IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More Than a Fraction Foundation Continues its PartnershipWith Virginia Tech Council on History, Historic Smithfield and Solitude/Fraction Site to Highlight the Sensitive History and End of Slavery in America
(Baltimore, MD – June 5, 2024) – The More Than a Fraction Foundation (MTAFF) recently hosted the Story Time at Smithfield event and tour at Historic Smithfield located on the grounds of Virginia Tech. The Foundation’s founder Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs used her nonfiction book “More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story” to help the tour patrons visualize how it was in the pre-Civil War era as her ancestors, the Fractions, were enslaved on the grounds with many other families. In partnership with Virginia Tech Council on History, the More Than a Fraction Foundation, along with the Historic Smithfield and Solitude/Fraction, will host the 3rd annual Juneteenth Observance Saturday June 15, 2024 on the grounds of the Solitude site located at 705 West Campus Drive in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The More Than a Fraction Foundation is affiliated with the descendants of Africans enslaved on the Smithfield and Solitude plantations, which is now the grounds of Virginia Tech and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). The MTAFF started its long-standing relationship with Virginia Tech and the Historic Smithfield in 2015 when it’s founder Dr. Moseley-Hobbs followed research into her ancestors, the Fractions, which ended at the Smithfield estate. Smithfield was the plantation where the Fractions who were brought from Africa to America lived and where some (her ancestors) escaped to serve in the Union Army as U. S. Colored Troops. Since then, Historic Smithfield and Virginia Tech, like many other learning institutions built on plantations, have made many milestones to highlight the sensitive history of the grounds the institutions were built on.
One of the many projects the MTAFF has spearheaded with Historic Smithfield was the memorialization of places on the grounds where the Fractions and other enslaved like the Native/Indigenous, congregated such as the 300-year-old Merry Tree space, and a place on the grounds where a former enslaved fought back when attacked by his former slave owner during the Civil War as part of the American Civil War Trail. Together with Virginia Tech and Historic Smithfield the MTAFF has memorialized the cabin that it is believed where the Fractions lived on the Solitude estate (seen in the tour picture above).
The tour included seeing the living quarters, and other items used during the era. Hearing the stories of how her ancestors lived, how they looked, who they married, the children they had and their children’s history. Together with Historic Smithfield, the Virginia Tech Council on History and Solitude/Fraction the MTAFF will host the Juneteenth event to highlight the ending of slavery in America.
Today, Virginia Tech is a research university located in Blacksburg. It was founded in 1872 as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and has an 86% graduation rate and 56% acceptance rate.
The Council on Virginia Tech History is continuing to provide programs to the Virginia Tech community. The Solitude/Fraction is an organization formed to maintain the Solitude property, led by Victoria Ferguson (a citizen of the Monacan nation). The More Than a Fraction Foundation plans to continue its work with Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Council on History and the Solitude/Fraction site in highlighting the sensitive history in its long process to seek reconciliation with descendants from both the former enslaved and the former enslavers.
The MTAFF founder Dr. Moseley-Hobbs sits on the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation which oversee the grounds of Historical Smithfield. The More Than a Fraction Foundation’s goal is to highlight the often-overlooked history, culture, and experiences of Africans in America and African Americans before and after the Civil War. Its vision is to explore American history from an angle that centers on the narratives and contributions of Africans and African Americans, offering a comprehensive understanding that includes the modern-day repercussions of their historical experiences.
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Dr. Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 1872 Forward: Foreword Documentary to be Screened at the Richmond International Film FestivalSeptember 26 – October 1, 2023
(Baltimore, MD – July3, 2023) – The 2023 Richmond International Film Festival, September 26 – October 1, 2023, will screen the documentary 1872 Forward: Foreword, produced and directed by John Wesby (Wesby One Productions) and executive produced by the More Than a Fraction Foundation in collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). The documentary follows the memorialization of history and “special places” once used by the enslaved African people who lived on the grounds now known as Virginia Tech.
The 1872 Forward: Foreword short documentary documents Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s (Virginia Tech) three-day event called 1872 Forward: Celebrating Virginia Tech. Held in 2022, the event celebrated the institutions’ 250th-year. The More Than a Fraction Foundation was one of the major sponsors of the Virginia Tech event with grants it received from the Virginia humanities and The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
The 12th annual Richmond International Film Festival will screen over 135 films from the United States and more than 25 other countries. It also offers industry panels, a Q&A industry session, live music showcases, red carpeted events and networking opportunities. It will be held at the Bow Tie Cinemas, the historic Byrd Theatre and multiple venues throughout the city.
In 2011, Heather Waters founded the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF). As a producer and director she works behind the scenes for a variety of film and music projects. In addition to producing RIFF she is president and executive director of the RIFF Arts Institute, founder of the Media Industry Xchange and Flow Collective, co-founder of the Creative World Awards, and served as past president of Virginia Production Alliance (VPA), which is the leading advocate for film and development crew and talent in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The history behind the memorialization of the special places on the grounds of Virginia Tech began when Historian Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs discovered that her ancestors were enslaved on the grounds once owned by the Preston family. She went on to publish a creative non-fiction account of the data she discovered on her ancestors titled “More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story” (Amazon Books). The Virginia Tech grounds were once called the Smithfield and Solitude plantations. Soon after, in 2015, Dr. Moseley-Hobbs joined the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation a foundation which oversee the grounds of Historical Smithfield Since joining the Board she began helping the foundation and Virginia Tech highlight the lives of the enslaved Africans and the displaced Indigenous peoples of that area. The More Than a Fraction Foundation’s goal in sponsoring the Virginia Tech event was to highlight the estimated 300 year old Merry Tree which was the center point for the enslaved community to meet, worship, marry, and more for over three generations.
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
www.RVAFilmFestival.com
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Dr. Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Historian Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs is a Contributor to the New Book ‘Dear Higher Education’ with Dr. Menah Pratt, Dr. Mercedes Ramirez Fernandez, andDr. Michele Deramo as Editors
(Baltimore, MD – September 29, 2024) – Historian Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs (More Than a Fraction Foundation) is a contributor to the new book “Dear Higher Education: Letters From The Social Justice Mountain” by Dr. Menah Pratt (Vice President of Strategic Affairs and Diversity at Virgina Tech), Dr. Mercedes Ramirez Fernandez (Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Minnesota) and Dr. Michele Deramo (Associates Vice Provost for Diversity Education and Engagement at Virginia Tech) - editors. Dr. Hobbs’ contribution is in the chapter “Why We Must Tell the Whole Story.” Her piece is one of 20 “letters” to higher education entitled “The Legacy of Enslavement on the University Campus.”
In her letter to higher education, she talks about her great-grandmother Isabel Fraction-Carter who was the granddaughter of a former enslaved man from a plantation which is now the location of Virginia Tech. The “Dear Higher Education” book is part of a series that seek to tell the whole story of the history and transformations of higher education. Dr. Kerri’s great-grandmother lived during a time that still echoed the conditions and outcomes of slavery. She talks about her experience with her great-grandmother and what she learned about herself and her great-grandmother’s legacy in higher education.
The authors want the book and those volumes to come to be impactful and transformative in achieving social justice as its letters bear witness to generations of individuals who refuse to be silent or be silenced. Dr. Pratt, Dr. Fernandez, and Dr. Deramo boast the contributors in “Dear Higher Education” as courageous voices. “Dear Higher Education” is supported by the University of Minnesota Library open access platform.
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, founder of the More Than a Fraction Foundation launched after publishing her creative non-fiction account of her ancestors, the Fractions who were enslaved on the Smithfield and Solitude plantations which is the land where Virginia Tech is based. The creative account of the Fractions lives is titled “More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story” (Amazon Books, Barnes & Nobles and Audible). Soon after her discovery, in 2015, she was asked to join the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation which oversee the grounds of Historical Smithfield. Soon after joining the Board, she began helping the Smithfield-Preston foundation and Virginia Tech highlight the lives of the enslaved Africans and the displaced Indigenous peoples of that area.
www.Open.lib.umn.edu/dearhighereducation
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
www.VT.edu
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Dr. Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Winners of the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fest Announced, Spanning from U.S., Ireland, and Singapore
Film Industry Veteran Comes Out in Support of the
8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival in Baltimore
(Baltimore, MD – Oct. 4, 2024) – The 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival, held recently from September 21 - 29, 2024 in various locations in Baltimore, Maryland and virtually, ended on a high-note with its announcement of the winners in its five categories. Presented by Imagination Lunchbox, LLC (IL), the ILIFF winners this year are from the U. S., Ireland, and Singapore.
The ILIFF Award categories include “Best Film By Adult for Adults & Kids,” “Best Film By Kids,” “Best Film For Kids,” “Festival Choice,” and “Most Uplifting Film.” The screening of just a fraction of the films submitted to ILIFF via Film Freeway was held virtually, powered by Zoom, along with the awards announcement. The ILIFF extravaganza continued with the IL/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops, held in partnership with the Eubie Blake Center, the IL Basketball Tournament of Games community event, led by Head Coach Mark Winchester (IL); Head Coach Kevin Broadus (Morgan State University), and Head Coach Darryl Brooks (Bowie State University) at the Druid Hill Park Courts, and ended with the IL Virtual Open Call Audition held in partnership Talent Concierge Artists Agency), ReMARKable Productions, and AM Studio Films.
The winners announced on Saturday September 21st included Taste It or Toss It directed by Nicole Butler (U.S.) for “Best Film by Adults for Adults & Kids”; Atlas directed by Max Hendrickson (Ireland) for “Best Film by Kids”; Melody’s Muse directed by Natasha Seroshtan (U.S.) for “Best Film For Kids”, I Squished Grandpa directed by Lily Andrews (U.S.) for “Festival’s Choice”, and 100 Subs directed by Eka Shukla (Singapore) for “Most Uplifting Film”.
The IL/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops were held next on Sun. Sept 22nd at the Eubie Blake Center in downtown Baltimore with ILIFF speakers (and sponsors) that consisted of John Wesby (Wesby One Prod/Credit: BET Network) on Film Production, Chuck Borden (FacePlant Films/Credit: Fast & Furious, Star Trek movies) on Stunt Work and Directing, Attorney Richard B. Jefferson (M.E.T.A.L. IP Law Group and LawyersRock.com) with Ask a Lawyer, and Ursula V. Battle (Battle Stage Plays/Serenity House stage play) on Scriptwriting.
The IL Basketball Tournament of Games community event on Sat. Sept. 28th at the Druid Hill Park Courts with Coach Winchester (BCRP); Coach Broadus (Morgan State Univ), and Coach Brooks (Bowie State Univ) was cancelled due to rain, but all are confirmed returning in 2025 at a recreation center in Baltimore to be determined.
Then on Sun Sept 29th the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival ended with the IL Virtual Open Call Auditions with ILIFF partners talent agent Connie Pheiff (Talent Concierge Artists’ Group), film producer Mark Hunter (ReMARKable Production), film producer Arthur Muhammad (AM Studio Films), and ILIFF sponsors film producer Nicole Butler (A&B Productions), and film producer Tim Greene (Tim Greene Films). Attendees came in hopes of a call back. Legendary songwriter John Ellison opened the Virtual Open Call Auditions session with a performance of his hit single “(She’s) Some Kind a Wonderful” which has been covered by over 70 artists (Rod Steward and Joss Stone included).
For a visual recap of ILIFF visit The Pulse of Entertainment’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/LcBLcCPiqfA.
www.ImaginationLunchbox.com
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 8th Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals’
Boast Iconic Speakers, Sept 21 – 29, 2024, Screening Shorts from US, Singapore, UK, Ireland, France
(Baltimore, MD – August 25, 2024) – Film producers and directors, talent agents, and short films from the U.S., U.K., Singapore, Ireland, France and French Polynesia is what the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fests offers from Saturday September 21, 2024 to Sunday September 29th. All activities have free admission and are held virtually and at various locations in Baltimore.
The Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival launched in 2015 by multi-award-winning actor/filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs (www.Anthony-Michael.com) to provide a platform to screen and award shorts made by youth like himself at the time and adults for youth. In 2023 the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival was launched to screen shorts made by adults for adults and children.
The ILIFF and ILICFF activities start Saturday September 21st from 1- 3pmEST. The screening of the shorts made by youth and for youth , and shorts made by adults for adults and youth will be virtual. Free virtual admission via Zoom will be at https://imaginationlunchbox.com/ili-film-festival.html. Then on Saturday September 22nd from 1-3pmEST it’s the IL/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops at the Eubie Blake Center at 847 N. Howard Street, 21201 (https://imaginationlunchbox.com/iliff-filmmaking-workshops.html). Speakers at the workshops will include John Wesley (Wesley One Prods. & Executive Producer at BET Networks) talking on film production; Ursula V. Battle (Battlestage Plays & writer for The Baltimore Times) to talk on casting and scriptwriting; and speaking virtually via Zoom will be Chuck Borden (Fast & Furious movies & Star Trek movies via FacePlant Films) talking on film directing and stunt actions and Attorney Richard B. Jefferson (LawyersRock.com) is providing an “Ask a Lawyer” session to close out the workshops.
From September 23rd – 27th the film shorts will be screened at various public schools (TBA at www.ImaginationLunchbox.com). Then on Saturday September 28th from 1-3pmEST at the Druid Hill Park Courts in Baltimore (https://imaginationlunchbox.com/iliff-basketball-tournament.html) it’s the IL Basketball Tournament of games community event with IL head coach Mark Winchester, head basketball coach Kevin Broadus from Morgan State University, and head basketball coach Darryl Brooks from Bowie State University on hand for fun and competitive basketball playing. One player will even get to play one-on-one with the ILIFF and ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs for a cash prize. The film fests end on Sunday September 29th from 1-3pmEST virtual for the IL Virtual Open Call Auditions. Free admission to the virtual event will be found at https://imaginationlunchbox.com/ili-film-festival.html. Hosted by ILIFF/ILICFF partners Connie Pheiff, CEO of Talent Concierge Artists Agency (TCAA), Mark Hunter, president of ReMARKable Production, and Arthur Muhammad, president of AM Films Studio the auditions will randomly select attendees to audition. On the casting panel will be Nicole Butler, film producer and director at A&B Productions, Chuck Borden, stuntman and director at FacePlant Films and Tim Greene, film producer and director at Tim Greene Films. Attendees will get a script-line to act out with little practice in hopes of getting the big call back!
Categories for the ILIFF/ILICFF awards include “Best Film,” “Best Film Made for Kids,” “Festival Choice,” “Best Film Made By Adults for Adults,” and “Most Uplifting Film.”
