AMERICA IS BECOMING MORE BILINGUAL – CENSUS RESULTS 2010
To fully appreciate America in the 2020′s global citizens of the world could benefit from speaking Spanish to fully engage in American cultural life and its development forward.
Robert Groves of Census.Gov and team share information that proves that America is becoming more bilingual this year. Electorate seats will also be rezoned. Some lost.
“For the first time, we are providing a series of demographic analysis estimates to more clearly demonstrate the uncertainty in these figures,” said Census director Groves.
The numbers show the nation’s population ranged from 305.7 million to 307.4 million based on lower rates of immigration, which independent think-tanks such as the Pew Hispanic Center have said dropped off sharply recently due to the souring U.S. economy.
Sharing from The Washington Post, Census Gov says, ‘Hispanics accounted for all the growth in the youth population in the last decade. In 2000, Hispanics made up 17 percent of the U.S. population under age 20. They now represent somewhere between 22 and 25 percent of that age group.
African American News: ‘There were roughly 40.9 million to 41.7 million blacks in the U.S., based on a tabulation that includes Hispanic blacks. That would put the share of blacks at roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population.’
Hispanics Are Keeping America Young: ‘Without Hispanics, the number of young people in the U.S. would have declined between 2000 and 2010. Based on the estimates, the non-Hispanic youth population declined somewhere between 1.25 million and 2.9 million.’
Driving Force: ‘Hispanics are the driving force behind this youth diversity,” said Kenneth Johnson, a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire, who reviewed the numbers. 
THE ALI TIN TOTE IS KINDA HOT FOR LUNCH AT THE WORLD BOX OFFICE TODAY
Guess what? I noticed that we can buy the Ali tin tote to take to your office for lunch every day, while wearing a suit a tie.
It’s kind of rocking good hot–in a who you lunch with, knock out, corporate way. Like, if you have a lunch box tote like this–you’d better be lunching with the right people and not a bunch of pretentious time wasters. It’s what this tote symbolizes to me anyway.
Go here to Ali’s official website to buy it for your office team and their lunches in creating a team of champions at your unique box office. It’s purchasable for only $15. What a score! Go here. American history at its finest.
Ali was an original American Lord of the Ring! A civil rights champion for the world not just America. As a Maori-Kiwi I totally dig it. The tote holds meaning to me.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.5.10~
NEWS WIRE – PRESIDENT OBAMA PARDONS NINE PEOPLE AND VINTAGE ANDRAE CROUCH FOOTAGE, SINGNG FOR JAMES CLEVELAND
America’s President Pardons Coke Dealers and Counterfeiters:
Andrae Crouch is as Hollywood as Michael Jackson was and Jackson’s star still is in music and entertainment. In this video clip Crouch speaks at James Cleveland‘s funeral, where he met the legend at a BBQ.
I saw Andre perform when I was about five years-old at the Auckland Town Hall, New Zealand. I saw him perform with the Jones family and the Smith family as well as Bonnie Houston of Rarotonga, New Zealand and Australia, then engaged to be married. All families along with my own, were involved in racial persecution of one person–who could not stand the fact we were colored (part Polynesian). As an ambassador of America to New Zealand in the 70′s, Mr Couch was like an angel singing before our eyes on his piano and with his siblings who pardoned us all for being in the world. He rocks.
Andrae Crouch is one of the most gifted music arrangers in American music history–often copied and imitated without credit all across his career because of Andrae’s religious beliefs that didn’t mesh well with corporates in the corporate world whose artists would incorporate Andre’s unique gospel riffs into secular hit music.
Andrae Crouch overcame these oppressors as well as a life of cocaine addiction to songwrite many well known gospel songs and to arrange the exquisite vocals on the song Man in the Mirror–an American pop anthem that became a world anthem–because of its honest message of seeing the world through another’s eyes–particularly the least, in living lives beyond the disease of entitlement. Michael Jackson–had no qualms in crediting Andrae Crouch as a talented American great on his albums as the world’s no.1 best selling solo artist.
In an act of forgiveness we effectively forgive ourself. Those we pardon become the mirror image of grace where we can see the world more honestly, as being made up of a world of imperfect people, learning from flaws, scars and mistakes as wisdom to become better–Horiwood on Pardons.
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)–President Barack Obama chose to bless people convicted of mutilating coins, using cocaine and writing bad checks with his first presidential pardons.
