Wanda's Picks

Naomie Harris (Jane), as well as working on big budget Hollywood Movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, continues to choose challenging and exciting roles in smaller and more diverse films such as THE FIRST GRADER. She and I had a great interview last week when her tour brought her to the San Francisco Bay Area for a preview screeening of her latest film at Landmark Embarcadero Center in San Francisco. London-born Naomie graduated with honours from Cambridge University in 1998 with a degree in social and political science. She went on to train at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and had her first major acting breakthrough in 2002 with Danny Boyle’s zombie horror film 28 Days Later. She went on to receive further international recognition and critical acclaim in her role as Tia Dalma in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End. Other major feature film credits include Michael Mann’s Miami Vice, Michael Winterbottom’s A Cock and Bull Story, and Street Kings with Keanu Reeves and Forrest Whittaker.

Most recent feature film projects include: Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll with Andy Serkis; Ninja Assassin directed by James McTeigue; Julian Kemp’s My Last Five Girlfriends: and, THE FIRST GRADER, written by Ann Peacock and directed by Justin Chadwick.

Major television drama credits have included: Julian Jarrold’s White Teeth, based on Zadie Smith’s best-selling novel; Peter Kosminsky’s The Project; Poppy Shakespeare, Blood and Oil and Small Island for the BBC.We close with the complete interview with Alrick Brown, director of the wonderful film Kinyarwanda, which had a successful screening at the 54th edition of the SFIFF.The film tells a seldom heard story of the Muslim community in Rwanda during the horrific100 days.They made the mosques sacred safe havens for those persecuted.

Kimberly Jeffery, visual artist, advocate for women and girls, and victims of spousal abuse, will speak about the loss of three children, two to adoption; Pricilla Ocen, JD.,Critical Race Studies Law Fellow at UCLA, will speak about the historic & present legacy criminalization of black women and girls; Diane Hafsah Al-Amin, Member of the S.F. Muslim Community Center on Divisadero St., Community Activist - supporting programs and services which address issues of oppression particularly those affecting black women and other women of color will speak about her work as Program Coordinator for CA Coalition for Women Prisoners. Visit womenprisoners.org Lisa Marie Rollins is a writer, performance artist and playwright, currently developing her solo show, “Ungrateful Daughter: One Black Girl’s Story of Being Adopted into a White Family. . . that aren’t Celebrities.” She is joined by Martha is also a writer/performer whose work explores the intersections of family, race and all things 'woman'. Her current project, Lady Parts will be performed this weekend with Zahra Noorbakhsh, whose work, “All Atheists Are Muslim she co-directed with W. Kamau Bell. Lisa, Martha, and Zahra, along with several other women are a part of the Second Annual "See Mom, I Didn't Forget!" A Solo Peformance showcase just for Mother's Day at Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter @ Powell Street, in San Franciso. There are two shows, 2 PM and 7 PM. We close with an extended conversation with Dr. Joy DeGruy and Jasmine "Jazz" Hudson. Dr. DeGruy's book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Enduring Legacy of Injury and Healing, addresses the residual impacts of trauma on African Descendants in the Americas: joydegruy.com. Jazz works with at-risk youth in the SFBay, most recently @ the RYSE Center in Richmond as the Assoc. Culture Keeper, Artistic Educator and former Foster Youth Advocate.

Arlick Brown, director, Kinyarwanda, which screens Thursday, May 5, 2011, 6 PM at SFIFF 54, in San Francisco at Sundance Kabuki (prerecorded). Fely Tchaco, singer, songwriter, drops by the studio to talk about her lastest release "Maturite" and her Concert for Peace, Saturday, May 7, 8 PM, as a part of AfroSolo presents at the AAACC, 762 Fulton in San Francisco. Originally from Côte d'Ivoire, Fely now calls San Francisco Bayview home. We'll be playing selections all moring from her latest work which is a very personal album, drawing from the artist's childhood and exxperiences home in Africa as well as a woman of the Diaspora. Visit www.felymusic.com Jean Kwok joins us to talk about her national best seller, Girl in Translation. The author will be at Book Passage in San Francisco's Embarcadero tonight at 6 PM and at Capitola Book Cafe tomorrow, May 5, at 7:30 PM. We close with a conversation with artist Rodney Ewing, whose show, Unwashed Saints, opens at Dogpatch Cafe & Art Gallery, 2295 Third Street, Saturday, May 7, 7-9 PM. Visit www.rodneyewing.com and www.dogpatchcafe.com

