This upcoming comedy has a plot that is as ingenious as it is entertaining. Leslie Small’s ‘Giving Thanks’ will narrate the events that occur in the lives of two friends who embark on a quirky path to make a fortune. Best friends, Marcus and Roddy, dream about living on their own in fame and fortune, except, they work in a dead-end job. In their quest to fulfill their dream, the duo come up with a bizarre plan to kidnap the pet iguana of a popular football star, Achilles Cooper for ransom, while also forcing the famous player to attend the birthday party of Marcus’s father. Now, what is left to see is if their plan will indeed work.
Leslie Small is a talented filmmaker who has directed a number of comedic entertainers such as, ‘Kevin Hart: Irresponsible’ and the ‘All Star Comedy Jam’. Joining Leslie Small in the crew are producers Stephanie Weier (CEO and founder of Brandwood Global), Hunter De Vere (President of Brandwood Studios) and Charlton Jacques (Founder of Foresight Entertainment). ‘Giving Thanks’ will be taken up under Brandwood Studios, an emerging production company who will be producing this upcoming feature film alongside Foresight Entertainment, another emerging production company. The crew will be joined by Charles Maye and Michael NJ Wright, both talented artists who will be writing the screenplay for ‘Giving Thanks’.
‘Giving Thanks’ is reportedly still under production with its filming commencing this fall in Atlanta. Yet, as always, we do have a snippet on the actors who will potentially join the cast for the feature film. Actors, Terrence Howard, J.B. Smoove and Rebecca De Mornay are reportedly in talks for the indie comedy. Terrence Howard is a popular yet controversial actor who is known for his portrayal of James Rhodes in Marvel’s ‘Iron Man’, DJay in ‘Hustle and Folw’, Bama in ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’, and many more. J.B. Smoove is a renowned comedian/ actor and writer whose works include, ‘Pootie Tang’, ‘Blockbuster’ and ”Til Death’. Rebecca De Mornay is another established actress who is primarily known for her roles in films, ‘Risky Business’, ‘Never Talk to Strangers’, ‘Guilty as Sin’ and ‘A Table For One’.
In ‘Giving Thanks’, J.B Smoove will most likely play the role of Marcus’s arch-nemesis Dexter, an ambitious hustler who manages the retail box store where Marcus works while Rebecca De Mornay will portray Aunt Theodora, an eccentric cabaret/performance artist who tries her best to look out for Roddy, but knows a good opportunity when she sees it. Together, the trio is predicted to deliver a stellar performance. So for all the indie comedy fans out there, this movie is for you!
The Creator is…engaging at best. It’s like if ChatGPT wrote a script using its own interests and futuristic ideas and then recruited John David Washington to give a dramatic performance to bring it to life.
We are living in a world where AI is being thrown at us everywhere to be used anywhere. The question of where will AI take us into the future is one that pops up over and over in social media, news, tech releases, education, the food industry, and literally everything. So, maybe AI created The Creator hoping we would understand??
Here’s a quick synopsis of the movie:
The film starts off with a quick introductory reel showing how artificial intelligence has been incorporated into society. In the future, there are now AI track stars, kitchen staff, police bots, and even human-like versions (sims) made by humans via “donating their likeness” to AI.
Following the reel, the movie then opens to year 2065 and Sergeant Joshua Taylor and his pregnant wife Maya (Gemma Chan) are shown very much in love in their small beachside home in New Asia. Also in 2065, there’s an ongoing war between the US and New Asia. The US and the western world are now anti-AI after a nuclear bomb strike was carried out on Los Angeles 10 years prior. In New Asia, AI is still an essential part of their lives and heavily favored and valued by people there. A special operation by the US Army has been pursuing New Asia’s Nirmata, the unknown creator of the most advanced AI in the world, during this war. Nirmata’s AI is thought to be behind the nuclear attack. While Taylor and Maya are cuddling and expressing their love inside their home, the US Army launches a surprise attack from their airship NOMAD and their home is raided, Taylor is separated from Maya and his unborn child and witnesses his pregnant wife killed by a bomb.
Five years later, and we see a hardened Taylor still grieving the loss of Maya and his unborn child when he’s visited by army personnel with new knowledge of Nirmata’s whereabouts and the creation of an all-powerful AI weapon. They ask Taylor to reenter the field and join them on this operation to find Nirmata and destroy the weapon to finally win the war. He only agrees after they provide evidence showing that Maya survived the attack.
