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So, the first (and most likely, only) season of HBO’s Watchmen series is done. It will be remembered as an across-the-board success that not only maintained loyalty and reverence for its source material, but was also unafraid to innovate within that time-honored universe. And despite the Emmy snub, the risk mostly paid off…which is why I’m waiting on DC to fully commit within the panels as well as the screen.

Sister Night Comic

Played by Regina King, Angela Abar is one of the most intriguing, likeable protagonists I’ve ever seen in science fiction. Capable, competent, determined and refreshingly vulgar, I’d easily put King’s ass-kicking heroine up there with the likes of Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor. Put simply, there’s no reason for there to not be an impending Sister Night comic series. DC Comics seems to make a pass at diversity about as often as they do at rebooting (or at least semi rebooting) their entire universe, both of which usually have mixed results. Meanwhile, Marvel has had a pretty decent run selling us on Black characters such as Miles Morales, Luke Cage, and the Black Panther. And sure, DC has some success Duke Thomas, Vixen, and everyone’s favorite Green Lantern, John Stewart, but introducing readers to Sister Night would be a creatively fulfilling venture on a couple of levels.

The Marvel Example

In 2003, Marvel dropped a limited series entitled Truth: Red, White and Black that would alter the history of the Marvel Universe with the reveal that the super soldier serum that created Captain America had been tested on a Black man, Isaiah, during the Tuskegee experiments. A couple of generations later (in comic time), the grandson of Isaiah Bradley took up the mantle of Patriot after growing up hearing of his legend. This brief summary alone brings about the possibility of so much world building about the secret history of the Marvel Universe. Now, imagine this kind of push for a limited comic series for Sister Night, a direct descendant of the first superhero in the Watchmen universe, now revealed to be a black man who wanted to wage war on police corruption. DC would be doing itself an enormous favor in the diversity game to add a character of such nuance to its roster and fictional history.

Don’t Stop Now

Now, certainly the argument could be made in the wake of the Watchmen show’s nigh-unanimous success and the critical praise for King’s performance that DC has already done itself said favor. We’ve already seen that there are those in the industry that will do anything to dismiss any mainstream success and popularity of Black characters as either a fluke or a fad. Less enlightened comic fans could very easily dismiss Sister Night and the direction the show took the Watchmen universe as a “version” of the story and not canon. A comic series would be doubling down on a diverse character that has been proven to be successful. And in a time when the Big Two are notorious for retreating to centering more familiar white franchises at the first sign of dissent in the readership, what better character to run with than an ass-kicking nun-themed detective that rides out in a Buick to Knight Rider-esque EDM music? Face it. The world needs more Sister Night.

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The post The Case For Angela Abar (or Why The World Needs More Sister Night) appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

Off jump, Tokyo Godfathers is a classic. It’s a critically acclaimed film, it’s a tour de force in the world of animation and it has sincerely one of the best narratives about family in a film in the last this decade. Sidebar: it’s also one of my favorite Christmas films. (Look if y’all keep saying Die Hard fits that category, then Tokyo Godfathers does too, Fight me.)

2020 continues to be a year that wants to test our combined limits of how much grief, severe annoyance and disappointment in our governments and dystopian feels we can take so to hear news that such a film is bringing brought back, remastered with care to theatres makes my heart smile. Seeing Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers in the news brings me a little hope in helping to set this God awful year right and hopefully back on track.

The film follows three homeless people’s lives that are changed forever when they discover a baby girl at a garbage dump on Christmas Eve. Set in modern-day Tokyo, as the New Year fast approaches, these three forgotten members of society band together to solve the mystery of the abandoned child and the fate of her parents. Along the way, encounters with seemingly unrelated events and people force them to confront their own haunted pasts, as they learn to face their future, together. There’s plenty of hijinks and proud declarations mixed with themes of hope, found family, facing great odds against you and being at your wits ends when people don’t recognize your humanity.

When I think back to my first viewing of this film, I remember what stood out the most: the challenge present of our protagonists and how people failed to acknowledge their humanity time and time again throughout the film even though they were on a noble mission. With already having a strike against them by society for being homeless, they were also — an alcoholic, a drag queen, and an 11-year-old girl. From cops to shopkeepers to scary men who like to inflict violence on those who are less fortunate, the trio is put through the wringer.

They were constantly dismissed, belittled, harassed, ignored and even physically beaten for the audacity of existing. While adding an abandoned infant on Christmas Eve to their watch sets off this adventurous tale, I never forgot this charming film and how redemption and hope can touch anyone and how doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest task. Tokyo Godfathers is exactly a film with the right messages that so many of us can care to see right now in this dismal beginning of a year that I can only hope deep down will become brighter and better.

Miyuki: God must be busy at this time of year.

Hana: Better once a year than never.

And look…has it really been ten years since director Satoshi Kon’s death??? His golden filmography includes such beloved films that include Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, and Paprikra which have stood the test of time in storytelling that aged well and has served as influence for the film industry–even outside the animated industry! In the sphere of Hollywood, I can think of Black Swan and Inception off the top of my head that fit that bill.

To know that Tokyo Godfathers hasn’t been forgotten and will be introduced to a newer generation of fans of anime, to know that a newer generation of fans will get to be introduced to a master of storytelling that we haven’t forgotten is a lovely tribute to the visionary, warms my heart and gives me a little peace to take with me when I think about tomorrow.

This adored classic will be in theatres in all its restored beauty come March for two nights only! Co-written by Keiko Nobumoto (Cowboy Bebop, Wold’s Rain, Space Dandy) and featuring an endearing score by Keiichi Suzuki (Okko’s Inn, The Earthbound video games), this is one you just can’t miss this year!

