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.”
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) today announced the renaming of one of the largest theaters on its Culver City lot to honor Academy and Emmy Award-nominated director, screenwriter and producer John Singleton, who passed away in April.
Singleton made history when, at age 24, he became the youngest person and the first African-American to be nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Director, an honor he received for his work on his 1991 debut feature, Boyz N the Hood, a film he made for Sony Pictures’ Columbia Pictures label. Singleton’s next two films, Poetic Justice and Higher Learning, were also for Columbia, as was 2001’s Baby Boy. His prolific filmography also includes the films Rosewood, Shaft, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Four Brothers, and Abduction. Singleton also received an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Director for a limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special for American Crime Story (Episode: The Race Card) in 2016.
"As the first African American filmmaker to earn an Academy Award® nomination for Best Director, John broke a major barrier in our industry and inspired a generation," said Tom Rothman, Chairman of Sony Picture’s Motion Picture Group. "His vision and skill enriched the world with great film and television content and he leaves a tremendous legacy, especially here at Columbia Pictures. We are honored to memorialize him in this way and look forward to dedicating the new theater with his friends and family later this summer."
"We are so pleased that Sony Pictures will be honoring our father in this way," said Justice and Maasai Singleton. "It is such a fitting tribute given the special place that Columbia Pictures was for him at the beginning of his career. The studio system was incredibly supportive of him in his work, which is something he deeply appreciated. This is especially touching for us. As children we were often brought to the lot while our father worked. Those days were fun and educational, and laid the groundwork for our own careers today."
Formerly the Backstage Theater, the newly renamed John Singleton Theater is the studio’s primary employee and public screening theater on the Culver City lot. The 102-seat theater – one of the studio’s largest – is in the heart of the lot and is used by filmmakers to screen their work in post-production and is the main theater used for employee screenings and special public and VIP screenings. With 5.1 sound and a Christie CP4220 4K projector, the theater is equipped with advanced technology and can screen in all playback formats including Digital Cinema Packages, Real-D 3D, 35 mm and 70 mm film, visual FX (DPX) files, Avid Media files, among others.
BY George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com.
Jussie Smollet claims to have been beaten, doused with bleach, and having a noose placed around his neck by two individuals shouting, "This is MAGA Country!" because he was both black and gay.
Initially I believed him. As a black man who grew up in the United States, I know that black man have been and are physically assaulted because of racism. As one who has LBGT family members and friends, I know too that others can be beaten or even killed because of their sexual orientation.
In plain English, I had no reason to doubt Smollet's story.
As more and more details emerged about the attack including details that the attack may have been staged that belief changed to a want to believe Smollet.
You see, it would have been horrible if Smollet had indeed been beaten, but it would be far worse if he were lying about the entire incident. If he were lying, it would make it that much harder for the next black or gay person assaulted to be taken seriously. That would endanger just not one person but millions.
Those who are genuinely racist will use Smollet's lies as a smokescreen to cover their violent deeds knowing a seed of doubt has now been planted in America's collective mind. Law enforcement may become more hesitant in believing the victims and start investigations that look more at the victims hat the alleged accusers.
Some conservatives are already using Smollet's alleged lies to attack the left and those who believed him. They will once again claim that racist attacks in the United States are isolated incidents and make it okay to question the victim's validity.
I still want to believe Jussie but in light of everything that's coming out, I no longer can. His story doesn't add up.
I don't know what Jussie Smollet was thinking or what he set out to do by lying about being attacked, but I do know that whatever his intentions he has only made things worse.
George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com.
Blackish star Jenifer Lewis made a statement on the 2018 Emmys red carpet with a show of support for Colin Kaepernick.
Wearing a Nike sweatshirt with a bedazzled swoosh across the chest, black leggings and black and white shoes, the Black-ish star sported the athletic look ahead of the 70th primetime Emmy awards to stand in solidarity with Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, whose kneeling protests against racial injustice during the national anthem before football games sparked a social movement last year, became the face of Nike’s new “Just Do It” campaign in September.
“I am wearing Nike to applaud them for supporting Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality,” Lewis told Variety on the Emmys red carpet.
Lewis said she had thought about what she could do that would be a meaningful contribution. “I’ll wear Nike,” she said. “I’ll wear Nike to say thank you. Thank you for leading the resistance. We need more corporate America to stand up also.”
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.
By George L. Cook III African American Reports
It seems that everyone's favorite TV/radio/game show host has the same problem many married men do, he doesn't listen to his wife, although in Steve's defense he may have lost track of who his current wife is. She advised him not to go to the ill fated meeting with Trump at Trump Towers, but instead of listening to her, Harvey decided to listen to his inner Uncle Ruckus. We all know how badly things went for Harvey after that meeting and in an article in the Hollywood Reporter Harvey discusses the aftermath. He discusses ignoring his wife's advice, meetings with Ben Carson, and the fact that he is STILL surprised by the backlash from the black community that he received.
On ignoring his wife's advice:
Now, here's the crazy thing: I'm supposed to be on a boat for my 60th birthday, so my wife says, "Steve, just take off [and skip the meeting]. You'll meet with him some other time." God, I should've listened.
On the backlash:
The backlash. It was so vicious that it really threw me. I was being called names that I've never been called: Uncle Tom. A coon. A sellout. Because I went to see this man?! Which only happened because my business partner got a call from the Obama transition team, who said that the Trump transition team would like to set up a meeting. The Obama team said they thought it would be a good idea because the president is encouraging dialogue.
On meetings with Ben Carson:
I've been to HUD twice. I've met with Dr. Carson and we're actually trying to get it started. We've had meetings, and now we're just waiting on the final notes. We have several teams in place. Hopefully before the year goes out, we'll be making the announcement about the first vision center.
