Reggae Magazine Screening Event a Huge Success!
Live for 48!
Reggae ‘Pon The Mountain 2011
Tomorrow Luciano and the RiseUp team will go jam at the Reggae ‘Pon The Mountain 2011, Southern California's #1 homegrown reggae roots festival, to support ROOTZ UNDERGROUND, our very own RiseUp artist, as well as all the other international and local reggae artists. We can’t wait to come together under the sun, embraced with love and passion by the legendary Wailing Souls, Rocky Dawuni, Bodhi Rock, Jah Beloved Band, and of course Rootz Underground.
Standing on the beautiful mountains of Topanga Canyon, Reggae Pon the Mountain will connect Reggae fans back to its roots, right here minutes away from LA!
RiseUp will bring the cool shirts, hats and DVDs to the crowd - and check this out. We will be selling our RISE UP: THE MOVIE DVD for the first time ever.
So, come rock with us – bring your blankets and coolers - join us not only to get the reggae on, but also to support this concert fundraiser for the Topanga Community Club, a non profit organization aimed to bring more to the residents of Topanga.
Watch out for the tweets and updates on the event throughout tomorrow!
Peace.
New Radio Interview with Director Luciano Blotta!
Great vibes on the show, we gave away some goodies like The King Of One String DVD's, RiseUp T-shirts and stickers and we had some listeners calling in to comment about Luciano's stories of Jamaica's underground music scene.
Thank you Pelagatos and One Love!
www.riseupmovie.com
The King of One String: Be a part of Brushy's new album!
Dear RiseUp Fans,
Many of you have inquired about popular RiseUp artist Brushy One String, wondering when he might record an album or release new music. Well, the time has finally come! We are incredibly excited to announce to you that we are currently funding a project to record Brushy's first full-length album!
However, we need your help. In order to fund the recording, artist and transportation fees, and album distribution, we need to raise $18,000. (With the help of several generous fans already, we have already begun to make progress toward that goal.) With the help of Kickstarter, we are asking for contribution to this project, in exchange for awesome rewards such as the RiseUp DVD, merchandise, and the completed album. So if you would like to see the release of Brushy's long-awaited album, please visit our Kickstarter page and contribute to the project. You can donate as little as $5 or as much as you desire!
With Kickstarter, we must reach our goal or unfortunately the project is cancelled. With 60 days left, we are calling upon you, our wonderful fans, and sincerely hope that together we can raise enough money to give Brushy the recognition he deserves and the dream of a lifetime, to record his professional album in New York City!
Much love,
RiseUp Entertainment, LLC
Radio Interview with Director Luciano Blotta
RiseUp Soundtrack now available on Amazon!
We are proud to announce that RiseUp's amazing soundtrack is now available for download on AmazonMp3. This is another great platform to have the soundtrack which is now only available for downloads on Amazon and iTunes. However, there might be a Vinyl version coming out in the not-so-distant future, so look out!
So, to check out the soundtrack on Amazon, click here.
One Love,
RiseUpMovie.com
RiseUp Soundtrack Release!
RiseUp Soundtrack Ready To Go!
What To Watch: ‘The Mechanic,’ ‘RiseUp: Reggae Underground’ On TV, ‘The Color Purple’ Blu-ray
Coming out this is ‘The Mechanic,’ starring Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland, and Christa Campbell.
Arthur Bishop (played by Jason Statham) is a ‘mechanic’ – an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It’s a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when his mentor and close friend Harry (played by Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop is anything but detached. His next assignment is self-imposed – he wants those responsible dead.
His mission grows complicated when Harry’s son Steve (played by Ben Foster) approaches him with the same vengeful goal and a determination to learn Bishop’s trade. Bishop has always acted alone but he can’t turn his back on Harry’s son. A methodical hit man takes an impulsive student deep into his world and a deadly partnership is born. But while in pursuit of their ultimate mark, deceptions threaten to surface and those hired to fix problems become problems themselves.
