Where Ousmane Sembène’s first two films, 1966’s Black Girl and 1968’s Mandabi, each focus on myriad struggles faced by an individual during Senegal’s early post-colonial years, his follow-up, Emitai, takes a more expansive view of the effects of colonialism two decades earlier. Centering on the defiance of a Diola tribe during World War II, 1971’s Emitai sacrifices none of the immediacy and urgency of Black Girl and Mandabi. Indeed, the film is perhaps an even more damning and incisive take-down of French colonial rule.
Painting a concise and pointed portrait of oppression in broad, revolutionary strokes, Emitai exposes the modern form of slavery that was France’s conscription of Senegalese men to fight on the deadliest frontlines of European battlegrounds. The film simultaneously details the meticulous taxation methods the French employed during this period, which, in attempting to seize a majority of tribes’ rice supply to feed their troops,...
Painting a concise and pointed portrait of oppression in broad, revolutionary strokes, Emitai exposes the modern form of slavery that was France’s conscription of Senegalese men to fight on the deadliest frontlines of European battlegrounds. The film simultaneously details the meticulous taxation methods the French employed during this period, which, in attempting to seize a majority of tribes’ rice supply to feed their troops,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
Much of the NCIS: Hawai’i cast gathered at a beach on Friday evening to celebrate their ohana and profess their love for the island they have called home and office for the better part of three years.
Two weeks after CBS announced its decision to cancel NCIS: Hawai’i — and more than a month after filming wrapped on what would be the series finale — Vanessa Lachey (who starred as Jane Tennant), Tori Anderson (Kate), and Jason Antoon (Ernie) and his wife Seana Kofoed (Dr. Chase) shared Instagram stories chronicling an oceanside gathering they had with Lachey’s husband Nick Lachey,...
Two weeks after CBS announced its decision to cancel NCIS: Hawai’i — and more than a month after filming wrapped on what would be the series finale — Vanessa Lachey (who starred as Jane Tennant), Tori Anderson (Kate), and Jason Antoon (Ernie) and his wife Seana Kofoed (Dr. Chase) shared Instagram stories chronicling an oceanside gathering they had with Lachey’s husband Nick Lachey,...
- 5/11/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Scavengers Reign has had its reign cut short at Max — but it’s about to enter a whole new world.
The animated sci-fi series has been cancelled after one season at Max, but Netflix will begin streaming its one and only season on Friday, May 31, our sister site Variety reports. Netflix is also considering picking up the series for a second season, “but a decision won’t be made until after Season 1’s debut on the streamer,” per Variety.
More from TVLineCast of Cancelled NCIS: Hawai'i Gathers at Sunset to Celebrate OhanaThe Other Black Girl Cancelled at HuluApple TV...
The animated sci-fi series has been cancelled after one season at Max, but Netflix will begin streaming its one and only season on Friday, May 31, our sister site Variety reports. Netflix is also considering picking up the series for a second season, “but a decision won’t be made until after Season 1’s debut on the streamer,” per Variety.
More from TVLineCast of Cancelled NCIS: Hawai'i Gathers at Sunset to Celebrate OhanaThe Other Black Girl Cancelled at HuluApple TV...
- 5/10/2024
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
It’s been great to see the classic monsters returning in modern tales. From more Hollywood takes like Leigh Whannel’s The Invisible Man to the more indie darlings like The Angry Black Girl And Her Monster, the monsters have never been more relevant. And Larry Fessenden is no stranger to the world of monsters, having previously created his own iteration of Frankenstein’s Monster with Depraved as well as his own Wendigo film, aptly titled Wendigo. Now he’s taking on werewolf lore with his new film Blackout.
I was lucky enough to sit down with both Larry and the star of Blackout, Alex Hurt, to discuss the film. From the clear Lon Chaney influence to using alcoholism as a parallel for his transformation, this stands out from other modern werewolf tales. I was also fortunate enough to talk to Alex about the passing of his father, William, who...
I was lucky enough to sit down with both Larry and the star of Blackout, Alex Hurt, to discuss the film. From the clear Lon Chaney influence to using alcoholism as a parallel for his transformation, this stands out from other modern werewolf tales. I was also fortunate enough to talk to Alex about the passing of his father, William, who...
- 4/16/2024
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
While the movie industry seemingly buckles, Disney’s seemingly cutting back on any physical media anymore, and Best Buy is apparently ending its run of selling DVDs and Blu-Rays, companies like the Criterion Collection are staying the course. As usual, the boutique, cinephile-friendly company always aims to release and rediscover classic movies in the annals of film history, and they’re doing much the same with their May 2024 announcements.
Read More: Criterion Adds ‘I Am Cuba,’ ‘Werckmeister Harmonies’ & More For April 2024
Celebrated Senegalese film director Ousmane Sembène, known for 1966’s “Black Girl,” is getting his further due with “Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène, “a three-disc box set featuring powerful 1970s works by the trailblazing Senegalese auteur.
Continue reading Criterion Adds ‘Anatomy Of A Fall,’ Karyn Kusama’s ‘Girlfight’ An Ousmane Sembène Box Set & More For May 2024 at The Playlist.
Read More: Criterion Adds ‘I Am Cuba,’ ‘Werckmeister Harmonies’ & More For April 2024
Celebrated Senegalese film director Ousmane Sembène, known for 1966’s “Black Girl,” is getting his further due with “Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène, “a three-disc box set featuring powerful 1970s works by the trailblazing Senegalese auteur.
Continue reading Criterion Adds ‘Anatomy Of A Fall,’ Karyn Kusama’s ‘Girlfight’ An Ousmane Sembène Box Set & More For May 2024 at The Playlist.
- 2/15/2024
- by The Playlist Staff
- The Playlist
Exclusive: Black Boy Writes Media, founded by Writer Mike Gauyo announces Heather Daughtry as the new chief of programming for The Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative. Also joining the team are three additional mentors; Jackie Penn (4400), Andre Ferguson (Power Book II: Ghost), and Cynthia Adarkwa (Legacies).
Heather Daughtry previously managed Sponsorships and Partnerships at Final Draft, Inc, where she played a key role in fostering relationships with various screenwriting organizations, film festivals, schools, and mentorship programs. Notably, her efforts have been dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented writers, reflecting her passion for inclusivity and diversity within the industry.
Of the mentorship initiative, Daughtry says, “Working with the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Program feels like home. As Chief of Programming, I am deeply committed to continuing the work of propelling the powerful and vibrant voices of Black storytellers.
Mike adds,...
Heather Daughtry previously managed Sponsorships and Partnerships at Final Draft, Inc, where she played a key role in fostering relationships with various screenwriting organizations, film festivals, schools, and mentorship programs. Notably, her efforts have been dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented writers, reflecting her passion for inclusivity and diversity within the industry.
Of the mentorship initiative, Daughtry says, “Working with the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Program feels like home. As Chief of Programming, I am deeply committed to continuing the work of propelling the powerful and vibrant voices of Black storytellers.
Mike adds,...
- 2/9/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
An anguished update of, and response to, Ousmane Sembène’s 1965 anti-colonialist classic Black Girl, writer-director Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny grapples with the psychic pain of cultural alienation and familial disconnection. Though it contains elements of supernatural horror—including trickster spiders and murderous mermaids—it’s at heart a deeply felt immigration story, one that finds hope not in the empty promises of the American dream but in the strength and resilience of oppressed peoples.
