You're Invited to The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival 2016!

This is the 5th year for the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF), which is scheduled for one glorious week (September 15 - 23, 2016).   

Scheduled this year:

- Opening Night Reception

- 34 full-length feature films and documentaries

- 25 short films

- Documentary produced by the GCUFF Youth Film Program

- Film and media industry workshops and panel discussions with industry professionals

- Minute Monologue Competition for aspiring actors

- A Taste of Shaker Square

- Music

- Art Exhibits

- Parties, and other fun hang outs

- Closing Night Awards Ceremony

The week is a film lovers dream, with something for everyone.  Opening Night is quickly approaching!  It will be held at the legendary Cleveland Museum of Art, with Denise Boutte and Mel Jackson as the 2016 GCUFF Ambassadors.  This, you won't want to miss! 

Click here to view the schedule and get your tickets and download the GCUFF app.  We hope to see you there!

Want to volunteer for the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival?  Click here, select your areas of interest, and complete the application for consideration!

To learn more about The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, visit them at:  http://greaterclevelandurbanfilmfestival.org/.

Be in the know!  Follow and Like GCUFF via social media:

IG - @urbanfilm
Facebook - @GCUFFCleveland
Twitter - @GCUFF
Google+ - @GCUFF

Remember to tag your friends. See you at the movies!


by T. James-Sykes

Three Rivers Arts Festival

Going to festivals is among the favorite past-times around the globe; it's definitely one of ours, so we plan to attend more often.  We casually hang out, taking in all the sites, sounds, and tasty treats these crowd-pleasing functions have to offer.  The Three Rivers Arts Festival in downtown Pittsburgh, PA is no exception.  For 9 days in June, attendees have their choice of visual, and performing arts events.  

Pittsburgh Mural.

Hundreds of artists, gather from around the country to display and sell their creations.  There's so much to choose from...fashion, pottery, wooden sculptures, jewelry.... Below is a Maximalist pen & ink drawing by Eli Helman.  The contents on these shelves have the best whimsical labels; take a peek...closer...CLOSER! LOL

"Pantry" by Eli Helman.  One of our many finds at the Arts Fest.

The beautiful Three Rivers Park, in downtown Pittsburgh, serves as the anchor, with artists, food trucks, and vendors laced throughout.  More art displays, vendors, and live performances were woven through blocked-off streets, and around buildings, including our hotel.  Check out this cool performance that was right outside! 

Pittsburgh, has several great hotels, conveniently located near the festival.  We decided to stay at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Hotel, which is centrally located right in the middle of the festivities.  

Our friend's corner room at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown

Three Rivers Park View

Upon arrival, we enjoyed valet parking and fruit-infused waters in the lobby.  The concierge's availability to answer questions, and provide information about things to do during and outside of the festival, made it easy for us to plan our itinerary.  The walk-ability to the festival, was a treat!  Right outside the back door, were tons of art displays, in the front was Three Rivers Park, filled with live music; food trucks; and art vendors, and at the side door, we were greeted by mini music concerts; and limber, rhythmical, street performers wowing the crowd!   

Our room at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Hotel, was clean and comfortable, and to top it off, we were facing the Three Rivers Park!  Take a minute to check out the super cool view from our room: 

Outside view of the Wyndham from Three Rivers Park.

The Three Rivers Arts Festival is an art lovers dream, and we never leave empty handed.  It's a perfect extended weekend that's affordable, that you can turn into a family tradition.  

Photo to canvas art displayed outside of our hotel.

I photo of handmade jewels that I snapped as we were walking by.

The next Three Rivers Arts Festival is June 2 - 11, 2017.  It's so much fun supporting artists, dancing to awesome music, and eating yummy festival food!   

T. James-Sykes

The Divas of Drag Serve Life & Inspiration

While doing a little research, and web browsing, I unexpectedly ran across a few gems.   Get ready to feel inspired to boogie, and to live freely. 

Simply fantastic!

         


By T. James-Sykes

Watch Beyonce's Surprise New Video 'Formation' + FREE Download

Welp, she did it again! 

The BeyHive is all a buzz about the video-dropping surprise, AND FREE download that Bey has bestowed upon them. 

You don't have to be a Beyonce fan to see the artistry, and messages this video features. 

There are murmurs about whether or not Bey is transitioning into activism. We don't know this for sure, but what we can say, is with the increase of American on American violence it would be fitting that an entertainer of this magnitude steps up...to the "lectern".

But, for now, Beyonce throws up a sign...NO not the diamond this time, but her middle finger (figuratively, & literally) to her haters.  The lyrics are clear; she's proud of who she is, where she came from, and what she's earned, through hard work. She owns it and won't apologize for it.

While the lyrics and video seem to parallel only at times, we decided that in order to appreciate the complete composition, the song MUST be accompanied by the visual.  Together, they're a  juxtaposition of edgy urbanesque lyrics, with influences of historical, southern, cultural, and modern-day imagery.  

Interesting note:  Watch the video once with sound, then again without.  Besides the volume, what's different?  

We found that the message the video conveys is more clear and powerful with the sound off.  With the sound on, there's the added layer of Beyonce communicating, primarily,  to her haters.  The song is not that great, but the contrasts that are infused makes the concept brilliant, and the piece, as a whole, a work of art. 

Click the images below and watch for yourself.  Remember to get your free music too! 

Click Middle Finger Bey to watch 'Formation' (Dirty)

Click Blue-Ivy's image to watch 'Formation' (Clean)

Click Bey in White for FREE Download

By T. James-Sykes

Confusion: Diary of a Confused Vampire

Confusion: Diary of a Confused Vampire Poster

As promised, presenting Confusion: Diary of a Confused Vampire.

Get your popcorn, and enjoy!



Click here, for information about the inspiration behind this short, independant, vampire film.

For more in the Confusion series, visit them, here, on Facebook.

By T. James-Sykes