Attendees and filmmakers are saying:
“Simply the best festival ever!” - Alan Chriest
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” Nicole Rose.
“Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.” - Charlotte McLaverty
(Twitter) @ImgLunchbox
(Instagram) @ImaginationLunchbox
(Facebook) @ImaginationLunchbox
(Photos: (Top) Poster pics from some of the short films to be screened. (Bottom) Speakers include (left to right)) John Wesly, Connie Pheiff, Arthur Muhammad, Ursula V. Battle, Richard B. Jefferson, Esq, Nicole Butler, Tim Greene, Chuck Borden, and Mark Hunter.)
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Talent Agents, Film Producers/Directors Host
Virtual Open Call Auditions at the 8th
Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals
Sunday September 29, 2024
(Baltimore, MD – March 23, 2024) – Talent agents, film producers and directors to host the Imagination Lunchbox Virtual Open Call Auditions Sunday September 29, 2024 from 1pmEST to 3pmEST, powered by Zoom. The auditions are part of the activities offered at the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals September 21 – 29, 2024 online and at various places in Baltimore, Maryland. The Virtual Open Call Auditions are presented in partnership with Talent Concierge Artists Agency (TCAA) and ReMARKable Productions. It is sponsored in part by A&B Productions and Face Plant Films.
Attendees get a chance to audition along with specially invited artists. The Imagination Lunchbox film festivals include the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fest and the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest. Screening and awarding for both festivals will be held virtually Saturday September 21st. The Imagination Lunchbox/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops are Sunday September 22nd at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center in Baltimore. Private screenings at various schools in Baltimore from Monday September 23 to Friday September 27th. The Imagination Lunchbox Basketball Tournament of games community event will be held Saturday September 28th at the Druid Hill Park Courts in Baltimore, and the ILIFFs end Sunday September 29th with the Virtual Open Call Auditions.
Launched in 2015 by SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (PBS, DreamWorks) and filmmaker with over 20 awards for his projects (Imagination Lunchbox, LLC) Anthony Michael Hobbs (www.Anthony-Michael.com), the film fests provide young filmmakers with a platform to screen and be honored for their projects. The community event has expanded in an attempt to meet the demands of the community.
In the past short films from US, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Germany, Korea, Spain and many more countries have been screened and awarded. Public and private schools throughout Maryland have screened the films for their students in a cultural program/assembly.
Attendees and filmmakers are saying:
“Simply the best festival ever!” - Alan Chriest
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” Nicole Rose.
“Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.” - Charlotte McLaverty
Four awards will be offered - “Best Film,” “Best Film Made By Youth,” “Film Festival Choice,” and “Most Uplifting Film”. Submission deadlines are April 5th for early submission discounts, July 12th is the regular deadline, and August 9th is the deadline for late submission. Winners are notified by August 24, 2024.
All short film submissions are accepted through Film Freeway. To submit a short film to ILIFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalFilmFestival, and to submit to ILICFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalChildrensFilmFestival.
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
More Than a Fraction Foundation Continues its PartnershipWith Virginia Tech Council on History, Historic Smithfield and Solitude/Fraction Site to Highlight the Sensitive History and End of Slavery in America
(Baltimore, MD – June 5, 2024) – The More Than a Fraction Foundation (MTAFF) recently hosted the Story Time at Smithfield event and tour at Historic Smithfield located on the grounds of Virginia Tech. The Foundation’s founder Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs used her nonfiction book “More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story” to help the tour patrons visualize how it was in the pre-Civil War era as her ancestors, the Fractions, were enslaved on the grounds with many other families. In partnership with Virginia Tech Council on History, the More Than a Fraction Foundation, along with the Historic Smithfield and Solitude/Fraction, will host the 3rd annual Juneteenth Observance Saturday June 15, 2024 on the grounds of the Solitude site located at 705 West Campus Drive in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The More Than a Fraction Foundation is affiliated with the descendants of Africans enslaved on the Smithfield and Solitude plantations, which is now the grounds of Virginia Tech and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). The MTAFF started its long-standing relationship with Virginia Tech and the Historic Smithfield in 2015 when it’s founder Dr. Moseley-Hobbs followed research into her ancestors, the Fractions, which ended at the Smithfield estate. Smithfield was the plantation where the Fractions who were brought from Africa to America lived and where some (her ancestors) escaped to serve in the Union Army as U. S. Colored Troops. Since then, Historic Smithfield and Virginia Tech, like many other learning institutions built on plantations, have made many milestones to highlight the sensitive history of the grounds the institutions were built on.
One of the many projects the MTAFF has spearheaded with Historic Smithfield was the memorialization of places on the grounds where the Fractions and other enslaved like the Native/Indigenous, congregated such as the 300-year-old Merry Tree space, and a place on the grounds where a former enslaved fought back when attacked by his former slave owner during the Civil War as part of the American Civil War Trail. Together with Virginia Tech and Historic Smithfield the MTAFF has memorialized the cabin that it is believed where the Fractions lived on the Solitude estate (seen in the tour picture above).
The tour included seeing the living quarters, and other items used during the era. Hearing the stories of how her ancestors lived, how they looked, who they married, the children they had and their children’s history. Together with Historic Smithfield, the Virginia Tech Council on History and Solitude/Fraction the MTAFF will host the Juneteenth event to highlight the ending of slavery in America.
Today, Virginia Tech is a research university located in Blacksburg. It was founded in 1872 as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and has an 86% graduation rate and 56% acceptance rate.
The Council on Virginia Tech History is continuing to provide programs to the Virginia Tech community. The Solitude/Fraction is an organization formed to maintain the Solitude property, led by Victoria Ferguson (a citizen of the Monacan nation). The More Than a Fraction Foundation plans to continue its work with Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Council on History and the Solitude/Fraction site in highlighting the sensitive history in its long process to seek reconciliation with descendants from both the former enslaved and the former enslavers.
The MTAFF founder Dr. Moseley-Hobbs sits on the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation which oversee the grounds of Historical Smithfield. The More Than a Fraction Foundation’s goal is to highlight the often-overlooked history, culture, and experiences of Africans in America and African Americans before and after the Civil War. Its vision is to explore American history from an angle that centers on the narratives and contributions of Africans and African Americans, offering a comprehensive understanding that includes the modern-day repercussions of their historical experiences.
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Dr. Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 1872 Forward: Foreword Documentary to be Screened at the Richmond International Film FestivalSeptember 26 – October 1, 2023
(Baltimore, MD – July3, 2023) – The 2023 Richmond International Film Festival, September 26 – October 1, 2023, will screen the documentary 1872 Forward: Foreword, produced and directed by John Wesby (Wesby One Productions) and executive produced by the More Than a Fraction Foundation in collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). The documentary follows the memorialization of history and “special places” once used by the enslaved African people who lived on the grounds now known as Virginia Tech.
The 1872 Forward: Foreword short documentary documents Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s (Virginia Tech) three-day event called 1872 Forward: Celebrating Virginia Tech. Held in 2022, the event celebrated the institutions’ 250th-year. The More Than a Fraction Foundation was one of the major sponsors of the Virginia Tech event with grants it received from the Virginia humanities and The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
The 12th annual Richmond International Film Festival will screen over 135 films from the United States and more than 25 other countries. It also offers industry panels, a Q&A industry session, live music showcases, red carpeted events and networking opportunities. It will be held at the Bow Tie Cinemas, the historic Byrd Theatre and multiple venues throughout the city.
In 2011, Heather Waters founded the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF). As a producer and director she works behind the scenes for a variety of film and music projects. In addition to producing RIFF she is president and executive director of the RIFF Arts Institute, founder of the Media Industry Xchange and Flow Collective, co-founder of the Creative World Awards, and served as past president of Virginia Production Alliance (VPA), which is the leading advocate for film and development crew and talent in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The history behind the memorialization of the special places on the grounds of Virginia Tech began when Historian Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs discovered that her ancestors were enslaved on the grounds once owned by the Preston family. She went on to publish a creative non-fiction account of the data she discovered on her ancestors titled “More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story” (Amazon Books). The Virginia Tech grounds were once called the Smithfield and Solitude plantations. Soon after, in 2015, Dr. Moseley-Hobbs joined the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation a foundation which oversee the grounds of Historical Smithfield Since joining the Board she began helping the foundation and Virginia Tech highlight the lives of the enslaved Africans and the displaced Indigenous peoples of that area. The More Than a Fraction Foundation’s goal in sponsoring the Virginia Tech event was to highlight the estimated 300 year old Merry Tree which was the center point for the enslaved community to meet, worship, marry, and more for over three generations.
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
www.RVAFilmFestival.com
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Dr. Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Historian Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs is a Contributor to the New Book ‘Dear Higher Education’ with Dr. Menah Pratt, Dr. Mercedes Ramirez Fernandez, andDr. Michele Deramo as Editors
(Baltimore, MD – September 29, 2024) – Historian Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs (More Than a Fraction Foundation) is a contributor to the new book “Dear Higher Education: Letters From The Social Justice Mountain” by Dr. Menah Pratt (Vice President of Strategic Affairs and Diversity at Virgina Tech), Dr. Mercedes Ramirez Fernandez (Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Minnesota) and Dr. Michele Deramo (Associates Vice Provost for Diversity Education and Engagement at Virginia Tech) - editors. Dr. Hobbs’ contribution is in the chapter “Why We Must Tell the Whole Story.” Her piece is one of 20 “letters” to higher education entitled “The Legacy of Enslavement on the University Campus.”
In her letter to higher education, she talks about her great-grandmother Isabel Fraction-Carter who was the granddaughter of a former enslaved man from a plantation which is now the location of Virginia Tech. The “Dear Higher Education” book is part of a series that seek to tell the whole story of the history and transformations of higher education. Dr. Kerri’s great-grandmother lived during a time that still echoed the conditions and outcomes of slavery. She talks about her experience with her great-grandmother and what she learned about herself and her great-grandmother’s legacy in higher education.
The authors want the book and those volumes to come to be impactful and transformative in achieving social justice as its letters bear witness to generations of individuals who refuse to be silent or be silenced. Dr. Pratt, Dr. Fernandez, and Dr. Deramo boast the contributors in “Dear Higher Education” as courageous voices. “Dear Higher Education” is supported by the University of Minnesota Library open access platform.
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, founder of the More Than a Fraction Foundation launched after publishing her creative non-fiction account of her ancestors, the Fractions who were enslaved on the Smithfield and Solitude plantations which is the land where Virginia Tech is based. The creative account of the Fractions lives is titled “More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story” (Amazon Books, Barnes & Nobles and Audible). Soon after her discovery, in 2015, she was asked to join the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation which oversee the grounds of Historical Smithfield. Soon after joining the Board, she began helping the Smithfield-Preston foundation and Virginia Tech highlight the lives of the enslaved Africans and the displaced Indigenous peoples of that area.
www.Open.lib.umn.edu/dearhighereducation
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
www.VT.edu
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Dr. Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Winners of the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fest Announced, Spanning from U.S., Ireland, and Singapore
Film Industry Veteran Comes Out in Support of the
8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival in Baltimore
(Baltimore, MD – Oct. 4, 2024) – The 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival, held recently from September 21 - 29, 2024 in various locations in Baltimore, Maryland and virtually, ended on a high-note with its announcement of the winners in its five categories. Presented by Imagination Lunchbox, LLC (IL), the ILIFF winners this year are from the U. S., Ireland, and Singapore.
The ILIFF Award categories include “Best Film By Adult for Adults & Kids,” “Best Film By Kids,” “Best Film For Kids,” “Festival Choice,” and “Most Uplifting Film.” The screening of just a fraction of the films submitted to ILIFF via Film Freeway was held virtually, powered by Zoom, along with the awards announcement. The ILIFF extravaganza continued with the IL/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops, held in partnership with the Eubie Blake Center, the IL Basketball Tournament of Games community event, led by Head Coach Mark Winchester (IL); Head Coach Kevin Broadus (Morgan State University), and Head Coach Darryl Brooks (Bowie State University) at the Druid Hill Park Courts, and ended with the IL Virtual Open Call Audition held in partnership Talent Concierge Artists Agency), ReMARKable Productions, and AM Studio Films.
The winners announced on Saturday September 21st included Taste It or Toss It directed by Nicole Butler (U.S.) for “Best Film by Adults for Adults & Kids”; Atlas directed by Max Hendrickson (Ireland) for “Best Film by Kids”; Melody’s Muse directed by Natasha Seroshtan (U.S.) for “Best Film For Kids”, I Squished Grandpa directed by Lily Andrews (U.S.) for “Festival’s Choice”, and 100 Subs directed by Eka Shukla (Singapore) for “Most Uplifting Film”.
The IL/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops were held next on Sun. Sept 22nd at the Eubie Blake Center in downtown Baltimore with ILIFF speakers (and sponsors) that consisted of John Wesby (Wesby One Prod/Credit: BET Network) on Film Production, Chuck Borden (FacePlant Films/Credit: Fast & Furious, Star Trek movies) on Stunt Work and Directing, Attorney Richard B. Jefferson (M.E.T.A.L. IP Law Group and LawyersRock.com) with Ask a Lawyer, and Ursula V. Battle (Battle Stage Plays/Serenity House stage play) on Scriptwriting.
The IL Basketball Tournament of Games community event on Sat. Sept. 28th at the Druid Hill Park Courts with Coach Winchester (BCRP); Coach Broadus (Morgan State Univ), and Coach Brooks (Bowie State Univ) was cancelled due to rain, but all are confirmed returning in 2025 at a recreation center in Baltimore to be determined.
Then on Sun Sept 29th the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival ended with the IL Virtual Open Call Auditions with ILIFF partners talent agent Connie Pheiff (Talent Concierge Artists’ Group), film producer Mark Hunter (ReMARKable Production), film producer Arthur Muhammad (AM Studio Films), and ILIFF sponsors film producer Nicole Butler (A&B Productions), and film producer Tim Greene (Tim Greene Films). Attendees came in hopes of a call back. Legendary songwriter John Ellison opened the Virtual Open Call Auditions session with a performance of his hit single “(She’s) Some Kind a Wonderful” which has been covered by over 70 artists (Rod Steward and Joss Stone included).
For a visual recap of ILIFF visit The Pulse of Entertainment’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/LcBLcCPiqfA.
www.ImaginationLunchbox.com
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 8th Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals’
Boast Iconic Speakers, Sept 21 – 29, 2024, Screening Shorts from US, Singapore, UK, Ireland, France
(Baltimore, MD – August 25, 2024) – Film producers and directors, talent agents, and short films from the U.S., U.K., Singapore, Ireland, France and French Polynesia is what the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fests offers from Saturday September 21, 2024 to Sunday September 29th. All activities have free admission and are held virtually and at various locations in Baltimore.
The Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival launched in 2015 by multi-award-winning actor/filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs (www.Anthony-Michael.com) to provide a platform to screen and award shorts made by youth like himself at the time and adults for youth. In 2023 the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival was launched to screen shorts made by adults for adults and children.
The ILIFF and ILICFF activities start Saturday September 21st from 1- 3pmEST. The screening of the shorts made by youth and for youth , and shorts made by adults for adults and youth will be virtual. Free virtual admission via Zoom will be at https://imaginationlunchbox.com/ili-film-festival.html. Then on Saturday September 22nd from 1-3pmEST it’s the IL/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops at the Eubie Blake Center at 847 N. Howard Street, 21201 (https://imaginationlunchbox.com/iliff-filmmaking-workshops.html). Speakers at the workshops will include John Wesley (Wesley One Prods. & Executive Producer at BET Networks) talking on film production; Ursula V. Battle (Battlestage Plays & writer for The Baltimore Times) to talk on casting and scriptwriting; and speaking virtually via Zoom will be Chuck Borden (Fast & Furious movies & Star Trek movies via FacePlant Films) talking on film directing and stunt actions and Attorney Richard B. Jefferson (LawyersRock.com) is providing an “Ask a Lawyer” session to close out the workshops.
From September 23rd – 27th the film shorts will be screened at various public schools (TBA at www.ImaginationLunchbox.com). Then on Saturday September 28th from 1-3pmEST at the Druid Hill Park Courts in Baltimore (https://imaginationlunchbox.com/iliff-basketball-tournament.html) it’s the IL Basketball Tournament of games community event with IL head coach Mark Winchester, head basketball coach Kevin Broadus from Morgan State University, and head basketball coach Darryl Brooks from Bowie State University on hand for fun and competitive basketball playing. One player will even get to play one-on-one with the ILIFF and ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs for a cash prize. The film fests end on Sunday September 29th from 1-3pmEST virtual for the IL Virtual Open Call Auditions. Free admission to the virtual event will be found at https://imaginationlunchbox.com/ili-film-festival.html. Hosted by ILIFF/ILICFF partners Connie Pheiff, CEO of Talent Concierge Artists Agency (TCAA), Mark Hunter, president of ReMARKable Production, and Arthur Muhammad, president of AM Films Studio the auditions will randomly select attendees to audition. On the casting panel will be Nicole Butler, film producer and director at A&B Productions, Chuck Borden, stuntman and director at FacePlant Films and Tim Greene, film producer and director at Tim Greene Films. Attendees will get a script-line to act out with little practice in hopes of getting the big call back!
Categories for the ILIFF/ILICFF awards include “Best Film,” “Best Film Made for Kids,” “Festival Choice,” “Best Film Made By Adults for Adults,” and “Most Uplifting Film.”
Attendees and filmmakers are saying:
“Simply the best festival ever!” - Alan Chriest
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” Nicole Rose.
“Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.” - Charlotte McLaverty
(Twitter) @ImgLunchbox
(Instagram) @ImaginationLunchbox
(Facebook) @ImaginationLunchbox
(Photos: (Top) Poster pics from some of the short films to be screened. (Bottom) Speakers include (left to right)) John Wesly, Connie Pheiff, Arthur Muhammad, Ursula V. Battle, Richard B. Jefferson, Esq, Nicole Butler, Tim Greene, Chuck Borden, and Mark Hunter.)
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Talent Agents, Film Producers/Directors Host
Virtual Open Call Auditions at the 8th
Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals
Sunday September 29, 2024
(Baltimore, MD – March 23, 2024) – Talent agents, film producers and directors to host the Imagination Lunchbox Virtual Open Call Auditions Sunday September 29, 2024 from 1pmEST to 3pmEST, powered by Zoom. The auditions are part of the activities offered at the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals September 21 – 29, 2024 online and at various places in Baltimore, Maryland. The Virtual Open Call Auditions are presented in partnership with Talent Concierge Artists Agency (TCAA) and ReMARKable Productions. It is sponsored in part by A&B Productions and Face Plant Films.
Attendees get a chance to audition along with specially invited artists. The Imagination Lunchbox film festivals include the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fest and the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest. Screening and awarding for both festivals will be held virtually Saturday September 21st. The Imagination Lunchbox/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops are Sunday September 22nd at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center in Baltimore. Private screenings at various schools in Baltimore from Monday September 23 to Friday September 27th. The Imagination Lunchbox Basketball Tournament of games community event will be held Saturday September 28th at the Druid Hill Park Courts in Baltimore, and the ILIFFs end Sunday September 29th with the Virtual Open Call Auditions.
Launched in 2015 by SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (PBS, DreamWorks) and filmmaker with over 20 awards for his projects (Imagination Lunchbox, LLC) Anthony Michael Hobbs (www.Anthony-Michael.com), the film fests provide young filmmakers with a platform to screen and be honored for their projects. The community event has expanded in an attempt to meet the demands of the community.
In the past short films from US, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Germany, Korea, Spain and many more countries have been screened and awarded. Public and private schools throughout Maryland have screened the films for their students in a cultural program/assembly.
Attendees and filmmakers are saying:
“Simply the best festival ever!” - Alan Chriest
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” Nicole Rose.
“Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.” - Charlotte McLaverty
Four awards will be offered - “Best Film,” “Best Film Made By Youth,” “Film Festival Choice,” and “Most Uplifting Film”. Submission deadlines are April 5th for early submission discounts, July 12th is the regular deadline, and August 9th is the deadline for late submission. Winners are notified by August 24, 2024.
All short film submissions are accepted through Film Freeway. To submit a short film to ILIFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalFilmFestival, and to submit to ILICFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalChildrensFilmFestival.
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 7th ‘Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest,’ Now Open for Short Film Submissions at FilmFreeway.com
Short Films Made and For Kids to be Screen and Awarded Sept. 23 – Oct 1, 2023, at the 7th annual ILI Children’s Film Festival
(Baltimore, MD – January 30, 2023) – Short films made by and for kids now being accepted for the 7th annual “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” (ILICFF) at FilmFreeway.com. The ILI Children’s Film Festival is to be held September 23 – October 1, 2023 at various locations in Maryland and virtually (powered by Zoom). Shorts in the past have come from the U.S., India, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the Canada - to name a few countries. Deadline and notification dates are available at FilmFreeway.com.
The film festival will be hosted by ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs, a SAG/AFTRA multi-award-winning actor (DreamWorks, PBS) and filmmaker (ImaginationLunchbox.com). The ILICFF event will consist of a public screening and awards via Zoom, a private screening at the Baltimore Design School, filmmaking workshops for youth at the Eubie Blake Center, and two basketball tournament fundraisers (high school and college level).
Filmmakers and attendees rave about ILICFF, such as Alan Chriest who posted at FilmFreeway.com, “Simply the best festival ever!”
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” said filmmaker Nicole Rose.
Charlotte McLaverty stated, “Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.”
Four awards will be given out at ILICFF - “Best Film Made FOR Kids; “Film Festival Choice,” “Best Film Made BY Kids,” and “Most Uplifting Film” award sponsored by the 24th annual Uplifting Minds II entertainment Conference.
The “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” was created in 2016 by Hobbs to give young filmmakers a platform to showcase their films and view other creative projects made for young filmmakers. Anthony has garnered over 20 awards for writing, starring-in, directing and producing multi award winning short films, such as One Nation, and Naga Pixie. He has also produced short films through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC for others, such as Agent Hollywood – another multi-award-winning film, for his former coach.
To submit a short film to ILICFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalChildrensFilmFestival.
# # #
The 7th ‘Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest,’ Now Open for Short Film Submissions at FilmFreeway.com
Short Films Made and For Kids to be Screen and Awarded Sept. 23 – Oct 1, 2023, at the 7th annual ILI Children’s Film Festival
(Baltimore, MD – January 30, 2023) – Short films made by and for kids now being accepted for the 7th annual “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” (ILICFF) at FilmFreeway.com. The ILI Children’s Film Festival is to be held September 23 – October 1, 2023 at various locations in Maryland and virtually (powered by Zoom). Shorts in the past have come from the U.S., India, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the Canada - to name a few countries. Deadline and notification dates are available at FilmFreeway.com.
The film festival will be hosted by ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs, a SAG/AFTRA multi-award-winning actor (DreamWorks, PBS) and filmmaker (ImaginationLunchbox.com). The ILICFF event will consist of a public screening and awards via Zoom, a private screening at the Baltimore Design School, filmmaking workshops for youth at the Eubie Blake Center, and two basketball tournament fundraisers (high school and college level).
Filmmakers and attendees rave about ILICFF, such as Alan Chriest who posted at FilmFreeway.com, “Simply the best festival ever!”
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” said filmmaker Nicole Rose.
Charlotte McLaverty stated, “Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.”
Four awards will be given out at ILICFF - “Best Film Made FOR Kids; “Film Festival Choice,” “Best Film Made BY Kids,” and “Most Uplifting Film” award sponsored by the 24th annual Uplifting Minds II entertainment Conference.
The “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” was created in 2016 by Hobbs to give young filmmakers a platform to showcase their films and view other creative projects made for young filmmakers. Anthony has garnered over 20 awards for writing, starring-in, directing and producing multi award winning short films, such as One Nation, and Naga Pixie. He has also produced short films through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC for others, such as Agent Hollywood – another multi-award-winning film, for his former coach.
To submit a short film to ILICFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalChildrensFilmFestival.
# # #
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More Than a Fraction Foundation Partnered‘1872 Forward: A Celebration of Virginia Tech’ Receives Anthem Award
(Baltimore, MD – February 24, 2024) – The More Than a Fraction Foundation (MTAFF) partnered three-day event 1872 Forward: A Celebration of Virginia Tech receives the Anthem Award – a bronze medal in the Education, Art & Culture: Community Engagement category. The 1872 Forward event held by Virgnia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) was selected from 2,000 submissions from 44 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Science. The 1872 Forward: A Celebration of Virginia Tech was held March 22-24, 2022 by the Council on Virginia Tech History in partnership with the MTAFF. The MTAFF sponsored this three-day event with grants from Virginia Humanities and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
The 1872 Forward: A Celebration of Virginia Tech was in celebration of its 150-year history. The More Than a Fraction Foundation is affiliated with the descendants of Africans enslaved on the Smithfield and Solitude plantations, which is now the grounds of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.
The three-day event centered on Native/Indigenous communities and the enslaved Africans who once lived on the grounds now known as Virginia Tech. It also centered around the descendants of the European Americans who once owned the land, as well as the experiences of the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who made Virginia Tech what it is today. Today, Virginia Tech, formerly Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, is a research university located in Blacksburg. It was founded in 1872 as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. It has an 86% graduation rate and 56% acceptance rate.
The Council on Virginia Tech History is continuing to provide programs to the Virginia Tech community and on March 28, 2024 it will host 1872 Forward: How Our History Can Shape Our Future in Brush Mountain A. Squires Student Center at 1:30pm. The moderated forum will discuss how universities, such as Virginia Tech, can utilize and integrate their history into managing their plans for the future.
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, founder of the More Than a Fraction Foundation will moderate the forum. The Foundation plans to continue its work with Virginia Tech with the understanding that progress moving forward will seem slow, but the magnitude of the accomplishments is the “brilliance of life” happening.
During research into her ancestors Dr. Moseley-Hobbs discovered that her ancestors were enslaved on the grounds once owned by the Preston family, grounds now known as Virginia Tech (Smithfield and Solitude plantations). She went on to publish a creative non-fiction account of the data discovered in a book titled “More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story” (Amazon Books, Barns & Noble and Audible). Soon after her discovered, in 2015, Dr. Moseley-Hobbs joined the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation a foundation which oversee the grounds of Historical Smithfield. Soon after joining the Board, she began helping the Smithfield-Preston foundation and Virginia Tech highlight the lives of the enslaved Africans and the displaced Indigenous peoples of that area.
The More Than a Fraction Foundation’s goal in sponsoring the Virginia Tech event was to highlight the estimated 300-year-old Merry Tree which was the center point for the enslaved community to meet, worship, marry, and more for over three generations. The MTAFF’s mission is to highlight the often-overlooked history, culture, and experiences of Africans in America and African Americans before and after the Civil War. Its vision is to explore American history from an angle that centers on the narratives and contributions of Africans and African Americans, offering a comprehensive understanding that includes the modern-day repercussions of their historical experiences.
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
www.VT.edu
www.AnthemAwards.com
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Dr. Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 8th Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals’
Boast Iconic Speakers, Sept 21 – 29, 2024, Screening Shorts from US, Singapore, UK, Ireland, France
(Baltimore, MD – August 25, 2024) – Film producers and directors, talent agents, and short films from the U.S., U.K., Singapore, Ireland, France and French Polynesia is what the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fests offers from Saturday September 21, 2024 to Sunday September 29th. All activities have free admission and are held virtually and at various locations in Baltimore.
The Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival launched in 2015 by multi-award-winning actor/filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs (www.Anthony-Michael.com) to provide a platform to screen and award shorts made by youth like himself at the time and adults for youth. In 2023 the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festival was launched to screen shorts made by adults for adults and children.
The ILIFF and ILICFF activities start Saturday September 21st from 1- 3pmEST. The screening of the shorts made by youth and for youth , and shorts made by adults for adults and youth will be virtual. Free virtual admission via Zoom will be at https://imaginationlunchbox.com/ili-film-festival.html. Then on Saturday September 22nd from 1-3pmEST it’s the IL/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops at the Eubie Blake Center at 847 N. Howard Street, 21201 (https://imaginationlunchbox.com/iliff-filmmaking-workshops.html). Speakers at the workshops will include John Wesley (Wesley One Prods. & Executive Producer at BET Networks) talking on film production; Ursula V. Battle (Battlestage Plays & writer for The Baltimore Times) to talk on casting and scriptwriting; and speaking virtually via Zoom will be Chuck Borden (Fast & Furious movies & Star Trek movies via FacePlant Films) talking on film directing and stunt actions and Attorney Richard B. Jefferson (LawyersRock.com) is providing an “Ask a Lawyer” session to close out the workshops.
