We featured Ya'Ke Smith's Indiegogo fundraising campaign for the completion of this short film a year ago - a campaign that was successful, surpassing its $2,500 goal. The filmmaker has no released the completed film online which is embedded below. In summary, the short is titled "One Hitta Quitta," and tells the story of a young boy severely addicted to internet violence. It was shot (over the summer of 2014) using 8 different iPhones - a move that, as Ya'Ke, the director of the 2012 award-winning feature film "Wolf" stated, was an integral part in helping tell the story. The film explores how violence experienced over the web can seep into...
- 11/25/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Ya'Ke Smith's name shouldn't be unfamiliar to most of you - at least, I hope not. We heaped lots of praise on his feature film debut, "Wolf," following its world premiere at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival, and continued to follow the film's journey through its eventual long-awaited release earlier this year. Ya'Ke is currently working to complete his latest work, a short film titled "One Hitta Quitta," the story of a young boy severely addicted to internet violence. The film has actually already been shot (over the summer) using 8 different iPhones - a move that, as Ya'Ke states, was an integral part in helping tell the story. The film will...
- 10/28/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Adelina Anthony is an award-winning Chicana lesbian writer, actor, director, and producer. Her short film Forgiving Heart screened last year at Outfest and is now being developed into a feature-length screenplay. Anthony recently attended the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Intensive in Los Angeles and shares her five takeaways below.
Fortunate to be among 10 diverse writers, I descended upon the Sundance Institute offices last Thursday to participate in the second annual Screenwriters Intensive - Los Angeles. Feature Film Program Lab Director Ilyse McKimmie conducted warm introductions on behalf of the gathered Feature Film Program staff and interns. She set the day's intention: to be bold and not to be "defended." Listen to each other. The goal was to leave asking the right questions about your story.
The Screenwriting Fellows introduced themselves and their respective projects; I peeled my breakfast tangerine thinking, "I want to see that film. And that one. Oooh, esa tambien". After everyone's introductions, the day was handed over to our master teacher, Joan Tewkesbury (Nashville). She asked if we had written biographies for our protagonists – we all raised our hands. She then asked us to write down five names, followed by the instruction to write our protagonist's obituary, bullet-point style. When she asked us to read the obituaries aloud, Joan modeled the active listening she also insisted from us. "Speak up, start over, raise your head, and slow it down," she commanded, reminders to take ownership of our voices. She prodded us with questions, especially if we left any detail murky. Takeaway #1: You can never get too detailed with your characters' lives.
We started the first of many lists: Three things your character wants. Three things you personally would hate to give away. Three beds you remember. Write down a sound that disturbs you. We read these lists aloud and because we included personal information, hiding behind our characters was not an option. Joan had us pick one item from each list and plunged us into prose writing. This was Joan's modus operandi: sharing openly and making us deeply identify with our characters. Takeaway #2: As Joan stated, "You are always writing about yourself."
This sums up the first 20 minutes, no wonder we were famished by lunchtime. Did I mention we were writing old-school style? Pens and papers, ya'll. After lunch, she continued to show us how to trick our rational selves by "taking the back door," to mine the rich subconscious of our experiences. As fellow participant Ya'ke Smith wrote, "Subjects that we'd hoped to explore... became flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone." Takeaway #3: Find other ways to write, not just on your computer, because other methods help you see your work differently.
After our writing sessions, we watched the Sundance Film Festival Best of Next winner, Imperial Dreams, by co-writer/director Malik Vitthal. To say my spirit broke open at this film's devastating climax is an understatement. After the screening, Vitthal graciously shared his process about making the film, talked about his voice as a filmmaker, and his artist trajectory. Takeaway #4: After our work with Joan, this screening was a perfect example of where our efforts could lead to: a beautifully wrought story.
By our evening reception, every fellow I saw mirrored my own exhaustion and buzzing creative energy. We returned the next morning to meet with two assigned advisors. They gave us feedback on our scripts, and, for me, this was a priceless component. Critical eyes on my screenplay gave me new ways to imagine how I might infuse my script with what I learned in the workshop writings. Takeaway #5: Sundance Institute is truly a community of filmmakers and advocates who want to see your films made.
In the end, you do the writing rituals, because you believe in them; because they've been passed on and they work themselves on you; you listen deeply; you pray to see more clearly. Moreover, if the space and peoples gathered are led through the rites in a purposeful manner you leave transformed.
