Filmmakers LOG
This page is an archive of the trials and tribulations of bringing this project to life from the start of 2003 until 2006 and its full release in 2008.
In chronological order from newest to oldest entries.
09.2008
The film was re-titled, reformatted and internationally re-released on DVD by PM Press with added features including the music video mentioned below and a short film on the Angola 3. It has been featured in numerous small film festivals around the globe.
11.14.06
A new music video about the Angola 3 from Eurythmics Dave Stewart, Saul Williams and many others in support of the Angola 3 cases.The video is a great organizing tool and features excerpts from a news piece on the Angola 3 that recently ran in the UK on Independent Television Network which called the A3 cases ‘…a terrible miscarraige of justice…’.
link to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YByERaSXiGA
10.22.06
Co-founders Malik Rahim and scott crow as well as key organizers Lisa Fithian from Common Ground Relief were the featured speakers at the Cinema Texas Film Festival in Austin. Robert King was the keynote speaker at this international event. Excerpts from the film were shown as well as the British news pieces on the Angola 3 which called their cases
“…possibly the greatest miscarriage of justice in the United States…”
We have SOLD OUT of the initial printing of the DVD’s and have more on order. They will be shipping soon.
You can also purchase them from AK PRESS, KERSPLEBEDEB (www.kersplebedeb.com) or PM PRESS
09.07.06
Robert King and scott crow were interviewed on Atlanta talk radio about the film which was to screen the following night.
The film screened in Austin, Texas and was featured in the Austin Chronicle.
07.31.06
There have been numerous showings through out the north eastern u.s. and in Toronto. Again, our deepest thanks to ALL who supported and participated in the making of this project. Free the Angola 3 , Free ALL political prisoners.
Remember the film contains music from Truth Universal form New Orleans. Thanks for the tracks and be sure to check out his site. http://www.truthuniversal.com/homex.html
Cindy Sheehan of Gold Star Families was recently handed a copy the film.
07.18.06
Copies have been distributed worldwide and we are beginning major retail distribution through Kersplebeb in Canada and through AK Press in the U.S. and the U.K. We will also have it online shortly to buy from us directly too.
We are editing a shorter version now for use in house parties, educational teach-ins and as a basic tool for organizing. This will be available for free to groups to use to further the spreads of information. It will highlight
only some Aspects of the cases and is a companion piece to the full length version.
07.1.06
In addition Independent Television a division of the BBC in a recent investigative news program broadcast for 25 million viewers said about the Angola 3 case: “…there is powerful evidence that they were framed…” and “…despite the compel ling evidence of a terrible miscarriage of justice, Woodfox and Wallace remain locked up….” They used photos from our film for their piece which was very compelling.
06.21.06
We had a showing in Ft. Worth , Texas at a space called ‘1919 Hemphill’. Thanks to Ramsey and the organizers for a great turnout and showing.
06.15.06
Robert King traveled to Oakland and the Bay area for screenings and talk of the film.
Many comrades and friends attended the two screenings including many who make appearances in the film.
05.01.06
Today was the world premier of the film in Houston ,Texas sponsored by Houston Anarchist Black Cross (a political prisoner support group). It premiered at the Rice Media Center. Robert King of the Angola 3, Jimmy O’Halligan the director and scott crow co-producer were in attendance,
03.18.06
Robert King traveled to Portugal for a ceremony on the 5th anniversary of his release from Angola prison.
He showed the trailer for the film to audiences where he spoke.
02.18.06
Editing is still continuing. Jimmy is close to the final touches. We are looking to a May finish and release date.
12.03.05
On ‘International day of support for Political Prisoners’, Rober t King Wilkerson spoke and Jimmy showed the trailer for the upcoming film at The Firestation Gallery in Houston, Tx. The event was organized by Houston A.B.C. a political prisoner support group.
11.04.05
Robert King of the Angola 3 was featured recently on National Public Radio talking about his candy making. See the link below:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4989099
Ann Harkness and Thor Johnson have built a website for king’s candy.
http://www.kingsfreelines.com/
10.23.05
Jimmy is back on track with the editing. There have been some vague rumblings from Angola prison about their dissatisfaction with way the prison may ‘be perceived’in the film left on the Obstacle Illusions answering machine. They have turned down our repeated requests for interviews with Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox and the warden Burl Cain.
