No More Stigma Film Series Kicks Off at Maysles Cinema Harlem

The husband can barely look his wife in the eye when she accuses him of having unprotected sex with other women.  The husband steals glances and shoots back denials, never quite looking her directly in the eye.  The wife continues.  She accuses him of infecting her with HIV.  The husband responds with the accusation that it might have been her ex-boyfriend that gave it to her, and she in turn, gave it to him.  A typical argument between husband and wife, except that the husband has three wives and this conversation was captured by a documentary crew in a rural village in modern day Zambia, Africa.  This scene in the film “The Carrier”, a must-see feature length documentary film by first-time director Maggie Betts, serves as a gap closer between the HIV epidemic among African Americans in the U.S. and our distant “cousins” on the continent.  As I watched the film, I could not help but feel connected.

Still Image From "The Carrier"

Albert Maysles (seated) and Maggie Betts, director, "The Carrier" at the No More Stigma Film Series

“The Carrier” was the first feature film shown at the debut of GET DOWN and Maysles Cinema’s No More Stigma Film Series on Thursday, June 21^st.   The evening opened with a sneak preview super trailer from another first-time director Mike Brown.  “25 To Life” chronicles the aftermath of former Howard University student William Brawner’s stunning announcement that he was HIV positive.   The forthcoming feature documentary captured the reaction of William’s close friends, former Howard classmates, and family to his public disclosure on commercial radio.  According to the film, William’s mother instructed him at age two to never disclose this HIV status.  It was this, states William, that caused him to suppress this secret so deep down inside, that as a sexually active young adult, he was promiscuous and had unprotected sex.  The feature film will chronicle William’s redemptive journey to find past lovers and make amends with those his decisions have impacted, including his protective mother. 

Still Image From "25 To Life"

Peelahr Moore and Leah Thompson, producers, "25 To Life" at the No More Stigma Film Series

 

According to “25 To Life” producer Leah Thompson, the film includes interviews with his mother, wife, and a few of those past lovers.  The full-length film has had a few test screenings and according to director Brown “A number of people who have seen the latest cut of  "25 To Life" have said that the film will be an explosive conversation starter around sex, STDs, relationships, and beyond.  To help us keep the dialogue productive, we will enlist the support and assistance of experts and organizations such as the Balm in Gilead, Black AIDS Institute, the CDC, and the NAACP, to name a few.”  “25 To Life” has received funding and support from organizations such as the Ford Foundation, Sundance Documentary Institute, and IDA.

Q&A Panel at the No More Stigma Film Series. From left: Adrian Guzman, Center For HIV Law & Policy, director Maggie Betts, producers Leah Thompson and Peelahr Moore, David Lopez, Harlem United and moderator De'Von Christopher, President &CEO Bleu Life Media.

De'Von Christopher and Jessica Green, Cinema Director.

 

A post-screening Q&A, was moderated by De’Von Christopher, president and CEO of Bleu Life Media (Bleu Magazine), included the filmmakers along with Adrian Guzman of the Center For HIV Law and Policy/TeenSENSE and David Lopez of Harlem United. The conversation became quite spirited around the issue of criminalization of HIV, and whether someone who is HIV positive and has unprotected sex without disclosing their status should be prosecuted as a criminal.  GET DOWN covered this topic last year’s in the blog “Is It A Crime? A Look At HIV Criminalization in the U.S.”  Stopping by the event was Maysles Institute Founder Albert Maysles, who felt strongly that the world needed to see these films and that “The Carrier” is a film that deserves distribution.  We’re with you Mr. Maysles.  We’re with you.

The No More Stigma Film Series will continue on August 23^rd, October 30^th and December 1^st for World Aids Day 2012.  Doors are 6:30pm and the screening starts at 7:30pm.

To stay up to date on the series, FRIEND US at http://www.facebook.com/getdownpsa and join the Maysles Cinema mailing list at www.mayslesinstitute.org.

To support and find out more about Maggie Bett’s “The Carrier”, go to http://www.facebook.com/thecarrierfilm and visit their website here http://www.thecarrierfilm.com/.

Check out Mike Brown’s “25 To Life” here https://www.facebook.com/25ToLifeFilm and join their mailing list here http://25tolifefilmsite.com/.

