Occasioned by BAsics: A Celebration of Revolution & The Vision of a New World

THE STORY

April 2011 marked the release of BAsics, a book by Bob Avakian, the revolutionary leader who has developed a new synthesis of communism. This book of quotations and essays speaks to essential questions of revolution and human emancipation. On this occasion, a range of artists, musicians, dancers and actors from a diversity of perspectives came together in a unique cultural event to celebrate revolution and the vision of a new world.

This film will tell the story of what those artists did and why they did it. It will bring a taste of the remarkable connection between these artists and the hundreds in the audience that night.

For everyone who has dreamed of a different and better world or wondered how art and culture can be part of creating it, this is a film that needs to be seen.

But it won't be made without your support.

Contribute toward the production and release of the upcoming full length film about this event (currently set for late winter). Be part of something that can be a source of great inspiration, enabling imagination to take flight with revolution and envisioning a whole other way the world can be.

See the full list of participants below.

WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT YOU GET

$23,000 is needed for the production and release of the film.

Production includes the cost of filming interviews, film and sound editing.  The film will be released in late winter.  The release costs will include renting theaters in several cities for film premieres and release parties, promotion and a print run of DVD's.

In return you will get signed copies of the poster for the event, the beautifully designed program, a thank you memento that was given to participants on the night itself, a copy of BAsics � the book that occasioned this event, and other special gifts from the performers and artists who took part in this historic event including original artwork from Dread Scott, Emory Douglas and even a chance to have dinner with the mc's of the event, Sunsara Taylor and Herb Boyd.

And more than anything you'll be contributing to impacting society with a vibrant and moving celebration of revolution and the vision of a new world.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP!

This will not happen without you! Many thousands of people have to hear about this with hundreds contributing in large and small amounts.  Please tell others... invite ten friends to give and tell them why you gave, comment on this page about why you gave, post the link on Facebook, twitter, on your blog or website, and pick up the phone.

Please send us any further suggestions and/or any other ideas on how you can help.

Participants in this Celebration of Revolution and the Vision of a New World:

The film will include performances and interviews with a range of participants in the event who included, Aladdin, actor and playwright; Guillermo Brown, musician; Maggie Brown, singer; Richard Brown, former member Black Panther Party and co-founder of The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, founded by the SF8; reg e. gaines, poet and playwright; Moist Paula Henderson, baritone sax player and composer; Maluca; David Murray, jazz musician; Outernational; Abiodun Oyewole from The Last Poets; Ted Rall, cartoonist and author; excerpts from Tapsploitation; and jazz musicians Matthew Shipp and William Parker. Readings of letters from prisoners and others from Bridgit Antoinette Evans, Raul Castillo, Brian Dykstra and Nitya Vidyasagar. The event was directed by Leah Bonvissuto.

A visual arts exhibition specially curated for the night included the work of Derrick Adams, Wafaa Bilal, Emory Douglas, Richard Duardo, Skylar Fein, Kyle Goen, Guerrilla Girls Broadband, Steve Lambert, Wangechi Mutu, Dread Scott, SenOne UZN and Hank Willis Thomas.

The April 11 Host Committee, in association with Revolution Books, included Aladdin, actor and playwright; Rafael Agustin, writer and actor; Rafael Angulo, Professor of Social Work, University of Southern California*; Paul Von Blum, Senior Lecturer Emeritus, African American Studies and Communication Studies, UCLA *, Herb Boyd, journalist and author; Elaine Brower, National Steering Committee of World Can't Wait* and anti-war military mom; Dr. Robert Keith Collins, anthropologist; The Committee For the Defense of Human Rights, founded by the SF8; Carl Dix, founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party; Jessica Green, media maker and co-director, Maysles Cinema*; Nicholas Heyward, Sr., father of Nicholas Heyward, Jr. (murdered by the NYPD in 1994); Russ Jennings, theatre producer and writer; Erin Aubry Kaplan, journalist and author; Rev. Earl Kooperkamp, St. Mary's Church*, Harlem; Mike Ladd, poet and music producer; Harry Lennix, actor and producer; Philip Maysles, visual artist, co-director, Maysles Cinema*; John Santos, musician; Matthew Shipp, musician; Dr. Tolbert Small, poet, co-founder and physician at the Harriet Tubman Medical Office* in East Oakland, CA and former physician to the founding chapter of the Black Panther Party; Clarence Taylor, Professor of History, Baruch College*; Cornel West, Professor of Religion, Princeton University*; Robert M. Young, film maker and David Zeiger, film maker. (* for identification purposes only) [READ THEIR STATEMENTS HERE]

To find out more about Bob Avakian and BAsics, go to revcom.us/basics