12 Black actors nominated for Golden Globe Awards

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced nominees for their annual Golden Globe Awards,. Twelve of those nominated in the acting catergories for both film and televison are Black Or African American. This inlcludes Denzel Washington, Ruth Negga, Issa Rae, Anthony Anderson, and more.

FILM CATEGORIES

Best Actor in a Drama:

Mahershala Ali ("Swan Song")

Will Smith ("King Richard")

Denzel Washington ("The Tragedy of Macbeth")

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

Aunjanue Ellis ("King Richard")

Ruth Negga ("Passing").

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Actress in a drama

Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”

Actor in a drama

Billy Porter, “Pose”

Omar Sy, “Lupin”

Actress in a comedy or musical

Issa Rae, “Insecure”

Tracee Ellis Ross, “Black-ish”

Actor in a comedy or musical

Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”

Actress in a limited/anthology series or TV movie

Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”

Denzel Washington statement on passing of legendary actor Sidney Poitier

Denzel Washington released the following statement paying tribute to his longtime mentor Sidney Poitier after the pioneering actor’s death on Friday at the age of 94:

“It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend,” Washington said in a statement provided to The Daily Beast. “He was a gentle man and opened doors for all of us that had been closed for years. God bless him and his family.”

Watch Denzel Washington honor Sidney Poitier after he winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 2002.

Spike Lee releases the script of his unmade Jackie Robinson film online

On Sunday Oscar winning director Spike Lee went online to present film and baseball fans with the script of his unmade Jackie Robinson film.

Lee described the film as a “dream project”. The plan back in 1996 was for the director to again team up with Denzel Washington for their take on the life and legacy of the Brooklyn Dodgers legend who shattered MLB’s color barrier.

Sadly, for fans of cinema and baseball Spike says that Denzel said he was too old to play Robinson and the project never happened.

Read the full script here: jackie-robinson-spike-lee-script

Full list 2017 NAACP Image Award Winners

The NAACP held it's 48th Annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday Night. Here is a full list of the winners. Some expected, some not so expected.

Entertainer of the Year: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Outstanding Motion Picture: Hidden Figures

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Taraji P. Henson, Hidden Figures

Outstanding Drama Series: Queen Sugar

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: Anthony Anderson, Black-ish

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us

Outstanding Comedy Series: Black-ish

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Taraji P. Henson, Empire

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Denzel Washington, Fences

Outstanding New Artist: Chance the Rapper

Outstanding Male Artist: Maxwell 

Outstanding Female Artist: Beyoncé

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration: "Freedom," Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar 

Outstanding Jazz Album: Latin American Songbook, Edward Simon

Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary): One Way, Tamela Mann 

Outstanding Music Video: "Formation,"  Beyoncé 

Outstanding Song (Traditional): "I See A Victory," Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams

Outstanding Album: Lemonade, Beyoncé 

Outstanding Song (Contemporary): "Freedom," Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Laurence Fishburne, Black-ish

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Tichina Arnold, Survivor's Remorse 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jussie Smollett, Empire 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Naturi Naughton, Power 

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special: The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special: Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series, or Dramatic Special: Regina King, American Crime

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special): BET Love and Happiness White House Special 

Outstanding Talk Series: Steve Harvey

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series: Iyanla: Fix My Life

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special): 2016 Black Girls Rock

Outstanding Children's Program: An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win 

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series): Marsai Martin, Black-ish

Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety Program (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble: Roland S. Martin – NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Viola Davis, Fences 

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture: Moonlight 

Outstanding Documentary (Film): 13TH

Outstanding Documentary (Television): Roots: A New Vision 

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: Kenya Barris, Black-ish

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series: Ava DuVernay, Queen Sugar 

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television): Charles Murray, Roots–Night 3 

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film): Barry Jenkins, Moonlight 

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: Donald Glover, Atlanta–Value 

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: John Singleton, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story–The Race Card 

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television): Rick Famuyiwa, Confirmation 

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film): Barry Jenkins, Moonlight 

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film): Idris Elba, The Jungle Book 

Outstanding Literary Work (Fiction): The Book of Harlan, Bernice L. McFadden

Outstanding Literary Work (Nonfiction): Hidden Figures, Margot Lee Shetterly 

Outstanding Literary Work, (Debut Author): Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, Trevor Noah

Outstanding Literary Work (Biography/Autobiography): Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, Trevor Noah 

Outstanding Literary Work (Instructional): The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage, Daymond John, Daniel Paisner 

Outstanding Literary Work (Poetry): Collected Poems: 1974-2004, Rita Dove 

Outstanding Literary Work (Children): Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas, Gwendolyn Hooks, Colin Bootman 

Outstanding Literary Work (Youth/Teens): As Brave As You, Jason Reynolds

The Jackie Robinson Sports Award: LeBron James

The Chairman's Award: Charles J. Ogletree Jr. 

