GNN’s Anthony Lappe’s new graphic novel out now
Category: Writing and Poetry

GNN is proud to announce the U.S. launch of executive editor Anthony Lappé's new graphic novel, Shooting War (New York magazine: "Fierce, shocking, over-the-top, and wickedly smart"). Anthony and artist Dan Goldman just got back from London where the response was overwhelming (Financial Times: "Ferocious satire").

They're kicking off the U.S. tour this Monday, the 19th. See below for the details about the NYC events. Check the site to see if we're coming to a city near you and then spread the word.

Friend Shooting War: http://www.myspace.com/shootingwar
For more info about the book and upcoming tour dates: http://shootingwar.com
For purchase: From Amazon.com

Book Signing and Q & A:
Monday, November 19, 7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
4 Astor Place, NYC

U.S. Book Launch Party
Monday, November 19, 8:00 PM - ?
Sutra Lounge, 16 1st. Ave (b/w 1st & 2nd St)
No cover, DJ, Drink specials til midnight
Co-sponsored by Smithmag.net

Signing:
Tuesday, November 20, 1:00 PM
Midtown Comics
200 W. 40th St., NYC

Live comic book game show w/ artist Dan Goldman:
Tuesday, November 20, 8:00 PM
Comic Book Club @ People's Improv Theater
154 West 29th St, NYC
popcultureshock.com

12:54 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

American Blackout opens in NYC / Bay Area

Dear Friends,

Have you heard about AMERICAN BLACKOUT? I want to make sure that you do because it's premiering in NYC this Friday, Sept 22nd, and we need to support this important film!

** Friday Evening Screenings 7:10 and 9:20 pm will feature a Q&A with Director Ian Inaba and Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney***

You can watch the trailer at: www.AmericanBlackout.org

AMERICAN BLACKOUT is an excellent film about the power of the black vote and the tactics that are used to suppress African-Americans voters. Winner of numerous film festival awards including the Special Jury Prize at this years Sundance Film Festival and Best Documentary at the Urbanworld Vibe Film Festival, this "engrossing" and "powerful" film sheds new light on what happened during the Presidential elections in Florida (2000) and Ohio (2004). The film also goes in depth with Cynthia McKinney during her campaigns for reelection in 2002 and 2004. Whatever you think you know about McKinney, this film will open your eyes and stir your heart!

BE FOREWARNED: This film will fill you with OUTRAGE and frustration. But it will also afford you tears and LAUGHTER and bring about HOPE and energy for what is possible in the future. With everything that has transpired sine the 2000 election, we need people to see this film, to understand what is happening so that we can figure out how to address these problems with unity and strength.

If you cant make it to the theater, you can still show your support! Here are some suggestions:

Sign-up for the AMBL Newsletter at www.AmericanBlackout.org

Pre-Order a DVD at www.AmericanBlackout.org

Host or attend a house party or community screening and show the DVD to your friends and family

Tell 10 people about the film. Encourage them to see it, write about it, blog about it, talk about it, and request it at their local theaters, cable networks, video stores and Netflix, etc

Forward this email to 10 people.

If you feel like I do after watching the film, tell all of your folks. We need to keep the word moving on this!

PS - I've heard that many groups are using the film as a new way to support their GOTV efforts this Fall. You can find out more about this on the film's website at: www.AmericanBlackout.org


UPCOMING THEATRICAL SCREENINGS
(Check your local listings for show times.)

