Pharrell Williams will produce Taraji P. Henson’s mathematics drama “Hidden Figures” and write original songs for the soundtrack.
Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Ted Melfi are also producing, and Melfi is directing. Williams will oversee all musical elements for the motion picture and its soundtrack.
Henson stars along with Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe as a trio of brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind the 1962 launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit — a key milestone in the space race against the Soviet Union to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade.
“After my producing partner Mimi Valdés and I heard about this project, we basically begged the producers and studio to allow us to participate,” Williams said. “This is an extraordinary story about black women with genius mathematical minds who contributed to American history. It takes place in Virginia, my home state, and at NASA, a place I’ve been obsessed with since childhood.”
Fox will release “Hidden Figures” on Jan. 13. Also starring are Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge and Kevin Costner. The screenplay is by Alison Schroeder, Melfi and Lori Lakin Hutcherson.
Williams has won 10 Grammy Awards. He’s also known for his musical contributions to the “Despicable Me” films as well as his judging stint on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Source: Variety
New Line, NBA superstar LeBron James and Maverick Carter have acquired movie rights to an Elite Daily video in which humor writer Connor Toole successfully posed as an NBA draft pick last year.
The studio, James and Carter are developing a movie comedy about Toole attending the 2015 NBA Draft day in New York and convincing people that he was a second-round selection of the Utah Jazz. James and Carter are producing through their SpringHill Entertainment production company, which has a first-look deal at New Line.
The untitled project originated with Madica principals Jeff Tahler and Shawn Sachs, who brought it to SpringHill. It’s the first movie project for SpringHill.
James will be a producer along with Madica’s Tahler. Carter and Sachs will exec produce.
Madica is a production company affiliated with public relations firm Sunshine Sachs. It’s also developing the reality series “The Castle Next Door – The Novogratz Family Takes Hollywood.”
James and Warner Bros. announced an alliance for film, TV and digital projects last July, shortly after James had made his film debut in Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck.”
The Elite Daily NBA Draft Video has been nominated for a 2016 Webby Award in the comedy: individual short or episode category.
Source: Deadline Hollywood, Variety
Two prolific TV industry players — Steve Harvey and Mark Burnett — have teamed for an ABC reality series that will hand out seed funding to entrepreneurs.
The untitled project will revolve around entrepreneurs pitching their ideas for new businesses in front of a studio audience. After the audience votes, Harvey will dole out seed money to the winner.
“My dream has been to work with Steve, and this is the perfect project for us to do together,” said exec producer Burnett, who is also head of MGM Television. “He is an amazing talent and has an enormous heart for entrepreneurs, some of whom will get their business jump-started because of him.”
ABC said the series has a 13-episode order and would premiere sometime this year. MGM is producing and handling international distribution rights.
“I’m thrilled to have another passion project on the ABC schedule. This is just the type of show that gives folks a vehicle to breathe life into their dreams,” Harvey said.
ABC is already in business with Burnett on “Shark Tank,” another business-centric unscripted series, and its companion “Beyond the Tank,” as well as the quiz show “500 Questions.” Harvey is ubiquitous across the dial as the host of ABC’s primetime game show “Celebrity Family Feud” and NBC’s hot new kid talent showcase “Little Big Shots.” He’s also busy in daytime as host of the syndicated “Steve Harvey Show” talker and the syndie iteration of “Family Feud.” On top of all that, he also hosts a weekday morning radio program syndicated by IHeartMedia’s Premiere Networks.
Harvey, repped by WME, made headlines late last year when he flubbed the announcement of the winner while hosting Fox’s “Miss Universe” pageant. But his humility about the error has only enhanced his standing with fans, and he’s expected to return as host of this year’s pageant.
Source; Variety
It took a two-minute video for stand-up comedian Tyree Elaine to capture the hearts of women everywhere. Her three-part video series, Women Over 40 Be Like, took off because of her spot-on impersonation of women in the I’m-doing-me stage of life. Within three days, Elaine’s videos had racked up over 2 million views and thousands of shares.
It’s easy to see why. The setup is so simple, it’s brilliant. Elaine, makeup-free and wearing box braids, is in a kitchen on the phone, explaining to all the people in her life how she’s changing up her priorities now that she’s … over 40.
