901 Journal

 
MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- The black airmen whose lives will be the basis of a George Lucas movie know the picture will highlight their record of successfully escorting thousands of U.S. bombers in World War II.
George Lucas' new film "Red Tails" will go beyond what was covered in a 1995 HBO film about the airmen.

George Lucas' new film "Red Tails" will go beyond what was covered in a 1995 HBO film about the airmen.
They also feel it should tell of the trials they encountered stateside, like seeing German prisoners of war being treated better and afforded rights that were withheld from black American citizens.

Now that "Red Tails" is in preproduction, some of the airmen say they are excited their story is coming to the big screen but torn over how much it should devote to each of their two historic fights -- against Adolf Hitler abroad and Jim Crow at home.

Lt. Col. Eldridge F. Williams, 91, wants the film to recount the discrimination they had to overcome in their own country.

Williams, who served in the military from August 1941 to November 1963, said a white doctor's false diagnosis of an eye condition kept him from achieving his dream of being a pilot, though he became a navigator.

"I think the story that has not been told is stories like mine in which the home battle that was waged ... shall we say, helped open the door so that the unit could enter combat and demonstrate its capabilities and be successful," he said.

Col. Herbert Carter, who also was with the airmen in the 1940s, said the racism the men encountered should definitely be mentioned but not dwelled upon in the Lucas film.

"So many want the movies to focus in that sense and that's bitter history that has been thoroughly emphasized and publicized," the 88-year-old said in an interview.

He said the real story is how they blew apart the notion that blacks could not fly planes in war.

Producer Rick McCallum said both elements are addressed in a script by John Ridley that "balances difficult and painful issues with what is, at its heart, the story of men with a dream to fly and serve their country."

Lucas hopes to begin shooting by year's end or early 2009, McCallum said. The movie's title refers to the color of their fighter planes' tails, which were distinctive and allowed U.S. bomber crews to know they were being escorted by the aggressive Tuskegee Airmen.

"It is a story of incredible adventure and enormous courage," said the producer, who's scouting locations for "Red Tails" in Prague, Czech Republic, and Italy. "I think the story will speak to anyone who has ever wanted to succeed at something others told them was impossible."

At first called the "Tuskegee Experiment," the first aviation cadet class began with 13 students at the Tuskegee Army Air Field, about 40 miles east of Montgomery, Alabama in July 1941. Black people weren't allowed to fly in the military at the time and the "experiment" was to see whether they could pilot airplanes and handle heavy machinery.

Over the next four years, the airmen went on more than 15,000 combat trips throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Nearly 1,000 pilots were trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field before its 1946 closing, after which the men from the all-black units were sent to an air base in Ohio. President Truman's 1948 order to desegregate the country's armed forces eventually led to a racially mixed military.

The men have been the subject of several documentaries and books. But a 1995 HBO movie "The Tuskegee Airmen," starring Laurence Fishburne, was the film that jump-started much of the attention the airmen have received in recent years, said Christine Biggers, a park ranger at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.

The HBO movie "was about 50 percent Hollywood, but it gave a good overview and got the word out. People all over the world saw it and it whetted their appetite to want to know more," Biggers said.

Lucas plans for the movie to be based on the historic record that brought the Tuskegee Airmen fame, drawn from their own accounts.

Carter was one of several airmen who were invited to Lucas' Skywalker Ranch a few years ago to record their oral histories, which will be used in developing the film.

Carter tells of the constant adjustment of being respected as a soldier on base, then having that dignity snatched away once off-base, where they were "just another Negro in Alabama in the eyes of the civilian population."

But he said the real story is how they overcame an environment that said "they didn't have the ability, dexterity, physiology and psychology to operate something as complicated as aircrafts or tanks."

The black airmen's response was "train me and let me demonstrate I can," Carter said. "We said the antidote to racism was excellence and performance and that is what we did."

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear

Despite the Bene Gesserit invocation against fear, I'm afraid of the new Dune project.
Not because the selected screenwriter is young and according to Variety, one to watch, not because the announced director Peter Berg has credits that seem less than 'other worldly' (Very Bad Things, The Kingdom).
Rather my fear and hope for Dune, is to find an heir equal to the throne established by David Lynch's vision, which it has been argued was flawed in comparison with the novel. But out of a handful of the few good novel-to-film adaptations, can anyone point to a 'perfect' one?
Lynch's film was and is, the most compelling and complete vision of the Herbert universe thus far.
Please, don't make me go into the mini-series, it's too painful.

But hope springs eternal, after all God created Arrakis to train the faithful.
~DM

Scribe in talks for "Dune" resurrection

By Jay A. FernandezFri Jun 6, 7:55 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter)
We have wormsign.

Rookie scribe Josh Zetumer is in negotiations to write the latest incarnation of "Dune," Frank Herbert's sprawling sci-fi epic, for Paramount Pictures.

The award-winning 1965 novel -- the first in a series of six books about a futuristic struggle for control of a precious spice called Melange on the desert planet Arrakis -- was first adapted by David Lynch into a financially and critically disastrous 1984 film (though Herbert apparently liked it). It also was turned into a more successful Sci Fi Channel miniseries in 2000.

