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Freestyle Releasing, a recognized leader in the distribution of lower-budgeted indie fare and faith based films, has been purchased by Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios (ES).

“We could not be more excited to have Byron Allen add Freestyle Releasing to his ever-growing media empire,” Freestyle co-founder Mark Borde said in a statement. “We’ve had numerous offers over the years, but now we’ve finally found the perfect buyer who shares our vision for distribution expansion on all platforms: theatrical motion pictures, broadcast syndication, cable television, VOD and digital content. Our future just got much brighter.”

Sammy Davis Jr.’s life story, based on Mark Birkbeck’s biography “Deconstructing Sammy”, is slated to begin filming in 2016.

Last year, Freestyle released God’s Not Dead to great success, grossing over $60.7M domestically. Another faith-based pic, Woodlawn, was just released last week and became one of only three the films to earn an A+ CinemaScore rating in the past two years. The inspirational high school football drama has grabbed $5M to date. Plans to distribute 15 to 20 films per year remain in effect, including a movie, television series and documentary on the life of legendary singer Sammy Davis Jr..

“Mark Borde and Susan Jackson have done a phenomenal job creating and building Freestyle, and we are 110 percent committed to enhancing their excellent legacy,” said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Entertainment Studios. “Freestyle has a great management team, and with their unique output deal with Netflix, the company is very valuable and well-positioned to grab greater theatrical box office market share, and we will maximize this opportunity.”

Entertainment Studios CEO Byron Allen (center) with his television court show judges Cristina Perez, Gloria Allred and Kevin Ross

Entertainment Studios produces, distributes and sells advertising for 38 television programs worldwide. With shows including America’s Court with Judge Ross, ES is one of the largest independent producers/distributors of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast television stations.

“This is an historic moment in the film industry,” said music icon Quincy Jones. “One of the best ways to address diversity in our industry is through finance and distribution, and Byron Allen has now taken that first major step, which is long overdue. I am very proud of Byron, and I hope he adopts me.”

Story from Deadline.com

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is hosting the 3rd Annual African American College Planning Conference on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita, California.

The purpose of this empowering conference is to provide high school students and their parents with much needed information about how to select, prepare, apply and pay for college.

I did not attend the historic event on October 16, 1995. What did I end up doing instead? Read on.

A Solitary Man’s March

Rather than atone in the spotlight a year ago today, one black professional chose to mentor his teen nephew

By Kevin Ross
LA Daily News | Wed Oct 16, 1996

Commemorating the one-year anniversary of the historic Million Man March has proved bittersweet.

I was among the black men who chose not to get on the bus to atone for mistreatment of my fellow brothers and black women. Rather than answer the call to come to terms with my failure to put God first and deal with the issues of family abandonment, I simply made other plans. By day’s end, while I found myself wishing I had gone, I was glad that I hadn’t.

Oct. 16, 1995, proved an interesting day. It started with my appearance on a local morning news show. Because I had written an article about why I wasn’t going to the march, several news and radio stations contacted me requesting an interview. I sensed they felt I was an acceptable candidate to dis the former NAACP President Benjamin Chavis and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. To their disappointment, I didn’t.

Instead, I reasserted my position that there are millions of black men, like me, who were not compelled to go because they do love their brothers, respect black women, support their families and worship God.

After exhausting the media circuit, I went to work, accompanied by my 17-year-old nephew, Travon, a relative by marriage in search of a father figure. Travon and I had not previously spent that much time together. He had communicated to me, however, that none of his peers were going to school that day. And not because they planned to do research about themselves as descendants of Africa or watch on television the activities stemming from the march. For many, the day simply provided an excuse not to learn.

I decided that if I wasn’t going to be in Washington, my nephew and I would be in solidarity here in Los Angeles.

Once we dispensed pleasantries with colleagues and staff, Travon and I went to court. There, a black boy was standing trial for plugging six bullets into a Latino man. Nicknamed Pee Wee, the kid was so small his legs couldn’t even reach the floor.

Everyone knew he was a terror, but all the villagers were afraid of him. Fascinated with throwing rocks and breaking neighbor’s windows, Pee Wee finally stumbled upon a worthy opponent. Exasperated over the child’s nonstop harassment, the victim picked up a brick and connected it with the side of the boy’s head. Dismayed, Pee Wee and his buddies vowed to even the score. Now here he was before a judge, sitting next to a public defender arguing why a 14-year-old murderer should not be tried as an adult.

By noon, Travon and I were both starving. In keeping with the theme of the day, we went to a black-owned restaurant. While waiting for our order, we talked about Pee Wee and whether his case was simply another example of “the white man” keeping black people down. Travon wasn’t buying it. He understood that Pee Wee made some bad choices and he would now have to pay the price. He also understood that he would be facing challenges in his own life, that in 1995, being a black man in this country still wasn’t easy.