Example: “You know what? I am over 40 and I have a fence on my vision board because it is time for me to create boundaries. And I need to drink my kale smoothies so I can stay heart-healthy. You have a blessed and prosperous day.”
And the refrain is the same: “I am over 40 … and I do not have time!”
When the video crossed my social media feed, within minutes I was wiping away tears from laughing so hard—and I was immediately tagging all of my over-40 friends.
I felt like Elaine had been spying on me in my living room as I tell my oldest daughter I will not send her more money at school and tell my 9-year-old that I am not about to let her stress me out. Because, yes, I am over 40 and I do not have time.
Elaine manages to tackle at least 20 identifiable tropes for the over-40 set in each short video. From hot flashes and dating to raising children (and grandchildren) and code-switching when necessary, it’s all here and relatable to millions of grown women and all the people who know and love them.
Reached by phone in her hometown of Los Angeles, Tyree Elaine tells us where she’s from, where she’s going and why she thinks her videos have connected with so many.
The Root: When I saw your first video, I thought you were a teenager impersonating your mom!
Tyree Elaine: Wow, thanks! [Laughs.] I’m 29. I’ve been doing stand-up for eight years now.
TR: Right. You were actually a finalist on Last Comic Standing in 2014.
TE: Yes, such a blessing! I was working as a teacher’s assistant and got laid off just days before I got the news that I would be on Last Comic Standing. I took that as a sign that I needed to do this full time.
TR: How did you get the bug to do stand-up?
TE: I was 20 years old. And I was going through an awful breakup with my first love. My roommate saw me moping and crying all the time. She finally said, “That’s enough. We are going out every single night this week.” One night, we hung out with a friend of hers who was a comedian. He thought I was funny and suggested I try stand-up. I didn’t do it right away. But the seed was planted, and the first time I did it, I knew I wanted to do it again … and again … and again. It’s a rush. And it feels so good when you connect with your audience.
TR: Speaking of connecting with your audience, your video series about women over 40 really connected! Did you expect the videos to go viral?
TE: What surprised me the most is that the second video got to a million views within hours.
TR: How on earth did you get me and my generation so well!?
TE: It’s all about my mom. When she turned 40 10 years ago, she had a party and she’s been saying things like, “I am in my 40s and I do not have time” for the past 10 years. So this woman from the video, a composite of so many awesome over-40 women I know, is just very special to me. I know these women very well.
TR: This happened so fast. You said you got the idea after seeing your mom’s Facebook status update when she turned 50 a few weeks ago.
TE: Right. I checked Facebook that morning, and she had this ridiculously long update that just went on and on and on about turning 50 and what she was going to do in her 50s. And I’m thinking, “So I’m gonna have to hear this for another 10 years?” The idea just hit me. I want to recap everything she said about her 40s.
TR: Even the names of the characters in your video are spot-on! Reggie, the ex. Larry, the straight-and-narrow new guy. A daughter named Mackenzie, a grandson named Jaylen. I know all these people—with these names!
TE: I know! [Laughs.] The names are all real people I know! My aunt, whose husband’s name is Larry, called me up and asked me, “When you talk about Larry in your video, is that supposed to my Larry?” I’m like, “Of course it is! What other Larry would I be talking about?”
TR: You’re not yet 30. Do you think you’ll be saying these things in 10 years?
TE: I’m saying them now! That’s what happens when strong women like my mom and my aunts raise you. I’m already putting people in their place and letting them know I don’t have time for any foolishness. I’ve already dated enough wack people. I’m not going out with just anybody. And if I don’t want to go somewhere, I don’t. And I don’t have to explain myself, either.
TR: What’s next for you? How will you capitalize on the attention from your videos?
TE: I’ve had so many requests for T-shirts with some of the expressions from my videos, and so I’ll be making those available. The most important thing is to transition my videos from Facebook, which is not monetized, to my YouTube channel, which is monetized.
TR: I really wanted to interview your mom and your aunt, the inspiration for the videos!
TE: Not a good idea.
TR: Why?
TE: Because they’re liable to say anything.
TR: That’s because they are over 40 and they do not have time!
TE: Exactly.
Comedy.com is back: Years after a failing as a comedy website, the iconic domain is once again back, distributing funny clips online. Only this time, Comedy.com is launching as a mobile comedy network this week, with apps for iOS and Android, but without a full blown Web presence.