From September 23rd – 27th the film shorts will be screened at various public schools (TBA at www.ImaginationLunchbox.com). Then on Saturday September 28th from 1-3pmEST at the Druid Hill Park Courts in Baltimore (https://imaginationlunchbox.com/iliff-basketball-tournament.html) it’s the IL Basketball Tournament of games community event with IL head coach Mark Winchester, head basketball coach Kevin Broadus from Morgan State University, and head basketball coach Darryl Brooks from Bowie State University on hand for fun and competitive basketball playing. One player will even get to play one-on-one with the ILIFF and ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs for a cash prize. The film fests end on Sunday September 29th from 1-3pmEST virtual for the IL Virtual Open Call Auditions. Free admission to the virtual event will be found at https://imaginationlunchbox.com/ili-film-festival.html. Hosted by ILIFF/ILICFF partners Connie Pheiff, CEO of Talent Concierge Artists Agency (TCAA), Mark Hunter, president of ReMARKable Production, and Arthur Muhammad, president of AM Films Studio the auditions will randomly select attendees to audition. On the casting panel will be Nicole Butler, film producer and director at A&B Productions, Chuck Borden, stuntman and director at FacePlant Films and Tim Greene, film producer and director at Tim Greene Films. Attendees will get a script-line to act out with little practice in hopes of getting the big call back!
Categories for the ILIFF/ILICFF awards include “Best Film,” “Best Film Made for Kids,” “Festival Choice,” “Best Film Made By Adults for Adults,” and “Most Uplifting Film.”
Attendees and filmmakers are saying:
“Simply the best festival ever!” - Alan Chriest
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” Nicole Rose.
“Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.” - Charlotte McLaverty
(Twitter) @ImgLunchbox
(Instagram) @ImaginationLunchbox
(Facebook) @ImaginationLunchbox
(Photos: (Top) Poster pics from some of the short films to be screened. (Bottom) Speakers include (left to right)) John Wesly, Connie Pheiff, Arthur Muhammad, Ursula V. Battle, Richard B. Jefferson, Esq, Nicole Butler, Tim Greene, Chuck Borden, and Mark Hunter.)
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Talent Agents, Film Producers/Directors Host
Virtual Open Call Auditions at the 8th
Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals
Sunday September 29, 2024
(Baltimore, MD – March 23, 2024) – Talent agents, film producers and directors to host the Imagination Lunchbox Virtual Open Call Auditions Sunday September 29, 2024 from 1pmEST to 3pmEST, powered by Zoom. The auditions are part of the activities offered at the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals September 21 – 29, 2024 online and at various places in Baltimore, Maryland. The Virtual Open Call Auditions are presented in partnership with Talent Concierge Artists Agency (TCAA) and ReMARKable Productions. It is sponsored in part by A&B Productions and Face Plant Films.
Attendees get a chance to audition along with specially invited artists. The Imagination Lunchbox film festivals include the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fest and the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest. Screening and awarding for both festivals will be held virtually Saturday September 21st. The Imagination Lunchbox/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops are Sunday September 22nd at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center in Baltimore. Private screenings at various schools in Baltimore from Monday September 23 to Friday September 27th. The Imagination Lunchbox Basketball Tournament of games community event will be held Saturday September 28th at the Druid Hill Park Courts in Baltimore, and the ILIFFs end Sunday September 29th with the Virtual Open Call Auditions.
Launched in 2015 by SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (PBS, DreamWorks) and filmmaker with over 20 awards for his projects (Imagination Lunchbox, LLC) Anthony Michael Hobbs (www.Anthony-Michael.com), the film fests provide young filmmakers with a platform to screen and be honored for their projects. The community event has expanded in an attempt to meet the demands of the community.
In the past short films from US, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Germany, Korea, Spain and many more countries have been screened and awarded. Public and private schools throughout Maryland have screened the films for their students in a cultural program/assembly.
Attendees and filmmakers are saying:
“Simply the best festival ever!” - Alan Chriest
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” Nicole Rose.
“Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.” - Charlotte McLaverty
Four awards will be offered - “Best Film,” “Best Film Made By Youth,” “Film Festival Choice,” and “Most Uplifting Film”. Submission deadlines are April 5th for early submission discounts, July 12th is the regular deadline, and August 9th is the deadline for late submission. Winners are notified by August 24, 2024.
All short film submissions are accepted through Film Freeway. To submit a short film to ILIFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalFilmFestival, and to submit to ILICFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalChildrensFilmFestival.
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
Talent Agents, Film Producers/Directors Host
Virtual Open Call Auditions at the 8th
Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals
Sunday September 29, 2024
(Baltimore, MD – March 23, 2024) – Talent agents, film producers and directors to host the Imagination Lunchbox Virtual Open Call Auditions Sunday September 29, 2024 from 1pmEST to 3pmEST, powered by Zoom. The auditions are part of the activities offered at the 8th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Film Festivals September 21 – 29, 2024 online and at various places in Baltimore, Maryland. The Virtual Open Call Auditions are presented in partnership with Talent Concierge Artists Agency (TCAA) and ReMARKable Productions. It is sponsored in part by A&B Productions and Face Plant Films.
Attendees get a chance to audition along with specially invited artists. The Imagination Lunchbox film festivals include the Imagination Lunchbox International Film Fest and the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest. Screening and awarding for both festivals will be held virtually Saturday September 21st. The Imagination Lunchbox/Eubie Blake Filmmaking Workshops are Sunday September 22nd at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center in Baltimore. Private screenings at various schools in Baltimore from Monday September 23 to Friday September 27th. The Imagination Lunchbox Basketball Tournament of games community event will be held Saturday September 28th at the Druid Hill Park Courts in Baltimore, and the ILIFFs end Sunday September 29th with the Virtual Open Call Auditions.
Launched in 2015 by SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (PBS, DreamWorks) and filmmaker with over 20 awards for his projects (Imagination Lunchbox, LLC) Anthony Michael Hobbs (www.Anthony-Michael.com), the film fests provide young filmmakers with a platform to screen and be honored for their projects. The community event has expanded in an attempt to meet the demands of the community.
In the past short films from US, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Germany, Korea, Spain and many more countries have been screened and awarded. Public and private schools throughout Maryland have screened the films for their students in a cultural program/assembly.
Attendees and filmmakers are saying:
“Simply the best festival ever!” - Alan Chriest
“Super impressed with them and love that they have kid judges,” Nicole Rose.
“Such a friendly creative film festival. It was a wonderful experience.” - Charlotte McLaverty
Four awards will be offered - “Best Film,” “Best Film Made By Youth,” “Film Festival Choice,” and “Most Uplifting Film”. Submission deadlines are April 5th for early submission discounts, July 12th is the regular deadline, and August 9th is the deadline for late submission. Winners are notified by August 24, 2024.
All short film submissions are accepted through Film Freeway. To submit a short film to ILIFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalFilmFestival, and to submit to ILICFF log onto www.FilmFreeway.com/ImaginationLunchboxInternationalChildrensFilmFestival.
# # #
Freelance Associates
Contact: Eunice Moseley
Long Beach, CA 90807
Off: (562) 424-3836
E-mail: FreeAssocInc3@aol.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Short Film 1872 Forward: Foreword Selected for Screening at the 2023 Denton Black Film Festival
(Baltimore, MD – December 16, 2022) – The Denton Black Film Festival (DBFF) has announced that the short documentary film 1872 Forward: Foreword will be screened at DBFF Friday January 27, 2023, at 4:30pmCST at the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre #8 (Denton, Texas). The 1872 Forward: Foreword documentary was produced by Wesby One Production and the More Than a Fraction Foundation and follows the Merry Tree Memorial event held March 24 - 26, 2022 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) for their 1872 Forward: Celebrating Virginia Tech and its 250-year history. The event was sponsored with grants from the Virginia Humanities and the The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
The DBFF will be held in Denton, Texas from January 25 – 29, 2023 at various locations and January 29 – February 5, 2023, virtually. The festival showcases not only cinema, but also music, spoken word, technology, comedy, and art. Locations include the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre, the Denton Civic Center, and the Margo Jones Performance Hall.
John Wesby (Wesby One Productions) filmed, directed, and produced the project and the More Than A Fraction Foundation executively produced the documentary. The creative non-fiction book “More Than a Fraction: Based on a true story” is a narrative book based on the research by Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, the Executive Director of the More Than A Fraction Foundation. She discovered that her ancestors were enslaved on the grounds that are now Virginia Tech when it was once called Smithfield. Impressed with her research and connection to the grounds of the institution she was invited to join the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation which oversees another part of the grounds connected to Virginia Tech which was also on the Smithfield plantation. Dr. Moseley-Hobbs has been serving on the board since 2015 and helping to highlight the lives of the enslaved Africans and the displaced Indigenous peoples. The More Than A Fraction Foundation Merry Tree Memorial project highlights the tree that was the center point for the enslaved community to meet, worship, marry, and more for over 300 years.
Dr. Moseley-Hobbs has an over 30-year career in education (administration, research, and program development). She is one of the leading speakers on the history of Africans in America and African-Americans from the Appalachian region. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs is a fifth-generation descendant of Thomas Fraction, the main subject in her book “More Than a Fraction.”
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
www.DentonBFF.com
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Short Film 1872 Forward: Foreword Selected for Screening at the 2023 Denton Black Film Festival
(Baltimore, MD – December 16, 2022) – The Denton Black Film Festival (DBFF) has announced that the short documentary film 1872 Forward: Foreword will be screened at DBFF Friday January 27, 2023, at 4:30pmCST at the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre #8 (Denton, Texas). The 1872 Forward: Foreword documentary was produced by Wesby One Production and the More Than a Fraction Foundation and follows the Merry Tree Memorial event held March 24 - 26, 2022 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) for their 1872 Forward: Celebrating Virginia Tech and its 250-year history. The event was sponsored with grants from the Virginia Humanities and the The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
The DBFF will be held in Denton, Texas from January 25 – 29, 2023 at various locations and January 29 – February 5, 2023, virtually. The festival showcases not only cinema, but also music, spoken word, technology, comedy, and art. Locations include the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre, the Denton Civic Center, and the Margo Jones Performance Hall.
John Wesby (Wesby One Productions) filmed, directed, and produced the project and the More Than A Fraction Foundation executively produced the documentary. The creative non-fiction book “More Than a Fraction: Based on a true story” is a narrative book based on the research by Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, the Executive Director of the More Than A Fraction Foundation. She discovered that her ancestors were enslaved on the grounds that are now Virginia Tech when it was once called Smithfield. Impressed with her research and connection to the grounds of the institution she was invited to join the Board of Directors of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation which oversees another part of the grounds connected to Virginia Tech which was also on the Smithfield plantation. Dr. Moseley-Hobbs has been serving on the board since 2015 and helping to highlight the lives of the enslaved Africans and the displaced Indigenous peoples. The More Than A Fraction Foundation Merry Tree Memorial project highlights the tree that was the center point for the enslaved community to meet, worship, marry, and more for over 300 years.
Dr. Moseley-Hobbs has an over 30-year career in education (administration, research, and program development). She is one of the leading speakers on the history of Africans in America and African-Americans from the Appalachian region. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs is a fifth-generation descendant of Thomas Fraction, the main subject in her book “More Than a Fraction.”
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
www.DentonBFF.com
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 6th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children Film Fest Winners from U. S. and Japan
The ILICFF Basketball Tournament and Filmmaking Workshop Get Praise from Coaches and Executive Film Producer
(Baltimore, MD – November 18, 2022) – The 6th annual “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival” (ILICFF) held recently via Zoom and the Baltimore Design School announce winners of the film fest. Winners include Nicholas Bennings’ Forecast (U.S.) for Best Film By Kids; Brent Forrest’s Samurai Frog Golf (Japan) for Best Film For Kids; Joshua M. Thomas’ Yesteryear (U.S.) for Film Festival Choice, and Kevin Maher and Joe Dator’s Santa Doesn’t Need Your Help (U.S.) for Most Uplifting Film. SAG/Actress Doresa Harvey and ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs hosted the event, that included a Basketball Tournament fundraiser at Druid Hill Park Courts, and Filmmaking Workshops at the Eubie Blake Center, which include Securing Film Locations/Made in Baltimore, presented by Debra Dorsey, Director of the Baltimore Film Office, and hosted by Hobbs and Film Production, presented by Wesby One Productions, and hosted by executive producer John Wesby. The basketball tournament consisted of teams from Coach Jackson and Coach Winchester with the team with the most points receiving the 2022 ULMII Best Tournament Team Award, which was Coach Winchester’s team.
“Thanks for the invite. My boys enjoyed the games. Call me for anything or at anytime if you need kids to attend” – Coach Jackson/Baltimore Recreation & Parks
“Thank you all. He’s a nice young man (ILICFF founder Anthony Hobbs) and I love his mission.” – Chris Frederick/Baltimore Design School
“Really Thrilled with all of the promotion. I think the young lady walked away with some knowledge. Please let’s continue to work together. Thank you.” – John Wesby/Wesby One Productions
Other short films screened came from Greece, India, Taiwan, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain and Poland. The “Most Uplifting Film” Award was sponsored by the “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference, which is celebrating 23 years of community service in Baltimore and Los Angeles. The 2023 “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” will be September 23 – October 1st, so stay logged onto www.ImaginationLunchbox.com for more details.
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The 6th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children Film Fest Winners from U. S. and Japan
The ILICFF Basketball Tournament and Filmmaking Workshop Get Praise from Coaches and Executive Film Producer
(Baltimore, MD – November 18, 2022) – The 6th annual “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival” (ILICFF) held recently via Zoom and the Baltimore Design School announce winners of the film fest. Winners include Nicholas Bennings’ Forecast (U.S.) for Best Film By Kids; Brent Forrest’s Samurai Frog Golf (Japan) for Best Film For Kids; Joshua M. Thomas’ Yesteryear (U.S.) for Film Festival Choice, and Kevin Maher and Joe Dator’s Santa Doesn’t Need Your Help (U.S.) for Most Uplifting Film. SAG/Actress Doresa Harvey and ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs hosted the event, that included a Basketball Tournament fundraiser at Druid Hill Park Courts, and Filmmaking Workshops at the Eubie Blake Center, which include Securing Film Locations/Made in Baltimore, presented by Debra Dorsey, Director of the Baltimore Film Office, and hosted by Hobbs and Film Production, presented by Wesby One Productions, and hosted by executive producer John Wesby. The basketball tournament consisted of teams from Coach Jackson and Coach Winchester with the team with the most points receiving the 2022 ULMII Best Tournament Team Award, which was Coach Winchester’s team.
