April has been a busy month for film premieres, events and glam gatherings! From the opening of the late-August Wilson’s drama “Fences,” starring Viola Davis and Denzel Washington, to Whitney’s shaky comeback, we have the latest photos of the latest glam gatherings!
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“…when you think about a black woman who can open a film, I mean they will green-light the film because of her presence in the film — you know there’s only one person, and that’s Madea.”
Atlanta, Georgia’s, online publication “Rolling Out” wrote an insightful article about the dearth of roles for Black women in film. Of course the article was highlighting the Black Women in Film (formerly, Black Women Film Project) luncheon featuring some of Hollywood’s leading Black actresses in film and television. The article outlined a number of concerns with the roles of Black women –something the IBWFF has also been highlighting for years.
The rub was to promote how much work there is in Atlanta, as well as how much Tyler Perry’s films and studio have impacted roles for African Americans. Personally, my mother’s family has been in Atlanta for over four generations, so I always took for Black achievement and success for granted –i.e., it was something you did, not something you undermined, like in many urban centers.
For many African Americans, Atlanta is a burgeoning, Black metropolis for actors and performers. Tyler Perry’s studio is another example of ingenuity, need fulfillment and entrepreneurship, in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Sadly, the strength, purpose and vision of the luncheon was cut short by the closing statement by Roger Bobb, executive vice president of Tyler Perry Studios. After actress Terri Vaughn’s impassioned plea about roles for Black women in Hollywood, and after outlining the impact of such a worthy luncheon, one small statement seemed to dismiss and undermine everything that was just presented.
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The statement?
“…(W)hen you think about a black woman who can open a film, I mean they will green-light the film because of her presence in the film — you know there’s only one person, and that’s Madea.”
Wow. Did he just state that a Black man dressed as a Black woman is the only “Black woman” who can open a film?
Tyler Perry as Madea
Oh, but he did add, “Now you do have some exceptions — Halle Berry and Queen Latifah. But after that, the list goes way down.” Goes down? Goes down to what? Zoe Saldana? Angela Bassett? Gabrielle Union? Alicia Keys? Beyonce? Mo’Nique?
I respect the work (and jobs) that Tyler Perry Studios provides; however, I wish that Mr. Bobb had edited his words more carefully, especially considering that he just attended a luncheon where Black women in film were discussed for over an hour and a half.
Maybe he was taken out of context, who knows? But please, Black women in film are “dissed” enough… we don’t need to be dissed at our own events.
Read the article: http://www.rollingout.com/insiderohome/ro-today/8882-are-black-women-blackballed-in-hollywood-insiders-sound-off.html
Academy Award-nominated Lionsgate film “Precious” is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray, On Demand and digital download. See why Mo’Nique received her Oscar(tm) for Best Supporting Actress in her controversial and disturbing role as main character Precious’ mother.
More Information:
http://www.weareallprecious.com/
Download the Movie!:
http://www.weareallprecious.com/digital/
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There’s something to be said for Oscar(tm) fashions… the competition is usually fiercer than the actual award ceremony!
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Sisters came out in glamorous and fabulous dresses that were sophisticated, tasteful, and beautifully structured. When it comes to the Oscars(tm), Black actresses seemed to have a more flavorful flair than some of their peers –good or bad.
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In 2002, Halle Berry set the standard for dreamy, higher end couture that made all of the press notice that we are gorgeous, too!
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This year was a standout year, and curvy sisters ruled the runway!
Unlike the unflattering, shapeless, and drab plus-size dresses of the past, these actresses found a happy medium in the plus-size realm.
What was the trend?
Flowing trains! It seemed like almost every actress had a clueless actor stepping all over her dress, including the gorgeous George Clooney fumbling over her royal highness’ train, Queen Latifah. During the Red Carpet event, E! Channel’s Ryan Seacrest pulled Queen over for an impromptu interview. Less than 30-seconds into the interview, George Clooney stepped and tugged on her train like some tipsy frat boy. All ended well when Clooney profusely apologized and was genuinely clueless to the latest Oscar(tm) dress trend.
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The other trends ranged from soft, muted pastels and ombres, to an on-going favorite of bright, rich, jewel-tones –which look fabulous on darker skin tones!
Judge for yourself! Who rocked it?
It was a long and arduous road for comedienne and actress Mo’Nique. Many in Hollywood dismissed her as a comedic actress in “low-budget” movies that only appealed to a small, niche audience.
Even when she won the Golden Globes, the only thing the media could talk about were her unshaven legs –which is not so unusually in the Black community, but apparently it’s close to patricide in other communities.
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Facebook and Twitter have been all a flutter about the Best Supporting Actress race. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences even acquiesced to the masses and dropped last year’s Best Supporting Actrtess winner, Penelope Cruz, into the race for the awful “Nine”! Nine? Really?
Industry insiders were positive that Mo’Nique wouldn’t get the award, even though the Golden Globes are a good indicator of Oscar(tm) wins –and losses.
What was the fallout about?
Some speculate that it was the celebrity backing of the film that turned some people off. However, if it hadn’t been for the backing of multi-gazillionaires Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, according to Tyler Perry at last night’s Oscars(tm), “…they thought it would go straight to DVD.”
Mo’Nique said it best during her acceptance speech: “First, I would like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics. ”
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Mo’Nique, in an usually appearance of understatement, was royal, regal and classy, in addressing her peers and the detractors.
Will her win translate to new, non-comedic roles? Will she find more leading actor doors opened for her in Hollywood. The future will determine how Hollywood handles her unconventional earthiness and authenticity, especially in such a plastic-focused industry.
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Is Hollywood ready to return to the rawness of reality, and to shirk the glossy, Stepford Wife look of their leading ladies? Hopefully so.
But it is Mo’Nique’s decision to figure out how she will work her new found fame and success. She will determine what is best for herself, her family and her future.
All that to say, Congratulations, Mo’Nique!
First, I would like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics.
I want to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for enduring all that she had to so that I would not have to.
Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey because you touched it, the whole world saw it.
Ricky Anderson, our attorney of Anderson & Smith, thank you for your hard work.
My entire BET family, my Precious family, thank you so much.
To my amazing husband Sidney, thank you for showing me that sometimes you have to forego doing what’s popular in order to do what’s right.
And baby, you were so right.
God bless us all.
For all of you fans of Golden Globe-winning actress and comedienne Mo’Nique, she is scheduled to appear at the Oakland Paramount on (my birthday!) April 3, 2010!
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Tickets go on sale February 26, 2010, and everyone’s buzzing about buying tickets early because she’s a favorite for an Oscar(r) at this year’s Academy Awards for her caustic role in the Oscar-nominated film “Precious.”
Stay tuned as more information comes in!
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