Amreeka

A few days ago I attended a film screening for "Amreeka" (Directed by Cherien Dabis). I absolutely loved this movie and highly recommend it. The film is partially in Arabic and partially in English. It is about a Palestinian mother and son who receive a U.S. Green Card and leave Palestine to live with their family in Illinois. While this is a story about immigration, the conflict in the Middle East serves as a backdrop and propels the dramedy forward. Muna Farah, played by Nisreen Faour, is initially reluctant to leave the West Bank, but after guards harass her son at a checkpoint she decides maybe change could be good. Once in America, Munah and her son Fadi (Melkar Muallem) try to adjust to their new lives. They are broke because Muna lost all of her money at the airport. Muna is forced to work a menial job--although she is educated-- and Fadi begins to become more "American," which may not be such a good thing. Her sister Raghda (Hiam Abbass) and her doctor husband Nabeel (Yussef Abu-Warda) live in a small town and their family faces racism because their neighbors believe they are terrorists who work for Osama Bin Ladin. Fadi also struggles with being mistreated. Will this family overcome these hardships? You have to watch to find out!

"Amreeka" was screened at numerous film festivals including Sundance and Cannes.

http://www.amreeka.com/

Kevin Cossom

Yesterday I served as videographer for an interview with Kevin Cossom. Look out for it in the coming weeks on www.thesource.com! He is a talented songwriter who wrote "Go Getta," for Young Jeezy/R. Kelly. He also wrote Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down," which is his first number one hit! He is ecstatic. He got into the music industry when he was 17 years old as a songwriter, but he is also a singer and dancer. He is signed to jive records and hopes to hit it big with his debut album. I heard a few of the tracks from his album and they are really good! Look out for him!

http://www.myspace.com/kevincossom

THE ULTIMATE PROM (6/5/09)

Last year St. Francis Prep kids enjoyed a star-studded prom with performances from Ashanti, Lloyd and JoJo. This year almost 800 students at Fashion Industries High School won “The Ultimate Prom.” Akon, Ryan Leslie, Kat Deluna and Kid Cudi came out to congratulate these seniors on their graduation. The event took place at Pier 60 in Chelsea, NYC.

Mypromstyle.com featured a reality series, which followed three girls from the Fashion Industries High who competed to design the dress Kat Deluna would wear to their prom. Both Kat and Ryan Leslie revealed to “ShainaTV,” that this was their first prom. Kat had to miss her prom because she was busy launching her career, and Ryan decided to skip his senior year of high school to attend Harvard University early.

Akon didn’t perform, but he came to introduce the show and thank the kids for all of their support.

DJ Cassidy and O'neal McKnight also came to party with the lucky high schoolers. McKnight performed a little bit of “Check Your Coat” and “Champagne red lights,” but he debuted “Prom Song,” which was produced by DJ Cassidy.

Kat Deluna performed some of her biggest hits like “Wine-up.” She also got the crowd moving with “Dance Bailalo” and “Unstoppable,” which features Lil’ Wayne from her latest album “Inside Out.” She worked with RedOne and Scott Storch on her on her sophomore album.

Finally, the kids went wild when Kid Cudi performed. He was supposed to be a surprise, but everyone knew he was coming. Rocking his glasses and a leather jacket Cudi put on a high energy show. He sang “Dat new New.” This was surely a prom to remember.

Look out for new artists Jimmy Robbins and Tina Parol:

Also check out my interviews with Connor Paolo (Gossip Girl), Katrina Bowden (30 Rock), Forever the Sickest Kids, Celebrity Chef Greg Grossman, and Ally Zarin & Victoria De Lesseps from (Real Housewives of New York City)!

WALE, CHUCK D & DJ WEBSTAR ATTEND INTERNET WEEK’S: SOUNDCTRL (6/4/09)

Music industry professionals from places like “Lizard King Records,”— best known for breaking Santigold— and techies from startups like “8tracks,” mixed and mingled at the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” to have a discourse about the convergence of digital media, technology and music. Panelist Chuck D (who is rehearsing with “The Roots” currently in Philadelphia) entertained the crowd with his insights:

“Once upon a time if you was an artist to get in the studio was a big big big big deal, to be able to get purchase order from a major record company to allow you to go in to studio and make more than two records.”

“I started out in 1995 in Madison Square Garden actually doing the first [live] webcast of the Grammys in MSG, and yes it was amazing being apart of that night, but I was more amazed looking at Tyra Banks.”

“The beautiful thing about culture is that it brings people together, the beautiful thing about the internet is that it brings like-minded people together, the great artist “Prince” said try to be on top of technology before its on top of you…you are the facebook, myspace, twitter, i-phone generation।”




Another panelist named Lisa Grey, who is a brand marketing executive at “Mountain Dew,” described the soft drink’s music venture. “Green Label Sound,” supports emerging talents to bring them to the next level. Artists post exclusive content on www.greenlabelsound.com and the label works to market them. Mountain Dew gives songs away for free on its website and tries get the singles on the radio. Green Label Sound also helped artists like “The Cool Kids” create a music video, which was played on MTV 2. Producer “9th Wonder” worked on one of the remixes for “The Cool Kids.” The label just started working with Inglewood rap duo U-N-I and their single “Land of the Kings,” is up for free download. Green label sound will also be working with Chromeo.

After the panel was over, D.J. Webstar performed “Chicken Noodle Soup,” “Money Dance,” and “Dancing on Me.” “I came here to display some talents, I’m working on two albums me and Jim Jones’ album will be in stores in August, and I have a solo project coming out in 2010. Also, the video for “Dancing on me,” is out now featuring Jim Jones and Juelz Santana.”

A new artist straight from Chile named Valentina Fel performed too.



I also caught up with Wale, who performed his highly buzzed about single “Chillin” featuring Lady Gaga. “

-ShainaTV