Brehs, we present to you a new episode of the CYPHER AVENUE PODCAST where you’ll hear us give updates, engage in heated topic debates, interviewing interesting homosexual men of color and us verbally adding on to the articles posted on the website.
The episodes will be available in four ways: You can listen to them on the site, watch on YouTube, download a MP3 version or subscribe to us on iTunes for automatic updates!
In this podcast, Cypher Avenue founder Nick Delmacy joins Black & Sexy TV screenwriter and Los Angeles resident James Peoples to discuss the sad state of Black Gay Film, the lack of quality projects and what most filmmakers are doing wrong. As a bonus, Nick and James brainstorm a new web series idea on the spot to prove that creative ideas featuring Black Gay Characters are possible!
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Fame is an industry now.Most entertainment products are there now as an excuse to market the person.The gaylebrity thing is an extension of that.The internet has made it easy for people to get their stuff out,but there’s no filter for the crap.
Maybe another reason the stories are about being “fabulous” is because the black gay writers are trying to fulfill their,and what they think are our fantasies.Like they want to be part of a cool clique,so their main cast is the cool clique,they wanna party and live it,so their characters are always going to the coolest bar.they wanna date the hunk or model,so the hunks and models are their love interest,and so forth and so forth.
I agree with you. While I don’t think there is anything wrong with trying to live out your fantasies through film, tv and the web, I do think the quality needs to be there or at the very least the potential.
Fame is the new black. Everybody wants to be and yet everyone can’t be. On one hand I understand people trying to hop on the bandwagon thinking they’re going to get PAID, but please leave the arts to people that have the passion and talent.
I can’t even blame people like Kim Kardashian for existing sometimes.Sure,she does nothing,but people are always keeping her relevant,so why wouldn’t she exploit that for money? As long as we think anyone with access to a camera or recording studio is important, they won’t go away.
@thatguy & @madb86 – i can agree. the same can be said about the urban music industry. Mixtapes are dropping every day with people making music right in their kitchen and their bedroom or their dorm room. I was working with a producer a few years back in college as an amateur songwriter with hopes of making songs rooted in R&B with an amalgam of Hip-Hop, EDM & Pop thrown in there.
If you go to Dat Piff (mixtape website), you will see so many mixtapes on there. There are also several other websites that post music everyday like HipHopDX, RapRadar and Rock Diz Music. If you come back daily, the amount of music singles and mixtapes posted will blow your mind. It is all so much to keep up with. I remember in a VladTV interview with former G-Unit rapper, The Game, where he spoke on the industry. It is madd saturated with content. Everyone is like “please hear me!!! here i am!!!” It is all so much. The internet has definitely made getting content out there very accessible.
Who wouldn’t want to have money, bitches, cars, clothes, etc? It is sold to people all over the world as a very appealing lifestyle.
The internet (YouTube mainly), has created this public access style accessibility to getting content out there like never before. Technology has has advanced so that you can do everything that you need to do to make content on a $100 cell phone. That was unheard of just 10 years ago.
However, with so much content being produced, all of it is not going to stand out. Everyone thinks that they can make fame happen to them and it’s not. Look at Aunite Fee. I LOVE THAT WOMAN because I know people just like her. BUT she didn’t set out to get the fame that she does have. It’s because she’s genuine.
Now, for the guys who are making web series, I’m glad that they have the desire, but everybody isn’t qualified to do it well. Or if they are not, maybe they should take some classes, read books, attend seminars and have some people critically look at their content without getting all upset about the criticism.
I’m no writer but I sometimes feel like, as was stated on the podcast, that I’d have to write what I’d actually want to read myself.
These guys really need to think of other stories to tell than the 4 single friends who fall into the slut, shy, uptight, and lead characters.
What about the guy from the small town who moves to the big city and whose naivety ends up being their downfall?
What about the popular good looking guy who seems to have it all but is troubled internally because they think people only like him because of his looks and money?
What about the “gay” man who is struggling with if he really is gay or not and who many only be attracted to men because his first sexual experience was with someone who molested him but he felt guilty because he liked it but is conflicted because he does find women attractive but men are ‘easier’ to have sex with?
What about the gay man who got married in the spur of the moment but now is going through the aftermath and legal woes of his divorce?
What about the gay guy paying off his student loans? Where’s that series?