Of course, the mission doesn’t carry out as planned and most of the soldiers on the mission are killed immediately after entering Nirmata’s alleged headquarters where the weapon is housed. Taylor makes it through the base to the weapon’s location and discovers a child-like sim. He takes the child-sim from base and goes on the run to try to find Maya. He gives the child-sim the name Alphie (played by Madeleine Yuna Voyles) and Alphie wins him over. Through the rest of the movie, Taylor learns that Maya was actually Nirmata and Alphie is the most advanced sim ever created and Maya created Alphie while they were together unknown to Taylor using parts of the embryo of their unborn child and Maya suffered a miscarriage and was left brain dead in a coma from the nighttime raid. AI did not have the capability to pull the plug to let her die. Taylor also learns that the attack was actually initiated by human override and turns against the US Army and sets out to destroy NOMAD with Alphie after bonding with AI sims and bots. It ends with Taylor leading Alphie to destroy NOMAD with her capabilities which ends the war and “AI and humans can live together in peace.”
Yes, the depiction of bombings and missile strikes by the US Army with total disregard to human life was emotional. And the idea that the bombing that prompted the war on “New Asia” was caused by humans to start a war which of course has happened before is very triggering. It is very reminiscent of the events of the Vietnam War. But besides being deeply bothered by those things, empathizing with Taylor’s grief over the loss of his family, scenes that depict the horrors of war without regard to human life in general, it wasn’t really all that believable. I didn’t get the emotional attachment to the sims and robots that I think The Creator was intending to sell. For example, in the movie we learn when Alphie is offered ice cream by the sim girlfriend of one of Taylor’s ex-army buddies, that the AI robots and sims eat and drink very real food. This is one of the major things that jumped out at me as destroying any ability to truly connect with intention to feel sympathy or empathy that maybe the film wanted the viewer to. It also didn’t piece together logically because the sims didn’t bleed when shot so how would they be able to digest food? And even if the AI machines of The Creator are somehow magically coded to eat and drink, there’s already competition of resources between humans and other living, breathing, very real species. So, it’s very hard to believe that anywhere in the world humans would want to live along in harmony with machines who can eat food and drink water, that would be a complete waste and make the whole coexistence of AI & human thing mute? These AI sims were charging themselves up at night yet somehow able to fully run an orphanage and monastery on their own? Hmmm…
I do think artificial intelligence is growing more intelligent in this era and I do believe that we may very well see AI taking over a larger role in society like in the food industry or public safety and health and again who knows what more the future will bring? The Creator definitely showed a preview of some of the advanced technology we can expect in the future through the design of the NOMAD airship, digital photo screens as thin as paper, and the futuristic city styles but the events in iRobot seem way more likely to occur than the events in this movie. The AI story of The Creator gave artificial but not intelligent.
Directed by Gareth Edwards, The Creator released in theaters September 29th, 2023.
By McKenna Fuller
Deion Sanders is potentially going primetime, again.
The NFL legend, who has bolstered interest in college football and turned around the fortunes of the Colorado Buffaloes, is getting his own Entourage-style comedy.
Sanders, otherwise known as Coach Prime, is working with Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat and SMAC Productions, which is run by former NFL star Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini, to develop a half-hour comedy about his life.
It will follow a Pro Football Hall of Famer-turned-rookie head coach as he juggles his celebrity status and soaring personal brand, while aiming to secure his legacy with a championship. It’s described as “Entourage meets the gridiron.”
Everybody Hates Chris co-creator Ali LeRoi will write and exec produce, with Sanders, Strahan and Schwartz-Morini also exec producing alongside Hart, Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein.
Schwartz-Morini, CEO and co-founder of SMAC, which also produces Amazon’s Coach Prime, told Deadline, “This project is another prime example of how SMAC Productions/Entertainment leverages the extraordinary lives and passions of our clients and along with Coach Prime, we couldn’t have better partners in Hartbeat and Ali LeRoi.”
Sanders took over the Buffaloes who won first three games of the 2023 season in epic fashion, a feat particularly given that the team went 1-11 the previous season. They have lost their most recent two games to Oregon and USC, respectively.
