Andre Holland is cast as lead in Castle Rock. https://shadowandact.com/andre-holland-books-leak-in-hulujj-abramsstephen-king-psych-horror-series-castle-rock

Daveed Diggs to lead Snowpiercer series. http://share.ew.com/IWPMmeA

Jordan Peele to develop a Jim Crow horror show for HBO. http://huffp.st/Fjo527H

College-ish, the Black-ish spinoff, gets a Freeform series order. http://deadline.com/2017/05/black-ish-spinoff-college-ish-yara-shahidi-series-order-freeform-kenya-barris-1202098461/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Angela Bassett joins Mission Impossible 6 cast. https://shadowandact.com/angela-bassett-joins-mission-impossible-6-cast

The post Weekly Roundup – Week of May 14 appeared first on Films of Color.

Chi-Raq is the latest Spike Lee joint. The film was met with controversy from the title to the content. Based on Aristophanes’s Lysistrata, the film explores gang violence in the south side of Chicago. Take a look at the trailer and let us know what you think of it.

Synopsis:

Chi-Raq is a modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes. After the murder of a child by a stray bullet, a group of women led by Lysistrata organize against the on-going violence in Chicago’s Southside creating a movement that challenges the nature of race, sex and violence in America and around the world.

Cast:

• Teyonah Parris – Lysistrata
• Nick Cannon – Chi-raq
• John Cusack – Fr. Mike Corridan
• Samuel L. Jackson – Dolmedes
• Wesley Snipes – Cyclops
• Angela Bassett – Miss Helen
• Jennifer Hudson – Irene
• Harry Lennix – Commissioner Blades
• La La Anthony – Hecuba

Crew:

• Director/Producer/Writer – Spike Lee
• Writer – Kevin Willmott
• Cinematographer – Matthew Libatique

Chi-Raq is scheduled for a limited release in theaters on December 4, 2015. Tickets are available here. Afterward it will be available on Amazon Instant Video.

The post First ‘Chi-Raq’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

The Primetime Emmy nominations were announced this morning, and we got some decent representation, which is more than we can say for the Oscars. Check below to see if your favorite Black actor/filmmaker was nominated for an Emmy. Who do you think was snubbed?

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson – Black-ish

Don Cheadle – House of Lies

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Niecy Nash – Getting On

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Keegan-Michael Key – Key & Peele

Titus Burgess – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Viola Davis – How to Get Away with Murder

Taraji P. Henson – Empire

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Uzo Aduba – Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Queen Latifah – Bessie

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

David Oyelowo – Nightingale

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

Key & Peele

Outstanding TV Movie

Bessie

Nightingale

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Cicely Tyson – How to Get Away with Murder

Khandi Alexander – Scandal

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Reg E. Cathey – House of Cards

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Regina King – American Crime

Angela Bassett – American Horror Story: Freak Show

Mo’Nique – Bessie

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Michael Kenneth Williams – Bessie

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special

John Ridley – American Crime, “Episode One”

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special

Dee Rees – Bessie

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

Key & Peele

The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards will air September 20 at 8/7c on FOX.

The post The 67th Primetime Emmy Award Nominations appeared first on Films of Color.

Let’s throw it back to the classic, Boyz n the Hood. Boyz n the Hood is a critically acclaimed film released in 1991. It’s the story about a boy with a dream, a dream to make it out of the hood. It earned director John Singleton several accolades and jumpstarted the acting careers of Ice Cube and Morris Chestnut.

Synopsis:

Boyz n the Hood is the critically acclaimed story of three friends growing up in a South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. It is a place where harmony co-exists with adversity, especially for three young men growing up there: Doughboy, an unambitious drug dealer; his brother Ricky, a college-bound teenage father; and Ricky’s best friend Tre, who aspires to a brighter future beyond “The Hood.” In a world where a trip to the store can end in death, the friends have diverse reactions to their bleak surroundings. Tre’s resolve is strengthened by a strong father who keeps him on the right track. But the lessons Tre learns are put to the ultimate test when tragedy strikes close to home, and violence seems the only recourse.

Cast:

Cuba Gooding Jr. – Tre Styles

Ice Cube – Darrin “Doughboy” Baker

Lawrence Fishburne – Jason “Furious” Styles

Morris Chestnut – Ricky Baker

Nia Long – Brandi

Angela Bassett – Reva Devereaux

Regina King – Shalika

Crew:

Director/Writer – John Singleton

Cinematographer – Charles Mills

Boyz n the Hood is available here.

The post Throwback Thursday: ‘Boyz n the Hood’ appeared first on Films of Color.