:: SEPT 22-28 NEW YORK, NY, Quad Cinemas

:: SEPT 22-28 - MARIN / LARKSPUR, CA, The Lark Theater

:: LATE SEPT NORFOLK, VA

:: OCT 5 PARK CITY, UT Sundance Program at the Park City Library

:: OCT 18 CHICAGO, IL Chicago International Film Festival

:: OCT 20 26 HARTFORD, CT, Real Art Ways

:: NOV 7 SAN FRANCISCO, Red Vic

:: NOV 7 BELLINGHAM, WA, Pickford Cinema

8:07 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

NYT: Facing Voters, Georgia Congressman Gets an Assist From [GNN] Documentary

Rep. Cynthia McKinney faces a huge challenge in Tuesdays Democratic primary in her home district in suburban Atlanta. As The New York Times reports, she is trailing in the polls and been using GNNs Sundance award-winning doc, American Blackout, to help show voters a different side to her than what has been projected by the mainstream media. In an extensive article Monday, the Times Brenda Goodman looks at the flim, the candidate, the director Ian Inaba and GNN. Goodmans article is the first in recent memory to correct the oft-repeated fallacy that McKinney accused George Bush of knowing in advance about 9/11 and doing nothing about it so his cronies could profit. Just last week, the AP ran an article that claimed she had, even though in the film (and in our book True Lies) we clearly demonstrate how her words were taken out of context. The article also goes into Inabas recent scoop, an explosive interview with anonymous African-American Capitol Hill Police officers who talk candidly about racist attitudes by white officers on the force, including specific hostility against McKinney herself. Two small corrections to Goodmans piece to note: GNN is not a non-profit. And we spell Guerrilla with two rs. Otherwise, a solid piece of reporting.

9:41 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Warner Books to publish Shooting War graphic novel

As hard as it is to celebrate anything with the world so screwed up right now, I'm happy to announce that Dan Goldman and I have inked a deal with Warner Books (publishers of Jon Stewart's America: The Book) to bring SHOOTING WAR, our graphic novel about a blogger in Iraq in 2011, to print in 2007. It will be released by their new graphic novel imprint in hardcover (along with a Wu Tang Clan graphic novel!). What you've been reading on SMITH has been sort of a prologue for a larger story arc which the book will follow. The final two chapters of the prologue will run here SMITH in the next couple of weeks. This site will remain the hub for all SHOOTING WAR news and gossip. We'll be keeping you abreast of our progress, sharing insider tidbits and mining you guys for ideas for where the story should go. So stay tuned and thank you for all of your support!

10:37 PM - 6 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

GNN's Anthony Lappe launches online graphic novel about the war in Iraq
Current mood: creative

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GNN Update: Raq'n Tribeca and GNN's American Blackout Tour

GNN Update for April/May 2006

In theaters

American Blackout rolls on...

Engrossing, fast-paced, stylish... a powerful examination of voting rights in America. - Sura Wood, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"...a provocative look at black disenfranchisement in the 2004 election. - David Halbfinger, NY TIMES

"...a muckraking indictment of the systematic disenfranchisement of African-American voters" - Kenneth Turan, LA TIMES

Winner Special Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival 2006
Winner - Best Documentary Feature, Cinequest Film Festival 2006
Winner - Stand Up Audience Award, Cleveland International Film Festival 2006
Winner - Special Jury Prize, Independent Film Festival of Boston 2006

AMERICAN BLACKOUT continues to receive grateful praise from audiences across the country -- this time at the Independent Film Festival of Boston where it has just won its 2nd Special Jury Prize! The film will be returning home to the Bay Area for screenings this week at the San Francisco International Film Festival April 27th and May 1st. In the meantime, regional screenings continue in Ohio: April 30th in Toledo and May 7th in Columbus.

We truly believe that a multitude of people can outweigh the special interests every time. - Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney

In preparation for our national Outreach Campaign for Fall '06, we will continue to preview the film throughout the Summer. (See details below.) - San Francisco, Toledo, Columbus, Ohio, Brooklyn, Seattle, Atlanta, Silver Springs, MD -

