An Inspiring Story of Black Women Succeeding Against The Odds

The documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring" will screen on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, at 6 p.m. during the Columbus International Black Film Festival at the Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St. in Columbus, Ohio. For tickets and more information, click here. 

"Lady Wrestler," which I directed, tells the little-known story of courageous African-American women like Ethel Johnson, Babs Wingo, Marva Scott and Ramona Isbell who braved racism and sexism in the 1950s and '60s to become international superstars in the male-dominated world of professional wrestling.

People often ask me what message I would like audiences to take away from "Lady Wrestler." One message is to persevere in the face of hardship. These phenomenal women overcame enormous odds to success at a time when it was still relatively rare for women to be featured in professional sports.

Ethel Johnson says it best in the documentary:

"They can't stop you. You've got to be determined that you're going to do what you set out to do. Don't let nobody stop you. If you want to do something, go do it. Don't let people tell you you can't do this... woman or man or black or white or yellow or green." 

Chris Bournea is a writer and filmmaker. He is the co-author of "All Jokes Aside: Comedy Is a Phunny Business" and the novel "The Chloe Chronicles." He also directed the documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." 

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Twitter and Stage 32. 

'The Indie Film Rule Book' Is A Must-Read

If you make movies outside of the studio system, a must-read is Heidi Van Lier's "The Indie Film Rule Book." 

Van Lier is the writer/director of such films as "Chi Girl" and "Monday." She has also served as a programmer for the American Cinematheque and the Slamdance Film Festival.

In "The Indie Film Rule Book," Van Lier offers the inside scoop on how to make quality, well-received films on a shoestring budget and how to make the most of the festival circuit.

In the early chapters, Van Lier breaks down the process of making an independent film, providing an actual sample budget, outlining the casting process, and taking you through the post-production process.

She also shares how she parlayed the attention she received from making her own movies into getting directing and writing jobs at mainstream studios. She emphasizes that while the mainstream gigs can help pay the bills, filmmakers should continue to make their own movies in order to hone their skills and tell stories they're passionate about.

"As a filmmaker, you should be making films," Van Lier states, "not just having meetings about making films."

In the latter part of "The Indie Film Rule Book," Van Lier interviews other filmmakers  and festival programmers who offer secrets of success. Here are a few quotes that I found especially poignant:

"I've seen filmmakers say bad things about other films or filmmakers at a festival. This is never a good idea because you never know who's listening." - Film festival programmer Gabe Wardell

"The key to a great [pitch] meeting is enthusiasm (without losing your cool), confidence (without arrogance; look up the difference) and preparation. If you are pitching a project, keep your story points simple, punchy and short." - Filmmaker David Hayter

"I've seen amazing movies play to almost empty theaters because of zero promotion and I've seen awful, but heavily promoted movies play to full theaters. ... You have to work to get asses in the seats! Having a good movie is not enough." - Film festival programmer Nubia Flores

The one caveat about "The Indie Film Rule Book" is that it was published in 2008. I found a used copy on Amazon, and I don't know if Van Lier has ever published an updated edition. Some of the technical jargon is slightly out of date, such as sections about digital video vs. film, but otherwise, all the advice in the book is timeless.

Chris Bournea is a writer and filmmaker. He is the co-author of "All Jokes Aside: Comedy Is a Phunny Business" and the novel "The Chloe Chronicles." He also directed the documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." 

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Twitter and Stage 32. 

Birthdays Are A Time To Re-Charge And Re-Focus

Birthdays are a time to reflect on what you've achieved in the past year. But for so many of us who aspire to be successful in the entertainment field, birthdays can trigger introspection about everything we haven't yet accomplished.

I'm approaching another birthday and I just happened to come across an excellent blog post titled "Why Age Is Simply A Number." I found this post on Stage 32, which is a networking platform for creative types. If you're not yet a member, I highly recommend joining.  

In "Why Age Is Simply A Number," actor Mu-Shaka Benson states, "I started my acting journey in my 30's. When I began to pursue acting, I heard an array of comments ranging from 'don't quit your day job' to 'aren't you too old for that?'"

Benson goes on to list several solutions to tune out the negativity and stay focused as he continues to pursue his dream. (To read Benson's full blog post, click here.)

Here is my own list of solutions to keep a positive mindset as the birthdays pile up:

Identify what motivates you. Many people go into entertainment with dreams of being rich and famous. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that. Trevor Noah shares this insight in his best-selling autobiography, "Born a Crime": "People don't want to be rich, they want to be able to choose. The richer you are, the more choices you have."

