Pioneers of African American Cinema (1915-1946)

[JJJ225]

Kino Lorber is currently trying to raise $35,000 through Kickstarter to release a Pioneers of African-American Cinema Blu Ray set. This would be a super important historical release, and I will definitely be donating to help reach their goal.

The "magic number," if you will, is $100. That's the pledge level that would get you the set upon completion.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...merican-cinema

Among the most fascinating chapters of film history is that of the so-called “race films” that flourished in the 1920s - ‘40s. Unlike the “black cast” films produced within the Hollywood studio (such as Stormy Weather or Green Pastures), these films not only starred African Americans but were funded, written, produced, directed, distributed, and often exhibited by people of color. Entrepreneurial filmmakers such as Oscar Micheaux, Spencer Williams, and Richard D. Maurice not only built an industry apart from the Hollywood establishment, they also cultivated visual and narrative styles that were uniquely their own. Defying convention and operating outside the studio system, these filmmakers were the forefathers (and -mothers) of the French New Wave, the L.A. Rebellion, and the entirety of American indie cinema. Anything but imitative, these Pioneers of African-American Cinema were purely innovative.

Curated by film historians Charles Musser and Jacqueline Najuma Stewart, and presented by executive producer DJ Spooky, Pioneers of African-American Cinema will showcase not only the works of MIcheaux and Williams, but lesser-known filmmakers such as James and Eloyce Gist, as well as rarely-seen footage shot by writer Zora Neale Hurston. It will also include selections of “race films” made by white directors, such as Richard E. Norman and Frank Peregini. Without a doubt, it will be the most comprehensive collection of early African-American cinema ever assembled. The handsomely packaged collection will be released in February, 2016, to coincide with the celebration of Black History Month.

[bboisvert]

It's a 5-disc set now:
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=16198

Less than a day left on the kickstarter.


I've donated $100 to get the set and the bonus BD.

[Majin Blu]

Silly question: I haven't been able to donate, but will this set be available to the public (like through Amazon and such)?

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by reelgeek

Silly question: I haven't been able to donate, but will this set be available to the public (like through Amazon and such)?

Definitely will be.

[Snicket]

Oh wow! I'm over budget for the month, but I'm glad they hit their goal.

[salad]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

[Show spoiler]Kino Lorber is currently trying to raise $35,000 through Kickstarter to release a Pioneers of African-American Cinema Blu Ray set. This would be a super important historical release, and I will definitely be donating to help reach their goal.

The "magic number," if you will, is $100. That's the pledge level that would get you the set upon completion. And it also includes another Blu Ray, your choice of ten titles including Stanley Kubrick’s Fear and Desire and Orson Welles’s The Stranger.

I don't think the $100 level includes any disks beyond those included in the box set unless the reward description has been amended elsewhere? (Like how Arrow USA's three year Indiegogo perk still reads that way while it's supposed to cover five years?)

But I'd take another Blu-ray if offered.

[Majin Blu]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Definitely will be.

Thanks. I'll be getting this day 1 then!

[EVERYONE LIES]

I think this is awesome. It is a good way to see if there is interest in a title. I wish every studio would do this to restore and release movies made before CGI.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by salad

I don't think the $100 level includes any disks beyond those included in the box set unless the reward description has been amended elsewhere? (Like how Arrow USA's three year Indiegogo perk still reads that way while it's supposed to cover five years?)

But I'd take another Blu-ray if offered.

Ahh I guess you're right. It said "In addition to the CONTRIBUTOR AWARDS..." I assumed Contributor level was the level right above it, but that's not true.

[Majin Blu]

$53,717 pledged of $35,000.
Fantastic!!

[MTRodaba2468]

I hadn't seen this thread prior to now, otherwise I would've contributed.

I'm glad to see they hit their goal, and I'll certainly check it out once released...

[saprano]

Originally Posted by reelgeek

$53,717 pledged of $35,000.
Fantastic!!

Nice.

[MifuneFan]

Release date is July 26th

Amazon pre-order:

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneers-Afric...9&keywords=Blu

This collection of the historically vital works of America's legendary first African-American filmmakers is the only one of its kind. Funded in part by a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, the packaged set includes no fewer than a dozen feature-length films and nearly twice as many shorts and rare fragments. Subject matter includes race issues that went unaddressed by Hollywood for decades.

Films: Birthright (1938), The Blood of Jesus (1941), Body and Soul (1925), The Bronze Buckaroo (1939), By Right of Birth (fragment, 1921), Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort, South Carolina (excerpt, 1940), The Darktown Revue (1931), Dirty Gertie from Harlem USA (1946), Eleven P.M. (1930), The Exile (1931), The Flying Ace (1926), God s Stepchildren (1938), Heaven-Bound Traveler (1933), Hellbound Train (1930), Hot Biskits (1931), Mercy the Mummy Mumbled (1918), Regeneration (fragment, 1923), The Scar of Shame (1929), S.S. Jones Home Movies (1924-26), The Symbol of the Unconquered: A Story of the KKK (1920), Ten Minutes to Live (1932), Ten Nights in a Bar Room (1926), Two Knights of Vaudeville (1918), Veiled Aristocrats (1932), Verdict Not Guilty (1934), We Work Again (1937), Within Our Gates (1920)

Musical scores (for silent films) by Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky), Max Roach, Samuel D. Waymon, the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, Donald Sosin, Makia Matsumura, Alloy Orchestra, Rob Gal, Andrew Simpson

Bonus Features: Optional English Subtitles, 80-page booklet with essays and detailed film notes, Interviews with series curators Charles Musser and Jacqueline Stewart, Documentary on the restoration of the films, Documentary on the restoration efforts of the Library of Congress, Archival interview with actors Ethel and Lucia Moses (1978), Tyler Texas Black Film Collection promo film (with Ossie Davis, 1985) and more!

[CelestialAgent]

Interesting stuff. Any highlights people can instantly recommend? Obviously the content of the box is obscure and not exactly widely recognised or available. I'd be interested in this release but not as a priority.

[John_Drake]

Body and Soul, Scar of Shame, Within Our Gates to start with...

[lesco]

Dammit, looks like they didn't get THE GIRL FROM CHICAGO, which was on their initial list - it was really the only one I was interested in.

[Wooden Lens]

it really sounds like an incredible set.

[bigshot]

I started watching it tonight. The film transfers are great. They made the most out of really dicey prints. The sound isn't as great. I needed subs to understand what was being said in the sound shorts I watched, and the music in Hell Bound Train was pretty mediocre. It matched the action OK, but it was repetitive and not very imaginative. Hopefully the other films will be better sound-wise.

[Jr7936]

I started watching it as well last night, and its amazing that the prints held up. I only saw the 1st 2 films in the set and the intro to the set, where they explained the history and the love that went into the restoration but what I saw I was pleased with. For the price I paid though familyvideo.com $40 shipped, this set is well worth it
It doesn't seem like a set that netflix, redbox, amazon instant video, vudu or public libraries will get in to rent or stream. Also since this is a niche set, it also doesn't seem like a title that will have massive price drops, below what the familyvideo price was

[xxnomad]

really, really impressed with this set. feels good holding it. will be on a lot of best of lists at the end of the year. this is a solid buy for a good cause and for the adventurous cinephile.