In all, Obama pardoned nine people Friday for crimes dating as far back as the 1960s. Those pardoned had been sentenced to as little as one year of probation to up two years in confinement. Fines and damages for the offenders ranged from as little as $20 to $71,000.
When asked why Obama chose the group for his first pardons, Reid Cherlin, a spokesman for the White House, said, “The president was moved by the strength of the applicants’ post-conviction efforts at atonement, as well as their superior citizenship and individual achievements in the years since their convictions.”
Ronald Lee Foster of Beaver Falls, Pa., was among those pardoned. He was sentenced in North Carolina in 1963 to one year of probation and a $20 fine for “Mutilation of coins.” The statute he was charged under says it’s unlawful to, among other things, alter, deface, mutilate, impair, diminish, falsify, scale or lighten any U.S. coins. 
MELLOW JANET JACKSON – THAT’S THE WAY
Old school Janet Jackson is always so smooth. That’s The Way Love Goes.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.4.10~
HUMOR – REDNECK WEDDING PHOTOS
Lol! Priceless.
This redneck wedding cake is too funny. Very Aussie or West Auckland too, actually.
[For a diverse view and more smiles, go here]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.30.10~
FAVORITE KEY WORDS OF SOLANGE KNOWLES
One of America’s most famous members of The Twitter community, lists her moniker key words as being:
“water, melanin, bones, blood.”
Deep.
Solange recently tweeted that she went to the movies to see Love and Other Drugs starring Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal. Her next tweet was hysterical. It was the word:
“Nauseus”
To follow Ms. Knowles on Twitter, go here. I always enjoy her culturally versant world view and opinions within America. She so black, even tweetin most messages in the American literary art form of ebonics. Love that! Because she does have the confidence to express herself her way- referencing American history by her verbage in a modern form, to me Solange Knowles is always an authentic American artist. Naturally.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.28.10~
SAM BELLINGHAM, BEYONCE, BONO, MAORI MOMS AND U2 IN AUCKLAND THE SUPERCITY, NEW ZEALAND
[Image caption - Fan Sam Bellingham was lucky enough to get a photo with Beyonce as she arrived at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand].
My Maori mum, Tui of Helensville is too cute. Right on midnight (Los Angeles Time) she called me to say that she had gone with her grandchildren to see Bono (she meant U2) perform in Auckland The Supercity.
She also said that Beyonce was spotted going for lunch the next day at The Soul Cafe in Auckland City. “She’s beautiful dear,” were mom’s words.
Maori moms are so much fun. Mine is in her 70′s and can still rock it out to a humanitarian’s rock concert with her grandkids. Namely, her blackest grandchild Bradley James. Love her!
On the phone we talked about what she feels the world needs today. For once I listened. She spoke of people needing a true sense of manaaki (or hospitality from one’s spirit) that this would warm and brighten the world and make it a better place.
She was deep as well as funny as Maori and all Kiwi moms usually are. I felt her manaakitanga over the phone of a woman who has birthed her children in New Zealand, in Tonga in Fiji and travelled to India, China, Israel, America, Australia, the Phillipines as the global people-loving citizen that mom is. From New Zealand, her home–mom’s love of her big-hearted nation in the world beamed bright across New Zealand’s South Pacific Waters to my Maori-Kiwi heart here in California.
Thanks for the fun phone call mom.
And – go Sam Bellingham in New Zealand! You rock. Los Angeles sees your star Kiwi smile too. xox
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.27.10~
KAT GRAHAM ON FILMING IN GEORGIA
She sings. She acts. She dances. She designs clothes. She’s got good taste in shopping for alternative street couture. What can Kat Graham not find time to do with her talents? Not much, she’s doing it all. Here’s what Kat says about filming the Vampire Diaries in Georgia:
“[If we shot in LA] I think we would all be so busy and have so many responsibilities press-wise,” she said. “But because we’re in Georgia, we’re just like, ‘Hey guys, what do you want to do after work? I don’t know. Let’s go hang out. Let’s go to a bar or a movie.’ It’s a very normal environment.”
Sounds like some much needed R n’ R for the girl whose taking America by storm being resourceful with the money she earns. Love it.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.22.10~
A DEAR SAM LETTER
Dear Sam,
“Everyday you inspire me to live. My name is Jenet. I’m from North Carolina. We have our tough days here. You are my reason to live. Thank you for your blog. Each day you give me hope to breathe & smile. Thank you Sam.
xxx. J
You know Jenet, I never came here to be America’s Dear Abby person. But thank you. I’ll wear the hat, if it makes you happy.
