Tears To Triumph Book Event in Harlem....

Hello Everyone!

If you are in New York this weekend, please help three wonderful good friends of mines - Dawn Daniels, Candace Sandy, and fellow Fiskite Dr. Jarralynne Agee -celebrate the release of their newest project, Tears To Triumph - Women Learn to Live, Love, and Thrive


On Sunday we are celebrating as women the challenges we have overcome and the ones we are still facing. Join us for a Dessert Party, book reading and signing for the book Tears to Triumph: Women Learn to Live, Love and Thrive written with my co-authors Dawn Marie Daniels and Dr. Jarralynne Agee (Souls of My Sisters Books/Kensington Publishing Corp.) hosted by contributing author Aliyyah Baylor of Make My Cake featured on the Food Network. In the Tears To Triumph sister circle women will share their personal stories and given unique tools and perspectives of support, solace, and active encouragement in facing today’s bigger-than-ever personal challenges.

Please join us for an inspiring afternoon on Sunday, November 1, 2009, 4:30pm-7:00pm at Make My Cake at 121 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10026 at 116th Street, in the Village of Harlem. We will also celebrate contributing author of Souls of My Sisters, Maria Davis completing the New York City Marathon. This event is complimentary and books will be for sale on site. Dessert and refreshments will be served. Kindly RSVP at your earliest convenience at soulsofmysisters@gmail.com

Magic Johnson Blasts Isaiah Thomas In His New Book...

Former NBA star Isiah Thomas tells Sports Illustrated he is "really hurt" over accusations made about him in Earvin "Magic" Johnson's new book, "When The Game Was Ours."

In the book about the Lakers-Celtics-Pistons rivalry of the late 1980s and early '90s, Magic says Thomas spread rumors that Magic was homosexual or bisexual after he announced he had HIV.

"Isiah kept questioning people about it. ... The one guy I thought I could count on had all these doubts. It was like he kicked me in the stomach," Magic says in the book, which will be released Nov. 4 and is co-written with Larry Bird and author Jackie MacMullan.

Thomas denies the charge, telling SI.com, “I’m really hurt, and I really feel taken advantage of for all these years. I’m totally blindsided by this. Every time that I’ve seen Magic, he has been friendly with me.”

Thomas added, “I didn’t know he felt this way.”

Thomas and Johnson, who are NBA Hall of Famers, became friends and rivals in the 1980s and 1990s, Thomas with the Pistons and Johnson with the Lakers. They met twice in the NBA finals, in 1988 and 1989.

Their friendship is well documented, and Johnson remained publicly supportive of Thomas throughout Thomas’s stormy tenure as president of the Knicks. In fact, Johnson has often said he recommended Thomas for the job, after initially declining it himself.

That is among many points of contention that came to the surface as Thomas reacted to the book.

“That’s a lie,” Thomas told Sports Illustrated.

Also in the book, Johnson admits that he conspired with Michael Jordan and other players to keep Thomas off the 1992 Olympic team, which was nicknamed the Dream Team.

“Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics,’’ Johnson writes. “Nobody on that team wanted to play with him.’’

Thomas has heard rumors for years that Jordan was responsible for blackballing him.

“I’m glad that he’s finally had the nerve and the courage to stand up and say it was him, as opposed to letting Michael Jordan take the blame for it all these years,’’ Thomas told SI.com. “I wish he would have had the courage to say this stuff to me face to face.”

Actor's Workshop With Phenomenal Coach Tracey Moore...

Attention Actors/Actresses - Register For The Tasha Smith Workshop...

NEW YORK CITY
October 30 - November 1, 2009

ATLANTA
January 8 - 10, 2010

LIMITED SPACE - REGISTER NOW!!!

Hello TSAW family and friends. I am so excited to be announcing that I am finally coming back to New York City and the ATL!!! -- for long awaited TSAW workshop.

There so many things that God has blessed me with that I want to share and impart. I just completed "WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO" AND I also will be in "COUPLES RETREAT" (in theatres OCTOBER 5th) with Vince Vaughn, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau and many more amazing actors. As always I have many stories to share as well as imparting into you all that I have learned through my own process in filmmaking.

Continue to Dream Big and "THINK LIKE A FREE MAN", You're free to dream, love, prosper, forgive, and much more. God is your strength and HE has placed everything in you that you need.
I love you guys and can't wait to see you.