A great documentary-winner of the 2009 American Film Institute/Discovery Silverdocs Best Music Documentary Award-is airing on Wednesday, January 26 as a part of AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange. The film’s called ‘RiseUp: Reggae Underground‘ by Luciano Blotta. It’s airing at 7 PM EST Wednesday (and re-airs across the country through January 30) as part of the AfroPoP series.
‘RiseUp’ is a journey into the heart of Jamaica-the island that gave birth to the worldwide cultural phenomenon of reggae. In a society where talent abounds and opportunity is scarce, three courageous artists fight to rise up from obscurity and write themselves into the pages of history. With music and appearances by legends Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, RiseUp follows artists who demonstrate the raw power of hope and courage in a land which is largely unseen, but certainly not unsung. AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange is a documentary series consisting of contemporary stories from across the African Diaspora. It’s produced by the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) and co-presented by American Public Television. Out on Blu-ray is the acclaimed film ‘The Color Purple,’ starring Whoopi Goldberg Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey Margaret Avery, Akosua Busia, Adolph Caesar, Willard Pugh, Rae Dawn Chong, Larry Fishburne, Dana Ivey, Leon Rippy, Bennet Guillory, and James Tillis.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and directed by Steven Spielberg, ‘The Color Purple’ spans the years 1909 to 1949, relating the life of Celie (played by Whoopi Goldberg), a Southern black woman virtually sold into a life of servitude to her brutal husband, sharecropper Albert (played by Danny Glover). Celie pours out her innermost thoughts in letter form to her sister Nettie (played by Akousa Busia), but Albert has been hiding the letters Nettie writes back, allowing Celie to assume that Nettie is dead. Finally, Celie finds champions in her daughter-in-law, the take-no-mess Sofia (played by Oprah Winfrey) and the glamorous Shug Avery (played by Margaret Avery), a local girl-turned-juke joint singer. Bonus features on the Blu-ray include Conversations with ancestors: The Color Purple from book to screen, A collaboration of spirits: Casting and acting The Color Purple, and The Color Purple: The musical.
RiseUp's US TV Premiere and iTunes Release!
Directed by Argentinian-American filmmaker Luciano Blotta and produced by Blotta and Darrin Holender, the film features appearances and performances by both emerging and legendary artists, with music by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Sizzla, Alpha Blondy, Daddigon, Sly & Robbie, Richie Spice, Tanya Stephens, Turbulence, Rootz Underground and many other artists. During 2010, RiseUp was chosen by New York’s Lincoln Center Film Society to celebrate Black History Month and a one-hour version of the film was broadcasted by many television networks worldwide including the BBC. A special connection between the film and its diverse audience has now developed through the film’s performances as well as the official website’s deep media library.
RiseUp viewers have been seen dancing, laughing and crying in their seats. While core reggae audiences and music documentary fans have lauded the film for its authenticity and entertainment value, general audiences have praised the film for its original storytelling, inspirational tone and beautiful imagery and sounds. This week, the producers of RiseUp will release a special one-hour U.S. television version called RiseUp Reggae Underground, which will premiere January 26 on Public Television stations throughout the country. They will also release the award-winning feature-length theatrical version and its riveting soundtrack on iTunes in time for Black History Month and Bob Marley Day.
In an interview with international press, Blotta stated, "I saw how much talent there is [in Jamaica], how flamboyant, different and creative all these people were, and it really inspired me." He is excited to finally share his seven-year project with audiences in the U.S. hoping that they will appreciate this priceless portrayal of a uniquely proud country. Entertainment industry veterans like BBC’s Nick Fraser and HBO director/producer Marty Callner, have commended Blotta's efforts as an invaluable contribution to both the Jamaican culture as well as the medium of documentary cinema. Whether you’re a music and film fan, a documentary watcher, or a student of culture, RiseUp should enlighten you and excite your interest in one of the most fascinating places on earth.