On the site

Raq'n in Tribeca: GNN is proud to present exclusive clips from three powerful documentaries about the war in Iraq premiering at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. The War Tapes, shot entirely by National Guardsmen in Iraq, provides an uncensored look at the reality of the war from a soldier's perspective. Blood of My Brother captures an Iraqi family as it mourns the loss of a favorite son at the hands of U.S. troops. When I Came Home, which first premiered online on GNN, follows an Iraqi veteran who becomes homeless and ends up leading the charge to help veterans. GNN wishes them all good luck! Watch the film's theatrical trailers and the exclusive clips here: http://www.gnn.tv/V00061

GNNers step up: GNN.tv has seen a tremendous outpouring of production from our regulars in the last month. GNN bloggers BurningMonk, Snark, Judy and Darios created four new features for the site focusing on under-reported news from various hotspots around the world. Great work guys. The news roundups were collectively edited by the GNN community and are a great example of the new wave of citizen journalism that's fueling the web site. See their work here:

Asian News Roundup

CIS News Roundup

African News Roundup

European News Roundup

Most Prolific Guerrilla Award: GNNer Szamko, a Londoner with a sharp wit and keen sense of social justice, is leading the charge in GNN's Yard, our collective editing section. Szamko, aka Sam Urquhart, penned several hard-hitting pieces for the community in the last month. Here's an example of his excellent work:

Meddling in Nepal: The people are striking for power, but others have eyes on the crossroads of Asia

Resisting Blair's Corporate-run Gulag: Detainees at a U.K. detention center are on hunger strike as corporations make millions from their misery

Traffic Report: March was GNN's best month ever since Mosh rocked our servers. Over 1.2 million unique visitors checked out GNN's growing blogger network. Thanks for your continued support and be on the look out for some exciting changes to the site in the next month...

In stores

GNN's BattleGround: 21 Days on the Empires Edge is available for sale via our store and Amazon. Its also available for rent via Blockbuster, Netflix and Hollywood Video.

Visit the GNN store for more DVDs and tee-shirts here.

Thank you all,

The GNN Crew

____________________________________________________________________________

AMERICAN BLACKOUT UPCOMING SCREENINGS:

See below for more information on the film.

San Francisco, CA San Francisco International Film Festival
Ticket information: www.sffs.org
April 27th: 9:00 pm & May 1st: 4:15 pm Kabuki Theater

Toledo, Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur Hosts a Special Screening
Free and open to the public! Call 419 270-4945 for more info.
April 30th: 4:00 pm Stephens-Roberts Hall (640 Indiana Ave)

Columbus, Ohio Columbus Alive Deep Focus Film Festival
CLOSING NIGHT FILM! Ticket information: www.deepfocusfilmfest.com
May 7th: 7:00 pm Arena Grand Theater

Brooklyn, NY Sundance at BAM
Ticket information: www.bam.org/sundance
May 14th: 3:30 pm & May 16th: 6:40 pm BAM Rose Cinemas

Seattle, WA Seattle International Film Festival
Ticket information: www.seattlefilm.com/
May 27th & May 28th - Time and Location TBA

Atlanta, GA Atlanta International Film Festival
ATLANTA PREMIERE! Ticket information: www.atlantafilmfestival.com/
June 10th: 7:00pm // Additional Screening times and dates TBD

More on the film...

Most people have heard of the voting irregularities that marred the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. Some even know of the resulting challenges to the electoral votes by African-American congressional representatives. However, because the mainstream media shies away from reporting cases of imperiled democracy the public is left to believe these stories are at worst insignificant rumors or at best one-off incidents that result from an overburdened election system.

_American Blackout_ chronicles the recurring patterns of disenfranchisement witnessed from 2000 to 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who not only took an active role in investigating these election debacles but also found herself in the middle of one after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the 9-11 terrorist attacks. American Blackout gains unprecedented access to one of the most controversial and dangerous politicians in America and examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence political dissent.

American Blackout is a non-profit, grant-funded project with 501(c)3 status through fiscal sponsor, NYFA.

