Jordan Peele Is First Black Screenwriter To Win Best Original Screenplay At The Oscars!
Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” has placed him in the Oscar history books.
Peele was crowned the winner in the the best original screenplay race at Sunday’s Academy Awards, making him the first black screenwriter to receive the honor.
In his speech, Peele thanked the people “who raised my voice and let me make this movie.”
Heading into Sunday, Peele and his film were nominated for a total of four awards, including best picture.
Only four black film writers have been nominated in the best original screenplay category in Oscars’ 90-year history: Suzanne de Passe (“Lady Sings the Blues,” 1972), Spike Lee (“Do the Right Thing,” 1989) John Singleton (“Boyz n the Hood,” 1991) and Peele.
In the adapted screenplay category, three films with black writers have won in the past — “Precious,” “Twelve Years a Slave,” and “Moonlight.”
This year, Peele made history, becoming the first black director to receive nominations in the writing, directing, and best picture categories for his directorial debut.
Only two other people have accomplished that feat, according to the Academy. Warren Beatty with “Heaven Can Wait” (1978) and James L. Brooks with “Terms of Endearment” (1983).
Beatty walked away empty handed in his nominated categories and Brooks won all of his.
“Get Out,” a social thriller that received praise for its thought-provoking take on race in America, grossed $176 million domestically.
Speaking to CNN recently, Peele explained that part of “Get Out’s” success came from its ability to put viewers in the shoes of Daniel Kaluuya’s character Chris.
In the film, Kaluuya, who earned a best actor nomination, plays an African-American man whose weekend getaway to meet his white girlfriend’s parents takes a disturbing turn.
“I think the biggest thing ‘Get Out’ taught me about the power of story is that one of the few ways we can promote empathy is by seeing the world through somebody else’s eyes, and that’s what that’s what great story does,” he said. “That’s what a strong protagonist does.”
Source: CNN
Katt Williams Settles With Actress Claiming He Burned Her With Cigarettes & Had Women Attack Her
We just discovered the news that the website theJasmineBRAND is exclusively reporting that a lawsuit accusing Katt Williams of physically abusing an actress and organizing an attack on her, has ended. Court documents were filed explaining that Katt reached a settlement with the alleged victim, Jamila Majesty. Jamila was paid more than $10k and as a result, the entire lawsuit has been dismissed.
Here’s the backstory: In 2016, the comedian was sued by Jamila Majesty, an actress. Majesty explained she went to the comedian’s Malibu home 2 years ago. She claims that she was invited to the home and when she arrived, 5 other women were there and things quickly went south after she used the bathroom.
She says that Katt immediately told her that “no one uses [my] bathroom” and then the other women began punching her. She claimed the beatings lasted for 3 hours, during which she lost consciousness several times, was left bloodied and the comedian even burned her in the face with his cigarette.
Jamila Majesty
One of the women involved in the beat down … allegedly had a book open which contained the “teachings on sorcery and spells” and that she had a fire that was being fed “unusual things”.
Majesty was eventually able to escape around 1:30am and drove home without calling the police, fearing what Katt would do. She later sued for assault, battery, emotional distress and false imprisonment.
Source: The theJasmineBRAND
Kerry Washington To Produce New Comedy Pilot For ABC Titled ‘Man Of The House’!
ABC has made a late pilot pick up, ordering the comedy “Man of the House” starring Alyson Hannigan.
The multi-camera hybrid series will follow two recently divorced sisters who decide to move in together to raise their kids under one roof. The oldest kid and only son is left to figure out what manhood means in a world where he’s now completely surrounded by females.
Hannigan will portray Jessie, described as a caring social-worker who was shocked when her husband left her. With nowhere else to turn, and against her better judgment, she moves her teenage football-star son and pre-teen daughter into the home of her narcissistic, ball-busting sister Charli and her even more-wicked daughter.
Frank Pines and Vijal Patel are the writers and executive producers. “Scandal” star Kerry Washington will also executive produce via her Simpson Street banner, with Simpson Street’s Pilar Savone also executive producing. Gail Berman and Joe Earley of The Jackal Group will also executive produce. ABC Studios will produce the series with The Jackal Group.
Hannigan is well-known for her leading role in hit CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.” She also famously appeared in the popular series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as well as the “American Pie” film franchise. She is currently the host of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” on The CW.
Washington currently stars on ABC’s “Scandal,” which is preparing to end after seven seasons. She is also an executive producer on the upcoming Facebook series “Five Points.”
Hannigan is repped by APA and McKuin Frankel Whitehead LLP. Pines is repped by CAA, Think Tank Management, and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein. Patel is repped by APA and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller, LLP. Washington is repped by CAA, Washington Square Arts, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller, LLP.
Source: Variety
Viola Davis And Lupita Nyong’o To Star As Mother And Daughter In ‘The Woman King’
Hot on the heels of Black Panther, a huge movie has just been announced starring Viola Davis and Lupita Nyong’o.
They will star in The Woman King, which is “the powerful true story of an extraordinary mother-daughter relationship.” TriStar has just acquired the worldwide rights.
