Author Archives: Sonya's Spotlight
← Older posts Newer posts →Emmy-nominated #FREERAYSHAWN – New trailer
August 24, 2020On a remote street in the outskirts of New Orleans, a botched entrapment leaves a police officer dead and an innocent man named Rayshawn (Stephan James) on the run. Rayshawn escapes a breathless pursuit and barricades himself in his home with his girlfriend (Jasmine Cephas Jones) and young son (Danny Boyd, Jr.). Citing the senseless end of countless Black Lives, Rayshawn documents the ensuing standoff on social media, building a fleet of witnesses who share his desire for respect, accountability, and social justice. As the SWAT team encroaches and #FREERAYSHAWN trends, Rayshawn places his trust in Lt. Steven Poincy (Laurence Fishburne) to find the evidence that will exonerate him. Poincy works against time as both negotiator and lifeline, while perception and procedure block the path to the truth…Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Stephan James, Danny Boyd, Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Annabeth Gish, Ana OrtizDirector: Seith MannExecutive Producer: Antoine Fuqua Writer: Marc Maurino Produced by: Fuqua Films, Sony Pictures TV# of Episodes: 15Instagram | Twitter | Facebook#FreeRayshawn @Quibi
Posted in Movie News | Leave a commentANTEBELLUM – September 18
August 22, 2020Successful author Veronica Henley (Janelle Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality that forces her to confront the past, present and future – before it’s too late. Visionary filmmakers Gerard Bush + Christopher Renz (Bush + Renz) – best known for their pioneeringadvertising work engaged in the fight for social justice – write, produce and direct their first feature film,teaming with QC Entertainment, producer of the Academy Award ® -winning films GET OUT (Best Original Screenplay, 2017) and BLACKkKLANSMAN (Best Adapted Screenplay, 2018), Zev Foreman, and LezlieWills for the terrifying new thriller ANTEBELLUM. Lionsgate presents, a Lionsgate production, a QC Entertainment production, a Zev Foreman / Bush +Renz production.
Posted in Cinema | Leave a commentJohn Lewis Bridge Project
August 7, 2020Change the Name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge Your contribution — of any amount — will help us do the organizing and legislative work necessary to change the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama to the John Lewis Bridge, a civil rights icon that nearly gave his life on that bridge. Renaming the Edmund Pettus Bridge is no easy task. We’re organizing on the ground, having important conversations, and upholding the legacy of Congressman Lewis. All of this takes a considerable amount of resources, which is why we have to ask: If you can, please make a $5 donation to support our grassroots effort to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Your support is so important to our efforts, we couldn’t do this without you. DONATE Renaming the Edmund Pettus Bridge is long overdue. Congressman John Lewis almost lost his life on the bridge during Bloody Sunday. It’s incomprehensible that we still have landmarks to Confederate soldiers while Americans like John Lewis marched on this very bridge to promote equality and freedom. We’re doing everything we can to honor Congressman Lewis and wipe away the stains of racism in our country. And your support is imperative to this movement. Thank you for being a part of this team. Together, we’ll rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge and honor the legacy of Congressman John Lewis. All my best, Michael Starr HopkinsFounder, John Lewis Bridge Project DONATE
Posted in In The Spotlight | Leave a commentObama eulogizes John Lewis
August 6, 2020July 31, 2020 zenger.news Community, Global Rep. John Lewis was “forceful vision of freedom,” said former President Barack Obama in the eulogy he gave at the Democratic congressman and civil rights activist’s funeral on Thursday. The funeral was held in Atlanta, Georgia at Ebenezer Baptist Church, a historical African American sanctuary that dates back 134 years and where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral was held in 1968. In addition to Obama, former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as well as hundreds of mourners attended to pay their respects to the son of Alabama sharecroppers who became a civil rights icon. As a teenager having experienced firsthand the indignity of legalized segregation, Lewis was inspired to join the civil rights movement after hearing King speak on the radio. In 1960, Lewis took part in a sit-in at a “whites-only” lunch counter in Nashville, Tennessee, which led to the first of his many arrests for protesting segregation. Lewis spent his 21st birthday in jail the following year for protesting the segregation of a local movie theater. Soon after, the young activist helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a reflection of his nonviolent principles regarding civil disobedience. Lewis rode on the buses of the 1961 Freedom Rides, an organized movement that carried out the Supreme Court decision to desegregate interstate transportation. Two years later, he joined the Big Six, a group of men leading the March on Washington to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. Lewis suffered many injuries from objectors and law enforcement during demonstrations including during “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, when state troopers brutally attacked protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Lewis suffered a cracked skull and a concussion and nearly died. Lewis first ran for Congress in 1977, but was unsuccessful. In …
