Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Random blackness

Not so random, actually.

This 12-minute movie from the early ’60s – produced by the U.S. government for foreign audiences – will give you a taste of why I’m in New Orleans right now, working on “Treme.”

The decayed condition of the film print only adds to its dream-like quality. Fabulous jazz-funeral footage at the end.

And I didn’t even know who Kid Sheik Cola was.

13 comments:

CNu said...

predatory exploitation of jes grew is the quintessence of america's entertainment "industry"...,

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Craig, just imagine the smile on my face, and the warm feeling in my heart, when I show up on set each day and see all the black actors, musicians and crew we're putting to work.

Ask your wife to get that HBO hookup at the crib. You don't want to be the only Negro in America not watching "Treme."

Anonymous said...

awh your comment made me feel good. i'm from cross the river. this is a good video. i like old vintage stuff. you will see new orleans is one big family. the old folks there have some unique hearts. i've been meaning to give you mlm's recommendations since 9thward listed hers. soon enough!
crazy thing is as old as this is seems like the racial divide of the times is absent.

CNu said...

Craig, just imagine the smile on my face, and the warm feeling in my heart, when I show up on set each day and see all the black actors, musicians and crew we're putting to work.

I can see it now.

You would've been right at home on the plantation porch, serving mint julips and grinning from ear to ear at all those happy, musical darkies picking massa's cotton.

Thank goodness for the uplifting influence of the big boss man....,

CNu said...

on the contemporary plantation porch, those happy darkies ARE the cotton....,

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Can y'all believe this fool?

Corny muthaphucka collected comic books by the thousands during his teenager years.

Craig prefers his movies with white heroes... "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Tombstone"...

You consume culture, Craig. I produce. Given that... ain't much ground for us to debate on.

Dollar Bill said...

that clip is pure poetry across the board.
thanks!

CNu said...

lol...,

{{{SMH}}}

typical afro-saxon misdirection.

easy enough to remedy.

Authentically "outside the cover" Black folks produce culture David.

You - OTOH - just package that cultural production up in a sufficiently safe, bland, and hygienic video re-presentation for arms-length middle-class consumption. {not to mention exhorbitant - producer/distributor revenue generation}

The actual producers of the culture will get a tiny and temporary little taste of the returns flowing from your endeavor. {kind of like peasant coca farmers in Bolivia, Colombia, or Peru}

However, in the long-run and for the most part, it'll be your parasitic bosses who reap the massive, processing, packaging, and redistribution profits available for the product you serve up, made from the vital raw materials you all harvest at its source.

I ain't mad at you, but I'm also neither naive or confused about the very exact nature of the endeavor in which you participate.

Honestly, when everything's said and done, you aren't either...,

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Craig... my man...

Pause. Breathe. Rethink.

Why would members of the Neville and Marsalis clans reach out to be involved with “Treme”? Because it’s an exercise in corporate exploitation?

Or because our shining a light on the unique culture of New Orleans – via the narrative and cinematic arts – could benefit many, many people?

Are you hip to James Booker? Earl King? Smiley Lewis? Johnny Adams? Irma Thomas?

What about Kermit Ruffins? John Boutte? Trombone Shorty? Sunpie Barnes? Monk Boudreaux?

If you watch “Treme,” you will be.

Davis Rogan said...

hey, and for the record my ass is being exploited and I'm white!

CNu said...

Or because our shining a light on the unique culture of New Orleans – via the narrative and cinematic arts – could benefit many, many people?

Your christian charity knows no bounds David.

What are the total 10 year revenue projections for Treme?

What percentage of the total projected revenues generated from this "light shining" endeavor have beem earmarked for the authentic culture producers you're narratively and cinematically showcasing?

You know, so that - as the Unitarians are fond of saying - they may continue producing the culture that enriches us all?

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Craig, put the green-eyed monster back in its cage.

Then go back to reading your superhero comics and thinking you know what good storytelling is all about.

And then, come spring, get ready for various of your friends and family to tell you you should be checking out this new show on HBO called "Treme."

Undercover Black Man said...

Funky Dolla Bill!!

Glad you enjoyed, brah.