The filmmakers behind “Next Day Air” promise to finally deliver the kind of film we always say we want – then bypass on our way in to see Ma’dea. EURWeb posted a lengthy interview with director Benny Boom, producer Inny Clemmons and writer Blair Cobbs, who say that Mos Def, Donald Faison and Mike Epps are bringing more than the funny in the story of a couple of delivery guys who try to bite off a piece of a drug deal when they end up with a mis-delivered drug stash in their possession.
The trio describe the project as an urban flick done in homage to Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarentino. Kinda ironic given that Tarentino lifted his style whole cloth from urban blaxploitation. “Next Day” opens nationwide May 8. Check the trailer after the jump. (more…)
While the media biz is reduced to smoldering rubble, fourth-grader Alec Grevens is on his way to Hollywood. Seems after little Alex finished his math homework, he penned a self-help manual called, “How To Talk To Girls.” The Hollywood Reporter today announced a “low-to-mid six figure” deal with Fox for the movie rights.If you learned everything you need to know in kindergarten, Alec’s 46-page tome should be a refresher. His advice includes: “Comb your hair and don’t wear sweats,” and a cautionary “it’s easy to spot pretty girls because they have big earrings, fancy dresses and all the jewelry, but are like cars that need a lot of oil.”Grevens hasn’t announced a follow-up title, yet, but it’s sure to be something along the lines of “If You’re Sucking Up With An Apple Make Sure It’s Organic: Winning in the Workplace.”
Diddy’s heading back to the big screen. Rumor has it he will show up starring in a movie about Def Jam star Terry Keaton, an old-school emcee who suffered a severe brain injury breaking up a fight outside a club in the Bronx. Said project, written by Antwone Fisher, will be directed by Denzel Washington. The New York Post reports seeing Diddy deep in conversation on the subject at Nobu 57.
Aussie website, LiveNews reports that a certain unnamed Hollywood exec almost pulled the plug on Australian director Rowan Woods because Woods fought to keep Oscar winner Forest Whitaker in his new film Winged Creatures, a story that centers around a random shooting in a Los Angeles diner and how it affects the lives of those who witness it. The executive is said to have dismissed the actor as “ugly, black and unbankable.”
Despite having a cast which included Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Jennifer Hudson, Woods said the company who owned the script couldn’t accept Whitaker as a leading man. Woods told a gathering of colleagues at the recent Australian Directors Guild conference that the company, which he wouldn’t name for legal reasons, eventually let go of the script because of their disagreement over Whitaker. The executives wanted a Michael Douglas or an Al Pacino considered for the role.
“They wanted everyone but Forest Whitaker,” Woods told the audience, “… and this is one of the best actors on the planet.”
As part of his three-year, first-look deal with Lionsgate Films, Tyler Perry will “guide the work of other filmmakers” through his newly launched 34th Street Films, a production arm of his Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios. Brought on board to oversee the task are Matt Moore, former EVP /Production at Jinks/Cohen; Poppy Hanks from State Street Pictures and former New Line exec Amber Rasberry.
According to Variety, Moore, who also spent a decade at New Line and will head the new division, executive produced “Take The Lead,” “Next Friday,” and the two “Final Destination” pics.
Call me skeptical, but the arrangement sounds suspiciously like moving Perry to a figurehead position — the filmmaker who sat by the door — if you will, while using his enormous popularity to crank out projects not even remotely similar to his signature franchise. Hollywood is keenly aware of the money to be made from a Black audience hungry for self on the big screen. Comparing this to a corporate model, this is more of a takeover than a partnership.
The question remains whether or not it will be hostile. Developing…
In her newly released biography, actress Diahann Carroll, 73, calls Sidney Poitier a dishonorable louse for stringing her along when they were young and married… to other people. Carroll drops TMI about Poitier confronting her husband, breaking up her marriage, then changing his mind about leaving his own wife to be with her. Further, Carroll states Poitier made her pony up for the money he spent redecorating the NYC flat in which they were to live.
We all have our memories to keep and memoirs to write. Personally I prefer to remember these two under better circumstances…
Derek Luke, and Denzel Whitaker for Spike’s Miracle at Saint Anna.
Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo, in attendance to premiere and do press for The Secret Life of Bees.
And Idris Elba, who was there promoting his newest, Rock N Rolla, the Guy Ritchie-directed story of a bunch of London hustlers and kingpins looking to get rich quick off a real-estate scam. If past behavior is any indication, Elba, who spins under the handle “Big Dris the Londoner,” probably dominated a turntable or two in Toronto’s bangin’ Club District. Check out the Rock N Rolla trailer after the jump.
