Yesterday was a HUGE day for me, A) because it was my birthday and my fiancee, among other wonderful gifts, gave me Al Williamson’s Flash Gordon: A Livelong Vision Of The Heroic, and B) WORLD OF HURT received a mention on CNN.com.  I spoke with CNN journalist, Lisa France, on Wednesday about the new movie, Black Dynamite and its potential to spark renewed interest in the Blaxploitation film movement.  [My conversation with her also underscored why I think journalists are so freakin' cool.  (Heck, I'm marrying one!)  The first thing Ms. France did was apologize for calling a few minutes past our appointed time, because she had to take a call from Hulk Hogan. Yes, the Immortal, Say-Your-Prayers-And-Eat-Your-Vitamins Hulk Hogan.  And she said it in the same matter-of-fact manner you reserve for asking a co-worker if they want a cup of coffee.]

Ms. France quoted me in her article, “‘Black Dynamite’ pays homage to blaxploitation films”, which included a hotlink to WORLD OF HURT.  As a result, I enjoyed the highest daily traffic this site has ever seen.  I’ve been really rooting for the success of Black Dynamite, and I was a little disappointed that the initial release of the film was not as widespread as I had hoped.  I’ve enjoyed riding on the double-knit polyester coattails of Black Dynamite’s $100 suits, and I definitely think it can, and already is, doing a lot to bring new fans to the movement.  Search out some of the interviews with Michael Jai White or director Scott Sanders and you can hear the passion in their voices for this film and the movement that became known as “Blaxploitation,” particularly when you hear them lament the absence of any Fred Williamsons, Jim Browns or Pam Griers in films today.

If you don’t have the luxury of living in some progressive, major urban center with a vibrant arts community (I ain’t namin’ no names, Columbia, South Carolina, but you know who you are), then do your part to bring Black Dynamite to your town and click on the fancy, color coordinated widget below:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

- JEP