10.15.05
Editing has come to a grinding halt due to a computer blow up !!!! ARRGGHH. We lost transcripts from some interviews. Jimmy has been in the process of redoing many hours of that right now. Gabe has been busy rebuilding the computer and recovering info fro the hard drive.
Scott stepped away from the project to co-found Common Ground Collective in Aligers with Malik Rahim (http://www.commongroundrelief.org). An organization based on solidarity not charity with affected communities from Katrina.
09.23.05
Malik Rahim spoke in in the Bay Area of California to a packed crowd about Katrina, the Angola 3 and showed the trailer for the film.
09.08.05
There is a massive relief effort going on in the Algiers part of New Orleans with Malik Rahim and others who appear in our film. The reports are that FEMA has left them to themselves and that the only support they have is from the military, which is minimal. Malik has said that the community is organizing relief itself with support of grassroots groups on the outside. They are doing this for the 3-4,000 residents that are staying in Algiers. Malik appears in the trailer and was a former leader of the New Orleans chapter of the Black Panther Party. We at Obstacle Illusions films support their efforts.
09.07.05
Robert King Wilkerson was missing for eight days in the hurricane Katrina disaster. He was rescued on Tues. by members of the Angola 3 support committee in a harrowing story of it’s own. Many thanks to all for the support and information.
09.05.05
King is still missing. If ANYONE has information or contact with him please let us know ASAP. There has been no contact since monday afternoon before the levees broke.
07.26.05
T-shirts, and buttons will be in the NEW merchandise section soon.
We are in the home stretch for filming the final touches, and Jimmy is almost finished with the major editing…. We can see the end of the tunnel.
Scott has been working to grow the ‘word of mouth’ interest in the project and raising some final funds.
Speaking of funding. Donations are still coming in small increments from ALL over.
THANK YOU AGAIN to those who have donated it helps immensely!!
Tell your friends, family, co-workers, everyone and let them know about the A3 and the film!!!
We are spreading the word about the film by folks like you out there.
We now have ‘My Space’ (www.myspace.com), Friendster , (www.Friendster.com),
and ‘Tribe’ (www.tribe.net) pages to generate interest from like minded people.
If you are on ANY of these please sign up to our group and TELL your friends
in other groups about it to get them to sign up. It is FREE and we are NOT selling anything..except freedom for the Angola 3. This will help us grow our networks.
Also as you may have noticed our link section is HUGE now and growing. If you know of interested groups that we should link to the site please let us know.
Here are some quick A3 updates: The Fifth Circuit of Appeals in June granted Herman Wallace an evidentiary hearing based on the original prosecutors withholding evidence during his first trail in 1972. The prosecutors knew that the person who informed on Herman and Albert was compensated for his testimony against them in the original trial.
The 'Angola 3 ' have been receiving about 200-400 letters/postcards of support every month from around the world partly due to interest in their plight from Amnesty International.
For more info please see their site: http://www.Angola3.org
06.23.05
Travis Weller (www.spiraco.com) has been brought onboard to redesign the whole website. Thanks so much Travis for the work. It looks fantastic You will notice we have added many NEW pages , NEW graphics, and new ways to navigate. Please be sure to see some of the new pages including: fundraising, DVD purchase page, the expanded link section, interviewee bios, donors etc.
HOST A HOUSE PARTY OR EVENT
Our house parties have begun, the first was hosted by Scott in Austin to a great audience. See the GET INVOLVED page to see how YOU can host a house party for the film in your town.
Randeep Walia & Cesar Maxit are working on new graphics for leaflets etc. for the film and for the Angola 3 support committee. Look for those soon.
Herman and Albert have finished recording their audio (including a touching poem by Herman).
Noelle and the Prison Radio crew Gregory Hom, Emma Nace, Pat Sax have been feverishly working on the final edits of Mumia’s , Albert’s and Herman’s audio tracks. Thanks to the behind-the-scenes folks at P.R.
05.12.05
Robert King Wilkerson of the Angola 3 has shown the 10 minute trailer in San Francisco, NY and other places while speaking around the country.
We have recently begun to sell the trailer on Ebay of all places. We will have them available for sale on the site in the coming weeks.
Jimmy has been editing and transcribing back at his lab.
