Wednesday, Ocotber 31, 2007
7:00pm - 9:00 pm
Nuyorican Poets Cafe
236 East 3rd Street

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New York University
Gallatin Writers in Progress
November 8, 2007
5:30 - 7:30 pm

Featuring
Bob Seidman
and
Ella Turenne

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Reel Sisters Film Festival
NY Premiere of woodshed
September 30, 2007
12:30 pm
Long Island University Performing Arts Center
Brooklyn, NY
(PS - That's Jessica Nyel Willis on the homepage!!)

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International Haitian Film Festival of Montreal
woodshed's international premiere!
Nominated for best short film.

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Roxbury Film Festival
August 1-5, 2007
Boston, MA

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Hollywood Black Film Festival for the world premiere of woodshed! June 9, 2007.

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Celebrate National Poetry Month with Cave Canem
April 18, 2007
Cave Canem New York Workshop Poets
at McNally Robinson Booksellers
52 Prince Street
New York, New York 10012
7pm, FREE
Reading by Monica A. Hand, Edward Toney and Ella Turenne, three Cave Canem workshop participants.

http://jstheater.blogspot.com/2007/06/ramblings-ella-turennes-woodshed.html

Ramblings + Ella Turenne's Woodshed + Toussaint + Elections Have Consequences

Blogging, slogging. Summer's bearish days haven't arrived yet, and every sentence already requires a battery charge. Well, every sentence I type on this blog. The quarter ends this week, and then I and the rest of the faculty will be bidding a number of undergraduates and graduate students farewell and best wishes on their futures. I'll save my congratulations for next week, but as with every year, I will be sad to see so many of the students depart, though I am always excited about the various paths they take or find themselves on once they leave the academic groves.

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From former students to former colleagues: one of my friends and former colleagues, the multitalented Ella Turenne, will be premiering her first film, Woodshed, at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. She was discussing making films back when we worked side by side about seven years ago, and has been working on this film with several of her close friends for five years. (I still walk around in the Soulfinite T-shirts she created back then.) Now it's done and will finally hit the big screen. Ella is one of those people who makes things happen; when I met her she was painting, writing and performing her poetry with the Blackout Collective, thinking about acting, and contemplating graduate school. She has since completed one grad degree, appeared in a play in NYC, and published a commemorative anthology in 2004 to mark the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence (she's Haitian-American). Somehow, amidst all of these activities, she managed to complete her film, and when she's not teaching, she runs a program at a New York-area university. As one of my good friends always says, "amazing!" Congratulations, Ella, and I hope to catch the film as it makes its way around the country. If you are in Los Angeles this weekend, however, you'll be able to catch its debut.

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Ella and I discussed the recent news that Danny Glover had received $18 million from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to make a film about Toussaint L'Ouverture. The news of Chávez's support impressed me, because a L'Ouverture film--and feature films in general about the Haitian Revolution--is long overdue, and independent Haiti provided Simon Bolívar, Chávez's avatar, with some of the resources he needed to liberate Gran Colombia. I told Ella that I'd checked out the film's IMDb.com page, and was surprised to see there did not appear to be many Haitians or Haitian-Americans involved with the film. Neither of the film's writers appear to be Haitian or Haitian-American, and none of the high-profile (and highly talented) Hollywood actors, like Don Cheadle, Angela Bassett, Mos Def, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who are "rumored" to be in the film, are either. I also heard that it will not be filmed in Haiti or the neighboring Dominican Republic, but in Venezuela. I understand the problems of filming in Haiti (or DR, for that matter, where many, many Haitians live), but just think of the jobs (even temporary) that such a production would provide. But then again, who knows how things might turn out. There are many notable scholars of the Haitian Revolution (including several colleagues of mine), as well as Haitian and Haitian-American actors, writers, musicians, and so forth, so I hope some (many) of them will be part of this film as it develops.

i've been working on this film for about 5 or 6 years.  i can't believe it's actiually done.  this is such an amazing testiment to the work that so many people put in to make this work.  jason, tureka, karamuu, jessica, pat, sanley, obed, ali, rachel and patricia, althea.  you all are angels.

why did we decide to do woodshed?  jason and i were auditioning and were frustrated about the roles that were available for actors of color.  we thought to ourselves, we HAVE TO do our own thing.  in comes tureka with this amazing script.  something told me i just had to do it.  its been a very bumpy ride, but all worth it.  stay tuned for more!

Nominees, Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry:

“Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer” – Maya Angelou (Random House Publishing Group)

“Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees” – DuEwa M. Frazier, Editor (Lit Noire Publishing)

“Hoops” – Major Jackson (W.W. Norton)

“Jazz” – Walter Dean Myers (Holiday House)

“We Speak Your Names” – Pearl Cleage (Random House Publishing Group)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830194/

Macc Plaise (JC)
Chantal Tuffet (Adrienne)
Fatima (Kathy)
Ella Turenne (Tanya)
Valence Thomas (Mike)
Maureen Aladin (Martine)
Stephane Alexandre (Marcus)
Sandra Metelus (Mirlande)
Kim Eltridge (Kathy's lover)
Zetwal (Student-Dancers)

Frantz Louis as the Stuntman
Background
Guy Dorvilus, Obed Jean-Louis, Fedora Pierre-Daniel,
Romie Henry, Patricia Okoumou, Leslie Holder

8/31/06 Book Release Party for Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees

by Midwest Girl on Tue 12 Sep 2006 01:44 AM EDT

I am so late with this write-up. You must forgive me, in addition to being a poet/publisher/events promoter, I am also a full-time teacher who just started back to school! I've sent out my thank you emails and am PLENTY greatful that I had a GREAT release party for Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees on Thursday, August 31, 2006 at NYC's The Bowery Poetry Club!

