Video Portfolio

Professional and Amateur
Perceptions (2nd Camera, Co-Writing Uncredited)
Pops Got Game (Associate Producer, Editor)
The Detective, Him, & Her (Director, Writer, Editor)
Downtown Newark Partnership (Production Assistant,  Boom Operator)
"He Said Her Name"  (Editor)
The Road Not Taken (Director, Writer, Editor)

Media Mentors Projects (Kid Produced)
Idiot Box Campaign Ad
Campaign Ad
Fresh Cut

The Futility of Not acknowledging the Consequences: An Analysis of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for a Dumb Hipster

What this baby needs is a little emotional maturity.

Some Brooklyn hipster chick told me how much she LOVED the happy ending to Michel Gondy's masterpiece Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,  and I immediately was overcome with the desire to slap her in the face.

She was asking for it. Ironically.

Not because I was mad at her. But because if I had explained to her how wrong she was it would have had the same emotional impact on her for about half the effort.

This is because behind the idea that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has a happy ending is the same mental block that leads girls like her into same miserable relationships again and again and again...

They don't want to learn from their mistakes.

Why? Because mistakes are fun.

And because its so much easier to make mistakes when you pretend the repercussions of those mistakes are somebody else's fault and not of your own making.

And then we make it worse when we hold onto all the good things about mistakes (The Highs) and purposely ignore the bad things (The Lows).

This the thematic base which makes up the foundation of Eternal Sunshine.

A couple has such an emotionally devastating break-up that they try to erase the mistake that was their relationship from their memory.

But then when they realize that they'll lose all the good parts of their relationship too, they grasp for them like straws as they try to defeat the "evil" memory erasers (who are just doing what they payed them to do.)

How dare you render me the services I paid for?

And near end of the movie, they are both erased from each others memories. And yet...

...They meet again.
Fall back in love. 
Then learn that they were once in a relationship that ended so badly that...

...You guessed it. Had it erased from their memories.

So what they do with all this evidence of how terrible they are for each other dropped in their lap like next weeks lottery numbers...

I told you to play 4416 box. And not to marry that white woman.

...They're going to try it all over again.  Except this time its even more pathetic  because they know exactly what they're getting into. Unlike the super-cool sci-fi method that makes up the concept of the film, they make the same mistake again the old fashioned way. Just like you and I do everyday.

Pictured: Stupidity

If you don't learn from your mistakes, you are destined to repeat them.

Three Small Gems From Great Directors

The Trouble With Harry
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

The name Alfred Hitchcock usually evokes a feeling of nostalgic terror. However, many of Hitchcock's most infamous thrillers are sprinkled with a lot of humor. So it's fitting that his only bona fide comedy would have such macabre subject matter. The Trouble With Harry is a study of the citizens of a small town as they separately discover the dead body of one of their fellow citizens. The eponymous 'Harry'. Assuming they or someone they love is responsible, they all come down with a case of unwarranted guilt and try to cover-up the murder. It is a very intriguing story populated with likable complex characters and peppered with classic subtle Hitchcock humor. If your a big Hitchcock fan or simply enjoy being entertained, I recommend this film.

The King of Comedy
Directed by Martin Scorsese

This dark comedy about the delusions of fame and those who crave it has the odd ability to smoothly alternate between moments that make you laugh uncontrollably or cringe uncomfortably. The film features two of my favorite film performances. Robert DeNiro, as Rupert Plumpkin, delivers an earnest and clever performance as a delusional and painfully unfunny comedian with oversized dreams. The film also features the usually wacky Jerry Lewis in an unconventional role as a straight edge Johnny Carson-like late night talk show host who is being stalked by the unbalanced Plumpkin. This film is a must see for Scorsese fans or Lewis fans who'd like to see him in a playing it straight for once.

 

He Said Her Name by Veronica Kole (My First Editing Gig)

Keenan Thompson as Steve Harvey

Rules of Attraction

R

Rules of Attraction (2002)

Starring...James Van Der Beek, Jessica Biel, Faye Dunaway.

Roger Avery's (Producer of Pulp Fiction) film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' (American Psycho) college novel is the only movie about that ever captured what student life was like for me. I was refreshed by the films careful dissection of the catty skankiness of university days which makes it so unlike all other phases of life. And wasn't that what made college so grand?

Hollywood can keep their misogynistic white-washed Animal House-clones and American Pie facsimiles. I'd rather watch a movie with characters that resemble people I've actually met in situations I've actually experienced. I don't know about you, but I've never had sex with a pie a crashed a homecoming parade. But I have stayed up until 5 AM with a couple of coked up drama queens.

And maybe I should be embarrassed. But I'm not. Because that was college for me. That was college for a lot of people. And if you are one of those people. You've got to see this movie.

Three Small Gems From Great Directors

From the Director of the blockbuster Spiderman films, Sam Ramai this dark and depressing but still humorous dark comedy starring Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton.

"A Simple Plan is neither a happy nor a pretty tale, but it builds uncommon dramatic power as its unpredictable plot unfolds." David Steritt Christina Science Monitor

The Trouble With Harry
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

The name Alfred Hitchcock usually evokes a feeling of nostalgic terror. However, many of Hitchcock's most infamous thrillers are sprinkled with a lot of humor. So it's fitting that his only bona fide comedy would have a such macabre subject matter. The Trouble With Harry is a study of the citizens of a small town as they separately discover the dead body of one of there fellow citizens. Assuming they or someone they love is responsible, they all come down with a case of unwarranted guilt and irrationally try to cover-up the murder. It has a very intriguing story populated with likable complex characters and peppered with classic subtle Hitchcock humor. If your a big Hitchcock fan or simply enjoy being entertained I recommend this film.