Lift your spirit Girl. Where I grew up, I’m kind of hip hop tough. I can’t see you yet. :) Show me who you are! Harden up now. “I luv u back.”
~Dear Abby’s Hollywood Star, Walk of Fame, California for Jenet and friends, complete with Maori taonga koru motif – photographed while en route to see Boy a film by Taika Cohen. Posted. Keep smiling Jenet – 11.13.10~
BANGKOK-BORN NATALIE OLSON WANTS TO BE A TV COWGIRL AS THE NEXT MILKY BAR KID
So far on Horiwood.Com, we’ve looked at two kids who want to be cowgirls on TV from New Zealand, as the next Milky Bar Kid (The MBK is a Kiwi kids hero for the last 5 decades, who headed a white chocolate gang). I grew up, thinking I was the milky bar kid, like every other Kiwi kid. He had chocolate to give away, this made him popular.
A sure wrangler of a TV ad, to create a cultural hero. By a long range shot, the MBK, was that hero.
From Wellington today, comes this news that Bangkok-born Natalie Olson says that the Milkybars are on her, if she gets the TV gig to be the MBK.
The eight-year-old won overnight hero status among her peers at Lyall Bay School on the day she was announced as the fourth finalist to become the next Milkybar Kid. Her stage name when acting is “Nat.”
Half-Thai, half-Kiwi, Natalie moved to green paradise from Bangkok to New Zealand with her private investigator father Warren finding labor (employment) in New Zealand when she was two. She is not a newbie to the thespian world, with bit parts in short films and commercials already under her toy gun slinging belt.
Thanks to Natalie’s mother, Nat started drama school at four and was signed up with a model and talent agency the same year. She’s so Hollywood.
“The boys have had their turn [in the role of the Milky Bar Kid]. It’s the girls’ turn.”
But judge and casting director Suzanne McAleer said the Milkybar Kid for 2011 could break with the 51-year-old tradition.
“There’s no preconceived idea of what the next Milkybar Kid is going to look like. We’re just looking for a vibrant, engaging child with star quality.”
The original Milky Bar kid, who wore spectacles, looked like Oscar winning special effects man, Sir Richard Taylor as a kid. This is a fiercely contested role. Good luck young Natalie.
All finalists and their audition videos will be on www.milkybar.co.nz for public voting.
Original Interview: Tanya Kattens for The Dominion Post.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.8.10. Irving Swifty Lazaar’s star for Ruth Lazar~
PIANO KIDS – BLAME IT ON THE BOOGIE
Michael Jackson had some pretty diverse fans aye?
Watch these two lads tribute on the piano to MJ’s Blame it on the boogie.
It gets Groovy at the 2:08 minute mark.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.8.10~
HOW A NATIONAL ANTHEM SHOULD BE SUNG by PATTI LABELLE, NONA & MARVIN GAYE
I was thinking how in New Zealand, we hardly devote any time, energy, spend to the production of our “national anthem” being sung. In America, the singing of the anthem — is a production. Watch this clip.
What: A walk down memory lane–how a national anthem should and can be sung.
Who: Patti Labelle sings the American Nation Anthem (with power and gusto) for Venus Williams at US Open final at the request of President Bill Clinton. Watch that HERE. Amazin,
Above version Nona Gaye sings a (mellow and chill version duet) of the Star Spangled Banner (the SSB) with her late dad, Marvin Gaye. Both cute versions.
As a Kiwi – living in the US – it’s weird how New Zealand and America’s national anthems – both have the words “ramparts” in them. In New Zealand – we are “freedom’s ramparts.” Check out Patti Labelle giving a clue, what the sound of freedom is. Her version deserve THREE stars from Hollywood, I reckon. Talk about blowing racism out of the American air! Patti Labelle is something else. An amazing performance and picture of an American-ness vibe in the clip, I want to be a part of as a Kiwi American-Maori.
Wow!
[Image - Patti Labelle's star Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood California USA. Patti Labelle star sighting WoF, Saturday 6th November, on the way to the Chinese Grauman's Theater - to see Boy a film by Taika Cohen.]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.7.10~
JACKSON ESTATE SYMBOLS via MISS JANET for HER BROTHER’S GIFTS TO ENTERTAIN
Alrighty, I am still obsessing on the fact that Michael Jackson as a brand to entertain, still rocks on, because his architecture as an entertaining King, has a life force of it’s own–with or without him.