Our new redesigned website will be coming in the next month or so. Please be sure to check back for the latest updates.
03.30.2005
We are currently looking for submissions for the upcoming film 3 Black Panthers & the Last Slave Plantation. We’re looking for video of yourself or friends saying “Free the Angola 3” It would be nice if the video is shot in front of recognizable landmarks in your town. If you send video it WILL be in the final version of the film (providing the video is usable). The video can be on any format as long as it is NTSC (North American format). If the video is coming from overseas look up the local post house and see if they will convert the video for you (if you want to save us money get them to put it on mini-dv while they are at it). Please send the video with the name of the person that videotaped the clip, the names of the people or origination in the clip, the town and country the video is shot in.
Below are some tips for sending us good video.
1. Use a tripod if you can.
2. Let the tape record for 1 min before and after you say “free the Angola 3“
3. Overcast days are good for shooting video.
4. Use a new tape!!!!
5. Make sure the frame is small enough to see the faces of the people
6. Put some distance between the subject and the background.
7. Try a few takes and send a few of the best ones.
8. Make sure the audio is good (use a microphone if you have access to one).
9. Be creative, have fun!
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS MARCH 15, 2005
02.08.2005
We just wanted to give you some updates on: “3 Black Panthers and the Last Slave Plantation”.
First is the website (which is still in progress) check it out at it’s new and permanent address:http://www.3BlackPanthers.com (It is best viewed with Internet Explorer for now)
The film is being narrated, as many of you may know, by Mumia Abu Jamal (many thanks to Noelle Hanrahan and Mumia!). He has finished 90% of the narration and will just have a few overdubs to complete. Noelle is mixing and editing that as we speak. (see Noelle’s site http://www.PrisonRadio.org for more Mumia and other recordings)
Albert and Herman have done their initial recordings also and will have a couple of follow up reordings in the coming weeks.
We have a couple of more interviews to complete then finish editing.
Rigo is in the early stages of ideas for the posters and artwork for release of the film.
When the trailer clips are ready we will be hosting ‘house parties’in various cities to raise funds for the film and awareness about the A 3 cases.
If you or someone you know is interested in hosting a house party fundraiser in your town or know someone who is please email us and let us know. They are EZ to do, can be social and fun events raising awareness outside activist circles.
We can send you A3 & film packets, dvd/videos and instructions on what to do.
More than one can be hosted in the same city by different people in front different people.
The proceeds can be split between the film project and the Angola 3 if you wish. You can decide for your party.
Last updates: If you or someone you know would like to be on our FILM announcement list about when it is coming out and sporadic updates please email to get on the list:
3BlackPanthers@gmail.com Let your friends and family know too….
Thanks to everyone who has helped behind the scenes so far it is not unrecognized. We have deep appreciation on all the help on this project.!!!
12.19.2004
Greetings,
More items have been added to the website. Take a look and see the updated video, pictures, and other information. Please note Gabe is still working on the website. Captions will be added to the pictures, more pictures, video, music and other items will be added as well. We just wanted to let all of the A3 supporters and supporters of the film know, please pass the word. We wish all of you peace in 05 and a great end to this year.
Thanks to Mumia and Noelle for taking time out of their very busy schedules to work on this project. With out people like them we could never have gotten this far in the film.
11.10.2004
Wow a lot has happened over the last few months. First of all, Mumia is currently recording the narration and we will have samples up on the new website for you to hear very soon. Noelle Hanrahan is also recoding interviews with Herman and Albert (our equipment was not that state of the art). On top of all this Noelle works non-stop for prison radio in San Francisco http://www.prisonradio.org/
As mentioned before we have a new website up (but still under construction), thanks to the Maxit brothers for all of the hard work. Cesar has produced some nice graphics and Gabriel has done a fantastic job with the website. Gabriel has been working day and night to get the website up to speed and I’m sure he has many hours ahead of him. Gabriel has also contributed countless hours building the computer Jimmy is editing on, providing technical assistance and maintenance on all things 01000100101010.
Also, on the website we have uploaded some video for every one to take a look at. The video is NOT the much anticipated trailer but a few selected interviews we used to secure the grant we received from the Texas Film Makers Production Fund .
