Invisible Universe rough cut to screen at LHAAFF 2007!!!

Hello All,

After months of editing, I am finally ready to screen a 60 minute rough cut of Invisible Universe: a history of blackness in speculative fiction at the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival in Seattle, Washington.

Here's the info:
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
7:30pm @ the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center

Eric Battle Book Signing

This is from an associate, Prof. Yumy Odom of The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention. And btw, Eric is a great artist and a really great guy!

GREETINGS!

FYI

ERIC BATTLE ( BATMAN / SPECTRE) IS SCHEDULED TO DO A SIGNING AT FAT JACK'S COMIC CRYPT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2006 FROM 4P.M. - 6P.M.

FAT JACK'S IS LOCATED AT 20TH & SANSOM STS. IN CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA - 215.963.0788.

Music Video premiere!!!

So I've got a little side project. Back in the summer, I directed a music video for the musical artist, Tamar-kali. Check it out on my MySpace page: Invisible Universe Check out her website: Tamar-kali the song is entitled, Boot. Really enjoyed working on the project with T, having been a fan of hers since 1996.

Ca: Tamar-kali, Tia Horn. Pr/Dir: M. Asli Dukan, DP: Yvie Raij, PD: Mark Gebel, MU: Angelique Turner, Gaf: Michael Britto, Yamar Ba, CA: Reyna Abarca, W: Imani Horn, PA: Doreen and Tia Horn, Zack Gebel, Marya Wethers, Ph: Scott Smith, Ed: Mike Mason

BlackHorrorMovies.com

Sci Fi Soul Night at Imagenation Film and Music Festival

This past 24 August 2006, I curated the Sci Fi Soul Night for the Imagenation folk. Screened two films, a short entitled "Dread Night Folk" by Erik Knight and a feature entitled "Les Saignantes" (The Bloodettes) by Jean-Pierre Bekolo. Well the first film, was a short that I had seen in graduate school in 1998. It's a tale of an old dying man named Honus, who with the aid of a young boy named Rono, tries to escape from Death on the cold night on the streets of New York. Its a mix of magic realism amd african diaspora folklore. I was really impressed with its subtlely, creativity, imagination and energy. There is a stop motion segment where a dance is created with jars and buttlerflies. This is one of the first times where I felt there could be such a thing as a Black SF film, without it going over the top, but with just enough culture to really feel it. The other time I felt that was with Ganja & Hess, the vampiric film by Bill Gunn. The other film, the feature, Les Saignantes, left me without a lot of different emotions and thoughts. First of all, I had not seen the film before the screening but the directors of the festival were insistent on screening it because the distributor, Kay Shaw could come to speak about it. I must say that if she were not there, I really would not have gotten half of the ideas of the film as she explained them. The film takes place in the future, 2025 Cameroon in a society where prostitution is still a way of life and political and social upper classes and wannabes attend funerals like people go to film premieres as a sign of social nobility. So the first few minutes is like a soft porn sex video, where a young naked woman hangs from a strap above an old naked man. She pounces and twirls and hovers above him in a sexual manner. We get good glimpses of how bottomless the womans costume is while oddly enough the old man is covered. Anyway this prostitute has this important client die on her and then somehow with her friend and fellow prostitute loses the body of the dead man. This apparently is a very bad thing for them as they are kind of social climbers too, so then they go to a creepy mortician who replaces the body with another, so that they may do their social mourning with the other socialites. Then there is this evilish government official whose passion is the smell of women's worn underwear, who becomes the antogonist of the two prostitutes who at some point after the bodyless torso and funeral decide to change their lives around, by quitting prostitution? I'm not really sure about that part. Then there is the climatic choreographed and very laughable fight scene between the government official and the women, and they defeat him because get this they have as a young boy in the audience so aptly yelled, "Mommy they have powers!" so if this quasi-review does not make sense, its because its exactly how i felt watching the film. And all of this was supposed to be SF. Maybe I'll watch it again and take another shot at reviewing it.