That’s nuts. For a fragile dude, he sure built a solid kingdom of entertainment to model. Look at this stuff fly. It’s the real deal of a King. Dance is celebrated in these images of art and performance. Monarch butterflies and Doves feature too.
These are the symbols that Jackson’s children and Miss Janet Jackson – MJ’s sister, are presenting to his fans and the world.
There is no more successful American who proved they could cross over and appeal to India, like Michael Jackson. He “lived beyond color lines, geographical borders and boundaries” to paraphrase his sister’s Rhythm Nation lyrics.
He was cross-cultural, all people he saw as being the same. As a culture maker, and America’s King of Pop he saw his role as creating symbology for his fans, so that they could have a sense of global culture that resonated with them all.
Seriously though, as New Zealand is the nation that creates Jackson-Taylor Monarchs in 3D in the 2010′s of cinema mastery –we perhaps need a ‘royal cinematic meeting of entertainment minds’ with one of MJ’s kids or his nieces or nephews (we’re not fussy), to star in our Hobbit films, to cement that point. What a cool idea.
Let me play ‘stand in’ Hollywood casting agent on this one… We’ll go for Blanket Jackson thanks, as a Hobbit prince of Latino descent. :)Having seen both Michael and Janet Jackson both perform live in concert in Auckland at Mt Smart Stadium, New Zealand with friend, Trinity Brooke, I think Blanket would rock, following in the footsteps of the family, in a Hobbit film shot in 3D and Middle Earth. Imagine that! A real Jackson Hobbit too. Perfect!
Enjoy these images, from Blanket’s Estates’ one page ad in the LA Times today. A paper that services a city and associated cities of 20 million people.
[Image of Dame Elizabeth Taylor. Patron Saint portrait at The Abbey, West Hollywood, hung over fire's heat--Horiwood.Com's own like the hearth and kiln of a Queen. Music: Janet Jackson singing Nothing (Trust in Me)]. “Cherish each moment as if it’s your last. Nothing is more important than the one’s we love. Trust in me.”–lyrics paraphrased.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.4.10~
MEET KALANI JONES, A SAMOAN-KIWI STAR OF AUCKLAND THE SUPERCITY
Kalani Jones (L) of Auckland – The Supercity poses with Lani.
The Samoan-Kiwi hottie looks like her late grandmother, Aunty Maina Werne-Jones - a lady who died in Kenya while on safari, and who had the distinction of having the second most-attended funeral in New Zealand history in 1997 of a Kiwi not born in the green paradise nation. As a woman of Samoa with Mana in The South Pacific, Maina Werne-Jones was down to earth, heavenly-minded, loving and much loved.
Aunty Maina as she was affectionately known, is still sorely missed by Auckland City, Samoa and throughout The Pacific today. Her laugh was magic. She laughed a lot, always sharing her smile and joie de vie with a rare gift of joyful encouragement.
Kalani also looks like her gorgeous momma, Judi Jones. Kalani’s dad, Derek Jones can be found here with Judi, doing their bit providing Samoan-Kiwi flava and inspiration at a transitional time for Porirua City leadership in Wellywood – Hollywood’s sister-city for 3D film making expertise.
Porirua is currently in the middle of a surprise bi-election, as the US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton has just recently touched down in Wellywood, a film making nation’s capitol city, at the time of writing from Hollywood. There’s a lot going on in New Zealand right now. It’s a hot diverse entertainment nation, destination.
At the top, of the North Island of New Zealand, Kalani lives in Auckland, The Supercity of this beautiful paradise-green nation.
To see Auckland – the City of Kalani Jones and the largest Polynesian and Maori Gateway city in the World (Aloha O’ahu Hawaii of America), GO HERE.
[Lena Horne -great entertainer and blacklisted activist for Humanitarian Human Rights issues and causes, Hollywood Star (the Maori koru taonga version), for Kalani Jones, Hollywood Walk of Fame–photog: Horiwood.Com’s own).
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.3.10~
EMMA WATSON’S ‘I HAD NO IDEA’ HARRY POTTER PUBLICITY IS CUTE
She’s a student at Brown University in Rhode Island who also has a new movie to promote. HP7, Part I – for those of us who can’t count as good as young Emma, 20, can.
