New York, NY – After the first of two World AIDS Day screenings of his documentary, How Do I Look [5], the filmmaker Wolfgang Busch asked a group of film festival attendees to “use the arts to reach the audience” with important social messages.
About his appeal to audiences of the New York AIDS Film Festival, Busch said, “I was trying to inspire the audience with the power of the arts. Society can use the arts to relay critical messages of HIV/AIDS education, awareness, and prevention by using what the public actually finds attractive: music, performing arts, film, and the media.”
Busch used the platform of a Q&A session following two screenings of his film on Saturday, December 1, 2007, to share this philosophy of public service through the arts. A special segment relating to HIV/AIDS from the documentary How Do I Look [6] was screened at the Fifth Annual New York AIDS Film Festival late Saturday morning at NYU, and a screening of the entire documentary was screened at the Fifteenth Annual African Diaspora Film Festival early Saturday evening in Harlem.
“It was a privilege to be included in two simultaneous film festivals in New York. That these screenings coincided with World AIDS Day tells me that my film, How Do I Look [7], is increasingly being recognized for its social value, in addition to its entertainment value,” Busch said.
Busch dedicated the screenings in memory of the late talented artists and dancers, from the Harlem “Ball” community, who have passed away from AIDS.
“Think of the impact AIDS has had on the loss of leadership in the gay community at large,” said Busch. “Well, this loss has also happened to the ‘Ball’ community.”
About the Red Ball event sponsored by the New York AIDS Film Festival [8]:
Many individuals from non-profit, entertainment, and fashion industries came together on World AIDS Day to support AIDS awareness and advocacy at a special fundraiser and awards ceremony early last Saturday evening, Dec. 1, in connection with the New York AIDS Film Festival. Miss Universe Riyo Mori, BET executive Sonya Lockett, fashion designer Marc Bouwer, filmmaker and activist Wolfgang Busch, former U.N. diplomat Ruth Engo, and GMHC CEO Marjorie J. Hill were among those who used their status to turn up the spotlight on World AIDS Day. Honored at this event for their dedication to the fight against AIDS were: the fashion design house of Heatherette, Miss Universe Riyo Mori, the entertainment network BET, and to GMHC for its 25 years of service.
About the New York AIDS Film Festival [9]:
Founded in 2003 by Suzanne Engo [10], the New York AIDS Film Festival provides a series of HIV- and AIDS-related film screenings, panel discussions, and special events. At the time of its launch, Ms. Engo said, “I know that the media can be used as a tool for social change.” Its mission is to provide the public with information about the disease by sponsoring the screenings of visual media. The New York AIDS Film Festival features diverse works, which serve as educational material about HIV/AIDS. These programs aim to promote social action in the fight against the global AIDS pandemic. Besides featuring noteworthy visual media by filmmakers and AIDS activists, the Festival also creates events to raise money for organizations whose missions include education and social activism through film.
About the African Diaspora Film Festival [11]:
The mission of the African Diaspora Film Festival is to present films to diverse audiences, redesign the Black cinema experience, and strengthen the role of African and African descent directors in contemporary world cinema. The African Diaspora Film Festival features the work of emerging and established filmmakers of color, and this Festival distinguishes itself through its presentation of outstanding works that shine a different or comprehensive light on African Diaspora life and culture -- no matter what the filmmaker’s race or nationality. For more information, please visit: http://www.nyadff.org/ [12].
About How Do I Look [13]:
How Do I Look [14] is about the Harlem “Ball” community [15] that originated in the 1970s in Harlem, an off-shoot of the Legendary Harlem “Drag Balls” from the 1920s. This African American and Hispanic Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community is best known for its worldwide influences in dance [16] (voguing), fashion, runway, and music -- inspiring Madonna with her best selling music video “Vogue,” fashion designer Thierry Mugler and Marc Jacobs, the music of RuPaul and #1 Billboard dance performer extraordinaire Kevin Aviance with producer GOMI, Boy George, and Mo'Nique.
This trendsetting artistic community is arguably also hit hardest by the AIDS pandemic. Since 1995, the year in which production of the How Do I Look [17] began, eight “Ball” community members who were involved in the documentary have passed away. To date, many members are struggling every day with the HIV virus. For that reason, Busch believes, much of this community’s history and legacy is in danger of being lost forever.
This ground-breaking, inspiring, educational and entertaining documentary, now available on DVD, delves into the history of the “Vogue” dance style with commentary by Willi Nijna [18], Jose Xtravaganza, and Andre Mizrahi. The film also shares HIV hope messages by activist Luna Khan. Also high-lighted in the documentary are: “Bazaar” fashion designs by Ross Infiniti, runway performances by Ricky and Anthony Revlon, and a discussion of transgender issues by each of Tracy Africa, Carmen Xtravaganza, Jazmine Blahnik, and Octavia St. Laurent. A review of “Ball” history is provided by Marcel Christian and Kevin Omni. How Do I Look [19] also features special appearances by columnist Michael Musto, stylist and fashion designer Patricia Field, and Kevin Aviance. Music by Harmonica Sunbeam [20], Tori Fixx, Jade, Michael O'Hara, Dutchboy and Deadlee, with poetry recited by Emanuel Xavier [21] and Octavia St. Laurent.
About the “cross-over” appeal of How Do I Look [22]:
With the screening of How Do I Look [23] at the African Diaspora Film Festival, the documentary has begun to build on its “cross-over appeal” to “straight” film festivals. In September 2007, How Do I Look [24] was screened at another “straight” film festival, the Tenth Anniversary Africa in the Picture Film Festival [25] in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The film festival circuit is now programming How Do I Look [26] as the LGBT content at these festivals.
About future screenings and where you can buy How Do I Look [27]:
How Do I Look [28] is currently screened in film festivals across the United States and internationally, and the “How Do I Look” DVD is available on our website, www.HowDoILooknyc.org [29], on Amazon.com [30], and through selected retail stores: at Kim’s Video in New York City, at Giovanni’s in Philadelphia, and at A Different Light book store in Los Angeles.
# # #
For more information, please contact:
Wolfgang Busch
Art From The Heart LLC
(718) 726-0831
WolfgangBusch@earthlink.net [31]
www.HowDoILooknyc.org [32]
or
Louis Flores
Augmenter la Connaissance
(347) 237-1727
LouisFlores@LouisFlores.com [33]
www.connaissable.com [34]
| World AIDS Day Wrap-Up: New York film screenings of "How Do I Look" documentary | Log-in or register a new user account [35] | 0 Comments | |
|
| |
| Comments are statements made by the person that posted them. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of the site editor. |