Big Apple Con

On Saturday, 24 June 2006 I will be a guest on a Black SciFi Panel hosted by Black comic book historian Professor William Foster along with Sheree Renee Thomas of the Dark Matter Anthologies and Maurice Waters of BlackSciFi.com and the East Coast Black Age of Comics.

Octavia E. Butler 1947-2006

I just received word today that Octavia Butler died. I have so many emotions about it that it is hard to separate and explain them all right now. I read Octavia's work when I was in high school and she really opened up the doors of possibility in my mind. Her work was challenging (for my teenage brain and emotions) but at the same time she made it possible for me to see myself in a genre that I never literally saw myself in as a major character. She definitely inspired me to do what I do now. I thank her for that. I feel lucky that I have even had the opportunity to tell her this, more than once. The first time she smirked and changed the subject. The second time she laughed. But the third time, very recently at an award ceremony in her honor in New York City, she responded that I made her feel old, if I read her work while I was in high school. We had a good laugh together that time. That is one of my fondest memories of the woman, a titan in the world of writing in general but SF writing in particular. There are those who have recognized her talent and her intelligence before she passed, but in my opinion not nearly enough. She was and forever will be truly one of the greatest.

IUFSFC 2006!!!

IUF Holds Its First Annual Conference 2006
Exploring African American Speculative Fiction

New York, NY. ---- (IUF) The Invisible Universe Foundation, an organization that researches and promotes the history of African Americans in speculative fiction literature, cinema and related media will hold its first annual conference during Black history month on February 18, 2006 at The City College of New York. The Invisible Universe Foundation is a first of its kind conference examining a broad variety of works in African American fantasy, horror and science fiction or speculative fiction.

The conference theme will be devoted to "Black Vampirism in Literature and Film,” The special guest is L.A. Banks, a prominent African American writer of “The Vampire Huntress Legends Series” and author of over 17 novels. Admission to the IUF conference is twenty-five dollars. It will be held from 1pm to 6pm in the Media and Communication Arts Department, rooms 290/291 at 139 Street and Convent Avenue.

Ms. Dukan, founder of the IUF asserts “other events have been held around the country featuring black speculative fiction authors and filmmakers, but what differentiates the IUF conference is that we bring together cinema, literature, animation, comics and video games to an open channel of communication.”

With an increase in popularity of Black roles in speculative fiction movies and books from Catwoman and X-Men featuring Halle Berry, to Wesley Snipes’ “Blade trilogy” and as well as the work of Octavia Butler, the event is geared to generate an exciting atmosphere that will bring together a variety of creative minds discussing African American portrayals in speculative fiction. The panel will include filmmaker Mike Sargent, Professors Frances Gateward and Kara Lynch and others in the field.

The conference keynote speaker, Ms. Dukan, a graduate from CUNY with a Master’s Degree in media and communication arts will also screen a 15 minute segment from her documentary work-in-progress “Invisible Universe: a history of blackness in speculative fiction.” This event will include a raffle drawing with collector’s prizes and an entertaining closing reception.

The Invisible Universe Foundation was founded in November of 2005 in New York City.
For further information please contact Ms. Asli Dukan, Executive Director at E-mail: info@invisibleuniversedoc.com and visit the website http://www.invisibleuniversedoc.com.

Dr. M. Giulia Fabi

Dr. Fabi came all the way from Italy to be interviewed by me. Just kidding, but I was lucky enough to catch her while she was passing through the States to talk to her about her book, Passing and the Rise of the African American novel. In one chapter she talks about pre 20th century African American utopian fiction. She covers authors like Sutton E. Griggs, Frances E. W. Harper and Charles W. Chesnutt. The book is an excellent analysis of the novels in the context of the utopian literature of the day. She is also working on a new work on African American utopian fiction where she will be digging up alot of lost texts.

Maryland Trip, Dr. Gregory Hampton

Just came back from Maryland where my crew and I interviewed Dr. Gregory Hampton, the professor from Howard University who put together the first event that I videotaped for the documentary in 2003. A New Frontier: Blacks in Science Fiction brought in Octavia Butler, Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due and Nalo Hopkinson. There were also a number of papers read from different academics during the two-day event where the focus was on Blacks, Literature and Science/Speculative Fiction. Dr. Hampton is currently publishing two works, one on Octavia Butler and the other a review of his 2003 conference. Good Interview, nice long drive.