[SOURCE: EONLINE.COM]

African American Academy Award Nominees

While most of the focus was on La La Lands 14 Academy Awards nominations this was also a great year for African American actors and directors. This a record year that features a record number 6 black actors being nominated. There are the usual nominees like Denzel Washington and Octavia "I'm in every movie coming out for the next two years" Spencer, but there were a few surprises thrown in. Here is a complete list of the African Americans actors and directors nominated for Academy Awards.

Best Picture:

Fences

Hidden Figures

Moonlight

Lead Actor:

Denzel Washington, “Fences”

Lead Actress

Ruth Negga, “Loving”

Supporting actor:

Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”

Supporting actress:

Viola Davis, “Fences”

Naomie Harris, “Moonlight”

Octavia Spencer, “Hidden Figures”

Best Director:

“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins

Adapted screenplay:

“Fences,” August Wilson

“Hidden Figures,” Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi

“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins; Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney

Best documentary feature:

“13th,” Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick and Howard Barish

“I Am Not Your Negro,” Raoul Peck, Remi Grellety and Hebert Peck

Denzel Washington discusses bringing "Fences" to the big screen

Denzel Washington sat down with 60 minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker and had a interesting discussion about bringing August Wilson's play Fences to the big screen. Watch that interview below.

Trailer for Fences, a movie directed by Denzel Washington

Watch the new official teaser trailer for Fences, starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. Coming to theatres December 25, 2016.

FENCES is directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. The film stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, and Saniyya Sydney. The film is produced by Denzel Washington, Todd Black and Scott Rudin.

SYNOPSIS: An African American father struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life.

Denzel Washington Event Raises Millions For African American Museum

While many in the entertainment and media industries were saying their bittersweet goodbyes to President Barack Obama at his final annual White House Correspondent’s Dinner this past Saturday in D.C., an elite crowd was communing at the Los Angeles home of movie star Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta to raise additional millions for one of the President’s major priorities.

Early in his presidency, President Obama insisted that all monies needed to complete the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture be raised before his exit from The White House at end of 2016. Authorized by Congress in 2003, the museum stands on a five acre-site on the National mall, near the Washington Monument, and boasts a $540 million dollar price tag.

The federal government contributed $270 million, leaving the Smithsonian and others in the community to raise the remainder. The museum reported raising just over $252 million dollars last month –not far from their $270 million goal. The museum is set to open on September 24 of this year, with President Obama cutting the ribbon.

Denzel and Pauletta said they felt compelled to open the doors to their sprawling home in the Hollywood Hills, nestled far away from prying eyes of star tour buses, in celebration of the mostly California-based supporters of the museum who donated more than $55 million dollars to the project over the past few years.

The Saturday night event raised more than $17 million and included the announcement of a hefty pledge of $10 million dollars from television titan Shonda Rhimes, who could not attend the fundraiser.

Read more here: Denzel Washington Event Raises Millions For African American Museum

Antoine Fuqua has his first 100 million dollar grossing film, The Equalizer

Successful African American director Antoine Fuqua who has directed box office successes such as Training Day and Olympus has Fallen, has his first 100 million dollar grossing film with The Equalizer. To date the film has grossed $100,147,595 domestically. The film has also made $90,800,000 on the international front.

The film stars Denzel Washington which no doubt helped its box office fortunes. But as he has shown with Olympus has Fallen Fuqua is a great action director so he deserves a lot of the credit here. Congrats to Mr. Fuqua.

Mr. Fuqua's next film is Southpaw. The film focuses on a boxer who fights his way to the top, only to find his life falling apart around him. The film stars Forest Whittaker, Naomi Harris, and Jake Gyllenhaal.