The film opens on Aisha’s (Anna Diop) first day of work at the luxe Manhattan apartment of a businesswoman, Amy (Michelle Monaghan), who’s hired her to care for her young daughter, Rose (Rose Decker). Aisha, a teacher in her native Senegal, has no trouble caring for the girl, helping her with her French lessons and making food that she’ll actually eat, but she does have issues with Amy, whose festering anxieties make her...
The film opens on Aisha’s (Anna Diop) first day of work at the luxe Manhattan apartment of a businesswoman, Amy (Michelle Monaghan), who’s hired her to care for her young daughter, Rose (Rose Decker). Aisha, a teacher in her native Senegal, has no trouble caring for the girl, helping her with her French lessons and making food that she’ll actually eat, but she does have issues with Amy, whose festering anxieties make her...
- 11/8/2023
- by Keith Watson
- Slant Magazine
The Other Black Girl brings to life Zakiya Dalila Harris’ best-selling novel. Boasting a fabulous cast, the satirical show is less horror and more psychological thriller. As is common with adaptations, the show definitely misses out on a lot of the pulse of the book. The show details the life of a young black assistant editor named Nella Rogers in the rather colorless publishing industry. In this very real story with an element of horror, Nella becomes overexcited when she meets a fellow black woman who joins the workforce.
Allyship is the only way out in such a situation, and the two become tight rather quickly. Soon, Nella comes to realize that the situation is not as friendly as it seems, and things go drastically downhill from there on. Nella’s life is transformed when Hazel enters it, and while at first, everything seems like it’s on an upward...
Allyship is the only way out in such a situation, and the two become tight rather quickly. Soon, Nella comes to realize that the situation is not as friendly as it seems, and things go drastically downhill from there on. Nella’s life is transformed when Hazel enters it, and while at first, everything seems like it’s on an upward...
- 9/18/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
The Other Black Girl is a mystery drama series created by Zakiya Dalila Harris and Rashida Jones. The Hulu series is based on a 2021 novel of the same name by Zakiya Dalila Harris a workplace drama and it follows an African-American editorial assistant working in a NYC publishing firm which is largely populated by white people. When another black co-worker arrives she gets excited but is her new colleague a friend or a foe?
The Other Black Girl – Episode Guide (When are the Episodes Coming Out?)
The Other Black consists of ten episodes in total and all of them came out on the same day on Hulu. You can check out the episode titles and release dates for the episodes below:
Credit – Hulu Episode 1 “They Say I’m Different” – September 13 Episode 2 “After the Storm” – September 13 Episode 3 “I Know a Place” – September 13 Episode 4 “What About Your Friends” – September 13 Episode 5 “Don’t...
The Other Black Girl – Episode Guide (When are the Episodes Coming Out?)
The Other Black consists of ten episodes in total and all of them came out on the same day on Hulu. You can check out the episode titles and release dates for the episodes below:
Credit – Hulu Episode 1 “They Say I’m Different” – September 13 Episode 2 “After the Storm” – September 13 Episode 3 “I Know a Place” – September 13 Episode 4 “What About Your Friends” – September 13 Episode 5 “Don’t...
- 9/17/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Across much of corporate America, it’s taken almost for granted that things have been “getting better” for racial minorities: that there are more Black voices in positions of influence than there ever have been; that diversity and inclusivity are more prized than ever; that every generation of trailblazers and role models begets the next; that no matter how unjust things remain, they’re still better than they were three or four decades ago. And sure, some of it might even be true.
But there’s a special frustration to being told all this when you can see with your own eyes that it isn’t always the way things are, to being instructed to just wait your turn, to gritting your teeth in the meantime. Hulu’s The Other Black Girl, set largely in the lily-white territory of book publishing, taps into that tension with every genre in its...
But there’s a special frustration to being told all this when you can see with your own eyes that it isn’t always the way things are, to being instructed to just wait your turn, to gritting your teeth in the meantime. Hulu’s The Other Black Girl, set largely in the lily-white territory of book publishing, taps into that tension with every genre in its...
- 9/12/2023
- by Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. Cohen Media Group releases the film in theaters on Friday, February 23.
Like Africa’s “first” film “La Noir De…” (Aka “Black Girl”) (1966), “Io Capitano” begins in Dakar, Senegal. And just as in Ousmane Sembene’s masterpiece, the promise of Europe tempts a young protagonist away from its vibrant streets and warm community to be degraded, dehumanized, and abused. While “La Noir De…” saw a young woman arrive in Antibes, only to find life there a brutal and cruel nightmare that she cannot bear, “Io Capitano” follows 16-year-old Seydou and his cousin Moussa on a tortuous journey just to reach Italy’s shores.
From Italian director Matteo Garrone, best unknown for the unflinching Mafia thriller “Gomorrah,” which saw Naples become a hellish war zone, his latest is the first that sees Italy from an outsider’s perspective, gazing...
Like Africa’s “first” film “La Noir De…” (Aka “Black Girl”) (1966), “Io Capitano” begins in Dakar, Senegal. And just as in Ousmane Sembene’s masterpiece, the promise of Europe tempts a young protagonist away from its vibrant streets and warm community to be degraded, dehumanized, and abused. While “La Noir De…” saw a young woman arrive in Antibes, only to find life there a brutal and cruel nightmare that she cannot bear, “Io Capitano” follows 16-year-old Seydou and his cousin Moussa on a tortuous journey just to reach Italy’s shores.
From Italian director Matteo Garrone, best unknown for the unflinching Mafia thriller “Gomorrah,” which saw Naples become a hellish war zone, his latest is the first that sees Italy from an outsider’s perspective, gazing...
- 9/7/2023
- by Leila Latif
- Indiewire
Bearing talent equal to the totemic filmmakers of his time hasn’t, all these decades hence, helped Ousmane Sembène achieve their cultural, academic, cinephilic stature. The perpetual marginalization of African cinema sure doesn’t help, this shame best exemplified by how few restorations the entire continent’s received––a blight Janus Films look to correct with their centennial retrospective boasting the canonical Black Girl, three new restorations, as well as Guelwaar and Mandabi.
Ahead of a complete series playing Film Forum from September 8 to the 21st, Janus’ trailer shows Sembène’s cinema for its brilliant colorful, musical tones, and political fury. Having seen these films via Mkv files ripped from old DVDs––you’re correct for surmising it was less-than-ideal––these 100 seconds mark a minor revelation. It’s more than Sembène being essential in any condition––anybody seeing these films just now is also supremely lucky.
Find preview and poster...
Ahead of a complete series playing Film Forum from September 8 to the 21st, Janus’ trailer shows Sembène’s cinema for its brilliant colorful, musical tones, and political fury. Having seen these films via Mkv files ripped from old DVDs––you’re correct for surmising it was less-than-ideal––these 100 seconds mark a minor revelation. It’s more than Sembène being essential in any condition––anybody seeing these films just now is also supremely lucky.
Find preview and poster...
- 8/30/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
No human resources department could handle the type of workplace nightmare that lurks in the shadows for Nella (Sinclair Daniel) in the first trailer for Hulu’s thriller series The Other Black Girl. All 10 episodes of the show, adapted from Zakiya Dalila Harris’ best selling novel, will premiere on the streaming service on Sept. 13 — and what awaits is a convoluted series of events marked by paranoia, hallucinations, and sinister surveillance.
