DIY films are the New Negros???

Is Hollywood racist?

Hardly. Not a chance. Those days are over.



Yes, quality minority created films still dont get released at the same rate as "mainstream" films do, but there are plenty of facts that disprove this theory. Still, this is interesting to read, and maybe DIY films in general are the new oppressed group of artists. I'd be cool to get your thoughts on this.

Decide for yourself below, then make sure to check out A Black Man's Trilogy:

"United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc., 334 US 131 (1948) was the landmark antitrust case that was spurred by a class action suit by several independent filmmakers who accused the studio system of conspiring to shut out any independent voices from the marketplace of ideas in the film industry. As a result of this case, the majors were ordered to divest themselves of entities that allowed them to vertically integrate every aspect to film production, i.e., writing, casting, directing, production, distribution and exhibition. The court outlawed the practice of "block booking’ in which the studios compelled studio-owned exhibitors to book studio releases well in advance, forcing them to show lesser "B" quality films in exchange for the right to show the future "A" quality films. Writers, directors, actors were under exclusive contract with the studios, making highly impracticable for independents to present their films to the public. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 had been made law in order to prevent anticompetitive practices, or monopolies that are designed or have the effect of restricting the free flow of ideas in the marketplace.



Fast forward 60 years. Why is this relevant to "Black Man’s Trilogy"? The same situation that made it necessary for DOJ to sue the studios in the 40’s, once again exists with studio ownership by mega conglomerates Viacon, Time Warner, and Sony. These mega-conglomerates own studios, exhibitors, distributors, television networks and retail video stores. They’ve swallowed up many former independents and independent filmmakers, while preventing access to known artists by independent filmmakers without agency representation. It’s vertical integration, 21st century version. Outlets like Amazon, Create Space and Blockbuster have become the few outlets available to independent filmmakers, particulartly those of color with multiculturally themed films. We see our theatrical-quality independent films languishing on Blockbuster Video shelves while inferior studio-produced films occupy theater screens. Quality films by filmmakers Rob Hardy and Will Packer and Craig Ross, Jr. to name only a few, go to video while films like "Soul Plane", "The Wash" and "Who’s Your Caddy" (a film produced by Tracey Edmonds, a black producer, who hired white filmmakers to inflict this insult), take up valuable theater screens. Spike Lee and Robert Townsend would have been unable to penetrate the studio conspiracy of exclusion had they come about in 2007 instead of in the 1980’s. What happened to the renaissance of Black cinema that was expected after their respective successful releases, "She’s Gotta Have It" and "Hollywood Shuffle"? African American independants have been and are still making films. Look for them buried in your local Blockbuster Video store shelves and on Amazon and Create Space."

Read full piece HERE:


http://amapedia.amazon.com/view/A+Black+Man



- Princeton