Yesterday the 2016 NAACP Image Awards were aired on TVOne. The Oscars may be so white, the Image Awards were live and fully in color. We have a snippet of award winners and photos from the event below.

Outstanding Motion Picture:
Straight Outta Compton

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture:
Michael B. Jordan, Creed

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture:
Sanaa Lathan, The Perfect Guy

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture:
O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Straight Outta Compton

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:
Phylicia Rashad, Creed

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture:
Beasts of No Nation

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film):
Ryan Coogler, Aaron Covington, Creed

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film):
Ryan Coogler, Creed

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series:
Terrence Howard, Empire

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series:
Taraji P. Henson, Empire

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series:
Anthony Anderson, Black-Ish

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-Ish

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Mike Epps, Survivor’s Remorse

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Marsai Martin, Black-Ish

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Joe Morton, Scandal

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Regina King, American Crime

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special:
Queen Latifah, Bessie

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special:
David Alan Grier, The Wiz Live!

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Black-Ish

Outstanding Drama Series:
Empire

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special:
The Wiz Live!

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Kenya M. Barris, Black-Ish – “The Word”

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series:
Mara Brack Ali, Jameal Turner, Keli Goff, Being Mary Jane “Sparrow”

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television):
Lawrence Hill, Clement Virgo, The Book of Negroes

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series:
Don Cheadle, House of Lies, “The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule”

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series:
John Ridley, American Crime

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television):
Dee Rees, Bessie

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film):
Loretta Devine, Doc McStuffins

Outstanding Children’s Program:
Doc McStuffins

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series):
Marcus Scribner, Black-Ish

Congratulations to all the 2016 NAACP Image Award winners. A full list of winners can be found here.

The post 2016 NAACP Image Awards Recap appeared first on Films of Color.

Creed is scheduled to be released in theaters November 25th, 2015. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Creed’ Second Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

I’ll admit when discussions about Idris Elba portraying James Bond started popping up, I was excited about the possibility. I mean why not? I could easily Elba playing the iconic suave spy. But I never really put much thought into it, not until the criticisms of Elba as Bond came up. Now I’m meh on it.

The criticism of Elba has been nothing less than coded racism. Roger Moore said he’s not English enough. I guess he’s too African (because that’s a country). Anthony Horowitz said he’s too street, even though that seems to be a perfect fit for the current iteration of Bond. But “street” is synonymous with “urban” with is synonymous with “Black.”

Of course this led to the debate of the James Bond character being colorless vs being more focused on creating our own characters, a debate that most recently popped after Michael B. Jordan was cast as Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four reboot. This is a valid debate, but I don’t think James Bond is the character to have it over.

There is no doubt in my mind that Idris Elba would be a great James Bond. He would probably be the best James Bond ever. But Elba is talented and global enough to make make another character his own, rather original or adapted. He doesn’t need to be just another name on a long list of Bond actors. I’d rather him stand alone. With each of the past Bond actors, that role ended up being their magnum opus. Being Bond is cool and all, but Elba can do better. I say pick a lesser known actor and give him (or her) a chance to shine.

If Elba doesn’t play Bond, there’s the case to be made that Bond should be Black (or another race). I’m not opposed to a Black Bond. It would be nice to see. But it’s not a cause I’m going to get behind. There are plenty of better characters to target. Although Fantastic Four was a let down, making Johnny Storm Black brought a new level of complexity to the Storm family, whether it was explored or not. The same can’t be said for Bond.

James Bond is not that great of a character. I know that statement is blasphemous to many. Women are supposed to want him. Men are supposed to want to be like him. He doesn’t really stand out from the other spies, though, like Ethan Hunt. The qualities of his that are praised are the ones that are wrong with society: womanizing, murderousness, vanity, and sociopathy to name a few. The films are seen as iconic, although the plots are forgettable, and I’ve seen the last three in the past month. That’s not to say they’re bad films. They’re very enjoyable. But they have their ups and downs.

If Idris Elba (or another Black actor) becomes James Bond, I’ll show up to the theater to see it. I’d be happy for him. If not, I won’t boycott it. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Nothing is more awful than three lily-white Peter Parkers in the span of a decade and Uncle Ben dying on a loop. Yet, we still rise. But if Bond is something Idris Elba wants, I hope he gets it.

The post Idris Elba Doesn’t Need James Bond, And Neither Do We appeared first on Films of Color.

I don’t think anyone was really excited for Creed, the Rocky spinoff film, but this trailer that dropped might have everyone changing their minds. The fantastic duo of Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan (of Fruitvale Station fame) are back at it again. Creed has a chance to outshine the original Rocky films, bringing in a new generation of fans.

Synopsis:

Adonis Johnson never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Cast:

Michael B. Jordon – Adonis Johnson

Tessa Thompson – Bianca

Phylicia Rashad – Mary Anne Creed

Crew:

Director/Writer – Ryan Coogler

Writer – Aaron Covington

Creed is scheduled to be released in theaters November 25th, 2015. Tickets are available here.

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