The third annual Newark International Film Festival (NIFF) opens this Wednesday evening at sunset in Washington Park, across from 33 Washington St. with “Besouro,” a 2009 Brazilian martial arts film. The screenings continue every Wednesday through Sept. 28. It is all free with a spectacular and varied lineup of films. All you need to bring is your interest and a lawn chair or blanket.
The film festival is a co-production of the Commons Community Development Corporation and the Washington Park Conservancy, two interwoven not-for-profits behind the very popular Wednesday lunchtime farmers markets in the park.
Newark native son Derek Ware — he grew up in Weequahic and attended Science High — is the dynamo behind the festival and the revitalization of street life in Newark through the arts.
A few weeks ago, Ware, who lives downtown and teaches economics and business at Essex County Community College, was enjoying an espresso at Mi Gente Café where I was talking with artist Mansa Mussa about his current photography show, “Cuban Diary #6, Reverence.” Ware and my chance meeting was exactly the kind of arts centric occurrence that Ware envisions for Newark.
“Downtown Newark is poised to be the next Williamsburg; already artists are finding other Brooklyn neighborhoods too expensive,” Ware said. “Newark has four great cultural institutions: the Newark Public Library — I assign books and my students are wowed by the architecture and art there, the Newark Museum, NJPAC and WBGO jazz radio. We have college campuses and more students living in the area. We need to extend the library, museum, performing arts into the texture of city — to open the doors, to make cultural connections, to create an environment where people are out on the street enjoying and walking to art galleries, cafes, and more.”
Ware sees film in the park as one of the ways to bring more people downtown, especially at night. Historically, people from all over the area came to the great Newark movie houses.
“The inventor of motion film, Reverend Hannibal Goodwin, lived less than one mile from our movie location,” Ware said. “Newark once had 45 movie houses showing films including international foreign films.”
The long success of the Newark Black Film Festival — drawing capacity crowds from the city and the metro area — was another of the inspirations for the NIFF. “We start our screenings the week after the final Black film festival show,” Ware said.
As to the lineup, in August, the opener “Besouro” is based on a legendary 1920s Brazilian capoeira fighter trying to improve the lives of the oppressed Black population of Northern Brazil. Successive summer weeks include “I Will Follow,” about a cancer death and family tensions and the British “4123,” a thriller involving four girls and a diamond heist by famed director Noel Clarke, the creator of “Kidarthood” and “Adulthood.”
September opens with the gripping French-Arabic Canadian film “Incendies,” an unforgiving look at the contemporary slavery and the trafficking of young Sudanese girl into the London sex trade by the award-winning director Denis Villeneuve and the team that created “Death of a President” and “The Last King of Scotland.”
Then there are two films set against the events of 9/11: “My Name Is Khan,” exploring a Muslim with Asperger’s Syndrome who is detained after 9/11. “Brick Lane” tells of a young Bangladeshi Muslim woman’s self discovery after an arranged, loveless marriage to a much older London man.
The festival ends with “Sita Sings the Blues,” a retelling of the story of the Hindu goddess Sita and her abduction, from the classic epic “Ramayana.”
As to Washington Park, Ware sees capital development as the next step. “Right now, we are using an inflatable, temporary screen,” Ware said. “We want to reconfigure the park to include the infrastructure for a movie screen.
“When I was a kid, you had to get suited up to come downtown; it was an event. We want to create an environment where people who live, work or study in the city — or who once lived here and are now in the suburbs — want to come back.”
The Newark International Film Festival opens at sunset each Wednesday night from Aug. 10 through Sept. 28. Admission is free. Bring your own chair or blanket and picnic. Drinks and food available for purchase. For more about the line up, www.NewarkInternationalFilmFestival.com is coming soon; promoters may call
Check out what Noel Clark has to say about being a BAFTA award winning director. ( Feb )
The British director admits his latest crime thriller project – featuring Emma Roberts and Tamsin Egerton – was not as successful as his other movie ‘Adulthood’, but he would not class it as unsuccessful.
Writing on his blog, he said:
“So what was happening here in UK while I was away. Well ’4.3.2.1′ was out. It ended up hitting just around 1million in the box office. Very nice, not bad at all, although Adulthood made 3.7million. (I don’t get that cash by the way, in case you think I’m some Charlie rich trousers)
“So after the ’4.3.2.1′ thing, consequently some people were like. AH HA he fell off, it didn’t do as good, he’s failed. I always said that it was important to try something different and not just represent people one way or pigeon hole them or myself. And you know what, If you consider that a failure, (which I don’t) Your film did better did it? But if you do consider it that then there is only one thing to do right. Get back up.(sic)”
Discussing a recent trip to Los Angeles, the 34-year-old filmmaker also revealed plans to work on a comic book adaptation.