Keeping fighting the good fight against the oppressive and disheartening circumstances and news cycles what seek to keep you down and treat yourself to this film about family, keeping the faith in dark times and the necessity of doing the right thing—always.

See more about tickets and other information here. See more from GKIDS about the film on your favorite social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Tickets are now on sale! ✨

TOKYO GODFATHERS, from Satoshi Kon (#PerfectBlue #Paprika), returns to theaters in a new restoration on MAR 9 & 11!

?March 9 – Subtitled
?March 11 – New English Dub
Tickets/Locations: https://t.co/tDVgf9aHPE#SatoshiKon #TokyoGodfathers pic.twitter.com/qTLUBG2vit

— GKIDS Films ☀️ WEATHERING WITH YOU now playing! (@GKIDSfilms) January 31, 2020

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The post Trailer for Remastered ‘Tokyo Godfathers’ Here to Help To To Right This God Awful Year appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

The death of Kobe Bryant has left the country heartbroken. His family, friends and fans are devastated by his untimely death that occurred last Sunday (Jan. 26) in Calabasas, CA in a helicopter crash. The company that owns the helicopter that crashed has decided to suspend flights in the wake of this terrible loss.

“The shock of the accident affected all staff, and management decided that service would be suspended until such time as it was deemed appropriate for staff and customers,” the company, Island Express Helicopters, said in the statement according to the East Bay Times.

Services are suspended indefinitely. The company,  which is based in Long Beach, CA, is also not doing interviews about the incident either.

After the death of Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people, it was discovered that the helicopter did not have a black box nor was it licensed to fly in inclement weather. The pilot however, Ara Zobayan, was licensed to fly in such weather. Zobayan had 10 years of experience and had flown 8,000 hours worth of flights. The National Transportation Safety Board is working with Island Express Helicopters to investigate the crash.

The other people that died in the crash include  Zobayan, Gianna’s teammate Alyssa Altobelli, her parents Keri and John, basketball assistant coach, Christina Mauser, another one of Gianna’s teammates Payton Chester and Payton’s mother, Sarah. They were all on their way to a basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy where Gianna, Alyssa and Payton were basketball players.

The Los Angeles Lakers honored the five-time champion with a pre-game ceremony last night (Jan. 31) before their game against the Portland Trailblazers. Usher gave an emotional performance of “Amazing Grace” while Lebron James gave a heartfelt speech about his friend and fellow Laker.

“This is a celebration of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken down body, the gettin’ up, everything, the countless hours,” he said. “The determination to be a great as he could be.”

In tribute to Bryant, known as the Black Mamba, each seat in the Staples Center was covered with his Lakers no. 24 jersey.

In a press release delivered today, during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival award ceremony, it was announced Tabitha Jackson will take the reigns as the next festival director.

Today, Sundance Institute announced Tabitha Jackson as the new Director of the Sundance Film Festival. Jackson was chosen from a worldwide search and follows outgoing Director, John Cooper, who served in the role for 11 years and will assume a newly-created Emeritus Director role. An award-winning filmmaker, she has served as Director of the Institute’s Documentary Film Program for the last six years. Jackson will oversee the Festival’s overall vision and strategy, while leading a senior team in close collaboration with Director of Programming, Kim Yutani. In his new role, Cooper will oversee special projects including preparations for the Institute’s 40th anniversary in 2021.

“It gives me immense pleasure to announce, Tabitha Jackson, as the new Director of the Sundance Film Festival,” said Sundance Institute’s Executive Director, Keri Putnam. “Tabitha is fiercely devoted to independent artists, has been a visionary member of the Sundance Institute’s leadership team for the last 6 years. Her  authenticity, experience and perspective will serve her well in leading the Festival forward as a beacon for independent artists and audiences.”

“I founded Sundance Institute with the clear mission of celebrating and supporting independent artists, said Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford, “and the Festival is the platform where we can showcase their stories. As we approach our fortieth anniversary, I’m pleased to have Tabitha lead us as we move into the future and meet the next generation of artists and their stories.”

Jackson has served as the Director of the Institute’s Documentary Film Program since 2013, and in that time has overseen the creation of innovative new programs and resources that support nonfiction filmmakers worldwide with special passion for expanding the art of non-fiction storytelling. A focus of Jackson’s new role will be shaping the nonprofit Institute’s full slate of global public programming throughout the year — including Sundance Film Festivals in Hong Kong and London and a nationwide Short Film Tour — as well as leading the community of artists and audiences those programs serve.

Prior to joining the Institute, Jackson worked in arts and entertainment for more than 25 years as an award-winning filmmaker. Prior to joining the Institute in 2013, she served as Head of Arts and Performance at Channel 4 Television in London, where she supported the independent and alternative voice and sought to find fresh and innovative ways of storytelling. She executive produced a number of projects for the UK’s Film 4 including Mark Cousins’ cinematic odyssey The Story of Film, Clio Barnard’s formally experimental The Arbor, Sophie Fiennes’ essay The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology, Bart Layton’s thriller The Imposter, and Iain and Jane’s innovative Nick Cave biography 20,000 Days on Earth.

“It is exciting to be amplifying the voices and work of independent artists in these challenging and fast-changing times,’” said Jackson. “My role, working with a team at the top of their game, will be to ensure that the festival remains as effective, vital and transformational in the years going forward as it has been in the past — and to make sure that we have fun doing it. I can’t wait to get started.”

The Sundance Film Festival’s scope and ambition have evolved over John Cooper’s tenure, including programmatic innovation and thoughtful global expansion. The 2020 Festival received over 15,100 submissions from around the world, featured over 200 new works from a diverse array of voices, welcomed more than 125,000 guests to Utah, and reaches millions more who watch festival news and content online.

The post Sundance Institute Welcomes Tabitha Jackson as its New Festival Director appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.