NOTE THE NEW WEB ADDRESS FOR THE FILM:
———-3BlackPanthers.org————-
Interviews shown are:
Robert King Wilkerson from the Angola 3,
Terry Allen Kupers, M.D., M.S.P. One of our many advisers on the film and a practicing Psychiatrist. In the 1970′s Dr. Kupers was the physician and director of the Bunchy Carter Free Clinic in South Central Los Angeles, a free clinic run by the Black Panther Party to serve the health needs of the community.
Malik Rahim former New Orleans Black Panther, long time friend of King, former Green Party candidate, and former political prisoner .
Scott Fleming , a young attorney in California who is volunteering his talents to the effort to free Woodfox and Wallace is also seen on the short interview clips we provide on the website
An amazing hip-hop talent from New Orleans called MC Truth Universal aka Tajri will be contributing some music to the sound track. We will have samples of the music on our website along with links to check out more of the work they do. Truth Universal has songs about the Angola 3 and is a large part of the fight to win the freedom of our comrades behind bars.
We hired a new grant writer who has a history of getting things done and things are looking up for our financial woes. We will announce her name when the ink is dry.
Internationally known artist, Rigo 04 has committed to working on the movie poster. You may remember Rigo 04 for the TRUTH mural he painted, visible from the U.N. Plaza in San Francisco
Donations have been coming in from all over the U.S. and as far away as Canada (thanks Bruce). We have been generating interest from over seas and even a possible invitation to the Amnesty International Human Rights Film Festival !
Somewhere out there an activist has produced a ‘zine about the film 3 Black Panthers & the Last Slave Plantation . We do not know who he or she is but would love to get a copy of it. We encourage anyone who wants to take this kind of initiative to help us promote this important work.
An amazing graphic artist in San Antonio by the name of Maria Alquilar has also come on board to do some work on the film (animation and credits)
Thank you so much to every one who has helped out and given us support and encouragement over the last year. It is really paying off. Be sure to check out the website and keep checking back for updates and more. If you would like to receive news we have a new email address so sign up. Don’t forget we also have a NEW donate button on our website and you can use a Visa or MasterCard to donate if you have a few bucks extra at the end of the month. You knew we would not end this without a shameless plea for money, right?
06.07.04
ARGGHH, the computer crashed and we lost ALL of the transcription data that people entered for weeks. This will set us back a bit in time. We have started the transcription process again. We will keep you posted.
05.26.04
Just a quick report. We have been busy transcribing the text of ALL the interviews. It is not exciting and extremely time intensive. We have many volunteers helping with this aspect.
Thanks to everyone for their time.
03.15.04
We began driving to Ca. passing through New Mexico and stopping in Tuscon Arizona. We interviewed former political prisoner and Yaqui native Rod Coronado. He gave great insight to the plight of those who fight against the system. Earth first! Journal folks were kind enough to get us some housing. We leave and continue westward.
Our shooting schedule is crazy busy in the San Francisco/Bay Area. The networks of comrades and friends is amazing and very helpful. In the span of 10 days we interview: Bo Brown (of the George Jackson Brigades),Marina Drummer, David Hilliard, Kiilu Nyisha, Dr. Terry Kupers, Noelle Hanrahan, Bato Talalmentez, Scott Fleming (A3 lawyer), Gail Shaw, and Billy X.
We gathered tons of great Black Panther Party and Angola 3 archival photos and memorabilia thanks to Billy, Gail and Marina
We met with many prison groups in the bay area to let them know about the film and build networks of support from word of mouth.
Mumia Abu-Jamal is going to narrate the film!!!
Thanks to the support of Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio who has supported the Angola 3 for a long time . This is GREAT NEWS!!!
02.12. 2004
We are taking off for round two of interviews in New Orleans. We have a full plate this week. At the end of the trip we are going to Angola Prison. This will be Jimmy’s first time meeting Herman Wallace in person.
Mid day today we hooked up with Geronimo Pratt (Ji Jagga) and his family. He is such an incredible man. Geronimo spent 26 years wrongfully in prison and was finally released after the government was forced to admit he was framed. He now lives in Africa and we were so lucky to land this interview. Thanks to King for setting the interview up.
Later that night we interviewed Marion at her home. She has an incredible memory and was around for most of what our film is about. She has been a Black Panther for years and worked on the Angola 3 support committee for quiet some time now.
