The intricate and surreal visuals of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski’s stop-animated story Madame Tutli-Putli are alluring from the very first frames. Stadium lights are the only evidence given that the first scene takes place at a train station. They turn on like a controlled explosion to illuminate a foggy world. The camera pans along the ground where random objects are lined up: a record player, empty picture frames, a rocking chair, stacked books and piles of suitcases. They have sentimental value. They …
Tag: short
Last month, Tokyo Weekender ran my interview with Born With It film director, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour. Since then the movie has been airing on PBS. The feature is also currently streaming online. Watch it below. Read my interview with director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, here. …
The first time I met Harlemite rapper, producer, filmmaker, and actor Mtume Gant aka Core Rhythm, was in our Harlem Renaissance class at SUNY Purchase College. Gant usually had the most to say when it came to class discussions about our reading assignments. He was so vocal and passionate that I felt intimidated to raise my hand. Thoughtful, and progressive ideas effortlessly sprung off his tongue. There were few places where our opinions diverged. Most times, I was envious of …
Born With It is a short film about an African-Japanese boy who identifies as Japanese, but the world sees him differently. Written and directed by Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Jr., the story explores isolation, alienation, and racism. Aside from the heartbreaking, yet revealing documentary Hafu, Born might be the first of it’s kind: it’s a scripted film, Japan is a vital character, and it exclusively centers a half black half Japanese kid struggling to make sense of who he is. It’s a tiny film that needs to be seen. Emmanuel and …
Brooklyn native, actor, writer, rapper, producer, all around b-boy and TMG contributor Mtume Gant is making a film called Spit. The term “spit” refers to a rapper or MC/emcee rapping or reciting a rhyme. In full disclosure I’ve known Mtume for a minute. For those that know him, or have had the pleasure of just talking to him, he’s an intelligent, talented and thoughtful artist. Poet Charles Bukowski wrote, “It’s not the known great, but the great who die unknown,” that’s …
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