OBS VIEWING PARTY FOR TREME!

Last night was the premiere of David Simon's "Treme" on HBO. Since I heard this project was in the works, I've been anticipating this premiere. Several members of OBS came together for a viewing party that was awesome. The evening would not have been complete without at least a Creole dish to accompany the viewing. So Sonya volunteered her culinary skills and prepared a Shrimp Gumbo and Lisa brought out the Wok and created a Scallop Pasta dish (well was sort of New Orleans) and would not have been complete without beer and wine! All of us being huge fans of "The Wire" couldn't wait to see hoe Treme would unfold. Adding the caveats of Khandi Alexander, Wendell Pierce, Clarke Pierce, Rob Brown, as well as, local favor of music by Uncle Lionel Baptiste, Benny Jones, Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, et. al.; the people of the city, New Orleans itself, were definitely a huge plus.

Being writers, we understand that it can be difficult to introduce a pilot and make it work. You never know if your vision will come across on the screen. Especially difficult at times is how to make certain you excite your audience, bring them into the story, get them to care about the characters without exposition, all within 90 minutes, in this case. All of us at the viewing party were well versed in the premise of the show; so we still had no clue of how it was going to play.

We were all impressed. David Mills did an excellent job. the unfolding of the story-flow worked while never downplaying the level of devastation the characters returned to

without sucking life out of us in the process, but allowing us to rejoice with them, empathize, share their pride, and feel their spirit --was realized. As I watched, seeing the landmarks, you understand that there is a culture within a culture ---with New Orleans sharing the spotlight with the music - its soul.

Now I can't end this without saying we did question one thing...at least the ladies in the room did. Steve Zahn. We opened with his butt! Come on, you could have given us a sexier butt than that! Besides, we could have used a sexier character period. I mean, Davis McAlary had nothing to offer a women like, Janet Desautel, which he was trying to impress. Davis is a little annoying but clearly loves New Orleans, the music, and the culture. but he could be sexier so we want to tolerate him and that we could believe that he could pull a woman like Janet. Steve Zahn really? Davis has no heat, no hot water, no money, an unattractive job, come on...really? Now if you had given us Harry Connick, Jr. as Davis, now that's sexy and tolerable! I'm just saying. LOL!

We're looking forward to the next episode, we can see a little heat coming.

Writers and others, what about you, did you see the show? What did you think? Will you be there next week? Let me hear from you.

I WRITE TO PLEASE...WHO?

There's so much on my mind when it comes to writing it's difficult to get it on the page. One of the things that keeps coming back is the question, as a writer what is your priority? What I mean is, do you write to tell the stories you always wanted to tell; the ones that are in your head, on your heart, that relate to your surroundings? Or do you tell the stories you think others want to hear? -The stories you think people will find acceptable.



Now, this is a question that has several parts and angles and I want to address it as such - so I'll start here.



Looking at the above questions as a screenwriter - being asked to adapt a novel and you do your best. Your best turns out to win you an Oscar, Geoffrey Fletcher, Best Adapted Screenplay. The first African-American to win this award, a triumphant feat for a job well done. The novel was written by Sapphire and is the compilation of her thoughts, experiences, surroundings, fantasies, and reflections of things she has seen or been told. If you read the novel, you know that it was a difficult read in many aspects, but still it was through the pen/mind of Sapphire the way she wanted us to see it. Later, someone came along, read it, and saw it as a challenge. They read a story so compelling that they were willing to take their money to bring it to life on the big screen. The characters were strong and complicated. To bring that to the screen required the actors to reach deep inside to places they didn't know exist with them them. However, they did it so well, Mo'Nique and Gabourey Sidibe, were both nominated and Mo'Nique won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress respectively. As well as, the vision of the screenplay, through the eyes of the director, Lee Daniels, who was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. As difficult as the story is to comprehend, it is still thought provoking and deserved to be told. I think Geoffrey did an extraordinary job in allowing us to get a glimpse of how twisted the characters were without totally grossing us out and Lee did an awesome job in bringing us the symmetry of the visual darkness; no windows, no friends, no role models, no fresh air, just their damp hovel.



All of the above to say that as late as yesterday, I was engaged in a debate as to how horrible the film was (the persons I was speaking with thought it was horrible NOT me). The participants questioned why the movie was made. why did the actresses, screenwriter, and director get nominated for such a film. why have the only Black people that received Oscars of late been those that have portrayed roles of undesirable characters. For the role Denzel Washington played in "Training Day" and Halle Berry played in "Monsters Ball"? My answer was simple - "...they deserved it." I had to question if this is really the question that should have been ask or if that was the reason they were so upset. But they blamed the screenwriter, the author, the director, the actor, and the actresses...



My question again, "Why Do We Write?" Do you write to tell the stories you always wanted to tell, the ones that are in your head, on your heart, that relate to your surroundings, Or do you tell the stories that you think other people want to hear? - The stories that people (Black people) will find acceptable.

WHO WILL WIN?

This weekend's box office has a wide variety of choices. There's actually a debate on a great OBS Support's Facebook Page that has generated lots of response so we thought it would be interesting to post here and on OBS Fan Page on Facebook to get your feedback.

"...Who will win the box office this weekend, Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too?" Or "Clash Of The Titans 3-D"?

Let's hear from you!