Music is my Life
Synopsis:
A powerful and gripping portrait of the remarkable artistry and life of Oscar Brown Jr.
A playful and charismatic performer, Brown is also an acclaimed jazz lyricist who worked closely with Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone and collaborated with Max Roach and Bobby Timmons on some of the most memorable compositions of the hard bop era. Beyond his musical achievements, Brown also engaged in a parallel career as a lifelong political activist of tireless strength and unceasing moral stamina, and his entire life can be read as a parable of the civil rights and Black Power eras in the United States. His lyrics touching on every subject from human dignity and childhood wonder to marijuana and cockroaches, Brown emerges as a kind of Black Everyman.
Watch an interview with Donnie L. Betts on ReelBlack with Chivonnie Gius Meekins.
Music is My Life Politics My Mistress
The Story of Oscar Brown Jr. on kwelitv.com (now)
Some other links:
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Synopsis:
A powerful and gripping portrait of the remarkable artistry and life of Oscar Brown Jr.
A playful and charismatic performer, Brown is also an acclaimed jazz lyricist who worked closely with Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone and collaborated with Max Roach and Bobby Timmons on some of the most memorable compositions of the hard bop era. Beyond his musical achievements, Brown also engaged in a parallel career as a lifelong political activist of tireless strength and unceasing moral stamina, and his entire life can be read as a parable of the civil rights and Black Power eras in the United States. His lyrics touching on every subject from human dignity and childhood wonder to marijuana and cockroaches, Brown emerges as a kind of Black Everyman.
Official film festival selection and screening list for OBJ
- Pan African Film Festival
- Maryland Film Festival- Baltimore – May 2005
- National Black Arts Festival-Atlanta -special screening – July 2005
- Black Harvest Film Festival (Gene Siskel Film Center) – “Chicago Black Excellent Award” - Aug. 2005
- Africa In The Picture—Amsterdam August 2005
- Sidewalk Moving Pictures-Birmingham- “Special Jury Award for Cultural Significance” - September 2005
- Mill Valley Film Festival-Mill Valley, CA – October 2005
- St. Louis International Film Festival-St Louis- “Best Documentary Feature Award” & (Audience Choice Best Documentary) –November 2005
- Starz-Denver International Film Festival-(People’s Choice Award Best Documentary) – November 2005
- Asheville Film Festival-Asheville, NC October 2005
- Detroit Docs – Detroit – November 2005
- Portland Jazz Film Festival- 2006
- Harlem Film Festival (Curated)-3-4-2006
- SXSW South by Southwest- Austin-3-15-2006
- Kansas City Jubilee Film Festival-4/11/2006
- Palm Beach, FL. April 21st-2006 “Audience Choice Award”
- 7th Annual Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival “Best Documentary and Oscar Brown Jr Award”
- Nashville Film Festival –April 23 &25 “Honorable Mention Impact of Music Award”
- DCFEST Washington, DC 4-28, 29-2006 “Circle Audience Award” dead Center Film Festival June 9th and 10th 2006
- Boston International Film Festival June 12 and 14 2006
- Atlanta Film Festival June 13th, 2006
- ZIFF Festival of Dhow Countries Zanzibar, Tanzania July 14th -24 2006
- Miami Jazz Film Festival (opening night film) August 10th
- LA Landmark Theater Theatrical screening August 24-30 (the top-grossing film for that week)
- Calvary International Film Festival September 2006 Nominated for Best International Documentary—
- MOFFOM Festival the Prague Czech Republic October 18th, 2006 Plus special screenings in 2007
- Vermont International Film Festival October 12th, 2006
- Special screening in NYC at the Magic Johnson Theatre for Hip Hop Month (as the featured film) October 12th
- EarShot Film Festival Seattle, WA October 28 and 29
- FESPACO Burkina Faso, West Africa February 2007
- BAM Brooklyn Academy of Music March 2007Philadelia Clef Club of Music- 2007 Universities- University of Michigan, North
- Carolina State, Vanderbilt, Austin Peay, Swarthmore, Arcadia University of Colorado, Denver :
- Berklee College of Music, Claremont Colleges, and Texas Tech
- Pan African Film Festival 2005 20 Gems for 20 years