Here’s Emma Watson giving a lesson on just exactly how you do that. Says Watson about being like every other kid who watched her in The Harry Potter films (and still do).
In an interview with British Vogue, Watson says she was given an allowance of $75 per week as a kid. Then when she was 17, she had a “money conversation” with her dad, Chris Watson. Here’s what she has to say.
“By the third or fourth film, the money was starting to get serious,” she told Vogue, according to published reports in the U.K. “I had no idea. I felt sick, very emotional.”
People magazine report ‘Watson is now said to be worth $32 million, give or take a few pounds sterling.’
The ‘I had no idea’ humor is very British lady humor. Nonchalant funny like a fine comedian of the British Empire’s gentility. Emma Watson is one funny edu-ma-cating herself naughty-and-nice-with-it girl. Lol!
It’s like saying, ‘I had no idea I was in a film about wizards, I thought I was in the British version of Glee all those years except none of us sing in them, really.’ Lol!
Humor aside, what an amazing opportunity Watson got, because her star maker J.K Rowling imagined, wrote and agreed to cast Emma as a child in her now legendary stories. The success story of Rowling rolls on with Emma today. It’s a darn good story.
Incidentally, ‘I had no idea’ J.K Rowling was so country girl. On Rowling’s official website, she keeps it country, with the sounds of birds chirping, a dog barking and wind whistling through – presumably a farm or forest. Cute sonic layering on her website. After ten minutes a phone rings, and goes unanswered. The banal made strangely fascinating is what Rowlings does. With the exception of Emma Watson, who is fascinating with her sense of humor, of course.
[Images - iHeartEmmaWatson.Net and British Vogue]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.1.10~
NEW TALENT ALERT – MEET HINETAAPORA SHORT – THE GOLDEN, HOLLYWOOD MAORI, MILKY BAR KID!
“She has a young Reese Witherspoon look and fresh-faced appeal about her as a potential child-actor of the future in Hollywood”–Horiwood on Hinetaapora Short.
A Diverse View of Hollywood worthy new talent potential:
Should Hinetaaporo Short, 10, be cast as the next Milky Bar Kid!
One of this kid’s X-factors in the entertainment game already, is that Hinetaapora speaks Te Reo Rangatira – The Language of Chiefs - otherwise known as the Maori language of New Zealand) each day, at her Kura Kaupapa school in Roto-Vegas/ Rotorua, Hiobbit country.
Te Reo Rangatira is one of the two official languages that Middle Earth, New Zealand protects and speaks within its shores.
Should Hinetaapora be the Milky Bar Kid for chocolate makers Nestle? Heck yes! What a bilingual, intelligent and talented cutie pai. Adorable. The Milky Bar Kid is a New Zealand child’s ‘super hero’ figure of inspiring Adventure and fun adventuring activities with friends and community–the great Kiwi Way. Just like Hobbits represent such cultural heroes too. A Maori girl super hero? Heck yes! It’s time. What a splendid idea at updating Kiwi pop culture in the 2010′s.
Will Hinetaapora go on to appear in Hobbit in 3D films in Wellywood too and Hollywood? I hope so! She’s a doll.
Go honey! Mauri ‘Ola from Hollywood. Let’s hope Hinetaapora can sign on to the same Hollywood agent as Oscar nominee, Keisha Castle Hughes. My Hollywood agent recommend though for Hinetaapora’s Hollywood acting hopes, is agent: Steve Dontanville. –the agent behind Reese Witherspoon’s acting career in Reese’s initial early years until two years before Reese won her Oscar.
Imagine Hinetaapora Short in a 3D action adventure film? Could she be another Reese Witherspoon, with the potential to win an Oscar too? Only time will tell. But, go kotiro tutu! I love her chutzpah. This kid has spirit. She’s off to a good start at ten years-of-age.
[Presenter Scotty Morrison, executive news producer Tini Molyneux - Te Karere. Keisha Castle Hughes appears here with Inception star Ken Watanabe, image courtesy of Wire Image].
