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Showing posts from 2019

First Image of 'Sylvie's Love' the Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha Jazz Era Romance

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Written and directed by Eugene Ashe, this film is having its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2020. Sundance has this to say about the film : The jazz is smooth and the air sultry in the New York summer of 1957. Sylvie helps around her father’s record store as she waits for her fiancé to return from war—until sweet saxophonist Robert walks in looking for a day job to subsidize his residency at the Blue Morocco lounge. This chance meeting kindles a deep passion in each of them unlike anything they’ve felt before. Sylvie’s mother immediately disapproves and reminds Sylvie of her engagement, while Robert’s band books their first big gig overseas. As time passes, the sexual revolution begins, and Motown becomes king, the two fall in and out of each other’s arms, but never out of love. Cast Tessa Thompson as Sylvie Nnamdi Asomugha as Robert Ryan Michelle Bathe as Kate Regé-Jean Page as Chico Aja Naomi King as Mona Lance Reddick as ...

Respect Trailer | Jennifer Hudson is Aretha Franklin

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Watch Jennifer Hudson capture The Queen of Soul's essence in this short trailer for the upcoming 2020 Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect.

Cast Announced for ABC's 'Good Times' Live in Front of a Studio Audience Event

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ABC's is set to release a second Live in Front of a Studio Audience event from Jimmy Kimmel and Norman Lear. This time the event will feature a live episode of the much beloved series, Good Times! As you recall the first episode of Live in Front of a Studio Audience featured All in the Family and The Jeffersons. The second will feature All in the Family and Good Times episodes.  The cast includes Andre Braugher as James Evans, Viola Davis as Florida Evans, Jay Pharoah as J.J. Evans, Corinne Foxx as Thelma Evans, Asante Blackk as Michael Evans, and Tiffany Haddish as Willona Woods. The executive producer team has added Kerry Washington to the team. Washington played Helen Willis from The Jeffersons in the first episode of Live in Front of a Studio Audience.  The release date has yet to be announced.

Have you checked out our latest visual podcast?!

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This was my first attempt at a podcast. If you want to listen without the accompanying photos, head over to our Soundcloud !

Fantasy Film 'Come Away' to Premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2020

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Come Away is a period fantasy film which serves as a prequel to the stories of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland. In this prequel Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Peter from Peter Pan are siblings. Alice and Peter's parents Jack and Rose are being portrayed by Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo (both actors also have producer roles). This is big news because that means in this take both Peter Pan and Alice will be mixed race characters. Keira Chansa, David Oyelowo, Reece Yates and Jordan Nash appear in Come Away by Brenda Chapman. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. Official Description Before Alice found Wonderland, and Peter became Pan, they were brother and sister. When their brother dies in an accident, they seek to save their parents from downward spirals until finally they're forced to choose between home and imagination, setting the stage for their iconic journeys into Wonderland and Neverland. A Behind the Scenes image of David Oyelowo as Jack Littleton....

Courtney B. Vance Joins Nat Geo's 'Genius' | Casting

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Courtney B. Vance has joined Cynthia Erivo in the third season of National Geographic's anthology series, Genius: Aretha. The first two seasons of Genius   were about Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein. Vance is set to portray Aretha's father, C.L. Franklin. C.L. Franklin is described as "A star in his own right, C.L.’s legendary sermons were published and sold in record stores and broadcast on a weekly radio show, and he booked national ministry tours and public appearances. C.L. had a close but fraught relationship with his daughter and supported her throughout her career, most notably when he encouraged her transition from singing gospel to more popular genres." On his casting Vance stated : “It’s an honor to join the Genius: Aretha team, and to bring to life the magnificent story of the Queen of Soul, an amazing woman who my wife, Angela, and I loved dearly. Aretha’s father, C.L. Franklin, had a profound impact on her trajectory from a girl in a...

Awesome Images of Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul in the Aretha Franklin biopic

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Jennifer Hudson and her costar Marlon Wayan look picture perfect on the set of the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic titled Respect. I'm in love with this cute 60's trench. (Picture: MEGA) Jennifer as Aretha in a cool 60s car. (Picture: MEGA) Marlon Wayans is playing Aretha's husband Ted White (Picture: MEGA) Jennifer looks awesome! (Picture: Splash) What do you think of these on set  images? 