TSAW NEW YORK
Friday, October 30, Saturday, October 31 and
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Location:
The Off Broadway Theater
300 West 43rd Street, 5th floor
(between 8th and 9th Avenues)
New York, NY
Price: $450
(Early Bird Registration Only $400 until October 12th)

TSAW ATLANTA
Friday, January 8, Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10, 2010
Location:
The 14th Street Playhouse
173 14th Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
Price: $450
(Early Bird Registration Only $400 until November 15th)

Actors Workshop Schedule

Morning Session:
Friday, 10am - 3pm (Exercise, Technique)
Saturday, 10am - 3pm (Monologue)
Sunday, 10am - 3pm(Scene Study)

-OR-

Evening Session:
Friday, 5pm - 10pm (Exercise, Technique)
Saturday, 5pm - 10pm (Monologue)
Sunday, 5pm - 10pm (Scene Study)
All attending actors must have a 2-3 minute monologue.

Format:
The 3-dayworkshop session provides a no-holds-barred, multi-level instructional training for actors based on the Ivanna Chubbuck studio technique, taught by acclaimed actress and master instructor, Tasha Smith (Couples Retreat, Tyler Perry's, "Why Did I Get Married?" Daddy's Little Girls, The Longshots).

Payment is required at the time of registration. You must pick either the Morning Session or the Evening Session. No mixing schedules allowed.

Light refreshments will be available during breaks.

There are several payment options: VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and PayPal. And if you wish to pay by check, please send to: TSAW, 13351-D Riverside Drive, #404, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

All actors must be at least 18 years of age to participate. But if the actor is between 15-18 years old, the student must have a parent or guardian accompany and attend that student's selected session throughout their 3-day training workshop. Some of the script materials covered is adult related natured.

Refund/cancellation policy:
A full refund is available until October 19th Any cancellations made after October 19th will not be refunded. You may "sell" or give your spot to another actor if necessary but you must contact us ASAP to let us know.

For more information on the Tasha Smith Actors Worshop please visit: www.tsaw.com

Rapper Saigon Discusses Homosexuality in Prison...

Hip Hop rapper, Saigon, discusses homosexuality in prison - This video contains explicit language:

Documentary Filmmaker, Byron Hurt, Newest Project - Soul Food Junkies...

Greetings Everyone,

My good friend, and colleague, documentary filmmaker, Byron Hurt, is working on a provocative and timely project called, "Soul Food Junkies."

I am a big soul food fan and love me some short ribs of beef, greens, candied yams, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. But, I digress. LOL.

Check out the trailer for Byron's upcoming documentary tackling the issue of Soul Food. After viewing the trailer, read his very special note under the video and make a donation. Yes, we can help this brother get this movie made. Also, share it with your friends, co-workers, and family members (Big Mama and 'em).

I thank you and hope you will become involved.

Terrance



A NOTE FROM DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER BYRON HURT:

Dear Friends, Family, and Colleagues,

I officially announced Soul Food Junkies, my next full-length film project, around this time last year. As we approach Thanksgiving 2009, I'm blessed to announce a major development with that same project.

As many of you may recall, Soul Food Junkies is a documentary that will explore the history and social significance of soul food to black cultural identity and its affect on African-American health, good and bad. Your response to this topic over the past year has been very encouraging. You have let me know that this is a subject that really needs to be addressed. I'm excited that you are ready to take this journey with me into new territory. Soul Food Junkies promises to be as ground-breaking as my award-winning film, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes.

Since my last announcement, I secured research and development funding from the Independent Television Service (ITVS) and have completed the Soul Food Junkies trailer. I traveled across the country to interview experts and everyday people about this topic. Here's a glimpse of what my crew and I captured – just enough to wet your appetite! Click the "Sneak Peek" link.

As I've done for other successful film projects, I am embarking on an online fundraising campaign to complete Soul Food Junkies. My goal is to get 100 people per month (for the next six months) to donate $25 each. Your donations will be tax-deductible through my fiscal sponsor Third World Newsreel. You can DONATE NOW ONLINE or mail a check to the address below.

If donating online, please enter your donation amount and then make sure to scroll down to "additional options" and designate your donation to Soul Food Junkies.

