"Feature Film Exploring Institutional Racism to Screen Nationally"
Racial identification and cultural ownership are explored in the full-length feature Film, Wigger, written, directed, and produced by 2010 Emmy Award-winning director, Omowale Akintunde. From a film school short to an 88 minute narrative production, the film chronicles the story of an aspiring R&B singer, Brandon, and his struggles to overcome his inner city life, and find a place for himself in a world in which he rejects his Whiteness but is not always fully embraced by African-American culture. Assisting Brandon in his journey is Antoine, his African-American best friend and manager. The Film stars Emmy-nominated actor Meshach Taylor, Anna Maria Horsford, Eric B Harvey as Antione, and David Oakes as Brandon. Omowale Akintunde is a critically acclaimed filmmaker and graduate of the conservatory program in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. His very first short film, Mama n Em (2008), was accepted into the prestigious Hollywood Black Filmmakers Festival. Wigger, which premiered in April 2010 to an overflow crowd in Omaha, is Akintundes narrative feature film debut. Leo Adam Biga, film reviewer for The Reader described the film as Dramatic, smart, funny, raw, and real, adding that Wigger stands with Do the Right Thing for its gutsy take on race and that Omaha has now produced two of cinemas best works on the subject as it joins 1967s A Time for Burning. Also a seasoned academic, Dr. Akintunde is Chair of the Department of Black studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is well published in the areas of education, race and diversity. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Music Education degrees from Alabama State University and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and African American Studies from the University of Missouri. His other research interests include Hip-Hop culture, gender studies, and epistemology. In demand as a lecturer worldwide, his national television appearances include the Crier Report with Catherine Crier on the Fox News Network and the Morning News on MSNBC. His written publications include Multiculturalism and the Teacher Education Experience: Essays on Race, Class, and Culture and his Childrens book, The Adventures of Darrell and the Invincible Man. www.omowaleakintunde.com For More information regarding Wigger please visit the following:
Local Birmingham comic gets serious in feature film debut
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