Pride Month feature w/ Milwaukee Film | Moonlight

We had the chance to catch ‘Milwaukee Film’s Pride Month’ featured showing of “Moonlight” this weekend. While it’s hard for any corner of the world to be unfamiliar with the Academy Award winning film, Moonlight is the coming of age story of a young boy who struggles with balancing masculinity and sexuality. While juggling many different obstacles along the way, including being brutally bullied, raising himself and witnessing his mom abuse drugs, he eventually set his footing in the only thing he was familiar with–the streets. 

I feel like this is a universal story–even if [you] don’t think so. As a woman, I can’t speak to that experience of growing up as a male and balancing masculinity along with curiosity but these children and situations do exist. Their experience deserves validation whether it’s talked about or not. It happens every single day. 

These kinds of films are extremely important for society because it is something that is deemed taboo by the majority. People tend to think that sexuality is only expressed through personality and performance. If you were to watch this film in particular, you’d see it through the lens of what it is—normality. While it may not be your ‘normal’, you’re not the only person who exists. I think it’s also worthy to note that we don’t see a flamboyant character in this film at any point. That’s a heavy point in itself. Prejudice can’t protect you from the truth—sexuality is a fluid spectrum. Who are you to deem it any different?

While CopyWrite is a proud community partner of Milwaukee Film, what makes our job even easier is digesting top tier content. We hope to see you next year as it is not something you’d ever want to miss. 

/Imani for CW

Happy Pride Month! | Celebrate with us by enjoying a few of these community partner film screenings at Milwaukee Film

Take PRIDE in who YOU are!

/CW is celebrating Pride Month as a community partner for Milwaukee Film’s Pride Month programming. Check out these films that are sure to inspire!

Also be on the lookout for our instagram raffle where we will be giving away 2 tickets to each screening!

@copywritemag

Moonlight

Sat, Jun 18 2022 7:00pm

But I’m A Cheerleader

Sun, Jun 05 2022 7:00pm

Join us on Instagram Live Today, May 19th 11am | Critics & Coffee

Today on Instagram Live!!!!

The “Out of the Picture” team will return on Thursday with the latest edition of Critics & Coffee, a quick, deeply personal and caffeinated conversation among art critics on Instagram Live. You can catch it all here tomorrow at @marylouises, 10 am MT/11 am CT ☕️

/CW

Proud Community Partners of Milwaukee Film Fest

Join your /CW Fam at Milwaukee Film Fest at these CopyWrite Magazine sponsored screenings:

BEBA

5/3/2022 | 7:30 p.m. - At the Oriental Theater (Lubar Cinema)

LET THE LITTLE LIGHT SHINE

4/23/2022 | 12:15 p.m. - At the Oriental Theater (Abele Cinema)

5/1/2022 | 6:00 p.m. - At the Times Cinema

QUEEN OF GLORY:

 4/24/2022 | 4:00 p.m. - At the Times Cinema

4/29/2022 | 9:30 p.m. - At the Oriental Theater (Abele Cinema)

THE MILWAUKEE SHOW I:

4/25/2022 | 7:30 p.m. - At the Oriental Theater (Abele Cinema)

Black Lens Kick Off & More about 2022 Milwaukee Film Festival

If you are a Milwaukee native or a film fanatic, we are almost positive that you’ve heard about the annual Milwaukee Film Festival. It is officially back onsite for in-person screenings! That’s great, right?! But have you heard of the Black Lens extension of the festival?

Created in 2014, Black Lens has a focal spotlight on Black film and filmmakers. While exploring stories in relation to Black roots and culture, these films are relevant to a wide array of different demographics—including you. How do we know? You’ll have to check it out to see for yourself.

The Black Lens Kick Off event started off with light food and refreshments while soothing music set the tone for the event. We were then greeted by the hostess with the mostest, Lexi S. Brunson  [owner & active editor-in-chief of CopyWrite Magazine], who then introduced us to the co-founder of Black Lens, Donte McFadden and Chief Innovation Officer, Geraud Blanks. During the event we had our first look at the trailers for the featured films with Black Lens this year. We were then engaged in a range of activities during the entirety of the event including trivia whereas guests had the opportunity to win prizes, tickets, merchandise and more. They even previewed an episode of Black Reelness, the Black Lens Podcast. 

