Akira's Hip Hop Shop » Production Diary

AHHS on Facebook

joed — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:07:10 +0000

Check out our Facebook fan page for updates.

Happy Holidaze!

http://www.facebook.com/akirashiphopshop?v=wall&filter=1

BET results

joed — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:13:43 +0000

Many of you have reached out to ask how I feel about the results of BET’s “Lens on Talent” contest. Of course I’m disappointed I didn’t win. But more than that, I’m bothered that NO Black director won. Yeah, there’s a black face holding a check in the publicity photos, but the winning film “Spent” was directed by a white guy.

http://blogs.centrictv.com/lifestyle/culturelist/the-winner-of-the-lens-on-talent-is/#more-4003

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1451225/

The film was co-written and produced by a Black woman, but it’s acknowledged in Hollywood (and around the world for that matter) that the director is the ultimate author of a film. I mean Geoffrey Fletcher wrote “Precious” (from a book by Sapphire) but it’s considered a Lee Daniels film, right? People write scripts for Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg, Kathryn Bigelow, Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, etc. but when the films are released we consider these filmmakers the creative visionaries behind the films. They’re even marketed this way with “A Film By…” or A “Blankety-blank” film.

The director can always go back to Germany to make a film because the government subsidizes their indie filmmakers. Like my old college friend Robert Schwentke. After making his first feature with a grant he went on to direct “Flight Plan” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife.”

For the record I’m not mad at him. And congrats to the winner. I hope she makes a great film. Less I be dismissed as a “hater” for pointing this out, the fact is I thought several of the final 6 films were as good or better than mine… “Locks” and “Jackson Parish” especially. Both made by good Black DIRECTORS.

When I was on the film fest circuit my film played at several big Asian and Asian-American film festivals. At one of them an Asian judge came up to me after the awards ceremony. He looked around then whispered, “If you were Asian, your film would have gotten an award.” I smiled, shook his hand, and said I was grateful for them just accepting my film into the festival. I knew the deal going in… this was THEIR festival to recognize, cultivate and encourage THEIR own. And that’s cool. Heck, I was just happy to be invited to the party!

But now I have to compete with white directors on the Black network? Would a Middle-Eastern, Jewish or Latino network do this? Guess we are in post-racial America afterall?

Or maybe you can still fool most of the people most of the time?

Enjoy your network, Black America. I’m grateful for being part of the contest and glad a lot of people got to see my film, but I’m going to do what I always do: find a way to keep creating and telling stories that are important to me… By Any Means Necessary.

- Joe D.
April 7, 2010

PS: You can watch the full 37-minute version of my film online (the BET version was 20 minutes) for $1.99 on Amazon.com where it’s in the Top 10 alongside major features!

http://www.amazon.com/Akiras-Hip-Hop-Shop/dp/B001N9T9WC/ref=pd_ts_atv_5?ie=UTF8&s=digital-video

Or order the DVD at www.akirashiphopshop.com

BET finalists commercial

joed — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:00:50 +0000

BET contest winner announcement soon.

Finalist in BET contest

chanzero — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:50:25 +0000

Hey guys,

In case you missed it, you can watch the season finale of BET’s “Lens on Talent” contest on their website here.

And if you missed the original episode where Akira’s Hip Hop Shop was featured, check it out here.

The finale episode will be re-broadcast Saturday, January 30th. You can cast your vote for us NOW by sending a text message with “2″ (no quotes) in the body to phone number 79922.

It’s FREE to vote and you can vote multiple times! Thanks for all your support!

BET Videos

Watch us on BET.com

joed — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:22:27 +0000

A special cut of “Akira’s Hip Hop Shop” is now streaming online at BET.com

Please watch here and share the link with your friends. Comments on the BET page are also appreciated and encouraged! They will announce a winner of their “Lens on Talent” contest in January 2010.

BET airdate

joed — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:52:11 +0000

Just got news from BET… We’re airing this Sunday Nov. 22nd at 12pm and Dec. 5th at 1am.

Encourage everyone you know to watch and, just as important, leave a comment on the website:

We’ll be episode 109 … It will probably be uploaded by Monday.

http://www.bet.com/video/shows/LensOnTalent

More people will see the film in one night than have ever seen it before, so I’m very happy and excited!
Thanks again to a remarkable cast and crew who made it all possible.

