Last year this time, I was all about "DREAMGIRLS" which I saw 16 times between early screenings and the end of January. The other night, I – by the way – happened to catch its cable premiere on HBO. (I just happened upon it. I promise!!!!). But my partner Anthony and I have enjoyed some other films in the mix this year, including "DIRTY LAUNDRY" ( www.dirtylaundrythemovie.com/), which shot in Atlanta. It stars Rockmond Dunbar, who was a Freshman at Morehouse when I was a Senior (We were friends!). He plays a gay man who is forced to return to his hometown in Georgia to find out he is the father of a nine-year-old boy. His character's name is Patrick (whose back-story parallels my own coming-out story in that I'm from Savannah). This independent film, directed by my friend Maurice Jamal, FINALLY released in New York City and Los Angeles last week to sold-out audiences and raves. Though I've written about "DIRTY LAUNDRY" since before it went into principal photography, I'm still learning more about it. For example, my Morehouse brother Korey Washington was the Art Director for the film. His loving wife Tracey, who says she reads "A Day in the Life of Riley: Pop Culture & Possibilities" all the time, reached out to me with that tidbit. I last saw Korey at our 15-year-reunion from Morehouse in May of this year. CONGRATS KOREY! If you haven't seen "DIRTY LAUNDRY", please consider viewing it along with the other great films – featuring African Americans – out there. Anthony and I went to a special screening in New York City for "The Great Debaters" (Directed by Denzel Washington) - www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com/ . A special screening with the cast is this Wednesday coming up. I will attend and get what pix I can for my next entry. Meanwhile, it's official! "The Great Debaters" WILL be our family movie on Christmas Day in Savannah! The film is about Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College (in Texas), who - in 1935 - inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Well, they trained and competed with students at Texas A&M which has a stellar repuation in the 'debating' world. However, they considered Morehouse (and some of its stellar staff) as a training ground as well.