Tag Archives: Film

H.E.R. Cast As 1st Afro-Filipina To Play Belle In “Beauty And The Beast”

H.E.R.

The multi talented musician H.E.R. has been cast to play Belle in a Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary special. The Disney special will include brand new musical performances with never-before-seen sets and costumes.  

The five-time Grammy winner said she was especially excited to portray a Black and Filipino princess in an official press release.

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ legacy. The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle!” the 25-year-old R&B singer gushed. “I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors Hamish Hamilton and my favorite, Jon M. Chu. It is very surreal and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Executive producer Jon M. Chu added, “With her obvious extraordinary talent and stage presence, H.E.R. is the perfect embodiment of our Belle and we are thrilled for audiences to see her in this celebration of creativity.”

READ MORE: Mary J. Blige Releases “Good Morning Gorgeous” Remix Feat. H.E.R.

H.E.R.’s casting marks the first time an Afro-Filipina woman will play the role of Belle on screen. However it won’t be her last of her on the big screen as she is set to star in the 2023 Warner Bros. adaptation of The Color Purple.

The Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary special will air on ABC Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. ET and  streams on Disney+ the following day.

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Martin Lawrence Says That Will Smith’s Oscars Incident Won’t Stop Bad Boys 4, “We Got One More At Least.”

martin lawrence will smith

After Will Smith’s infamous slap at the Academy Awards this year, the King Richard actor was heavily scrutinized for his actions. He was banned from the awards show for 10 years even after leaving the Academy, and it was reported that many of his projects were put on hold as well.

However, it seems the slap won’t get in the way of one of the projects, according to legendary comedian and Bad Boys co-star Martin Lawrence.

In a new interview with Ebony magazine, Martin talked about the franchise saying how having an action movie with two Black leads was a big deal in Hollywood.

“It was big,” Martin said about the movie. “For us to come together and prove that we can deliver, and we can pull people into the box office—that two Black stars, two sitcom stars, could make money at the box office [was huge].” It also was an important pivot for him personally and professionally. “I didn’t go to college, so I felt TV was my college years,” explains Lawrence. “I felt with movies, I had graduated; it was just different.”

When asked if Will Smith’s Oscars incident will impact the creation of a 4th film, Lawrence said “We got one more at least.”

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Vince Staples to Star in ‘The Wood’ Pilot for Showtime

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The 1999 classic film The Wood will be developed into a pilot for Showtime. Variety reports Vince Staples is set to star in the series.

Joining Staples in the cast are Xavier Mills, Karen Obilom, Melvin Gregg, and Essence Renae. The series will bring back Richard T. Jones and Tamala Jones for their roles of Slim and Tanya.

The pilot will be directed and executive produced by Rick Famuyiwa, who also wrote and directed the film. According to Showtime, The Wood will be an honest look at the friendship and dating from the perspective of three young Black males born and raised in the gentrifying L.A. suburb of Inglewood. The trio’s struggles to balance fatherhood, ambition, and loyalty force them to question if they are growing apart, or closer together.

In the show, Staples will be Jamal, an aspiring photographer from Ladera Heights who opts to skip out on college at Morehouse, leading to him being cut off by his upper-class family.

You can learn more about the pilot here.

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‘The Last Days of Black Rob’ Documentary to Premiere July 9

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‘The Last Days of Black Rob’ is set to document the finals days leading up to the untimely death of former Bad Boy rapper, Black Rob. The East Harlem native died in April 2021 after suffering from kidney failure.

The documentary is executive produced by GE Films, Goldmouf Famgoon, Kal Dawson and Rey “G-Child” Mullen. Each EP played a vital role in helping to keep the spirit of Black Rob alive.

“The uniqueness of our connection to Rob is how we were all brought together,” says GE regarding Black Rob’s last days. “We all worked together to give Rob a helping hand when he came to Atlanta.”

In October of 2020, Kal Dawson booked Black Rob for some of his final shows as an artist, where one happened to be in Detroit with Beanie Sigel.

Famgoon regards the film as a wake up call.

“To see Black Rob’s situation, it was both sad but also gave me a spark,” said Famgoon. When you’re making money, strive to make the best investments, so you are prepared for what’s to come.”

One of the major elements of the film is the introduction and birth of MusicalArtistsUnion.org, which is led by Rey Mullen. As the world watched Black Rob’s untimely death unfold, many questions were raised on how to prevent this reoccurrence for other artists.

Therefore, the Musical Artists Union is a union formed to create a responsible United Voice to establish Fair Pay, Benefits, Healthcare Insurance, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Counseling for all artists in the musical industry.

‘The Last Days of Black Rob’ is set to premiere in both his hometown of Harlem on July 9 as well as Atlanta on July 16.

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‘Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby’ Set to Hit Prime Video This August

Lil Baby

Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby, directed by Karam Gill and produced by Quality Films, MGX Creative, and 4PF, will be available exclusively on Prime Video. On Saturday, the feature-length documentary had its international premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, which was followed by a performance by Lil Baby.

“I’m blessed to be able to tell my story and have people care to hear it,” said Lil Baby. “This film is a real look into my journey, and if it inspires even one person to believe that they can get through hard stuff and dare to follow a dream, then it was worth every penny spent and hour worked. My story is many people’s story and I’m excited to share it.”

Lil Baby has become one of the most prominent artists in the world since his debut in 2017. Untrapped is a documentary that delves into his life and chronicles his meteoric rise to the top of the rap game. Baby, also known as Dominique Armani Jones to friends and family, was one of the most well-known people on the streets of West Atlanta until he was taken to prison.

Following his release in 2016, he was confronted with a difficult decision: return to the streets for quick cash, or take a chance on his charisma and unproven talent as a rapper. His second album, My Turn, was the best-selling album of the year in all genres of music in 2020. Lil Baby is now a loving father to his two young sons and an outspoken advocate for racial justice and police reform. Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby follows the meteoric rise of a solitary artist and activist while also delving into the structural oppression that prevents far too many people of color from achieving the American Dream.

Producers of Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby include Dominique “Lil Baby” Jones, Pierre “P” Thomas, Kevin “Coach K” Lee, Karam Gill, Daniel Malikyar, Andrew Primavera, and Blase Biello.

“I’m blessed to be able to tell my story and have people care to hear it,” said Dominique “Lil Baby” Jones. “This film is a real look into my journey, and if it inspires even one person to believe that they can get through hard stuff and dare to follow a dream, then it was worth every penny spent and hour worked. My story is many people’s story and I’m excited to share it.”

“This project has been in the works for several years now, during some of the most difficult times our country has faced,” said Karam Gill. “I couldn’t be prouder of the entire filmmaking team and the continued collaboration between Quality Films and MGX Creative to create another meaningful project that sheds light on larger societal issues. Lil Baby is someone who truly defied the odds, and I hope his story can bring positivity into our world.”

“With this documentary we got to highlight the obstacles and all the deep work that had to happen to get to where Lil Baby is now,” said Pierre “P” Thomas. “This raw footage is a powerful way to see that, and to see the negatives that were turned to positives. People will be beyond inspired.”

“Baby, like so many in this country, went through so many obstacles that could have thrown him into many bad places in life. To watch him come through to such a positive side is essential for people to see,” said Kevin “Coach K” Lee. “This documentary has the ability to change lives if viewers can believe just like he did.”

Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby will debut on August 26.

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[WATCH] Jack Harlow Pulls Up To ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ Set In Venice

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Well, Quavo called it back in March and now his vision for Jack Harlow is now a reality.

Several news outlets have confirmed that Quavo’s wish to see Jack Harlow play opposite of him in the White Men Can’t Jump reboot looks like it’s coming through. Jack wil be filling the shoes of Woody Harrelson by playing the role of Billy Hoyle, while Sinqua Walls will be slotted into Wesley Snipes’ Sidney Deane role. Harlow admitted during an interview at the Met Gala that he’s never seen the original White Men Can’t Jump before auditioning for his role.

“Can I be honest? Harlow said. “I was obviously familiar with it, it’s an iconic title and I’ve seen the movie poster, but I didn’t watch it until I got offered the role. I see why it’s a classic.”

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[WATCH] Jack Harlow Pulls Up To ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ Set In Venice

Screen Shot 2022 06 10 at 9.11.17 AM

Well, Quavo called it back in March and now his vision for Jack Harlow is now a reality.

Several news outlets have confirmed that Quavo’s wish to see Jack Harlow play opposite of him in the White Men Can’t Jump reboot looks like it’s coming through. Jack wil be filling the shoes of Woody Harrelson by playing the role of Billy Hoyle, while Sinqua Walls will be slotted into Wesley Snipes’ Sidney Deane role. Harlow admitted during an interview at the Met Gala that he’s never seen the original White Men Can’t Jump before auditioning for his role.

“Can I be honest? Harlow said. “I was obviously familiar with it, it’s an iconic title and I’ve seen the movie poster, but I didn’t watch it until I got offered the role. I see why it’s a classic.”

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Sony Chairman Says ‘Bad Boys 4’ Never Halted After Will Smith’s Oscar Incident, Film Still in Development

'BadBoysForLife'Projectedfor$MillionOpeningBoxOfficeWeekend

For those who want to see another installment of Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett, don’t fret, Bad Boys 4 is on the way. Sony Chairman Tom Rothman stated the film starring Will Smith, alongside Martin Lawrence, was never stalled following Smith’s Oscar slapped.

“That was innacurate… That movie’s been in development and still is,” Rothman said, according to Indie Wire. “There weren’t any brakes to pump because the car wasn’t moving.”

The third edition of the franchise, Bad Boys For Life, was released in 2022. A fourth edition was quickly greenlit following the film’s success. After the Oscars slap, it was believed the film was placed on hold with numerous other projects that included Smith.

Rothman added,  “That was a very unfortunate thing that happened, and I don’t think it’s really my place to comment, except to say that I’ve known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a good person. That was an example of a very good person having a very bad moment, in front of the world. I believe his apology and regret is genuine, and I believe in forgiveness and redemption.”

In April, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw reported Netflix is giving up on a sequel to Smith’s Sci-Fi action film Bright. The sequel’s cancellation is not associated with the slap of Chris Rock. Just last summer, a report cited the film was in the final stages of creating a script, bringing back Smith, Joel Edgerton, and director David Ayer. Netflix’s Fast and Loose film, which stars Smith, is now in slower development. Smith’s show with National Geographic is experiencing a delay; however, the show will continue.

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OVO’s Noah “40” Shebib Releases ‘Toronto Rising’ Mini Doc

noah 40 shebib

Drake’s Grammy-award-winning producer Noah “40” Shebib releases a mini-documentary titled Toronto Rising. The 14-minute doc directed by Alim Sabir, is a collaborative partnership with Native Instruments and 40.

40 is a notoriously private person, so this doc is a rare and unique look into his private life, featuring archival footage of his come-up including never-before-seen home videos of him discovering his love for the piano as a child and the early days of his legendary partnership with Drake.

READ MORE: Drake’s New Deal With Universal Music Group Called “LeBron-Sized,” Estimated to Be $400M.

I’ve always considered myself a visitor in hip hop. When I was 21, I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I learned a lesson in the hospital, which was that as long as I had like one finger that still worked, no matter what the world took from me, I could play the keyboard and I could make music. All the things in my life just kind of pointed me in one direction. I’m here to play my part and to leave my impact.

Noah “40” Shebib

Toronto Rising serves as a backstory to the legacy 40 has built for himself . As well as inspire the next generation of producers who may be struggling to find their footing amid adversity. It’s also a love letter to Hip-Hop and the city which he and Drake played an integral role in putting on the map.

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[WATCH] Vivica Fox Says Kevin Samuels’ Death Was Due to “Karma”

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One of the 90s’ most prolific actresses showed no love was lost when speaking on the death of self proclaimed relationship guru Kevin Samuels, who passed away this past week at 56 years old. The cause of his death has not yet been revealed.

Many of his opposers, particularly Black women, have had mixed feelings about Samuels’ passing, with some being outright callous about the death of Samuels, who was very critical of single, Black women who were still looking for relationship advice.

Veteran actress Vivica Fox appeared on her show Cocktails With Queens, where Fox didn’t hold back at all when speaking about Samuels after death. Fox said, “This man was a hypocrite, in my honest opinion. He really was. I didn’t find anything about him to be healing. He insulted African-American women on a consistent basis.” F

ox then pointed out details of Samuels’ death, saying, “I hope this is teaching folks a lesson about the karma that you put out, the negativity that you put out in the world. That when karma comes knocking at your door, she mind not be so kind. So, the fact that he keeled over real quick and was supposedly with a woman that we don’t yet know the nationality, rest in peace..”

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