I shared with him how police officers oftentimes would assume that I was the law clerk and the white person sitting next to me was the prosecutor. How only 20 years ago, few blacks were even allowed to have the position. I told him that with graduation only months away, it was now up to him to decide if he was really serious about college and accomplishing his goals.

As I listened to Travon, it became clearer to me that my reason for not attending the Million Man March was actually a difference in philosophy. Instead of descending on our nation’s capital to, as one person put it, “reconcile with our Creator and unite for the betterment of all African Americans”, I wanted more. I didn’t want to travel across country just to say, “I’m sorry”. I wanted black men to be raised up like little Kunta Kinte in “Roots”.

I wanted to experience the feeling I had when I graduated with over 200 brothers from Morehouse, the only predominantly black, all-male college in the country. I wanted to know that one million black men would be added to the voter registration rolls and Big Brother, that inner cities would have an explosion of black entrepreneurs creating jobs. I sought assurance that boys in Pee Wee’s predicament would, from this moment on, be a thing of the past.

As the day came to an end and I took Travon home, we listened to various radio stations do their spin on what effect, if any, this event would have on black men in America in years to come. Would these brothers march back to their communities and assume their rightful place? Or was all the hype simply manufactured to scare whites and legitimize Farrakhan’s undeniable appeal?

One year later, I can only speak for myself. As I look forward to seeing my nephew this weekend (now in his first year at a local community college and beating the pavement for a job) October 16 has a special place in my heart. You see that was the day I bonded with a young black man who needed me. And that, I would not trade for a million.

Kevin Ross is a writer, radio talk show host and prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 

————
Update – Twenty years later, Travon is now 37-years-old, works and resides in Louisiana, and has recently wed. He and his new bride are doing just fine. As for me, I now have two sons (17 and 14) that are the main focus of my mentoring activities.

After my 1995 Million Man March article was published, the response I received from the Los Angeles Times opinion piece was overwhelming.

There was no social media back then, just a lot of mail, phone calls to my job, and requests for interviews from local television news and talk radio outlets.

For some, I was articulating a perspective that needed to be heard. For others, particularly in the African American community, the message was shut the #%*@ up young buck and have a seat. That’s when I realized not only the power of the pen, but the responsibility that comes with it. Twenty years later , I can say without reservation that although many of my arguments have withstood the test of time, this historic gathering of men was indeed important, necessary, and beneficial.

Ah, the wisdom that comes with age!

Why I Won’t Be in Washington on Monday: Working, supporting families, volunteering–these will change things for black men. A mass rally won’t.

October 13, 1995 | KEVIN A. ROSS | LOS ANGELES TIMES

Frederick Douglas once said, “A man who will not labor to gain his rights is a man who would not, if he had them, prize and defend them.”

This is why I should be on a plane, train, bus, moped, skateboard or pogo stick to Washington, where Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is calling on 1 million black men to gather for a “holy day of atonement and reconciliation.” On Monday, brothers will be exhorted to reclaim their lives, atone for their mistreatment of one another and of black women, come to terms with their abandonment of family and accept their failure to put God first.

Historically, black men were too proud to be controlled by the dominant society. Lynched for even daring to dream, many simply gave up. And yet others took a stand and ultimately moved the world. It is these men, men whom I aspire to emulate, who have persuaded me that I, like millions of other African American men, have no reason to atone for anything. I attended a black college, hosted a black radio talk show and ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. Married to a black woman and working to curb gang and youth violence, I challenge this litmus test, the notion of taking a day off from my job simply to draw attention to the problems facing black men in this country.

And that’s not to disparage the march or the personalities involved. I rejoined the NAACP under Ben Chavis and have heard Farrakhan speak on several occasions. I found both men’s views compelling and vexing. But I cannot march just for the sake of marching. The assertion that this is a unique opportunity to “reconcile with our Creator and unite for the betterment of all African Americans” is nebulous and unpersuasive. “I know there’s no real agenda for the march, no platform and no clearly defined plan for the future,” one minister said, “but there is a need for black men to come and stand together in each other’s presence. Hopefully, something will come of it.”

Hopefully? Even those supporting the march seem unclear about the ultimate outcome. What happens Tuesday? What happens in 1996? The next century?

While some feel their manhood is based on making babies, destroying their own people with drugs and killing to gain a warped sense of respect, many black men who feel otherwise unfortunately are no longer willing to be their brothers’ keepers. With one in three of our boys having some connection with the legal system, few African Americans actually believe that descending on our nation’s capital will restore what centuries of racism, discrimination and inequality have created.

