Today, BET announces the hosts of the 2021 “Soul Train Awards,” taking place from a new location, the Apollo in New York City, with co-hosts Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold. Celebrating the best in soul music and the iconic television show’s 50th anniversary, the “Soul Train Awards” recognizes the best in Soul, R&B, and Hip Hop from both established industry legends and the next generation of promising artists. The 2021 “Soul Train Awards” premieres Sunday, November 28 at 8 pm ET/PT on BET and BET Her.
Actor, singer and writer Tisha Campbell (Martin, My Wife & Kids, Last Man Standing, Outmatched) will once again join actor, singer, and writer Tichina Arnold (Martin, Everybody Hates Chris, The Neighborhood, The Last Black Man in San Francisco) as hosts and co-producers of this year’s awards. The legendary best friend duo, both on the 90’s hit show “Martin” and in real-life, will return to the “Soul Train Awards” stage for the fourth time, bringing their dynamic comedy and infectious personalities to this year’s ceremony.
“We are thrilled to welcome back the incomparable pair, Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold, to host the “Soul Train Awards” for a legendary night in Harlem at the World Famous Apollo,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy. “Their energy, like that of the Awards, remains unparalleled. Our hosts are a great complement to this year’s special event, celebrating the legacy of Soul Train with electrifying performances that will keep everyone buzzing.”
“Producing and hosting the Soul Train Awards for the last three years with my childhood friend has truly been one of the high points of my life,” said 2021 “Soul Train Awards” co-host Tisha Campbell. “Yet, upon hearing Tichina and I would be filming at the World Famous Apollo this year, we literally lost our minds with excitement. It is already an extreme honor to be synonymous with Don Cornelius’s legacy, and now, to also walk in the footsteps of the multitude of African-American talent that graced the Apollo stage is mind-blowing to both of us!”
“Returning to my hometown where it all began for us as young girls and hosting the iconic “Soul Train Awards” at the Apollo is a truly a childhood dream come true,” said 2021 “Soul Train Awards” co-host Tichina Arnold. “I’m honored to stand beside Tisha and take our place in history hosting and creatively producing such an iconic show.”
The “Soul Train Awards” presented by BET will feature an exciting lineup of unforgettable performances including special moments and appearances by some of the brightest stars in Black culture and entertainment. The annual event is committed to showcasing the impact of Soul Train on music and dance from the ‘70s to today.
ABFF Ventures, LLC today announced Oscar-winning actress and director Halle Berry as ambassador for the 2021 American Black Film Festival (ABFF). Along with her ambassador functions, Berry will headline ABFF’s popular talk series, an intimate one-on-one conversation that will spotlight her distinguished 30-year career. This year’s festival will be a worldwide virtual experience hosted on the festival’s custom-built platform ABFF PLAY November 3–28.
Berry, who is a long-time supporter of the festival, is notably the festival’s first recipient of the ABFF Rising Star Award which was presented at the inaugural ABFF in 1997. Her return to this milestone ABFF with her directorial debut of BRUISED, in which she also stars, is the result of a 25-year relationship with the festival and captures a full circle moment. The feature film is being released on the Netflix streaming platform on November 24, 2021.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Halle as the ABFF Festival Ambassador for our 25th anniversary year said Jeff Friday, founder ABFF and CEO Jeff Friday Media. “When we met her in 1997, she was a talented emerging actor with a bright future. Today, she is an Academy Award-winner, cultural icon and inspiration to women of color across our industry and the world.”
“For 25 years this festival has consistently supported emerging Black filmmakers,” said Berry. “I was honored to be recognized by ABFF early in my career and could not be prouder to return to the festival as its ambassador to help ABFF’s ongoing efforts to provide opportunities for emerging Black creators. I’m also thrilled to present my directorial debut BRUISED to the ABFF audience.”
The first Black actress to win an Oscar in the Best Actress category for her role in MONSTER’S BALL, Berry also earned an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and NAACP Image Award for her extraordinary performance in HBO’s telefilm, INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, which she also produced.
Berry’s career has spanned three decades, with performances in DIE ANOTHER DAY, JUNGLE FEVER, LOSING ISAIAH, BULWORTH, SWORDFISH and JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM.
In her current film, the gripping sports drama BRUISED, Berry stars as a fighter who reclaims her power, in and out of the ring, when everyone has counted her out.