Learn more about the Feature Film Program and apply for its 2015 January Screenwriters Lab here.
LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook.
Fortunate to be among 10 diverse writers, I descended upon the Sundance Institute offices last Thursday to participate in the second annual Screenwriters Intensive - Los Angeles. Feature Film Program Lab Director Ilyse McKimmie conducted warm introductions on behalf of the gathered Feature Film Program staff and interns. She set the day's intention: to be bold and not to be "defended." Listen to each other. The goal was to leave asking the right questions about your story.
The Screenwriting Fellows introduced themselves and their respective projects; I peeled my breakfast tangerine thinking, "I want to see that film. And that one. Oooh, esa tambien". After everyone's introductions, the day was handed over to our master teacher, Joan Tewkesbury (Nashville). She asked if we had written biographies for our protagonists – we all raised our hands. She then asked us to write down five names, followed by the instruction to write our protagonist's obituary, bullet-point style. When she asked us to read the obituaries aloud, Joan modeled the active listening she also insisted from us. "Speak up, start over, raise your head, and slow it down," she commanded, reminders to take ownership of our voices. She prodded us with questions, especially if we left any detail murky. Takeaway #1: You can never get too detailed with your characters' lives.
We started the first of many lists: Three things your character wants. Three things you personally would hate to give away. Three beds you remember. Write down a sound that disturbs you. We read these lists aloud and because we included personal information, hiding behind our characters was not an option. Joan had us pick one item from each list and plunged us into prose writing. This was Joan's modus operandi: sharing openly and making us deeply identify with our characters. Takeaway #2: As Joan stated, "You are always writing about yourself."
This sums up the first 20 minutes, no wonder we were famished by lunchtime. Did I mention we were writing old-school style? Pens and papers, ya'll. After lunch, she continued to show us how to trick our rational selves by "taking the back door," to mine the rich subconscious of our experiences. As fellow participant Ya'ke Smith wrote, "Subjects that we'd hoped to explore... became flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone." Takeaway #3: Find other ways to write, not just on your computer, because other methods help you see your work differently.
After our writing sessions, we watched the Sundance Film Festival Best of Next winner, Imperial Dreams, by co-writer/director Malik Vitthal. To say my spirit broke open at this film's devastating climax is an understatement. After the screening, Vitthal graciously shared his process about making the film, talked about his voice as a filmmaker, and his artist trajectory. Takeaway #4: After our work with Joan, this screening was a perfect example of where our efforts could lead to: a beautifully wrought story.
By our evening reception, every fellow I saw mirrored my own exhaustion and buzzing creative energy. We returned the next morning to meet with two assigned advisors. They gave us feedback on our scripts, and, for me, this was a priceless component. Critical eyes on my screenplay gave me new ways to imagine how I might infuse my script with what I learned in the workshop writings. Takeaway #5: Sundance Institute is truly a community of filmmakers and advocates who want to see your films made.
In the end, you do the writing rituals, because you believe in them; because they've been passed on and they work themselves on you; you listen deeply; you pray to see more clearly. Moreover, if the space and peoples gathered are led through the rites in a purposeful manner you leave transformed.
Learn more about the Feature Film Program and apply for its 2015 January Screenwriters Lab here.
LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook.
- 3/26/2014
- by Adelina Anthony
- Sydney's Buzz
Finally those who have yet to see his critically-lauded feature film debut, director Ya'Ke Smith's Wolf is now available on various home entertainment platforms. It is unfortunately bypassing a theatrical run, but, the good news is that you can now watch a film that we here at S&A were high on, after it made its world premiere at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival. It's been a long wait for those who've been anxious to see it (such is the way things sometimes go in indie film world, as the filmmaker will attest to), so if you're one of those people take advantage. As the image above states, Wolf is now available on several digital outlets, including iTunes, Amazon Video,...
- 2/11/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
His critically-lauded feature film debut, Wolf, continues to travel, collecting even more acclaim, and winning over new fans for the director, Ya'Ke Smith, who hasn't wasted anytime getting to work on his follow-up project, a new drama titled Heaven. And while not seemingly as controversial as some considered Wolf, from all we know thus far, Heaven should be another candid character study of an aggrieved young life. Here's the logline: Caught in the brutal world of sex trafficking, a girl attempts escape through her desire to become a ballet dancer. Mr Smith will direct Heaven from his own script, with both he and his Wolf producer, Ralph Lopez, producing,...