“Thanks for the invite. My boys enjoyed the games. Call me for anything or at anytime if you need kids to attend” – Coach Jackson/Baltimore Recreation & Parks
“Thank you all. He’s a nice young man (ILICFF founder Anthony Hobbs) and I love his mission.” – Chris Frederick/Baltimore Design School
“Really Thrilled with all of the promotion. I think the young lady walked away with some knowledge. Please let’s continue to work together. Thank you.” – John Wesby/Wesby One Productions
Other short films screened came from Greece, India, Taiwan, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain and Poland. The “Most Uplifting Film” Award was sponsored by the “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference, which is celebrating 23 years of community service in Baltimore and Los Angeles. The 2023 “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” will be September 23 – October 1st, so stay logged onto www.ImaginationLunchbox.com for more details.
# # #
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Radio One Baltimore Sponsors the 6th annual
‘Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest’
October 8 - 16, 2022
The ILI Children’s Film Festival Goes Hybrid October 8, 2022, Offering Zoom Access at the Baltimore Design School
(Baltimore, MD) – Radio One Baltimore announced as an official radio sponsor of the 6th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest (ILICFF) October 8 – 16, 2022 starting Saturday October 8, 2022, at the Baltimore Design School (1500 Barclay Street, Baltimore, MD 21202) which will screen short films made by kids and for kids from 1-3pmEST and via Zoom. Selected films are also considered for two award categories for “Best Film,” one for “Festival Choice,” and one “Most Uplifting.” One of the partners of ILICFF, the Baltimore Design School is a college preparatory curriculum with a focus on graphic, fashion, and architecture design for grades 6 – 12th, and Radio One Baltimore, known for launching the nation’s biggest radio personalities is also known for supporting its community via its stations 92Q Jams, Magic 95.9FM, Praise 106.1FM, WOLB 1010AM, and Spirit 1400AM.
Though forced online via Zoom during the COVID pandemic ILICFF decided to keep that online access as it returns in-person at the Baltimore Design School. That forced Zoom transition provided ILICFF with an international audience of filmmakers and attendees from as far as India, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and Germany. International short films made by kids and for kids will be screened and awarded in four categories on Saturday Oct 8th at the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest, that continues the next day Sunday October 9th with a basket tournament fundraiser that’s free to the public and presented in partnership with the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks from 12 – 4pm at the Druid Hill Park Courts (21211). Then ILICFF ends with two days of filmmaking workshops for youth, presented in partnership with the Eubie Blake Center (847 N. Howard Street, 21201) Saturday and Sunday October 15 – 16th from 12 – 3pm – and sponsored in part by the Baltimore Film Office, a division of the Baltimore Office of Promotions and the Arts and The Baltimore Times Foundation, Times Community Services, Inc. All three events are co-hosted by founder Anthony Michael Hobbs, a SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (PBS, DreamWorks) and filmmaker (Imagination Lunchbox, LLC), who will also lead one of the four high school level basketball teams during the ILICFF/BCRP Basketball Tournament at the Druid Hill Park Courts.
The Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest (www.ImaginationLunchbox.com) was created in 2016 by Anthony to give young filmmakers, like him, a platform to showcase their films. Anthony has garnered over 20 awards for writing, starring-in, directing and producing multi award winning short films, such as One Nation, and Naga Pixie. He has also produced short films through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC for others, such as Agent Hollywood – another multi-award winning film. www.ImaginationLunchbox.com
# # #
~~~
U.S. Army Grants Request for the Correction of United States Colored Soldier Civil War Service Record: Sergeant Thomas Fraction Honorable Status, a 155 Year Journey
(Baltimore, MD – August 11, 2021) – A request to the United States Army for a correction to the military record of United States Colored Soldier Thomas Fraction, who fought for the Union during the Civil War, was granted on July 7th, 2021. Thomas was a Civil War soldier who fought alongside his brother Othello Fraction for the 40th U. S. Colored Infantry out of Tennessee after escaping from slavery in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The brothers were two of at least four individuals enslaved on the Smithfield plantation who would escape to fight for the Union during the Civil War to gain their freedom. During his service, Thomas Fraction would grow in rank from Private to Sergeant (a rarity for Black soldiers and especially enslaved peoples at that time). During their service, Thomas and his brother were granted a 30-day furlough at which time they returned to the Smithfield plantation despite threats from their enslaver. Upon their return, Thomas was shot by his former enslaver, Confederate soldier Robert Preston, and then jailed. After learning of the events that happened to Thomas, the Union Army demoted Thomas from Sergeant to Private and dishonorably discharged him. Thomas would attempt to have his record corrected up until his death in Salem, Virginia in 1892. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs (More Than a Fraction Foundation) petitioned the U.S. Army to review Thomas’ case and recognized the injustice that he experienced, and posthumously correct Thomas’ military records. Dr. Moseley-Hobbs is the 4th great-grand daughter of Thomas Fraction.
Upon reviewing the case, on July 7th, the U.S. Army provided a Certificate of Honorable Discharge for Thomas Fraction with a letter acknowledging the correction to his military record, and the reinstatement of his rank as a Sergeant.
The journey for Thomas Fraction to receive the status deserved has been 155 years in the making. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs submitted her request to the U.S. Army, with documented evidence of the injustice, more than 4 years ago. The petition to correct Thomas’ record is part of a mission and vision that began in 2014 when Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs and her maternal grandmother decided to research for more information about their maternal ancestors. The search ended at the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University (Virginia Tech), which was originally the Smithfield and Solitude plantations, where Thomas Fraction and his family were enslaved by the Prestons family. During Thomas’ service he would display moments of leadership that garnered him the status of a level 5 Sergeant.
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs tells the amazing story of the Fractions at Smithfield and Solitude plantations in a creative nonfiction book titled “More Than a Fraction: Based on a true story.” Thomas Fraction went on to become, what a local Salem, Virginia newspaper called, a “well-known colored man” and land owner (an amazing achievement for the time-period).
This monumental correction by the U.S. Army is only the beginning of what Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs has planned to highlight the plight of the enslaved of that period, like the Fraction family, through her nonprofit More Than a Fraction Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to expand research, education, and programs by approaching the subject from an “Africans in America” and African-American centric view. By using this centric view the More Than a Fraction Foundation promotes new angles of research from innovative lenses and focal points. The author and historian currently has a seat on the Board of Directors for the Smithfield-Preston Foundation, which oversees the Historic Smithfield Museum, as well as serves on event and special programming committees at Virginia Tech, which oversees the Solitude House and the last standing slave cabin on the campus which was recently renamed the Fraction Family Cabin. The More Than a Fraction Foundation in collaboration with Historic Smithfield Museum will be hosting a special event to commemorate the correction of Thomas’ military record, and the service of all the enslaved people that fought for their freedom during the Civil War on Saturday, November 6, 2021.
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs is available for interviews and appearances to talk about this monumental move by the U. S. Army in correcting an injustice committed 155 years ago against Sergeant Thomas Fraction. Email FreeAssocInc3@aol.com for more information.
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
# # #
Radio One Baltimore Sponsors the 6th annual
‘Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest’
October 8 - 16, 2022
The ILI Children’s Film Festival Goes Hybrid October 8, 2022, Offering Zoom Access at the Baltimore Design School
(Baltimore, MD) – Radio One Baltimore announced as an official radio sponsor of the 6th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest (ILICFF) October 8 – 16, 2022 starting Saturday October 8, 2022, at the Baltimore Design School (1500 Barclay Street, Baltimore, MD 21202) which will screen short films made by kids and for kids from 1-3pmEST and via Zoom. Selected films are also considered for two award categories for “Best Film,” one for “Festival Choice,” and one “Most Uplifting.” One of the partners of ILICFF, the Baltimore Design School is a college preparatory curriculum with a focus on graphic, fashion, and architecture design for grades 6 – 12th, and Radio One Baltimore, known for launching the nation’s biggest radio personalities is also known for supporting its community via its stations 92Q Jams, Magic 95.9FM, Praise 106.1FM, WOLB 1010AM, and Spirit 1400AM.
Though forced online via Zoom during the COVID pandemic ILICFF decided to keep that online access as it returns in-person at the Baltimore Design School. That forced Zoom transition provided ILICFF with an international audience of filmmakers and attendees from as far as India, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and Germany. International short films made by kids and for kids will be screened and awarded in four categories on Saturday Oct 8th at the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest, that continues the next day Sunday October 9th with a basket tournament fundraiser that’s free to the public and presented in partnership with the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks from 12 – 4pm at the Druid Hill Park Courts (21211). Then ILICFF ends with two days of filmmaking workshops for youth, presented in partnership with the Eubie Blake Center (847 N. Howard Street, 21201) Saturday and Sunday October 15 – 16th from 12 – 3pm – and sponsored in part by the Baltimore Film Office, a division of the Baltimore Office of Promotions and the Arts and The Baltimore Times Foundation, Times Community Services, Inc. All three events are co-hosted by founder Anthony Michael Hobbs, a SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (PBS, DreamWorks) and filmmaker (Imagination Lunchbox, LLC), who will also lead one of the four high school level basketball teams during the ILICFF/BCRP Basketball Tournament at the Druid Hill Park Courts.
The Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest (www.ImaginationLunchbox.com) was created in 2016 by Anthony to give young filmmakers, like him, a platform to showcase their films. Anthony has garnered over 20 awards for writing, starring-in, directing and producing multi award winning short films, such as One Nation, and Naga Pixie. He has also produced short films through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC for others, such as Agent Hollywood – another multi-award winning film. www.ImaginationLunchbox.com
# # #
~~~
U.S. Army Grants Request for the Correction of United States Colored Soldier Civil War Service Record: Sergeant Thomas Fraction Honorable Status, a 155 Year Journey
(Baltimore, MD – August 11, 2021) – A request to the United States Army for a correction to the military record of United States Colored Soldier Thomas Fraction, who fought for the Union during the Civil War, was granted on July 7th, 2021. Thomas was a Civil War soldier who fought alongside his brother Othello Fraction for the 40th U. S. Colored Infantry out of Tennessee after escaping from slavery in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The brothers were two of at least four individuals enslaved on the Smithfield plantation who would escape to fight for the Union during the Civil War to gain their freedom. During his service, Thomas Fraction would grow in rank from Private to Sergeant (a rarity for Black soldiers and especially enslaved peoples at that time). During their service, Thomas and his brother were granted a 30-day furlough at which time they returned to the Smithfield plantation despite threats from their enslaver. Upon their return, Thomas was shot by his former enslaver, Confederate soldier Robert Preston, and then jailed. After learning of the events that happened to Thomas, the Union Army demoted Thomas from Sergeant to Private and dishonorably discharged him. Thomas would attempt to have his record corrected up until his death in Salem, Virginia in 1892. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs (More Than a Fraction Foundation) petitioned the U.S. Army to review Thomas’ case and recognized the injustice that he experienced, and posthumously correct Thomas’ military records. Dr. Moseley-Hobbs is the 4th great-grand daughter of Thomas Fraction.
Upon reviewing the case, on July 7th, the U.S. Army provided a Certificate of Honorable Discharge for Thomas Fraction with a letter acknowledging the correction to his military record, and the reinstatement of his rank as a Sergeant.
The journey for Thomas Fraction to receive the status deserved has been 155 years in the making. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs submitted her request to the U.S. Army, with documented evidence of the injustice, more than 4 years ago. The petition to correct Thomas’ record is part of a mission and vision that began in 2014 when Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs and her maternal grandmother decided to research for more information about their maternal ancestors. The search ended at the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University (Virginia Tech), which was originally the Smithfield and Solitude plantations, where Thomas Fraction and his family were enslaved by the Prestons family. During Thomas’ service he would display moments of leadership that garnered him the status of a level 5 Sergeant.
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs tells the amazing story of the Fractions at Smithfield and Solitude plantations in a creative nonfiction book titled “More Than a Fraction: Based on a true story.” Thomas Fraction went on to become, what a local Salem, Virginia newspaper called, a “well-known colored man” and land owner (an amazing achievement for the time-period).
This monumental correction by the U.S. Army is only the beginning of what Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs has planned to highlight the plight of the enslaved of that period, like the Fraction family, through her nonprofit More Than a Fraction Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to expand research, education, and programs by approaching the subject from an “Africans in America” and African-American centric view. By using this centric view the More Than a Fraction Foundation promotes new angles of research from innovative lenses and focal points. The author and historian currently has a seat on the Board of Directors for the Smithfield-Preston Foundation, which oversees the Historic Smithfield Museum, as well as serves on event and special programming committees at Virginia Tech, which oversees the Solitude House and the last standing slave cabin on the campus which was recently renamed the Fraction Family Cabin. The More Than a Fraction Foundation in collaboration with Historic Smithfield Museum will be hosting a special event to commemorate the correction of Thomas’ military record, and the service of all the enslaved people that fought for their freedom during the Civil War on Saturday, November 6, 2021.
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs is available for interviews and appearances to talk about this monumental move by the U. S. Army in correcting an injustice committed 155 years ago against Sergeant Thomas Fraction. Email FreeAssocInc3@aol.com for more information.
www.MoreThanaFraction.org
# # #
Short Films From Around the World Awarded at the 2021 ‘Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest,’ Includes Short Films from Australia, Korea and the U.S.
(Baltimore, MD – August 11, 2021) – The 2021 “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” (ILICFF), held recently via Zoom, has announced the winners of this years’ festival. The film fest was hosted by radio personality Doresa Harvey (Magic 95.9FM/Praise 106.1FM) and ILICFF founder SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (DreamWorks, PBS) and filmmaker (ImaginationLunchbox.com) Anthony Michael Hobbs. In its 5th year, ILICFF is a free community event presented by the Eubie Blake Center and The Baltimore Times Foundation, Times Community Services, Inc.
Winners included Ruth and Nick: A Confectionery Tale by Carter Rostron from the U.S. for “Most Uplifting Film;” Bucket Hat! by Demetrios Tzamaras from the U.S. for “Best Film Made FOR Kids;” Hairfoo Memorphis by Luca Pasvolsky from Australia for “Film Festival Choice,” and What I Want to Say to You by Jeongso-a Kim, Do-yeon Kim, Min-gyu Kim, Soo Seo Jae-hyun, Son Joo-young Shin, Yu-chan Sae-woo, Lee So-hee Jeon, Chan-young Chae Myung-kyung, Hwang Hyun-chang, and Jung Hee-sung from Korea for “Best Film Made BY Kids.”
Short films screened at the 2021 ILICFF, made by kids and for kids, were from Germany, Australia, United States, Korea, Netherlands, China, India, Canada, Iran, Spain and Jamaica. The 22 year-old “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference sponsored the “Most Uplifting Film” Award (UpliftingMinds2.com) for the 5th year.
