unlike him, I won’t lie and say that I never watched the videos. I did watch one version of the films. Never noticed a mole.

I don’t have to, but I will, mention the fact the home videos showed hairstyles that he wore on various music videos such as the loose braids on one of his more popular vids. Also, I believe that Black Entertainment Television noticed a few details. Immediately after Robert Kelly took the time to go on television with his pastor, BET replayed an episode of How I’m Living featuring R. Kelly and LisaRaye. Some of the same rooms that were on the home video were on the television show. Don’t believe me? Check out the unique log cabin look. It was apparent that even if R. Kelly didn’t commit the crime horny people on the home video were trapped in the same house.

Instead of asking about his guilt, I’d rather know this. Will you continue to support his music whether guilty or innocent?

Now that I got that off of my chest, look for the next blog…”Is T-Pain Really a Genius?”

Posted by Tieuel Legacy! aka Shawnre’

Talk to me. When was the last time that you heard the word “nigger” in a movie, in a song, or on the street? Sure, I recognize the fact that the word was deprived by the oppressors of our people and the true thieves of American soil from the redskins. Not only that, I understand that the word was used to degrade our people for a few hundred years. It is 2008. It’s a part of OUR culture. True?

“Nigger” took on an additional meaning years ago. Although it will still incite a four piece (definition- four punches to the face and torso) if a person from another culture uses the word, it is often used as a term of endearment. “That’s my nigga.” “Nigga get outta here with that.” “What you gonna do my nigga? You gonna roll or what?” It is spelled AND pronounced slightly different from the word that it was derived from. Tupac even made it into an acronym “never ignorant gettin’ goals accomplished”. However, our people can also use it in a derogatory manner. You might hear, “That nigga hasn’t paid me my $5.” “Nigga, don’t let me catch you before the sun goes down.” “I can’t stand that nigga.” For some people, they will be upset about “nigga” in any of those situations. Instead of striking the word from their vocabulary, they resort to saying “the N word”. Isn’t that just as bad? Also, how does it feel when you watch a Tarantino film (or any other film with black actors in it) and the white people throw “nigga” around a few times? Do you expect Samuel L. to take offense to it and charge the director up about the dialogue?

Breaking News…Jesse Jackson apologized to Barack Obama for using the word “nigga” off camera.

Up next from Tieuel Legacy!…”R. Kelly, He Did It”