What does being rich and famous actually mean? Having a sizable audience who appreciates what you do. And you don't have to be rich or famous to accomplish that.

As a writer and director, my goal is to tell stories in different formats: print, film, stage, television. This can be achieved without owning your own island or having your face plastered on supermarket tabloids.

Use technology to your benefit. Decent-quality cameras are relatively cheap nowadays. Buy one, make short films on a shoestring budget and put them on YouTube or any of the countless digital platforms out there. If you're a writer, harness the power of Twitter to build a following and sell your stories on Amazon. Anyone can do this.

Identify what makes you stand out. Comparing yourself to people whom you perceive to be more successful than you is a surefire way to get down on yourself. Instead of doing that, pinpoint what sets you apart and focus on that.

In my case, I'm a man who has an innate ability to relate to women's causes. This sets me apart. And it's the reason I saw the value in telling the stories of the courageous black female athletes chronicled in the documentary I directed, "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." 

I hope these strategies help you keep things in perspective. When your next birthday approaches, keep in mind the old saying: "Don't count the candles, just keep the fire lit."

Chris Bournea is a writer and filmmaker. He is the co-author of "All Jokes Aside: Comedy Is a Phunny Business" and the novel "The Chloe Chronicles." He also directed the documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." 

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Twitter and Stage 32. 

What Makes Chicago A Launching Pad For Success?

I'll discuss the experience of co-writing the book "All Jokes Aside: Comedy Is a Phunny Business" on Thursday, July 26, 2018, at the Grammar + Chill meetup with Donna Marbury at Barrel on High, 1120 N. High St. in the Short North district of Columbus, Ohio.

I co-wrote "All Jokes Aside" with Raymond Lambert, co-founder of the legendary Chicago comedy club of the same name. All Jokes Aside was a star factory that helped launch the careers of superstars such as Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Oscar winner Mo'Nique, Steve Harvey, Carlos Mencia and D.L. Hughley, just to name a few.

These kings and queens of comedy are only a small sample of successful African American in all industries who got their start in Chicago. Does Barack Obama ring a bell? How about Oprah Winfrey? Michael Jordan? 

Or maybe you're familiar with Chris Gardner, the investment banker whose life was the basis of the blockbuster movie and best-selling book "The Pursuit of Happyness." Raymond worked for Gardner's firm before leaving to run the All Jokes Aside comedy club full-time with Morehouse College buddy James Alexander.

Collaborating with Raymond on his amazing life story entailed a lot of trips back and forth from Columbus, where I live, and the Windy City. In the process, I found out a lot about Chicago. The following excerpt, which ultimately didn't make the final published version of the "All Jokes Aside" book, describes the city's history as an incubator for African-American talent: 

It's no surprise that the nation's first black president has roots in Chicago. The Windy City has a long and storied history as a breeding ground for black leadership, beginning with its founding by Haitian fur trader Jean Point du Sable in the 1780s.

Since Point du Sable became Chicago's first permanent resident when he built a settlement at the mouth of the Chicago River, the city has, over the centuries, churned out countless African-American inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs who have gone on to national and even global success.

Like Point du Sable, many of the African Americans who rose to fame in Chicago were transplants from other regions: Barack Obama from Hawaii, Ebony Magazine founder John H. Johnson from Arkansas City, Ark. Michael Jordan from Brooklyn, N.Y.

And news anchor-turned-talk-show host/global media icon Oprah Winfrey from a small, segregated southern town called Kosciusko, Miss.

It was on Chicago's fertile soil, fortified with generations of black history and black entrepreneurial success, that another transplanted African American ‒  Raymond Lambert of Wilmington, Del. ‒ sought to stake his claim in the late 1980s.

You can also learn more about the history of All Jokes Aside in the award-winning Showtime documentary Phunny Business. 

Chris Bournea is a writer and filmmaker. He is the co-author of "All Jokes Aside: Comedy Is a Phunny Business" and the novel "The Chloe Chronicles." He also directed the documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring." 

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Twitter and Stage 32. 

Keeping A Positive Mindset Fuels Creativity

I hadn’t seen my friend Logan in a while, so I was looking forward to catching up when we met up for lunch recently. We’re both writer/directors, so I always enjoy sharing my new ideas with him and finding out what exciting new projects he’s working on.

When Logan mentioned a disappointing incident involving Jeremy, a mutual friend of ours who had a reputation for making promises and not following through, I commiserated. Jeremy had backed out at the last minute on a project I'd asked him to help me with. 