Former ABFF ambassadors include Mary J. Blige, Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, La La Anthony, Jay Ellis, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Common, Taraji P. Henson and Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
The ABFF 2021 worldwide virtual experience will include over 100 independent films from 35 countries, spotlight screenings, talks and networking events featuring creators, artists and industry executives. Access to the festival is free. To register, visit https://abff.com.
Dave Chappelle is denying claims that he declined to speak with Netflix’s transgender employees regarding controversial comments he made in The Closer, but said he’s aware of the outcry and he’s now ready for a meeting — under certain conditions that include that those who participate must watch his special in full.
In a new video posted Monday on Instagram, the comedian, currently on a nationwide tour, addresses the situation while seated at center stage. “It’s been said in the press that I was invited to speak to the transgender employees of Netflix and I refused. That is not true,” says Chappelle during the five-minute clip during which he holds a drink and receives cheers from the crowd. “If they had invited me, I would have accepted it, although I am confused about what we would be speaking about. I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like I’m the only one who can’t go to the office.”
He went on to speak directly to the transgender community by saying he’s willing to give them an audience but “you will not summon me.” He offered specific conditions: “I am not bending to anyone’s demands. And if you want to meet with me, I am more than willing to, but I have some conditions. First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing, and thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”
Gadsby was among the high-profile stars and comedians who joined organizations like GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition to come forward following the Oct. 5 debut of The Closer to denounce Chappelle’s commentary, which included statements siding with J.K. Rowling as “team TERF,” a term that means trans-exclusionary radical feminist, an ideology that excludes trans women as women. He also stated that “gender is a fact” and went on to poke fun at trans bodies and the cultural sensitivities of his previous jokes aimed at the LGBTQ community. The outcry inspired a walkout last week (virtual and in-person) that saw Netflix employees and allies take to the streets outside the streamer’s Hollywood offices for a demonstration.
“I want everyone in this audience to know that even though the media frames it that it’s me versus that community, that’s not what it is,” Chappelle continued in today’s clip, shared to 2.3 million followers with comments turned off. “Do not blame the LGBTQ community for any of this. It’s about corporate interests, and what I can say, and what I cannot say. For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone I know from that community has been loving and supportive, so I don’t know what this nonsense is about.”
He went on to say that the documentary he’s been shopping — a well-received examination of his 2020 “Summer Camp” comedy series that he mounted near his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio — has now suffered because of the Closer controversy. “This film that I made was invited to every film festival in the United States. Some of those invitations I accepted. When this controversy came out about The Closer, they began disinviting me from these film festivals, and now, today, not a film company, not a movie studio, not a film festival, nobody will touch this film. Thank God for Ted Sarandos and Netflix, he’s the only one that didn’t cancel me yet.”
Chappelle closes the video by saying that since no one will touch the untitled documentary, he plans to self-distribute it with screenings scheduled for the 10 cities that are listed in the caption of today’s clip, locations that coincide with remaining November tour dates. Those cities include: San Francisco (Nov. 4), Minneapolis (Nov. 7), Des Moines (Nov. 9), Indianapolis (Nov. 12), Cleveland (Nov. 14), Toronto (Nov. 15), Cincinnati (Nov. 17), Columbus (Nov. 19), Atlanta (Nov. 21) and New York (Nov. 22).
Sarandos did not cancel Chappelle, but he did acknowledge that he “screwed up” in two memos that were issued following the controversy. In one of those communications, Sarandos said that the special would not be removed from the streamer. “It never feels good when people are hurting, especially our colleagues, so I wanted to give you some additional context. You should also be aware that some talent may join third parties in asking us to remove the show in the coming days, which we are not going to do,” Sarandos wrote. “Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long-standing deal with him. … As with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom — even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful, like Cuties, 365 Days, 13 Reasons Why or My Unorthodox Life.”
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the employee walkout last week, Sarandos said that the memos were clumsy communications and he wished to clarify those remarks. “When we think about this challenge we have to entertain the world, part of that challenge means that you’ve got audiences with various taste, various sensibilities, various beliefs. You really can’t please everybody or the content would be pretty dull,” he said. “And we do tell our employees upfront that we are trying to entertain our members, and that some of the content on Netflix you’re not going to like, and so this kind of commitment to artistic expression and free artistic expression is sometimes in conflict with people feeling protected and safe. I do think that that’s something that we struggle with all the time when these two values bump up against each other.”