Most importantly, I'm excited about this new undertaking and hope that I can count on your continued support.

Byron Hurt
Filmmaker, Activist, Writer
www.bhurt.com

Please make your check payable to my fiscal sponsor, and send to:
Third World Newsreel
545 Eighth Avenue - Floor 10
New York, NY 10018
Memo Must Read: "SOUL FOOD JUNKIES" FILM PROJECT

About Byron Hurt
Byron Hurt is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, a published writer, and a widely respected anti-sexist activist. His most popular documentary, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and was later broadcast on the Emmy award-winning PBS series Independent Lens (drawing an audience of more than 1.3 million viewers). To learm more about Byron's other documentaries, or to read the full bio, visit www.bhurt.com

Attention Television and Film Writers - Writing Fellowships and Programs...

Writing Fellowship and Programs

For my people that are plugged into the network, please share it forward.

Cosby Writing Fellowship:
www.CosbyProgram.com

Established by Drs. Bill and Camille Cosby in 1993, at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The fifteen-week intensive workshop was designed with a two-fold purpose: To assist writers in the completion of a film or television script and to deepen the participants appreciation for and comprehension of African American history and culture.

Disney Writing Fellowship
www.abctalentdevelopment.com/programs_writers.htm

Begun in 1990 in partnership with the Writers Guild of America, west, this has become one of the industry’s best known and most respected writing fellowships. Fellows receive a weekly salary for a one-year period (currently amounting to $50,000/year plus benefits). The program is an intensive, hands-on experience that involves workshops, seminars and mentorships with creative executives from ABC, ABC Television Studio, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Lifetime and Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group.

Fox Diversity Program:
www.fox.com/diversity/creative/writer_submission.htm

The Fox Entertainment Group again invite submission of original television pilot scripts in the multi-camera comedy, single-camera comedy, animated and drama formats. Writers selected this year will be invited to attend a six week session at Writer's Boot Camp and subsequent consultation with WBC mentors during which their scripts will be rewritten and improved. The goal is to achieve scripts at a level of professional execution that may be submitted to Fox programming executives.

CBS Television Program:
www.cbscorporation.com/diversity/cbs_network/institute/index.php

This program links aspiring writers with mentors from the ranks of CBS Network and CBS Paramount Studio executives. Also, writers are mentored by producer mentors from series airing on CBS. Additionally, there are weekly sessions with successful writers, producers and show runners examining in very specific and practical terms many aspects of the experience of being a television writer in Hollywood.

The Nickelodeon Writers' Program:
www.nickwriting.com/

Developed to broaden Nickelodeon's outreach efforts, the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship is designed to attract, develop and staff writers with diverse backgrounds and experiences on Nickelodeon Network productions. Operating in a three-phased structure, the Fellowship provides a salaried position for up to one year and offers hands-on experience writing spec scripts and pitching story ideas in both live action and animation television.

Warner Brothers Comedy and Drama Writing Program:
www.warnerbros.com/writersworkshop/

For over 30 years, Warner Bros. TV has committed to fostering new talent and providing opportunity for aspiring television writers. The Writers Workshop is the premier writing program for new writers looking to start and further their writing career. The Workshop teaches every aspect of spec script writing and features exposure to Warner Bros. TV's top television writers and executives, all with the goal of staffing graduates on a Warner Bros. TV show.

NBC Diversity Initiative for Writers:
www.nbcunicareers.com/entry_leadership/diversity_initiative_for_writers/

NBC is proud of the existing diversity of the writers who pen its Primetime Series. In order to further encourage diversity among our writers, NBC provides funding for a minority staff writer position for all scripted NBC Primetime Series. These positions are filled with writers selected and hired by the showrunner/producers of each show, with the guidance of the network and studio(s). Scripts are accepted year-round for screening, however, positions are generally filled during the March - June staffing season.

The Writers Guild of America:
www.wga.org/subpage_writersresources.aspx?id=1042

The WGAW's Diversity department works with producers, studio and network executives, and writers to increase employment opportunities and to develop access/talent development programs and also hosts events, panels, and seminars to promote a more positive image of historically underemployed writers, to increase the industry's awareness of the unique obstacles often faced by these writers, and to encourage positive change in hiring practices.