Logan told me that, similar to my experience, Jeremy had stood him up when he’d agreed to help Logan out with a short film. Jeremy was supposed to hold the boom mic for the sound recordist. But when Jeremy flaked out, the sound recordist had to do it all himself and as a result, the short film ended up with muffled dialogue. And the actors had moved on to other projects and were unavailable to re-record their lines in time for a film festival deadline Logan had been hoping to make.

Logan was understandably upset, but as he ranted and raved about how Jeremy had ruined his chances at getting into the prestigious festival and derailed his career, I began to feel uncomfortable. The longer Logan went on, his tirade devolved from simply blowing off steam to borderline character assassination. Sure, Jeremy’s actions had been selfish and irresponsible, but it’s not as though it was a life-or-death situation.

When Logan finally concluded his rant, I felt physically drained. Being on the receiving end of such negativity would sap anyone’s energy. When Logan suggested getting together again,  I hesitated. His incessant complaining ‒ no matter how justified ‒ made me reconsider hanging out with him. But I went ahead and set a date to meet up again so as not to hurt his obviously fragile feelings.

A couple days later, I ran into another filmmaker friend who also knows Logan. When I mentioned that I had just seen him, she commented, "He's a nice guy overall, but wow. He seems so bitter."

Ironically, by going on endlessly about how he was wronged, Logan was alienating the very people who could help him out when someone like Jeremy flakes out. 

This story illustrates the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. Learning how to regroup from betrayals and survive bad situations is necessary in general, but is especially important for creative types. For creativity to flourish, you have to keep your head clear. And it's hard to do that if your mind is clouded with vengeful thoughts and nonstop ruminating about the injustice of it all.

Of course there are examples of brooding geniuses whose brilliant work reflected their dark outlook. But Edgar Allan Poe aside, most of us benefit from managing our moods and striving for optimism.

The following are some ways that I deal with stress and try to keep negativity at bay. I'd love to hear how you cope, so please feel free to let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me at chrisbournea@gmail.com.

Pray or meditate. I'm very spiritual, but you don't have to subscribe to any particular belief system to simply close your eyes and breathe deeply. When practiced consistently, meditating can help you get centered.

Journal. Sometimes just getting your thoughts down on paper and keeping a private journal where no one can judge you is therapeutic. 

Listen to music. The old adage that "music soothes the savage beast" is absolutely true. Putting on soft music such as classic, jazz or new age can calm your nerves. Or, listen to loud rock or hip-hop to help you purge your rage and get it out of your system.

Exercise. Just taking a walk, doing a couple of laps around the block, can clear your head.

Listen to inspirational videos or podcasts. There are an infinite number of resources available on the Internet. YouTube alone is a cornucopia of self-help videos. One of my favorites is Noah Elkrief. One of his best videos is "How to Never Get Angry - Anger Management for Everyone." 

Indulge yourself. Although it's important to take care of yourself and eat healthy, get enough sleep, et cetera, there's nothing wrong with indulging yourself every once in a while when you're going through stress. Binge-watching trashy TV and eating junk food are certainly better alternatives than constantly going off and ruining your relationships! 

Instead Of Hitting The Snooze Button, Here's How I Start My Day

If you’re like me and you’re an artist with a day job, Monday can be especially difficult. And that’s because weekends are the time to get caught up on creative work. 

So often, weekends are taken up with errands and trying to maintain a social life by catching up with family and friends. So come Monday, I sometimes beat myself up for everything I didn’t get accomplished over the weekend. 

What I have started doing to combat the Monday blues is listening to motivational videos on YouTube. One of my favorite channels is operated by entrepreneur Tom Bilyeu.

Bilyeu is a co-founder of Quest Nutrition (the company's high-protein, low-sugar Quest bars are to die for) and has branched into the arts with his Impact Theory media company. Bilyeu's YouTube channel features in-depth interviews with high achievers in many different industries, from health and wellness to technology to education.

Although he's not a journalist by trade, Bilyeu is a great interviewer. He asks thought-provoking questions and is an excellent listener. He never talks over his guests and gives them his full attention as they expound on the philosophies that have enabled them to excel in their fields and help others.

One of my all-time favorite interviews that Bilyeu has conducted is with motivational speaker Mel Robbins. Her 5 Second Rule has truly transformed my life and has helped me kick the habit of procrastinating (or at least get it under control). Click here to watch that interview. 