The Other Black Girl follows Nella, an editorial assistant dealing with the marginalization and microaggressions that come with being the...
The Other Black Girl follows Nella, an editorial assistant dealing with the marginalization and microaggressions that come with being the...
- 8/16/2023
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
The Other Black Girl is poised to be one of the most talked-about shows of the year.
Hulu dropped the official trailer for its adaptation of Zakiya Dalila Harris' best-selling novel on Wednesday, and it's as unsettling as expected.
"Nella, an editorial assistant, is tired of being the only Black girl at her company, so she's excited when Hazel is hired," the logline reads.
"But as Hazel's star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company."
It's a compelling description, and the trailer nails what the above describes, so that's a good thing.
Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola, Hunter Parrish, Bellamy Young, Eric McCormack, and Garcelle Beauvais star.
The Other Black Girl is executive produced by Rashida Jones, Adam Fishbach, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Jordan Reddout, Gus Hickey, Tara Duncan, and Temple Hill's Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey.
Jordan Reddout and...
Hulu dropped the official trailer for its adaptation of Zakiya Dalila Harris' best-selling novel on Wednesday, and it's as unsettling as expected.
"Nella, an editorial assistant, is tired of being the only Black girl at her company, so she's excited when Hazel is hired," the logline reads.
"But as Hazel's star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company."
It's a compelling description, and the trailer nails what the above describes, so that's a good thing.
Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola, Hunter Parrish, Bellamy Young, Eric McCormack, and Garcelle Beauvais star.
The Other Black Girl is executive produced by Rashida Jones, Adam Fishbach, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Jordan Reddout, Gus Hickey, Tara Duncan, and Temple Hill's Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey.
Jordan Reddout and...
- 8/16/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Riverdale‘s end is near… and an old friend is coming back to say goodbye.
Ashleigh Murray will return to reprise her role as Josie McCoy in next Wednesday’s episode (The CW, 9/8c), a new preview reveals. In the sneak peek — which you can watch above — Josie is a glamorous Hollywood star who wants a red-carpet premiere of her latest movie at Veronica’s theater the Babylonium. And yeah, she sticks around long enough to sing a song, too.
More from TVLineRatings: Claim to Fame Tumbles After Time Slot Swap - Plus, The CW's Comedy Debuts!Ratings: The Chosen...
Ashleigh Murray will return to reprise her role as Josie McCoy in next Wednesday’s episode (The CW, 9/8c), a new preview reveals. In the sneak peek — which you can watch above — Josie is a glamorous Hollywood star who wants a red-carpet premiere of her latest movie at Veronica’s theater the Babylonium. And yeah, she sticks around long enough to sing a song, too.
More from TVLineRatings: Claim to Fame Tumbles After Time Slot Swap - Plus, The CW's Comedy Debuts!Ratings: The Chosen...
- 7/27/2023
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
Plot: It tells the story of teenage anti-hero, Vicaria, who is on a desperate quest to cure death.
Review: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the greatest stories ever told so it’s no surprise to see it adapted in so many different ways. Whether it’s Sundance’s Birth/Rebirth or the Emma Stone-starring Poor Things, there’s clearly so much more to these tales than just “raising the dead.” And The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is no different, providing biting social commentary, a unique twist on the story, and some truly wonderful performances.
Vicaria’s (Laya DeLeon Hayes) obsession with death may start out personal, with the death of her family members being her launching point. But it’s more than that, with her taking a deep look at the dissolution of her neighborhood, which further motivates her. Hayes is absolutely phenomenal in the role...
Review: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the greatest stories ever told so it’s no surprise to see it adapted in so many different ways. Whether it’s Sundance’s Birth/Rebirth or the Emma Stone-starring Poor Things, there’s clearly so much more to these tales than just “raising the dead.” And The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is no different, providing biting social commentary, a unique twist on the story, and some truly wonderful performances.
Vicaria’s (Laya DeLeon Hayes) obsession with death may start out personal, with the death of her family members being her launching point. But it’s more than that, with her taking a deep look at the dissolution of her neighborhood, which further motivates her. Hayes is absolutely phenomenal in the role...
- 6/9/2023
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
Filming in Los Angeles continued to decline across most categories to start the year as Hollywood braces for a potential work stoppage.
Particularly for TV shooting, local office FilmLA attributed the dropoff to the suspension of production decisions “pending the outcome of corporate restructuring actions and industry labor negotiations.”
“Over three consecutive quarters, we’ve seen a significant slowdown across all of the most economically important categories of on-location production,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley in a statement, noting that “decisions about future content direction are on hold.”
The first quarter that ended in March saw a 7,476 shoot days, according to FilmLA. The figure represents a 24 percent decline from the same period last year. At that time, Los Angeles was enjoying a production surge due to a backlog of content stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. The film office reported that the start of 2022 was the busiest first quarter ever, with 9,832 shoot days.
Particularly for TV shooting, local office FilmLA attributed the dropoff to the suspension of production decisions “pending the outcome of corporate restructuring actions and industry labor negotiations.”
“Over three consecutive quarters, we’ve seen a significant slowdown across all of the most economically important categories of on-location production,” said FilmLA president Paul Audley in a statement, noting that “decisions about future content direction are on hold.”
The first quarter that ended in March saw a 7,476 shoot days, according to FilmLA. The figure represents a 24 percent decline from the same period last year. At that time, Los Angeles was enjoying a production surge due to a backlog of content stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. The film office reported that the start of 2022 was the busiest first quarter ever, with 9,832 shoot days.
- 4/19/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: BET Her has greenlit Black Girl, Erupted from director and star, Vanessa Bell Calloway (This Is Us), and executive producer, Tressa Azarel Smallwood of MegaMind Media. The project is the first feature film under the BET Her Presents: The Couch franchise.
Written by Tiffany Yancey, Black Girl, Erupted follows Reina (Khalilah Joi), a woman paying her dues at a law firm while facing microaggressions from co-workers and her boss Mr. Horowitz (Eric Roberts). Reina’s parents, Cassandra (Vanessa E. Williams), and Donald (Rodney Van Johnson), favor their younger daughter, Reilly, (Janeva Stoute), and consistently remind Reina not to be the “angry black woman” at the firm. The pressure to be perfect and uphold the family’s image wreaks havoc on Reina’s mental state.
B.J. Britt, Kareem Grimes, Brely Evans and Asia’h Epperson also star.
The film reunites Calloway with Smallwood, who has overseen the production of all the...
Written by Tiffany Yancey, Black Girl, Erupted follows Reina (Khalilah Joi), a woman paying her dues at a law firm while facing microaggressions from co-workers and her boss Mr. Horowitz (Eric Roberts). Reina’s parents, Cassandra (Vanessa E. Williams), and Donald (Rodney Van Johnson), favor their younger daughter, Reilly, (Janeva Stoute), and consistently remind Reina not to be the “angry black woman” at the firm. The pressure to be perfect and uphold the family’s image wreaks havoc on Reina’s mental state.
B.J. Britt, Kareem Grimes, Brely Evans and Asia’h Epperson also star.