Read the full article here: HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
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]
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 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."
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
In Black Hollywood Unchained, Ishmael Reed gathers an impressive group of scholars, critics, intellectuals, and artist to examine and respond to the contemporary portrayals of Blacks in films. Using the 2012 release of the film Django Unchained as the focal point of much of the discussion, these essays and reviews provide a critical perspective on the challenges facing filmmakers and actors when confronted with issues on race and the historical portrayal of African American characters. Reed also addresses the black community's perceptiveness as discerning and responsible consumers of film, theatre, art, and music. Contributors to this collection are: Jill Nelson, Amiri Baraka, Cecil Brown, Halifu Osumare, Houston A. Baker Jr., Tony Medina, Herb Boyd, Jerry W. Ward Jr., Ruth Elizabeth Burks, Art Burton, Justin Desmangles, J. Douglas Allen-Taylor, Jack Foley, Joyce A. Joyce, C. Leigh McInnis, Heather Russell, Hariette Surovell, Kathryn Takara, and Al Young.
Ishmael Reed is the winner of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship (genius award), the renowned L.A. Times Robert Kirsch Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Award. He has been nominated for a Pulitzer and finalist for two National Book Awards and is Professor Emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley; and founder of the Before Columbus Foundation, which promotes multicultural American writing. The American Book Awards, sponsored by the foundation has been called The American League to the National Book Awards’ National League. He also founded PEN Oakland which issues the Josephine Miles Literary Awards. PEN Oakland has been called “The Blue Collar PEN” by The New York Times. Ishmael Reed is the author of over twenty titles including the acclaimed novel Mumbo Jumbo, as well as essays, plays and poetry. Titles include: The Freelance Pallbearers; The Terrible Threes; The Last Days Of Louisiana Red; Yellow Back Radio Broke Down; Reckless Eyeballing; Flight To Canada; Japanese By Spring.
Common is set to star in a television adaptation of “Black Samurai,” Variety has learned exclusively.
The TV project, currently in development, is based on Marc Olden’s 1974 book series, which inspired the 1977 film of the same name. Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA is attached as an exec producer.
Producers are currently shopping the project. Once a network is attached, the search for a writer and director will begin. With Common attached to star, the hot project is already garnering much interest.
“Black Samurai” follows the story of Robert Sand (played by Common) who is rescued by a Japanese samurai master and trained for seven years. After suffering from vicious racism in the military, and seeing his teacher and fellow samurai killed before his eyes by terrorists, Robert Sand becomes a killing machine, out to destroy the corrupt powers who had taken the lives of his friends.
Read more: Common to Star in ‘Black Samurai’ TV Series
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
Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities - against himself and his fellow slaves - Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom. Birth of a Nation is directed, written, and co-produced by Nate Parker and has a release date of October 7, 2016
The casting of Zoe Saldana to play civil rights icon and singer Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic has reignited a debate about race and skin tone in Hollywood that goes beyond just black and white.
Criticism about the choice to cast the lighter skinned Afro-Latina actress to play Simone has raged since it was first announced four years ago. In a trailer released this week, Saldana is shown wearing makeup to darken her skin and a prosthetic nose that broadens her nose to make her look like Simone.
"She looks grotesque to me," said Yaba Blay, a political science professor at North Carolina Central University and the author of the book (1)ne Drop: Conversations on Skin Color, Race, and Identity. "This flies in the face of who Nina Simone was. She was very black and she saw color."
Read more: The casting of Nina Simone and why skin color matters
Author’s Note: I might suggest at least tuning in to see the beginning of the show and to hear Chris Rock’s monologue and see how he addresses the #OscarsSoWhite issue.
Many African Americans have planned not to watch tonight’s Academy Awards show in response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
Now there are a good number who had no plans to watch the show anyway, but there are some who normally do if for no other reason than to post negative tweets about it.
Now for those few who had actually planned to watch it, but have chosen instead to support the #Blackout movement I have a few suggestions as to what you might do tonight.
* Watch the All Def Movie Awards show on Fusion TV, which is airing the same time as the Academy Awards. You will have to search for the channel though and then hope that you are subscribed to it.
* Watch The Black Panthers: Vanguard of a Revolution here: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/videos/the-black-panthers-vanguard-of-the-revolution/
* Read a book. I don’t care which one, just read a damned book and educate yourself. It can’t hurt.
* Watch tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead. Yes, I know they have a habit of killing off black people, but the show has more black characters than most “black” shows to begin with. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit I’m a huge TWD fan, so I may be biased here.
* Sit down and talk to those people called your family. Those are the people that live in the same house, normally have the same last name, and you may have occasionally seen them at the dinner table, you may even have spoken to them before.
* Go see the Jesse Owens biopic RACE, I think it’s still in 10 or 12 theaters nationwide.
* Go to sleep. A little extra rest before the start of the work week never hurt anyone.
Outrage over the lack of diversity among nominees at the Oscars will not keep Chris Rock from his hosting duties. Rock is rewriting his script to address the #OscarsSoWhite controversy according to the Academy Awards Producer Reginald Hudlin. Watch Hudlin's interview with ET below:
Universal Pictures’ THE BEST MAN WEDDING will be released on Friday, April 15, 2016
About THE BEST MAN WEDDING
The cast of THE BEST MAN series returns to celebrate the group’s most unexpected wedding to date. Malcolm D. Lee again writes and directs the third film in his signature hit series, and Sean Daniel ("The Best Man Holiday") returns to produce THE BEST MAN WEDDING alongside Lee.