Whitney had us on the edge of seats as we anticipated its airing on Lifetime. Was it going to be good? Or would it disservice Whitney Houston’s legacy? It turned out to not be so bad. It was ratings gold. So if you haven’t had enough of it, or you wanna hear more of Deborah Cox singing Whitney’s songs, then good news for you. Now it’s on DVD.

Cast:

Yaya DaCosta – Whitney Houston

Arlen Escarpeta – Bobby Brown

Crew:

Director – Angela Bassett

Writer – Shem Bitterman

Whitney is available for purchase here.

The post DVD Release: ‘Whitney’ appeared first on Films of Color.

I came across the clip found below and just had to share. Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 film starring Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon. It was adapted from the Terry McMillan novel of the same name. It explores the friendship between four Black women as they navigate their own relationships and lives.

Cast:

Whitney Houston – Savannah Jackson

Angela Bassett – Bernadine “Bernie” Harris

Lela Rochon – Robin Stokes

Loretta Devine – Gloria “Glo” Matthews

Gregory Hines – Marvin King

Dennis Haysbert – Kenneth Dawkins

Mykelti Williamson – Troy

Michael Beach – John Harris Sr.

Giancarlo Esposito – David Matthews

Donald Faison – Tarik Matthews

Leon – Russell

Wendell Pierce – Michael Davenport

Crew:

Director – Forest Whitaker

Writer – Terry McMillan

Writer – Ronald Bass

Waiting to Exhale is available here.

The post Throwback Thursday: ‘Waiting to Exhale’ appeared first on Films of Color.

Biggie Smalls AKA The Notorious BIG was a rapper of many names. He had almost as many names as Diddy. He was essential in bring East Coast rap to the forefront in hip-hop. Unfortunately, his life was cut short in a drive-by shooting.

Notorious is a biopic depicting the short life of Christopher Wallace AKA Biggie Smalls. Jamal Woolard portrayed Biggie. Angela Bassett makes another wonderful biopic performance, this time as Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace. The film captures key moments of Biggie’s short life. It is available here.

The post Black History Month Day 23 – ‘Notorious’ appeared first on Films of Color.

Tina Turner (Anna Mae Bullock) is a music treasure. She is the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. At 75, she can still put on a better performance than most of your faves.

What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a biopic based on her life. Angela Bassett continued her string of portraying powerful women in history by playing Turner. The films chronicles how Turner was able to build her music career while facing the struggles in her life, including her abusive relationship with Ike Turner.

What’s Love Got to Do with It? earned several award nominations and garnered Angela Bassett a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture. It is available here.

The post Black History Month Day 20 – ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ appeared first on Films of Color.

One can hardly get on a bus without thinking of Rosa Parks. Her refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama was the catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her civil disobedience cemented her place in the history books.

Today is Rosa Park’s birthday, so it’s only fitting that she would be honored today. In California, it is Rosa Parks Day. Seeing as how big a part women have played in the Civil Rights Movement, it’s good to see one get recognition, as many others were relegated behind the lines.

In 2002, CBS aired a television film based on her titled The Rosa Parks Story. It starred Angela Bassett as Rosa Parks. It chronicled her life, including her refusal to give up her bus seat and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The Rosa Parks Story won several NAACP Image Awards and Black Reel Awards while earning Julie Dash a nomination for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Miniseries or Movies for Television, a first for a Black female director.

The Rosa Parks Story is available here.

The post Black History Month Day 4 – The Rosa Parks Story appeared first on Films of Color.

After featuring Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it’s only appropriate that today be dedicated to their wives, Betty Shabazz and Coretta Scott King. There’s no doubt that Malcolm X and MLK wouldn’t be the men they were without the support of their wives. And when they were cut down in their primes, Betty and Coretta continued on, fighting the good fight.

Betty was active in the NAACP. She also served on a committee for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Coretta was an advocate for the rights of women and the LGBT community. She was instrumental in the establishment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

It’s no surprise that these ladies would become friends. They had a lot in common. Their paths were similar. They were both single mothers who had to take the reins after the death of their husbands. They inherited their husbands’ causes. They were well known figures in the Civil Rights Movements. Betty & Coretta chronicles their story. Angela Bassett portrays Coretta and Mary J. Blige portrays Betty in this Lifetime film.

In a time where men were the face of a movement, it’s good to see the legacy of these women immortalized. With Betty & Coretta, Angela Bassett has played both Betty Shabazz and Coretta Scott King, which is alright with me. It doesn’t get any better than Angela Bassett. Betty & Coretta is available here.

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