According to a Time report, which broke the news of the development, Sanders’ arrival and subsequent turnaround in team form has seen the school’s online team-store merchandise sales up 892% year-to-date over 2022. Its nationally televised game against Oregon two weeks ago drew 10 million viewers, making it one of the year’s most-watched college games.
Sanders is also the star of the docuseries Coach Prime which premiered on Amazon’s Prime Video in December and has been renewed for a second season.
During his time in the NFL, where he was considered one of the best cornerbacks of all time, Sanders played for the Atlanta Falcons, the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, Washington and the Baltimore Ravens. He also played nine seasons in MLB with the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves among others.
Source: Deadline
Chris Rock is gearing up to examine the life of Martin Luther King Jr. The actor and comedian is in final negotiations to direct and produce a biopic of the late civil rights icon, we have confirmed.
Universal Studios is behind the project and has optioned the rights to Jonathan Eig’s biography, King: A Life, which debuted to acclaim in May. It went on to earn a National Book Award nomination, and drew upon newly unearthed FBI information on King, with the book described by its publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux as an “intimate portrayal of King as a courageous but emotionally troubled individual who demanded peaceful protest while grappling with his own frailties and a government that hunted him.”
Steven Spielberg will executive produce the project via his Amblin Partners, with Kristie Macosko Krieger producing.
Rock previously directed and starred in the TIFF favorite Top Five (2014). He also directed Head of State (2003) and I Think I Love My Wife (2007). He is onscreen this year in George C. Wolfe’s civil rights biopic Rustin, starring Colman Domingo. In March, he launched the Netflix live stand-up special Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, while last year, he appeared in the ensemble cast of David O’Russell’s Amsterdam. He has his animated comedy Everybody Still Hates in the works for Paramount+ and Comedy Central.
Rock is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, Yorn Levine, and Vision PR.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Roy Wood Jr. has formally announced his plans to leave The Daily Show.
The comedian and correspondent for the Comedy Central series revealed his plans to leave the show amid its search for a new host in an interview with NPR published on Thursday. The decision to leave, according Wood, was based on the demand of the correspondent’s role on his schedule and attention, as well as a disinterest in continuing in the position while “waiting for someone else to take the top job,” according to NPR.
“I can’t come up with [what] Plan B is while still working with Plan A,” Wood said. “The job of correspondent … it’s not really one where you can juggle multiple things. [And] I think eight years is a good run.”
The comedian and actor said that he isn’t sure how seriously he is being considered for the top spot, which is still being decided following Noah’s departure last year. But he indicated he would still consider staying with the show if offered the host position.
“If you’re offered the chance to host The Daily Show at any point in your life … you have to stop for a second and consider that,” he said. “The next question becomes, ‘What does The Daily Show look like in 2024? And what does late night look like in 2024?’”
In a statement to NPR regarding Wood’s planned departure, a spokesperson for The Daily Show thanked him for his time with the show, adding that the series “can’t wait to see what he does next.”
“Roy Wood Jr. is a comedic genius and beloved teammate,” the statement continued. “His insights and hilarity helped us make sense of the 2016 election, the pandemic, and countless hours of Fox News.”
When asked about the show’s statement, Wood told NPR, “What could they really say?” before adding, “[They’re] not going to give me the job just to keep me.”
While previously speaking about his decision to stay with the show, Wood — who joined the late-night series in September 2015 the same day as Noah debuted as host — told The Daily Beast’s The Last Laugh podcast in October 2022 that his choice to stay with the series under a new host “would depend on the host.”
“It would depend on the creative direction of the show. What are you trying to do? How do I fit into that? And does that creative direction fit my comedic skill sets and give me an opportunity to show who I am?”
Wood’s announcement comes as the search for a new host approaches a year, following Noah’s surprise announcement on Sept. 29, 2022, that he would be departing the show after seven years. It was a decision the former Daily Show host jokingly and reflectively attributed to a conversation with Wood at the time.
Wood’s own week in the hosting chair during April had largely been met with positive reviews, after the show’s entire correspondents team, along with Chelsea Handler, Wanda Sykes, Kal Penn, John Leguizamo and more took turns running the desk. As was his headlining make-turn as host of the White House Correspondents Dinner that same month.