We celebrate with Vukani Mawethu Choir its 25th Anniversary Celebration, Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Freight & Savage Coffeehouse in Berkeley, 4-7 PM, with members and filmmaker: Andréa joyce, Kaidi Depelchin, & Jon Fromer. We will talk about the 25 years, continued activism, and of course the Emmy Awards Winning film chronically the choir's journey to SA: Sizongena--Coming Home: Vukani Mawethu in South Africa. Visit www.vukani.com (510) 444-5009. Hosted by Fania Davis, invited guests include: hosts Awele Makeba & Jim McWilliams, Fania Davis, Ph.D., JD, presenter of the Ubuntu Awards that evening, Hon. Gwen Mahlangu-Nkainde, Hon. Jeanette Ndhlovu, Hon. Kgopotso, Boatamo Yvonne "Ati" Mosupyoe, Ph.D., Palm Wine Boys, UpSurge! Jazz & Poetry, African Roots of Jazz, Avotcja. We close with a conversation Pastor Michael McBride, founding pastor at The Way Christian Center in West Berkeley, about Faith in Action this Saturday, April 30, 9 AM to 4 PM at St. Paul AME Church, 2024 Ashby Ave., in Berkeley, CA. & Pastor Christopher Foster about Recharge Conference, April 28-30 at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Oakland. Dr. Joe Marshall, Omega Boys & Girls Club, gives the keynote at Faith in Action http://www.faithinaction2011.com/p/about-eblc.html Musical selections from "Vukani Mawethu: "Ukuthula." Ticket giveaways for Rochelle Ferrall at Yoshi's Oakland, Sunday, May 30, 2011, 9 PM.

We open with an interview with Marissa Gonzalez, CA Habeas Project, LSPC, featured in Yoav Potash's film Crime After Crime @SFIFF. Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story w/Daniel Birman rebroadcast.We close with a special segment with director, actress, poet and playwright: Frances Driscoll & Tom Juarez, Cheryl Smith & Kathryn Wood re: Lucky Girl, the true story of a woman piecing together the shards of a life shattered by rape. In 1987 Frances Driscoll was raped in Atlantic Beach, Florida. In 1995 her poem, "Island of the Raped Women" won the Pushcart Prize after appearing in Volt. In 1997 "The Rape Poems," a collection of 43 poems about the rape and the aftermath was published. This new adaptation is inspired by the phrase, "you are so lucky," one of the first things everyone says to rape survivors. "Some Lucky Girls", one of Driscoll's poems is included in this solo show performed by Cheryl Smith. The Rape Poems was dedicated to ten women in three generations of Ms. Driscoll's family. Two of the four of the youngest generation have been raped since the book was published. Often painful, "Lucky Girl," is also beautiful, heartbreaking, quirky and funny."The Rape Poems" has become a primary source for understanding the experience of rape and living with post-traumatic stress disorder.The book has been used in training programs by police departments, the US Air Force, medical schools, college athletic departments and at rape crisis centers around the world. "The Rape Poems" is used as a text in college classes too. Lucky Girl opens: May 5 -28 at Th/F/Sat 8 PM @ EXIT Studio, 156 Eddy St in SF. Call 415-673-3847 or theexit.org.

Rebroadcast of Wanda's Picks Special aired Thursday afternoon, April 21, 2011 featuring Oleta Adams and husband, John Cushon appearing at the Rrazz Room next week, April 28-30; Rev. Debbie Lee, narrator of the film, Living Along the Fenceline screening in a free program at Mills College in Oakland, April 27; Deputy Chief Velda Dobson-Davis and Michelle Sabin, Valley State Women's Prison, address Domestic Violence; Pam Africa, Robert King and Chris Stephen Kinder, and Deirdre Wilson speak about Mumia Abu Jamal's case specifically, and within the context of policial prisoners in US prisons, his birthday April 24, and a screening of the film: Justice on Trial also on Sunday, April 24. We also announce a special symposium organized by ANC veteran Frank Wilderson and his colleagues at UT, Austin, Sat., April 23, 2011, 9 AM to 5:30 PM (Central Time). Join on skype: costavargas or 512-471-4362. Political prisoners are a part of all the roundtables: Exiting the Museum of Political Incarceration at 10 AM with Sundiata Acoli joined by Robert King, and two scholars, Sexual Violence, Gender Imprisonment & Self Defense at  12:30 PM, with Mutulu Shakur joined by scholars, Political Violence & the State's Response, 2:30 PM with Jalil Muntaqim. This conference is specific to African Americans or black people ensnared within th US penal system minimum and maximum. If you are in Austin: Black Imprisonment, Here and Now! is being held at the african and African Diaspora Studies Dept. inn GRG, 2nd Floor at the University of Texas, Austin. Contributions on the topic of Black Political Imprisonment, are also encouraged via the Harriet Tubman Literary Circle [HTLC] digital repository: [email protected] http://reporistories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/7828

