Black in Period Films

The Social Season is upon us.  The Netflix series is an adaption of the Bridgerton novels by best-selling historical romance author Julia Quinn. The popular series has tons of material to work with. Quinn originally meant for the series to be a trilogy, but it eventually ended up being 8 novels! Due to reader questions she wrote a collection of epilogues for the characters and a separate novella about the character Violet.  We posted about the cast here .  If you had the privilege of reading the series what do you think of the trailer?  Bridgerton, from Shondaland, premieres December 25, only on Netflix. 

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 ...

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...

A major part of this blog and community involves fancasting would be films or series. Because there are so many stories that can be told, casting these potential movies with the actors of our choice has become a fun pastime. I spent some time trying to find an actor that could portray Alessandro de' Medici accurately. The great thing about this fancasting is that we have  portraits and written descriptions of him. I looked for actors that not only have a similar look as Alessandro and  talent enough to carry the role.  Here is my list in no particular order. 1) Regé-Jean Page Regé-Jean Page in Merchant of Venice The first role I saw Regé-Jean Page in was Chicken George in the 2016 re-imagined Roots. He was amazingly captivating and I am certain he would make a great Alessandro. He did a great job with the accent and I am sure he could do the same to sound like an Italian ruler. It must be noted that although the show takes place in Italy, Itali...