Paris Metro Swaggers Featuring the Ladies from Charenton

Stumbled across this video featuring the ladies from Charenton - an all female dance crew from Paris. Enjoy!

Song: Eastern Jam by Chase and Status

Featuring Emelyne Hivanhoé, Rizlaine Terraz, Amira Majeri, Julie Moreau, Johanna Faye and Marion Motin from SWAGGERS, and all female dance crew from Paris (Charenton)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwfXj9JVXrI

When 50 Foot Reels Attack: A Farewell to Kodachrome

Don't bother asking your momma not to take your Kodachrome away. The film geek's beloved Kodachrome Super 8 film has expired but there will be one last hurrah (okay, two) in Los Angeles this week. First, the 10th Annual Attack of the 50 Foot Reels where daredevil crews will shoot a film under almost dogmatic rules; one roll of film per crew; in-camera edits only and no viewing of the finished product until the night of the screening. Second, guests will gather for one last glorious night at RIP Kodachrome: A Wake Screening, complete with film and slide screenings, eulogies, music and a pot luck. I'd say Kodachrome is being sent off in a grand fashion.

Thursday, December 9, 2010
7:30 PM

Attack of the 50 Foot Reels
Special All Kodachrome Event
American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Ticket info: http://www.egyptiantheatre.com/

More about Flicker & the Attack of the 50 Foot Reels:
http://www.flickerla.com/


Saturday, December 11, 2010
6:00 PM

RIP Kodachrome: A Wake Screening
Echo Park Film Center Annex (in Atwater Village)
Call the EPFC for address, (213) 484-8846
http://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org

More about Kodachrome:
http://kodachromeproject.com/pages/contents.html


Photo Credit: Calvin Dexter

The Bracelet Project: Helping 25 Million Orphans Through Sustainable Fashion

25 million children will be orphaned due to HIV/AIDS by the end of this year. Who will take care of them?

The DO UBuntu Orphan Bracelet Campaign was inspired by the making of the film Angels in the Dust and the plight of orphaned children throughout the world.

The bracelet project is modeled on sustainable development techniques where women are taught how to run their own business, open bank accounts and additional life skills.

http://orphanbracelet.org/what-we-do/bracelet-project

Buy a bracelet and support orphaned children around the globe. I love mine and I haven't gone a day without someone making a compliment.


Watch Angels in the Dust, a story of hope and healing in the face of a staggering crisis. It's a story of inspiration, featuring Marion Cloete, a university-trained therapist who— with her husband and three daughters— fearlessly walked away from a privileged life in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb to build Botshabelo, an extraordinary village and school that provides shelter, food, and education to more than 550 South African children.

http://angelsinthedust.org/trailer.html

Aiesha Turman: The Super Hussy

Aiesha Turman is an amazing woman with even more amazing stories to tell. She was able to take time out of her tight schedule to talk with Ladies Lotto about The Black Girl Project, being a mother and why she chose the name, Super Hussy.

Thank you so much Aiesha for taking the time to speak with Ladies Lotto. We really admire your work at Superhussy.com and the Black Girl Project. Tell us about Super Hussy and how did you come up with the name.
Super Hussy Media, LLC is a Brooklyn-based, independent content creation company, which focuses on the lives of women in the African Diaspora. Basically, Super Hussy uses film, traditional and emerging media to explore and illuminate the lives of Black women. On the name Super Hussy: “hussy” was my maternal grandmother’s favorite/only swear word. Regardless of your age, if you pissed Nana off and you were a female, you were pretty much a hussy. Now, after looking up the etymology of the word, I found out “hussy” was derived from the German word for housewife and began thinking about how patriarchy twists, labels and misconstrues anything that does not fit into its neat little power structure. Hussy became known as a wanton, lascivious, ruthless and sexually promiscuous heathen. Language can be used to both uplift and nourish or belittle and hurt. Any woman who goes against the grain and/or lives by her own rules, not the ones forced upon her, has been labeled something or other (bitch and whore come to mind) which seeks to minimize who she is in the world. As far as the "super" goes, I've always loved comics, so I might as well be a hero!

Tell us a little bit about your past work.
My past work...I come from an academic and cultural arts background. You can say my career began when I interned at The New-York Historical Society. I'd always loved museums and the arts as a child and from [the New York Historical Society] I went on to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the Queens Library Gallery, and the Brooklyn Children's Museum where I became coordinator of their academic and cultural arts program for high school students. It was there that I sort of really came into my passion for working with young people, particularly girls.

