The Black List screens for free at Arlington Studio Movie Grill

by John P. Meyer

This interview/doc won the Audience Award at the 2008 AFI Dallas Film Fest.

Compliments of the Texas Black Film Festival, AFI Dallas and the folks at Studio Movie Grill, you'll have an opportunity to take in AFI Dallas 2008 Audience Award Winner The Black List on Thurs., July 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the SMG in Arlington. For free. No admittance charge. It's gratis. You pay zero. Nada. Zilch.

The Black List (subtitle: Volume One) represents a collaboration between film critic Elvis Mitchell and celebrated portrait photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. Prior to playing at AFI Dallas, the interview-doc premiered at Sundance. The subjects who come under the filmmakers' scrutiny include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sean Combs, Mahlon Duckett, Thelma Golden, Lou Gossett, Jr., Bill T. Jones, Vernon Jordan, Marc Morial, Toni Morrison, Suzanne-Lori Parks, Richard Parsons, Colin Powell, Susan Rice, Chris Rock, Al Sharpton, Lorna Simpson, Slash, Dawn Staley, Faye Wattleton, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Zane.

Cook County (which starts at 7:30) also made the cut at SXSW. It's directed by David Pomes (Texas born, bred and educated) and stars The O.C.'s Ryan Donowho, along with Xander Berkeley and Anson Mount. The story deals with small town Texas themes such as crystal meth addiction and parental abuse. (Sigh.)