_American Blackout_ is directed by Ian Inaba, the creator of the infamous 2004 pre-election video for Eminem's Mosh. Ian is a writer, producer and director. He has a wide range of experience in media creation, technology production as well as marketing and business development. He brings this wealth of experience to all of his productions, from music videos and documentary films, to investigative reports and next-generation technology projects. Over the past four years Ian has transformed from a strategic advisor and creative consultant to a director and producer of highly controversial and informative media projects. He was also previously a software executive for Check Point Software Technologies (NASD: CHKP) and an investment banker for Robertson, Stephens and Company. He is a graduate of the School of Engineering and Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

For more information visit:

www.americanblackout.org

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SF videojournalist faces federal subpoena

ts a tough time to be an independent journalist. Almost every day you hear about a new threat to our ability to do our jobs, whether thats corporate censorship or government interference. Even Apple Computer, a company who you would think would support the indie news revolution, is arguing that bloggers arent real journalists in a case involving a blogger who reported what Apple says are their trade secrets.

Enter the case of my man Josh Wolf (www.joshwolf.net). Last July, the 23-year-old video blogger and GNN ally shot an anti-corporate globalization protest in San Franciscos Mission District. The small, but lively, demonstration turned violent and two SF police officers were hurt. Now the FBI wants to get their hands on Wolfs tape. Wolf argues that he is a legitimate journalist and should be covered by the same so-called shield laws that protect news organizations from having to turn over their sources or source material to the government. The government sees it differently. The case could have widespread ramifications for the independence of bloggers and other indie news producers around the country.

Read more here (Should journalist Josh Wolf be afraid?).

I asked Wolf about the case. He responded via email:

It seems to me this case asks whether i am, as an independent journalist, protected under the California Shield Law as a newsgatherer, and if a Federal Grand Jury is able to trump the California protections. If my footage as a completely independent news gatherer is not protected by the shield law then myself and others like me are in a position to be working as de facto agents of the state working without the minimal rights of privacy afforded to us under the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Attorney asserted that this case is a federal manner as a police car was vandalized during the demonstration, and, as the vehicle is partially funded by the U.S. Government, is therefore a federal case. This strikes me as a suspicious argument for why the various crimes that may have transpired are not a state issue. I suspect that the reason my footage has been sought through a Federal Grand Jury is because of the very protections afforded to me by the laws of California. Beyond that, it is well established that the federal government has been actively monitoring political dissent and I dont think its reaching to suspect that the Federal Government is seeking my footage in an attempt to investigate people associated with anarchist ideologies as well as activists known to engage in black bloc tactics.

What this means to indie media producers is exactly what it means to all journalists, that the U.S. government is willing to undermine the privacy of journalists and threaten their role as a trusted means to disseminate inflammatory information. Beyond that, this move by the Federal Government to demand my footage has a strong potential to have a chilling effect on independent journalists who lack the resources to deal with the legal issues involved in fighting to protect their material, and also a chilling effect on the protesters themselves and any interview subject in general, knowing that what they say could later be demanded by the government for a secretive grand jury preceding.

8:09 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

From American Blackout to the Friars Club

By Lara Karuna

Last week my sister, Daya, and I went to see a screening of the documentary film, American Blackout. Brought to you by the folks at GNN, and directed by Ian Inaba - best known for his ground-breaking video "Mosh," this important film documents the systematic disenfranchisement of the (predominantly) black (and predominantly democratic) vote. Covering the elections both in 2000 and 2004, as well as the mid-term elections, this film takes you through the new and disturbing ways in which our voting power has been compromised. Though it could have been edited one more time and focuses a little too much on the struggle of Cynthia Mckinney, an admirable and outspoken congresswoman from Georgia, it is still a moving and important documentary. We should be up in arms about what happened in Florida in 2000 and then again in Ohio in 2004, but as "American Blackout" eloquently demonstrates, a combination of our media's apathy and often slanted coverage as well as our political parties' cynical manipulations has created a tenuous situation for our supposed "great democracy."