Philadephia Trip, L. A. Banks

Philly seems to be the spot for me and this project. We interviewed L. A. Banks today and I have to say that this woman is not only a prolific writer but a really good person. Her story is amazing, her writing the result of desire, necessity and creativity. She has not only written a number of romance novels but is as of this writing up to her 6th vampire huntress novel with 3 more in the works. Her fan base is dedicated and amazing too. I've had the opportunity to be present at several events where she has spoke on panels and the room is always filled with laughter. Check this woman's work out and don't be surprised if you see the vampire huntress in the theatres in the future!

L. A. Banks

Gaylaxicon 2005

Gaylaxicon 2005 takes place in Boston, Massachusetts this year from 1 - 4 July 2005. It's an annual and national Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Gaming Convention.I won't be able to go this year because of prior engagements but I'm interested in the invisibility that GLBT people have played in SF and how it is similar to the invisibility of Black representations. Maybe next year I can incorporate IU into the programming with my discussion of Jewelle Gomez's The Guilda Stories. Next year its in Toronto.

Gaylaxicon 2005

Connecticutt Trip, Prof. William Foster

Prof. Foster is amazing! He is just another example of these wonderfully intelligent people I have had the honor to meet along the way to making this documentary a reality. He is a comic book historian. I had never heard of such a title previous to my encounter with him at ECBACC 3 last year. Well this past ECBACC 4 he gave a wonderful talk about the history of Blacks in Comics. I have to say he took me back to my youth when I received X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman, etc. comic books from my grandmother. The interview with him was just as energetic and informative. The only crazy part was that we took the train up, then halfway there, due to track construction we ended up on a small, stinky and crowded city bus with all our equipment, sitting next to a few over partied men still hung over from the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City from the day before... ;0) -) Oh well.

ECBACC 4 in Philadelphia

Okay this is my second attendance to the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention. This year was most definitely bigger and better than the previous event. This two day event takes place every year at Temple University in Philly and showcases the growing world of Blacks in comics. Last year I documented the event. This year I had the opportunity to participate on a panel and have a table where I showed the trailer and sold Invisible Universe tee shirts as part of my fundraising end. It was a great event and I got to meet and talk with a variety of Black folk who participate in the world of comics as creators, historians, academics and fans. Check them out!

East Coast Black Age of Comics

TV Interview on The New Yorkers

So after a few of my artist friends suddenly appeared on this local tv interview program in New York City entitled the New Yorkers, hosted by Jim Chladek, I found myself on the show too… I was convinced that not only would it make for a good segment for my press kit, but also it would be a hilarious experience. I don't know about the press kit part yet but it most definitely was truly funny. So it seems that the host, Jim Chladek is this millionaire who owns numerous local tv stations around the country. So much for a second career. Anyway I call the show and a couple of days later I get a call back from a guy who acts as producer, talent wrangler, PA and all around nice guy. The station is located inside this building on the 23rd street on the east side. Apparently on the lower floor is a fireman's union? The studios there are really makeshift but somehow it seems to work really well. Kinda funny after years of studying film and working in film departments and low budget projects, I can so see myself in a place like this, running the video playback or something. I have to say mostly everybody who works there was really really nice. It was very professional. Now the green room, where the talent waits their turn to go on, was quite an eccletic place. Besides myself and my girlfriend, there was a fashion designer and store owner. Her store, Gaelyn and Cianfarani is also on the east side of town. We mostly had some small chit chat about my documentary and her designs. Btw, the producer/talent wrangler/etc. apparently thought she was a man because of her very short haircut, slightly deep voice and unusual first name and it was interesting how he tried to tip toe around gender identity conversation with her. Also that night was a guy who wrote and self-published a "a black man and why he loves white women" type of book. His black girlfriend was with him, I think. Lol. There was also some independent exercise and erotic dance instructor. Thats all I'll say about that. Coincidently next door to our studio is another studio where a porn show is shot by a "slightly" older woman with quite a few fetish interests...