Oleta Adams appears at Thursday-Friday, Apr. 28 to 29, 8PM and Saturday, April 30, 7 & 9:30 PM at The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco in "Get Here" For An Evening Of Musical Brilliance, Thursday through Friday, Apr 28-29, 8pm, Sat, Apr 30, 7 & 9:30 PM, $49.50.  This afternoon she is joined in the studio by husband, musician, drummer John Cushon. Visit www.oletaadams.com Rev.Debbie Lee is the narrator and one of the producers of the Linda Hishino's new film: Living Along the Fenceline which tells the stories of 7 remarkable women who live alongside U.S. military bases. They are teachers, organizers,& healers, moved by love & respect for the land, & hope for the next generation. From San Antonio (Texas) to Vieques (Puerto Rico), Hawai’i, Guam, Okinawa, South Korea, & the Philippines, this film inspires hope and action. Free screening 4/27/11 at Mills College, 7 PM. Visit www.alongthefenceline.com I met Chief Deputy Warden Velda Dobson-Davis at Valley State Prison for Women's 5th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Day, March 2011. She will join us to share her story of abuse and triumph, a message she shared with the women that day. She is joined by Michelle Sabin, survivor and programmer of teh 5th Annual program. We close with Pam Africa, MOVE, Robert King, Angola 3, Deirdre Wilson, CCWP, Free Battered Women & C. Stephen Kinder, Labor Action for Mumia, which is sponsoring a screening of ther film: Justice On Trial, the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, on his birthday, Sunday, April 24th, 2011, 2 PM, at the Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, laborformumia.org 510-763-2347 & Twin Space, 2111 Mission St, SF, (415) 671-0789.

Director, Mai Islander's "GARBAGE DREAMS," streaming free on Facebook in honor of Earth Day, 4/21/2011, follows three teenage boys born into the trash trade and growing up in the world’s largest garbage village, on the outskirts of Cairo. It is home to 60,000 Zaballeen (or Zabbaleen), Arabic for “garbage people.” Far ahead of any modern “Green” initiatives, the Zaballeen survive by recycling 80% of the garbage they collect.  Face to face with the globalization of their trade, each of the teenage boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community. UCLA professor, attorney and activist,Priscilla Ocen, discusses race, gender and mass incarceration as affects black women and girls; Chef Billy of Divine Raw Foods discusses his paradigm shift to a healthier lifestyle with "living foods." He will tell us about his cooking demonstration April 21, 4:00-5:30 PM @ Mandela Foods Co-op 1430 7th St., West Oakland. It is free  & open to everyone. We close with director,Phil Bertelsen, whose 2008 documentary work: "Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Beyond the Steps" premieres on the Doc.Channel, April 26, 8 PM, PT/ET.  BEYOND THE STEPS captures the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of America’s oldest modern dance companies and most beloved cultural institutions, at a pivotal time in its history. By following today’s Ailey dancers it tells the story of what it takes to keep dance modern, art relevant, and a legacy alive. After 45 years, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater finds a place to call home in midtown Manhattan, the building enormous --literally transparent: the community can see inside the structure & imagine itself also moving. The new space is a physical representation of the Ailey philosophy.

Director, write, scholar, poet, Saul Landau, internationally-known scholar, author, commentator, and filmmaker on foreign and domestic policy issues and  joins us to talk about his latest film: "Will the Real Terrorists Please Stand Up!" at Brava Theatre, Saturday, April 16, 2011, 7 PM. brava.org and http://realterrorist.wordpress.com/ Landau is joined in the studio with Alicia Jrapko, US National Coordinator of the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5. http://www.freethefive.org/  We then play a prerecorded interview with  Kirvan James Boyd, Boston, Mass., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater highlighting the debut on the DOC channel film airing April 16, 2011, 8 PM, PT/ET of Phil Bertelsen's "Alvin Ailey, American Dance Theater: Beyond the Steps." If isteners would like a copy of the DVD while supplies last send me a message here on the show page or [email protected] We play a teaser segment of an interview with Joanna Haigood & Charles Trapolin's performance installation: "The Monkey and the Devil," which opens APR 15, 8 PM  at YBCA Forum, Third and Mission, in San Francisco, and continues through APR 17, 12-2 PM and 3-5 PM (one hour cycles). Visit zaccho.org and ybca.org We close with an interview with Duane Baughman, Producer/Director, of a first film, "Bhutto: Democracy Is the Greatest Revenge," which is having a free ITVS, KQED, Neighborhood Empowerment Network, and HandsOn Bay Area, community screening Tues., APR 19, with a panel discussion folliowing, at San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street. Visit http://www.itvs.org/films/bhutto

The 9th Annual Oakland International Film Festival, directors of shorts screening Thursday, April 14 & 15, 2011: Howard Egger-Bovet, dir. Nobody Knows Where the Bullet Goes (5:09 min.) screens, 4/14 6-8:15 PM slot; Sean Morris, Native Time, (9:30 mins.) screens at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland, CA, 4/14 6-8:15 PM, and Zondre Smith, Fuss and Fight (4 mins.) screening at Art Deco Auditorium in Alameda, CA, Friday, April 15, 6-8:15 PM slot.  Visit www.oiff.org We close with a conversation with cast members: Charles Branklyn (Feste) and Renee Wilson (Viola) in The African American Shakespeare Company's production of Twelfth Night or What You Will up Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM through May 1.   Visit www.african-americanshakes.org   Music: We open with music from Rupa and the April Fishes's "Este Mundo" and close with a Renee Wilson number, "Crepe Covered Sidewalks."