Watch Costume Designer Ruth E Carter Discuss Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite

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 Eddie Murphy's Dolemite Is My Name is set in the 1970s and features very attention grabbing costumes. Ruth E Carter is the award winning costumer behind behind period productions such as Malcolm X, Amistad and Roots 2016. She is very open with her process as she works on projects. Behind The Character: Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore. Dolemite Is My Name is my 6th film working w/ Eddie Murphy. This film was a passion project for Eddie and he was also an executive producer, so it was very unique experience. I felt honored to design his look as Dolemite. pic.twitter.com/K1hjxNllUt — Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) October 22, 2019 Eddie Murphy, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Keegan-Michael Key, and Tituss Burgess in Dolemite Is My Name (2019) Eddie Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name (2019) View this post on Instagram The Los Angeles premiere of “Dolemite Is My Name” with the amazing cast and crew! . . . . . #c...

Jeremy Pope and Laura Harrier casted in Ryan Murphy's Netflix series 'Hollywood' | Casting

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It was recently announced that Jeremy Pope and Laura Harrier will be in Ryan Murphy's upcoming Netflix series 'Hollywood'. Along with Pope and Harrier, actors Samara Weaving, David Corenswet, Patti LuPone, Holland Taylor, and Darren Criss have also joined the cast. Jeremy Pope is playing a character named Archie, while Laura Harrier's character is named Camille. View this post on Instagram “Hollywood” — my new Netflix show co-created with Ian Brennan — begins principal photography this summer. A love letter to the Golden Age of Tinseltown, this straight-to-series production will be my third show for Netflix and I couldn’t be more excited or proud about the work we are doing together. More to come… A post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on Feb 22, 2019 at 9:02am PST With the series being described as "A love letter to the Golden Age of Tinseltown", it is very likely that the s...

Letitia Wright and Sophie Okonedo casted in Kenneth Branagh's Death on the Nile Adaption | Casting

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Production has begun on Kenneth Branagh's adaption of Agatha Christie's 1937 crime fiction novel, Death on the Nile.  The star-studded novel was announced today via a 20th Century Fox tweet .  Actresses Letitia Wright and Sophie Okonedo have been casted in the production. According to the film's imdB page, Wright will be playing Rosalie Otterbourne a role originated by Olivia Hussey. This will be director Kenneth Branagh's second Agatha Christie adaption, after his 2017 adaption of Murder on the Orient Express .   Death on the Nile will be released on October 9, 2020!

Casting News | Will Smith To Play Crime Boss Nicky Barnes In Netflix's 'The Council'

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Will Smith will be taking on the role of Harlem crime boss Nicky Barnes in the upcoming Netflix film, The Council. Nicky Barnes was an American crime boss. Barnes was active during the 1970s in New York. Barnes worked along with the Italian-American Mafia to lead a drug trafficking ring. Barnes was arrested in 1978, given a life imprisonment sentence, and eventually became a federal informant. Nicky Barnes on the cover of The New York Times Magazine Official Project Description : “The Council is the never-before-told story of a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s. No ordinary crime syndicate--the men dreamed of a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game. The movie centers on the Shakespearean court intrigue between The Council’s king, Nicky Barnes, dubbed ‘Mr. Untouchable’ by the New York Times, and all the different members as one unl...

Dolemite Is My Name in Theaters October 4th! | Trailer + Character Posters

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Academy Award nominee Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon. Look at these awesome character posters! Dolemite Is My Name in Theaters October 4th! Dolemite Is My Name Netflix Release Date is October 25th: https://www.netflix.com/title/80182014

Behind the Scenes Photos | Madam C.J. Walker Mini Series

One of the great things about Blair Underwood (besides his good looks and talent) is how engaging he is. Because of how active he is on his social media platforms, period film fans have been gifted with a behind the scenes look at the  Madam C.J. Walker mini series. Blair  Underwood is playing Charles Joseph Walker,  Madam C. J. Walker husband.  #OnSet #Netflix Havin' nothin' but fun playing CJ Walker, husband to #MadamCJWalker played by the incomparable #Amazing #AcademyAwardWinner @octaviaspencer pic.twitter.com/AfZUaXOsJb — Blair Underwood (@BlairUnderwood) August 6, 2019 We get a nice shoot of the script and Blair in his costume. His demeanor and poise is perfect for stories taken place in the past.  Becasue of how he holds himself the costume looks natural on him; as if he is from the era. It takes a village...fo real! Just another day @ the office. Lol! #CJWalker husband of #MadamCJWalker @octaviaspencer #Netflix #AmazingCast...

'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 3 Trailer feat. Sterling K. Brown & Leroy McClain

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At the 35 second mark we get a quick glance of the incredible Sterling K. Brown. His character can be heard wishing Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) and Susie (Alex Bornstein) a happy flight. Brown's role in the Amazon series is under wraps and as of today his IMDb page hasn't even be updated to include the credit. We have known about Sterling K. Brown's involvement in the series since April of this year when we were teased with a twitter video. I’m beyond excited to share some pretty marvelous news... #MrsMaisel , I’m coming for you!🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿 @MaiselTV @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/0QCVhJSgSJ — Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) April 15, 2019 Along with Brown, actor Leroy McClain will be joining 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' cast as soul singer Shy Baldwin. According to the official series description: " Midge and Susie discover that life on tour with Shy is glamorous but humbling, and they learn a lesson about show business they’ll never forget. ...