After the screening, I was left - as the filmmakers must have wanted - with a feeling of impotent rage. How dare these hypocrites go on trumpeting about our supposed democracy as they steal it from underneath us!? And what the hell is wrong with our media?! We devote hours to the "Bennifer" stories of the world while all the important shit is ignored.. give em food and circus, right? and as I'm stewing in my mood, my sister asks if we can stop by this restaurant/bar where she's interviewing for a job.. sounds good to me, and so we head over to Beverly Hills.

The potential job is at the "Friars Club," a members only bar where the old and the rich can fraternize over aged cognacs. We step into the nondescript building in which a beautiful girl mans the desk donning an impressive head set. In secret service fashion she whispers our names discreetly into her mouth piece and then nods her approval, pointing towards the oak wood, spiral staircase. Daya and I glance at each other, wondering why every one's whispering and begin our walk. Along the walls are framed pictures of Clinton and others smoking cigars and shaking hands. As reverberations of American Blackout ring through my head, I think, decisions are made in places like this, not the voting booth.

On the second floor we see another hostess desk and another beautiful woman with another head set. The loud sounds of laughter and clanking glasses are clearly audible from where we stand, yet the hostess still whispers, and with another discreet nod we follow her into the bar/lounge. There men sit talking in hushed tones to one another with wet-tipped cigars dangling from their mouths. They glance at us with some interest as we enter and then continue with whatever plots they're planning. Like the frames that hang from the ceiling and the vases that sit on the tables, pretty women are essential decoration for these clubs, and the men take them in distractedly.

A manager walks over to us and shakes hands. He is a typical Hollywood guy. Good looking in a vacuous way, he wears a printed rayon shirt that's a little too tight and buttoned a little too low. He eyes us approvingly and quickly brings us to the managers-managers' table. Though three years apart, Daya and I look almost like twins and I'm guessing he couldn't pass on a chance for sister/sister decoration for their exclusive guests. I sit near a fifty-something guy who reeks of weed and whiskey. He stares down at me and without pretense gapes at my breasts. Two other women sit at the table as well, clearly they're also "decoration." Alternately, they feel on each other and then giggle, looking to see whose looking at them.

"Are you guys sisters?" one asks.
"Yes.." I say,
She nods approvingly and in perfect Paris Hilton-ese says, "You guys are HOT!"

The old guys chuckle, and agree, probably recalling their own twisted sister on sister fantasies while Daya and I glance at each other, silently asking how we always end up in these crazy situations together.

"Here's to the man!" I say clinking glasses with the guy who is still unabashedly staring at my breasts. Probably too high and too drunk, he doesn't take in my words and happily joins in.

And, as I sit there listening to the clank of old, white money, I feel how far away we are from democracy... and how far we are from any meaningful change. From American Blackout to the Friars Club.. life has a funny sense of irony.

10:33 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

The Big Lies of the Times

Just when you thought coverage of the Middle East by news organizations like The New York Times couldnt get any worse check out Monday's A1 headline: Democracy in the Arab World, a U.S. Goal, Falters

Demcracy in the Middle East a U.S. goal? Oh, really? Its just this kind of not-so-subtle reinforcement of the administrations central Big Lie that were fighting for freedom and democracy in Iraq and around the world, and not our own vested interests that underscores why the mainstream media is hopeless. No matter how many reports the Times runs about how bad it is its going in Iraq, when the front page of the Paper of Record takes the greatest spin job of the last half century at face value without any critical analysis it makes it impossible for anyone to create space to question the official line anywhere else. Our goal is democracy becomes the frame in which all of the administrations actions are discussed. They may be bunglers, but their intentions are pure. Remember, most Americans consider the Times a left wing news organization. It makes you want to bang your head against a wall.