“There’s no-one more extraordinary than Viola Davis and Lupita Nyong’o to bring them to life,” said Hannah Minghella, president of TriStar Pictures, in a statement.
The film is inspired by true events in the Kingdom of Dahomey, a powerful state in the 18th century. It will tell the story of Nanisca (Davis), general of the all-female military unit known as the Amazons, and her daughter Nawi (Nyong’o), who together fought the French and neighboring tribes who violated their honor, enslaved their people, and threatened to destroy everything they’ve lived for.
The story is an original from Maria Bello and Cathy Schulman’s Welle Entertainment. Davis and her husband Julius Tennon, under their JuVee Productions will produce.
“The Woman King has the potential to be a game changer for women of color everywhere. Viola and our team at JuVee are beyond excited to partner with Sony/TriStar to bring these fierce women to the big screen,” said Tennon.
“Black Panther just showed us how the power of imagination and lore could reveal a world without gender and racial stereotypes. The Woman King will tell one of history’s greatest forgotten stories from the real world in which we live, where an army of African warrior women staved off slavery, colonialism and inter-tribal warfare to unify a nation,” said Schulman.
Cedric The Entertainer Lands In New CBS Comedy Pilot Titled ‘Welcome to the Neighborhood’
Cedric the Entertainer has signed on to star in and executive produce the CBS multi-camera comedy pilot “Welcome to the Neighborhood”.
Formerly known as “Here Comes the Neighborhood,” the project follows the nicest guy in the Midwest, who moves his family into a tough neighborhood in L.A. where not everyone appreciates his extreme neighborliness.
Cedric will play Calvin, the next door neighbor to the Johnson family, whom he regards with disdain and as a pack of interlopers. Described as a natural contrarian, acerbic, even downright misanthropic, Calvin thinks these people will upset the delicate balance that exists in his neighborhood. He joins previously announced cast members Sheaun McKinney and Marcel Spears, who will play Calvin’s sons.
Cedric will executive produce with Eric Rhone under their A Bird and A Bear Entertainment banner.
Source Variety
On This Day In Comedy… In 1933 Comedian And Actor Godfrey Cambridge Was Born
On this day in comedy on February 26, 1933, Comedian, Actor, Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge was born in New York City, New York
If his parents had had their way, Cambridge would’ve become a doctor. He attended Hofstra College where he studied medicine for three years, then woke up one morning, dropped out and became an actor. That was probably a dramatic moment remembered by all who witnessed, but then the reality of being a struggling actor set in. Cambridge found himself doing less acting and more job bouncing. He was an ambulance driver, a gardener, bead-sorter, cab driver, popcorn bunny maker, airplane cleaner, New York Housing Authority clerk and judo instructor.
Cambridge’s hard work to keep food in his belly paid off. He took his bartending skills from real life and played a bartender in his first play, Take a Giant Step. It was off-Broadway, but in 1957 he made it to the big time. He debuted in the original production of Herman Wouk’s Nature’s Way. Four years later Cambridge earned an Obie Award for his work in The Blacks: A Clown Show. A year later he received a Tony nomination for his work in the original version of Ossie Davis’ Purlie Victorious in a cast that included Ruby Dee, Helen Martin, Beah Richards, Alan Alda, Sorrell Booke and Roger C. Carmel. His performance in 1965’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was lauded as well. Cambridge proved himself to be an accomplished actor.
Godfrey Cambridge was also good on film. He played a government agent in The President’s Analyst (1967); a cab driver in Bye Bye Braverman (1968); a white racist who turns black in Watermelon Man (1970); a line-crossing cop in Cotton Comes to Harlem and its sequel Come Back Charleston Blue (1972) and a gay gangster in Pam Grier’s Friday Foster (1975). In 1970 he financed and produced the graphic anti-drug film, Dead is Dead, where actual addicts were shown shooting up and going through withdrawal. Cambridge also appeared in the films, The Busy Body, The Biggest Bundle of Them All, The Biscuit Eater, Beware! The Blob and Whiffs.
Godfrey Cambridge made his presence known on television. He guest-starred on Car 54 Where Are You?, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, The Phil Silvers Show and in Night Gallery playing a comedian who appeals to a genie to get his career back on track. Steven Spielberg directed that episode which co-starred Tom Bosley. Cambridge also did underwear commercials for Jockey.
Standup comedy was another Cambridge strength. In 1965 Time magazine recognized him as being one of the top four most celebrated Black comedians in the nation along with Dick Gregory, Nipsey Russell and Bill Cosby. Cambridge was universally accepted with a brand of comedy that though truthful, sarcastic and incisive, was unifying. He made appearances on The Tonight Show and was one of the country’s top earning nationally headlining standup comedians. In a career spanning several decades he released four albums; all from Epic Records.
Godfrey Cambridge died on November 29, 1976 in Burbank, California of a heart attack. It occurred while he was filming Victory at Entebbe, a movie where Cambridge was portraying Uganda’s brutal president, Idi Amin Dada. When the news was made public Amin was quoted as saying Cambridge’s death was “punishment from God”. Godfrey Cambridge was 43 years old.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1969 Comedian And Actor Edwin San Juan Was Born!
