For one night only, fans of the film The Five Heartbeats headed to theatres to watch director Robert Townsend’s documentary about the creation of the classic tale of brotherhood, race, and the music industry. My sister and I were among those who sat in the theatre late August marveling at the hard work and dedication Townsend […]
After 46 years, the long-awaited concert documentary Amazing Grace, which features Aretha Franklin’s performances at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, will make its debut at DOC NYC on November 12th. The performances, which were recorded between January 13th and 14th of 1972, are considered to be the best of Aretha Franklin, […]
Within the first 15 minutes of watching the Netflix documentary The Black Godfather I felt some kinda way about the titular man, Clarence Avant. I was trying to be open, suspend judgment, and really listen and learn about his life and legacy, but it proved to be a more difficult task for me than […]
There’s an elegant, almost poetic silence to one of the most compelling scenes of “On the Record,” a powerful new documentary about sexual violence that knows just when to dial down to a hushed quiet. In the early morning darkness of Dec. 13, 2017, former music executive Drew Dixon walks to a coffee shop and […]
NEW YORK (AP) — Harry Belafonte made history in early 1968. But it was lost to history. While the Vietnam War was raging and civil unrest was convulsing American cities, TV talk show host Johnny Carson did something special: He stepped away from “The Tonight Show” perch for a week. Then something even more […]
NEW YORK (AP) — For the 21 years while Sibil “Fox” Richardson’s husband, Rob, was imprisoned, they were, she says, “a telephone, letter-writing, visitation, just-stay-alive and keep-your-head-above-water couple.” How long is 21 years plus four days? Garrett Bradley’s acclaimed documentary about the Richardson family, “Time,” measures its passage through a father’s absence. It’s seen in […]
Sam Pollard’s new documentary “MLK/FBI” is an examination of how Martin Luther King Jr. was investigated and harassed by the FBI, based on recently discovered and declassified secret government files. The film is currently part of the Masters section at the documentary festival IDFA, which runs virtually until December 6th. Pollard, a three-time Emmy winner […]
Deadline reports that a new Jean-Michel Basquiat feature documentary is in the works, titled “King Pleasure.” It will center around the life and art of the renowned artist. The film is a collaborative effort by Boardwalk Pictures and Quinn Wilson, the former creative director for Lizzo. Basquiat’s estate has fully supported the project, providing access […]
“Free at Last” is an upcoming documentary series that will recount Apartheid’s history, Variety reports. Co-produced by Germany’s Beetz Brothers and South Africa’s Storyscope, the project will deep dive into South Africa’s decades-long oppressive regime. It will also feature exclusive accounts from victims and perpetrators, unseen footage, and undisclosed documents. In honor of Nelson […]