Posted in TV News | Leave a commentOprah’s Book Club is back with “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents”
August 6, 2020Oprah Winfrey names “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” her most important Book Club selection ever “Caste” is now available on Apple Books; Winfrey narrates an exclusive excerpt in a new video and will be the first-ever guest editor for Apple News Winfrey’s conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Isabel Wilkerson will debut this fall for free, exclusively on Apple TV+ In partnership with Apple, Oprah Winfrey is unveiling the newest selection for Oprah’s Book Club, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” by Isabel Wilkerson. The book is available now on Apple Books in both ebook and audiobook formats at apple.co/OBCCaste, and customers can enjoy it across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay. Publisher Penguin Random House calls “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” a masterful portrait of the unspoken caste system that has shaped America. Through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, Wilkerson explores how America has been defined by a rigid hierarchy of human rankings throughout its history and even today. “This might be the most important book I’ve ever chosen for my book club,” said Oprah Winfrey. “‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’ provides a new way of seeing racial inequality, giving rise to countless aha moments and helping us truly understand America as it is now and how we hope it will be.” “I am honored and thrilled that ‘Caste’ has been chosen for Oprah’s Book Club and that its humanitarian insights will now reach a wider audience,” said Isabel Wilkerson. “This work shows that the term racism may be insufficient in our current era. We need new language, a new framework for understanding our divisions and how we got to where we are. ‘Caste’ gives us this language. ‘Caste’ allows us to see ourselves through a different lens and …
Posted in Sports & Inspiration | Leave a commentCelebrate John Lewis’ legacy with an essential documentary – Apple TV
August 5, 2020Celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights hero. The ongoing movement for racial justice shares a direct lineage with the late U.S. congressman, who relentlessly wielded the power of nonviolent protest. Watch and learn about his life’s work in this essential documentary. In honor of John Lewis, Apple is donating its share of the proceeds to the National Civil Rights Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Rent It Today
Posted in In The Spotlight | Leave a comment“HAMILTON” Film Premieres Globally July 3
June 29, 2020Disney+ to Premiere Film Globally July 3, 2020 An unforgettable cinematic stage performance, the filmed version of the original Broadway production of “Hamilton” combines the best elements of live theater, film and streaming to bring the cultural phenomenon to homes around the world for a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience. “Hamilton” is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, “Hamilton” has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. Filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in June of 2016, the film transports its audience into the world of the Broadway show in a uniquely intimate way. With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and direction by Thomas Kail, “Hamilton” is inspired by the book “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow and produced by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeffrey Seller, with Sander Jacobs and Jill Furman serving as executive producers. Filming was produced by RadicalMedia. The 11-time-Tony Award®-, GRAMMY Award®-, Olivier Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning stage musical stars: Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Jonathan Groff as King George; Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton; and Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton. Hashtag #Hamilfilm
Posted in Cinema, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentCOMMON to be featured on Apple’s “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!”