The 2021 “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” was created by Hobbs to give young filmmakers, like him, a platform to showcase their films and view other creative projects made for a young audience. Anthony has garnered over 20 awards for writing, starring in, directing and producing multi award winning short films One Nation, and Naga Pixie. He also produced through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC a short film for his coach, Agent Hollywood, another multi-award winning project.
# # #
(Baltimore, MD – August 11, 2021) – The 2021 “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” (ILICFF), held recently via Zoom, has announced the winners of this years’ festival. The film fest was hosted by radio personality Doresa Harvey (Magic 95.9FM/Praise 106.1FM) and ILICFF founder SAG/AFTRA multi-award winning actor (DreamWorks, PBS) and filmmaker (ImaginationLunchbox.com) Anthony Michael Hobbs. In its 5th year, ILICFF is a free community event presented by the Eubie Blake Center and The Baltimore Times Foundation, Times Community Services, Inc.
Winners included Ruth and Nick: A Confectionery Tale by Carter Rostron from the U.S. for “Most Uplifting Film;” Bucket Hat! by Demetrios Tzamaras from the U.S. for “Best Film Made FOR Kids;” Hairfoo Memorphis by Luca Pasvolsky from Australia for “Film Festival Choice,” and What I Want to Say to You by Jeongso-a Kim, Do-yeon Kim, Min-gyu Kim, Soo Seo Jae-hyun, Son Joo-young Shin, Yu-chan Sae-woo, Lee So-hee Jeon, Chan-young Chae Myung-kyung, Hwang Hyun-chang, and Jung Hee-sung from Korea for “Best Film Made BY Kids.”
Short films screened at the 2021 ILICFF, made by kids and for kids, were from Germany, Australia, United States, Korea, Netherlands, China, India, Canada, Iran, Spain and Jamaica. The 22 year-old “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference sponsored the “Most Uplifting Film” Award (UpliftingMinds2.com) for the 5th year.
The 2021 “Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest” was created by Hobbs to give young filmmakers, like him, a platform to showcase their films and view other creative projects made for a young audience. Anthony has garnered over 20 awards for writing, starring in, directing and producing multi award winning short films One Nation, and Naga Pixie. He also produced through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC a short film for his coach, Agent Hollywood, another multi-award winning project.
# # #
The 5th annual ‘Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest’ Announces Short Films to be Screened Saturday, August 7, 2021 via Zoom from 1-3pmET
(Baltimore, MD – July 15, 2021) – The 5th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival (ILICFF) has announced the selection of a series of short films made by kids and for kids to be screened on Saturday, August 7, 2021 from 1-3pm EST via Zoom. Presented by the Eubie Blake Center and The Baltimore Times Foundation, Times Community Services, Inc., the film festival will award films in four categories - will be presented -Best Films Made BY Kids, Best Film Made FOR Kids, Film Festival Choice, and the Most Uplifting Film. The Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest, will be hosted by ILICFF founder multi-award winning SAG/AFTRA actor (DreamWorks, PBS) and filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs and radio personality Doresa Harvey (Magic 95.9FM/Praise 106.1FM).
Selected short films to be screened and potentially awarded come from around the world to include the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Korea, Iran, Netherlands, Spain, China, Jamaica, India , and Jamaica. This is the second year, due to the pandemic; ILICFF will be hosting the event via Zoom. However, it has allowed ILICFF to be a worldwide event, attracting attendees from as far as Spain and Japan.
Attendees will select the Best Film by Kids and Best Film for Kids Awards, with the founder Hobbs selecting the Film Festival Choice and the Most Uplifting Film Awards. The Most Uplifting Film Award is sponsored by the “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference, celebrating 22 years of service to the community (www.UpliftingMinds2.com).
The Zoom link to ILICFF will be posted at www.ImaginationLunchbox.com the week of the date.
# # #
(Baltimore, MD – July 15, 2021) – The 5th annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival (ILICFF) has announced the selection of a series of short films made by kids and for kids to be screened on Saturday, August 7, 2021 from 1-3pm EST via Zoom. Presented by the Eubie Blake Center and The Baltimore Times Foundation, Times Community Services, Inc., the film festival will award films in four categories - will be presented -Best Films Made BY Kids, Best Film Made FOR Kids, Film Festival Choice, and the Most Uplifting Film. The Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest, will be hosted by ILICFF founder multi-award winning SAG/AFTRA actor (DreamWorks, PBS) and filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs and radio personality Doresa Harvey (Magic 95.9FM/Praise 106.1FM).
Selected short films to be screened and potentially awarded come from around the world to include the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Korea, Iran, Netherlands, Spain, China, Jamaica, India , and Jamaica. This is the second year, due to the pandemic; ILICFF will be hosting the event via Zoom. However, it has allowed ILICFF to be a worldwide event, attracting attendees from as far as Spain and Japan.
Attendees will select the Best Film by Kids and Best Film for Kids Awards, with the founder Hobbs selecting the Film Festival Choice and the Most Uplifting Film Awards. The Most Uplifting Film Award is sponsored by the “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference, celebrating 22 years of service to the community (www.UpliftingMinds2.com).
The Zoom link to ILICFF will be posted at www.ImaginationLunchbox.com the week of the date.
# # #
Winners of the 3rd Annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Fest are from the USA, Australia and Japan
New York’s Cenera Davis Among Winners of the 2019 Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival in Baltimore
(Baltimore, MD – May 11, 2019) – The winning short films of the 3rd annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival (ILICFF) that was recently held at the Baltimore Shake & Bake Family Fun Center and Our Lady of Victory Catholic School were announced and are from the U.S., Australia and Japan. The ILICFF was hosted by Doresa Harvey (Magic 95.9FM) and ILICFF founder multi-award winning actor/filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs (PBS’ “The Abolitionist”), and presented in part by The Baltimore Times Foundation Times Community Services and Our Lady of Victory (OLV). Winners included Director Cenera Davis (USA) for “Film Festival Choice” for “The Hungry Hedgehog” - who attended the event; Director Makiko Nanke for “Best Film Made For Kids” for “Good Night” (Japan); Director Brenna Johnson for “Most Uplifting Film” for “Ming” (USA), and Director Charlotte McLawerty for “Best Film Made By Kids” for “Social” (Australia).
The remainder of short films made by and for kids (up to age 18) that were screened at the 3rd annual ILICFF also came from Qatara and Russia. Great messages were key to the selections. For example “Ming” had a message that what seems scary in the dark is not so scary in the light and “Social” had a message about the dangers of texting while walking or driving.
The ILICFF was founded by Hobbs who has two multi-award winning short films, One Nation and Naga Pixie, which he produced under his production company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC (www.ImaginationLunchbox.com). Hobbs is quoted as saying that he started the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival because he wanted to inspire youth like himself to work towards their dreams. As an actor Anthony Michael has garnered over eight awards for his skills. In 2013 he represented PBS at the Emmy Awards for his role as a young Frederick Douglass in their Special Mini-Series “The American Experience: The Abolitionist” (http://video.pbs.org/video/2321796209). He also starred in the DreamWorks documentary “How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bekKOmfsWfc). Also a model Anthony Michael Hobbs has worked on the national campaigns for Finish Line Athletics (in-store and catalogue), Villa Sportswear and ToysRUs. He has starred in commercials and television segments for Comcast Xfinity, Sprout Network, United Way and Claritin Kids Allergy.
To see photos and videos from the 3rd Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival log onto www.ImaginationLunchbox.com/ILIC-Film-Festival.html.
(Photo: Cenera Davis, ILICFF winner, ILICFF Founder Anthony Michael Hobbs and ILICFF host Doresa Harvey/Magic 95.9fm. Photo Credit: Freelance Associates)
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Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs’ ‘More Than a Fraction’ Presentation Arrives at Eubie Blake Cultural Center
Eubie Blake Cultural Center to Host the ‘More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture’ Presentation Saturday, August 17, 2019
(Baltimore, MD – April 1, 2019) – The premiere gallery for the Eubie Blake Collection, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institution & Cultural Center (847 N. Howard Street, 21201), located in Baltimore will host Dr. Moseley-Hobbs’ “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” Presentation Saturday, August 17, 2019 from 1 – 3 p.m. The Center honors Jazz pianist/composer Eubie Blake, whose musical imprint spear-headed the presence of people of color on Broadway and in films with his style of music called “Rag-Time.”
During research into her ancestry Dr. Moseley-Hobbs discovered the Fractions who were enslaved and freed at the Smithfield and Solitude plantations in Blacksburg, Virginia. By the third generation of Fractions the Civil War began giving two Fraction brothers, Thomas and Othello, the opportunity to gain their freedom. The amount of inquiries into such a rich history on an African-American family was over-whelming and resulted in Dr. Moseley-Hobbs publishing a creative non-fiction account of the documentations on the Fractions titled "More Than a Fraction." Upon being published she was asked to present her book and research findings as a lecture for the Civil War Studies Department of Virginia Tech University, which is now housed on the grounds of the Smithfield and Solitude plantations. The lecture had standing room only. She went on to present the research on the book at three libraries in her hometown of Baltimore (Enoch Pratt Central, Edmondson and Waverly Free Libraries). On Sunday May 26th she speaks at the African American Civil War Museum in Washington, DC on her ancestry research.
Dr. Moseley-Hobbs’ “lecture” is now called the “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Cultural” Presentation. It talks about what documentation was discovered, some of which is included in her book and some are not, such as their struggles to be free after the Civil War was won, how they became land owners, how one brother became a respected train worker and how their names came to be engraved on the Wall of the War Memorial Plaza in Washington, DC.
Today Dr. Moseley-Hobbs is a member of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation’s Board of Trustees that oversees the historic estate where the Smithfield plantation was located, and she continues to work with Virginia Tech University that now holds the Solitude plantation and the overall majority of land of the Preston family plantations. Both the Smithfield and Solitude plantations are now museums. The Preston family, former owners, was considered the wealthiest family in Virginia at the time. The last heir to the Smithfield estate was William Ballard Preston, a former Virginia State Senator and U.S. Secretary of the Navy and the last heir to the Solitude estate was Williams’ brother Robert Preston.
Dr. Hobbs is a direct descendant of Thomas Fraction, the oldest brother of Othello, on her mothers’ side. Thomas was noted by a local newspaper as being a "well known colored man" when he passed away. “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” includes a very powerful Power-Point presentation where Dr. Moseley-Hobbs connects the African cultures of her ancestors' to the cultural norms of African-Americans in the U.S. today.
Eubie Blake lived to be 100 (96 according to U. S. Census) and was performing and composing up to his death. He started playing the organ at age 4. The owner of the organ told his mother he was a genius. By age 20 he was playing in the first colored club in Baltimore owned by boxing champ Joe Grans. From there he went into filmmaking with three projects to show for it - all now among the Maurice Zouary Film Collection at the Library of Congress.
As an actor Eubie appeared in two films – Warner Bros. Pie Pie Blackbird (1932) and Scott Joplin (1977). He was married twice. First marriage was to his childhood sweetheart when he was in his late 20s, which lasted 28 years until her death at 58 from tuberculosis. His last marriage was in 1945 to a widower, Marion Tyler, a business woman whose late husband was a violinist. She managed Eubie Blake’s career and they were married for 37 years until her death in 1982. A year after marrying her Blake retired in order to enroll at New York University. He received a degree in Music Composition and spent the next 20 years putting on paper all the songs he had in his head. Subsequently because of his achievements Blake was given eight honorary Doctorate Degrees – Rutgers (1979), University of Maryland (1978), Morgan State University (1979), Dartmouth (1974), Howard University (1982), the North England Conservatory (1974) and Pratt Institute – when he was well over 90 years old. In 1995, 12 years after his death, Eubie Blake received a United States Postal Service Stamp. While alive however, President Reagan gave him the Presidential Metal of Freedom at 98 (94). In the late 70s and early 80s he received a Grammy Award nomination for the album release “The 86 Years of Eubie Blake,” which rekindled his music and resulted in appearances on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” “The Merv Griffin Show” and “Saturday Night Live” (when he was 92).
The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center brings artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds together to support, develop, promote and advocate for cultural and educational programming in the visual and performing arts. Eubie and Marion Blake donated part of his collection to the Maryland Historical Society and Gallery 409 (owned by Urban Services Agency, an after school program). Gallery 409 was the premiere gallery for his collection and was eventually renamed the Eubie Blake Cultural Arts Center in 1983 after a fire destroyed the Gallery 409. Baltimore city donated 34 Market Place to the Eubie Blake Collection, at the time named the Brokerage Building and now known as Power Plant Live. With some of the Eubie Blake collection at the Maryland Historical Society and a change in name to the Eubie Blake National Jazz & Cultural Center, it was reopened. Today the Center is still trying to reclaim the rest of the Eubie Blake Collection.
The "More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture" Presentation Saturday August 17, 2019 is sponsored by the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institution & Cultural Center, The Baltimore Times' foundation Times Community Services, Imagination Lunchbox, LLC and ThePulseofEntertainment.com. To learn more about Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs visit www.ImaginationLunchbox.com or email ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com. To learn more about the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center log onto www.EubieBlake.org. "More Than a Fraction” can be purchased at Barnes & Nobles and Amazon websites.
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Eubie Blake Cultural Center to Host the ‘More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture’ Presentation Saturday, August 17, 2019
(Baltimore, MD – April 1, 2019) – The premiere gallery for the Eubie Blake Collection, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institution & Cultural Center (847 N. Howard Street, 21201), located in Baltimore will host Dr. Moseley-Hobbs’ “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” Presentation Saturday, August 17, 2019 from 1 – 3 p.m. The Center honors Jazz pianist/composer Eubie Blake, whose musical imprint spear-headed the presence of people of color on Broadway and in films with his style of music called “Rag-Time.”
During research into her ancestry Dr. Moseley-Hobbs discovered the Fractions who were enslaved and freed at the Smithfield and Solitude plantations in Blacksburg, Virginia. By the third generation of Fractions the Civil War began giving two Fraction brothers, Thomas and Othello, the opportunity to gain their freedom. The amount of inquiries into such a rich history on an African-American family was over-whelming and resulted in Dr. Moseley-Hobbs publishing a creative non-fiction account of the documentations on the Fractions titled "More Than a Fraction." Upon being published she was asked to present her book and research findings as a lecture for the Civil War Studies Department of Virginia Tech University, which is now housed on the grounds of the Smithfield and Solitude plantations. The lecture had standing room only. She went on to present the research on the book at three libraries in her hometown of Baltimore (Enoch Pratt Central, Edmondson and Waverly Free Libraries). On Sunday May 26th she speaks at the African American Civil War Museum in Washington, DC on her ancestry research.