The film reunites Calloway with Smallwood, who has overseen the production of all the...
- 4/4/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
When "Shazam!" first flew into theaters in 2019, the young-at-heart hero was a breath of fresh air. After being called upon by an ancient wizard, 14-year-old Billy Batson (Asher Angel) gained unbelievable powers as the adult superhero, Shazam (Zachary Levi). And as any teen boy would, he immediately put those powers to excellent use by skipping school, wreaking (accidental) havoc, and bonding with his foster brother, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer).
At the time, "Shazam!" was a surprisingly pleasant entry in the lackluster DC Extended Universe. And though it found interesting ways to integrate horror, it veered away from the grim Snyder-era films with its distinct sense of humor. Between being genuinely great and earning plenty of love, a sequel was inevitable. Four years and a complete upheaval of the Dceu later, the Shazamily has returned for "Shazam! Fury of the Gods"! And based on the early buzz, they're more magical than ever.
At the time, "Shazam!" was a surprisingly pleasant entry in the lackluster DC Extended Universe. And though it found interesting ways to integrate horror, it veered away from the grim Snyder-era films with its distinct sense of humor. Between being genuinely great and earning plenty of love, a sequel was inevitable. Four years and a complete upheaval of the Dceu later, the Shazamily has returned for "Shazam! Fury of the Gods"! And based on the early buzz, they're more magical than ever.
- 3/8/2023
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
Update The Joburg Film Festival defiantly went ahead with a screening of Ousmane Sembène’s “Black Girl” on Thursday, refusing to bow to political pressure after South Africa’s Film and Publications Board (Fpb) denied it permission to hold a public screening of the Senegalese director’s groundbreaking debut.
In a decision that shocked festival organizers and many of the African filmmakers in attendance, a Fpb reviewer recommended the film be submitted for “full classification” — a process that would determine its suitability for public viewing — “due to prejudicial element that contains acts of hate speech which is degrading of a human being.”
Within hours of this story’s publication on Friday morning in Johannesburg, Variety received word that the Fpb had reversed course and granted the festival permission to screen the film. The board has not yet responded to repeated requests for additional comment.
The decision came one day too...
In a decision that shocked festival organizers and many of the African filmmakers in attendance, a Fpb reviewer recommended the film be submitted for “full classification” — a process that would determine its suitability for public viewing — “due to prejudicial element that contains acts of hate speech which is degrading of a human being.”
Within hours of this story’s publication on Friday morning in Johannesburg, Variety received word that the Fpb had reversed course and granted the festival permission to screen the film. The board has not yet responded to repeated requests for additional comment.
The decision came one day too...
- 2/3/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The jury prize winner at Sundance Film Festival, Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny is a disquieting examination of the horrors of the American Dream through a Senegalese woman who is taking care of an affluent NYC couple. Starring Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, Morgan Spector,
Rose Decker, and Leslie Uggams, the film stopped by New Directors/New Films and ahead of a TIFF premiere and a release this fall, the first trailer has arrived.
Margaret Rasberry said in her review, “With Nanny, Nikyatu Jusu presents a more haunting depiction of the American Dream. Her feature debut nods to Ousmane Sembène’s seminal Black Girl while distilling the trials her parents, immigrants from Sierra Leone, endured as Jusu grew up in Atlanta—a mix of domestic drama and frightening images to make us fellow outsiders in a suffocatingly insular world.”
See the trailer below.
Nanny arrives in theaters on November 23 and...
Rose Decker, and Leslie Uggams, the film stopped by New Directors/New Films and ahead of a TIFF premiere and a release this fall, the first trailer has arrived.
Margaret Rasberry said in her review, “With Nanny, Nikyatu Jusu presents a more haunting depiction of the American Dream. Her feature debut nods to Ousmane Sembène’s seminal Black Girl while distilling the trials her parents, immigrants from Sierra Leone, endured as Jusu grew up in Atlanta—a mix of domestic drama and frightening images to make us fellow outsiders in a suffocatingly insular world.”
See the trailer below.
Nanny arrives in theaters on November 23 and...
- 8/30/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
To celebrate Black history month, Ava DuVernay’s indie distribution, arts and advocacy collective Array has produced “28 Days of ‘Sankofa,'” an event series where select cinemas, universities and festival locations throughout the U.S. are screening Ethiopian director Haile Gerima’s “Sankofa” for free, one screening for each day of February. In addition, Array created a free learning companion designed to help viewers process the weight of what they’re watching.
Gerima is best known as one of the leading members of the L.A. Rebellion, which was a movement of artists who studied film at UCLA from the late 1960s to early 1980s. Along with figures like Julie Dash and Charles Burnett, Gerima made a name for himself with movies that provided a Black alternative to the style of classical Hollywood. “Sankofa,” which was nominated for the coveted Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival in...
Gerima is best known as one of the leading members of the L.A. Rebellion, which was a movement of artists who studied film at UCLA from the late 1960s to early 1980s. Along with figures like Julie Dash and Charles Burnett, Gerima made a name for himself with movies that provided a Black alternative to the style of classical Hollywood. “Sankofa,” which was nominated for the coveted Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival in...
- 2/18/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
With Nanny, Nikyatu Jusu presents a more haunting depiction of the American Dream. Her feature debut nods to Ousmane Sembène’s seminal Black Girl while distilling the trials her parents, immigrants from Sierra Leone, endured as Jusu grew up in Atlanta—a mix of domestic drama and frightening images to make us fellow outsiders in a suffocatingly insular world.
Anna Diop propels the film with her star-making performance as Aisha, a Manhattan-based undocumented Senegalese immigrant working towards her version of the American Dream by procuring enough money to provide travel for her son Lamine (Jahleel Kamera), who she was forced to leave behind. She is hired as the nanny for wealthy upper-class couple Amy (Michelle Monaghan) and Adam (Morgan Spector), who conspicuously pay her under the counter to care for their daughter Rose (Rose Decker). Yet this seemingly innocuous arrangement becomes abusive as Amy and Adam indulge in microaggressions and...
Anna Diop propels the film with her star-making performance as Aisha, a Manhattan-based undocumented Senegalese immigrant working towards her version of the American Dream by procuring enough money to provide travel for her son Lamine (Jahleel Kamera), who she was forced to leave behind. She is hired as the nanny for wealthy upper-class couple Amy (Michelle Monaghan) and Adam (Morgan Spector), who conspicuously pay her under the counter to care for their daughter Rose (Rose Decker). Yet this seemingly innocuous arrangement becomes abusive as Amy and Adam indulge in microaggressions and...
- 1/26/2022
- by Margaret Rasberry
- The Film Stage
Have you ever sensed something is off in your life, and you see the signs but ignore them? Surely, that’s happened to everyone at one time or another. But have those ‘signs’ ever become so surreal and visceral you’re not sure what’s real and what’s reality? That is the core dilemma of Nikyatu Jusu’s horror drama Nanny. The film stars Anna Diop (Titans) as Aisha, a Senegalese immigrant who experiences wild and violent visions she can’t decipher. This is Jusu’s feature film debut competing in the Sundance U.S. Dramatic category.
The film starts with Aisha sleeping; there is a visible spider crawling on her face and she wakes up. It’s a very important narrative point that happens so quickly, if you blink you might miss it.