UPDATE: Hinetaapora Short is on the Nestle casting team’s Top Ten Short List at this minute. Go honey! You have Hollywood’s big tick approval. The gorgeous Hinetaapora short is a descendant of the Te Whanau a Hinetaaporo subtribe (Haapu) of Ngati Porou. She also descends from the Te Arawa iwi of Aotearoa/ New Zealand. The same tribe as famed and globally-loved entertainer, the late Sir Howard Morrison. The son of a Maori All Black rugby football star, Temuera Morrison , Sir Howard’s song My Old Man’s An All Black - combated and addressed apartheid in South Africa back in the day. He’s still a legend in hearts and minds today. Good Kiwi Ambassadors and proven entertainment stock are the performance artists of this tribe. They do the right things with their fame for noble humanitarian causes.
Hinetaapora’s Te Arawa tribe are watched by globe-trotting visitors to New Zealand, every day of the week in Rotorua City when they perform live daily as consummate and gifted entertainers. They star in musical theater showcases daily and have been practicing mau rakau (traditional Maori martial arts) for over a thousand years in New Zealand on Mokoia Island. As warriors in performance, they are New Zealand’s indigenous action stars. Very similar to Japanese samurai or Old-World warriors of the Chinese Empire dynasty too. Sir Howard, their much loved late Entertainer king, is pictured wearing his cowboy hat above.
Courage to imagine, see and be true to… yourself.
Message to H.S: Mihi atu ki a koe Hinetaapora… are you practicing your American accent and learning Chinese each morning for Hong Kong filmmaking, 3D action movie/ co-productions in future years, before school? Hope so! Ka rawe! Tino pai kē! Kid, you’re too much! :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.27.10~
KYLIE ZOOMS IN ON HOBBIT TAX BREAKS IN WELLYWOOD 3D FILMMAKING TOWN
Writes Kylie Mac of Wellywood & Hollywood – “Tax incentives, NZ contribution money & law change seal the deal between NZ & Warner Bros/The Hobbit.. Makes me wonder the old 80′s Aretha Franklin question; ‘Who’s Zooming Who?’. (Thx for link Kris:) http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/133632/tax-break-and-law-change-seal-hobbit-deal
[Image: Bollywood Star Deepika Padukone Cannes courtesy of Web, Documentary still Colin McKenzie of Forgotten Silver by Sir Peter Jackson. Music - retro Kids Incoporated singing Aretha Franklin - Queen of Soul from the late 80's. Hollywood's Mario Lopez on drums in this clip is Lol too!]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.27.10~
HIP HOP ART HOUSE CINEMA by KANYE WEST, AUTEUR and SELITA EBANKS with RUNAWAY
Artists of the world, will always respond to an auteur. The Arts are always created when we cross cultures, to the center and push back in creative response. In this moment, we are the center of the world’s pop culture creation too as artists. We are creating the future by speaking back in response to the present in expression with our unique worldviews and artistic reo (voices) and vision too. Let’s go Maori and Polynesian filmmakers, musicians, artists and entertainers – Horiwood
Who: Kanye West
What: Hip Hop Art House Cinema as a new genre of filmmaking.
Title Work: Runaway, a short film
Duration: 34 mins, 32 secs aprox.
Starring: Selita EBanks and Kanye West
Key Themes: A commentary on America’s nationhood, in Kanye’s lifetime. The rise and fall and what is the rise back up again of the USA. Decadence fused with decay of empire.
The Michael Jackson death of the King of Pop reference, is both respectful and a little spooky in the form of a military like national guard parade, and a blown up head of MJ. The golden phoenix references are powerful. Selita Ebanks is pure art in this role. Naive, beautiful, out of place, learning of a new world–a metaphor of a nation rebuilding, and representing a younger generation in it–as also reflected in a gaggle of strong, youthful ballet-swans, depicted as youthful potential turned statues with their economic? wings ripped off by resulting circumstances of unwise political/ banking leaders of the past. Selita plays the role, of someone being introduced to America now as shown by Kanye, an auteur. She asks: how is it possible to be authentic and survive in your world, when most are cast in stone of economics/ current politics?
Perhaps indicating, patriarchal culture, Kanye’s response is: just stay with me anyway and make love to me. An interesting political commentary, when no one really has an answer to this question Selita posits.
Anyway, it’s a little weird for me, but I love the fact that Kanye has created the Hip Hop Musical, Art House short film genre of cinema. Not enough can be written about that. It’s revolutionary in African-American cinema that he’s done this. Creative plus!!!
