http://www.haikute.com/big-lot-americana/
Big Lot Americana
Contemporary urban crime movies are a throwback to classic gangster films. Since Godfather (1972) or Scarface (1983) things have shifted with times. Godfather was tapped into by Casino (1985) with a Vegas plot about gangsters in Vegas. Belly (1998) was a homage to Scarface by Hype Williams with a New York and Jamaican slant working the streets.
An important aspect of making an urban movie is keeping it authentic. At the independent level budgets are tighter, so it helps if you write a script that has elements you can realistically translate from the page to the screen. The basic idea is to write a script that you can shoot using your resources. The cool thing with urban movies are they lend themselves to many more backdrops than before. No space ships, people turning super, and that sorta.
It used to be when you attached the word urban to a film the story had to take place in the inner city. That’s changing as urban culture and style is moving beyond those previous boundaries. This makes for an exciting time to shoot urban movies.
Consignment (Filmmaker Sid Kali) is the gritty and raw story of Tommy Jones, a reluctant East Coast drug dealer burned out with being part of the violent and destructive nature of the business. Panic attacks, paired with the desire to carve out a legitimate piece of the ‘American Dream’, soften his street instincts that have allowed him to prosper under the protection of sadistic kingpin Detroit Mike. A few more deals and he’ll have enough money to retire from the drug game to a peaceful life with his wife Yolanda.
When Detroit Mike finds out Tommy is planning on quitting the business, he sets Tommy up to get ripped off and murdered by a rival Dominican drug dealer named Baldo and his overly ambitious enforcer, Lorenzo. Narrowly escaping the double-cross he reaches out to Sadie, his ex-girlfriend, and the head of her own drug crew to help get payback. At a tense meeting he realizes he’s dead if he stays in Virginia. Hoping to get enough seed money to go straight, Tommy flees to California to hook up with his Cousin Carmelo, a small time drug cowboy with a lot to prove. Vicious executions and violent outbursts cause a rift between the cousins.
Tommy meets a mid-level dealer called Smiles. Dirty business gets back on track. Tommy and Smiles begin to move dope at a wicked pace. The money is rolling in and Tommy is getting close to making enough cash to go straight. The buzz on the street gets to Moses, Smiles supplier, and he forces the new partners in crime to take 10 pounds of speed on consignment. Tommy agrees to the deal, but doesn’t plan on sticking around after he moves the stuff. He’s cashing out and headed to Canada. Double-crosses, a string of slayings, and an old secret from Yolanda’s past foil Tommy’s plan and he is forced to return to Virginia. Armed with a gun, thoughts of revenge and hope for a dream, Tommy is ready. Salvation and dreams come at a price. He’s about to find out the cost.
Tommy has one last chance to get out, but he has to get cash from a safety deposit box that he knows is being watched by Detroit Mike’s thugs who are out to kill him. He puts Yolanda in a safe house while he goes to get the cash. Near the bank he suffers a massive panic attack and scraps the plan. When he returns to the safe house he discovers Yolanda has been kidnapped by Detroit Mike. Tommy appeals to Detroit Mike’s greed by claiming to have gotten out of California with $50,000. He wants to trade the money for his wife. The exchange is set. Armed with a gun, thoughts of revenge and hope for a dream, Tommy is ready. Salvation and dreams come at a price. He’s about to find out the cost.
In with Thieves (Sid Kali) is a brutal story of a Cuban cartel into voodoo that gets ripped off during a 5 million dollar diamond deal. Every organized crime group is suspect including the Albanian mafia and an American crew of thieves. This throws the criminal underworld into chaos. Double-crosses and brazen gangland executions entwine everyone in a bloody conflict that plays out to an explosive ending.
Americana VOD an independent media distribution company that offers Video on Demand viewers a wide variety of mobile entertainment choices. Many movies on demand are under 25 minutes making them ideal for viewing on mobile devices, computers, and video game consoles. Slice of Americana Films led by writer-director Sid Kali delivers authentic urban cinema and unrelenting documentaries. Working To Become Part Of Independent Cinema Lexicon.
Does anyone know where I can buy “Taste of Americana” brand spices?
After an elderly relative passed away, it was my job to clean out their apartment. I found a jar of spice from the brand “Taste of Americana.” It has an old price sticker on it from Big Lots store, but as we all know, Big Lots change their stock often.
The only other help I can offer is that the maker of “Taste of Americana” is made by Specialty Brands Inc in San Fransisco, Califorinia.
I really enjoy this particular spice but can’t locate a retailer that sells it.
Thank you everyone!
I don’t think they make it anymore. A search for “Specialty Brands” revealed that they were bought by Windsor Foods in 2004 – and their products do not include spices. Sorry!
Combat Outpost – Afghanistan
