Madam C.J. Walker mini-series coming in March 2020

Netflix's Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker will officially stream on March 20.

The four-part mini-series will star Octavia Spencer as Walker, and the cast includes actors like Tiffany Haddish and Blair Underwood.

The new limited series is inspired by the book On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, written by Walker's great-great-granddaughter, A'Lelia Bundles. It's set to chronicle her iconic rise to fame and fortune, telling the story of how her revolutionary products and brand changed the Black haircare industry as we know it.

Octavia Spencer & Lebron James bringing ‘Madam C.J. Walker’ series to Netflix

Octavia Spencer’s next project is a literal rags-to-riches story. The Oscar winner will executive produce and star in “Madam C.J. Walker,” a limited series on Netflix that tells the true story of the woman who went from washing clothes to becoming one of the very few African-American female millionaires of the early 20th century. LeBron James will also serve as one of the executive producers.

Ms. Walker decided to enter the hair-care industry at a time when few products were geared toward black women. Around 1906 she started her own business and soon created lines of hair straighteners, hair-growth elixirs, shampoos and pomades. As she earned riches and respect in the business world — extremely rare achievements for a black woman at the time — she gave back thousands to the N.A.A.C.P., the Tuskegee Institute, churches and Y.M.C.A.s; she also delivered lectures and helped organize protests against inequality and violence toward African-Americans.

The Netflix series is based on a 2001 biography of Ms. Walker by A’Lelia Bundles, her great-great granddaughter.

The project is being spearheaded by Ms. Spencer, who won an Oscar for her role in “The Help” and has since starred in “Hidden Figures” and “The Shape of Water.” “Since making ‘Hidden Figures,’ I don’t have a problem saying to a room of male executives: ‘I need a female writer or a female director,’ or ‘I need a black voice or a Latin voice,’” she said in a Times interview in 2016.

The news was announced at a Television Critics Association press tour on Sunday. Kasi Lemmons (“Talk to Me”) will direct the first episode, and LeBron James will serve as one of the executive producers. The eight-episode series does not yet have a release date.

[SOURCE: NYTIMES]

Octavia Spencer is buying out a theater so kids can see 'Black Panther'

Talented Academy Award winning actress, Octavia Spencer is giving back to underserved communities by buying out a theater to allow families to see Black Panther who otherwise may not have been able to.

Via Instgram Spencer announced her plan to buy out a theater in Mississippi when Black Panther opens on Instagram Wednesday, saying she'll be in the state when the movie opens on Feb. 16.

I will be in MS when this movie opens. I think I will buy out a theatre in an underserved community there to ensure that all our brown children can see themselves as a superhero. I will let you know where and when Mississippi. Stay tuned. #KingsAndQueensWillRise #blackpanthermovie

A post shared by Octavia Spencer (@octaviaspencer) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:03pm PST

Octavia Spencer to play millionaire Madam C.J. Walker in new biopic

Octavia Spencer has signed on to play America’s first black millionaire in a new movie.

The “Hidden Figures” star, who is up for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar later this month, is heading back to the early 1900s to play Madam C. J. Walker.

“That’s another story that’s yet to be told and she’s an icon for the African-American community as well, definitely for women in the African-American community,” Octavia tells WENN. “I think it’s time that her story gets told in a manner that I think people will enjoy.

“She was the first African-American millionaire and she was self-made, and it was all through beauty products. She was also a philanthropist and an activist in the reconstruction era.”

The bio-pic will be a limited series and as of now has no network attached. The series will be directed by Kasi Lemmons (Black Nativity, Eve's Bayou) from a script penned by Nicole Asher.

Spencer is also producing along with Zero Gravity Management (“The Accountant”).

[SOURCE]

Hidden Figures crosses into blockbuster status!

Who would have thought that a historical drama featuring three black women as leads would knock Star Wars: Rogue One from the top spot, be the #1 movie for two weeks, get a best movie Academy Award nomination, and make more than $100 million dollars at the box office? Well Hidden Figures has done just that by passing the $100 million mark this weekend.

Hidden Figures grossed $13 plus million this weekend to push it's total to over $103 million in it's six weeks of release.

Hidden Figures stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe. Octavia Spencer has been nominated for a best supporting actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Dorothy Vaughan.

Octavia Spencer, Hasty Pudding's Woman of the Year

Octavia L. Spencer is about to have a new award on her shelf, right up there next to her Oscar statuette and Golden Globe trophy.

Spencer was named the 2017 Woman of the Year by Hasting Pudding Theatricals Thursday afternoon, an annual award given to a performer who has made lasting contributions to the entertainment world. Spencer's perfo

rmance as an actress in "The Help" earned her several awards in 2012, including an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award among others. Just a few days ago, Spencer was named an Oscar nominee for her role in "Hidden Figures."

[SOURCE: the crimson.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

The Force is with Hidden Figures as it beats Rouge One for #1 movie in America

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

In a bit of a surprise three black female mathematicians beat out Darth Vader to become the #1 movie in America this weekend.

Hidden Figures didn't need light sabers or a force choke to dethrone the reigning box office champion It just needed a good story that resonated with viewers and a great cast to take the #1 spot. Hidden Figures earned 22.8 million over the weekend compared to Star Wars: Rogue One's 22.1 million. [SOURCE: VARIETY.COM]

Not only was Hidden Figures coming in #1 a bit of a surprise, the movie also beat projections that had it grossing 16-18 millions dollars.

HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

Hidden Figures was co-produced by Pharrell Williams and stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, Kimberly Quinn and Kevin Costner.

Taraji P. Henson & Octavia Spencer film 'Hidden Figures' to get earlier release

Looks like Twentieth Century Fox will be releasing the movie 'Hidden Figures' one week earlier than initially announced.

The site Hollywood Reporter reports that:

The movie focuses on the untold story of three African-American women (Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae) who worked behind the scenes on key space programs.

Fox confirmed Friday that it would in fact give its Taraji P. Henson- and Octavia Spencer-starring NASA drama Hidden Figures a limited, Oscar-qualifying release on Christmas Day.

The movie, which was previously set to hit theaters on Jan. 13 of next year will instead go wide on Jan. 6.

Hidden Figures, directed by Theodore Melfi, focuses on the untold story of three brilliant African-American women working at NASA who served as the brains behind the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit in 1962. The biographical drama shows how the trio, rounded out by Janelle Monae, battled stereotypes and defied expectations as they made history.

HIDDEN FIGURES TRAILER