Around 10:30 on the same night we finally got an interview with Fred Hampton Jr. outside of a small club in downtown New Orleans. Fred was also a political prisoner and not only supports the A3 but has dedicated his life to fighting for political prisoners and the abolition of prisons.
We drove out to Angola Prison and sat and talked with Herman today. It was very strange. Still raining and wet we were walked down to Camp J after a short bus ride. This is solitary confinement plus some. Herman entered the room and had a chain around his waist with chains leading to the handcuffs on his wrist it was all held together by a pad lock on his back. We talked with him in a small room we were locked in through a wire mess. The mesh is so thick I could not make out details in Herman’s face or see his eyes. He was in high spirits and was really excited about the film project. He gave us a lot of great leads and people to get in contact with. This man is connected. I look forward to getting to know him well and telling his story to people.
Today work began on the website is should be up in a few weeks. We also started an Angola3film friendster page for all of our friendster friends out there.
In a few days we are off to San Francisco to interview some of the attorneys that have worked on the case. We are also lining up interviews with many other people who played important rolls over the years. But I will save that for later I don’t want to give that away right now.
01.05.2004
Jimmy freelanced over the holidays for a local TV station in Houston. They let him look at their archival footage from the 60’s and 70’s and we are working out a deal to use some of that footage. He found a lot of stuff we can use and the price is something in our budget right now.
12.08.2003
The research team Erin Howley, Ann Harkness And Scott are working hard finding archival footage, securing the rights to music and much more. In the past few weeks we have got the rights to use some of the catalog from Arhoolie Records. Prison work songs, Angola Prison Spirituals and Angola Prisoners Blues, all recorded in the mid to late 50’s. This is the sound we have been dreaming of having on this project. Things are really coming together.
11.15.2003
Today Robert King Wilkerson did a radio interview in Austin on KO-OP radio in Austin, we went to the station and shot the interview. This was the first thing we shot for the movie. Later that night he talked to a group of activists gathered for the RADICAL ENCUENTRO Camp. King was the key note speaker. We set up and shot the speaking event and rushed off to Monkey Wrench books were King gave a talk to a different crowd minutes later. Its hard keeping up with this guy.
Today we left for our first of many road trips for this film in New Orleans.
Today we had a great day of interviews. The light was good and so was our luck. We sat down with Robert King Wilkerson today at his home and talked with him on camera for a few hours. I have him on camera making his famous candy!
Next we were off to meet Malik Rahim a former Panther who was in jail after the police and Black Panther Party shoot out in the Desire housing projects. He was in the same jail as two of the Angola 3 and grew up with King. Today they are speaking to a group of students at a local University and we have been allowed to tape the session.
Later that night we had a great interview with Malik at his home. Malik told us about the shoot outs the frame up and so much more. In all the years that have gone by this man has never stopped fighting. This was a truly inspiring interview.
This morning we interviewed Althea Francois at her home. Althea gave us such a great interview! Back in the 70’s she was part of the Black Panthers education and prisoner outreach program. She was in contact with the Angola 3 when they were first arrested. Later she move to Oakland began working for the Central Committee of the Black Panthers. She went on to raise a family and live her life only to find out years later that her comrades in Louisiana were still behind bars. She packed her bags and moved to New Orleans to begin again the work she had done so many years ago.
Today we obtained some archival footage from fellow film makers working on a similar project abut the New Orleans chapter of the Black Panther Party. I can’t wait to see their film. They shared footage they had dug up of the BPP and other related issues. Shana and Brice are such hard workers and the footage they are sharing with us will help us in this project more than they know right now. After dubbing the footage we interviewed Brice who is a long time supporter of the A3. We will have to catch up with Shana next time. She was a little busy.
We are in Angola Prison today. I have shot some “b-roll” of the front gates of the prison and the museum. We also went to the town of St. Francisville where a lot of the story takes place. The courthouse the plantations and so on. This place is strange. Scott and Ann visited Herman.
We couldn’t visit with Albert
10.05.2003
We finally finished the proposal for the film to send off to investors and people who might donate to the film. Our budget is complete along with our time line of the film. We are setting our goals for finishing the film by early 2005. We begin shooting next month with or with out funding. For now we will just do it out of pocket. Credit card debit here we come!