The last one you said about marriage would be cool to.I’d like to see that.He should be bi-sexual,and his wife should know it and accept it.that way we avoid “i think im attracted to men and can’t handle it.let’s drag this out for drama and conflict forever”
Sallie Mae is a straight up stalker though. Yes!
But I was meaning he got married to a mane though. But that would work too.
Yeah feel where you are coming from but it’s like what they said in the podcast, they write and produce what they know. And sometimes what you know may not be good enough as we can see by these bad web series.
I feel that when writing anything it’s important always do research and venture out and search for new material. Free Fall has kind of done that but they haven’t executed it properly because of their acting. I kind of like where their story is going be not how they are performing it.
Plus I don’t feel that most of these web series are taking their time when it comes too the writing, editing, producing and directing. I don’t care if it takes years, if my show or movie has an opportunity to look more professional but it’s taking up a lot of time to be at a professional state, I would sit there very patiently until I achieve what I want. Hell the Gossfields did it, and that’s why the DL Chronicles look so good
Thanks for this because it made me realize something else:
Life experience.
These are all younger people, at least from what I gather, who all don’t look like they have hit 28 years old yet. So, they could not possibly know what would really relate to me as far as where I am in life. And I also feel that the people who would, are too busy in their careers to dabble into the arts like that.
I do wonder the shows have to be romantic and drama focused? Can we get some comedy? I also wouldn’t be opposed to a troupe/company style of show like AHS where they use the same cast but tell smaller stories per episode. Probably expanding the ones that take off that way, they can throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks.
Yeah, I feel we need a masculine gay comedy, or some gays put in an already funny comedy. It would be so different for a change. Not every gay story has to be dramatic. There can be a be a funny gay coming out story, or having there first gay crush that can either be on a gay guy or straight guy. Something instead of a serious story all the time.
Gay Divorce??That’d be new.It could show that a relationship,and not even a marriage is a guaranteed ticket to perfect happiness.I wouldn’t even want him to find a new love interest by the end.The movie could be about being happy being when you’re single.
Yeah, you can have a full life with no relationship. People need to learn to be themselves before they get inolved with someone else. That’s another subject of itself.
But yeah, I mean, marriage isn’t going to suddenly make your relationship better if it already has problems or unresolved issues. Just like a baby won’t keep a straight man with a woman. But those are things that I can see happening in the infancy of gay marriage. There’s already people who are getting and have had divorces. A case in Mississippi where the ladies got married in Massachusetts or New Jersey but the state won’t grant them a divorce because they are ‘not married’ anyway for example.
Hey @Nick and @Hannibal. Good job on the podcast. I had no idea you worked on Blackandsexytv. I like Roomieloverfriends and Yellow on that channel. I definitely agree that there is a lack of originiality in black gay web series. I would probably fall out if I found a great horror or sci-fi gay themed series. Majority of them are about a group of friends doing gay shit. The way I see it I can talk to a friend or two and get that same drama. Granted there are a few that do a good job, however most do fall prey to The Island of Misfit Videos. I also really liked the brainstorming you guys did. It’s a fun exercise to get the creativity flowing.
Yeah I would love to see a gay sci-fi or more gay characters in one, but it’s not going to happen no time soon. The main reason would be that it would be too costly.
I think we should keep adding to the story too.Maybe the guy’s new home was attached to something the previous owner had to keep secret,or wash his hands of,and so it was sold to the protagonist to somehow set him up as a fall guy.That’s why people think he has something to do with the previous resident.With him being from out of town with no support system,he was seen as an easy target.
Great Podcaaaaassssssttttt!!!!! Enjoyed every minute of it. @Hannibal I did not know you were a writer. That is so dope. I’m actually in school for film right now planning to become a director, writer, producer and maybe actor. @Nick whatchu mean the older dudes need to be put these younger dudes in they place? lol whatchu tryna say? And I’m just curious, did anyone else googled Nick’s height and weight lol?
Nah I just pictured Grace Jones and kept it at that.
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dope ass podcast!!!! i love the points you guys brought up. i think that it is great the example you and James came up with. so different from what’s out there. All I do like pretty much are Noah’s Arc and No Shade… and DL Chronicles of course. I love the Gossfields and their work. They stay fresh. Noah’s Arc and No Shade are funny even though I can’t relate to it really. But yeah too many gay black filmmakers out there are saturating the market with trash.
