Ananse Creative Youth Enterprises, LLC.

Oh! The Drama! Mo’ Better Blues, and KnowingMo’ Better...

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:26:53 -0400

Oh! The Drama! Mo’ Better Blues, and Knowing

Mo’ Better Blues (1990)
Bleek and Clarke, played by Denzel Washington and Cynda Williams

Clarke: Say…

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Oh! The Drama! Villain-yYes, I am a Scandalista. Rarely do I get...

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:15:42 -0400

Oh! The Drama! Villain-y

Yes, I am a Scandalista. Rarely do I get into shows this deeply…honestly the last time I was this…

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TDL Faves: My Favorite Female FilmmakersThese are some of my...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:54:23 -0400

TDL Faves: My Favorite Female Filmmakers

These are some of my imaginary mentors— women whose careers I admire, whose approach to…

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Creative Inspiration: Alive

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:20:34 -0400

Your ability to accept your own mortality, or death, is commensurate with your ability to live…

- Hugh Jackman, Inside the Actor’s Studio

Back in February, I found myself watching an episode of Inside The Actor’s Studiofeaturing Hugh Jackman. I have a lot…

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Getting Into Focus- PUSH Yourself aka Best Laid Plans…So,...

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:13:55 -0400

Getting Into Focus- PUSH Yourself aka Best Laid Plans…

So, I did it.

I sent in my script a little before 2pm CT, which is around Noon PST…an hour before…

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Getting Into Focus- The Incentive-From Shadow and Act Yesterday,...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:30:21 -0400

Getting Into Focus- The Incentive

-From Shadow and Act

Yesterday, I ran across this Scriptwriting Competitionby Will Smith and James…

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Getting Into Focus: Staying On Task

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:13:11 -0400

I get distracted easily. When I work, I need to tune out all of the extraneous noise and focus on my project. Being a stay-at-home mom with a two year old generally means I can’t tune everything out, and my working hours are restricted to the times when…

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What I'm Writing Now: Attacking a series bible

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:38:44 -0500

Let me start from the beginning. I want to move. Badly. Currently, I’m staying in this semi-urban/semi-rural town in the South that I’m pretty much ready to leave. Usually, when I want to move, I just move. But this time I want to leave the country, and…

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Oh! The Drama!- Vulnerability Pt. 2— Let’s Get...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:38:59 -0500

Oh! The Drama!- Vulnerability Pt. 2— Let’s Get Naked…

Cyrus at his most vulnerable…

I watch Scandal reruns on the day after just to catch anything i…

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Oh! The Drama!- Vulnerability pt. 1

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:51:01 -0500

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope

Like millions of Americans, I LOVE Scandal on ABC. Usually, I’m in bed by 8:45 pm, but I stay up on Thursday nights to keep up with Olivia Pope and Associates.

I think Olivia Pope is a magnificent character– strong, smart,…

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A Bit of Culture— “The Class (Entre Les...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:19:14 -0500

A Bit of Culture— “The Class (Entre Les Murs)”

The Class (2008) Dir. Laurent Cantet

Back in 2006/2007, while i was in undergrad, I participated in…

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Oh! The Drama!: Contigencies On set for the film “Liars”. My...

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:58:33 -0500

Oh! The Drama!: Contigencies

On set for the film “Liars”.

My teacher in grad school, the incomparable Matthew Jacobs, wrote a…

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Welcome! A little about me… There is just something about...

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:04:48 -0500

Welcome! A little about me…

There is just something about a good story. It can move you, inspire you, and influence you.…

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Killadelphia: Violence in the City of Brotherly Love (by...

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:41:25 -0400

Killadelphia: Violence in the City of Brotherly Love (by group5comethics)

So we made this video in 2007…it was dealing with how people viewed the violence in Philly…the responses have been incredible!

The Biz

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 08:43:06 -0400

Its a tough world for a black filmmaker. To go Hollywood, you basically need to be “postracial”, meaning you let go of your culture and heritage to be part of one homogenous group of people…”The American”. If you choose to forgo this route, just know that it will be much more difficult to find funding and supporters for your projects. Especially since its hard to get black moviegoers to watch black independent films. This is a very general statement, I know. It does not count the individual person that does enjoy indies, but as a whole, our support for nontraditional sources of art and media are lacking. And we have some great work out there!

The idea behind Ananse Productions and Distributions is to get minorities interested in indie films by providing them with an experience they can’t get from the Hollywood majors. Films that speak to them and their experiences, atmospheres that are intimate and inviting, and the opportunity to help other filmmakers around the country get their work seen. I would hope to get a theater in every major city across the country. Hollywood has shown us that our stories aren’t a priority anymore. Let’s show them we can do it on our own!

Train (NSFW) A girl demeans herself to get attention from a boy...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:28:39 -0400

Train

(NSFW)

A girl demeans herself to get attention from a boy she wants to be with.

Written and Directed By: Katrina Mitchell

Starring Zivia Walker, Martin Layton-Santos, Vanessa B., Robert Swain Jr., Tyrique Tennant, O’lando Graves II, James Augustine, Angelic Sosa

“Caught Up” By J. Mitchell—performing at...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:20:59 -0400

“Caught Up” By J. Mitchell—performing at LaPunkNoirDeux

Two former lovers contemplate their relationshipfilmed in...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:02:11 -0400

Two former lovers contemplate their relationship
filmed in October 2009
Starring Daveed Diggs and Eboni Williams
Directed by: Katrina Mitchell

Have you ever had a hard time letting someone go? This film was inspired by wanting to be with someone who isn’t sure they want you back. It’s a tough situation to be in, but it’s one to grow on. The ultimate lesson is to value yourself. Has anyone else experienced a similar situation?

Written and Directed By: Katrina MitchellStarring Angel Moore,...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:21:08 -0400

Written and Directed By: Katrina Mitchell

Starring Angel Moore, Kimberly Reed, and Martin Layton-Santos

This story is inspired by Yoruba Mythology. Shango is a major orisha, and in the original story he has three wives. I have adapted it to two, Oba and Oshun. Oba is the senior wife, but Shango is not in love with her like he is in love with Oshun. Oshun is his perfect counterpart; he is all things masculine and she is all things feminine. Shango really loves her cooking, a fact that makes Oba insanely jealous. So Oba asks Oshun what she does to make Shango love her. Oshun, sensing the opportunity to trick Oba, tells her she takes a piece of skin from her ear, dries it in the sun, grinds it into a fine powder, and puts it in the food she serves Shango. After eating, his craving for her is insatiable. The movie picks up from this point.

I would love to know what you think!

Starring Martin Layton-SantosDirected by Katrina MitchellOn the...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:19:48 -0400

Starring Martin Layton-Santos
Directed by Katrina Mitchell

On the eve of his college graduation, Jerrod can’t get in touch with his girlfriend, Jasmine. At what point is the pursuit too much?