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You are viewing 2 posts for February 2012 in the category Behind the Screen with Maori

Behind The Screen With Maori: More Than A Month

  • Posted By: (Maori)
  • February 14, 2012
    • More Than A Month - Shukree Hassan Tilghman
      • More Than A Month - Shukree Hassan Tilghman
      • Photo Credit: Courtesy of ITVS
    • More Than A Month - Shukree Hassan Tilghman
      • More Than A Month - Shukree Hassan Tilghman
      • Photo Credit: Courtesy of ITVS
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During the first week of February, FAAN Mail—a media literacy and activism project formed in Philadelphia—launched the Twitter hashtag #WishiLearnedinHS to call attention to the ethnic studies ban in Arizona. It was quite appropriate to launch the campaign in February, also known as Black History Month.


“Black history is American history,” says 29-year-old filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman in his provocative new film, More Than A Month, which opens the dialogue about the idea of ethnic heritage observations. His documentary is an engaging chronicle of his cross-country journey to end the observance of the 87-year-old tradition.


The bold film investigates race and equality in a so-called post-racial America and asks the question, ‘Should Black History Month end?’ But, also explores why the history of African-Americans is observed as somehow separate from the history of the country. (i.e., how do you talk about President Washington’s Philadelphia home without talking about the slaves who worked for him?)


Tilghman starts his one-year odyssey in Washington, DC and travels to Lexington, VA, Philadelphia, PA, Cambridge, MA, Chicago, IL and four other cities. Along the way, he participates in a psychological study, interviews advertisers who market to African-Americans, and researched Black History Month’s founding father, Dr. Carter G. Woodson.


At its core, More Than A Month is ultimately about what it means to fight for one’s rightful place in the landscape of Americana, no matter how one’s family arrived on these shores.


The film will premiere on February 16 on WHYY. Watch the trailer here.


And, don’t miss the Philadelphia screening of More Than a Month with Shukree Hassan Tilghman:

February 21, 2012

6:30 p.m.

Community College of Philadelphia

1700 Spring Garden Avenue


To RSVP, click here.


Insider Tip: Download More Than A Mapp, a smartphone app based on the film that uses GPS to point users in the direction of the nearest African-American history locale. You can even add your own historical points to the map!

Behind The Screen With Maori: Exit Strategy

  • Posted By: (Maori)
  • February 9, 2012
    • Quincy QDeezy Harris
      • Quincy QDeezy Harris
    • Kevin Hart and Jameel Saleem
      • Kevin Hart and Jameel Saleem
    • Jameel Saleem
      • Jameel Saleem
    • Kimelia Weathers and Jameel Saleem
      • Kimelia Weathers and Jameel Saleem
    • Exit Strategy
      • Exit Strategy
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For Valentine’s Day, I’m hoping you’ll join me in supporting an independent film made by local filmmakers. Exit Strategy is a romantic screwball comedy in the tradition of Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller, is a perfect date film.

Exit Strategy is a comedy about a relationship gone terribly wrong. James (Jameel Saleem, who wrote the script) gets evicted from his apartment and moves in with his girlfriend of three months Kim (Kimelia Weathers) and quickly discovers she's everything he never wanted in a woman. He enlists his best friend Carville (Quincy “QDeezy” Harris) and strangers, including Kevin Hart in a memorable cameo, to help him devise a way to get out of his relationship. However Kim is budging—breaking up just isn’t an option.

Philadelphia natives QDeezy (on-air personality at 107.9) and Saleem teamed up with executive producer Big Boy and first-time director Michael Whitton to produce the film on a shoestring budget of $100,000.

Insider Tip: Win a free pair of tickets to the opening and the exclusive after party on Twitter @philly360!


I sat down with QDeezy for an exclusive interview last week to discuss filmmaking in Philadelphia.


QDeezy Q&A

Maori: How did you get involved with the project?

QDeezy: Jameel and I had mutual friends and met five years ago. I’d already seen some of his Exit Strategy webisodes online and then ran into him in LA on a video set. We continued doing web skits and then I funded his first film, Let Go. Later on, he gave me the screenplay for Exit Strategy and I believed in it from the first day. I thought it was amazing and I said, “Dude, we have to make this film.”


Maori: How did you get the project started?

QDeezy: I was talking to my boss at the time, Big Boy, about making some projects outside of radio. I told him I had a script that I wanted to make a movie. I gave him the starting budget and he cut me a check. It was really that simple. I really appreciate him believing in my ability to make it happen.


Maori: Why this kind of movie—is it a new genre? What was your vision?

QDeezy: My vision was to make an urban movie that appealed to the mainstream. I feel like it is a new genre, we are broadening the depiction of blacks in films.


Maori: What was it like making Exit Strategy?

QDeezy: It was a fun adventure. This being my first film, I learned so much in a short period of time.


Maori: Do you have a story from set you remember that may be funny or interesting?

QDeezy: The day we had Kevin Hart on set was pretty memorable. We didn't have much time to shoot because Kevin was only in town for the day. He called my phone and said, “I have 20 minutes before I pick my kids up from school, let's do it!” On set it became Operation Kevin Hart, we rushed to get the shot set up. Two minutes later Kevin Hart walks in, he did his scene in 2 takes. He has been very supportive of Exit Strategy from day one. I really appreciate his friendship


Maori: Why is the premiere of the movie happening in Philadelphia?

QDeezy: This is home for me, and my radio station Hot 107.9 and Radio One are behind the movie 100 percent.


Maori: What project(s) do you have coming up next?

QDeezy: We are working on shooting another urban comedy about a married guy based in Philadelphia later this year. I’m working closely with the film office (Greater Philadelphia Film Office) and everything will be publicized later.


Exit Strategy opens February 10 in an exclusive engagement at:

AMC Franklin Mills

1149 Franklin Mills Circle

Philadelphia, PA 19154


AMC Loews Cherry Hill

2121 Route 38

Cherry Hill, NJ 08002