Casting| Daveed Diggs casted as Frederick Douglass in Showtime's Upcoming Limited Series 'The Good Lord Bird'

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Daveed Diggs to play Frederick Douglass Daveed Diggs will take on the role of legendary abolitionist, Frederick Douglass in Showtime's upcoming limited series. The Blumhouse Television series is based on the National Book Award-winning novel The Good Lord Bird by James McBride.  Character Description:  "Diggs will play Frederick Douglass, the well-known orator and leader of the abolitionist movement and Union Civil War effort. Douglass works with Brown and encourages the raid on Harpers Ferry, but finds Brown's planning and leadership style questionable and his approach dangerous, bordering on suicidal." The series will be told from the point of view of Onion (Joshua Johnson-Lionel), "a fictional enslaved boy, who is part of Brown’s motley crew of abolitionist soldiers during the time of Bleeding Kansas, eventually participating in the famous 1859 raid on the Army depot at Harpers Ferry. Brown’s raid failed to initiate the slave revolt he intended, but ...

Trailer + Images | Crystal Clarke as Miss Georgiana Lambe in MASTERPIECE’s Sanditon

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Crystal Clarke as Miss Lambe Sanditon (1817) is an unfinished novel by the English writer Jane Austen. In January 1817, Austen began work on a new novel  but only completed eleven chapters before stopping work in mid-March 1817. Her illness most likely prevented her from continuing. In the unfinished novel, Georgiana Lambe is described as “a young West Indian of large fortune, in delicate health,” who is “about seventeen, half mulatto, chilly and tender.” In the series, Georgiana is far wealthier than many of the white English people she interacts with, and her relationship to polite society is a big part of the plot. Crystal Clarke as Miss Lambe with Rose Williams as Charlotte Heywood Miss Georgiana is not a "race-bent" character or a modern insert. The Jane Austen wrote her as a woman of African ancestry. A wealthy West-Indian character included in a novel from the early 1800s.  Austen's works are considered the pinnacle, so Miss Lambe's inclusion is n...

Harriet | Trailer + Images

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Focus Features has released the poster and trailer for the upcoming Harriet Tubman biopic, titled Harriet. Tony award winning actress Cynthia Erivo leads the film as Harriet Tubman. The legendary Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou) is the director. Alongside Erivo, Janelle Monae, Leslie Odom Jr., Vanessa Bell Calloway, Zackary Momoh, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Deborah Ayorinde round out the cast. Check out the thrilling trailer below!!

Shonda Rhimes First Netflix Series to be a "Bridgerton" Adaption

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Shondaland’s first Netflix project  is based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling  Bridgerton  novels.  Bridgerton Family Series by Julia Quinn Shot in the London the historical drama is set in the lavish and highly competitive world of Regency London high society.  The Official Description : "From the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair to the aristocratic palaces of Park Lane and beyond, the series unveils a seductive, sumptuous world replete with intricate rules and dramatic power struggles, where no one is truly ever on steady ground. At the heart of the show is the powerful Bridgerton family. Comprised of eight close-knit siblings, this funny, witty, daring and clever group must navigate the upper ten thousand’s marriage mart in search of romance, adventure and love."  The Cast The Julie Andrews voices Lady Whistledown, the unseen gossip writer. Rege-Jean Page ( Roots 2016 ) as Simon Bassett A Duke who finds himself the target of the...

Production Begins on Mary Seacole Biopic starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw

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Producer Billy Peterson has chosen “Seacole,” as his first feature film for his new production company, Racing Green Pictures. Racing Green Pictures says that one of its goals is to back prestige films with strong social messages. Seacole fits the bill as it will center on Mary Seacole, a pioneering Jamaican nurse who cared for wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War and found herself at odds with Florence Nightingale. Period film mainstay Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Belle”, "Free State of Jones") will be playing the British-Jamaican business woman and nurse who worked behind the lines during the Crimean War. Mbatha-Raw will be joined by Sam Worthington (“Avatar”). “Seacole” will shoot over the next two months in Malta, Romania and London. The goal is to be ready for a festival circuit debut in 2020.

Happy Juneteenth!!

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Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the former Confederate States of America. Juneteenth was born in Galveston and has now become a national celebration. Photo by Frank J. Schlueter, courtesy of The African American Library at The Gregory School, Houston Public Library