- 4/13/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Sometimes if you randomly choose a movie at Austin Film Festival or SXSW, you stumble upon a great find. In 2012, using my typical method -- whichever movies are within walkable distance from free/cheap parking downtown and showing at times that I feel up to being around festival crowds -- I saw some sweet, memorable movies. Here are my favorites:
5. Wolf, dir. Ya'Ke Smith
This tense drama, depicting the effects of sexual abuse by a community leader on an adolescent boy, provides an intimate look into how the boy's close-knit family deals with the fallout. When I watched this at SXSW, it turned out I was sitting next to some of the actors. Luckily I had nothing bad to mutter to myself about the film. Wolf is illuminating, a film that gives great consideration to its subject matter and the characters involved. Even the character of the abuser is treated with dimension and depth.
5. Wolf, dir. Ya'Ke Smith
This tense drama, depicting the effects of sexual abuse by a community leader on an adolescent boy, provides an intimate look into how the boy's close-knit family deals with the fallout. When I watched this at SXSW, it turned out I was sitting next to some of the actors. Luckily I had nothing bad to mutter to myself about the film. Wolf is illuminating, a film that gives great consideration to its subject matter and the characters involved. Even the character of the abuser is treated with dimension and depth.
- 1/10/2013
- by Elizabeth Stoddard
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest Austin and Texas film news.
Austin-based filmmaker Richard Linklater's 1991 movie Slacker, about the day in the life of an assortment of Austin characters, is one of 25 films selected this year to join the Library of Congress' National Film Registry, which now totals 600 films for preservation, according to Deadline. Texas' film heritage is further immortalized with the National Film Registry's addition of Dallas filmmaker Melton Barker's The Kidnappers Foil, which has been previously preserved in the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, founded by film archivist and University of Texas Rtf Assistant Professor Caroline Frick. For three decades, Barker and his film company travelled through the southern and central parts of the U.S. filming local children acting, singing and dancing. The Austin premiere of The Man From Orlando will take place on Saturday, January 12 at Stateside at the Paramount. The comedy, about a man who...
Austin-based filmmaker Richard Linklater's 1991 movie Slacker, about the day in the life of an assortment of Austin characters, is one of 25 films selected this year to join the Library of Congress' National Film Registry, which now totals 600 films for preservation, according to Deadline. Texas' film heritage is further immortalized with the National Film Registry's addition of Dallas filmmaker Melton Barker's The Kidnappers Foil, which has been previously preserved in the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, founded by film archivist and University of Texas Rtf Assistant Professor Caroline Frick. For three decades, Barker and his film company travelled through the southern and central parts of the U.S. filming local children acting, singing and dancing. The Austin premiere of The Man From Orlando will take place on Saturday, January 12 at Stateside at the Paramount. The comedy, about a man who...
- 12/26/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
Ya'Ke Smith's feature film directorial debut Wolf is probably one of the best-reviewed films on S&A so far this year; it continues to travel the film festival circuit, garnering acclaim along the way, as audiences continue to be introduced to the drama. Up next it'll screen at the New York International Latino Film Festival (Nyilff) this weekend, Saturday, the 18th of August, at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 6. And if you're lucky, you just might be able to see the film for Free, if your name is selected in the S&A Wolf giveaway. In short, the Nyilff has allotted S&A 3 pairs of tickets (that's 6 total, 2 per winner) for...
- 8/13/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
We've already sung the praises of Ya'Ke Smith's feature film directorial debut Wolf many times on S&A - a film that Vanessa and I saw for the first time at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, where it made its debut (read my review Here if you missed it). As Sergio announced last night, Wolf will be screening at the Black Harvest Film Festival in August, so Chi-town S&A readers will be able to check it out if they haven't already. It's still without distribution, which I'm not entirely surprised by (even though it's unfortunate). Distributors aren't exactly always rushing to pick up dramas with all-black casts, even if...
