Contest Time

Houston's most striking street photography needs your vote: Decide which picture will reign at Cinema Arts Fest

The Houston Cinema Arts Festival — a five-day, multi-venue movie festival dedicated to celebrating the moving image — not only brings film and art to the forefront, but this year's fest is also helping Houstonians get creative.

The festival is featuring street scenes in an exhibition highlighting adventurous media works and installations by experimental artists called Cinema on the Verge. The theme of this year's exhibition is "Street Scenes," with photographic and video works shown by four noted visual artists. The series begins with the exhibition opening and screening of street photographer Cheryl Dunn's film Everybody Street at The Brandon Gallery on Nov. 12.

To highlight the exhibition, organizers asked Houstonians to participate in a street photography contest on Instagram by tagging photos with #hcafstreet. More than 1,500 images of street scenes, skylines and people were submitted during the 11-day contest, which ended Friday at midnight.

Now CultureMap is giving you the opportunity to decide the People's Choice favorite. The more than 1,500 entries have been narrowed down to nine hand-picked photographs and now you get to vote to determine the ultimate winner.

The winner of the People's Choice contest will receive two weekend passes to the festival and an invitation to the gallery launch on Nov. 12, and the runner-up will receive two one-day screening passes for Nov. 15. Not only that, but the winning People's Choice photos will be displayed at The Brandon alongside other contest winners.

So go ahead, choose your favorite photo and cast your vote now through Monday at 2 p.m. The winners will be revealed late Monday afternoon.

This image by alton_artwork captures the exuberance of youth and highlights the many uses of Houston's streets.

HCAF street photography contest alton_artwork

alton_artwork Instagram

This image by alton_artwork captures the exuberance of youth and highlights the many uses of Houston's streets.

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taking center stage

Stage adaptation of iconic Black movie Jason's Lyric to debut in Houston

Courtesy of Jason's Lyric

Most of the movie's cast will appear in the play.

Next year, Houston writer/producer/director/promoter Je’Caryous Johnson will be bringing another beloved Black movie to the live stage.

Jason’s Lyric will join New Jack City and Set It Off in the lineup of ‘90s Black-movie favorites that Johnson has adapted for the stage. The 1994 made-in-Houston drama stars Allen Payne and a pre-Will Smith Jada Pinkett as young lovers trying to maintain a relationship as conflicts and obstacles keep getting in the way.

Jason’s Lyric Live will go on a nationwide, 22-city tour, premiering right here in H-Town on Thursday, February 13 — just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“Houston is my home, and bringing Jason’s Lyric Live to life here first is my way of paying homage to the city and its people who inspired this story,” Johnson said in a statement. “This is more than a play; it’s a love letter to the community.”

Payne will reprise his role as Jason, with actress/model Eva Marcille stepping in Pinkett’s role as Lyric. Naughty by Nature rapper Treach, who played Lyric’s criminal big brother Alonzo in the movie, will also return to the role for the stage production. Tyrin Turner (Menace II Society), K. Michelle (Love & Hip Hop), and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Welcome Back, Kotter) will round out the cast.

"Jason’s Lyric is one of the films that defined my career as an actor,” Payne said. “To bring it to life on stage for audiences who loved the movie — and a new generation experiencing it for the first time — is an incredible honor."

Marcille is also psyched for the show, taking on the role that Pinkett memorably brought to life. "Lyric is a character who embodies resilience and hope, and I’m honored to bring her story to life on stage,” Marcille said.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, December 13, at 10 am. For a full list of dates and ticket information, visit the website.