Black in Period Films

Look at all of these beautiful ladies! The costumes are impeccable. If this photo was in black and white would we know what time period it was actually taken in?  The Ladies : Ledisi Niecy Nash Carmen Ejogo Lorraine Toussaint Tessa Thompson

I am not sure how many of you readers out there are also writers, filmmakers, etc. However, I thought you all might want to read these scripts! The first script I ever read was to Bridesmaids (2011). Ever since then I have loved reading scripts. You learn so much about the movie and films in general when you read scripts. Here are the scripts for GET ON UP  the James Brown biopic and BELLE the Dido Elizabeth Belle biopic. Both scripts were found HERE . They have tons of other non-period film related scripts. ~enjoy~

I have been following Ava DuVernay since 'I Will Follow'. Her creative talents in the independent film sector have been very inspiring for me. When I found out that she would be directing Selma I was thrilled. I have so much confidence in her film making abilities. This morning I woke up to a photo on Twitter that reaffirmed my confidence in Ms. Ava. John Lewis is being played by Stephan James in the film. John Lewis was there in the midst of all of the action during that time. Looking at the photo and seeing how inthralled he is with the replica of the Brown chapel shows how much time, effort, and research was put into the film. Accuracy is a major factor in getting the correct feel and look with a period film. Even if the story is creative a lack of accuracy can throw me out of the story. (*whispers* Gang of Roses ) So, while I have not seen Selma yet I have faith in Ava Duvernay! I believe Selma will be an amazing film.

Photo Credit:  mccarter.org Esau Pritchett as Antony and Nicole Ari Parker as Cleopatra. This production will be directed by Emily Mann.

Not sure when this happened. The blog now has 1 follower! Welcome Summer! Thanks for following my blog. P.S. I also want to thank everyone else that has visited my blog.

I really enjoyed Mike Epps' performance as Satin in Sparkle! He surprised me because I had only seen him do comedy prior to Sparkle. I believe Mike Epps will give another great performance as Richard Pryor. I also believe he has the look. Something else of note: Epps has already played Pryor in Nina (the Nina Simone travesty biopic) I wonder if that played a role in his being cast in Lee Daniel's production. Either way I have confidence in Epps.

Actress Yaani King will be playing Kessie in Lifetime’s upcoming TV movie Deliverance Creek. Yaani is listed sixth on the film’s IMDb page. I feel like this may turn out to be another Hannah's Law .  Which means that while I am excited I am extremely reserved in my expectations. I want Kessiah to shine ... but doubt she will.  Oh yeah and Nicolas Spark is the writer. 

A new scripted series based on stories from the Underground Railroad. The series name will be "Underground" and is being produced by Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Tribune Studios for an expected 2015 premiere.  This series was  created and written by Misha Green (" Sons Of Anarchy ," "Heroes") and Joe Pokaski ("Heroes," " CSI ") who also serve as Executive Producers, with writer Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind," "I Am Legend"). What do yo think?What historical figures would you like to see come to life?  I'm excited for what this project could be. But there is a great possibility that things could be whitewashed or diluted. Fingers Crossed!!  ( SOURCE )

Andre Benjamin (aka Andre 3000 of Outkast) is Jimi Hendrix in this biopic. I think the casting is brilliant. Andre favors Jimi physically AND  is also musically talented. It was written and directed by John Ridley (Writer of 12 Years a Slave) What do you think so far?

Sophie Okonedo (a period film belle) will be playing Queen Margaret aka Margaret of Anjou aka Queen of Englang!! This is an exciting casting.                                                                             source 

                     Watch the video for some AMAZING Harlem Renaissance Broadway feels!! WATCH Fantasia, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Dule Hill and the After Midnight Broadway Cast perform On The Sunny Side / It Don’t Mean A Thing live at the Tony Awards 2014

If you look in my draft box you will see a draft for a post about the final cast announcements! HOWEVER, every other day the wonderfully talented Ava DuVernay (aka The Director) introduces a new cast member. So as soon as I created that post it was inaccurate. So I've decided to give you a link to her instagram ... check it out there are great pics of the cast and crew!! But I will also link you to my tumblr posts with comparison pictures of the real life legends and the actors and actresses that will be portraying them in SELMA. Tumblr Posts: 1 2 3 4 5 I'm very excited about this film.

May 16 is the U.S release date for the film Half of A Yellow Sun. Click here for the exciting trailer. This release date has been confirmed by Anika Nona Rose on twitter who is playing Kainene in the film. IMDb has also confirmed the May 16 U.S. release date!                                             Will you be going to see Half of a Yellow Sun?

I haven't read the novel (by the wonderful Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) that this film is based on. However even without reading the novel this trailer is enough to get me excited about the film. The cast includes heavy weights like Chiwetel Ejiofor; who seems to be becoming quite the Black Period Film mainstay huh? Anika Noni Rose. And Thandie Newton who has been on this blog twice before .

Hannah's Law is the story of what would happen if Western legends ( Wyatt Earp , Isom Dart, Doc Holliday and Stagecoach Mary)  were all in Dodge City, Kansas at the same time to help Hannah in her quest for revenge.  Don't be confused, although Stagecoach Mary is mentioned in the IMDb summary she is in no way a character of her own. EVERYTHING Mary does is for Hannah. The same goes for an older Isom Dart.  Hannah's quest for revenge against the outlaws that killed her entire family is interesting. But I would have also enjoyed a western focusing on Stagecoach Mary (read up on her HERE ). Or Isom Dart (read up on him HERE ). From the beginning I had a feeling Mary would be the tough advice giving best black friend. I wasn't wrong. Mary (played by Kimberly Elise) is first seem in the TV film 11 minutes in giving Hannah a gift. A pretty blue dress that Mary wants Hannah to wear on a date with  Wyatt Earp. A good man ... the best man to ever live in Dodge City.  Mary

                                                        Period musical news out of Brazil!! Joaquina Lapinha will be played by Afro-Brazilian actress  Isabel Fillardis.   Joaquina Lapinha is an opera singer and actress that captivated Dom João VI ( King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves from 1816 to 1822) The casting choice looks great. I can't wait to see Isabel in the beautiful costumes I'm sure she'll have! Source 

I've posted about the upcoming movie Pompeii previously . The film set during the 79 A.D. eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Stars Jessica Lucas and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje were cast in the period disaster film. The trailer is full of excitment and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (character name Atticus) can be seen at the 1:21 mark. No sign of Jessica Lucas yet. Catch the trailer below! I've found the second trailer! This trailer gives us much more goodies! Both Jessica Lucas (Ariadne) and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Atticus) are seen numerous times throughout the trailer. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has a bigger role than Jessica Lucas and most of the trailer is him speaking. One line that stood out to me was spoken by Milo (Kit Harington of Game of Thrones fame) to Atticus (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). He says "What ever is happening here, find freedom my friend." I wonder how close they will be in the film.