I remember supporting Freefall with my own money because I was in a different place in my life where I was getting more comfortable with my sexuality and all but honestly the storyline is super convoluted and I have no idea what Lamont is doing. Everyone commenting about how good it is but it sucks. Lol sorry for looking like a hater but I hope things improve.
I’ve given my money to Sean Anthony (No Shade), The Gossfields (DL Chronicles) and last but not least Cypher Avenue!!!!
Great Podcast, as always (I’m actually still listening as I write this LOL) I love @Nick and @Hannibal stance on black (gay) film making, and the setbacks, issues, etc. Me personally, I would LOVE…to see a black produced film, whether a feature film, or web series, that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the gay life, hookups, The Church, Sports, Hip Hop, Shade, Clubs, and “Fabulosity”.
I saw this mini web movie produced in Africa about (I may have mentioned this before) the world was no longer fertile because of wars and other environmental things. The people have to run on treadmills and other workout machines I think to generate power and also generate sweat which machines convert to drinkable water. End point, the main character was a scientist that was able to find fertile soil and produce a seedling, then the government found out and was after her. blah blah blah, Im a horrible storyteller, but it was so kool. High quality production, very good acting, etc. I want to say the producers were African, but I don’t wanna relay false info, will have to research, but Im pretty sure they are. Point being, there’s other shit we can create other than Frat/ Step movies, Church Movies, and Marriage Issue movies. I personally wish I had the funds and know-how because I would LOVE to film/produce a CORRECT version of “Queen of The Damned”, or any of the Vampire Chronicles for that matter. White people create black subject matter all the time, and many times well, why can’t we delve into their shit. I’m a HUGE fan of Anne Rice’s (Vampire Chronicles) work and with my artistic background know I could do some awesome shit with it, LOL But…alas…I’m not a film producer and I have no money. LOL!!!
Great listen @Nick & @Hannibal. Throughly enjoyed the conversation. Tho I will say I took offense to the whole thing about black filmmakers trying to recapture Love Jones. I think Love Jones set the bar high and I think they need to shoot to that bar to make movies of similar quality. There isn’t anything necessarily wrong with a romantic story told time and time again if it’s good.
Same thing with the black gay films. I don’t necessarily have a problem with a coming out story or a finding love story. We get those from straight folks (white or black) all the time. However, the problem for me is all gay black men don’t indulge in what is identified as “gay culture”. Like it’s been stated on this site, the scenes don’t all have to involve “shade”, “reading”, the gay club or ballroom culture as that doesn’t apply to all black gay men. Nor is that all we’re about. It’s incredibly limiting and puts us into these boxes that I just don’t think represents us.
I hang out at lounges. My friends & I meet at happy hour at the local happening bar. All of my friends aren’t flamboyant gay men or women. There are just a lot of stories that can be told that are being completely skimmed over because we’re so concerned with force feeding audiences the same tired bullshit. Think outside that limited box. It’s really not hard to do, being that the box in question is amazingly shallow to begin with.
Thanks guys. I was really nervous doing this but it was fun. Nick wasn’t that mean.
It was really a fascinating listen…you did great 😀
This is a really good podcast. The thoughts, insight and opinions presented by both @hannibal and @nick are so on point; GREAT JOB! But this is the thing; this is a progressive honest conversation and critique of OUR media. Unfortunately it will fall on death ears to most black gay content creators and their yes men because their scope of creativity and imagination is too limited or weak.
Most gays want to be gay famous, a gay singer, rapper, model or a part of a gay power couple because they live in a narcissistic, superficial materialistic bubble seeking the cusps of Bravo/VH1/Logo stardom. Therefore the media that is put out by them is gonna reflect this. There is nothing “fabulous” about the hypothetical web series / story that the two came up with in the podcast and there isn’t a stylish bad bitch drama diva. This would equate to being boring to most queers…so the same piece of the pie gets told over and over again.
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Amen!!
Just listened to this podcast. Very good!
Just listened to this podcast. Very good!
I echo the sentiment of this being an awesome podcast. Hannibal, your knowledge, candor, and intellect as it relates to these films (short, feature, and web series) is refreshing. I have seen many of these short films and web series’ and the two things that bother me in these are the production quality and the acting. If before we put products out we could do all we can to assure the quality, I think they would be received better.
It was a waste of time listening to the pocasts. It wasn’t about specifics, just general view about why black gay productions aren’t good. (I want to know specifically what you don’t like about each production) Maybe the time you use to criticize other people’s work, you could be producing something that would please your audience.