Beyond Beats And Rhymes: Film Discusses Hip Hop, Masculinity, & Sexism…Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking Film on Hip-Hop and Masculinity Premieres at the “Sundance at BAM Film Series”

Screenings of BEYOND BEATS AND RHYMES Set for May 2006 in Brooklyn

New York, NY – – Filmmaker Byron Hurt of God Bless the Child Productions, Inc. is pleased to announce the upcoming New York City premiere of BEYOND BEATS AND RHYMES: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Manhood in Hip-Hop Culture at the Sundance at BAM Film Series in May. The provocative film on hip hop and masculinity, which was an official selection of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in January, was one of 13 films selected to play this spring at BAM from the 120 films that screened in Park City, Utah.

The documentary will premiere in New York as part of a new collaboration between The Sundance Institute and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The screenings are May 18, 19, and 21, 2006 at BAM and are open to the public. A special screening for high school students (11th and 12th graders) only is set for May 17. Tickets are $10 (see times and location below). For box office and ticket information, please call 718.777.FILM (order by “name of movie” option), visit the website at BAM.org/Sundance, or purchase tickets in person at the BAM Rose Cinemas box office located at 30 Lafayette Avenue, downtown Brooklyn.

At Sundance, BEYOND BEATS AND RHYMES received standing ovations from sold out audiences, and garnered rave reviews from members of the press who saw the film. When asked about the significance of premiering his film in New York City’s notorious borough of Brooklyn, Hurt said: “This particular screening is a dream come true. I’ve come to BAM many times as a moviegoer, and I have always wanted to show my film here. BAM is a great venue for BEYOND BEATS AND RHYMES and I look forward to showing the film in Brooklyn – the home of so many legendary rappers like Biggie, Jay-Z and Talib Kweli. I am honored that the Sundance Institute and BAM selected it to be among the great films that will be shown during the series.”

In conjunction with the premiere, Hurt is developing a talk back so that people will have a to explore hip hop, masculinity, and sexism further. “Whenever people see the film, they want to talk about it afterward. So we are bringing together a dynamic panel with some of the people who appear in the film. So it should be a lively conversation about all the issues that come up.” Details on the panel will be released shortly.

Screenings, Background, and Contact Information

SCREENINGS

• Thursday, May 18 at 4:00 pm

• Friday, May 19 at 9:45 pm

• Sunday, May 21 at 6:30 pm

TICKETS: Tickets at $10 and may be purchased the following ways:

• Phone: call 718.777.FILM (order by “name of movie” option)

• Web: visit www.BAM.org/Sundance

• On Site: purchase tickets at the BAM Rose Cinemas box office located at 30 Lafayette Avenue

LOCATION: The Sundance at BAM Film Festival takes place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Peter Jay Sharp Building, located at 30 Lafayette Avenue (downtown Brooklyn).

MORE ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Sundance Institute *

“Dedicated year-round to the development of artists of independent vision and to the exhibition of their new work, Sundance Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2006. Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, the Institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for thousands of independent artists through its Sundance Film Festival…The original values of independence, creative risk-taking, and discovery continue to define and guide the work of Sundance Institute…”

BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) *

BAM “is the oldest continually operating performing arts center in America, having presented its first performance in 1861…BAM is the only performing arts center in the country to operate two main stage theaters, a four-screen cinema venue, and a café/cabaret space within its historic facilities. BAM Rose Cinemas is operational 365 days-per-year. The repertory film program, BAMcinématek, screens rarely seen contemporary work, classic films from cinema history, and is a platform for community groups, local screenings, and festivals.”

MORE ABOUT THE FILM and BYRON HURT

BEYOND BEATS AND RHYMES: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Manhood in Hip-Hop Culture (BBR) is a riveting documentary that examines representations of gender roles in hip-hop and rap music through the lens of filmmaker Byron Hurt, a former college quarterback turned activist. Conceived as a “loving critique” from a self-proclaimed “hip-hop head,” Hurt tackles issues of masculinity, sexism, violence, and homophobia in hip-hop culture.

BBR features revealing interviews with famous rappers including Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. It also features commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell, Sarah Jones and includes interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black school and one of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions. The film provides thoughtful commentary from rap artists, industry executives, fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation.

BBR is a co-production of God Bless the Child Productions, Inc. and the Independent Television Service (ITVS) in association with the National Black Programming Consortium. The Executive Producer is Stanley Nelson (renowned documentary filmmaker of The Murder of Emmitt Till, Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice, and Jonestown, scheduled for PBS broadcast in 2007. Nelson is also the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation’s Genius Award). The Executive Producer for ITVS is Sally Jo Fifer. The Co-Producer and Editor is Sabrina Schmidt Gordon.

Hurt, 36, is a long-time gender violence prevention educator. He is a founding member and former associate director of the Mentors in Violence Prevention program – the leading rape and domestic violence prevention initiative in college and professional athletics. He is also the former associate director of the first gender violence prevention program in the United States Marine Corps.

Information made available from the official “Sundance Institute at BAM” March 31, 2006 press releaseMedia inquiries regarding Byron Hurt and/or BEYOND BEATES AND RHYMES are directed to AKILA WORKSONGS at 718.756.8501 or via an email at pr@akilaworksongs.com.