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is to be that vehicle, that representation—to let people speak.” A personal quest is how Pete Johnson sees the collaboration. Both men are young fathers of sons, and both are committed to raising them in a hometown hurting from a kind of endemic separatism. They remember better schools with diverse enrollment, and people working at jobs that supported family life. “This film is a priority for us, getting us to stop whatever else we are doing—this is the one we choose to focus on,” says Johnson. “Every project I have been passionate about lately is race-driven…My question is, ‘What are you doing as an individual to help this?’ Not everyone is going to agree with what they hear here. Our primary goal is creating awareness. Korey and I are making individual quests to help solve some issues here. But every person has to assume accountability for what is happening out there…” He and Green believe that ignorance is not only no excuse, but it makes certain problems worse. With the prevalence and advancement of technology, from ubiquitous cell phones to dash cams, “more people are seeing what has been going on,” says Green. “Look at current events— race right now is the biggest topic.” Wed. Night Wednesday Special Everyday Lunch Special “Now we have too much content!” adds JohnVegan Specia l son. “You can’t run from it. And Korey is very + Atruth—being TWOtelling SLICESthe 20OZ. DRINKtruthful LARGE CHEESE + 1 ITEM PIZZA ANY LARGE VEGAN PIZZA adamant about only $5.65 only $11.95 only $16.25 to himself, and to the people in our communiFilmmakers Korey Green and Pete Johnson want your help ty.” He said The Blackness Project, due to wrap in late February, is an educational exercise as well as to bridge the gap between black and white 94 ELMWOOD AVE / Delivery 716.885.0529 / ALLENTOWNPIZZABUFFALO.COM 94 ELMWOOD AVE / Delivery 716.885.0529 a point of departure for discussion. The film is organized in literary fashion with chapters, beHours SUNDAY-THURSDAY: 11AM-12AM / FRIDAY-SATURDAY: 11AM-4:30AM ALLENTOWNPIZZABUFFALO.COM BY MARIA SCRIVANI ginning with a discussion of how people felt after viewing The Whiteness Project, and continues with questions about history—what do you think At the same time his lifelong friend Pete JohnARE WE DONE TALKING ABOUT RACE YET? you know about slavery, affirmative action, steson—an actor, author, and filmmaker whose Nope. Not by a long shot. And in fact that conreotypes, racial profiling? “It’s hard to be proud work references racism in many forms, including versation has really just started, and needs to be of who you are and where you come from if you starring recently in Road Less Traveled Theater’s an ongoing discussion, according to two Buffadon’t know that history,” says Johnson. Race—saw the Dow film and felt compelled to lo filmmakers. Korey Green and Peter Johnson, respond. They decided to collaborate on, and AGILITY • BALANCE • CONFIDENCE writer/director and producer, respectively, of The Ultimately the project is a rescue mission, to prioritize, a new project with a very direct title. Blackness Project, believe that dialogue is the path save the city they love. “As long as we are dividto understanding and acceptance, if not total “Look, ours could be called The American Projed, we can never excel,” says Green. “But I have agreement, between two long-divided segments ect,” says Green. “Buffalo is really rich in cultremendous hope. If I didn’t, I couldn’t do this; of society, black and white. ture. I felt we had to do something not only to I would just be an angry black man. But we do represent our race and culture, but to show that have solutions, too. Educate. Be conscious. Know “The dialogue is what encourages me most,” says Buffalo is much bigger than the representation our history and where we are going. We need a Green, who decries the “us” and “them” menERRORS WHICH THISreally PROOF, THE BEand HELDbetter RESPONSIBLE. inYOU thatAPPROVE earlier film…We deal ARE withON some betterPUBLIC economicCANNOT structure education.PLEASE EXAMINE THE AD tality that seems to permeate all aspects of life IF tough topics EVEN in ourIFfilm, andISour goal is to get THE AD A PICK-UP. in this city. The creator of The Forgotten City, a THOROUGHLY Give people jobs and a stronger foundation. A people talking, even at the risk of discomfort, and documentary exploring politics, drugs, racism, lot of the hate and racism will dissolve if we start offense beingTO taken. And just as much as you � are CHECK thinking COPY CONTENT and crime in Buffalo, Green says he was inspired MESSAGE more progressively.” Advertisers Signature ADVERTISER tired of hearing about racism, I am, too, but I also anew after seeing The Whiteness Project, shot in Thank you for advertising with And keep on talking. live with it daily. Please Every African-American Buffalo by independent filmmaker Whitney THE PUBLIC. review your we in____________________________ terviewed for thisforhadany some personal Dow. That film considered the white point of ad and check errors. Theexperience � CHECK For IMPORTANT DATES go to more information with the wrath People need view. Green wanted to create a work that would original theblacknessproject.org. To help fund the layoutof racism. instructions havean outlet, some followed representation. Our job as filmmakers here show the black perspective. project, visit its Kickstarter page. been as closely as possible. Date _______________________
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KEEPERS OF THE CRAFT: COCKTAILS ACROSS AMERICA
Two Buffalonians, Jonah Epstein and Dillon Joseph, aim to create the perfect beer for Western New York by polling its customers before they produce their first barrel. On their website and social media, they’re asking people to describe the perfect beer; they’ll produce four beers based on that feedback and hold public tastings to determine their flagship brew. Their Kickstarter campaign runs through February 6.
GOAL: $35,000 This week Buffalo-based photographer Aaron Ingrao launched a Kickstarter campaign to support his upcoming photobook, Keepers of the Craft: Cocktails Across America. Ingrao will spend one year traveling the country, documenting the bars, bartenders, barrel makers, and distilleries that steward the tradition of AmerP ica’s craft cocktail culture.
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