Comedy.com’s newest incarnation is headed by Barak Shragai and Dor Mizrahi, who began working on the project in April, and were able to raise $1.5 million in funding in May. By October, they had launched a beta version with a few hundred testers, and this week, the Los Angeles-based startup is officially launching the network with new versions of its app.
“We are building a network for the social generation,” said Shragai in an interview with Variety. The idea is not to compete with YouTube, but instead squarely target viewers who instead watch most of their videos on Facebook, Vine and Instagram.
To that effect, Comedy.com has signed up some two dozen creators from those platforms, including Curtis Lepore, Woody the Great and JoeJoe. In addition, Comedy.com’s apps are also aggregating third-party comedy content. Shragai said that the goal is to move to 70 percent original content by the end of the year.
That’s also when Comedy.com wants to roll out monetization on its platform. Until then, it wants to help creators make more money on other platforms as well by giving them tools to cross-promote their content.
Comedy.com’s apps offer a stream of videos, plus the ability to offer Periscope-like feedback — except, instead of hearts, users are adding “LOLs” to a video. Shragai said that the company wants to develop apps for Roku, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms next. A website, on the other hand, is pretty low on the list of priorities. Sure, the startup has a site, but doesn’t feature any videos on it, and instead just used it to point to its apps.
Speaking of which: Comedy.com got its domain from none other than Dean Valentine, the former CEO of UPN, who tried to turn the site into a Web-based comedy hub eight years ago. Valentine provided the domain in exchange for a stake in the startup, explained Shragai: “We didn’t pay anything.” Investors in the company also include Rhodium, 2B Angels, Sandler Investments and NXTP Labs, amongst others.
Source: Variety
Dear Real Housewives of Atlanta stars: No one is safe.
Bravo reality star NeNe Leakes has expanded her growing empire to now include stand-up comedy (!), and you can bet your booty that she’s going to be calling out some very familiar faces during her shows.
“No, I won’t be calling out anybody,” she told E! News’ Jason Kennedy before adding, “I might call out one person.” Then Leakes kept it real and said, “I’m gonna call out some of the Housewives, I have to say that. Because that is a part of my life.”
She continued to explain that there isn’t anyone in particular, but more so everyone who was a part of that chapter of her life.
“All of those girls, there’s not a name I won’t call out. Cynthia, Portia, Phaedra, Kandi, Kenya…they’re all getting called out in this show, don’t think they’re not. Because they have been a part of my life. And this is about my life,” she said.
NeNe added that her hubby Gregg will be included, “I’m gonna talk about being married and divorced and married again. My husband doesn’t like that part, because I’m gonna be talking about his ass.” LOL!
Leakes’ “One Woman Show” kicks off in Charlotte next week, and she admits that it’s making her a bit nervous.
“I’m not gonna try to be a comedian. I’m just gonna be NeNe Leakes. I’m just gonna take the stage and say and do what I do. My show has sold out, which is very scary for me, by the way, because I was thinking we’re gonna go to Charlotte, N.C., we’re gonna do this under the radar a little bit, and I was gonna get my kinks out,” she tells E! News.
“The show sold out. And then my team got all greedy, and they were like, we should add a second show.”
And although that means more green for NeNe, the woman-of-many-hats explains it’s not about the money—at least, not this time around.
“I’m not doing it for the money this time. Not this time. There will be a time when I’m doing it for the money. But this time, [I’m doing it] to get the kinks out,” Leakes said.
“I wanted to practice the show there, then all of a sudden, the show started selling out. So we’ve almost sold two shows out, then we’re going over to Nashville, Tenn., and after Nashville, we’re gonna come back and kinda regroup. If we really love this thing, then we’re gonna launch a tour.”
Something tells us we’ll be talking about a NeNe Leakes comedy tour very soon.
Source: E!
Taye Diggs will host “You’re Back in the Room” (working title), a new eight-episode one-hour hypnotic comedy game show featuring award-winning hypnotist Keith Barry, who stars in the original U.K. show, as resident hypnotist.
“The second I saw this show I knew I needed to be a part of it. It’s the most unique blend of comedy and competition I’ve seen in years,” said Diggs. “I’m also quite excited as this is a program I can watch and laugh at with my six-year-old son.”