His name would once again be top of mind for industry members and fans of The Daily Show following the news that the late-night series would be continuing its search for a permanent host amid another round of guest hosts. That news followed a story in The New Yorker alleging The Daily Show host candidate and former correspondent Hasan Minhaj, reportedly a top contender for the spot, had exaggerated and in some cases made up autobiographical details of his comedy.
Wood told NPR that the report about Minhaj being considered a top pick, which was published by Variety, also played a role in his consideration of his future on The Daily Show, while adding he still believed Minhaj was a strong choice despite The New Yorker piece.
“I think Hasan checks a lot of boxes that the network would want and people would want,” Wood said. “Hasan’s young, he’s global and he has the political I.Q.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Actor Chris Tucker has resolved his lawsuit involving nearly $10 million in unpaid taxes.
According to Bloomberg, earlier this week, the “Rush Hour” star agreed to pay the IRS $3.58 million plus interest to cover unpaid federal income tax liabilities from 2002, 2006, 2008, and 2010. The government initially aimed to collect $9.68 million.
Tucker’s financial troubles date back over a decade. In 2014, the veteran entertainer settled a $14 million debt with the IRS after a lien was placed on one of his properties. Reps for the actor cited “poor accounting and business management.”
Seven years later, the actor faced financial difficulties again when the government sued him to recover back taxes from years when he filed his taxes late.
In 2010, 2011, and 2016, Tucker initiated discussions with the IRS regarding an installment payment plan. Under the proposed arrangement, he was expected to make payments ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 over ten years.
However, the agreement fell apart after it was determined that he couldn’t settle the debt within the specified timeframe the agency is allowed to collect taxes for a given year.
Legal documents further revealed that Tucker failed to make payments during this period despite possessing “sufficient equity and cash to fully pay the taxes.”
Source:BET
The 49th season of “Saturday Night Live” will premiere Oct. 14 with Pete Davidson returning to Studio 8H for his hosting debut. Davidson is currently on a stand-up tour throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Ice Spice will perform as “SNL” musical guest for the first time. Her music has reached more than 4 billion global streams in the past year and she was named Best New Artist at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
Bad Bunny will do double duty on Oct. 21 for his “SNL” hosting debut and second musical guest appearance. The Grammy Award-winning artist’s fourth studio album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” broke the record earlier this year as the most streamed album ever on Spotify.
Chloe Troast joins the cast as a featured player. The entire cast from last season returns.
In addition to the broadcast on NBC, “SNL” streams live on Peacock (11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT). Stream every season of “SNL” now on Peacock.
“Saturday Night Live” is produced in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels.
Hartbeat, the global, multi-platform entertainment company founded by Kevin Hart, in collaboration with SiriusXM, has exclusively released late comedian Bernie Mac’s first-ever solo full-length stand-up album. Bernie Mac: Tapes From A King is a collection of never-before-heard stand-up from the early days of Bernie Mac’s legendary career. Originally recorded on VHS for Bernie to review his material after shows, these remastered recordings provide a unique window into the creative process of a comedy legend.
Bernie Mac: Tapes From A King is produced by Hartbeat in collaboration with NBW Studios and Rhonda R. McCullough, Bernie Mac’s beloved wife of 31 years.
Beginning today, October 5th at 6pm ET, Bernie Mac: Tapes From A King will be available exclusively for SiriusXM subscribers on Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio for (1) one month, and will then be released widely across all streaming platforms. Repeat airings will occur on October 6th at 9am, 2pm, and 8pm ET; October 7th at 11am, 3pm, and 7pm ET; and October 8th at 6am, 12pm, 6pm and 9pm ET.
Comedian and actress Zainab Johnson will debut her first Amazon Original comedy special, Zainab Johnson: Hijabs Off, on Prime Video on October 24, 2023. From Prime Video’s fan-favorite series Upload, which is set to premiere Season Three on October 20, Johnson is a gifted and daring comedian who effortlessly blends relatable stories, sharp wit, and thought-provoking social commentary into her unique style of stand-up comedy. Her debut special explores her identity as a Black female Muslim, having 12 siblings, and growing up in Harlem.
