You guys may not know this, but Blaxploitation will be making a return to the theaters next month when Sony Pictures releases the new movie, Black Dynamite, starring Michael Jai White, on October 16, 2009. Black Dynamite is a satirical take on the Blaxploitation action hero, and the film’s official site describes the plot of the movie as follows:
When ‘The Man’ murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House.
Now you all know how I generally feel about Blaxploitation parodies. WORLD OF HURT largely exists as a response to films like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and Undercover Brother, whose biggest laughs (if that word can be used for Undercover Brother) seemed built around jokes about giant Afros and platform shoes. However, despite the humorous direction, Black Dynamite seems to take, from everything I’ve seen and heard, the film’s creators have a deep respect for the genre, so I’ll reserve my final judgment until I’ve had the chance to see the movie myself.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a vested interest in Black Dynamite’s success. The bigger their audience, the more people will be out there looking for information, or content, concerning Blaxploitation, and as “The Internet’s #1 Blaxploitation Webcomic,” I’d like to think that I’m in a position to provide them with that. I admire the fact that Black Dynamite is bringing an excitement and awareness to Blaxploitation that I’ve never seen before. These cats have obviously done their homework on this long-overlooked, and underrated, film movement. All the details of the movie, from the costumes, the music, the trailers, and even the film stock, look right and feel right.
The film’s creators have also done a fantastic job in marketing and promoting Black Dynamite. Their grind has been nothing less than impeccable. They built strong word-of-mouth by becoming regular fixtures at various film festivals this year, where Black Dynamite earned “Official Selection” status at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival. The movie’s director, Scott Sanders, has developed a strong presence on Facebook, and Black Dynamite himself has built solid followings on Facebook and Twitter by posting status updates and tweets in character: (Typical tweet: “Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez? Black Dynamite does not want to tweet about preteen cartoon shit.” or “Gotta remember to pack my travel nunchucks for Comic-Con this weekend.”) Additionally, a viral ad campaign and website has been introduced around Black Dynamite’s mission of fighting drug dealers who try to push dope on children, appropriately titled: Fight Smack In The Orphanage (FSITO). I mentioned this briefly in last week’s blog entry about The Top Ten Blaxploitation Villains.
Recently, I received a media kit from the Black Dynamite staff that included a DVD featuring all three (3) FSITO public servics announcements, “FIGHT SMACK” stickers, a syringe-shaped pen (clever), and a black “FIGHT SMACK IN THE ORPHANAGE” t-shirt. The t-shirt is a size “Large,” with a suggested retail price of $30. You can see what it looks like here. (It’s the black one that Michael Jai White is rockin’ on the left.)
Now, where other cats would be content to send out endless tweets or Facebook status updates about Black Dynamite, like broken homing beacons, if I’m gonna hustle for something, then I’ve gotta keep my hustle RIGHTEOUS, ya hear? Therefore, I’m offering my readers a chance to win the “Fight Smack In The Orphanage” t-shirt with the first ever WORLDOFHURTONLINE.COM HARD-ASS TRIVIA CONTEST!*
All you have to do to win is answer the following questions and e-mail your responses to me at worldofhurtonline@yahoo.com by Monday, September 28, 2009, under the subject heading “Hard-Ass Trivia.” I will draw the winner from the first five (5) correct entries I receive by that date. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009. Here are your questions:
1. In 1994, this Black Dynamite cast member played one of the leads in an Academy Award-winning film. The name of the character he played was later used to launch a successful restaurant chain. Name the actor and the restaurant.
2. Which of the cast members of Black Dynamite had a recurring role as “God,” and on which television show?
3. Which Black Dynamite cast member has portrayed two (2) separate DC Comics characters? Name the actor and the two characters.
4. Which Black Dynamite cast member starred opposite Blaxploitation legends Pam Grier, Robert Hooks, Isaac Hayes, Melvin Van Peebles, and Spartacus‘ Woody Strode, all in the same film? Name the actor and the movie.
BlackDynamiteMovie.com has a convenient “Cast” page with the names and photographs of each actor, and the characters they play. (Look under the “About” tab.) After that, you’re on your own, my friends.
Good luck!
- JEP
* (DISCLAIMER: Neither this contest, nor WORLDOFHURTONLINE.COM are affiliated with, or officially endorsed by, the makers of Black Dynamite, Black Dynamite, LLC, BlackDynamiteMovie.com, Sony Pictures, Apparition, Ars Nova, or Destination Films. All responsibility for selection of the winner and distribution of prizes rests solely with Jay Potts and WORLDOFHURTONLINE.COM. It’s just my way of giving away free swag.)