It was reported months ago that Laurence Fishburne was joining the cast of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, replacing William Peterson after his eight year run with the show. The Hollywood Reporter’s further details about Fishburne’s character and story line reveal what could turn out to be a very juicy role for the Oscar winner with thespian tendencies:
Fishburne plays a former pathologist turned college professor who meets the CSI team during a homicide investigation and joins up with them. No ordinary nutty professor, Fish’s character harbors the unsettling information that his genetic profile matches with that of a serial killer. His story line will revolve around his quest to stay on the DL while discovering the truth about himself. Sounds like the plot of an E. Lynn Harris book…
And now, completely unrelated to just about everything mentioned above, a throwback moment:
BEVERLY HILLS—Two of this year’s Emmy nominees dropped by the Television Critics Association press tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday.
Two-time nominee Audra McDonald, one of the stars of ABC’s “Private Practice,” was sound asleep when she was awakened by a 5:30 a.m. call from her publicist.
“My daughter’s foot was in my face because she was sleeping with me,” McDonald said. “When I was finally able to comprehend the moment, I went to the bathroom and said, ‘Oh, this is kind of cool.’”
Conversely, “Ugly Betty’s” Vanessa Williams, also a two-time nominee for that show, was already up because she had a 5:50 a.m. call time on the new Hannah Montana movie.
“I went to Santa Monica Pier did hair and makeup, ran down the pier and got a
call about 6 a.m. from my publicist telling me about the nom,” Williams said at last night’s ABC press party in a Hilton ball room. “I finished work, had a doctor’s appointment, went home, vacuumed and started getting ready for tonight.”
McDonald got her nod for ABC’s “A Raisin in the Sun” which also starred Sean Combs (also the executive producer), Phylicia Rashad and Sanaa Lathan. The film received a total of three nominations including: Outstanding Movie Made for Television; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Rashad; and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for McDonald. Based on Lorraine Hansberry’s novel and ensuing award-winning play, the TV version of “Raisin” premiered at Sundance in January and aired on ABC in February.
“I’m thrilled but I’m most happy for the show,” McDonald said. “That’s very important to me because it’s a process that we started in 2003 with the Broadway play. So, the fact that it’s gone all this way means everything to all of us.”
McDonald, who has won four Tony Awards in the past 11 years, appreciates the recognition but said that the trophies don’t necessarily validate the work for her.
“Awards are wonderful and it’s great because it’s your peers, but Lillias White, a great Broadway actress said, ‘You can’t eat Tony.’ You’ve still got to get out there and do your work. You can’t sell Tony—he’s only worth about $10—and you gotta eat,” McDonald said.
Silvio Horta, the executive producer and creator of “Ugly Betty,” said he was “so thrilled” for Williams. “I think she was robbed last year. She’s so brilliant. She just needs to win this year. If she doesn’t win this year I will…I’m going to be really p—-ed off. She’s amazing and so perfect.”
When told what Horta said, Williams blushed and smiled. “Oh Silvio,” she cooed. “Back-to-back Emmy nominations on my first major series, I’m happy. I mean the odds are fantastic and I’m just happy to be on a fantastic show. Silvio’s a great creator and he gives me really tasty stuff every episode. I’m the winner no matter what happens.”
Another ABC star in the mix yesterday actually got snubbed for his work on another show. Blair Underwood, who plays a ruthless businessman in “Dirty Sexy Money,” was overlooked for his role as a troubled veteran in HBO’s “In Treatment.”
Underwood was humbled by the reaction of dismayed critics who felt he deserved a nod.
“Wow, what do I think about that?” Underwood said following the “Dirty Sexy Money” press conference. “You know what? Awards are subjective. We know that. It doesn’t change the work we aspire to do, doesn’t change the response to the work. It is what it is. My focus has always been, do the work.”
See the full list of nominees here.
-reported by Miki Turner
Rumors have circulated for years that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett have an open marriage — meaning it’s OK to follow through on their sexual attractions to other people. His recent red-carpet nuzzling of Hancock co-star Charlize Theron started the buzz anew. Now, on the UK-based Female First, Will goes into more detail on the arrangement.
Smith says he and the missus have researched the subject by meeting with divorced couples to find out what went wrong. Not your garden-variety divorced couples, mind you, but the beautiful people who, on the face of it, should have nothing to complain about. The Pinkett-Smith’s met with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman (presumably not at the same time) and Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, spending “hours” in discussion on the subject.
Not clear whether the ex’s recommended this approach, but Smith says the perspective in his marriage is not to avoid what’s natural. “You’re going to be attracted to people. In our marriage vows, we didn’t say ‘forsaking all others.’ If it came down to it, then one can say to the other, ‘Look, I need to have sex with somebody. I’m not going to if you don’t approve — but please approve.”
Lest you think Will is shortchanging his wife by chasing strange, he assures: “I don’t let a day go past that Jada doesn’t feel like the Queen of the World.”
While the media biz is reduced to smoldering rubble, fourth-grader Alec Grevens is on his way to Hollywood. Seems after little Alex finished his math homework, he penned a self-help manual called, “How To Talk To Girls.” 