You also work for "I am Worth More." What is "I am Worth More?" And what do you do there?
Right now, I Am Worth More is in its developmental stages. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young people achieve their goals by giving them much-needed access to information they might not otherwise receive or know where to look. I am helping to create site content as well as mold programs.

How did you come up with The Black Girl Project?
The Black Girl Project is both a documentary film and a non-profit organization. I have worked with young people in New York for over a decade, with the past few years being dedicated primarily to high school students. It was in this work, I began to hear the stories of young women, many of whom were outwardly accomplished, but were dealing with a lot of issues from homelessness to sexual assault and depression. I was lucky enough to be trusted enough by them that they would talk to me. Their lives reminded me of mine as a teenage girl. I was highly accomplished academically, but when it came to dealing with issues, many of which were shared with my peers, I turned inward for fear of embarrassment or disappointing my parents. The non-profit is an outgrowth of the film and my commitment to helping young women reach their fullest potential.

What challenges have you come across in putting together the Black Girl Project?
My biggest challenge has been time. I've pretty much conceived and completed the project on my own while working, and taking care of my family. However, because it is something I believe in strongly, I did not mind a bit.

When can we expect the debut?

The film will be screened on August 27th in NY. We'll also go to DC, Philly and hopefully Atlanta before the holidays. The screening of the film will also be used as a fundraiser for the organization, so if you are in NY at the end of August, check us out at http://bgpbk.eventbrite.com.

You're a mom along with your many hats. Any advice for our mommy members?
What works for me is being very organized. I write every single thing down. I have a binder I carry around called "Aiesha Central" where I have a daily schedule, space to jot down notes, a section for meal planning, grocery and chore lists. I also manage all of my projects online. Google Docs is my best friend. Also, I made it a point to create a life where I can spend real quality time with my daughter. I am able to pick her up from school and attend every single event she participates. It was a conscious choice for me, and one I constantly work at maintaining.

Any upcoming projects we can look forward to from SuperHussy and Aiesha?
Upcoming projects: The first anthology of the series "Compendium" will be published in the spring of 2011. The first issue deals with women of Color and how they learned about sex and sexuality. I am hoping to make this an annual publication. I am also working on my next film about a young woman who was a Katrina evacuee, moved to Brooklyn, and is entering Georgetown University as a freshman in the fall.

Thank you so much Aiesha and we look forward to your future endeavors. You truly are a LLady!

DOWNTOWN CALLING - Screening Sold Out - After Party is On!

For those lucky 500 people who purchased tickets in advance, you'll be the first set of New Yorkers to see the long awaited screening of Downtown Calling!

However, if you want to come party with the filmmakers, cast and crew - it's not too late! Join us at the Downtown Calling Official After Party at Santo's (Lafayette btwn Walker & White) with Sal Principato (Liquid Liquid) and Johny Dynell guest DJing.

Get on the list by emailing: RSVP@DOWNTOWNCALLING.COM

TRAILER LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHd1lvwRbRQ

BFF 2010 - Let's Hear It For The Girls Photos

BFF doesn't just stand for best friends forever; it's also short for the Bicycle Film Festival which just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Who knew a successful film festival, spanning the globe could have been born out of a cycling accident?

For the longest time cycling has been all about the guys but on June 19th it was all about the girls at NYC's 88 Palace! Ladies Lotto member Jill Meisner held it down as a BFF volunteer. We've got the photo round up shot by Kevin Kane for Joonbug.com, Simon Bericua Lopez and some really exciting ones thrown in from Takuya Sakamoto's blog, New York Bike Dreams.

SATC 2: The Dilemna

Let me preface by saying, that like so many women in New York and across the globe, I will be flocking to the Sex and the City 2 premiere tomorrow, fashioned like a true Sex and the City groupie, with a gang of my best girlfriends. No, I’m not ashamed to admit this. Sex and the City has consistently served as a forum for solidifying and indulging in your best female friendships since season one! Whether for the fashion, the relationships, the girl talk, or yes, the sex – the show has united hordes of women wanting to celebrate their womanhood and friendships. And let's face it, whether you loved or hated the show, you really can’t be mad at that.

You can however, be intrigued – and I certainly am. Why is it that Sex and the City not only draws countless throngs of women, but draws these women from all backgrounds and ethnicities, even if they aren’t represented in a substantial and meaningful way in the series/films.

