THE BLACK IN FILM SERIES (UNDERGROUND ATLANTA)- FEB. 2011

Come experience 4 Saturdays of fantastic events during the month of February at Underground Atlanta featuring classic TV shows, films, special events and more. The African American Cinema Gallery will be on display in the upper exchange area from 12-6 each Saturday. Each film or TV screening will begin promptly at 1 p.m. Don’t miss these grand events!

Underground Atlanta Visitor’s Theater
50 Upper Alabama Street
Atlanta, GA

“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what make the instrument stretch” — what make you go beyond the norm- Cicely Tyson

Sat. Feb. 5, 2011

Starring: Clifton Davis, Ted Lange, Theordore Wilson & Theresa Merritt etc.

Synopsis:
That’s My Mama debuted in the fall of 1974 on ABC and starred Theresa Merritt in the title role as Eloise “Mama” Curtis.

The series took place in Washington D.C. and centered around Clifton Curtis, Mama’s son and young barber, he had inherited the family barbershop from his late father, Oscar Curtis. Mama wanted the best for her son and that meant a woman in his life, so she often tried finding him a mate even though he enjoyed bachelor life.

Sat., Feb. 12, 2011

Directed & Written by: John Singleton

Starring: Ice Cube, Michael Rappaport, Omar Epps, Tyra Banks etc.

Synopsis:
Young people from different countries, races and social backgrounds are forced to integrate when they enroll in Columbus University, where West Indian Professor Maurice Phipps (Laurence Fishburne) teaches political science. The students have to deal with problems such as financial difficulties, harassment, personal safety, self doubt, sexuality and racism. Already under pressure to perform in the classroom, in athletics, or in social settings, the students are strained to the breaking point by prejudice, inexperience, misunderstanding and their need to fit in.
The three main characters are Kristen (Kristy Swanson), a white girl from Orange County who struggles with her sexuality; Malik Williams (Omar Epps), a black student who has to rely on a sports scholarship to pay his fees; and Remy (Michael Rappaport), a white student from Idaho who is unable to make friends at college and gravitates towards a group of neo-Nazi skinheads

Sat., Feb. 19, 2011

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Della Reese, Red Foxx etc.

Synopsis:
“Sugar” Ray is the owner of an illegal casino, who contend with the pressures of vicious gangster and corrupt policemen who want to see him go out of business. In the world of organized crime and police corruption in the 1920s, any dastardly trick is fair!

Special Feature:
Writer/Producer/Director Len Gibson will speak about this experience interviewing the acclaimed actress Della Reese and her thoughts about being on set with other great actors and comedians filming “Harlem Nights.” This event will be filmed and feature special guests.

Autumn Bailey, Tommy Ford, Len Gibson, P. Frank Williams, Daryl Boyer, Kaira Akita and Ty Walker 

Sat., Feb. 26, 2011

View the trailer of the new highly anticipated show “Templeton Pride” and participate in a Q&A following the viewing.

Starring: Tommy Ford, Lisa Wu Hartwell, Ray Lavender, Kaira Akita Whitehead & Introducing: Leslie Drake, Shatoya McClintock, Honesty Edwards & more…
Produced/Written/Directed by: Len Gibson
1st AD: Ty Walker

Director of Photography/Editor: Daryl Boyer

Producers: Tommy Ford, Autumn Bailey, Greg Galloway & Gerry McCants

Synopsis:
In Templeton GA there reside 2 thriving and 1 struggling Black business. These businesses are ran by elite African Americans whose families came through the great depression and the Civil Rights era, therefore not only do these business owners have pride they have a since of historical relevance to the communities they reside in. The families running these businesses are the Graysons, the Franklins and the Bakers. The Graysons and the Bakers have been in competition since their grandparents ran their businesses. Today they know that they need to partner to grow but stubbornness and pride is presenting them from making that decision.