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There’s no shortage of great movies about baseball, but there is a severe lack of films about the Negro leagues. The fifth inning of Ken Burns’ expansive “Baseball” covers them with admirable reverence, but feature-length projects — whether narrative or documentary — are vanishingly rare. “The League” is therefore something close to required viewing for devotees of our national pastime just by virtue of its existence, so it comes as a relief that Sam Pollard’s documentary (exec produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson) is also quite good on the merits.
Given his résumé, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pollard’s prior work as director includes “MLK/FBI” and “Citizen Ashe,” and he’s also edited several Spike Lee joints; in addition to a Peabody Award and career achievement prize from the International Documentary Association, he shared an Oscar nomination with Lee for 1997’s “4 Little Girls” about the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
Given his résumé, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pollard’s prior work as director includes “MLK/FBI” and “Citizen Ashe,” and he’s also edited several Spike Lee joints; in addition to a Peabody Award and career achievement prize from the International Documentary Association, he shared an Oscar nomination with Lee for 1997’s “4 Little Girls” about the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
- 7/14/2023
- by Michael Nordine
- Variety Film + TV
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Exclusive: Growing up in the 1960s, director Sam Pollard lived in a household that loved baseball, specifically the St. Louis Cardinals. It was that 1961 team that consisted of a large list of African-American players that stood out to Pollard, especially in a time when rosters that looked like this were scarce across Major League Baseball.
That team would be the beginning of his love affair with baseball and the history of the sport, specifically the Negro League and the impact it would have not only on sports history but American history in the years to come.
“I became enamored with baseball and I eventually started doing research on the Negro Leagues learning about players like Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige,” Pollard said. “What really sparked my interest was this idea that these players were playing in this league because of segregation and were not allowed to play...
That team would be the beginning of his love affair with baseball and the history of the sport, specifically the Negro League and the impact it would have not only on sports history but American history in the years to come.
“I became enamored with baseball and I eventually started doing research on the Negro Leagues learning about players like Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige,” Pollard said. “What really sparked my interest was this idea that these players were playing in this league because of segregation and were not allowed to play...
- 9/28/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert G. Putka‘s Mouthful and Jared Varava‘s Tumbleweed! are two short films that have been selected to screen at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival, which will run in Austin, TX on March 9-17.
Mouthful is Putka’s second short film, a verbally raunchy comedy starring Eilis Cahill and Conor Casey as a young couple whose relationship becomes strained thanks to an overly frank discussion about their sexual histories. The film was recently reviewed on Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film saying “one shouldn’t assume too much how the premise of a young man and woman discussing [male] anatomy will play out.”
Putka has also mounted an IndieGoGo campaign to help fund his filmmaking team’s trip to SXSW and for marketing material, such as posters, T-shirts, press kits and such. If you want to help out, please visit the Mouthful IndieGoGo page.
Tumbleweed! is the latest collaboration between...
Mouthful is Putka’s second short film, a verbally raunchy comedy starring Eilis Cahill and Conor Casey as a young couple whose relationship becomes strained thanks to an overly frank discussion about their sexual histories. The film was recently reviewed on Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film saying “one shouldn’t assume too much how the premise of a young man and woman discussing [male] anatomy will play out.”
Putka has also mounted an IndieGoGo campaign to help fund his filmmaking team’s trip to SXSW and for marketing material, such as posters, T-shirts, press kits and such. If you want to help out, please visit the Mouthful IndieGoGo page.
Tumbleweed! is the latest collaboration between...
- 2/10/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 18th Slamdance Film Festival wrapped up last night in Park City, Utah, giving out honors for independent films in several categories. Awards included:
Audience Awards
Feature Documentary: Getting Up, directed by Caskey Ebeling
Feature Narrative: Bindlestiffs, directed by Andrew Edison
Grand Jury Awards – Narrative
Feature Narrative: Welcome to Pine Hill, directed by Keith Miller
Special Jury Award for Bold Originality: Heavy Girls, directed by Axel Ranisch
Grand Jury Awards – Documentary
Feature Documentary: No Ashes, No Phonenix, directed by Jans Pfeifer
Short Documentary: The Professional, directed by Skylar Neilson
Grand Jury Awards – Short Films
Animation:Venus, directed by Tor Fruergaard...
Audience Awards
Feature Documentary: Getting Up, directed by Caskey Ebeling
Feature Narrative: Bindlestiffs, directed by Andrew Edison
Grand Jury Awards – Narrative
Feature Narrative: Welcome to Pine Hill, directed by Keith Miller
Special Jury Award for Bold Originality: Heavy Girls, directed by Axel Ranisch
Grand Jury Awards – Documentary
Feature Documentary: No Ashes, No Phonenix, directed by Jans Pfeifer
Short Documentary: The Professional, directed by Skylar Neilson
Grand Jury Awards – Short Films
Animation:Venus, directed by Tor Fruergaard...
