Robert Townsend Directs Michael Clarke Duncan & Loretta Devine-"In the Hive."
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NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
September 5, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL MOURNS DEATH OF MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN WHO STARRED IN ROBERT TOWNSEND’S NEW FILM “IN THE HIVE”
SAN FRANCISCO- At the beginning of Summer, The San Francisco Black Film Festival welcomed veteran actor, director, producer and humanitarian Robert Townsend and his new film “In The Hive” starring Michael Clarke Duncan, Loretta Devine, and Vivica A. Fox with newcomer Jonathan McDaniel. As summer ends, The San Francisco Black Film Festival joins with the film industry and audiences around the world mourning the loss of Michael Clarke Duncan on Monday September 3, 2012. He starred in films headlining at the festival for the past two years.
“Our hearts go out to Michael Clarke Duncan’s fiancée Omarosa Manigault, his family, friends and colleagues. In 2011, he was featured in Mario Van Peeble’s “Redemption Road,” a musical drama which had the working title at the time of “Black, White and Blues” and this year he had yet another great performance this time as a hard but fair high school mentor in Robert Townsend’s “In the Hive,” said Kali O’Ray, Co-Director of the San Francisco Black Film Festival with wife, Katerra Crossley.
“Mr. Duncan had such a great screen presence. While promoting the film in San Francisco for the festival in June, Robert Townsend, spoke very highly of him and all the crew of “In the Hive.” With him being in films back to back for our festival, it was our hope to have him join us for the San Francisco Black Film Festival in 2013,” said Co-Director Katerra Crossley.
“In the Hive” deals with the issue of education and closing the digital divide. It is based on a school in North Carolina, established by Vivian Saunders for at risk high school age males. A unique aspect of the Townsend’s project was the partnership with Rey Ramsey Co-founder and Chairman of the Board for One Economy that provided the funding for the film. It has been making the film festival circuit and at the time of this report does not have a theatrical release.
“After my business colleague San Francisco filmmaker Jacquie Taliaferro interviewed Mr. Townsend while covering the 2012 NAACP Image Awards in February, he suggested “In the Hive” as the headliner for the festival. I immediately began working on getting “In the Hive” to be the opening film at the historic Lorraine Hansberry Theatre,” said Jackie Wright, Publicist for the San Francisco Black Film Festival. “I was even more inspired when I found out the cast included Michael Clarke Duncan. Who can forget his Oscar nominated performance in “The Green Mile” with the Bay Area’s own Tom Hanks? “We have lost a great talent. We have lost a great light and wonderful human being. I was so looking forward to the possibility of meeting him this side of heaven at ‘San Francisco Black Film Festival 15’ in 2013. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 21:4 provide consolation at times like these.”
For more information about films and events at the San Francisco Black Film Festival visit www.sfbff.org for more information.
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About the San Francisco Black Film Festival
The San Francisco Black Film Festival was founded with the artistic vision to provide a platform for Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors to present their art. As a competitive film festival, SFBFF identifies filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors that are emerging as talents and established artists who are contributing to the cinematic legacy of African Americans. SFBFF conscientiously expands the notions of “Black film-making”
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