It’s not the first time Chappelle has been the center of controversy, particularly with the LGBTQ community and in previous stand-up specials for Netflix. However, during a recent appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, Chappelle appeared to be taking it all in stride. “If this is what being canceled is like, I love it,” the 48-year-old said in front of Brad Pitt, Tiffany Haddish, Donnell Rawlings, Chuck Lorre, Sterling K. Brown and others. At another point, he was more blunt: “Fuck Twitter. Fuck NBC News, ABC News, all these stupid ass networks. I’m not talking to them. I’m talking to you. This is real life.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Melvin Childs Presents, the company helmed by producer Melvin Childs, has released the first-look trailer for the highly-anticipated film, For The Love Of Money, hitting theaters nationwide just in time for Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 24th. For The Love Of Money stars Katt Williams, LisaRaye McCoy, Keri Hilson, Rotimi, Jason Mitchell, DC Young Fly, Cedric Pendleton and Jazzy Jade and features appearances by music artists Latto, Keith Sweat and Lyfe Jennings.
For The Love Of Money tells the story of a single mother, who when pushed to her limits out of the need to protect her daughter, returns to a world she’s spent a lifetime running from. Gigi Davis (Keri Hilson) is a strong, determined, woman who insists on living her life on her own terms. When she became pregnant and walked away from a billion-dollar family business to chart her own path, it surprised no one. Going on to build a shockingly unremarkable and peaceful life for herself and her daughter Ashley (Jazzy Jade), her days were filled with piano recitals, basketball games and everything else one could expect of a single mom living life in the city. Gigi was broke, but she was happy. Her little girl was healthy and nothing else mattered. Everything changes when shadowy figures make the mistake of threatening her daughter’s life, and Gigi is forced to show them that gangsters can come in all shapes and sizes. As Gigi struggles to protect her daughter, she finds herself pulled back into a life she never wanted.
The film is directed by Leslie Small and produced by Melvin Childs Presents. Melvin Childs serves as executive producer and producer of the film, along with producer Melissa Young. Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group’s feature film division Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures, via its theatrical distribution arm Freestyle Releasing, will distribute the film.
George Lopez is making his way back to broadcast television.
The comedian and actor will star in and executive produces a comedy called Lopez vs. Lopez, which has received a formal pilot order at NBC. The network gave the project from Universal Television a put pilot commitment in June; it’s likely to be a contender for NBC’s 2022-23 schedule.
The potential series will be a family affair: Lopez’s daughter, Mayan Lopez, will also star and serve as a producer.
Debby Wolfe (The Conners, One Day at a Time) is writing the pilot, with The Conners showrunner Bruce Helford supervising. Helford co-created Lopez’s eponymous ABC comedy series that ran for six seasons from 2002-07. Lopez vs. Lopez is described as “a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection and all the pain and joy in between.”
The project marks a return to broadcast TV for Lopez, who since George Lopez ended has made shows for TBS (late-night show Lopez Tonight) and TV Land (Lopez) and a would-be syndicated vehicle (Saint George) that had its first run on FX. He’s also attached to star in and executive produce a drama in development at Amazon called Once Upon a Time in Aztlan.
Universal TV is producing Lopez vs. Lopez in association with Helford’s Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts. Lopez, Wolfe and Helford executive produce with Katie Newman and Michael Rotenberg of 3 Arts; Mayan Lopez is a producer.
From DC Young Fly crankin’ that Soulja Boy to Karlous Miller’s shout-out to the strippers and Tyler the Creator’s infamous acceptance speech, watch as we relive the funniest moments from Hip Hop Awards ’21.
“When They See Us” and “This Is Us” actor Asante Blackk is set to star with Tiffany Haddish in MGM and Plan B’s upcoming adaptation of “Landscape With Invisible Hand.”
Based on National Book Award winner M.T. Anderson’s novel of the same name, Blackk will play Haddish’s son in the pic. The movie, described as a “heightened comedy set in a deeply stratified, alien future,” is written and directed by Cory Finley (“Bad Education,” “Thoroughbreds”).
“Landscape With Invisible Hand” follows a teenage aspiring artist (Blackk) who lives in a near-future in which an alien species known as the vuvv has taken over Earth. After the vuvv’s labor-saving technology causes Earth’s job market and global economy to collapse, the teen and his girlfriend cook up a scheme to make much-needed money by broadcasting their dating life to the fascinated aliens. But the two teens come to hate each other and can’t break up without bankrupting their families.
