Comments for Al Santana http://www.alsantana.com Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:48:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Amiri Baraka’s 75th Birthday Celebration by Al http://www.alsantana.com/2009/10/06/amiri-barakas-75th-birthday-celebration/comment-page-1/#comment-17209 Al Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:48:51 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/2009/10/06/amiri-barakas-75th-birthday-celebration/#comment-17209 Greetings. Thanks to all who came out to celebrate Amiri Baraka's 75th birthday. The event was spectacular--lots of great poetry, music, and the presentation of the film was very well received. So, now we're off to finish making "Flush", a fourteen minute film produced by Laura L. Fowler and yours truly. Please read more about it in the next posting. Process if everything. al Greetings. Thanks to all who came out to celebrate Amiri Baraka’s 75th birthday. The event was spectacular–lots of great poetry, music, and the presentation of the film was very well received.

So, now we’re off to finish making “Flush”, a fourteen minute film produced by Laura L. Fowler and yours truly. Please read more about it in the next posting.

Process if everything.

al

]]> Comment on Durban 400 Update by Durban 400, HIV Related Discrimination, and Community Led Anti-Racism Efforts http://www.alsantana.com/2009/04/12/durban-400-update/comment-page-1/#comment-10347 Durban 400, HIV Related Discrimination, and Community Led Anti-Racism Efforts Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:18:02 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/2009/04/12/durban-400-update/#comment-10347 [...] This session consisted primarily of viewing a documentary film of the views and activities of the “Durban 400” during the WCAR 2001. [...] [...] This session consisted primarily of viewing a documentary film of the views and activities of the “Durban 400” during the WCAR 2001. [...]

]]> Comment on Charles Blackwell Dies by Al http://www.alsantana.com/2008/12/10/charles-blackwell-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-9497 Al Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:39:00 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/2008/12/10/charles-blackwell-dies/#comment-9497 Dear John T. I'm very sorry to tell you that this past Tuesday (March 31st.) there was a memorial for Charles at NYU. I didn't know anyone from his building and therefore, was not able to inform you all. Know though, that it was a moving tribute made by his colleagues, students and friends. We were informed that in remembrance of Charles, a tree was planted in his name at the entryway of Tisch Asia in Singapore. Charles was a special person who managed to work his way into the hearts of so many people. We miss him. Dear John T. I’m very sorry to tell you that this past Tuesday (March 31st.) there was a memorial for Charles at NYU. I didn’t know anyone from his building and therefore, was not able to inform you all. Know though, that it was a moving tribute made by his colleagues, students and friends. We were informed that in remembrance of Charles, a tree was planted in his name at the entryway of Tisch Asia in Singapore.

Charles was a special person who managed to work his way into the hearts of so many people. We miss him.

]]> Comment on Charles Blackwell Dies by John T http://www.alsantana.com/2008/12/10/charles-blackwell-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-6033 John T Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:15:43 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/2008/12/10/charles-blackwell-dies/#comment-6033 Al, I'm one of Charles Blackwell's neighbors here in Clinton Hill. His friends here had been awaiting his arrival home for the holidays from Singapore, so we could hear stories of the exciting new world he'd decided to jump into, with encouragement from many of us. This afternoon, our security guard here at the building told me that he'd heard from his barber that Charles had died. Apparently, the barber had been told this by another customer, who was a student of Charles from NYU. Enoch, our security guard, had been collecting mail from Charles these past months and asked if I could find anything out on the internet. That's when I found your sad posting, which I then printed out and put up in the lobby of our building. He was a good dude, with whom I enjoyed numerous sit back and chew the fat neighborly conversations over my years here. It's kind of hard to believe he's not going to still come walking through the front door of the building for Christmas, so new is the news of his passing for us. Would you please let us know if you hear that anyone in his professional community is planning any kind of a memorial service for him? I could let folks here know. Thanks much. Al, I’m one of Charles Blackwell’s neighbors here in Clinton Hill. His friends here had been awaiting his arrival home for the holidays from Singapore, so we could hear stories of the exciting new world he’d decided to jump into, with encouragement from many of us. This afternoon, our security guard here at the building told me that he’d heard from his barber that Charles had died. Apparently, the barber had been told this by another customer, who was a student of Charles from NYU. Enoch, our security guard, had been collecting mail from Charles these past months and asked if I could find anything out on the internet.

That’s when I found your sad posting, which I then printed out and put up in the lobby of our building. He was a good dude, with whom I enjoyed numerous sit back and chew the fat neighborly conversations over my years here. It’s kind of hard to believe he’s not going to still come walking through the front door of the building for Christmas, so new is the news of his passing for us.

Would you please let us know if you hear that anyone in his professional community is planning any kind of a memorial service for him? I could let folks here know. Thanks much.

]]> Comment on Love Me Through It by Al http://www.alsantana.com/2008/06/25/love-me-through-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1202 Al Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:47:55 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/?p=8#comment-1202 Thanks, Haffe for your kind words. I too enjoyed our collaboration on this project, and even though we've become masters at doing a lot with very little, I'm hoping to move beyond these limitations in the future. It has become clear that the so-called digital revolution is a double edged sword. Al Thanks, Haffe for your kind words. I too enjoyed our collaboration on this project, and even though we’ve become masters at doing a lot with very little, I’m hoping to move beyond these limitations in the future. It has become clear that the so-called digital revolution is a double edged sword.

Al

]]> Comment on Love Me Through It by Haffe Acosta http://www.alsantana.com/2008/06/25/love-me-through-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1187 Haffe Acosta Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:07:21 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/?p=8#comment-1187 After almost 9 years of non communication with Al Santana, I found myself working with my old and best professor from The City College of New York's Film Dept (Class of 1999). The shoot (Love me Through it) was phenomenal and as a filmmaker, I learn a few tricks from old school cinematographer Alfred Santana. Even though, it was mainly Al and myself on the technical side, we finished the project on schedule. I will definitely work with Al Santana Films again on any given project. Haffe Acosta After almost 9 years of non communication with Al Santana, I found myself working with my old and best professor from The City College of New York’s Film Dept (Class of 1999). The shoot (Love me Through it) was phenomenal and as a filmmaker, I learn a few tricks from old school cinematographer Alfred Santana. Even though, it was mainly Al and myself on the technical side, we finished the project on schedule. I will definitely work with Al Santana Films again on any given project.

Haffe Acosta

]]> Comment on Al Santana Films At BAM by Al Santana http://www.alsantana.com/2007/09/23/al-santana-films-at-bam/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Al Santana Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:40:53 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/?p=4#comment-3 this is a heads up on an upcoming BDC event. please check it out. al BDC SCREENING OF MEMBERS FILMS AT ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES Invited Film: "761st" Synopsis The 761 was the first unit to enlist African-American soldiers to operate armored vehicles. What the Tuskegee Airmen were to the skies, the 761st was to land, as they were requested by General George S. Patton to assist with heavy fighting during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. The soldiers of the 761st Tank Battalion fought for 183 consecutive days, in six countries, and with great success despite a fifty-percent causality rate. They were commonly referred to as "Eleanor Roosevelt's Niggers", but proved themselves to be America's Men in what we now call the "Greatest Generation". Despite these undeniable accomplishments, the 761st Tank Battalion would not receive their due credit until April 20, 1978 when President Carter issued the Presidential Unit Citation to them. It took 52 years before Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers would be awarded a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor (January 13, 1997) in a ceremony presided over by President Clinton. In "761st," eleven of these great soldiers recount their experience in the United States Army, fighting for a freedom overseas that they did not enjoy in America. Total Running Time: 72 minutes Executive Producer: Steven White Director: Pete Chatmon Features : Exclusive interviews with 11 combat veterans of the 761st, General Colin Powell, and others. Narrated by Andre Braugher DATE: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: Anthology Film Archives 32 2ND AVENUE (at 2nd Street) $5.00 Admission! ****Please note with the price of admission you are welcome to stay for the remainder of the the evenings programs: 8:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Naima Lowe BIRTHMARKS (2007, 30 Minutes, 16MM) BIRTHMARKS is an experimental nonfiction film by Naima Lowe featuring her father, Bill Lowe. The film tells the story of the series of small darks scars on Bill's back that he got when the Newark Police beat him up in 1967, and the ways that fathers and daughters create beauty out of trauma, and art out of living. 8:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Carl Ford REAL WITH ME (2006, 83 Minutes, 35MM) this is a heads up on an upcoming BDC event. please check it out.

al

BDC SCREENING OF MEMBERS FILMS AT ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES

Invited Film: “761st”

Synopsis

The 761 was the first unit to enlist African-American soldiers to
operate armored vehicles. What the Tuskegee Airmen were to the skies,
the 761st was to land, as they were requested by General George S.
Patton to assist with heavy fighting during the Battle of the Bulge in
WWII. The soldiers of the 761st Tank Battalion fought for 183
consecutive days, in six countries, and with great success despite a
fifty-percent causality rate. They were commonly referred to as
“Eleanor Roosevelt’s Niggers”, but proved themselves to be America’s
Men in what we now call the “Greatest Generation”.

Despite these undeniable accomplishments, the 761st Tank Battalion
would not receive their due credit until April 20, 1978 when President
Carter issued the Presidential Unit Citation to them. It took 52
years before Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers would be awarded a posthumous
Congressional Medal of Honor (January 13, 1997) in a ceremony presided
over by President Clinton.

In “761st,” eleven of these great soldiers recount their experience in
the United States Army, fighting for a freedom overseas that they did
not enjoy in America.

Total Running Time: 72 minutes
Executive Producer: Steven White
Director: Pete Chatmon

Features :
Exclusive interviews with 11 combat veterans of the 761st,
General Colin Powell, and others. Narrated by Andre Braugher

DATE: Wednesday, October 17, 2007
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Anthology Film Archives
32 2ND AVENUE (at 2nd Street)

$5.00 Admission!

****Please note with the price of admission you are welcome to stay
for the remainder of the the evenings programs:

8:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM

Naima Lowe BIRTHMARKS (2007, 30 Minutes, 16MM)

BIRTHMARKS is an experimental nonfiction film by Naima Lowe featuring
her father, Bill Lowe. The film tells the story of the series of small
darks scars on Bill’s back that he got when the Newark Police beat him
up in 1967, and the ways that fathers and daughters create beauty out
of trauma, and art out of living.

8:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION

Carl Ford REAL WITH ME (2006, 83 Minutes, 35MM)

]]> Comment on Al Santana Films At BAM by Wahoo http://www.alsantana.com/2007/09/23/al-santana-films-at-bam/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Wahoo Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:55:42 +0000 http://www.alsantana.com/blog/?p=4#comment-2 Thank you for sharing! Thank you for sharing!

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