He said:
“Set about trying to optioning a comic that I love. Hopefully will get it finalised. It’s f***ing awesome! Will let you know more if I do.”
Check out Noel’s Interiview with ES Magazine ( May 2011 )
The actor, writer and director proposed on Park Lane and wants the Shard moved west
Home is…
Kensington. I live there with my missus and my two sons.
What’s the first thing you do when you arrive back in London?
Flop on the sofa and check the Sky+. I record UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championship] and The Simpsons.
What was the last play you saw?
The People Speak on the History Channel last November. Technically I didn’t really see it because I was in it. It was a series of monologues on stage featuring the likes of Keira Knightley and Colin Firth.
What advice would you give a tourist?
Pack a raincoat at all times and go to the theatre to see a good play.
Which London shops do you rely on?
I’m a man’s man, so once a year I go to Selfridges and buy two pairs of Evisu jeans and a few retro T-shirts to last me the year. If I’m filming, I go to the 24-hour Tesco down the road really early in the morning to pick up doughnuts for the crew. There’s a really good Portuguese deli on Golborne Road called Lisboa – my wife is Portuguese so I go there to get her custard tarts. She doesn’t need any other presents because she’s got all she needs in me – it’s like the sun rising every day.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
Anything by Apple. We’ve both got an iPad2, MacBook Pro, iPhone 4, iPod… the whole shebang.
What’s the best meal you’ve had in London?
The calamari at Uli on All Saints Road. I used to go there with my girlfriend when I lived in Ladbroke Grove. Now she’s my wife, we still go there.
What’s your earliest London memory?
Going to the Notting Hill Carnival when I was really young dressed as a palm tree with a golden stump. I was born and raised in the area so I went from the age of four.
Who’s your hero?
My missus, for pushing out them boys.
What animal would you like to be?
A crocodile. They have no natural predators, live a long time and do what they want to do.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done in London?
Probably to get down on my knees and propose on Park Lane.
How would you like the opening line of your obituary to read?
‘He did it his way.’
If you could live in any building in London, which would it be?
The Shard, but I’d get it moved to West London. I’d live in the penthouse with the missus and the boys, and all my mates would live in the one beneath.
What would you do as Mayor for a day?
Make sure that all homeless people in the capital were fed, clothed and washed properly, and had a job interview set up.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
When I was filming Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, someone said to me: ‘No matter what you do in life, people will like it or not like it. So be yourself.’
What was the last album you downloaded?
Jessie J Who You Are. I quite like it but the new Dr Dre album is out pretty soon so I think she’s on borrowed time on my iPod.
What are you up to at the moment?
I’m editing the romcom The Knot, with Mena Suvari and Talulah Riley, and getting prepped for another film I’ve written. Screwed is out next week, and I’m also in a film called Huge, which is out in July. With titles like that it sounds like I’m some sort of porn star.
Which is your favourite London shopping street?
It’s got to be Oxford Street for Game, to see what’s out on the PS3, or Regent Street for the Apple Store.
What do you most like wearing?
Jeans and a T-shirt. I’m not really label orientated but sometimes a plain one with a slogan like ‘If you think I’m cute you should see my son’.
What’s your favourite London club?
I’m too old for that. Back in the day it was all about raving at Snoop Dogg gigs at Equinox in 1992.
Where did you last go on holiday?
We went to Toronto in December to see my family who live there. Then we drove to New York via Niagara Falls. Last summer we went to LA – we’ve got friends there but it was half seeing friends and half doing business.
Have you ever had a run-in with the London police?
I’ve never really been in trouble but I had a couple of well-deserved talking-tos.
Screwed will be in cinemas from 3 June.
As most of you know Noel Clarke from his appearance in Dr Who , I have added Screencaps from 2005,2006,2008 .. ( awkward order ) gonna try and find screencaps from 2007, 2009,2010.
2005
Gallery Links: Home > Film Production > 2005-2010- Doctor Who > 2005
2006
Gallery Links: Home > Film Production > 2005-2010- Doctor Who > 2006
2008
Gallery Links: Home > Film Production > 2005-2010- Doctor Who > 2008
I have added a few Adulthood posters and a screencapture.
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Gallery Links: Home > Film Production > 2008- Adulthood > Adulthood
I have added 4.3.2.1 Screencaps/Posters (2010)
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Gallery Links: Home > Film Production > 2010- 4.3.2.1 > 4.3.2.1
I have added photos from the West 10 LDN series (2006)
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Gallery Links: Home > Film Production > 2008-West 10 LDN > West 10 LDN

HUGE
SCREWED
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