It’s probably best to point out here that among the group of friends that I am celebrating the movie premiere weekend with, not one of us is of the same racial background. Believe me when I tell you that we talk as candidly as the film's characters about our hopes, dreams, relationships, and yes, even our sex lives. What I’ve found is that the cultural differences, and what we all bring to the table regarding our views on men, sexuality, gender roles, and relationships provides an even more colorful picture of the complexities and facets of womanhood than even the best Sex and the City episode! Granted, our script might not be as punchy, clever, or well-written, but you get my point.

Suffice it to say that I’m someone who grew up immersed in considerable diversity and I generally have a very inclusive attitude about people, which my friend circles tend to emulate. My mother told me when I was very young that no one was better than me because they had more money, and that I wasn’t better than anyone else because of the color of my skin.

Which brings me directly to my only real "issues" with Sex and the City. After stripping down the “fun-girls-night-out-live-vicariously-through-Carrie” elements that I admittedly engage in, two issues remain: the problem of class and the problem of race. While considering the transformative and trend-setting elements of the series and the first movie in regard to topics, the exploration of relationships, and all things fashion; it’s sobering to realize that the show really only represents a very small sub-group or niche of women, all of the same socio-economic class, and all of the same race. The question must then be asked, "how is it that a series that focuses solely on one segment of one demographic can attract and captivate followers of all classes and all races?" Could the explanation possibly be, that at the end of the day, despite our commitment to diversity in our daily lives, we just want to escape to a more glamorous, more heightened sense of life, void of the responsibility of representing diversity? Do women essentially give Sex and the City a "pass" because it's just so damn fabulously indulgent?

For a show that has been a true trend-setter in virtually every other area, and has evolved considerably on many levels, why has it not evolved in the way of multi-culturalism? Sadly, maybe, just maybe, what we are seeing here, is a golden, but missed, opportunity for an intriguing and iconic series/movie, to bring a truly authentic, genuine representation of mixed-race friendships to the silver screen.

Having said all of that, I’m still immensely excited to go see Sex and the City 2. My friends and I will be dressed to the nines in beautiful, chic dresses, wearing killer shoes and sipping cocktails well into the night. But as I look around at our group, there will be a little part of me that knows no matter how hard we try, we’ll never be exactly like “Carrie and the Girls.” But we will be distinctly “us” and that isn’t in any way second-rate. In fact, that alone makes real friendships much better than the stuff of movies.

Three Films to See

Toe to Toe
Black girl on a scholarship with a chip on her shoulder, white girl from a privileged upbringing with nothing better to do than act up...typical plot line, right? Maybe not. Toe to Toe introduces us to Tosha and Jesse, lacrosse teammates, who despite their differences become close. Unfortunately, they're bond is sorely tested by unavoidable societal circumstances. Newcomers Sonequa Martin and Louisa Krause bring it.

Toe to Toe is the latest film from director, writer and producer Emily Abt's Pureland Pictures.





Beyond Ipanema
Brazilian samba music is brimming with African rhythms and Latin influences. It's about time that someone documented it's roots and the impact it's had on popular music. Interviews with David Byrne, MIA, and the legendary Gilberto Gil (among others) give insight into and introduce us to why so many love Brazil's rich and exciting musical culture. You won't have to drag us to see this one. In fact, we're in the mood for a little Jorge Ben Jor.





P-Star Rising
How many times have we seen kiddie rappers (Kris Kross was the bomb dot com) come and go? We've seen a few but none like Priscilla aka P-Star. Grinding at nine years-old to become a successful rapper; we follow P, her father and older sister from a shelter, to a heartrending search for her drug-addict mother and to minor success. P's spunk and moxie will pull you in.

HerStory: Kathryn Bigelow

If you saw the Oscars last night, you just witnessed Herstory in the making! For the first time in the 82 years of Oscar history, a female was awarded the Best Director prize! Hello, this is a BIG DEAL!!

Kathryn Bigelow, director of The Hurt Locker, which was awarded the prize for Best Picture as well, accepted her awarded humbly after being introduced by Barbara Streisand (BABS!!). It's no surprise Babs referenced history had been made with this win!


If you're unfamiliar with the politics of Hollywood, so are many. But numbers don't lie and it's a FACT that women in this industry, particularly in production roles, have been short changed in recent decades. There is a glass ceiling that has yet to be broken until NOW.