The internationally acclaimed feature-length theatrical version of RiseUp, as well as its soundtrack, will be released on iTunes on January 28, 2011. The U.S. Television Premiere of the one-hour special, “RiseUp Reggae Underground”, will broadcast January 26, 2011 nationwide on most Public
The Award-Winning Documentary, RiseUp Reggae Underground Premiers on PBS!
It would be great if we could coordinate promotion of the broadcast with you and your website to maximize awareness. We would be delighted to provide you with artwork, videos, music and/or links to our multimedia website. Moreover, we would be interested in participating in a pledge drive and/or product giveaway/gift for your viewers. In short, we are open to working with you in any way to help promote viewership.
RiseUp Reggae Underground on U.S. Public Television
MORE INFO ON BLACKPUBLICMEDIA.ORG !
Rise Up, historias de la música under de Jamaica!
Rise up es el nombre del film documental que fue realizado por el argentino Luciano Blotta y que muestra tal como lo dice el titulo historias sobre el reggae del bajo fondo de Jamaica.
Texto por: Daniel Soberon
Grata sorpresa uno se lleva cuando indagando por la web, se encuentra con una película documental de la talla de Rise Up. El film tuvo una gestación de cinco años hasta dar a luz a este mundo en Octubre ultimo cuando se presento en Jamaica. La película, tal como aparece en el trailer aclara, “Alguna vez escuchaste hablar de Bob Marley, viste fotos de Jamaica incluso has escuchado reggae pero nunca has tenido una experiencia como esta” y es así, el documental nos muestra el hoy y el ahora del genero que tiene al gran Bob como máximo exponente.
Con las participaciones de Turbulence, La señorita Kemoy, Ice y alguna participación por ahí de Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare y Lee “Scratch” Perry, el hallazgo del director es Brushy “One String” o conocido también como “The King of One String” un músico que hace sonar su guitarra de una sola cuerda de manera envidiable marcando las bases y compases cual bajo y con una voz soulera que me hacia acordar a Gil Scott Heron.
Otra declaración dentro del trailer nos pone en contexto y es “Hay un lugar en la Tierra donde la músico no es solo un entretenimiento”asi de seria se pone la cosa, cuando se habla de reggae en la isla. También tenemos declaraciones incendiarias de Turbulence diciendo“Aquí nosotros solo vemos armas y no vemos alimentos entonces dennos alimentos y nosotros dejamos las armas solas”. Todo esto es para ponernos en contexto de como se vive en Jamaica y que este estilo musical tan conocido en el mundo no es un mero pasatiempo sino todo lo contrario.Presentada en una decena de festivales como y con gran repercusión hasta el punto que el mismísimo Chris Blackwell dueño del sello Island dijo “El mejor film de Jamaica desde The Harder They Come”. Luciano tiene en Rise Up a su opera prima como director que ya lo perfila con un futuro enorme ya que hasta el momento había desarrollado su carrera en EEUU como Operador Asistente de Video donde es uno de los mas reconocidos del ambiente y lo llevo a trabajar en la ultima Indiana Jones y colaborar con Steven Soderbergh en The Good German con el protagónico de George Clooney , Cate Blanchett y Tobey Maguire.
Así que para los amantes del genero cadencioso es una mas que buena noticia, con el condimento que el director es argentino pero mas grata aun seria si tuviésemos la fecha del estreno acá en nuestro país.
Felicitaciones a Luciano y su equipo de trabajo por tan estupendo trabajo.
No se olviden de chequear la web de la película donde podrán ver adelantos trailer, fotos e información completa sobre el film, www.riseupmovie.com.
RiseUp warms Ice Anastacia
MICHAEL Ice Anastacia Lewis will get another opportunity to capture the attention of Jamaican music lovers when RiseUp, the award-winning feature-length documentary in which he is prominently showcased premieres at Carib Cinema in Kingston on October 26.
Ice Anastacia is one of the main 'stars' of the film, which features him and two other aspiring young artistes vying for their shot at success on Jamaica's competitive underground music scene.