Todays Times democracy is our goal headline comes just as the Washington Post reports that the Times and other papers were fed propaganda from a secret military psy-ops program over the last couple of years conflating the role of Abu Masab al-Zarqawi in the Iraqi insurgency. The Post reports:

[A] selective leak about Zarqawi was made to Dexter Filkins, a New York Times reporter based in Baghdad. Filkinss resulting article, about a letter supposedly written by Zarqawi and boasting of suicide attacks in Iraq, ran on the Times front page on Feb. 9, 2004. Leaks to reporters from U.S. officials in Iraq are common, but official evidence of a propaganda operation using an American reporter is rare.

Its rare because its illegal. The Pentagon isnt supposed to target domestic news outlets. They are only officially allowed to spread lies to foreigners you know, the people were delivering democracy to.

12:04 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

American Blackout & The Outreach Program: Getting fired up for Election Day '06

Greetings GNNers – Sorry to have been silent all these weeks but Ian, myself and the rest of our tiny team have been toiling away in the West Coast bunker, finishing the film and developing an outreach plan (more on this below…)

First off, we are pleased to announce that audiences at the Cleveland Int'l Film Festival elected American Blackout as the winner of the Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Award on Sunday night. Presented by philanthropist George Gund, the award honors those films focused on making ours a better world and we are thrilled to have been chosen the 2006 winner.

We are continuing to introduce the film to people all over the country, building a powerful network of activists, politicians, celebrities, foundations, unions and organizations in support of the

American Blackout Election Outreach Campaign: To reclaim our elections and end voter disenfranchisement in '06

Next stop: Sarasota, FL – the heart of Katherine Harris' district

On April 7th and 8th we will be screening the film for Floridians at the Sarasota Film Festival, offering Ms. Harris' constituents an opportunity to air their views well before the primary election. In fact, a rally has already planned for saturday April 8 at 4:30 at the theater. After Florida, we'll continue on to Boston, Brooklyn, Columbus, OH, Seattle, and more…

In the coming weeks, you will begin to receive more information on the Outreach Campaign. This program is aimed at bringing the film into communities where its message can have the most transformational impact. We want the film to be used as an activist tool, to edcuate voters, draw national and international attention to the electoral barriers facing Americans every year and, ultimately, to increase voter particpation at the polls in November. As we unveil the Outreach Campaign, we'll be looking to you for guidance and feedback. The energy, ideas and hope of all of you are going to be what fuels this campaign and we'd like to thank you in advance for your efforts and support.

And yes, for all of you who have been asking: very, very soon we'll have a trailer for the film which will be posted here immediately.

"We truly believe that a multitude of people can outweigh the special interests everytime." – Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney

Looking forward to seeing our momentum evolve into a movement!

Warm regards,
Anastasia, producer, American Blackout

email: americanblackout@gnn.tv www.americanblackout.org

UP COMING SCREENINGS:

Sarasota, Florida – Sarasota Film Festival
April 7th: 5:00 pm – Regal Hollywood
April 8th: 4:30 pm – RALLY // 5:45 pm SCREENING – Regal Hollywood
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney will be in attendance!

Ticket information available at: www.sarasotafilmfestival.org

Boston, Massachusetts – Independent Film Festival of Boston
April 23rd: 3:00 pm – Somerville 3 Theater
April 24th: 5:15 pm – Somerville 2 Theater

Ticket information available at: www.iffboston.org

San Francisco, California – San Francisco International Film Festival
April 27th: 9:00 pm – Kabuki Theater
May 1st: 4:15 pm – Kabuki Theater

Ticket information available at: www.sffs.org

Brooklyn, New York – Sundance at BAM
May 14th: 3:30 pm – Brooklyn Academy of Music Cinemas
May 16th: 6:40 pm – Brooklyn Academy of Music Cinemas

Further information available at: www.bam.org/events

Atlanta, Georgia – Atlanta International Film Festival
June 9th – June 17th
Screening times and dates TBD*

Further information available at: www.atlantafilmfestival.com/

Silver Springs, Maryland – SilverDocs
June 14th – June 19th
Screening times and dates TBD

Further information available at:

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