BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER 2020

This to announce my acceptance to the artist residency at Blue Mountain Center for 2020. Unfortunately because of the Coronavirus, the residency will have to be postponed until 2021. Nevertheless, this is an exciting development that I’m looking forward to.

Please stay tuned. I will be working on two large-scale acrylic paintings during my one month residency.

SALTY DOG BLUES SCREENING

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Greetings. We're screening 'Salty Dog Blues' this Friday, September 20th. at the Bronx Music Heritage Center, 8pm. 1303 Louis Nine Blvd. Bronx, NY 10459. Please see this award-winning documentary about merchant marines of color and their relationship to the National Maritime Union.

Salty Dog Blues, NY Screening

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SAVE THE DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 16th, 4:00PM – 6:00PM"Salty Dog Blues", the latest film by Al Santana and Denise Belén Santiago, looks at a group of men and women of color who served in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1937-1989. It examines their relationship to the National Maritime Union in the midst of a transition and a dispute over health benefits.

WORKERS UNITE FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 1ST GLOBAL LABOR FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL

http://www.workersunitefilmfestival.org/schedule/

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'SALTY DOG BLUES' COMPLETED

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Denise Belén Santiago and I have just completed our documentary "Salty Dog Blues." It has been submitted to a number of festivals and we are looking forward to presenting this film to community groups, schools, libraries and hopefully have an airing on public TV. We are thankful for all the help and encouragement we received along the way, without which this film might not have been made.

We will keep folks informed about screenings on this page, our Facebook page "Salty Dog Blues" and through Email.

Retired Merchant Marine in Puerto Rico

"SALTY DOG BLUES" TRAILER

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We're nearing completion of the documentary. Please stay tuned for our screening date. For those who may not know, this is a seven-year project that co-producer/director Denise Belen Santiago and I have been working on. It's the story of retired merchant marines of color who were members of the now defunct National Maritime Union, their contribution in time of war and peace, and their struggle to recoup lost health benefits. 'SALTY DOG BLUES' TRAILER

 

Third World Newsreel Workshops

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Greetings,As some of you may already know, I am a long-time friend and supporter of Third World Newsreel.

In that role I am sending out to the community a notice for their upcoming filmmaking workshops. Please contact them directly with any questions or registration.

Thank you.

Al

TWN Fall Workshop Series - Starting October 20th - sign up now!

Our fall workshops will start in a few weeks - featuring: Ann Bennett on Planning for Film/Video and New Media Production, Michelle Materre on Multi Platform distribution, Laurens Grant on Producing for PBS, and more! For more info and to register, go to our workshop page.

TWN presents walk-in seminars on production topics you need - from production management, to new media production, sound recording and more. All classes are $20 ($10 for low income) unless otherwise noted. The workshops take place at Third World Newsreel. Email workshop@twn.org for more information or to register.

See the Fall Listings below - more classes soon to come

Wednesday, October 20th, 6:30 PM Planning for Film/Video AND New Media Production and Budgeting with Ann Bennett Prepping your film - from R&D to production, post and distribution, with a special focus on your new media budgets - now a requirement of all producers. Led by Producer/Director Ann Bennett, multimedia producer for Through A Lens Darkly. ($20/10 low income)

Wednesday, October 27th, 6:30 PM Sound Recording: Tips for Better Results and New Gear the more popular mixers, hard drive recorders and radio mikes. Facilitated by JT Takagi, recordist/filmmaker with gear courtesy of Professional Sound Services. ($20/10 low income)

Wednesday, Nov 3rd, 6:30 PM - Intro to New Media Production An intro to podcasting, blogging and more. Instructor TBD. ($20/10 low income)

Wednesday, Nov 10th, 6:30 PM - Getting Business Savvy With Your Production Commerce, sales, the bottom line...the language of business and filmmakers. Learn business techniques that enhance production and producing. Led by Robin Moore, Business Analyst for Film and Media ($20/10 low income)

Wednesday, Nov 17th, 6:30 PM Planning for Multi Platform Distribution and Marketing MIchelle Materre - both a marketing/distribution expert and professor at the New School, Prof Materre will cover the plans you need to make before you even start to shoot, including your new media platform outreach. Best practices, how-to's, why-to's and where to find the help you need.($20/10 low income)

Wednesday, Dec 1st, 6:30 PM - Laurens Grant on Producing and Directing - Master Class - FREE The producer of "FREEDOM RIDERS" and "LATIN MUSIC USA" and the director/producer of "ROKIA: VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION" will talk about her work, how one becomes a PBS producer and how she balances producing with her own filmmaking work. Free, preregistration required.

MORE CLASSES SOON TO BE SCHEDULED!

All Classes held at: Third World Newsreel 545 Eighth Ave, 10th Flr between 37th and 38th Streets 1,2,3,A,C,E,N,R,W,7 to Times Square

'A Season In The Congo'

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Greetings. If you love great theater, want to be inspired, informed and entertained, join us for the premiere of Aime Cesaire's "A Season In The Congo", a production of Rico Workshop, directed by A. Rico Speight.

"A Season In The Congo" opens at the LION THEATER at New York's Theatre Row on Today, September 30th. at 8pm and runs through October 17th. Tickets can be purchased through Telecharge and at the door (save a few bucks on service fees)

Please follow the link below for more information and to purchase your tickets for the multi-media play "A Season In The Congo".

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Oh, by-the-way, the video portion of the play (not the stock footage) was shot by yours truly with the help of the thin man himself Haffe Acosta and of course Director/Producer Rico Speight, Producer Jackie Jeffries and a wonderful cast of very talented actors and crew.

Cheers,

Al

Life After Death: An analysis of the persona that was/is Fela Anikulapo Kuti

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Life After Death Greetings:

Thursday, June 10th. Be there or be marked absent.

Life After Death: An Analysis of the Persona that Was/Is Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) 408 W 58th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues New York NY 10019 Tel:  212-307-7420 ext 3008

Curated by Shantrelle P. Lewis & featuring the work of The Santana Group: Marilyn Nance, Al Santana, Ali Santana & Rafia Santana. Opening Reception: June 10, 2010 6-9pm

On View: June 11 - August 6, 2010 This exhibition pays tribute to one of the African Diaspora's most influential living ancestors as well as critiques the complexity of his persona. Life after Death is a visual homage to a musical genius and one of contemporary history's most powerful protest artists including never before seen photography by Marilyn Nance of Fela at the Africa Shrine, Lagos Nigeria with individuals such as Haki Madhubuti.

Just as the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti transcends the generations through his powerful statements and the work of his children, the works of artists Marilyn Nance and Al Santana transcend the generations through collaborations with their artist offspring.  The Santana Group is a creative, collaborative, interdisciplinary, intergenerational organization of the Brooklyn art family of Marilyn Nance, Al Santana, Ali Santana, and Rafia Santana.  Ali and Rafia Santana mined their parents' deep archives of moving images, photographs, memorabilia and cultural software to produce Fela's legacy in 4-D. 

Hope to see you there. It's gonna be fun!

Al

"Flush" update

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Greetings. Very glad to announce the music for "Flush" has just been approved. Working on a few graphic changes and we're printing DVDs. Again, I want to thank the cast and crew for a great job. We'll be contacting you all very soon for our long awaited cast and crew screening.

Cheers,

Al