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He seems the most likely of the three major RiseUp characters to achieve his dream of fame, due to his unlimited access to competent producers and his privileged background. However, the bright stage lights have failed to shine on him, even after realising his dream of performing on the grand stage at the internationally appealing Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay.
More than just a focus on reggae as a truly potent genre of Jamaican music, RiseUp "seamlessly interweaves" the lives of the main characters and in 88 minutes also sharpens the contrast that is Jamaica. Undoubtedly, RiseUp was made even more realistic by the presence of Ice Anastacia, who is atypical in Jamaica's dancehall, in spite of the successes of Sean Paul, with whom he shares distinct physical similarities.
Ice Anastacia has a musical style that is all his own, and thanks to RiseUp, a wider cross-section of Jamaicans will now know. Let us see how far his 'star' will rise.
RiseUp, directed by Argentina-born Luciano Blotta and produced by Mark Hart and Darrin Holender, opens in theatres islandwide on October 27.
RiseUp zooms in on Turbulence
Turbulence's presence on the music scene is rather low-keyed these days, having established himself locally and internationally as a bonafide Reggae artiste with a slew of positive chart-toppers and an adoring fan base.
Notwithstanding, the artiste, who once referred to himself as Turbulence The Future is now a force to be reckoned with in Jamaica's competitive music industry; a fulfillment which was prophesied in RiseUp, a feature-length documentary on the island's underground music scene which focuses on Turbulence and two other aspiring artistes rising from obscurity to stake their place in Reggae and Dancehall music pantheon.
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Turbulence, whose given name is Sheldon Campbell has had Reggae hits such as Notorious, Name and Number, Babylon You Doomed and Not Like Them and Those. However, while the singer tasted success in the dancehall, and received relative exposure as the opening act for Sizzla prior to the start of filming in 2003, Turbulence propelled into the music's mainstream as he was being featured in the award-winning RiseUp, directed by Argentina native and Los Angeles transplant, Luciano Blotta.
Turbulence is "the conscious ghetto youth with enough determination to move mountains," states RiseUp official synopsis, as the documentary delved into the life of artiste, allowing him to reach the audience through the most potent medium of film, in ways that music alone would disallow.
RiseUp is yet another classic in Jamaica's film arsenal, failing to embellish, preferring to showcase Turbulence in his unpolished form from his tenement home base in Hungry Town, Kingston; scouring for opportunities with his crew; The Higher Trod Family, impressing in the dancehalls, and ultimately being himself.
The artiste bares all in the film, and audiences are being promised a treat when RiseUp: Stories from Jamaica's Music Underground premieres in Jamaica on October 26 at Kingston historic cinema, the Carib, and opens in theatres islandwide on October 27.
RiseUp Giveaway!
Win a DVD featuring a short film on Brushy One String and lots more from the producers of RiseUp. Answer ALL of the simple questions about the feature-length documentary now showing at local cinemas
1 Name the parish in which the producers find female subject Kemoy Reid.
2. Which female Jamaican singer, songwriter and musician offers Kemoy Reid music lessons in RiseUp.
3. In which St Andrew suburb does the subject Ice Anastasia live?
Answer ALL three questions and submit via email tojohnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com. Include full name and a telephone contact with your answers.
RiseUp documentary comes home to Jamaica
RISEUP, the feature-length documentary that shines the spotlight on Jamaica's underground music scene is coming home, after reaching a worldwide audience and racking up numerous awards and rave reviews.
The film, directed by Luciano Blotta, a native of Argentina, and produced by Darrin Holender of Sorority Row fame, will premiere in Jamaica at the Carib Cinema in Kingston on October 26 and opens in theatres islandwide the following day, October 27.
  Director Luciano Blotta (centre), captures the reactions of some of his subjects in a scene from the upcoming documentary, RiseUp, scheduled to open in theatres on October 27. 1/1 |
Blotta, a Los Angeles transplant who professes to be inspired by the unlimited talent, flambouyance, difference and creativity of Jamaicans, was invited to 'discover' the island by the documentary's executive producer Jamaican, Mark Hart.