No one involved would comment on Zetumer's take on the "Dune" saga.

Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson, who have co-written several additional "Dune" novels, will co-produce. Peter Berg ("Friday Night Lights") is attached to direct.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

One Time "Blade Runner" Screening Event! Not to be Missed!
Body:

There's a BIG "Blade Runner" event happening at WB Studios this Saturday and it's for a great cause:

PAUL'S BRAIN TRUST presents: THE ULTIMATE SCREENING OF "BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT," presented in stunning 2K digital projection in the state-of-the-art Steven J. Ross Theatre at the Warner Bros. Studios.

That's right: the same backlot where "BLADE RUNNER" was produced more than a quarter century ago!

Director RIDLEY SCOTT himself will be on hand for a rare Q&A, along with MANY OF "BLADE RUNNER'S" ORIGINAL COLLABORATORS. (Attending cast and crew members will be announced soon.)

We will also be auctioning (through eBay, starting on TUESDAY 6/3) TEN PREMIUM PASSES for an amazing opportunity that no serious "BLADE RUNNER" fan will be able to pass up: A PRIVATE WALKING TOUR OF THE "BLADE RUNNER" LOCATIONS on the Warner Bros. backlot, HOSTED BY RIDLEY SCOTT HIMSELF.

You'll walk the very streets where this science fiction classic was filmed! The top bidder will win A ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE OF "BLADE RUNNER" HISTORY!

FOR MORE INFO, CLICK HERE: http://www. thedigitalbits. com/paulsbraintrust/brscreening. html

Sounds cool, huh? It's all for Paul Prischman.

Some of you might not of heard of this talented guy on a first name basis, but many of you have reaped the rewards of his hard work.

He's one of the people responsible for some of your favorite DVD's being produced, including:

"AMERICAN GANGSTER"

"BLUE THUNDER: SPECIAL EDITION"

"KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" (both versions)

"GLADIATOR: EXTENDED EDITION"

"SPIDER-MAN 2"

and the super-cool/orgasmic box set of "The Ultimate Collectors Edition of Blade Runner."

This is the downer: Paul has Glioblastoma Multiforme, or to us regular folk… brain cancer.

GBM is an incredibly aggressive form of cancer with a very low survival rate, The cost of this treatment - prescriptions, hospital visits, etc., has taken an enormous financial toll on the Prischmans and since Paul was the sole financial provider for his family, you will begin to understand the need for donations and events like the one above.

PAUL'S BRAIN TRUST was formed to focus these efforts and raise financial support for Paul and his family.

So get off your duff and go see "Blade Runner" and support a great cause for a super cool guy/film buff extraordinaire!

For info on Paul, please go here: http://www. thedigitalbits. com/paulsbraintrust/aboutpaul. html

Now if we could only get Paul to start on the super special edition of "Mac and Me!" I'm crossing MY fingers!

Viewfromadams1

May 31: View From Adams Avenue: 19th Century Memphis. This Victorian Village documentary premieres on the lawn of the Mallory-Neely House. Bring a picnic, folding chairs, and coolers. Food and drink available from local restaurants. Picnic area opens 6:30pm, event 8pm, $5, VIP tables of 8 $200. 652 Adams, 523-0223, victorian- villageinc.org.

The latest Indy installment is getting mixed reviews all across the web.
I DON'T CARE, I plan to be at the first showing that I can possibly make, with popcorn and soda in hand.

JackDamer

Gimme Baby Robots is a large artist collaborative founded in 2005 in Madison, WI. It is comprised of over 100 artists throughout the United States. The show is a one-day event that happens during the year in which all of the art is auctioned off at very affordable prices to allow everyone a chance to own a great piece of original artwork. We are very excited about shows we have lined up for next year. They are going to be the largest to date. Please come back and visit the site to see when the next show will be and if it is going to be in your city. We will also be adding artist’s links and works as time goes on.

Time and PlaceStart Time:    
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 9:00pm
End Time:    
Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 2:00am
Street:    
423 North Watkins St.
City/Town:    

Now in it's fourth year, the GIMME BABY ROBOTS silent auction is a great chance to buy great art from local and national artists for less than retail prices...

You get four hours to look, decide and bid. All bidding stops at 11:30pm... stick around 'til the end and take your winnings home with you.

All the artworks in GIMME BABY ROBOTS are under 10" in any direction.

Admission is FREE - Bidding cards are $5.

Visit the official Gimme Baby Robots page:
http://www.wellesley.edu/MAS/GBR/about.html

Memphis_Heritage

In honor of National Preservation Month

You're  Invited!
 2008 Youth and Architecture Competition
 Sponsored by Memphis Heritage, Inc. and AIA Memphis
 Special reception honoring the students, teachers and announcing the winners:

Thursday, May 22 At Howard Hall 5:30 - 7:00 pm 
2282 Madison Avenue at Edgewood

This event is free and open to the public.
Students were asked to explore the historic buildings and spaces around them through an art medium of their choice. In addition, participants submitted a short essay describing why they chose the building/space and how they feel about the historic property they chose.

This project generously supported by The Art Center on Union.  

For information call Memphis Heritage, Inc 901.272.2727.