- 7/12/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Well Vanessa already spilled the beans about The Kill Hole at this year's Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago next month, but that's all good. In fact the official schedule list for the festival, its18th year, which runs next month Aug.3-30 at the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago was announced yesterday and will screen close to 50 films (features, shorts, documentaries) making it the largest number of films in the festival's history. Aisde from the The Kill Hole among other features will be Ya'Ke Smith's (and knowing the Chicago audience sure to be controversial) Wolf, Matthew Cherry's The Last Fall, Alfons Adetuyi's High Chicago. ...
- 7/12/2012
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Here's the latest Austin and Texas film news.
The Austin American-Statesman's Charles Ealy reported from Cannes about this weekend's premiere of Austin filmmaker Jeff Nichols' feature Mud. Austin-based actor Matthew McConaughey stars with Reese Witherspoon and Michael Shannon in this story of an unlikely friendship between a fugitive and a 14-year-old boy who helps him escape off an island in Mississippi to reunite with the woman he loves. Ealy also chatted briefly with Nichols after the screening.More on McConaughey -- IndieWire reported that he'll portray John F. Kennedy in Lee Daniels' (Precious) new film, The Butler. The movie, based on a Washington Post article, is about the late White House butler Eugene Allen. Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker will star as Allen, who served eight presidents during his tenure from 1952-1986. Production is scheduled to begin July 16.Local filmmaker Richard Linklater will keep viewers Up to Speed on relatively unknown American monuments,...
The Austin American-Statesman's Charles Ealy reported from Cannes about this weekend's premiere of Austin filmmaker Jeff Nichols' feature Mud. Austin-based actor Matthew McConaughey stars with Reese Witherspoon and Michael Shannon in this story of an unlikely friendship between a fugitive and a 14-year-old boy who helps him escape off an island in Mississippi to reunite with the woman he loves. Ealy also chatted briefly with Nichols after the screening.More on McConaughey -- IndieWire reported that he'll portray John F. Kennedy in Lee Daniels' (Precious) new film, The Butler. The movie, based on a Washington Post article, is about the late White House butler Eugene Allen. Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker will star as Allen, who served eight presidents during his tenure from 1952-1986. Production is scheduled to begin July 16.Local filmmaker Richard Linklater will keep viewers Up to Speed on relatively unknown American monuments,...
- 5/28/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest Austin film news, plus some upcoming event information.
A free public screening of the award-winning documentary Better This World will take place at 6 pm tonight (Monday, April 23) in room 8500 on the Acc Eastview Campus. The Acc Rtf Department will present the film, discussion and Q&A with two of the film's subjects, Bradley Crowder and David McKay (although they will not/cannot be in the room at the same time). Better This World is about two childhood friends from Midland who were arrested on terrorism charges at the 2008 Republican National Convention. Read Don's review from SXSW 2011.Dallas International Film Festivalannounced the fest's 2012 award winners at the annual Dallas Film Society Honors gala on Friday. San Antonio filmmaker Ya'Ke Smith's feature film Wolf (Mike's review), about a family trying to come to terms with the abuse their pastor has inflicted on their teenage son, received a $30,000 camera...
A free public screening of the award-winning documentary Better This World will take place at 6 pm tonight (Monday, April 23) in room 8500 on the Acc Eastview Campus. The Acc Rtf Department will present the film, discussion and Q&A with two of the film's subjects, Bradley Crowder and David McKay (although they will not/cannot be in the room at the same time). Better This World is about two childhood friends from Midland who were arrested on terrorism charges at the 2008 Republican National Convention. Read Don's review from SXSW 2011.Dallas International Film Festivalannounced the fest's 2012 award winners at the annual Dallas Film Society Honors gala on Friday. San Antonio filmmaker Ya'Ke Smith's feature film Wolf (Mike's review), about a family trying to come to terms with the abuse their pastor has inflicted on their teenage son, received a $30,000 camera...
- 4/23/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
The feature film Wolf, by Texan writer and director Ya'Ke Smith, is the story of a black family dealing with the fallout from their son's molestation by the bishop of their church. I specify "black" because Smith is telling the story from an African-American cultural perspective, which informs the actions of every character. Smith shot the film in his own church, with the blessing of his bishop, after hearing the stories of many friends who had undergone similar experiences.
In his acting debut, Jordan Cooper portrays Carl, a young man dealing with feelings of confusion and rejection after Bishop Anderson (Eugene Lee), feeling guilty for molesting him, has broken off the relationship. Carl's feelings escalate until they precipitate a suicide attempt. In the hospital, his parents discover what's been going on thanks to photos and video on his phone. While they encounter opposition from church leaders in their pursuit of justice against the bishop,...