RiseUp traces the distinct lives of three young Jamaicans, struggling for their big break as recognised artistes -- Turbulence, born Sheldon Campbell from Kingston's inner city, whose career launched into orbit, after RiseUp cameras stopped rolling; Clarendon-native, Kemoy Reid who has been blessed with awesome vocals; and the well-heeled Juss Ice, born Michael Lewis, who is pushing his unique sound which he dubbed New Soul Reggae.
RiseUp also features appearances and performances by rising stars as well as Jamaican music legends, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.
The documentary, an audience favourite being hailed as a new Jamaican film classic, has been screened in over 20 countries and has copped awards for its creatively developed storyline told by the people whose lives are being showcased, its stirring soundtrack and cinematography.
Upon viewing the film in May this year at a private screening in Kingston, legendary music producer Chris Blackwell stated that "RiseUp is the best Jamaican film since The Harder They Come."
All Jamaicans now have the opportunity to partake in the experience as the masterpiece is projected from theatre screens islandwide.
J’can films and the Oscars - Productions not considered foreign language
RiseUp producer calls for unity to lobby Academies
THE call has gone out for members of Jamaica's creative industries, particularly music and film, to band together in order to extract maximum benefits.
Film producer Darrin Holender, whose credits extend to the recently released feature-length documentary, RiseUp, notes that only with networking and lobbying of organisations such as the US-based Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) which decides the winners of the yearly Oscars, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) for the Grammy Awards, can there be any positive results for the country on the international stage.
Holender, who was recently in Jamaica for the local premiere of RiseUp, noted that the recent upsurgence in the local film industry is a good thing, but explains to the Sunday Observer, that based on the rules established by AMPAS, a Jamaican film can never win an Academy Award in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.
He explained that in researching RiseUp's Oscar potential the producers were told that only foreign-language films can be nominated in that category, and English language films, such as RiseUp and other Jamaican films, do not qualify for that category.
"We argued that, for the most part, the characters (Jamaicans) in our film speak in a creole language, and that subtitles were necessary for every film festival we attended and even for our BBC broadcast version in the UK. To no avail, Jamaican Patois is considered by AMPAS to be English, despite the fact that no one in America would understand without subtitles," Holender says.
"Even though it is not out of the realm of possibility for a Jamaican film to win Best Picture, this is going to be difficult considering that the category is filled with films that cost over $100M to make," he adds.
The film producer points out that through lobby efforts, the local players can possibly get the Academy to view the local patois as a foreign language, especially since they insist on sub-titles, or broaden the category so that it becomes Best Foreign Film.
He also called on Jampro to get together with the filmmakers to form alliances with other countries which are faced with similar challenges, as there is strength in numbers.
Holender says the same extends to the Grammy Awards. He notes that voting helps in winning awards, and having greater visibility is always going to increase chances at these international awards, therefore, forming alliances is key.
Turning to his own film, he noted that it is his hope that RiseUp will breathe some fresh positive air into a Jamaican film culture. Music is a way of life in Jamaica, and Jamaica is diverse, so we feel that RiseUp successfully delivers both messages.
Red Carpet Event
CPJ official Red Carpet Premier Invite
RiseUp Movie October 27th 2010 Island Wide
Brushy Commercial
RiseUp Movie Contest
Hey Guys! We are currently running a great contest! e are giving fans a chance to win 2 passes to the red carpet premiere of RiseUp in Jamaica as well as a DVD and T-shirt. RiseUp is in theaters island wide OCT. 27th!! To enter visit the link below, become a fan of our Facebook Fan page and answer 3 simple questions!! For all the details please visit the link!! RiseUp Movie Contest
Experience RiseUp in JAMAICA!
Official Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/user/riseupmovie?feature=mhum
RiseUp comes home to JAMAICA!
Images from BAM - Brooklyn!
(labor day weekend, hard to fill a theater though!)
Images from the ICA Screening in Boston
Images from HBO NY Latino Film Festival and Wadsworth Atheneum!