Me, personally, I've been lucky to have worked on a book called "GIRL DIRECTOR" by Andrea Richards, which is highly recommended for young women & teens who have an interest in pursuing a production job in film. This is a book for your little sister, your niece, your daughter, your student, etc. Check out a preview here.

Guerrilla Girls have been around for over a decade, their flamboyant type of activism has left some shocked but ultimately, the numbers & statistics don't lie. See below link & image for their brand of activism.



So let's hear it for the girls today! Congrats to Kathryn Bigelow for her win. May this be the door that opens up to many more women in film surpassing the glass ceiling.

Young Director's Night at Los Angeles' LACMA

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Bing Theater

The Young Director's Night at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)is one of the Muse group's 4 major events of the year. The Muse membership group is for young artists and art enthusiasts. With a mission to elevate the experience of supporting the arts, Muse offers its members a dynamic balance of social, educational, and philanthropic activities throughout the year.

Young Directors Night highlights the emerging talent of Los Angeles’ film community. A celebration of film and the art of cinema, the showcase features eight to ten short films screened in the unique setting of an art museum. The event is not only designed for film exhibition but also is meant to create an educational experience highlighting the intricacies and complexities of the film-making process. A host panel of industry luminaries is assembled to engage the directors after the screenings in a discussion on what goes into making the films.

Priced at only $20 for Muse members ($30 general public), a ticket to YDN includes entrance into the Bing Theater for the screenings and Q&A along with admission to the post-screening reception, featuring entertainment, dessert, and an open bar.

See the website for more info and to purchase tickets. Definitely a night not to be missed!

New People: Free Screening of Death Note

NEW PEOPLE is super amazing. It's 4 floors of films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Each floor is totally different and equally fun.

Join NEW PEOPLE for a VIP screening of Death Note this Thursday, December 10th.

RSVP now for the VIP Reception. They’ll have a DJ spinning hits while the Red Bull Mixologists serve up cool Red Bull Cocktails & Mocktails plus a few nibbles for your enjoyment.

The VIP reception is from 6 to 7:15 and is open to all RSVP’s. The private screening of Death Note will be open to the first 125 folks who check in at the VIP Reception so get there early!

RSVP here - http://www.newpeopleworld.com/home/redbull_dec_rsvp/

"DEATH NOTE is based on the bestselling supernatural action mystery manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. With over 15 million copies sold, the hit comic has finally been adapted into two live-action feature films: DEATH NOTE and Death Note: The Last Name.

Directed by Shusuke Kaneko, known for the popular “Gamera” monster film series, DEATH NOTE was first released in Japan in 2006, becoming an instant smash hit.

The story begins when ace student Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue "Shinigami" death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies. Upset with the justice system, Light takes matters into his own hands and vows to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of all evil."

Downtown Calling

Photo by Nick Taylor

Ring, ring. It's not London calling but Downtown NYC -- all the way from Austin, Texas. After the world premiere of Downtown Calling -- narrated by Ladies Lotto fave, Deborah Harry -- Austin denizens can check out the after party at Creekside Lounge. LL's Mina Rofeh helped throw this shindig together. Oh and, one of LL's most ardent non-XX supporters produced the film. Hey, we like to keep it in the family.

Saturday, October 24th
10:30pm-2:00am

Lure Productions Presents
DOWNTOWN CALLING
World Premiere After Party
A night of golden era New York loft, garage, no wave & hip hop classics

Creekside Lounge
600 East 7th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Featuring DJs
Prince Kla$$en (Fully Fitted)
Shan Boogie (Director, Downtown Calling)


Click that mouse:
www.downtowncalling.com
www.lureproductions.com

Bushwick Film Festival 3.0

Its that time of the year again, Bushwick Film Festival is finally here. Which includes some of our favorites, art, music, film and what would it be without the free beer and wine. Going on this weekend. To RSVP and/or reserve tickets, please email tickets@bushwickfilmfestival.com. To get more information check out their website at Bushwick Film Festival.

Celebrate the 4th in London!

LL's Lynnette Astaire is in London for Independence Day! This Saturday July 4th 2009, come celebrate as Lynnette Astaire releases her new historical documentary "John Monroe"as part of her latest Public Arts Project "American Gothic."