During Aisha’s waking life, she’s a working woman employed by a wealthy family...
The film starts with Aisha sleeping; there is a visible spider crawling on her face and she wakes up. It’s a very important narrative point that happens so quickly, if you blink you might miss it.
During Aisha’s waking life, she’s a working woman employed by a wealthy family...
- 1/22/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Writer Mike Gauyo and training platform Stage 32 are set to open submissions to the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative, under the Black Boy Writes Media banner. The initiative, which launched at the beginning of 2021, focuses on supplying industry access and resources to pre-wga Black screenwriters.
In partnership with Stage 32, admissions for the 2022 class will open November 15, and close December 15. The first round of the application will require a bio, a one-hour or half-hour original script (of any genre) and a short essay. Those chosen to move to the second round will interview with Gauyo and the initiative’s chief of programming Ashley Aronson before 10 to 12 participants are selected.
Features of the mentorship initiative include monthly writer roundtables with established writers/industry leaders; past participants include Amy Aniobi (Insecure) Kay Oyegun (This Is Us), Kemp Powers, and The Black List founder Franklin Leonard.
In partnership with Stage 32, admissions for the 2022 class will open November 15, and close December 15. The first round of the application will require a bio, a one-hour or half-hour original script (of any genre) and a short essay. Those chosen to move to the second round will interview with Gauyo and the initiative’s chief of programming Ashley Aronson before 10 to 12 participants are selected.
Features of the mentorship initiative include monthly writer roundtables with established writers/industry leaders; past participants include Amy Aniobi (Insecure) Kay Oyegun (This Is Us), Kemp Powers, and The Black List founder Franklin Leonard.
- 11/9/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
A young Black woman and man walk briskly through crowded streets, shops, and houses in a sunny urban center in Africa. They wear dark glasses, sharp clothes and at one point carry a blue suitcase. Sometimes they drive around the roads that cross or surround the city in a red car. Were it not for the sumptuousness of the images and the editing, reminiscent of the style used to represent Black characters in the works of the U.S. Blaxploitation movement of the 1970s, these scenes from Amansa Tiafi (Public Toilet Africa) by first time Ghanaian filmmaker Kofi Ofosu-Yeboah would coincide almost directly with scenes from the feature film Touki Bouki (1973), directed by iconic Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambéty.The cinematic references evident throughout Public Toilet Africa mean it is possible to see the film as an example of a brand new African cinema: one aware of and directly influenced...
- 8/31/2021
- MUBI
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Black Film Archive
Created by Maya Cade, the newly-launched Black Film Archive is an essential resource featuring every Black film made between 1915 and 1979 that is currently available stream. With over 200 films indexed, if you’re looking for a place to start, check out Cade’s curator picks, ranging from Ousmane Sembène’s Black Girl to Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come to Madeline Anderson’s I Am Somebody. Also, if you’re able to help the evolving, self-funded project, consider supporting their PayPal, Cash App, or their monthly Substack here.
Where to Stream: Black Film Archive
The Courier (Dominic Cooke)
Early on in The Courier, directed by Dominic Cooke, British salesman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) realizes he’s sitting at a...
Black Film Archive
Created by Maya Cade, the newly-launched Black Film Archive is an essential resource featuring every Black film made between 1915 and 1979 that is currently available stream. With over 200 films indexed, if you’re looking for a place to start, check out Cade’s curator picks, ranging from Ousmane Sembène’s Black Girl to Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come to Madeline Anderson’s I Am Somebody. Also, if you’re able to help the evolving, self-funded project, consider supporting their PayPal, Cash App, or their monthly Substack here.
Where to Stream: Black Film Archive
The Courier (Dominic Cooke)
Early on in The Courier, directed by Dominic Cooke, British salesman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) realizes he’s sitting at a...
- 8/27/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Thirteen years after the release of their surprise hit album Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have finally reunited for a follow-lp, Raise the Roof. It comes out on November 19th, and you can check out leadoff single, a cover of the 1998 Lucinda Williams song “Can’t Let Go,” right here.
Raise the Roof was produced by T-Bone Burnett, who also worked with Plant and Krauss on Raising Sand. It features songs by Merle Haggard, Allen Toussaint, the Everly Brothers, and Bert Jancsh in addition to their original tune “High and Lonesome.
Raise the Roof was produced by T-Bone Burnett, who also worked with Plant and Krauss on Raising Sand. It features songs by Merle Haggard, Allen Toussaint, the Everly Brothers, and Bert Jancsh in addition to their original tune “High and Lonesome.
- 8/12/2021
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Filmmaker Dee Rees made history on June 29 when her debut feature “Pariah” joined the Criterion Collection, making the Oscar and Emmy nominee the first Black American woman to have her work included. Before Rees, Euzhan Palcy, who is from Martinique, was the lone Black woman to have a film (1989’s “A Dry White Season”) selected.
“It feels like a formal acknowledgment of the film’s impact to the canon and being a part of the culture,” Rees tells Variety of having her movie chosen. “Even though artists have to try to find your validation from inside, it’s nice to be seen.”
And as a Black filmmaker in particular, Rees adds, “it’s important to be included for future generations of filmmakers, if [Criterion] is the thing that’s being taught in schools.”
“When they’re absent, then the assumption is there’s none in existence,” she explains. “There’s no Black filmmakers here,...
“It feels like a formal acknowledgment of the film’s impact to the canon and being a part of the culture,” Rees tells Variety of having her movie chosen. “Even though artists have to try to find your validation from inside, it’s nice to be seen.”
And as a Black filmmaker in particular, Rees adds, “it’s important to be included for future generations of filmmakers, if [Criterion] is the thing that’s being taught in schools.”
“When they’re absent, then the assumption is there’s none in existence,” she explains. “There’s no Black filmmakers here,...
- 7/2/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Finally, Meredith is awake!
It took a lifetime to get to this point of her waking up for good and us bidding the beach goodbye.
And by the end of Grey's Anatomy Season 17 Episode 13, Meredith got some closure with Derek, woke up at the request of her precious eldest daughter, and everyone celebrated.
It was an hour that seemed to recognize more than the others the general fatigue and malaise that came with everything going on. While it's about multiple installments too damn late, it was refreshing to hear that even the characters were sick and tired of [insert gesticulates wildly motion].
And for once, it seemed everyone was on the same page when it came to Meredith. When they were communicating, that is. The lack of communication and everyone in different worlds was on full display with the Zola confusion.
It probably should've been obvious that Mer was waking up by the end...
It took a lifetime to get to this point of her waking up for good and us bidding the beach goodbye.
And by the end of Grey's Anatomy Season 17 Episode 13, Meredith got some closure with Derek, woke up at the request of her precious eldest daughter, and everyone celebrated.
It was an hour that seemed to recognize more than the others the general fatigue and malaise that came with everything going on. While it's about multiple installments too damn late, it was refreshing to hear that even the characters were sick and tired of [insert gesticulates wildly motion].
And for once, it seemed everyone was on the same page when it came to Meredith. When they were communicating, that is. The lack of communication and everyone in different worlds was on full display with the Zola confusion.
It probably should've been obvious that Mer was waking up by the end...
