On August 24, 2010 Stacey & Tracee TV will give away 5,000 back-to-school goodies to students of the Fashion Institute of Technology. Free items include rare and vintage comic books, old fashioned lollipops and super cool shoe laces.
Stacey & Tracee TV reps will be stationed on 7th Avenue between 26th and 27th from 12 – 3 (or while supplies last). College students of surrounding area schools are also encouraged to drop by for a free treat.
The giveaway is part of a nationwide initiative to bring awareness to the emerging media company’s “Join the Revolution” campaign. http://kck.st/aqO4Ue
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Knocking Down the "Walls"
July 2010
Greetings Friend,
I hope you are well and staying cool. It has been a long time since my last update and I’m quite embarrassed to say just how long. In fact, I double-checked to make sure the date I read was correct; unfortunately it was. That said it’s great to reconnect with you and resume quarterly updates.
Since my last letter I did take time off from working on “Dressed Like Kings” (DLK) partly because the well was running dry (i.e. money) and in runners’ terminology I “hit the wall.” The good thing about “hitting the wall” is that you have to dig deep and force your sinew to press on to the goal. In addition, I had to truly re-examine what DLK was about and ask myself, “Why am I making this film?”
During this time of introspection, I had the privilege of working with Emmy Award-Winning documentary filmmaker, Stanley Nelson on “Freedom Riders.” The two-hour documentary will air in 2011 on PBS’ “American Experience”, marking the 50th Anniversary of the 1961 Freedom Rides that challenged the interstate transport laws in the segregated South.
One of the rewards of working on a history doc like “Freedom Riders” is that it reminded me why documentaries are important and why historical docs are essential. This made me revisit the genesis of DLK - a NY Times article written in 2002 about this special group of fashionable Zulu men. As I recalled the history of oswenka and the interviews of the men, I was driven to the word that summed up the entire film for me in the beginning - hope. It’s this same hope that has revived me and reminded me that the purpose of my film is to give a glimpse into a moment of time and space where Zulu men believe that ones self-worth is increased by donning a suit. In short, DLK is an important documentary film that is essential to the history of not only South Africans but African Americans as well.
With this new fortitude, I plowed through several grants (again) and approximately a year from this date I received a congratulations letter informing me that DLK was awarded a New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA) Grant. I also received several generous donations as well! This new boost was a blessing and a reminder to “keep on keeping on,” as my Grandmother would say.
In the beginning of the year, there was an addition to the DLK team, Emir Lewis who holds the title of Editor. For over a month Emir performed serious surgery on DLK and I’m happy to say that she’s looking really good! I also experienced the generosity of two other film colleagues Michelle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, who donated their editing space. Since DLK’s major face lift I am reconnecting with former funding sources, revising the budget, making friends in the Archives Department in South Africa, and thinking outside the box on securing finishing funds.
In addition to DLK: I’m working with Stanley on his recent documentary about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); this is particularly exciting since I’m an alum of Dillard University. I also recently finished a forty-eight hour film challenge for Black Entertainment (BET) called “Scene Stealers” which you can check out at http://www.bet.com/lensontalent; and lastly my producing partner Tracee Loran and I are working on an Internet Revolution which we will be launching on a computer near you. Additional information on our Revolution is available on Facebook and Twitter under the brand name of Stacey & Tracee Media.
Moving forward, I continue to press toward the goal of delivering a film that you have supported in so many ways. I can’t thank you enough for the numerous ways you have continued to make this project breathe life (i.e. emails, calls, and “friendly” nudges) and I look forward (in the very near future) to sharing with you the beautiful work that we’ve created, together.
Sincerely yours,
Stacey
Greetings Friend,
I hope you are well and staying cool. It has been a long time since my last update and I’m quite embarrassed to say just how long. In fact, I double-checked to make sure the date I read was correct; unfortunately it was. That said it’s great to reconnect with you and resume quarterly updates.
Since my last letter I did take time off from working on “Dressed Like Kings” (DLK) partly because the well was running dry (i.e. money) and in runners’ terminology I “hit the wall.” The good thing about “hitting the wall” is that you have to dig deep and force your sinew to press on to the goal. In addition, I had to truly re-examine what DLK was about and ask myself, “Why am I making this film?”
During this time of introspection, I had the privilege of working with Emmy Award-Winning documentary filmmaker, Stanley Nelson on “Freedom Riders.” The two-hour documentary will air in 2011 on PBS’ “American Experience”, marking the 50th Anniversary of the 1961 Freedom Rides that challenged the interstate transport laws in the segregated South.
One of the rewards of working on a history doc like “Freedom Riders” is that it reminded me why documentaries are important and why historical docs are essential. This made me revisit the genesis of DLK - a NY Times article written in 2002 about this special group of fashionable Zulu men. As I recalled the history of oswenka and the interviews of the men, I was driven to the word that summed up the entire film for me in the beginning - hope. It’s this same hope that has revived me and reminded me that the purpose of my film is to give a glimpse into a moment of time and space where Zulu men believe that ones self-worth is increased by donning a suit. In short, DLK is an important documentary film that is essential to the history of not only South Africans but African Americans as well.
With this new fortitude, I plowed through several grants (again) and approximately a year from this date I received a congratulations letter informing me that DLK was awarded a New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA) Grant. I also received several generous donations as well! This new boost was a blessing and a reminder to “keep on keeping on,” as my Grandmother would say.
In the beginning of the year, there was an addition to the DLK team, Emir Lewis who holds the title of Editor. For over a month Emir performed serious surgery on DLK and I’m happy to say that she’s looking really good! I also experienced the generosity of two other film colleagues Michelle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, who donated their editing space. Since DLK’s major face lift I am reconnecting with former funding sources, revising the budget, making friends in the Archives Department in South Africa, and thinking outside the box on securing finishing funds.
In addition to DLK: I’m working with Stanley on his recent documentary about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); this is particularly exciting since I’m an alum of Dillard University. I also recently finished a forty-eight hour film challenge for Black Entertainment (BET) called “Scene Stealers” which you can check out at http://www.bet.com/lensontalent; and lastly my producing partner Tracee Loran and I are working on an Internet Revolution which we will be launching on a computer near you. Additional information on our Revolution is available on Facebook and Twitter under the brand name of Stacey & Tracee Media.
Moving forward, I continue to press toward the goal of delivering a film that you have supported in so many ways. I can’t thank you enough for the numerous ways you have continued to make this project breathe life (i.e. emails, calls, and “friendly” nudges) and I look forward (in the very near future) to sharing with you the beautiful work that we’ve created, together.
Sincerely yours,
Stacey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