Enjoy. And in honor of Taika Cohen‘s artistic filmmaking abilities – who could do the same, for Maori down under, I post this Korowai cloak, as a challenge (or take in Maori) to pick up in future years and do the same as an artist. Maori Art House Cinema, let’s go, thinking outside of commercial, Hollywood narrative structures too – into more artistic expression of Maori cinematic arts. Artists should always respond across cultures to other artists. It’s cultural manners and is also what true artists are about if we hail from centuries-old traditions of artists – which we do as Maori. Any culture with authentic artist will respond from their nation as global artists.
As Maori we are not passive. American culture is boring if it’s monologue. What we need is dialogue for US culture to even be relevant in our Maori mix at all. We don’t just consume from America, we speak back like mature adults, and put our own spin on our own future – as teachers (not children) of America too. So, where’s our film texts (musicals on cinema, please).
Who in New Zealand wants to respond to this, in cinema? I ask. Taika is a good start, with Awanui Reader writing the film’s score and starring in the lead. Ainsley Gardiner, an award winning film producer and Oscar nominated producer, as producer of such a project, showing the strength of good female leadership from New Zealand – would be hot.
But let’s get back to Kanye West’s brilliance and budget spend here. His interweaving on a sound sonic-scape with international accents (German and European) as well as importing the class of Rihanna ‘s hip hop and r n’b proven sound globally via Barbados of the Commonwealth (UK tributes and associations) show’s an American artist seeking cross-cultural ties and connections with a place for Americans in the world. Amidst the American ego–that his nation expects in their pop culture to fuel their own sense of identity, Kanye shows humility too for other nations cultures he’s learned and gleaned from as one of the 30% of Americans who have traveled outside of US borders and dared to be an American minority in another nation’s cultural life–and position himself as a student of the world. I like it that he has and it reflects in this film, from what he’s borrowed and interwoven into his art.
In particular, Kanye uses the elements a lot, of the sky. Perhaps indicating a future where, manipulating the earth’s elements (whether in visual depiction via news footage) or for real, will be common. An oil spill, was the last example of this we witnessed by a multi-national corporation in Mexico’s gulf for example. Oil from depth in the earth’s crust became vapor that filled the sky like a column of smoke. The world had never seen that before, as elements burned from the sea.
Kanye’s film is a version of a vision of America today. Powerful as art and social commentary. He raises the bar of hip hop artists and most music artists too, with this contribution. It’s his version, of “I am King” of pop culture and the arts eg: Muhammad Ali via cinema. Or, his version of “Presidential vision” or “if I was President” in that The Thompson Twins 80′s kinda statement way. Smile America. It does get better, is what West says here. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.24.10~
MAORI NEWS – VEGAS MAORI SHOWBAND “HI-FIVE” GET HONORED IN NEW ZEALAND
High Five: They were once, a sought after Maori show band in Vegas. All Maori who live here. New Zealand brought them home, to honor their talents and contribution to the world as Maori entertainers. Although High Five performed with greats like The Beatles and Ray Charles, I love the Sammy Davis Jr. reference of who High Five worked with as performers. Chaa! :)
Cute story. It’s in Te Reo Rangatira (the Maori language), unsubtitled this time in English (sorry) but well worth a play out to depict US-Maori relations, that have existed for donkey’s years, entertaining America with Maori and Kiwi music talents. Entertainer and Maori-Scottish lad (woot!), Frankie Stevens, explains how important older Maori entertainers have been in shaping and mentoring those following in their footsteps. The year Frankie joined Hi-5 in Puerto Rico , he says was the best training in his entire career. Now Frankie does the same thing, for all Kiwis as a New Zealand Idol ‘judge’ figure of a culture of emerging performers. A good story of reproducing talent via mentoring.
This clip is like the food of chiefs to me. Thanks Tini and Scotty. Mauri ‘Ola.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. Presenter: Scotty Morrison , executive producer, the incomparable Tini Molyneux, Te Karere, TVNZ. Tini is of Ngai Tuhoe Maori tribe of Ruatoki and also Auckland – The Supercity. Of Tini Molyneux – there really is, no one like her. Go Hi-Five! Go grey power! Go the next wave of hori Vegas show bands and entertainers.~
VIA LA – SOME LEONARD COHEN AND LEO TOLSTAY WISDOM
Two messages worthy of sharing, as emailed by my brotha, Jerel L. Lee:
“Forget your perfect offering there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”-Leonard Cohen
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves.”-Leo Tolstoy
What must we do, to change ourselves, have the courage to expose our flawed humanity to the light of truth so others can learn and share in knowledge acquired by experience, and that the light of change can be more complete in US?