Thus the disenchantment of those not attending speaks more to the day-to-day accountability that goes unaddressed rather than to the march itself. Some argue that money being raised to bus men to Washington should go instead toward formula for the babies these men have created. Instead of heading east, a few need to march south (as in South-Central) and spend time with sons and daughters they’ve never met. Men don’t have to travel to Washington to respect black women. They just need to keep their hands off of them in Los Angeles.

When we start accepting responsibility, stop dealing crack and stop paying tribute to the “gangsta” mentality, that’s when we’ll see real atonement. Ralph Ellison said, “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”

 If this march, this sacred ceremony of declaration, can teach one black boy the true meaning of this and this alone, then I would concede that it was worth it. But for now, I’ll be at work on Monday. To Chavis and others, respectfully: I like what I’m doing more than what you’re not.

Kevin A. Ross is a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles

On Thursday March 5 from 4:30am-6:00am PST, Dominique DiPrima’s of “Front Page” on 102.3FM KJLH will devote her entire show to discussing the entertainment industry, diversity in Hollywood and minority ownership in media, television and film.

KJLH is owned by the legendary singer songwriter Steve Wonder.

Southern California radio veteran SCOTT GREENE passed away this week at 55. LARadio.com reports. There has been no word on the cause of death for the veteran of KMNY, KDAY, KJLH, KXEZ/KYSR, KGFJ, KFI, KRLA and KFWB.

Scott started his radio career at WDGC/Downers Grove, IL when he was 14 years old. He moved to the L.A. area and earned a B.A. in Radio/TV/Film from Cal State University Northridge in 1981. After graduation, Scott worked in the Antelope Valley and was the overnight news anchor at “Money Radio,” KMNY, along with Metro Traffic. His show at KFI — described as “libberservatism (somewhere between hard-line conservatives and hard-end liberals) — lasted until he left the station in early 1998.

I met Scott in 1998 just prior to leaving radio and embarking on my career as a judge. For a little stretch he was known as the competition. I was on KABC 790 AM, and Scott was on KFI. We were rivals back then, yet there was a mutual respect between us. I could never match his strong, crisp baritone voice, so I just tried to be more energetic and lively. That still didn’t help. He was simply too good. Rest In Peace Scott. Job well done my friend. Bravo!

– See more at All Access

         America’s Court TV Personality Joins Delta Sigma Theta Sorority               For A Day of Empowerment

Saturday, October 25 nearly 300 high school students and their parents attended the 2nd Annual African-American College Planning Conference at Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita, CA. The event was provided by the San Fernando Valley Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in partnership with the William S. Hart Union High School District and the College of the Canyons Upward Bound Program. The event’s keynote speaker was Judge Kevin Ross of the Daytime Emmy nominated series, America’s Court with Judge Ross which is now in it’s fifth season.

Judge Ross, an alumnus of Morehouse College and Southwestern School of Law discussed the impact of attending an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) had on his career. “The beauty of being in that environment is that you’re surrounded by other people that look like you. From the campus king and queen, to the student government, the experience affirms who you are. If you’re around other people who are trying to be as great as you are it’s infectious, it’s positive peer pressure. Initially, when I doubted that I could be a lawyer, seeing all of my Morehouse colleagues that were going to law school motivated me.”

He further engaged the audience of parents and students by using analogies from the popular Pixar film, The Incredibles to illustrate the importance of fulfilling your potential. Ross encouraged students to, “Go far beyond what your eyes can see. You will surprise yourself at what you can achieve if you really tap into your greatness.”

Following the keynote, conference participants attended three workshops on topics including financial aid and scholarship assistance, strategies for writing personal statements, which is often a college application requirement, standardized testing clarification and a standing room only session on HBCUs and Black College Tours.

The event also included a recent college graduates panel, that discussed their reasoning behind choosing their alma maters and gave great tips for finding the right campus employment. The panel also encouraged the college bound crowd to not only network with their peers but with faculty and staff which can make a difference when it comes to scholarships and having a successful transition from undergrad to graduate school.

Conference participants also enjoyed an informative college fair which included alumni and recruiters from state schools including UCLA, USC and CSUN in addition to Howard University, Florida A&M, Spelman College and Willamette University. All were elated to share their collegiate experiences with students and parents.

Dr. Cherise Moore, Co-Chair, Workshops, Logistics & Reservations for the College Planning Conference provided her reactions on the success of the event. “The committee that put this event together worked tirelessly and it was truly a pleasure Co-Chairing the event. The feedback we’ve received thus far has been excellent. There’s clearly a huge need and demand for events such as this. We had people come from as far as Bakersfield and Long Beach to Santa Clarita to attend the conference.” Event sponsors included Nestle Corporation, C2 Education and Eurweb.com.

Looking forward to seeing you there!