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Coming Attractions: Belle

From the same people that brought you 12 Years A Slave comes another beautifully crafted historical biopic, Belle.  This film is based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate granddaughter of the Earl of Mansfield.

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The trailer is beautiful and the film won accolades at the Toronto Film Festival.

Now the question is “Can Fox Searchlight make movies about people of color triumphing that are set int he present day?”  No, Fox, Baggage Claim doesn’t count…

Less Phone More Love

We all find ourselves tethered to that little box of joy–the smartphone–sometimes a bit more than we should.  In the coming week smntks will be looking at the impact that our media saturated environment has on us for both good and bad.

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Today from Unicef comes a great example of the good we can do with our smartphones.  Instead of just clicking like, do something you know you should do anyways:  put your phone down for a few minutes.

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The Tap Project challenges you to put down your phone: 10 minutes touch free will result in a day of clean water for a child in need.  How many days can you donate while you clear your mind?

Must watch: Try This Instead!

There may not be a lot of room in big time mainstream media for breaking down stereotypes, but lots of web series are riding to the rescue with some fresh and interesting takes on race.  We heard from some of the first ladies of web wonderful-ness  last week.  New week, new web goodness for you.  Got two minutes?  Check out the latest:  “Try This Instead”.  If you love it, share it!

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Scandal-less: Black Women Throw Down Behind The Camera

There’s lots that can be said about the need for more diversity in front of the camera.  An equally important issue that goes to the root of diversity in media is diversity behind the camera.  Having opportunities for writers, directors, producers and actors of all backgrounds helps to provide fertile ground to grow new kinds of stories with fresh voices.  Enter five fabulous black women making interesting and fresh stories representing some typically unheard voices.  Since mainstream media isn’t really open to being that fertile ground, these ladies have made their own space to grow.

Their candid conversation here on their experiences making some of their breakout hits informs, educates and inspires, so take the time to listen to these queens.

This is a (Wo)man’s World

Check out his viral video from France showing us life as a masculinist in a matriarchal world.  Sometimes it helps to just see things differently.  Watch the video then read more about the short, created in 2010 by Eleonore Pourriat, and the filmmaker’s surprise by it’s recent upworthiness.

Google’s Doodle-ing It Right

Russia’s laws and practices against gay citizens have been well documented leading up to the games, exposing harsh practices and the need for change.  Google welcomed the games with this doodle, which included language directly from the Olympic charter reminding us all the intended spirit of the games.  Here’s to hoping that the pressure to provide equal rights will last longer than the games.

This doodle from Google graces the search page, with the thumbnail on all it's pages on the opening day of the Sochi Olympics
This doodle from Google graces the search page, with the thumbnail on all it’s pages on the opening day of the Sochi Olympics

 

Aerie Real(er)

American Eagle’s sister store Aerie is launching its #aeirereal campaign, pledging to stop Photoshopping their models and to not use supermodels.  Even so, the women in these photos are most definitely still very beautiful by most American standards, even if not so visible in fashion.  We have a long way to go till the war on women’s bodies can be called in this country, but every journey is made of a million steps and this Photoshop free campaign looks like one.

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