In his acting debut, Jordan Cooper portrays Carl, a young man dealing with feelings of confusion and rejection after Bishop Anderson (Eugene Lee), feeling guilty for molesting him, has broken off the relationship. Carl's feelings escalate until they precipitate a suicide attempt. In the hospital, his parents discover what's been going on thanks to photos and video on his phone. While they encounter opposition from church leaders in their pursuit of justice against the bishop,...
- 3/16/2012
- by Mike Saulters
- Slackerwood
You may remember Ya'Ke Smith's 2010 short Katrina's Son from Austin Film Festival, where it won Best Narrative Short. Smith, who is not only a filmmaker but an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Arlington, is back with the controversial feature Wolf, premiering in the Emerging Visions category. And check out the top-notch cast, listed below.
Slackerwood: Describe your film for us in a couple of sentences.
Ya'Ke Smith: A family is shaken to the core when they discover their son has been molested. As they struggle to deal with the betrayal, their son heads toward a total mental collapse because of his love for his abuser, while his abuser attempts to exorcise his own past demons. The film stars Irma P. Hall (Soul Food, Collateral, The Ladykillers), Eugene Lee (Lackawanna Blues, Coach Carter) and newcomers Mikala Gibson (Gretchen), Shelton Jolivette and Jordan Cooper.
What’s one...
Slackerwood: Describe your film for us in a couple of sentences.
Ya'Ke Smith: A family is shaken to the core when they discover their son has been molested. As they struggle to deal with the betrayal, their son heads toward a total mental collapse because of his love for his abuser, while his abuser attempts to exorcise his own past demons. The film stars Irma P. Hall (Soul Food, Collateral, The Ladykillers), Eugene Lee (Lackawanna Blues, Coach Carter) and newcomers Mikala Gibson (Gretchen), Shelton Jolivette and Jordan Cooper.
What’s one...
- 3/1/2012
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
Iggy Pop and Debbie Harry, shot by Bob Gruen in 1977
Rock 'N' Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen
screens as part of 24 Beats per Second
SXSW Film has just announced its features lineup for the 2012 edition, running March 9 through 17. We already knew that the Opening Night Film would be Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods. For its Closing Night Film, the festival will host the world premiere of of Emmett Malloy’s documentary Big Easy Express (more below). The lineup, with descriptions from the festival:
Narrative Feature Competition
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin. When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted. Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail. (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths, Screenwriters: Richard B. Phillips, Megan Griffiths, Story by: Richard B. Phillips & Chong Kim.
Rock 'N' Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen
screens as part of 24 Beats per Second
SXSW Film has just announced its features lineup for the 2012 edition, running March 9 through 17. We already knew that the Opening Night Film would be Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods. For its Closing Night Film, the festival will host the world premiere of of Emmett Malloy’s documentary Big Easy Express (more below). The lineup, with descriptions from the festival:
Narrative Feature Competition
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin. When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted. Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail. (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths, Screenwriters: Richard B. Phillips, Megan Griffiths, Story by: Richard B. Phillips & Chong Kim.
- 2/1/2012
- MUBI
Attendees of South by Southwest 2012 are in for a treat. 130 feature films will screen at the Austin, Texas festival taking place March 9-17. Among them are 65 World Premieres, 17 North American Premieres and 10 U.S. Premieres. The organization already announced [1] Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's The Cabin in the Woods would open the festival (the movie is phenomenal [2]) and today the majority of the remaining line up has been revealed. One of the highlights is the unbelievably smart and hilarious 21 Jump Street, directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller. Both of those are World Premieres. Other highlights include The Hunter, Killer Joe, The Babymakers, frankie goes boom, God Bless America, The Imposter, The Raid, Bernie and Casa de mi Padre just to name a few. After the jump, read descriptions of all the films that have been announced so far. Before I copy and paste the rest of the list, a few minor notes.