Here are a few stills from films we can’t wait to see:

QUEEN OF GLORY

Director: Nana MensahUnited States | 2021 | 1 Hr. 18 Min.

BEBA

Director: Rebeca HunttUnited States, Mexico | 2021 | 1 Hr. 19 Min.

BITCH ASS

Director: Bill PosleyUnited States | 2022 | 1 Hr. 25 Min.

Director: Bill PosleyUnited States | 2022 | 1 Hr. 25 Min.

While in attendance at the Black Lens Kick Off, we got a chance to speak with Tiera Trammell from Milwaukee Film + Black Lens. 

Can you tell me a little about what we can expect from this year's Black Lens/Milwaukee Film festival?

“The Black love through Black Lens short series where they showcase Black filmmakers and Black actresses. It gives us a sense of who they are on and off the screen. The short series works to amplify their voices and really show them in a light of love and support rather than the traumatic images that we’re used to seeing. The documentaries are also a hot spot for the people.”

What was your inspiration for wanting to be part of something like this?

“What we noticed in Milwaukee was that, Black people like film too. And there was a lack of Black representation in film and around Milwaukee through film outlets. Being a part of the Black Lens program, we really get to go into communities, go into schools and actually reach the people in the community to provide this resource to people in our neighborhood.” 

While most of the film fest will be screened at Milwaukee Film’s Oriental Theater, they’re able to pour back into the north side community, Black stakeholders, and creatives doing these types of events. Black Lens brings film back to our community. 

We’ve piqued your interest and you want to know “How can I help?” Come out and support! While donations and monetary support is always welcomed, the major investors are impacted by seeing how beneficial these types of events are for our people. It further shows that we need these types of resources in our community and by just merely showing up, that’s affirmation that this genre of interest does, in fact, exist and is, in fact, an important factor of the culture. 

We hope to see you at this years’ Milwaukee Film festival running April 21st through May 5th. 

Show up and show out!

Get your tickets here!

Imani for /CW

We are going "Clueless" w/ Milwaukee Film for Women's History Month

CopyWrite is going “Clueless” as community sponsor for

Milwaukee Film’s screening of the movie for Women’s History Month!

It’s giving us fashion honey! It’s the nostalgia of the flip phone, mini skirt two pieces, and a whole lot of money to blow! Come enjoy classic, dress the part, see your /CW Fam indulge in the Clueless vibes, and have a few laughs with Milwaukee Film as they celebrate womanhood in every form.

FILM: Clueless

TIME: Saturday 3/5/22 at 4:00 PM

WHERE: Oriental Theatre, 2230 North Farwell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202

DESCRIPTION: At the height of popularity at her Beverly Hills high school, Cher has never known for things not to go her way. After successfully playing matchmaker with her unsuspecting teachers, she decides to extend her charity to the new girl in town but quickly learns how misguided she can be as if her live-in stepbrother couldn’t point it out enough.

Event Page

Corridor & A Little More | An Interview with creative Weléla Mar Kindred on her life & forthcoming local Indie Film “Corridor”

We had the awesome opportunity to virtually sit down with actress, dancer and artist, Weléla Kindred. Weléla wears so many different creative hats and has ample years of experience creating, living, and funding her own dreams. She is also the founder of the Chicago studio, ‘THE LVMB COLLECTIVE’ as you’ll find out in our interview. It was honestly humbling to myself finding out what goes into someone’s creative form simply meaning, finding out what it took [behind the scenes] to understand what she lets us experience today. You guys will get to discover ‘which hat fits when’ in our new exclusive interview with Weléla about her life and her experience in playing ‘Maria Grey’ in the new forthcoming Milwaukee-based indie-film, “Corridor.”

Want to know more about Weléla? Check out her website: https://www.lvmbcollective.com

Want to know about ‘Corridor’? Check it out here:

https://www.corridorfilm.com

Keep it easy,

/Imani for CW


SHS & Youth Rising Up Present - Black History: The Truth, The Whole Truth, & Nothing But The Truth

Check out this gem from Shore-wood High school.

[The only Black History Program in the Shorewood school district]. #WeSeeYou

Remember it is 365 BLACK all year long. Thank you for your contribution to the culture!

/CW

Shorewood High School & Youth Rising Up Present - Black History: The Truth, The Whole Truth, & Nothing But The TruthThank you for your continued support each...