This dynamic project has already garnered the attention of legendary UK magazine Dazed and Confused, Belvedere Vodka, as well as a pre-order from 2009 Grammy nominee Diplo. Copies are now available for pre-order on www.lynnetteastaire.com/blog

Following the success of her project "AIG had the Swine Flu, too" the artist has great expectations for this official release across the pond. The artist states, "As the United States experiences the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, this project is inspired by the enterprising efforts of artists within that period as well as the resiliency of the American spirit. It also however, examines American commercialism and the extents of how often we 'sell out' aspects of our history and culture for profit. It also parodies the United Kingdom as the 'mother country' and the universal role that maternal figures often hold when one has fallen on hard times."

LOVE YOU LYNNETTE (bring me something fancy back).

Saturday 4 July, 9:00- 19:00 / Mayfair / Intersection of New Bond and Clifford, directly across from Louis Vuitton.

No Impact Man - the documentary

I've been waiting for this to come out for a while now. I religiously read the No Impact Man blog and am fascinated by his story.

The Fledgling Fund is co-sponsoring a very special sneak peak of No Impact Man on Thursday June 11th on the lawn of Automotive High School in Brooklyn. Presented by Rooftop Films, the screening will feature live performances by the Hungry March Band, a local foods cooking tutorial, a demonstration of biodiesel cars from the students of our host, and much much more. This outdoor screening starts at 8pm, and we invite you all to come! To purchase tickets, please visit the Rooftop Films site.

THURSDAY JUNE 11
Rooftop Films & The Fledgling Fund present
NO IMPACT MAN
A local family drama with global implications: the inspirational (and controversial) No Impact Man (and family) challenge themselves to make no environmental impact for one year. Rooftop and The Fledgling Fund invite you to join the challenge.

OPEN BAR AFTER PARTY FOLLOWING THE SCREENING FOR ALL IN ATTENDANCE

Venue: On the lawn of Automotive High School
Address: 50 Bedford Ave. @ North 13th St. (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Directions: L to Bedford Ave. or G to Nassau Ave.
Rain: In the event of rain the show will be held indoors at the same location
8:00PM: Doors open
8:30PM: Sound Fix presents live music by The Hungry March Band
9:00PM: Films
11:30PM-1:00AM: After-party: Open Bar at Matchless (557 Manhattan Ave. @ Driggs) Courtesy of Radeberger Pilsner
Tickets: $9 at the door or online

B-Girls Make Some Noise - Free Screening

Photo by Vanessa Bahmani (LLNY)
Tags by Toofly and Mustart

B-girls will be making mad noise when Rokafella screens her film, All the Ladies Say at the Bronx Museum. In addition to the screening there'll be a dance demo, class, discussion and jam session with b-girls including Aiko, Baby Love, Lady Champ,Vendetta, Severe, and Beta; who are all featured in the film. Portions of the event will be included in the final cut of the documentary.

TOMORROW
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
4:00pm-6:00pm: Free class for teens
6:00pm: Screening
FREE

Bronx Museum
1040 Grand Concourse
718.681.6000
www.bronxmuseum.org

LLNY: Women in Film with Cami Delavigne

Join LLNY and it's finest ladies for a special evening complete with appetizers and cocktails.

This month's guest speaker is writer and film producer, CAMI DELAVIGNE, whose most recent project includes Blue Valentine; a feature film currently in production, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
7:00pm - 9:00pm

Laura Little Productions
394 Broadway

RSVP: rsvpnyc@ladieslotto.com

LL San Francisco: Chinatown @ Foreign Cinema

Join LLSF for a special screening of CHINATOWN with Faye Dunaway at Foreign Cinema.

It's time to network with LLadies. Expect dinner and drinks with SF's finest in a covered outdoor courtyard with the film projected on an exposed wall. It's a perfect opportunity to meet new contacts and enjoy the spring weather!

***Thursday, May 28th***
7:30pm (screening starts @ 8)

Foreign Cinema
2534 Mission Street

We urge you to come early.

RSVP by Tuesday, May 27th @ 5PM PST: rsvpsf@ladieslotto.com
(hurry seating is limited)

I'm a Fool For You: Chanel No. 5

Chanel No. 5 short directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet with Audrey Tautou.

Circus: Media Bistro

Mediabistro Circus explores the convergence of digital and traditional media, why it matters, and how it affects the work you do. Two days of inspired programming will bring together hundreds of top-level professionals from across the media disciplines.

Runs June 2-3 at The Times Center in NYC

More information here:

http://www.mediabistro.com/circus/register.asp

(via Media Bistro)