Courage to always share. This is the essence and fabric of real community. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jerel for the message.
[Image: LA Weekly's Best of LA 2010 special edition cover issue]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.13.10~
NICKI MINAJ – CONQUERING THE CHARTS – ONE WIG CHANGE AT A TIME
As mentioned already today on this blog, Nicki Minaj has clocked up the most entries on Billboard’s Hot 100, and that’s before she’s even dropped an album.
Reports Clutch Mag Online: The “Young Money” female lead has seven entries listed as Nielsen Soundscan’s 200 best-selling songs in 2010. Minaj’s songs have generated a total of $4,298,000 in sales.
Some of the songs include “Your Love” ($755,000) and her guest features on Ludacris’ “My Chick Bad” ($1,246,000), Usher’s “Lil Freak” ($508,000), and Lil’ Wayne’s “Knockout” ($519,000), among a few other chart toppers.”
Her recipe for success – do not be afraid to songwrite for others, with others, or be number 2, think collective artists – and outdo Lady Gaga on the wig wearing front, to get your sales. She did it. Congrats Nicki Minaj.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.11.10~
PERFECTION IS THIS ONE SHOT OF NAOMI FOR INTERVIEW MAGAZINE
Long before Beyonce stole/ borrowed? her model’s beauty strut and swaggar in that Crazy in Love hit that went off worldwide all Summer long, it was Naomi who smashed color boundaries in the elite world of fashion – reflected in Naomi’s groundbreaking work on Magazine covers.
Here in Hollywood Interview Magazine is percieved as being what only ‘authentic’ artists can land a cover on. It’s like an unofficial off-beat, Vogue or Vanity Fair street cred magazine for A-List actors.
Naomi Campbell owns that spot for Halloween, chews it up and spits it out for breakfast. Proving her trailblazing chops.
I can’t help but remember Ruta Lee sharing over the table at Hamburger Hamlet that “black don’t crack” as her good friend Francis Davis - a widow of the legendary Miles Davis - loves to joke with her. Naomi is proof of this today. In the most tasteful pic of the entire shoot, that sends Lady Gaga back to her diapers as a fashion icon, here’s Ms. Campbell doing the art of “model fierce.”
She is the fashion world’s version of ‘el primo hot chocolate’ or so my African-American brothers and sisters tell me here in L.A, when I get down with them on the d-floor on hot Summer’s night at the Abbey some weekends. They all know Naomi’s signature poses and she’s all up in their cultural i-d too. What an amazing cross-over artist Naomi Campbell is.
In this image, she still be poppin it.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.28.10~
ZAHARA JOLIE-PITT HITS UP THE GROVE
I see that my African-American brothers and sisters of the blogging media community are not forgiving of Angelina Jolie‘s parenting skills in the hair department today.
Writes Bossip staff rather harshly: “This was Zahara Jolie-Pitt coming from a birthday party at American Girl Cafe in The Grove in West Hollywood with her daddy yesterday. A year after Mama and Papa Jolie-Pitt proudly revealed they invested in Carol’s Daughter products for their Ethiopian daughter’s hair, it’s still looking unruly and effortlessly unkempt.”
Oh dear. Meow! Lol. Too real.
And in a Harlem flip back on our Downtown L.A and West Hollywood hair braiding hot skills, New York takes a step further by adding: “Don’t they have African hair braiding spots in Hollyweird? Have they ever walked down 125th Street in Harlem with the poor kid?
No wonder Zahara’s always mugging.”
Me. Oh my. We’ve been told.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.26.10. Pic Source- These lads~
HUMOR IN 3D – WHAT 3D GLASSES ARE REALLY FOR
E.M – has this funny pic about how 3D glasses should be used
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.8.10~
December 8, 2010 | Categories: 3D, America, Diversity, Hot Chocolate, Humor, New Zealand, Wellington | Tags: 3D, 3D - Acrobats in Middle Earth, 3D - Monarchs in 3D R US - KiwiS, 3D Film Locations, 3D IT-IP is "Key-We" Heading Towards 2020's, 3D Movie Development Opportunities, A Diverse View, America, Diversity, Hot Chocloate: African American News on Horiwood.Com, Hot Chocolate, Humor, Marketing & Branding, New Zealand, New Zealand Filmmaking, Pop Culture Commentary, Star System - The Art of Wellywood Celebrity, Wellington, Wellywood | 1 Comment »