Airing on BET!

joed — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:04:28 +0000

Akira’s Hip Hop Shop will screen on BET in December as part of their Lens on Challenge contest.

http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/lensontalent/default.htm

It’s a chance for me to do another short with a budget of up to $100,000!

Exact dates and times coming soon, including how you can help me win!

ultimate anime fan?

joed — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:55:57 +0000

I love this guy!

Watch my film Seven Days in Japan to see why! http://tinyurl.com/ylxnzvm

We are #1 on Amazon.com’s VOD!

chanzero — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:54:51 +0000

Akira’s Hip Hop Shop We’re #1 in African-American Comedy on Amazon.com’s Video on Demand!

Spread the word and the link! Only $1.99

http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-video/16263941/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_atv_1_4_last

Fall 09 update

chanzero — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:40:39 +0000

Akira’s Hip Hop Shop – Fall 2009 update

1. Watch the season premiere of HEROES!
2. Tyler Perry does it again
3. AHHS a hit on Amazon.com
4. AHHS coming to cable TV?
5. Special offer: Free t-shirt or bonus DVD

1. Watch the season premiere of HEROES!

Set your DVRs, tune in, log off Facebook… whatever you have to do to catch tonight’s season opener of HEROES on NBC at 8pm.

AHHS’s own James Kyson Lee returns, along with a re-booted concept for the show. It looks promising and Ando and Hiro will hopefully have plenty of face time. There’s even a romantic plot involving JKL’s character so tune in.

2. Tyler Perry does it again

Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” was a respectable #3 this past weekend adding $10 million dollars to it’s second week gross. Proving again the power of the urban box office. And props to Mr. Perry for including Adam Rodriguez from CSI:MIAMI as a love interest to the fine and talented Ms. Taraji Henson.

Tyler realizes what all the studio execs here in Hollywood can’t seem to grasp when I pitch them our humble, DGA Award winning short film for feature consideration… that Black folks are some of the most accepting people around of multi-racial themes. Whenever I’ve pitched the project I always get “Something New” thrown at me as a comparable film (it grossed around $11 million and cost about the same). I disagree that Black-White relations are the same as Black-Latino or Black-Asian. Heck, except for some liquor stores and a few offensive rap records, there’s no real historical beef between the two communities! Feel free to discuss on on the blog if you disagree.

And I happen to believe the majority of Black folks, especially the cinema going variety, are open to a story like ours. If I can’t AHHS made as a feature, here’s hoping Tyler or someone else will come along and prove the suits wrong with a Black-Asian romance.

3. AHHS a hit on Amazon.com

“Akira” continues to do well on Amazon’s video on demand system. Throughout the summer, we consistently were among the Top 10 films in several categories (even climbing as high as #2). This is pretty amazing for “the little short that could.” Thanks for your support!

Our current sales figures look like this:

#5 in Amazon Video On Demand > Movies > Comedy > African American Comedy
#5 in Amazon Video On Demand > Movies > Drama > African American Drama
#6 in Amazon Video On Demand > Movies > African American Cinema

You can order the Director’s cut to view online for $1.99 here:
http://www.amazon.com/Akiras-Hip-Hop-Shop/dp/B001N9T9WC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=digital-video&qid=1253574564&sr=8-3 This is also a great way to share the film with friends so please spread the link.

4. AHHS coming to cable TV?

We are currently negotiating for “Akira’s Hip Hop Shop” to appear on a major broadcast cable network. It may even be part of a contest where you know I’m going to need you guys’ help to win! …Details coming in the next newsletter.

5. Special offer: Free t-shirt or bonus DVD

From now until October 1st, you can receive your choice of a free t-shirt or bonus DVD of my first film “Seven Days in Japan” just for ordering the DVD for $9.95. This offer is only valid for orders placed direct from www.akirashiphopshop.com and not via Amazon or Createspace.

After ordering, send an e-mail to akirashiphopshop@gmail.com with your preference of the DVD or a shirt. If you want a shirt, be sure to specify your size.

Thanks again for your support!

best regards,

Joe D. (Doughrity)

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