Dr. Moseley-Hobbs’ “lecture” is now called the “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Cultural” Presentation. It talks about what documentation was discovered, some of which is included in her book and some are not, such as their struggles to be free after the Civil War was won, how they became land owners, how one brother became a respected train worker and how their names came to be engraved on the Wall of the War Memorial Plaza in Washington, DC.
Today Dr. Moseley-Hobbs is a member of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation’s Board of Trustees that oversees the historic estate where the Smithfield plantation was located, and she continues to work with Virginia Tech University that now holds the Solitude plantation and the overall majority of land of the Preston family plantations. Both the Smithfield and Solitude plantations are now museums. The Preston family, former owners, was considered the wealthiest family in Virginia at the time. The last heir to the Smithfield estate was William Ballard Preston, a former Virginia State Senator and U.S. Secretary of the Navy and the last heir to the Solitude estate was Williams’ brother Robert Preston.
Dr. Hobbs is a direct descendant of Thomas Fraction, the oldest brother of Othello, on her mothers’ side. Thomas was noted by a local newspaper as being a "well known colored man" when he passed away. “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” includes a very powerful Power-Point presentation where Dr. Moseley-Hobbs connects the African cultures of her ancestors' to the cultural norms of African-Americans in the U.S. today.
Eubie Blake lived to be 100 (96 according to U. S. Census) and was performing and composing up to his death. He started playing the organ at age 4. The owner of the organ told his mother he was a genius. By age 20 he was playing in the first colored club in Baltimore owned by boxing champ Joe Grans. From there he went into filmmaking with three projects to show for it - all now among the Maurice Zouary Film Collection at the Library of Congress.
As an actor Eubie appeared in two films – Warner Bros. Pie Pie Blackbird (1932) and Scott Joplin (1977). He was married twice. First marriage was to his childhood sweetheart when he was in his late 20s, which lasted 28 years until her death at 58 from tuberculosis. His last marriage was in 1945 to a widower, Marion Tyler, a business woman whose late husband was a violinist. She managed Eubie Blake’s career and they were married for 37 years until her death in 1982. A year after marrying her Blake retired in order to enroll at New York University. He received a degree in Music Composition and spent the next 20 years putting on paper all the songs he had in his head. Subsequently because of his achievements Blake was given eight honorary Doctorate Degrees – Rutgers (1979), University of Maryland (1978), Morgan State University (1979), Dartmouth (1974), Howard University (1982), the North England Conservatory (1974) and Pratt Institute – when he was well over 90 years old. In 1995, 12 years after his death, Eubie Blake received a United States Postal Service Stamp. While alive however, President Reagan gave him the Presidential Metal of Freedom at 98 (94). In the late 70s and early 80s he received a Grammy Award nomination for the album release “The 86 Years of Eubie Blake,” which rekindled his music and resulted in appearances on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” “The Merv Griffin Show” and “Saturday Night Live” (when he was 92).
The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center brings artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds together to support, develop, promote and advocate for cultural and educational programming in the visual and performing arts. Eubie and Marion Blake donated part of his collection to the Maryland Historical Society and Gallery 409 (owned by Urban Services Agency, an after school program). Gallery 409 was the premiere gallery for his collection and was eventually renamed the Eubie Blake Cultural Arts Center in 1983 after a fire destroyed the Gallery 409. Baltimore city donated 34 Market Place to the Eubie Blake Collection, at the time named the Brokerage Building and now known as Power Plant Live. With some of the Eubie Blake collection at the Maryland Historical Society and a change in name to the Eubie Blake National Jazz & Cultural Center, it was reopened. Today the Center is still trying to reclaim the rest of the Eubie Blake Collection.
The "More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture" Presentation Saturday August 17, 2019 is sponsored by the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institution & Cultural Center, The Baltimore Times' foundation Times Community Services, Imagination Lunchbox, LLC and ThePulseofEntertainment.com. To learn more about Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs visit www.ImaginationLunchbox.com or email ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com. To learn more about the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center log onto www.EubieBlake.org. "More Than a Fraction” can be purchased at Barnes & Nobles and Amazon websites.
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African American Civil War Museum to Host Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs ‘More Than a Fraction’ Presentation The ‘More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture’ Presentation Arrives in Washington, DC May 26, 2019
(Washington, DC – March 6, 2019) – The African American Civil War Museum in Washington, DC will host the “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” presentation of Baltimore Research Author Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs. Started in 2017 after Imagination Lunchbox, LLC published her creative non-fiction book "More Than a Fraction," the presentation about the research into her ancestors morphed into a presentation on African American heritage and culture. Held in partnership with The Baltimore Times Foundation Times Community Services, Dr. Moseley-Hobbs will speak at the African American Civil War Museum (1925 Vermont Ave. NW, 20001) on Sunday, May 26, 2019 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
During the event Dr. Moseley-Hobbs will talk about the research on her heritage that resulted in a documented story of her ancestors, the Fractions, and indirectly African Americans from Virginia and the original colonies. That research told a story of a family transported on a ship called the True Blue to American for a life of enslavement at the Smithfield and Solitude plantations in Blacksburg, Virginia. By the third generation the Civil War began giving the Fractions and other enslaved a chance for freedom. The "More Than a Fraction" presentation has told this incredible story at Red Emma's Book Store in Baltimore, at Virginia Tech University for their Civil War Studies Department, at the Solitude estate in Virginia for the renaming of the Fraction cabin, and at the Central, Edmondson Avenue and Waverly Enoch Pratt Free Libraries in Baltimore.
Dr. Moseley-Hobbs’ research documentation tells how brothers Thomas and Othello Fraction ran away from slavery to join the Union Army to serve in the Civil War for a chance to win their freedom. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs also discovered documentation, which is not included in the timeline of her book, that also tells the story of their struggles to be free after the Civil War was won, how they became land owners, how one brother became a respected train worker and how their names came to be engraved on the Wall of the War Memorial Plaza in Washington, DC.
Today Dr. Hobbs is a member of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation’s Board of Trustees that oversees the historic estate where the Smithfield plantation was located, and continues to work with Virginia Tech University who now holds the Solitude and the overall major land of the Preston family plantations. The Preston family was the original owners of the plantations and was considered the wealthiest family in Virginia at the time. The last heir to the Smithfield estate was William Ballard Preston, a former Virginia State Senator and as U.S. Secretary of the Navy and the last heir to the Solitude estate was Williams’ brother Robert Preston.
Dr. Hobbs is a direct descendant of Thomas Fraction, brother of Othello. Thomas was noted by a local newspaper as being a "well known colored man" when he passed away. “More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture” includes a very powerful Power-Point presentation where Dr. Moseley-Hobbs connects the African cultures of her ancestors' to the cultural norms of African-Americans in the U.S. today.
The "More Than a Fraction: African American Heritage & Culture" presentation is sponsored by The Baltimore Times' foundation Times Community Services, Imagination Lunchbox Publications and www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. To learn more about Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs visit www.ImaginationLunchbox.com or email ImaginationLunchbox@gamil.com. To learn more about the African American Civil War Museum log onto www.AfroAmCivilWar.org. "More Than a Fraction: can be purchased at Barnes & Nobles and Amazon websites.
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Free Krispy Kreme Donuts at 2019 Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival
ILI Children’s Film Fest April 13 – 18, 2019 Offers Free Krispy Kreme Donuts at Opening Day Screener
(Baltimore, MD – February 1, 2019) - The 3rd annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children's Film Festival (ILICFF), to be held April 13 – 18, 2019 in Baltimore, will offer free Krispy Kreme donuts at its opening day screener of short films made by and for children (up to ages 18). The donuts will be offered, while supplies last, courtesy of the sponsorship support of Krispy Kreme (6447 Baltimore National Pike). ILICFF is held in partnership with The Baltimore Times’ foundation Times Community Services and Our Lady of Victory Catholic School of Baltimore (OLV). The free event will be held at various places, offering various opportunities for young filmmakers to network and grow. It will end with a private screener for the students at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, school of ILICFF founder award winning actor/filmmaking Baltimore prodigy Anthony Michael Hobbs.
Krispy Kreme donuts are made with a special New Orleans recipe and the North Carolina Company is known for its assistance with fundraisers for non-profit community organizations and events. ILICFF is such as event, founded by Hobbs to inspire young people like himself to be filmmakers and to showcase and award those short film projects. ILICFF film submissions this year have come from all over the world, which include the U.S., Spain, Germany, Australia, Russian Federation, France, Ireland, Argentina and the Netherlands. Awards include the "Best Film Made By Kids", “Best Film Made For Kids,” "Festival’s Choice," and the "Most Uplifting Film,” courtesy of the 20th annual "Uplifting Minds II" entertainment conferences held in Baltimore and Los Angeles (www.UpliftingMinds2.com).
Last years' ILICFF winners were from Spain and the U.S. Short films last year included dramas, comedies, documentaries and animations. Anthony Michael Hobbs has written, directed and starred in three short films (One Nation, Naga Pixie, Agent Hollywood) - two are multi-award winning films (One Nation and Naga Pixie). Hobbs’ films are produced by his own company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC (www.ImaginationLunchbox.com).
One Nation is about a group of kids doing something special for returning soldiers from the Iraq war. It was screened in 10 international film festivals and he won four awards. His second film Naga Pixie is about a group of friends being chased by a "Pixie" who is scolding them about how they treat animals and the earth. It has been screened at six film festivals and has won at two. Agent Hollywood is about a young celebrity actor who is really an undercover agent with a mission to save the world. As an actors Hobbs has won over six awards and attended the =Emmy Awards to represent PBS, which received an Emmy nominated for the documentary mini-series “The Abolitionist,” for his role as a young Frederick Douglass.
For more information about the 3rd annual Imagination International Children’s Film Festival or if you want to make the late deadline in March and submit a short film you can log onto the website at www.ImaginationLunchbox.com. To learn more about Anthony Michael-Hobbs log onto www.anthony-michael.com. You can also contact ILICFF at ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com.
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ILI Children’s Film Fest April 13 – 18, 2019 Offers Free Krispy Kreme Donuts at Opening Day Screener
(Baltimore, MD – February 1, 2019) - The 3rd annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children's Film Festival (ILICFF), to be held April 13 – 18, 2019 in Baltimore, will offer free Krispy Kreme donuts at its opening day screener of short films made by and for children (up to ages 18). The donuts will be offered, while supplies last, courtesy of the sponsorship support of Krispy Kreme (6447 Baltimore National Pike). ILICFF is held in partnership with The Baltimore Times’ foundation Times Community Services and Our Lady of Victory Catholic School of Baltimore (OLV). The free event will be held at various places, offering various opportunities for young filmmakers to network and grow. It will end with a private screener for the students at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, school of ILICFF founder award winning actor/filmmaking Baltimore prodigy Anthony Michael Hobbs.
Krispy Kreme donuts are made with a special New Orleans recipe and the North Carolina Company is known for its assistance with fundraisers for non-profit community organizations and events. ILICFF is such as event, founded by Hobbs to inspire young people like himself to be filmmakers and to showcase and award those short film projects. ILICFF film submissions this year have come from all over the world, which include the U.S., Spain, Germany, Australia, Russian Federation, France, Ireland, Argentina and the Netherlands. Awards include the "Best Film Made By Kids", “Best Film Made For Kids,” "Festival’s Choice," and the "Most Uplifting Film,” courtesy of the 20th annual "Uplifting Minds II" entertainment conferences held in Baltimore and Los Angeles (www.UpliftingMinds2.com).
Last years' ILICFF winners were from Spain and the U.S. Short films last year included dramas, comedies, documentaries and animations. Anthony Michael Hobbs has written, directed and starred in three short films (One Nation, Naga Pixie, Agent Hollywood) - two are multi-award winning films (One Nation and Naga Pixie). Hobbs’ films are produced by his own company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC (www.ImaginationLunchbox.com).
One Nation is about a group of kids doing something special for returning soldiers from the Iraq war. It was screened in 10 international film festivals and he won four awards. His second film Naga Pixie is about a group of friends being chased by a "Pixie" who is scolding them about how they treat animals and the earth. It has been screened at six film festivals and has won at two. Agent Hollywood is about a young celebrity actor who is really an undercover agent with a mission to save the world. As an actors Hobbs has won over six awards and attended the =Emmy Awards to represent PBS, which received an Emmy nominated for the documentary mini-series “The Abolitionist,” for his role as a young Frederick Douglass.
For more information about the 3rd annual Imagination International Children’s Film Festival or if you want to make the late deadline in March and submit a short film you can log onto the website at www.ImaginationLunchbox.com. To learn more about Anthony Michael-Hobbs log onto www.anthony-michael.com. You can also contact ILICFF at ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com.
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Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs Host Tour of Virginia Plantation Location Where Her Ancestors Were Enslaved
On Monday June 24, 2019 Baltimore Research Author Hosts Tour of the Historic Location in Virginia in 'More Than a Fraction'
(Blacksburg, Virginia – February 1, 2019) - Baltimore Research Author Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs will be the guide on the "More Than a Fraction Location" Tour presented by Imagination Lunchbox, LLC, publisher of her “More Than a Fraction: Based on a true story” creative non-fiction book. The “More Than a Fraction Location” Tour is one day, Monday, June 24, 2019, and will visit the Smithfield and Solitude Plantations (now the grounds of Virginia Tech University), the Preston family cemetery where one of her ancestors Virginia “Aunt Ginny” Fraction was buried along side those who enslaved her, and a cabin of the enslaved Fractions recently dedicated as “The Fraction Family Home” locations. The locations in Blacksburg, Virginia are mentioned in the “More Than a Fraction” book of Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, which tells the story of the Fraction ancestors, how they came to America, how they fought in the Civil War, their struggles after the Civil War to obtain their freedoms. So impressed with her genealogical research the Smithfield Foundation that oversees the management of the Smithfield Plantation, asked her in 2015 to be a member of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation’s Board of Trustees to make sure the legacy of the enslaved is told in a way that portrays them as people. Dr. Moseley-Hobbs is also a member of the Solitude Board, which falls under the management of Virginia Tech University.
Following the release of her book Dr. Moseley-Hobbs has been on a “More Than a Fraction” presentation tour, not only talking about her book but the heritage and culture of African-Americans. The presentation was held at to the popular Red Emma's Book Store in Baltimore, Virginia Tech University for a lecture/presentation for their Civil War Studies Department to a standing room only crowd and at the Central, Edmondson Avenue and Waverly branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Libraries in Baltimore. In 2018 Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs presented the book to visitors of the Solitude Plantation estates’ “Renaming Ceremony” for the cabin known as the home of her ancestors, the Fractions.