The World, the Flesh and the Devil

Just found a bootleg dvd of the 1959 film, "The World, the Flesh and the Devil" directed by Ranald MacDougall and starring Harry Belafonte. This is a "last man on earth" genre film and it seems this film was "inspired" by a story by M.P. Shiel called "The Purple Cloud." M.P. Shiel is interesting because he was the son of an Irish Methodist minister and formerly enslaved "Mulatta" from the Caribbean. From things I've been able to find thus far, he was never perceived as a person of mixed heritage and passed as a "white" man. Will get to the book soon and do a comparison of the two stories...

Speculative Race Film???

Chloe, early black speculative film, starring Molly Day, a Race film about a "Black Voodoo Mistress."

It's been 2 years since officially began the Invisible Universe documentary... and so far, I've read alot of books, watched alot of films, and have met and interviewed alot of people.

Radio Interview for W.U.R.D. 900 AM Philly

Philly is a really interesting place. It kind of reminds me of where I grew up in Newark, New Jersey. Its a place with a large African American population and this is no statistic I've looked up. I can see it. Its a mix of struggle and progress like my homecity. Black folk who are caught up in the mess of poverty and racism and Black folk who are very progressive. Its like one time I was there documenting a Black SF panel one minute and the next minute there a police car chase going on between Temple University and the railroad station. (Compliments to Sheree Renee Thomas for that bit of info) Anyway another way its like Newark is that it has access to a local radio station which has an element of progressive Black programming. I remember growing up listening to Gary Imhotep Byrd first on a local station in Jersey and then at the old WLIB. So its a few days before I am to participate in a Blacks in SF writing panel at Temple and I get an email from Maurice Waters of Black SCI FI.COM about being on a radio show to promote the panel. So here I sat one night, sweaty and dirty (I was in the middle of my capoeira class) sitting in the hall of the new Alvin Ailey Studios in NYC on my cell phone being interviewed by the host Jeffrey Hart.

Black to the Future SF Festival, Seattle, Washington

How in the hell did we do it?! This was a really big deal. I and my Director of Photography (or videography), Yvie Raij came to the northwest corner of the continental United States with a bunch of heavy equipment to document a 4 day monumental event. So these wonderful folk of color mostly at the CD Forum in Washington State got some money to put this festival together. They called it Black to the Future: A Black Science Fiction Festival for 3 days, 11 - 13 June 2004. I heard about it, got in contact with them, and figured out a way to get out here. They also invited me to show a trailer and speak on a panel about my project. Can I say nervous? Anyway did and made it through, but some of the events and people they brought together: Octavia Butler, Walter Mosley, Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, Beth Coleman, The founders of The Carl Brandon Society, etc. Panels on literature, music, film, workshops on writing SF novels and comics, book signings and vendors room. Too bad this was just a one time event. It really should go on every year. One little note, as of this writing there seems to be a large representation of black folk in the genre in the part of the country, Butler, JT Stewart (Clarion West), Due and Barnes, Nisi Shawl and Ian Hagemann of the Carl Brandon Society. It is quite beautiful out here I have to say. I must keep that in mind too! Big Shout Out to Doug for letting us crash at his place while we were there! I won't forget your kindness man!

A New Frontier at Howard University

This is just the beginning. I've undertaken to do a really big project. How about that for my first documentary? So the idea is that I want to document, reveal and share the history of black representations in speculative fiction throughout its history. What is speculative fiction? Well its just an easier and shorter way to say, science fiction, horror and fantasy. For me its really just having some kind of fantastical element, whether its supernatural or magical realism, to tell a what if, if only or if this goes on kind of story. I've decided to start big too! Heard about the conference at Howard University, made contact with the organizer, Dr. Gregory Hampton and came down with a camera and an idea. Its a two day event and I haven't been to DC since I was a child on a school trip but I'm pretty resourceful and have decided to take it as it comes.