- 1/27/2012
- by Michelle Profis
- EW - Inside Movies
The 3rd annual Strange Beauty Film Festival unspools on Feb. 16-18 with three nights, and one afternoon, of great underground short films from all over the world. The fest screens at the Man Bites Dog Theater in Durham, Nc.
First, Strange Beauty’s home state of North Carolina is properly represented with several short films, such as Jim Kellough’s Red Rocks, Josh Gibson’s Kudzu Vine, Heather D. Freeman’s Pennipotens, Charlotte Taylor’s The Edge of Summer and several more.
Plus, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is heavily represented by Leslie Supnet‘s Spectroscopy, Kevin Kelly’s 367 Years in Montreal, Aaron Zegher has two films in the fest: I See a Light and The Story of Thomas Edison; and Winnipeg expat Clint Enns will screen Connecting With Nature. However, most exciting on the Winnipeg front is a screening of Jaimz Asmundson‘s thoroughly amazing The Magus, which was the 2nd...
First, Strange Beauty’s home state of North Carolina is properly represented with several short films, such as Jim Kellough’s Red Rocks, Josh Gibson’s Kudzu Vine, Heather D. Freeman’s Pennipotens, Charlotte Taylor’s The Edge of Summer and several more.
Plus, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is heavily represented by Leslie Supnet‘s Spectroscopy, Kevin Kelly’s 367 Years in Montreal, Aaron Zegher has two films in the fest: I See a Light and The Story of Thomas Edison; and Winnipeg expat Clint Enns will screen Connecting With Nature. However, most exciting on the Winnipeg front is a screening of Jaimz Asmundson‘s thoroughly amazing The Magus, which was the 2nd...
- 1/24/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
![Kim Kardashian](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTc0MjkzOTAxNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTk1NjcyNw@@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,2,140,207_.jpg)
![Kim Kardashian](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTc0MjkzOTAxNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTk1NjcyNw@@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,2,140,207_.jpg)
Kim Kardashian has revealed that she will be attending a Melbourne Cup event. The Us reality television star and model, who married basketball player Kris Humphries in August this year, is scheduled to land in Sydney on November 1 with sister Khloe to launch their new handbag range. Kim revealed on her official Twitter account that she will attend a number of races as a guest of Swisse Vitamins, saying that she is "so excited" about visiting Australia. The tent will be hosted by model Ashley Hart and Hawthorn footballer Josh Gibson and other celebrities due to appear include Tour de France winner Cadel (more)...
- 10/21/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Cadel Evans has been revealed as another VIP at this year's Melbourne Cup. The Tour de France champion is scheduled to be the Swisse marquee's star guest on Derby Day alongside his wife Chiara and world champion hurdler Sally Pearson. According to the Herald Sun, the tent will be opened by model Ashley Hart and co-hosted by Hawthorn footballer Josh Gibson. Dannii Minogue's partner Kris Smith is also believed to be attending some of the Melbourne Cup events, along with new mother Rebecca Judd, who has revealed that her hours at the event are "really reduced" this year so that she can get home to newborn son Oscar. Swimwear model (more)...
- 10/21/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
![Ashley Roberts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzExOTEzNDMwNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTc2NDkxOA@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR1,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Ashley Roberts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzExOTEzNDMwNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTc2NDkxOA@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR1,0,140,207_.jpg)
Ashley Roberts is believed to be dating Josh Gibson. The former Pussycat Doll, who was romantically linked to professional surfer Koby Abberton during a trip to Australia last year, was spotted on a night out in Melbourne with sports star Gibson last Sunday evening. A friend of Roberts told The Daily Telegraph: "Ashley really likes Josh and is interested in him and this was the third (more)...
- 9/8/2010
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Krystal Forscutt has been dating Afl player Josh Gibson, according to reports. The former Big Brother contestant, who is allegedly trying to develop a serious acting career, was reportedly seen on a date with Gibson at Melbourne nightclub Riva. Gibson was recently spotted on an apparent date in La with model, TV star and actress Nicky Whelan and was rumoured to have (more)...
- 1/6/2010
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Growing up in as a young black male in New York City one of the recurring questions on the racial litmus test pertained to my love of baseball. There was a period of time when there wasn't a stat or obscure fact that I couldn't cite. When friends and I debated greatest teams of all-time I was the only one to routinely invoke Josh Gibson's name as catcher for this all-century team in lieu of more popular players such as Yogi Berra or Johnny Bench. Therefore whenever friends or classmates questioned my blackness, and by extension whether I had the necessary toughness to survive as a black male in New York because of my affinity for baseball, a supposedly white boy sport, I was able to confidently disregard...
- 7/30/2009
- by Ferentz LaFargue
- Huffington Post
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