Even though I promoted heavy: sending out press releases, emails on my Yahoo group, newsletter type emails, and mailed out postcards, I still wasn't sure what to expect in terms of turn-out for the event. Several of the anthologies contributors told me they would be there to perform and show support (some who live in other states). The week of, several of the poets cancelled due to various circumstances ,which I understood. So, I began to wonder what kind of show we would have. I knew I would perform, there were still a couple of poets who confirmed with me to show up...so I put it in God's hands that we'd have a nice event.

A week prior to the event, I put in an order at Cakeman Raven, the now famous Brooklyn , NY bakery, who creates beautiful, delictable (and expensive) for famous folk and regular folk (among Cakeman's clients are Bill Cosby and his wife Camille) is best known for red velvet cake . You know your girl, always doing something different, I order a pineapple-coconut cake with cream cheese icing for my supporters.

The day of the event, I had to work, so I knew I would have to hustle home to change, get a cab to take me to pick up the cake, and then take the cab to the Bowery so I could set up. A box of books, the cake, my personals, event fixings such as a table cloth, book stands and email list in tow, I was a "one-woman-show" (as my friend Okera Ras called me that night) ready for my close up. I chose not to dress up. I went with the casual look: jeans, colorful espadrilles, hair in curls, hoop earrings, and custom made Lit Noire Publishing T-shirt (courtesy of www.cafepress.com/litnoire ).

When I showed up at the Bowery, no one was there yet. This was around 5:20pm. So I was relieved that I had a little time to set up my book table, get myself relaxed and wait for everyone to show up. I was very, very excited to say the least! The manager at the Bowery greeted me, gave me a stern look when he let me know in a subtle way, to be mindful that my event didn't run over time (they had another event following mine beginning at 8pm sharp). Because I never like to overstay my welcome, anywhere, I really wanted to have a fun event in the hour and forty-five mintues I was alotted and leave plenty of time for mingling with my guests.

Shortly after I arrived, my friend DJ Fauzi showed up with all of his equipment. I was so glad to have some music there. Fauzi is unique, he can play anything but he specializes in Afro-beat or rather a fusion of old soul and afro beat. I asked him to play a nice mix including old school hip hop to set the tone for the event, in between artist performances.

Within twenty minutes of my arrival, more guests showed up. The poets who came out to perform were: Ellen Hagan (NYC), Deborah "Collage: Grison (NJ), Letitia D. Ford (Atlanta, GA) and Ella Turenne (NYC). Doesn't sound like alot, but I must tell you ---- they rocked the house! Each poet had their own style.

Ellen Hagan is very petite, but a force to be reckoned with , she's a former HBO Def Poet who's delivery is powerful. Ellen is also an actress. Visit her website at www.ellenhagan.com .

Ella Turenne reminded me of pure jazz, she just flowed with her rhymes.

Ella is a member of the Blackout Arts Collective. Visit her website at www.blackwomyn.com .

Deborah Grison is hip hop, but smooth. She is from New Jersey and holds an MFA degree in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College.

And Letitia D. Ford, who traveled all the way from GA to kick it with us, was great, surprising us by stating that "this is my first time reading."

I was blown away by her willingness to get up there, and perform her work by memory - this being her first time. Deborah brought several of her friends to the event. Ellen brought her husband. Several guests found out about the event through newspapers or the Bowery's website.

Some friends/fellow artists such as Ngozi Vodita of Harriet's Alter Ego www.myspace.com/harietsalterego and J.D. Guilford www.jdguilford.com showed up to support. I was really a great event.

After the performances we talked, signed books and took photos.

Everyone was so complimentary of the anthology's cover art and of the poetry performances. I served cake for the guests and shared hugs. It was really one of my better events! Thank you to the poets who came out, DJ Fauzi , my friends and OF COURSE to Bob Holman owner of The Bowery Poetry Club.

Since the event, I have gotten emails from folk asking me the next event is scheduled. I am receiving orders for the book from bookstores in other states, so everything is going well. I am pacing myself, so that I can really enjoy everything that is happening right now.

All the best,

Dgirl

Interview with uber artist Ella Turenne

Industries: Theatre, film, modeling, writing, music, spoken word

When did you decide to pursue your passion seriously?
While I was living in Boston pursuing a master’s in social work. I kept going to plays and exhibits, wishing it was me instead of the other artists. That’s when I knew I couldn’t escape art. It’s been a part of me ever since I was born.

What are you doing now to advance your career?
Right now, I’ve formed an artist collective and we are writing our own roles. I am also still auditioning and taking classes to hone in on my craft.

Why is image important in entertainment?
Well, I think when I started out I wasn’t really thinking about image, I was more in tune with what my type was, especially doing theatre and film. That’s the number one thing. You have to remember that it’s a business, and businesses are all about selling a product. In the entertainment world, you are a product, and in order for you to be successful at selling YOU, you have to know what you are selling.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing their passion?
Network like hell and don’t give up if you want it bad. Eat it, live it…Make it as essential as breathing.

Visit Ella’s website at: www.blackwomyn.com

http://www.inblogs.net/jstheater/2006/07/come-back-to-me-fresh-fruit.html#noanchor

Come Back to Me @ Fresh Fruit