Based on the smash-hit U.K. format of the same name, “You’re Back in the Room” (wt) features physical comedy and unpredictable situations, as contestants work together in teams and are challenged to complete a variety of simple, everyday tasks, from frosting a cake to blowing up balloons… after being hypnotized. With big money at stake, these contestants need to work together as a team, but their entranced state causes hysterical hurdles that unwittingly sabotage their progress.
The series will begin production in July.
Taye Diggs currently stars as “Detective Terry English” in the drama series “Murder in the First,” currently in its third season. He recently concluded a multi-episode arc on Fox’s “Rosewood,” before ending his run in the title role of Broadway’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” historically marking the first time an African-American took on the title role.
Diggs joins the ranks of other relatively new black male game show hosts – ABC is reviving “The $100,000 Pyramid” game show for a 10-episode primetime run this summer, with Michael Strahan hosting; Cedric the Entertainer (“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”), succeeded by Terry Crews; Wayne Brady (“Let’s Make a Deal”); Steve Harvey (“Family Feud” and more); Alfonso Ribeiro (“Catch 21,” “Spell-Mageddon”); Anthony Anderson (“To Tell the Truth”); Common (“Framework”); Donald Faison (“WINSANITY”); and there others I can’t think of at the moment.
Keith Barry is the world’s leading TV hypnotist, mentalist and “brain hacker.” He has toured for many years showcasing his skills across the globe and has starred in over 40 international TV shows, his most recent being the U.K. version of “You’re Back in the Room.” His TED talk has been in the Top 20 TED Talks since 2008 and it currently has over 10 million views on the TED Talks website and over 30 million views in total. Barry is the Chief Magic and Mentalist Consultant on the upcoming feature film “Now You See Me: The Second Act,” slated to premiere in June.
“You’re Back In The Room,” produced by Tuesday’s Child, debuted in the U.K. as the No. 1 new unscripted entertainment series in 2015, ending its first season as a Top 10 series overall. The series is currently airing its second season and the format has been produced in France, The Netherlands and Australia and optioned internationally in multiple territories, including Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal and Spain.
“You’re Back in the Room” (wt) is executive-produced by Tuesday’s Child in association with BBC Worldwide Productions. Karen Smith and Joe Sungkur serve as executive producers.
Source: Shadow & Act
According to our sources, we have discovered the news of who BET is about to cast in the new BET mini series of a film based on Boston’s New Edition!
We hear that Bryshere Gray (best known as Hakeem of FOX’s hit series ‘Empire‘ is leading an all-star cast! Gray is set to play Michael Bivins, while Evan Ross (will portray Ronnie Devoe), Luke James (playing Johnny Gill), Elijah Kelley (playing Ricky Bell), Algee Smith (playing Ralph Tresvant), and Bobby McClain (playing Bobby Brown) all round out the cast. We also hear that Chris Robinson is directing the film for BET.
The mini will be written by Abdul Williams (Lottery Ticket) and co-produced by the band’s longtime manager Brooke Payne. The untitled New Edition project marks BET’s first scripted music-focused television movie. Jesse Collins (Real Husbands of Hollywood) will exec produce.
The movie will be told through the band’s eyes, from their beginning in the Orchard Park Projects in Boston to Hollywood and everything in between. “We are ready to retrace our footsteps and show everyone how we got here. For the fans all over the world, this one’s for you,” the band said in a statement.
Fox TV continues to add content from black creatives to its upcoming slate, today ordering a new half-hour comedy from creators Ralph Farquhar (“Real Husbands of Hollywood,” “Moesha”) and Ty Hodges (“A Girl Like Grace”), titled “Famous,” which will debut Sunday, June 12 (9-9:30 PM ET/PT) on the network.
A 10-episode season of the new series will follow a young couple whose relationship is tested when one of them skyrockets to stardom virtually overnight.
Filmed in mock-documentary style at a “couples” therapy session, “Famous” features dating high school teachers Fred and Geneva, both of whom secretly aspire to work in Hollywood. He wants to be a screenwriter and she envisions stardom as a pop diva. One of those dreams miraculously comes true when Geneva lands a record deal after her first music video goes viral and logs millions of views. As she rises to stardom, he feels pushed to the sidelines. Can this couple survive or will they discover that being famous and in love makes for a complicated threesome?
Additional details, including casting, will be announced shortly.
“Famous” is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Ralph Farquhar and Ty Hodges are co-creators and writers. Farquhar serves as executive producer and Hodges is a supervising producer.
Source: Shadow & Act