"More Than a Fraction" takes place in Blacksburg, Virginia where her ancestors, the Fractions, were enslaved until the Civil War. It follows the Fraction brothers Thomas and Othello, who ran for their freedom as enslaved people by joining the Union Army. Their names are currently engraved on the War Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. The Prestons, the original owners of the plantation, were the wealthiest family in Virginia at the time. The last heir to the Smithfield estate was William Ballard Preston, a former Virginia State Senator and the U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
At the same time Dr. Moseley-Hobbs was searching for her ancestors, because her great-grandmother Isabel Fraction grew up without knowing her family as an orphan, the Smithfield Foundation Board of Trustees were looking for descendants of the Fractions, who it seems played a very important role in the history of the Preston family. Dr. Hobbs' ancestors, it was discovered, had a remarkable story; one so special one member affectionately called Virginia (Ginny), a house servant, is buried with the Preston family at their cemetery. Dr. Hobbs is a direct descendant of Thomas Fraction, brother of Virginia. Thomas was noted by a local newspaper as a "well known colored man" when he passed away in Salem, Virginia where he owned a large portion of land near the railroad. The “More Than a Fraction” presentation includes a very powerful Power-Point segment where Dr. Moseley-Hobbs connects the African cultures of her ancestors' with the cultural norms of African-Americans in the U.S. today.
To learn more about the "More Than a Fraction" Location Tour or creative non-fiction book visit www.ImaginationLunchbox.com or email ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com. "More Than a Fraction” can be purchased at Barnes & Nobles and Amazon websites.
Author Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs’ ‘More than a Fraction’ Book Tour Adds Waverly Branch of Enoch Pratt Library
Saturday, January 19, 2019 Baltimore Author Dr. Kerri Hobbs to Speak at Waverly Enoch Pratt Library
(Baltimore, MD – July 27, 2018) – Baltimore author Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs’ adds a new date to her “More Than a Fraction” Book Presentation tour in Baltimore. On Saturday January 19, 2019 the education specialist will start the New Year off by speaking on her book at the Waverly branch of the Enoch Pratt Library from 2 – 4pm. She ends 2018 at the Edmondson Avenue branch on Saturday September 15, 2018 from 2 – 4pm.
The book tour is in support of her creative non-fiction account of her enslaved ancestors’ who lived at the Smithfield plantation in Virginia. During research for her heritage the documentation led her to a plantation in Blacksburg, Virginia where they arrived from a ship called Blue. The “More Than a Fraction” book presentation started in late 2017 with stops at Red Emma’s Book Store in Baltimore and Virginia Tech University for their Civil War Studies Department. In 2018 Dr. Moseley-Hobbs presented the book at the Solitude Plantation estate for their Renaming Ceremony for the cabin known as the home of her ancestors, the Fractions and at the Down Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore for the African-American Studies Department and at the upcoming Edmondson Avenue Enoch Pratt Library on Saturday, September 15th.
“More Than a Fraction” takes place in Blacksburg, Virginia where her ancestors, the Fractions, were enslaved until the Civil War. It follows the Fraction brothers Thomas and Othello, who ran for their freedom as enslaved people by joining the Union Army. Theirs names are currently engraved on the War Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. Today Dr. Hobbs is a member of the Smithfield-Preston Foundation Board of Trustees that oversees the historic estate, where the plantations were located, now called the grounds of Virginia Tech University. The Prestons, the original owners of the plantation, were the wealthiest family in Virginia at the time. The last heir to the Smithfield estate was William Ballard Preston, a former Virginia State Senator and as U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
Dr. Hobbs’ ancestors, it was discovered, had a remarkable story; one so special one member named Virginia, a house servant, is buried with the Preston family at their cemetery. Dr. Hobbs is a direct descendant of Thomas Fraction, brother of Virginia. Thomas was noted by a local newspaper as a “well known colored man” when he passed away. The book presentation includes a very powerful Power-Point presentation where Dr. Hobbs connects the cultures of her ancestors’ home land in Africa with the cultural norms of African-Americans in the U.S. today.
The “More Than a Fraction” book tour is sponsored by The Baltimore Times’ foundation Times Community Services, Imagination Lunchbox Publications and www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. To learn more about = “More Than a Fraction” or the author Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs visit www.ImaginationLunchbox.com or email ImaginationLunchbox@gamil.com. “More Than a Fraction: can be purchased at Barnes & Nobles and Amazon websites.
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Short films from South Africa, Canada and the U.S.A. win the 2nd annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival
(July 27 – April 30, 2018) – Short films from South Africa, Canada and the U.S.A. win the 2nd annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival (ILICFF) honors for “Best Film Made BY Kids,” “Best Film Made FOR Kids,” “Film Festival Choice” Award and “Most Uplifting Film” Award sponsored by the 19th annual “Uplifting Minds II entertainment conference. The five day event presented by The Baltimore Times foundation Times Community Services and Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, started at the Maryland Film Festivals SNF Parkway Theatre for a public screening of the selected films that were also from Australia and Argentina and ended Monday April 23rd at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School for a private screener where winners where announced. Other activities include a Social Media Selfie contest on Friday and a Predict the Winner contest where winners received merchandise from Imagination Lunchbox, LLC host of the ILICFF, and a Filmmakers Meet & Greet at Chick-Fila in Landover, Maryland.
“Thank you so much for bringing the event to our school,” said OLV principal, Pastor as well as teachers. All classes, grade Kindergarten through the 8th attended the private screening. After seeing films from each country the school had the kids do activities that originated from those countries – thereby turning the ILICFF into a learning experience.
The ILICFF was hosted by radio personally Doresa Harvey. The OLV students selected the winners for the “Best Film Made BY Kids” and “Best Film Made FOR Kids” through clapping and cheering. The ILICFF founder award winning actor/filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs (One Nation, Naga Pixie and One Nation) selected the “Film Festival Choice” and the founder of the “Uplifting Minds II” entertainment conference Eunice Moseley (www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com) selected the “Most Uplifting Film” award.
Winners include “Tough Guy” by Monika Dalman (Canada) for “Best Film Made BY Kids”; Sawubona (I See You)” by Lungelo Kuzwayo (South Africa) for “Best Film Made FOR Kids”; “You Can Not Play With Us” by Jason Rhein (USA) for “Film Festival Choice”, and “Change for Chimps” by Lisa Mann (Canada) for “Most Uplifting Films.” All have inspiring themes - “Tough Guy” is about a bully who learns to get along from a different kind of bully, “Sawubona” is about two children who are not deterred by what’s seen on the outside of a person but by the heart, “You Cant Play With Us” is about children learning to play with people different from themselves, and “Change for Chimps” is about a child that takes her passion for chimps and turned it into her cause to change the plight of the caged chimps.
ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs is also an award winning actor who has garnered six awards from Global Stars Network for his acting skills, represented PBS at the 2013 Emmy Awards for his role as a young Frederick Douglass in their Special Mini-Series “The American Experience: The Abolitionist” (http://video.pbs.org/video/2321796209) starring actor/director Richard Brooks (“Law & Order”) and starred in the DreamWorks documentary “How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bekKOmfsWfc). As a model he has worked for Finish Line Athletics (in-store and catalogue) and for ToysRUs national marketing campaigns.
For more information about the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival visit www.ImaginationLunchbox.com (or to see video coverage https://youtu.be/0nfVH4CqVqo) and for more information about Hobbs log onto www.Anthony-Michael.com. You can also contact his management at ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com.
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(July 27 – April 30, 2018) – Short films from South Africa, Canada and the U.S.A. win the 2nd annual Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival (ILICFF) honors for “Best Film Made BY Kids,” “Best Film Made FOR Kids,” “Film Festival Choice” Award and “Most Uplifting Film” Award sponsored by the 19th annual “Uplifting Minds II entertainment conference. The five day event presented by The Baltimore Times foundation Times Community Services and Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, started at the Maryland Film Festivals SNF Parkway Theatre for a public screening of the selected films that were also from Australia and Argentina and ended Monday April 23rd at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School for a private screener where winners where announced. Other activities include a Social Media Selfie contest on Friday and a Predict the Winner contest where winners received merchandise from Imagination Lunchbox, LLC host of the ILICFF, and a Filmmakers Meet & Greet at Chick-Fila in Landover, Maryland.
“Thank you so much for bringing the event to our school,” said OLV principal, Pastor as well as teachers. All classes, grade Kindergarten through the 8th attended the private screening. After seeing films from each country the school had the kids do activities that originated from those countries – thereby turning the ILICFF into a learning experience.
The ILICFF was hosted by radio personally Doresa Harvey. The OLV students selected the winners for the “Best Film Made BY Kids” and “Best Film Made FOR Kids” through clapping and cheering. The ILICFF founder award winning actor/filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs (One Nation, Naga Pixie and One Nation) selected the “Film Festival Choice” and the founder of the “Uplifting Minds II” entertainment conference Eunice Moseley (www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com) selected the “Most Uplifting Film” award.
Winners include “Tough Guy” by Monika Dalman (Canada) for “Best Film Made BY Kids”; Sawubona (I See You)” by Lungelo Kuzwayo (South Africa) for “Best Film Made FOR Kids”; “You Can Not Play With Us” by Jason Rhein (USA) for “Film Festival Choice”, and “Change for Chimps” by Lisa Mann (Canada) for “Most Uplifting Films.” All have inspiring themes - “Tough Guy” is about a bully who learns to get along from a different kind of bully, “Sawubona” is about two children who are not deterred by what’s seen on the outside of a person but by the heart, “You Cant Play With Us” is about children learning to play with people different from themselves, and “Change for Chimps” is about a child that takes her passion for chimps and turned it into her cause to change the plight of the caged chimps.
ILICFF founder Anthony Michael Hobbs is also an award winning actor who has garnered six awards from Global Stars Network for his acting skills, represented PBS at the 2013 Emmy Awards for his role as a young Frederick Douglass in their Special Mini-Series “The American Experience: The Abolitionist” (http://video.pbs.org/video/2321796209) starring actor/director Richard Brooks (“Law & Order”) and starred in the DreamWorks documentary “How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bekKOmfsWfc). As a model he has worked for Finish Line Athletics (in-store and catalogue) and for ToysRUs national marketing campaigns.
For more information about the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival visit www.ImaginationLunchbox.com (or to see video coverage https://youtu.be/0nfVH4CqVqo) and for more information about Hobbs log onto www.Anthony-Michael.com. You can also contact his management at ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com.
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Filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs’ Agent Hollywood Screening at RTF in Nigeria June 24–30, 2018
(Baltimore, MD – April 30, 2018) – Baltimore’s own award winning prodigy actor and filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs’ third project Agent Hollywood is to be screened at the Blackstar Film Fest in Philadelphia, PA August 3 – 6, 2017. The 15 minute short film is released through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC. Twelve year old Hobbs wrote, produced and directed Agent Hollywood in association with his former sports coach Michael Forstner. Anthony Michael wrote, produced and directed his first two short projects through Imagination Lunchbox when he was nine and 10 years old. Collectively his films have been screened at over 17 film festival worldwide and garnered 6 awards for “Best Short Film” and “Best Film Director.”
Agent Hollywood is a story about an undercover agent working as a celebrity actor who in reality is secretly saving the world from evil villains on a daily bases. The premier screening of Agent Hollywood was held recently at the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival in Maryland. The film festival was hosted by Anthony Michael’s company in association with The Baltimore Times. Over 15 short films from around the world were screened (India, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, Thailand, Japan and the USA). Agent Hollywood was recently screened at the Ocean City Film Festival hosted by the Art League of Ocean City.
Anthony Michael Hobbs as an actor has garnered 8 awards and is best known for his role as a young Frederick Douglass in the 2013 Emmy Award nominated PBS Special Mini-Series “The American Experience: The Abolitionist” starring Richard Brooks (“Law & Order”). His starring role in the DreamWorks documentary “How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs” is also a notable one. As an actor Hobbs has also starred in projects for United Way, PBS Sprout Network, KinderRhyme, TBWA World Wide and in the film Waiting for Godot. As a model Anthony Michael has starred in national campaigns for Finish Line Athletics and Toys-R-Us.
For more information about Agent Hollywood’s screening at the Blackstar Film Fest you can log onto www.BlackstarFest.com and for more information on Imagination Lunchbox, LLC upcoming projects log onto www.ImaginationLunchbox.com or for more information on Anthony Michael Hobbs log onto www.Anthony-Michael.com. You can also contact his management at ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com.
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(Baltimore, MD – April 30, 2018) – Baltimore’s own award winning prodigy actor and filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs’ third project Agent Hollywood is to be screened at the Blackstar Film Fest in Philadelphia, PA August 3 – 6, 2017. The 15 minute short film is released through his company Imagination Lunchbox, LLC. Twelve year old Hobbs wrote, produced and directed Agent Hollywood in association with his former sports coach Michael Forstner. Anthony Michael wrote, produced and directed his first two short projects through Imagination Lunchbox when he was nine and 10 years old. Collectively his films have been screened at over 17 film festival worldwide and garnered 6 awards for “Best Short Film” and “Best Film Director.”
Agent Hollywood is a story about an undercover agent working as a celebrity actor who in reality is secretly saving the world from evil villains on a daily bases. The premier screening of Agent Hollywood was held recently at the Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival in Maryland. The film festival was hosted by Anthony Michael’s company in association with The Baltimore Times. Over 15 short films from around the world were screened (India, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, Thailand, Japan and the USA). Agent Hollywood was recently screened at the Ocean City Film Festival hosted by the Art League of Ocean City.
Anthony Michael Hobbs as an actor has garnered 8 awards and is best known for his role as a young Frederick Douglass in the 2013 Emmy Award nominated PBS Special Mini-Series “The American Experience: The Abolitionist” starring Richard Brooks (“Law & Order”). His starring role in the DreamWorks documentary “How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs” is also a notable one. As an actor Hobbs has also starred in projects for United Way, PBS Sprout Network, KinderRhyme, TBWA World Wide and in the film Waiting for Godot. As a model Anthony Michael has starred in national campaigns for Finish Line Athletics and Toys-R-Us.
For more information about Agent Hollywood’s screening at the Blackstar Film Fest you can log onto www.BlackstarFest.com and for more information on Imagination Lunchbox, LLC upcoming projects log onto www.ImaginationLunchbox.com or for more information on Anthony Michael Hobbs log onto www.Anthony-Michael.com. You can also contact his management at ImaginationLunchbox@gmail.com.
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