Zainab Johnson is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Johnson’s comedy is based on her unique point of view, which was shaped growing up in Harlem as one of 13 children in a Black Muslim family. After getting a degree in education and math and taking a job as a teacher, she quickly learned that she had a different calling. Johnson is currently a series regular on the Amazon Original hit series Upload from Greg Daniels, she is one of the hosts for Netflix’s show 100 Humans, and starred as Dr. Hanniel in the brilliantly written web series Avant-Guardians. She made her first late-night stand-up appearance on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, had breakout appearances on HBO’s All Def Comedy, NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and has performed at the Just For Laughs (JFL) Comedy Festival in Montreal, first as a “New Face of Comedy,” then as one of “Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch,” and, most recently, on the longest-running JFL show, “Just for the Culture.” She is a regular at The Comedy Store, The Improv, and Laugh Factory.
Zainab Johnson: Hijabs Off is produced by Amazon Studios and All Things Comedy. Johnson and Mike Bertolina serve as executive producers.
A new take on the classic Hollywood Squares game show is headed to VH1. The network has teamed with Jesse Collins Entertainment and Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat on Celebrity Squares, a modern twist on the classic format featuring Black pop culture trivia.
Hosted by actor and comedian DC Young Fly, “the series will bring cultural icons together for 20 fun and spontaneous half-hour episodes,” per VH1. Celebrity guests include Babyface, Bobby Brown, Tiffany Haddish, Kirk Franklin, Bresha Webb, Luenell, Taye Diggs, and more. Celebrity Squares premieres at 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 17, on VH1.
Celebrity Squares will bring two contestants together to play Tic-Tac-Toe, banking cash, and prizes along the way. The player with the most money in their bank at the end of the game will move on to the bonus round for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize.
“We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Hartbeat and Jesse Collins Entertainment for this exciting new project,” said Tiffany Lea Williams, EVP Unscripted Programming and Development of BET. “This show offers a fresh interpretation of the iconic Hollywood Squares format, with a focus on celebrating black pop culture. With DC Young Fly’s laugh-out-loud humor, it promises to deliver a fun and exhilarating viewing experience. We look forward to bringing it to our audience.”
“DC Young Fly is an extraordinary comedian and we are thrilled to team up with him once again to lead this project,” stated Bryan Smiley, Chief Content Officer of Hartbeat. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with BET and Jesse Collins Entertainment as we bring an exciting, fresh spin to this iconic game show format.”
“It was a pleasure to work with Hartbeat, BET and DC Young Fly again,” said Dionne Harmon, President, Jesse Collins Entertainment. “We hope the audience enjoys watching this series as much as we enjoyed making it.”
Additional celebrity guests include: Affion Crockett, Alesha Renee, Amanda Seales, Amin Joseph, Ashley Darby, B Simone, Big Freedia, Bobby Lytes, Brandee Evans, Brian Jordan Jr., Carl Anthony Payne, Chico Bean, Christian Keyes, Crystal Hayslett, D-Nice, Deon Cole, Desi Banks, Devale Ellis, Earthquake, Eva Marcille, Evelyn Lozada, Flau’Jae Johnson, Funny Marco, Jasmin Brown, Jason Lee, Jess Hilarious, Kamillion, K Michelle, Karlous Miller, Karrueche, Kel Mitchell, Kendra G, Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Kevin Frazier, Kevonstage, KJ Smith, Kym Whitley, Lance Gross, Lil Duval, Lil Fizz, Loni Love, Malcolm Barrett, Mark Tallman, Marlo Hampton, Moniece, Na’im Lynn, Nene Leaks, Niena Drake, Pretty Vee, Princess Love, Ray J, Safaree, Saucy Santana, Skyh Black, Shay Johnson, Sinqua Walls, Spice, Spice Adams, Sukihana, Tamar Braxton, Tami Roman, Terrance J, Tisha Campbell, Tommy Davidson, Yandy Smith-Harris and Zellswag.
Celebrity Squares is executive produced by Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley, and Thai Randolph for Hartbeat and Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Madison Merritt, and Elaine Metaxas for Jesse Collins Entertainment. Nile Evans serves as showrunner. Tiffany Lea Williams, Angela Aguilera, Mimi Blanchard and Raye Dowell serve as executives for BET.
DC Young Fly recently starred in the New Line/SpringHill feature House Party. Upcoming he can be seen in a supporting role in the Amazon film Candy Cane Lane opposite Eddie Murphy, set to be released at the end of the year. He is repped by Innovative Artists and Fox Rothschild.
Source: Deadline