Of course, Bilyeu is just one of dozens of motivational channels out there on YouTube and the Internet as a whole. But his is certainly one of the best. 

So next Monday morning, instead of hitting the snooze button, pull up a motivational video and use it as fuel to set the tone for your week. 

'The Heritage' Chronicles History of Black Athletes And Social Justice

I’m a lifelong Ohioan and everyone in the Buckeye State is buzzing about LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers. Aside from his indisputable accomplishments on the court, James' legacy includes leading a new generation of athletes who speak out on social justice issues, as the new book "The Heritage" chronicles.

Penned by award-winning African-American journalist Howard Bryant of ESPN, "The Heritage" is a fascinating look at exactly what the book's subtitle refers to: "Black Athletes, A Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism."

"It used to be that politics and sports were as separate from one another as church and state," as the synopsis of "The Heritage" relates. "The ballfield was an escape from the world's worst problems, top athletes were treated like heroes, and cheering for the home team was as easy and innocent as hot dogs and beer.  'No news on the sports page' was a governing principle in newsrooms."

Fast forward to the 21st century and "sports and politics are decidedly intertwined," as is the central thesis of "The Heritage."

Among those leading the charge of modern-day sports superstars who use their fame to draw attention to social justice issues are LeBron James. The epilogue of "The Heritage" describes James' prominent role in activism:

As the old cliche goes, "the player with the biggest number of zeroes on his paycheck shapes the culture. Today, that player is LeBron James. James does not hide from his liberal politics. ... James pledged over $40 million to send children from his hometown of Akron to college. ... LeBron has done what [Michael] Jordan did not. He gave cover to the athletes without his talent or bank account to be more vocal politically. He sent the message that being politically active should not be radical, but commonplace."

Bryant notes that James was among the most vocal celebrities in the early days of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014. In this regard, Bryant argues, James picked up the mantle from Muhammad Ali:  the most talented player in the game speaking out and risking his livelihood to bring much-needed awareness to an issue affecting his people.

The title of the book, "The Heritage," refers to the history of black athletes using their fame and resources to advance civil rights and other progressive causes, in the tradition of Ali, Jackie Robinson and college football great-turned-entertainer Paul Robeson.  

I found the subject matter Bryant explores in the book of particular interest. Not because I'm a sports fan ‒ I know next to nothing about football, baseball or basketball.

"The Heritage" intrigued me because I came across many of the issues Bryant addresses while I was making the documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring."  The movie chronicles brave black female athletes like Babs Wingo, Ethel Johnson, Marva Scott and Ramona Isbell, who triumphed over racism and sexism in the 1950s, '60s and '70s to become world champions in a sport dominated by white men. 

As Bryant observes in "The Heritage," black women athletes are the unsung heroes of social justice activism. Much attention has been focused on the bold moves of men like LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick, but in many cases, black women have been just as outspoken ‒ sometimes even more so.

As Bryant describes in "The Heritage," female basketball stars in the WNBA took a bolder stance than their male counterparts in the NBA when it came to protesting police brutality.  And Bryant draws the conclusion that the women were emboldened by the fact that they basically had nothing to lose. The WNBA players were already severely underpaid compared to their male counterparts, making only about $60,000 on average per season, vs. $6 million per season for NBA players. 

In the "Lady Wrestler" documentary, wrestling legend Ethel Johnson recounts a harrowing incident when she and another African-American female wrestler took a stand in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the '50s. She and her colleague forfeited their pay and opted not to take the mat when the event's white promoters refused to let in black patrons due to the Jim Crow segregation at the time.

Johnson and her peers didn't necessarily consider themselves activists, but, like the WNBA players, they felt they had nothing to lose. Not only were the working conditions in Tuscaloosa humiliating, their lives were threatened by members of the "White Citizens' Council" who opposed integration and threatened to lynch Johnson and her colleague.  

So while activism may be viewed as the domain of men, African-American women, in particular, have always been borne a heavy load. 

Anyone who has an interest in black history, sports history, politics and social justice will find "The Heritage" a compelling read. As Bryant relates, there has never been a consensus in the United States about what role, if any, athletes should play in politics ‒ even among the athletes themselves.

Some athletes have chosen the "shut up and play" path, with the most glaring example being O.J. Simpson. During his NFL career, Simpson famously declared, "I'm not black, I'm O.J." Others like LeBron James have chosen to raise their voices, speak out and put their money where their mouth is. 

"The Heritage" is a timely book in a highly polarized time.