YEAR OF THE RAT Trailer: Two Brothers, One Legacy!
Detroit hip-hop recording artist Noveliss makes his acting debut in Cyrus Alexander’s new martial arts drama.
james moten black
WELCOME TO THE STING: Watch Christopher Sheffield’s New Action Thriller Short Now Online
Everyone’s got their dealbreakers when it comes to gauging a director’s work. Either way though, the final product speaks for itself, in all instances, and for me, that’s usually the case for how fun it’s been to keep an eye on director Christopher Sheffield. A few years since he landed on my radar with contract killer thriller, Split Lip, the LA-based independent filmmaker has amassed a worthwhile stack of feature and short duration credits behind the lens, including his latest ten-minute boiler room actioner, Welcome To The Sting, which took center stage in our recent behind-the-scenes coverage of the project. Dev (James M. Black), a fresh-faced detective, takes his first undercover step into the deadly world of the ‘Price Crime Syndicate’, but he learns the hard way that even Harper (Billy R. Smith), a fellow undercover officer who’s been below the surface for too long, can’t keep him safe. It’s […]
AMERICAN RONIN: Who Is Casting That Ominous Shadow? [EXCLUSIVE]
In April, we first broke the news of a new proof-of-concept in the works for James Moten Black’s American Ronin, described as “a contemporary martial arts piece cosigning his love for classic jidaigeki cinema and anime”. Production ultimately had to take a back seat as the United States landed right into a lockdown with California, where Black and his production is based, under curfew for a time due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The state is currently staggering in its efforts to ween itself into a new “normal”, with various independent creatives working around the pandemic to meet safety guidelines in order to carry out their own projects. Such is the case for Black and his team as they forge ahead with production on American Ronin, with plans for a feature film that will hopefully rejoin him with select cast members of actor, filmmaker and cinematographer Choice Skinner’s multi-awarded 2017 Black […]
AMERICAN RONIN Revealed In New Stills For James M. Black’s Proof-Of-Concept
Actor, writer and filmmaker James M. Black is slowly rolling out some more images revealing his own forthcoming proof-of-concept, American Ronin. Below you’ll see a select set of stills, including a few of which I’m happily debuting on this platform as Black continues to grow his latest idea into hopeful fruition. All things relevant to plot and character details are under wraps but the project is best described as “a contemporary martial arts piece cosigning his love for classic jidaigeki cinema and anime”. The plan is still to use the proof of concept to gain investor confidence hopefully in the coming months as the industry waits out the current Covid-19 pandemic. Black is an accomplished martial artist since the age of eleven, trained in Tang Soo Do and Muay Thai before winning in competitions, and eventually picking up Iaido and Kenjutsu under acting coach, actor, martial artist and filmmaker and […]
AMERICAN RONIN: Newcomer James Moten Black Developing Original Urban Samurai Action Drama [EXCLUSIVE]
Actor and indepedent creator, newcomer James Moten Black is working to develop American Ronin, an original project that will firstly shoot a conceptual proof trailer to help gain attention from potential investors. Plot details and specifics about the film are pending, though it’s described as a contemporary martial arts piece cosigning his love for classic jidaigeki cinema and anime. Black is an accomplished martial artist since the age of eleven; He trained in Tang Soo Do under now-Grandmaster Linda Denley (Armor Of God), studied Muay Thai and scored a win in the competitive arena in sparring and forms. He moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue acting, joining the Breakin’ Through Acting Workshop headed by actor and founding instructor Choice Skinner, and eventually picked up on Iaido and Kenjutsu under Skinner’s tutelage, next to learning visual effects compositing. The two have since flourished in their creative partnership, most prolifically […]
CALM IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: Actor And Filmmaker Choice Skinner On Life And Living, Fandom And Film
Making a film of any kind takes some seriously hard work, especially one that pushes boundaries. I’ve never been in an editing booth, although I can imagine the tediousness that comes with putting together a project that can be physically and mentally demanding on its face. Throw in the bread and butter of special visual effects and although your time is your own, you’re ultimately on a whole other battlefield. It’s an emotion that’s understandable for want of being a creative and to be able to share it with audiences. After all you’ve been through in life until now and investing a heavy portion of your time and energy on a project like Black Lightning: Tobias’s Revenge, actor and filmmaker Choice Skinner is more than qualified on the matter after winning Best Fan Film at the Urban Action Showcase and Expo last November. “The team and I were honored to […]
Inspired DC Fan Film, BLACK LIGHTING: TOBIAS’S REVENGE: Part Two Goes Live On Tuesday
Next year will soon see the premiere of the CW’s latest superhero serial adaptation, Black Lighting. That hasn’t hindered actor and award-winning filmmaker Choice Skinner from installing his own seal of approval on the popular DC Comics character and as it stands, lending a spotlight to two major superhero IPs in the same universe. For this, Skinner’s own independently-produced and non-profit fan film project, Black Lightining: Tobias’s Revenge, is finally set to air its finale on Tuesday at 9:00am PST/12:00pm Eastern. The news comes following the release of the first part back in April from Darkan Entertainment, LLC., and self-funded with sponsorship by Action VFX, with Skinner directing as well as starring and sharing writing duties with actor James Moten Black. Ex-Mayor and crime Lord Tobias Whale has returned to Suicide Slums to exact revenge against local famed superhero Black Lightning. Tobias gathers gang members from the local gang 100 […]