Cocktails with Yvonna

   Julius Caesar  advised “ If you must break the law, do it to seize power : in all other cases observe it .” So that is what Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton did to challenge the racism and inequality of the 1960's. After serving three years in the Us Air Force he attended Merritt College  in Oakland  where he met Newton and  formed The Black Panther Party for Self Defense.  Reminiscent of Michael Brown  and Trayvon Martin today,  Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton went  to get justice for Denzil Dowell  a young African American construction worker shot in handcuffs. Throughout his civil rights  career he was jailed several times. There was The Mulford Act where he stormed the Sacramento Capitol with guns to protest the violation of his constitutional rights. Valor worthy of a  Presidential Medal of Freedom   Bobby  was  bound and gagged at his 1969 court case for being accused of inciting riots protesting The Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention known a

The Queen of independent film Christine Vachon   took to Twitter to announce the impeding 20 year anniversary of Killer Films and homage must be paid.  As producing partner with Pamela Koffler, her 60 plus slate includes features, shorts,  documentaries and made for television films. The Brown graduate who began as a production assistant, Christine is a successful businesswoman with twenty five years under her belt in the volatile entertainment industry. Under her rebellious helm  (Far From Heaven> (nominated for four Academy Awards),< Boys Don't Cry (Academy Award winner), One Hour Photo, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Happiness, Velvet Goldmine, SAFE, I Shot Andy Warhol, Go Fish, Swoon, I'm Not There, Gigantic, Cracks and Cairo Time to name a few)  are where socially conscious, creative and edgy films get made.  Those who can do teach Christine is in demand as an entertainment industry speaker   and mentor.  She's written two how it's done books, &qu