For more information on the No More Stigma Film Series and upcoming films, check out www.facebook.com/getdownpsa and www.mayslesinstitute.org.

Read.  Share.  Discuss.  Educate.

--Kim J. Ford

GET DOWN Creator/Executive Producer

Getdownpsa2008@gmail.com

NO STIGMA FILM SERIES: "25 TO LIFE"

GET DOWN understands that there is a need for more HIV, AIDS, and overall sexual health awareness. Additionally, more education is required around gender and sexual identity.  Cultural mores and spiritual beliefs, which are often reinforced at home and among peers, are often a barrier to gender identity studies or acceptance of alternative lifestyles outside of the home.   Thirty years later, we still have to reinforce the fact that HIV and AIDS does not discriminate.  It is not a “gay disease”.  Stigma is still a huge barrier to testing.  The NO MORE STIGMA FILM SERIES seeks to use the filmed medium to “edu-tain”, and encourage dialogue around all things sexual identity and HIV/AIDS.  The NO MORE STIGMA FILM SERIES will show conversation worthy films followed by Q&A panels.  

 

Kicking off Thursday, June 21st at the renown Maysles Cinema in Harlem, NY, the NO MORE STIGMA FILM SERIES will highlight an excerpt from "25 To Life", the buzz-worthy documentary by Mike Brown about William Brawner, a young man who kept his HIV status a secret for over twenty-five years, since he was two years old.  Now he seeks redemption from his promiscuous past, and embarks on a new phase of life with his wife who is HIV negative.  

William Brawner, subject of documentary "25 To Life"

Immediately following, the critically acclaimed feature length documentary "The Carrier" by Maggie Betts.   When 28-year-old Mutinta Mweemba first shares all the hopes and dreams she once nurtured as a child, her aspirations seem no different from those of many other young women around the world. She dreams of meeting and falling in love with a handsome man, being married and raising children and hopefully one day providing those children with a better life than her own.  But Mutinta's dreams were never realized. Her soft-spoken husband came with two other wives, and the remote Zambian village that she calls home is being ravaged by a deadly new epidemic -- a mysterious disease called AIDS.  Set against the backdrop of today's most urgent plague, Maggie Betts's "The Carrier" is a stunning portrait of both a family and a community, caught in a desperate struggle to emancipate their next generation from AIDS.

The NO MORE STIGMA FILM SERIES is inconjunction with GET DOWN, Maysles Cinema and Bleu Magazine.  The Maysles Cinema is a non-profit organization and there is a suggested donation at the door.

RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/events/308881262528955/

-- GET DOWN Team

getdownpsa2008@gmail.com

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GET DOWN at Sundae Sermon's Kickoff at El Museo Del Barrio

El Museo Del Barrio was the place to be on Sunday, February 26 as Harlem Parks to Park program, the dance party series Sundae Sermon, took over El Museo Del Barrio in East Harlem, New York.  Bridging the East and West sides of Harlem, the series united the community for an afternoon of soulful house music and education.  GET DOWN partnered with Sundae Sermon to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and kickoff the Aids Walk Campaigns of FACES NY and Harlem United, two New York based HIV community-based organizations.  GET DOWN helped organize the donations for the two charities and, along with Anita Bryant of A-Marketing, created goodie bags with donations from companies such as Fairway Market, Sokenbicha Teas, NY Sports Club of Harlem, Harlem Doggie Day Spa, Sesame Workshop, Land Yoga, Modell’s, A-Loft of Harlem and Jeffrey Richards Associates, producers of The Gershwins’ PORGY AND BESS.

Sundae Sermon will continue at El Museo Del Barrio on March 25 and April 29.

For more information on Sundae Sermon at El Museo Del Barrio, go to www.elmuseo.org or www.sundaesermon.com.

To see more images from GET DOWN at Sundae Sermon, check out http://www.facebook.com/getdownpsa, go to PHOTOS.

 

Read.  Share.  Discuss.  Educate.