The new project marks one of Blackk’s first major movie roles, after the young star earned Emmy, NAACP and Critics Choice Award nominations for his work in “When They See Us” and booked a regular role on “This Is Us,” for which he earned another Critics Choice nod. Blackk recently starred in the scripted podcast “Here Comes the Break,” which highlights new and exciting hip-hop artists signed to Def Jam Records, while also discussing mental health issues. In 2020, he also helped start the “Speak Up Series” to discuss issues of racial and social injustice with his generation of industry leaders.
Annapurna Pictures is producing the project with Plan B, which inked a production pact with MGM last year.
In addition to “Landscape,” Plan B and MGM have a number of major projects in the works, including Sarah Polley’s feature adaptation of Miriam Toews’ novel “Women Talking,” starring and produced by Frances McDormand; an original love story from filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung; a feature film version of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “The Water Dancer,” to be produced by Plan B, Harpo Films and Kamilah Forbes; and the adaptation of Chandler Baker’s novel “The Husbands,” starring and produced by Kristen Wiig.
Blackk is represented by UTA and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano.
Source: Variety
ABFF Ventures LLC announced today that the 2021 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will open its milestone 25th year with Warner Bros. Pictures’ eagerly anticipated film King Richard. The expanded 2021 festival will be available as a worldwide digital experience November 3-28 via its online platform ABFF PLAY. King Richard will be available by special invitation to a limited audience.
King Richard stars two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith, who also is the film’s producer, as Richard Williams, the determined father of Venus and Serena Williams. The story follows the journey of their family, whose unwavering resolve and unconditional belief ultimately creates two of the world’s greatest sports legends. Also starring are Aunjanue Ellis as the girls’ mom, Oracene Wlliams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams and Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, with Tony Goldwyn and Jon Bernthal as coaches Paul Cohen and Rick Macci. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men) from a script written by Zach Baylin, King Richard will be released in U.S. theaters and stream exclusively on HBO Max, November 19.
“It is with pride and excitement that we mark our 25th year opening with Warner Bros.’ King Richard, a film that is a touchstone of ABFF’s legacy of showcasing extraordinary Black talent and inspiring storytelling reflecting the brilliance of diversity in Hollywood,” said Nicole Friday, president and general manager, ABFF Ventures LLC. “We’re especially gratified to have the film’s director, Reinaldo Marcus Green, a previous finalist in HBO’s prestigious Short Film Competition, return to ABFF as feature film director — demonstrating the importance of the HBO pipeline in advancing the careers of Black artists. This event is simply a grand slam on every level.”
“Having King Richard at ABFF this year is truly a full circle moment,” stated Reinaldo Marcus Green. “Back in 2013, my short film Stone Cars, that I made while studying at NYU screened in competition and was distributed on HBO — so opening up the festival for ABFF’s 25th anniversary means a lot to me. It’s an absolute honor to return this year with our film. Thank you to Warner Bros. and the whole filmmaking team, the family we built on set, the Williams family for allowing us to tell their groundbreaking story and, of course, our wonderful crew and cast led by none other than Mr. Will Smith.”
ABFF 2021 worldwide virtual experience will include over 100 independent films from 35 countries, spotlight screenings, talks and networking events featuring creators, artists and industry executives. Access to the festival is free. To register, visit https://abff.com.
ABFF sponsors to date include WarnerMedia and HBO® (Founding); Cadillac, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and Amazon Studios (Presenting); Comcast NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, American Airlines, AT&T, Facebook, and IMDb (Premier); ALLBLK, HBOMax, City of Miami Beach, Netflix, Prudential Financial, TBS, Warner Bros., Variety and Yahoo! (Official); Accenture, AspireTV, Motion Picture Association (MPA) and Morgan Stanley (Supporting). Media partners include BIN: Black Information Network, TheGrio and Rolling Out.
Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group have dropped the terrifying first trailer for Scream (aka Scream 5). It is the fifth film in the Scream franchise and is a direct sequel to Scream 4 (2011).
The official description:
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
The film sees Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette return to their iconic roles alongside Melissa Barrera, Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Marley Shelton, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Sonia Ammar.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the film is written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. It is exec produced by Kevin Williamson, Chad Villella, Gary Barber, Peter Oillataguerre, Ron Lynch, Cathy Konrad, Marianne Maddalena and counts William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein as producers.
Watch the trailer below: