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Winter Is Here... #GameOfThrones #HBO

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Ao Haru Ride

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wallpapers with films by makoto shinkai ♡♡♡ please do not reupload

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Not again Oscar: 5 Changes for the Movie Industry

By Malik G. 

With all of the controversy surrounding this years Oscars I figured it wouldn’t hurt to throw in my two cents. Honestly speaking I don’t think anyone should be surprised by the lack of color in this year’s list of nominees, given their history of omitting minorities. With the majority of Oscar voters being elderly Caucasian males, how often do you really expect people of color to win? Here are five things that the Oscars and Hollywood in general need to do in order to make things right.

5. More Nominations For Portrayals of Positivity 

Under many circumstances a great villain can carry a movie more than a great hero. Despite this I feel that most actors of color are forced to play some sort of negative force just for the chance at an Academy Award. Whether it’s a dirty cop (Denzel in Training Day), an abusive mother (Monique in Precious), or a sadistic tyrant (Forest in The Last King of Scotland), the academy loves to see black people play the bad guy. And while black actors/actresses have been portrayed as a source of positivity, it is rarely from a position of power. It’s almost like if we’re not winning for being the bad guy, we’re winning for being maids, slaves, and drug addicted musicians. I believe the reason for this year’s omissions was because of all the positivity coming from films with black casts, something the Oscars clearly doesn’t approve of. 

4. More Roles For Black Oscar Winners 

If there’s one pattern I’ve noticed in recent years, it’s that black Oscar winners don’t reap the same benefits as white Oscar winners. Winning an Academy Award is an enormous achievement, putting you in a tier of talent that most entertainers can only dream to reach. After receiving an Oscar, they are supposed to be the most sought after actor/actress in the business, as they have just been awarded the highest honor in their field. There is absolutely no reason that actors like Cuba Gooding Jr. or Monique should have issues finding roles coming off their phenomenal performances. Monique has even stated that finding work was anything but easy after winning her award. This is an unacceptable issue and one that needs fixing if actors and actresses of color stand any chance of winning in the future.  

3. Be More Open-Minded When It Comes to Smaller, Independent Films

I get it, you’re an old white guy, what do you care about a rebellious rap group in the 1980s or a the son of a famous black boxer that once fought your childhood hero? But as a movie fan and especially as someone who has a say on who will be remembered in film history, being closed-minded is something that should not be allowed. Oscar voters need to be open to all types of film, not just the ones supported by large studios. Most movies with predominately black casts are independent films, made on a small budget, with little to no promotion. Does that mean that they don’t deserve to be recognized, even if they’re just as great as a big budget film? According to a friend this is the reason that the critically-acclaimed Netflix film “Beast of No Nation” was omitted. If you’re going to determine what films and actors go into movie history, the the academy should be comprised of people that are just as open-minded and insightful as the filmmakers they select. 

2. Support Directors Of Color

Black directors are a very rare occurrence in this day and age of Hollywood, with only a handful being considered “Big Names”. Directors Ryan Coogler and F. Gary Gray had two of the biggest films this year, both critically and commercially, but failed to receive recognition from the Academy for their accomplishments. Even for all of the strides that Spike Lee has made in filmmaking, he has never won an Oscar for best director (and I’m not talking about that honorary Oscar he’s being awarded). To this day there has only been three black nominees in this category with no winners. Not taking anything from white directors but black directors deserve just as much recognition for their hard work and diligence. Filmmakers of color are highly outnumbered in Hollywood, and without the recognition from their peers and support from the studios they may eventually fade into obscurity, marking a sad day in entertainment. 

1. Stop Making Yourselves Look Bad 

No one likes to be perceived as racist, not even racists, and I believe the same goes for the Academy Awards. Hollywood, like almost everything in America, has a deep dark past in racism. With controversial films released in the early 1900s involving blackface and KKK propaganda, the movie industry has a lot of things they’d wish to forget. Well what better way to forget than by honoring the people you once shamed and humiliated. Now I’m not asking for affirmative action for black filmmakers but what I am asking for is to be treated with the same fairness and respect as any other movie released by Hollywood. At the end of the day doing this can only improve the image of both Hollywood and the Oscars. Accepting and recognizing filmmakers of color will finally change the way people perceive the Academy Awards and movie industry, allowing them to bury their dark pasts for good. 

As a fan of movies I love it when great films are recognized for their achievements, no matter the race of those involved. The Oscars have for many years have not been about who won or who loss, but rather who was left out. In order for the Oscars and the movie industry in general to be as prestigious as people perceive them to be, they must first take a step back and look at themselves for what they really are. With all of the controversy surrounding this year’s awards, hopefully we will see a change in the years to come. A boy can dream.                      

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Back in the Days: A look back on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

By Malik G.

Wow, it’s kind of hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the The Fresh Prince of Bel Air has been stopped airing new episodes. The pinnacle of 90s entertainment, The Fresh Prince is one of the few shows that I have continuous watched from adolescence into adulthood. Thanks to a memorable cast, phenomenal writing and acting, and the star power of its lead character, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air has been considered by many as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. With the show still in syndication on numerous networks and title character Will Smith hopefully making a return to superstardom with this summer’s Suicide Squad, I thought it would be cool to take a look back on one of television’s best programs. 

Despite The Fresh Prince being a cult classic, many fans don’t know the history of just how the popular series came about. Stuck in debt due to overspending and a declining music career, west Philadelphia rapper Will Smith was approached by famed music producer Quincy Jones about starring as the titular character. Seeing no other option, Will took the role and the rest is history. 

Proving himself as a natural, Will Smith displayed a exuberant level of confidence and charisma, despite never acting a day in his life. Not only did The Fresh Prince show off Will’s comedic prowess, but his dramatic chops as well, with a handful of episodes that round out some of the actor’s best performances. Acting as a precursor of sorts, The Fresh Prince showed that not only was Will Smith ready to take Hollywood by storm but also that he had the potential to become one of the best entertainers in the industry. 

Aside from the title character, The Fresh Prince boasted a supporting cast of lovable and memorable characters. From the hot headed but well meaning Uncle Phil to the intelligent but extremely naive Carlton, every member of the Banks family felt relatable and was given their time to shine. Strong female characters like Aunt Vivan (yes, both versions), Ashely, and even the dimwitted Hilary continued to prove that women of color could be insightful and successful in their own right. 

Even though the show established itself as a comedy it wasn’t afraid to tackle serious subject matter, offering social commentary without being too preachy. Drug and alcohol use, racial discrimination, child abandonment, The Fresh Prince analyzed the state of our society and its imperfections just as much it made us laugh. One of the few TV shows to depict a successful and wealthy African American family, The Fresh Prince assisted with changing the way we viewed black people in entertainment, using Will Smith’s move from Philly to Bel Air as a metaphor for the positive qualities that urban life can provide, especially when injected into an upper-class environment. 

Not taking itself too seriously The Fresh Prince offered tons of laughs, utilizing pop culture references and a plethora guest stars to keep our eyebrows raised from beginning to end. Everyone from Opera Winfrey, Queen Latifah, and Vanessa Williams to Jay Leno, Tom Jones, and Donald Trump, The Fresh Prince was the original Entourage when it came to celebrity cameos. And who could forget the lovable dope that was Jazz? 

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was one of the most impactful shows of the 1990s, not just for television but also for entertainment in general. The true successor to The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince ushered in an era of television that would pave the way for shows like My Wife and Kids, Girlfriends, and Everybody Hates Chris. With incredible ratings, critical acclaim from critics and fans alike, tons of social commentary, and non stop laughs, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air deserves to be cemented as one of the best products of the 1990s and one of the best of our generation.                        

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曦晨晨 | Source

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Marry me?

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My mom taught me to live by the three p’s: to always be passionate, persistent, and prepared.

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I have watched this at least 15 times since I reblogged this several hours ago

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@haileesteinfeld: miss this. @vitafede (obsessed w these bracelets.)

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