On this day in comedy on February 24, 1969, Comedian and Actor Edwin San Juan was born
When San Juan was coming up in comedy there weren’t a passel of clubs catering to the Asian audience. So the Filipino funny man cut his teeth in Latin clubs and bars alongside comedians such as Gabriel Iglesias, Felipe Esparza and Jeff Garcia. It was the perfectly rough circuit to get good and he did. Soon he was doing USO shows and headlining nationally. So San Juan was a seasoned pro when he gained notoriety as the creator and Executive Producer of SlantED Comedy, a showcase of Asian American stand-up comedians televised on Showtime.
As a standup comedian, San Juan appeared on all available shows. He was seen on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham’s, BET’s Comic View, Live from Hollywood, Latino Laugh Festival, Que Loco, Inside Joke, Latino 101, International Sexy Ladies Show (ummm), Loco Comedy Jam, Comics without Borders, The Payaso Comedy Slam and Destination Stardom.
Edwin San Juan appeared in the 2010 film, I’m Not Like That No More with Paul Rodriguez and he was the grand champion on the UPN show, Talent Agency. He later moved to Nevada to become the resident comedian at the Las Vegas Live Comedy Club and in 2015 San Juan won Las Vegas Weekly’s “Best Comedian on the Las Vegas Strip.”
On This Day In Comedy… In 1983 Comedian, Actor, And Writer Aziz Ansari Was Born!
On this day on February 23, 1983, Comedian, Actor, Writer, Aziz Ansari is born in Columbia, SC
Taking a different career path than his gastroenterologist father, the versatile Ansari got his start in comedy while still in school at the New York University. He performed in clubs in New York and furthered his comedic education at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. To date he has headlined several national tours and released four comedy CD / DVDs. He takes the approach of talking about his own personal experiences, so no other comedians can steal his act or bits. He’s performed at such prestigious venues as Madison Square garden and Carnegie Hall.
His television credits include Uncle Morty’s Dub Shack, Reno 911!,Scrubs, MTV’s Human Giant, which he created as a vehicle for himself, HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, and NBC’s Parks and Recreation.
He created Master of None for Netflix and formed a strong relationship with MTV (he hosted the MTV Movie Awards in 201) and Comedy Central which yielded many of Ansari created projects and collaborations.
Ansari has worked in numerous films such as Funny People, I Love You, Man. Get Him to the Greek, Observe and Report and 30 Minutes or Less.
Ansari is also an author with his first book Modern Romance: An Investigation which dropped in 2015. It’s about dating and was co-written with Eric Klinenberg, an actual sociologist.
He has done voice-over work as the recurring, Darryl on Bob’s Burgers, Mub in Epic, Martin in The Ventura Bros., Billy Billions in Ben 10: Omniverse, DMO in Adventure Time, Charles in Animals and on music videos (“Otis” by Jay-Z and Kanye West). In the latter, he played himself (as in the film, This is the End, Comedy Bang! Bang! and the animated feature, Ice Age: Continental Drift)
Ansari has earned a lot of industry nominations and has won the Variety Power of Comedy Award, a Critics’ Choice Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing.
T.I. To Star In And Produce Girl Group Music Drama Titled ‘Glow Up’
T.I. will star in and produce a the musical drama, Glow Up, which will be directed by popular music video director, Justin Francis, and scripted by Chuck Hayward, who was the writer for Step Sisters and he is a story editor and writer for Netflix’s Dear White People.
Robbie Brenner, producer of Burden, which bowed at Sundance, is producing this with PepsiCo’s Creators League, Kevin McKeon and T.I.’s producing partner Brian Sher.
The description of the film: It follows the lives and struggles of an all-girl high school performance group at an underfunded Los Angeles United School District school, who use their talents to try and save their financially-strapped music program by competing in a national singing competition with a huge cash prize. But when the group’s leader can no longer participate, they struggle to see how their charismatic, yet unconventional, new lead singer can shepherd them to the height of their dreams.
Jeff Kwatinetz is executive producing.
T.I. can be seen next on screen reprising his role in the sequel to Marvel’s Ant-Man.
Universal Gives Release Date To New Marsai Martin (Of ‘black-ish’ Fame) Film Titled ‘Little’!
Universal has given release dates to three upcoming Will Packer Productions films, one of which is the Marsai Martin-starrer, Little.
The film is currently set for release on Friday, September 20, 2019. The Black-ish star will headlines and executive produces the Will Packer comedy, based on an idea the young actress pitched. Directed by Tina Gordon (Peeples), the film tells the story of a woman who—when the pressures of adulthood become too much to bear—gets the chance to relive the carefree life of her younger self. Packer will produce for his Universal-based Will Packer Productions with his production partner James Lopez and black-ish/grown-ish creator Kenya Barris Actress Regina Hall and Josh Martin will also executive produce.
Fresh off the Boat writer Camilla Blackett is currently rewriting the latest script draft, which is based on earlier work written by Gordon and Girls Trip writer Tracy Y. Oliver.