- 4/23/2021
- by Jasmine Blu
- TVfanatic
Actress Carrie Coon joins Josh and Joe to discuss the Best of what she’s been watching during the pandemic.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Nest (2020)
Gone Girl (2014)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Sabrina (1954)
The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Opening Night (1977)
Husbands (1971)
Too Late Blues (1961)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Faces (1968)
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
Gloria (1980)
Mephisto (1981)
The Cremator (1969)
Zama (2017)
Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (2017)
Wanda (1970)
Blue Collar (1978)
The Lunchbox (2013)
63 Up (2019)
To Sleep With Anger (1990)
Killer of Sheep (1978)
The Glass Shield (1994)
My Brother’s Wedding (1983)
Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987)
Rio Bravo (1959)
Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979)
Cutter’s Way (1981)
Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
The Magician (1958)
The Silence (1963)
The Magic Flute (1975)
The Last House on the Left (1972)
The Virgin Spring (1963)
Summer with Monika (1953)
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Wings of Desire (1987)
Black Girl (1966)
Fat Girl (2001)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Parasite (2019)
Jesus of Montreal (1989)
Other Notable Items...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Nest (2020)
Gone Girl (2014)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Sabrina (1954)
The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Opening Night (1977)
Husbands (1971)
Too Late Blues (1961)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Faces (1968)
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
Gloria (1980)
Mephisto (1981)
The Cremator (1969)
Zama (2017)
Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (2017)
Wanda (1970)
Blue Collar (1978)
The Lunchbox (2013)
63 Up (2019)
To Sleep With Anger (1990)
Killer of Sheep (1978)
The Glass Shield (1994)
My Brother’s Wedding (1983)
Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987)
Rio Bravo (1959)
Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979)
Cutter’s Way (1981)
Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
The Magician (1958)
The Silence (1963)
The Magic Flute (1975)
The Last House on the Left (1972)
The Virgin Spring (1963)
Summer with Monika (1953)
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Wings of Desire (1987)
Black Girl (1966)
Fat Girl (2001)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Parasite (2019)
Jesus of Montreal (1989)
Other Notable Items...
- 11/17/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Studiocanal is set to restore “Mandabi,” a classic movie directed by celebrated African filmmaker Ousmane Sembène in 4K, and will release it theatrically in spring 2021.
“Mandabi,” which is adapted from Sembène’s classic novel “Le Mandat,” won the Special Jury Prize at Venice in 1968.
The author-turned-filmmaker’s second directorial effort, “Mandabi” shot mainly in his native Wolof tongue and marked the first African-language film to be produced out of West Africa.
“Mandabi” covers subjects close to Sembène’s heart, including colonialism and post-colonial identity. Sembène, who has penned a dozen novels, is also the first African director to garner international recognition, and was the first African member of a jury in Cannes in 1967, following his directorial debut with “Black Girl.”
“Mandabi” is currently available on myCANAL and will receive a theatrical release in the U.K. in March 2021. The movie will then launch theatrically in France later in the year.
“Mandabi,” which is adapted from Sembène’s classic novel “Le Mandat,” won the Special Jury Prize at Venice in 1968.
The author-turned-filmmaker’s second directorial effort, “Mandabi” shot mainly in his native Wolof tongue and marked the first African-language film to be produced out of West Africa.
“Mandabi” covers subjects close to Sembène’s heart, including colonialism and post-colonial identity. Sembène, who has penned a dozen novels, is also the first African director to garner international recognition, and was the first African member of a jury in Cannes in 1967, following his directorial debut with “Black Girl.”
“Mandabi” is currently available on myCANAL and will receive a theatrical release in the U.K. in March 2021. The movie will then launch theatrically in France later in the year.
- 10/23/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Oh gosh, what a pure, precious movie.
A Very Vintage Christmas had not one but two endearing love stories to give you all the feels.
It was adorable in all the right ways, and one can't help but grin and squeal in delight by the end.
A Very Vintage Christmas was an ode to the quirky, eccentric girls out there. Rarely do you experience the delightfully weird and unique female characters with an appreciation for vintage and retro as if they're from a different time.
It's even rarer to see a quirky, eccentric black woman with niche interest and in a sweet love story too.
In an age of championing Black Girl Magic, what's truly magical is when it's all-encompassing, and it extends to the underrepresented types.
Again, it's rarely space for the quirky and awkward black girl on television, for whatever reason, so kudos again to Lifetime for broadening their offerings this holiday season.
A Very Vintage Christmas had not one but two endearing love stories to give you all the feels.
It was adorable in all the right ways, and one can't help but grin and squeal in delight by the end.
A Very Vintage Christmas was an ode to the quirky, eccentric girls out there. Rarely do you experience the delightfully weird and unique female characters with an appreciation for vintage and retro as if they're from a different time.
It's even rarer to see a quirky, eccentric black woman with niche interest and in a sweet love story too.
In an age of championing Black Girl Magic, what's truly magical is when it's all-encompassing, and it extends to the underrepresented types.
Again, it's rarely space for the quirky and awkward black girl on television, for whatever reason, so kudos again to Lifetime for broadening their offerings this holiday season.
- 11/28/2019
- by Jasmine Blu
- TVfanatic
When Haile Gerima, the acclaimed Ethiopian-born filmmaker of Harvest 3000 Years (1976) and Bush Mama (1979), saw Ousmane Sembène’s film Mandabi (1968) for the first time, he said it almost gave him a heart attack. Perhaps the reason for this excitement is harder to imagine for a contemporary Western audience; what shocked him was that the actors spoke Wolof, their native language, and not French, the language imposed on them by their former colonizers. One of the continents’ first films made in Wolof, this milestone in Africa’s cinematographic and emancipatory history wasn’t Sembène’s first attempt at making a film in which the actors speak in their own language. Some years earlier he planned to shoot La Noire de… in Wolof, but was forced to rewrite the script in French in order to get the film financed. This meant that even the internal monologues of the Senegalese protagonist Gomis Diouana (played...
- 8/29/2019
- MUBI
Nathaniel Taylor, the actor best known for playing smooth-talking sidekick Rollo Lawson on 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son, died Feb. 27 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was 80.
His death was announced on social media by his friend, the music promoter Alonzo Williams. According to Williams, the actor was hospitalized on Feb. 23 after suffering a heart attack.
Although Taylor had a few small guest roles on television in the early ’70s – credited as Jita Hadi on The Bold Ones and The Bill Cosby Show – it was his recurring role on the 1972-77 Sanford and Son that brought lasting fame among the show’s still-considerable fan base. His Rollo, a streetwise character typically dressed in the snazziest of hip clothes, was the best friend of Demond Wilson’s Lamont Sanford and forever the target of often-justified scorn and mistrust of Redd Foxx’s Fred Sanford.
His death was announced on social media by his friend, the music promoter Alonzo Williams. According to Williams, the actor was hospitalized on Feb. 23 after suffering a heart attack.
Although Taylor had a few small guest roles on television in the early ’70s – credited as Jita Hadi on The Bold Ones and The Bill Cosby Show – it was his recurring role on the 1972-77 Sanford and Son that brought lasting fame among the show’s still-considerable fan base. His Rollo, a streetwise character typically dressed in the snazziest of hip clothes, was the best friend of Demond Wilson’s Lamont Sanford and forever the target of often-justified scorn and mistrust of Redd Foxx’s Fred Sanford.
- 3/1/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
“Real Life Rock Top Ten” is a monthly column by cultural critic and Rs contributing editor Greil Marcus.
1. Dirty Denim, “Meant to Be,” from Dirty Denim Demo Tape (7″ Ep). This is the most arresting thing I’ve heard come out of the radio — in this case, Kalx, the University of California station in Berkeley — since Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Train’s “Hey Soul Sister.” A four-woman band from San Francisco starts up, as if Sleater-Kinney, or more accurately the Corin Tucker-Sarah Dougher-sts spin-off Cadallaca, had...
1. Dirty Denim, “Meant to Be,” from Dirty Denim Demo Tape (7″ Ep). This is the most arresting thing I’ve heard come out of the radio — in this case, Kalx, the University of California station in Berkeley — since Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Train’s “Hey Soul Sister.” A four-woman band from San Francisco starts up, as if Sleater-Kinney, or more accurately the Corin Tucker-Sarah Dougher-sts spin-off Cadallaca, had...
- 1/18/2019
- by Greil Marcus
- Rollingstone.com
The Day I Became a WomanWomen and the home, their “rightful” place in it and alleged duty to it, is ever the topical subject, an all too common association thankfully rife with permutations that provoke inspired debate. The topic of women’s at-home labors is this year’s theme of BAMcinématek’s Women at Work series. Now in its third iteration, the series this year is subtitled The Domestic Is Not Free, and it reveals the many ways in which domesticity has been celebrated—or in this case, more often rebelled against—on screen, by drawing from obvious choices, but also including a few surprises and poignant pairings. Such a series could not be complete without Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975), but also of equal note is Semiotics of the Kitchen (1975), Martha Rosler’s incisive performance piece that screens with it. Rosler stars in her short...
- 10/31/2018
- MUBI
I imagine it’s a thrill for any filmmaker to share a documentary with an audience. Since the premiere of our film “Sembene!” three years ago, I’ve had the luck to be able to do that many times. But not all screenings are equal. This weekend, the experience of showing the film had a much deeper impact on me. This weekend, when looked into the audience … I saw myself.
“Sembene!” tells the story of Ousmane Sembene, Senegal’s most influential writer and filmmaker. Our film has won awards, been broadcast in more than a hundred countries and helped introduce new generations to the man known as “the father of African cinema.” Only rarely, however, has it been seen by the audiences most important to me: Africans.
Before making the film, I knew how far our global media culture tilts away from the so-called “developing world,” or global south, and towards Europe and the U.
“Sembene!” tells the story of Ousmane Sembene, Senegal’s most influential writer and filmmaker. Our film has won awards, been broadcast in more than a hundred countries and helped introduce new generations to the man known as “the father of African cinema.” Only rarely, however, has it been seen by the audiences most important to me: Africans.
Before making the film, I knew how far our global media culture tilts away from the so-called “developing world,” or global south, and towards Europe and the U.
- 6/14/2018
- by Samba Gadjigo
- Indiewire
Gabrielle Union and her husband Dwyane Wade celebrated Thanksgiving a little differently this year: by having a “no Thanksgiving Thanksgiving.”
“So baby, you canceled Thanksgiving? Union asked Wade in a video she posted on her Instagram story on Thursday, which she captioned “D canceled Thanksgiving.”
“No, no, no, we did not cancel Thanksgiving,” the Cleveland Cavaliers player insisted.
“So what are we doing?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said.
The couple then revealed that they hadn’t actually canceled their celebration, they were just delaying it until Saturday. “I felt it would be better because I have a game tomorrow,” Wade explained.
“So baby, you canceled Thanksgiving? Union asked Wade in a video she posted on her Instagram story on Thursday, which she captioned “D canceled Thanksgiving.”
“No, no, no, we did not cancel Thanksgiving,” the Cleveland Cavaliers player insisted.
“So what are we doing?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said.
The couple then revealed that they hadn’t actually canceled their celebration, they were just delaying it until Saturday. “I felt it would be better because I have a game tomorrow,” Wade explained.
- 11/24/2017
- by Maria Pasquini
- PEOPLE.com
Jay-z, Idris Elba, Bruno Mars and Mary J. Blige are among the top nominees of the 2018 NAACP Image Awards. Meanwhile, Anthony Anderson will return as host for the fourth year in a row. Jay-z and Mary lead the nominees with five nominations each. Singers Bruno Kendrick Lamar and Sza and Issa Rae, creator of the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl, each received four, while Idris and singers Charlie Wilson and Ledisi are nominated for three awards each. Jay-z, who is being honored for his much-talked about album 4:44, Bruno and Issa are all up for Entertainer of the Year. Other nominees include Oprah Winfrey, Stranger Things' Caleb...
- 11/20/2017
- E! Online
Joy Bryant is coming forward to say “me too” — for both herself and her mom.
The Parenthood star, 43, penned an emotional essay for Lenny Letter, revealing that she was born after her mother, Joyce, was sexually assaulted.
“On October 18, 1974, Joyce gave birth to me, not in love but in shame, after hiding her pregnancy from my grandmother for six months,” she wrote. “I am the product of a fifteen-year-old girl and an older man she knew.”
Bryant continued, “It doesn’t matter how or why or when. It happened, and with both my mother and my father dead, I’ll never know the specifics.
The Parenthood star, 43, penned an emotional essay for Lenny Letter, revealing that she was born after her mother, Joyce, was sexually assaulted.
“On October 18, 1974, Joyce gave birth to me, not in love but in shame, after hiding her pregnancy from my grandmother for six months,” she wrote. “I am the product of a fifteen-year-old girl and an older man she knew.”
Bryant continued, “It doesn’t matter how or why or when. It happened, and with both my mother and my father dead, I’ll never know the specifics.
- 11/15/2017
- by Stephanie Petit
- PEOPLE.com
Issa Rae admits that her first TV experience (at a broadcast network) didn’t go so well — but at HBO, she’s found her “Cinderella story.”
“That journey was definitely not overnight,” she said while speaking before the inaugural IndieWire Honors. “It was years in the making but [it’s gratifying] to be recognized for something I think had such a strong indie sensibility and to be able to do that for a larger network.”
Rae, who was awarded the Vanguard Award for her success in creating and starring in “Insecure” for HBO, created her first YouTube video in 2006 and her first web series in 2007. That evolved to “Awkward Black Girl,” the web series that put Rae on the map and eventually led to her deal with HBO.
“I maintained from the beginning, if I were to do a version of ‘Awkward Black Girl’ for television I didn’t want to take it...
“That journey was definitely not overnight,” she said while speaking before the inaugural IndieWire Honors. “It was years in the making but [it’s gratifying] to be recognized for something I think had such a strong indie sensibility and to be able to do that for a larger network.”
Rae, who was awarded the Vanguard Award for her success in creating and starring in “Insecure” for HBO, created her first YouTube video in 2006 and her first web series in 2007. That evolved to “Awkward Black Girl,” the web series that put Rae on the map and eventually led to her deal with HBO.
“I maintained from the beginning, if I were to do a version of ‘Awkward Black Girl’ for television I didn’t want to take it...
- 11/11/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Issa Rae is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. Her voice and creativity showcased on HBO’s “Insecure” has earned her the Vanguard Award for television.
The success of Issa Rae takes on even more symbolism right now. Her HBO comedy “Insecure” is the story of a young woman, living in the big city, and trying to figure it all out — while often getting it wrong. Rae said she realized that the obstacles that come with being a woman in this society couldn’t be ignored on her show either.
According to Rae, her show’s writing staff has been sharing and discussing the recent litany of stories about how the industry’s misogynistic culture allowed for high-profile figures to commit sexual harassment and assault, and the unfair pressure put on women in Hollywood.
“In our writers’ room it’s mostly comprised of women,...
The success of Issa Rae takes on even more symbolism right now. Her HBO comedy “Insecure” is the story of a young woman, living in the big city, and trying to figure it all out — while often getting it wrong. Rae said she realized that the obstacles that come with being a woman in this society couldn’t be ignored on her show either.
According to Rae, her show’s writing staff has been sharing and discussing the recent litany of stories about how the industry’s misogynistic culture allowed for high-profile figures to commit sexual harassment and assault, and the unfair pressure put on women in Hollywood.
“In our writers’ room it’s mostly comprised of women,...
- 11/2/2017
- by LaToya Ferguson
- Indiewire
Issa Rae has gained a huge following due to her role on the HBO series Insecure, and it's not hard to tell why. Aside from being an extremely talented actress, she's also just an incredibly inspiring human being. The 32-year-old isn't afraid to speak up on important issues like sexism and the need for more diversity on television. As you patiently wait for the return of her hit show, get to know her even better with these key facts. She was named after her grandmothers. Bet you didn't know that Issa goes by a stage name. Her full birth name is Jo-Issa "Issa" Rae Diop. Her first name, Jo-Issa, is after her grandmothers Joyce and Isseu, while her middle name, Rae, is after an aunt, who was also an artist. She went to Stanford University. In 2007, the actress graduated with a degree in African and African-American studies at the private university.
- 10/5/2017
- by Kelsie Gibson
- Popsugar.com
Nick Horton Oct 6, 2017
Nick has dug up 10 highly recommended gems from the digital online world for your viewing pleasure...
It’s no secret that the gap between premium television (paid for by and broadcast on traditional networks and/or the big online players like Netflix and Amazon) is getting smaller. Not in terms of budgets, but in terms of creativity, talent and opportunity. Increasingly the next big thing might come from the online world, and that wouldn’t be such a strange thing. Broad City and Insecure, two celebrated Us comedy series, both had their origins online, with sketches by Abbi and Ilana, and Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl. The celebrated Fleabag was a BBC Three digital show.
See related The Punisher yanked from Nycc by Netflix after gun violence Iron Fist season 2: Elektra writer takes over as showrunner Luke Cage season 2: new image reveals another familiar...
Nick has dug up 10 highly recommended gems from the digital online world for your viewing pleasure...
It’s no secret that the gap between premium television (paid for by and broadcast on traditional networks and/or the big online players like Netflix and Amazon) is getting smaller. Not in terms of budgets, but in terms of creativity, talent and opportunity. Increasingly the next big thing might come from the online world, and that wouldn’t be such a strange thing. Broad City and Insecure, two celebrated Us comedy series, both had their origins online, with sketches by Abbi and Ilana, and Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl. The celebrated Fleabag was a BBC Three digital show.
See related The Punisher yanked from Nycc by Netflix after gun violence Iron Fist season 2: Elektra writer takes over as showrunner Luke Cage season 2: new image reveals another familiar...
- 10/3/2017
- Den of Geek
Issa Rae was surrounded by fellow TV royalty on the red carpet at the 2017 Emmys but there was one star was looking for. When asked what person that she admired would she like to take a photo with, the co-creator and star of HBO's Insecure and the YouTube series Awkward Black Girl told E! News' Giuliana Rancic, "I mean, I feel like Shonda Rhimes has just really paved the way for so many women of color, so many black women, so that's, hands down, a picture I would love to take." Sadly, Rhimes was not present on the Emmys red carpet. One of her currently airing shows, How to Get Away With Murder, earned two nominations this...
- 9/17/2017
- E! Online
How has life changed for Issa Rae since she made the transition from YouTube star (of her web series Awkward Black Girl) to creator, writer, actress and household name in HBO’s hit Insecure?
Not much, she tells People. Except just a few more people want to say hello.
“I tell people it just feels like I’m popular in high school,” she said before speaking at the Create & Cultivate conference in partnership with Microsoft, Sorel, Express, and The Mine in Seattle on Sept. 9. “Nothing drastically changed other than people just wanting to say hi all the time. I’m...
Not much, she tells People. Except just a few more people want to say hello.
“I tell people it just feels like I’m popular in high school,” she said before speaking at the Create & Cultivate conference in partnership with Microsoft, Sorel, Express, and The Mine in Seattle on Sept. 9. “Nothing drastically changed other than people just wanting to say hi all the time. I’m...
- 9/13/2017
- by Diana Pearl
- PEOPLE.com
YouTube Chief Business Officer: Issa Rae’s ‘Insecure’ Would Have Made Sense As A YouTube Red Project
In February 2015, Issa Rae landed a pilot order from HBO for Insecure, a sitcom that would go on to become a full series and a critical darling. At that time, YouTube's plans for long-form original content were still in their nascent stages, but if the video site had been farther along in the process that ultimately led to the launch of YouTube Red, it may have given Insecure a look. In an interview with Business Insider, YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl theorized that Insecure "would be on YouTube right now" if the company had been "doing our originals" at the time when the show was developed.
Insecure, which follows a pair of black women as they navigate uncomfortable situations, is based off Rae's web series Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, which she distributed through YouTube. Given her existing relationship with the video site, Kyncl believes a spot...
Insecure, which follows a pair of black women as they navigate uncomfortable situations, is based off Rae's web series Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, which she distributed through YouTube. Given her existing relationship with the video site, Kyncl believes a spot...
- 9/6/2017
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Issa Rae, best known as the creator of the web series Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl and the HBO show Insecure, is also a noted producer of digital content, and one of the shows she released through her production company has found a home on TV. Butter and Brown, a cooking show hosted by Seth Brundle and Leslie Antonoff, has been picked up by Aspire, the five-year-old channel launched by Magic Johnson.
In Butter and Brown, Brundle and Antonoff cook up a few of their favorite dishes, which they accompany with some carefully crafted cocktails. The show's recipe calls for a liberal helping of comedy and wry banter, which its hosts provide.
Butter and Brown's original run consisted of six episodes, which arrived on Rae's YouTube channel in 2014.
Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.
In Butter and Brown, Brundle and Antonoff cook up a few of their favorite dishes, which they accompany with some carefully crafted cocktails. The show's recipe calls for a liberal helping of comedy and wry banter, which its hosts provide.
Butter and Brown's original run consisted of six episodes, which arrived on Rae's YouTube channel in 2014.
Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.
- 9/4/2017
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Issa Rae didn't find out how her dad, a Senegal-born doctor, felt about her HBO series Insecure until a couple months after the first season wrapped. In fact, she thought he might hate it. "Then in our family group chat, he dropped a really inappropriate reference about Lawrence's back shots to Tasha," she says with a laugh, referring to the shocking, explicit finale scene where her character's ex-boyfriend rebounds with his bank teller. "I was like 'Wow, he made it to the finale! That's cool! This is not the place to show me,...
- 9/1/2017
- Rollingstone.com
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