--Kim J. Ford

GET DOWN Creator/Executive Producer

Getdownpsa2008@gmail.com

GET DOWN CAMPAIGN PARTNERS WITH SUNDAE SERMON DANCE PARTY SERIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GET DOWN CAMPAIGN PARTNERS WITH SUNDAE SERMON 

DANCE PARTY SERIES

FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HIV AWARENESS MONTH EVENT

WITH HIV NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS 

FACES NY AND HARLEM UNITED

NEW YORK, February 17, 2012 – The GET DOWN Campaign announced today that it will partner with DJ Stormin’ Norman’s Sundae Sermon Dance Party Series to kick off the indoor series this Spring and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS during Black History Month. El Museo Del Barrio will be hosting Sundae Sermon as a satellite extension of their outdoor music and film festival that runs in Harlem's Morningside Park from June through September. This Winter/Spring 2012 Edition will connect families and communities through dance, leisure and artist exhibits. DJ Stormin' Norman, DJ Qool Marv and other guest dj's will be music maestros alongside live Painters, and face painting for kids. Gonzalo Casals, El Museo’s Director of Education and Public Programs comments, “We are happy to open our doors to the greater Harlem Community through this special partnership with Sundae Sermon. The kind of free programming for families that they offer aligns with El Museo’s goal and mission to make such activities accessible and meaningful for our community.” The series kicks off February 26 and continues March 25 and April 29.

 

DJ Stormin' Norman, Sundae Sermon’s founder, originally hails from East London, England, and is now a resident of Harlem. In the 90’s, he was part of a groundbreaking DJ collective who set a new precedent in national radio with the “Thunderstorm Mix” on New York’s WBLS 107.5FM. The program introduced live mixing to daytime radio, previously reserved for weekend nights broadcasted from night-clubs. For over 20 years, he's played major New York clubs, exclusive downtown spots, elite private events and world tours.  Norman also has extended his brand with Sundae Sermon Foundation, Sundae Sermon Radio and Sundae Sermon Recordings.  Most importantly, he’s committed to his community. A Harlem resident for over 15 years, Norman is passionate about constructively contributing to its current renaissance. "There are a lot of Harlemites who have to venture downtown or to other boroughs for this kind of experience,” Norman said. “Sundae Sermon lets us support and celebrate this great neighborhood and network, and invite the rest of the city to join the party," he added.

To kickoff the series and raise HIV/AIDS awareness during Black History Month, Sundae Sermon partnered with the GET DOWN HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.  GET DOWN, written, produced and directed by Kim J. Ford (Lionqueen 192 Productions, Inc.), is an edgy new HIV/AIDS PSA that candidly portrays sexually active youth of various sexual identities who are experimenting with multiple sexual partners and the consequences they deal with as a result.  GET DOWN uses multimedia program, that utilizes viral short form content, education (in schools and extra curricular arts education), social media, blogging and - launching in 2012  - youth oriented radio, in order to educate at-risk youth about HIV, AIDS, sexual behavior and safe sex.  “I’ve wanted to work with DJ Stormin Norman for a while”, says Kim J. Ford.  “Sundae Sermon’s socially conscious, community oriented dance parties are the right platform for GET DOWN to spread awareness.  We are proud to partner with DJ Stormin Norman on our first foray into events”.  The event will be hosted by Forces of Nature Dance Theater Ensemble, and will feature live painting, kids face painting and goodie bags, which were coordinated by New York marketing entrepreneur Anita Bryant of A-Marketing and GET DOWN.  The special kickoff event, will also serve as an Aids Walk Fundraiser kickoff for FACES NY and Harlem United, two Harlem based non-profit organizations, who will be on-site to accept voluntary donations. Harlem United will conduct private HIV testing on site.  Sundae Sermon is brought to you by Harlem Community Development Corporation, Experience Harlem, Harlem Parks to Parks, Bikram Yoga East Harlem and Sundae Sermon Radio.

 

The Sundae Sermon indoor series schedule is as follows:

FEBRUARY INDOOR SERIES KICKOFF 2/26

African American HIV/AIDS Awareness Month

GET DOWN Campaign, FACES NY, Harlem United

Aids Walk Donations To Charities

 MARCH NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH 3/25

Guest Female DJs, Music Influenced By Women

 APRIL CELEBRATING JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT 4/29

Traveling Exhibit, Five Harlem Artist Pay Tribute

Live Painting