The King of Comedy
Directed by Martin Scorsese

This dark but comedic film about the delusions of fame and those who crave it has the strange ability to smoothly alternate between moments that make you laugh uncontrollably or cringe uncomfortably. The film features two of my favorite film performances ever. Robert DeNiro, as Rupert Plumpkin, delivers an earnest and clever performance as a delusional and painfully unfunny comedian with oversized dreams. The film also features the usually wacky Jerry Lewis in an oddly but entertaining role as a straight edge Johnny Carson-like late night talk show host who is being stalked by the unbalanced Plumpkin. This film is a must see for Scorsese fans or Lewis fans who'd like to see him in an unconventional role.

 

Why Do Black People Reject Conservatism & Rock & Roll?

A lot of People Wonder...

Why don't black people listen to or produce Rock music?

Apparently, the music died on February 3rd, 1959 when Buddy Holly, Richie Valenz, and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash following a concert. Apparently, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Howlin' Wolf, and Big Mamma Thornton were also on that plane, if in fact, the music had died. Oh they were not. Then what the Hell was that song about? Oh that song was about the day white music died. Got It.

Pictured: White music.

Unfortunately, Muddy, Chuck, Little Richard, Wolf, and Big Mamma did die that day. They were smothered in the ashes of their white successors. With Buddy dead and Elvis shipped off to war, the immediate "channelers" of Black blues and soul were gone. And so gone was the trail that led to the beginnings of Rock & Roll.

Be Thankful For Our Freedom

Remember that Africa is poor because she is not free. We must be thankful for ours and pray and fight for theirs.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Forgive my Deconstructive Post-Colonial Libertarianism

Hip Hop Conservatism: Part 1

"I would love to see a black President but this tax bracket is killing me, man."

Hip Hop Conservatism (Part 1)

During the 2008 Presidential Election, elite members of the hip-hop community came out in full support of the Democratic candidate, Barrack Obama.  This was understandable. Barrack Obama was the most formidable black candidate for the oval office, (making Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson seem as relevant as a block of ice) and few black men and women wanted to miss out on the opportunity to see the election of our nation's first Black President. In a country where our people have suffered so many injustices, what had seemed improbable only a few years ago was suddenly inevitable. 

Sharpton died as he lived. Obstructively.

           Consequently, Hip-hop artists like Will.I.Am. were on the campaign trail with Barrack Obama from the beginning. After his election, Young Jeezy released the voracious "My President is Black", a bombastic track that aspired to be the new black anthem and seemed to imply a melding between Hip-Hop culture and mainstream society. On the night of the inauguration, Barrack Obama was showered in praises, blessings, and performances dedicated in his honor by powerful hip-hop luminaries like Jay-Z and Kanye West. Can you imagine the Juice Crew dedicating a rendition of "The Symphony" at the inauguration of Jesse Jackson in 88'? More likely it would have been The Four Tops or The Temptations. It certainly wouldn't have been Gil Scott Heron.

   

There's no half steppin' to the White House , Nephew.

            These spectacles would appear to signify that American politics had moved so far left, that hip-hop and urban culture had become acceptable to political elites. But it is quite the opposite. Hip Hop culture has embraced political elitism, because Hip-Hop has become elitist.  However it has more to do with Social status then political ideology. If you examine closely Hip Hop and urban black culture you will discover that hip-hop is less progressive than it appears in your rear view mirror.

            Criticism of the use of Government Force

             “Fuck the police comin straight 

from the underground

        A young nigga got it bad cause I'm brown

        And not the other color so police think

        they have the authority to kill a minority”

-    Ice Cube “Fuck Da Police”

Hip-Hop originated as commercial party music that evolved from the late 70's disco scene. However, by the late 80’s many Hip Hop artist had developed what some would call a “conscious.” Artist like Public Enemy, Common Sense, and KRS-One would rap about issues affecting the inner-city and black people specifically much like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield did before them. 

            More importantly though, “conscious” hip hop had a defiant tone, not against commercial hip-hop, but against “The Man” and “”The Establishment”.  Although, the man does not represent the government as it does to conservatives who fear the growing power of the state, but rather represents exploitative capitalists, the “The Man” would morph into the “Pol-Lice” whose excessive force and brutality in black neighborhoods became a focal point of Gangsta Rap. “The Sound of Da Police” by KRS-ONE, “Cop Killa” by Ice-T, and “Fuck da Police” by N.W.A. would dismiss the subtlety and verbally attack the institution of law enforcement with stark accusations and violent imagery. If white people hate being regulated and taxed, then black people hate being policed. They see the police as an arbitrary threat to their equal protection under the law.

 Your Honor, My gun was registered. With the U.S. constitution, Bitch.

            Pure Unregulated Capitalism

                                “The boys in blue who put greed before the badge.”

-          Jay-z “Roc Boys (And the winner is…)

                       

Black people hate being regulated, too. Nowhere is this view more fiercely espoused than in the Mafioso rap genre of the mid-90’s. Artist like Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., and Raekwon repeatedly expressed frustration with regulation of their “industry” by dirty cops and politicos with deep empty pockets.

                        “Got money and you know it. Take it out your pocket and show it.”

-          Lil Wayne and T-Pain “Got Money”

No genre of music celebrates the excesses of capitalism and the rights of earners to do whatever they want with their money like Hip Hop. Turn on BET and watch rappers whose albums haven’t even sold a copy yet throwing hundred dollar bills in the air like they just won the lottery. In this political climate, this would seem like unacceptable behavior, but while Wall Street brokers would be butchered to death for behaving this way, it is perfectly acceptable behavior in Hip Hop fantasy land.

            

"For god sakes, will someone regulate this madness!"

           

(To Be Continued…)