- 2/1/2012
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
Here's the latest Austin movie news:
Local movie Five Time Champion was a big winner at the Dallas International Film Festival last weekend, taking home the Texas Filmmaker Award ($20K in cash/goods/services). Read Don's review of the movie from SXSW and you may understand why. In addition, now-Austin filmmaker Clay Liford won a special jury prize for Wuss, the Dallas-shot film that premiered at SXSW last month (my review). For more about Austin movies at Dallas Iff, don't forget to read Peter Martin's column from yesterday.Austin Film Festival has teamed up with Klru-tv for a dozen episodes of a new series called On Story: Presented by Austin Film Festival. Each episode will include a short film by a Texas filmmaker that has screened at Aff, plus clips of panels, interviews, etc. from past fests. You can watch the show on Saturday nights at 7:30 on Klru-q,...
Local movie Five Time Champion was a big winner at the Dallas International Film Festival last weekend, taking home the Texas Filmmaker Award ($20K in cash/goods/services). Read Don's review of the movie from SXSW and you may understand why. In addition, now-Austin filmmaker Clay Liford won a special jury prize for Wuss, the Dallas-shot film that premiered at SXSW last month (my review). For more about Austin movies at Dallas Iff, don't forget to read Peter Martin's column from yesterday.Austin Film Festival has teamed up with Klru-tv for a dozen episodes of a new series called On Story: Presented by Austin Film Festival. Each episode will include a short film by a Texas filmmaker that has screened at Aff, plus clips of panels, interviews, etc. from past fests. You can watch the show on Saturday nights at 7:30 on Klru-q,...
- 4/14/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Probably the most eagerly anticipated event at Austin Film Festival each year is the traditional Hair of the Dog Brunch. I'd heard talk of the brunch for years, but didn't attend until last year when I learned what all the fuss was about. Despite crowds spilling out of Ranch 616 and onto the sidewalk to eat, it's a great place to relax and enjoy great food and good company.
Every year there's a couple of people I'll continually encounter during Aff, and this year it has to be Ya'Ke Smith of Katrina's Son. I stopped to say hello and warn him that his mug would be Slackerwood's next Aff Quick Snaps. We talked about his upcoming projects, including a feature-length version of Katrina's Son. Behind him in line were more Aff 2010 award winning filmmakers -- the crew from Adios Mundo Cruel (pictured at top), including Yossy Zagha Kababie, Jack Zagha Kababie and Enrique Chmelnik.
Every year there's a couple of people I'll continually encounter during Aff, and this year it has to be Ya'Ke Smith of Katrina's Son. I stopped to say hello and warn him that his mug would be Slackerwood's next Aff Quick Snaps. We talked about his upcoming projects, including a feature-length version of Katrina's Son. Behind him in line were more Aff 2010 award winning filmmakers -- the crew from Adios Mundo Cruel (pictured at top), including Yossy Zagha Kababie, Jack Zagha Kababie and Enrique Chmelnik.
- 10/25/2010
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
I took my own advice from the Aff 2010 Dining Guide and stopped in at Thai Passion for a meal before the Brother's Justice premiere at the Paramount Theatre on Sunday. Several Aff attendees were enjoying dinner at the restaurant, including Ut alum and filmmaker Ya'Ke Smith. I ran into him again in front of the Paramount where I snapped the photo above. Smith has a good reason to smile. Aff announced the winners of the juried film competitions, and his short film Katrina's Son won in the narrative short category. I'd recommended Katrina's Son in the Aff 2010 Preview: Selected Shorts, and was glad to tell Smith personally how much I enjoyed his short film.
Smith just completed production on a documentary entitled Father, which addresses a domestic issue that's very personal to him -- the challenges and pain of growing up fatherless. According to a U.S. Census Bureau, 1 out...
Smith just completed production on a documentary entitled Father, which addresses a domestic issue that's very personal to him -- the challenges and pain of growing up fatherless. According to a U.S. Census Bureau, 1 out...
- 10/24/2010
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
The DGA announced Thursday the winners of its student film awards for African American, Asian American, Latino and female filmmakers. "These individuals represent the best in student filmmaking today, and we look forward to seeing more of their work in the near future," DGA president Michael Apted said. Yake Smith' of the University of Texas won for best African American student filmmaker for Hope's War, best Asian American student filmmaker went to Jenn Kao of UCLA for Outside, best Latino student filmmaker went to Cristy Paez of Florida State University for My Golden Cage, and best woman student filmmaker went to Jennifer Arzt of Florida State for Cake.
- 10/28/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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