May 12, 2020Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Artist, Common Teams Up with The Fraggles in Apple’s “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” New mini-episode featuring duet with Common debuts today for free, exclusively on Apple TV+ The Fraggles are back for more fun, music and silly adventures in a brand new mini-episode of “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!,” and this week, they are joined by a special guest: award-winning artist, actor and activist, Common. In the fourth mini-episode of Apple’s beloved “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!,” now streaming for free on Apple TV+, Gobo and Mokey connect by Doozertube with Oscar, Grammy and Emmy-Award-winning artist, Common, for a wonderful conversation, and duet of a popular Fraggle song. Featuring original, beloved characters, Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Travelling Matt, “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” is an original collection of mini-episodes now streaming globally on Apple TV+ alongside Apple’s lineup of award-winning, educational programming for kids and families. Each short form episode aims to show everyone how we are all connected through friendship through new stories and classic Fraggle songs from the same beloved characters of the classic 80s series. “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” is produced in accordance with the COVID-19 “Safer at Home” guidelines, and is all shot on iPhone 11 phones from the homes of the production team and individual artists from all over the U.S. The series hails from The Jim Henson Company, and is executive produced by Halle Stanford and John Tartaglia. New episodes of “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” premiere every Tuesday and are available to stream globally for free exclusively on Apple TV+, a home for award-winning, educational children’s programming including The Common Sense and Parents Choice Award winning “Helpsters” and “Ghostwriter” from Sesame Workshop; and the Annie and DGA Award-winning “Snoopy in Space,” from Peanuts. With families around the world staying at home, Apple is featuring …
Posted in Sports & Inspiration, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentMary J. Blige stars in Paramount Pictures’ new film BODY CAM – May 19
May 12, 2020Mary J. Blige (Mudbound, “Power Book II: Ghost”) and Nat Wolff (The Kill Team, Semper Fi) star in the intense action thriller BODY CAM, available to purchase on Digital May 19, 2020 and for rent On Demand June 2 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film will arrive on DVD July 14. SYNOPSIS | When a routine traffic stop results in the unexplained, grisly death of her colleague, a cop (Mary J. Blige) realizes footage of the incident will play for her eyes only. As the attacks mount, she races to understand the supernatural force behind them. DIRECTED BY | Malik Vitthal SCREENPLAY BY | Richmond Riedel and Nicholas McCarthy STARRING | Mary J. Blige, Nat Wolff, David Zayas, Anika Noni Rose AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS | Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV, Sony PlayStation Video, FandangoNOW and more. ABOUT MARY J. BLIGE Iconic Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige is a figure of inspiration, transformation and empowerment making her one of the defining voices of the contemporary music era. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and a SAG nomination, among many other accolades, Blige has cemented herself as a global superstar. And in the ensuing years, the singer/songwriter has attracted an intensely loyal fan base—responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums. Blige brought her own gritty, urban-rooted style—fusing hip-hop, soul and honest, frank lyrics—to the forefront on her 1992 debut album What’s the 411? The multi-platinum set, executive produced by Sean “Diddy” Combs, quickly spun off several hits. Blige helped redefine R&B and began forging a unique niche for herself on the more personal second album, 1994’s …
Posted in Cinema | Leave a commentIconic Supermodel Naomi Campbell Graces 50th Anniversary May/June Issue in First-Ever Self-Shot Cover
May 5, 2020Naomi. Campbell talks to ESSENCE about Turning 50 and Self-Isolation During the COVID-19 Crisis Naomi. Campbell talks to ESSENCE about Turning 50 and Self-Isolation During the COVID-19 Crisis – For months, ESSENCE – the leading media, technology and commerce company serving Black women and communities – had planned an impressive schedule of activities and celebrations to launch in May 2020 in honor of its 50th anniversary. Then, the COVID-19 global pandemic hit – with Black communities being most disproportionately impacted in the United States. Still, demonstrating how it has been able to thrive for five decades, ESSENCE has continued with a relentless commitment and innovation in service to its community – providing critical content, digital and virtual offerings, a new streaming platform and more to inform, empower and inspire during these times. That same sense of purpose compelled ESSENCE to shift its 50th anniversary strategy amidst the pandemic and launch its Golden Anniversary Collector’s Edition issue entirely remotely for the first time ever — paying homage to the incredible legacy of its community, while also capturing the current realities brought on by a global pandemic. In honor of ESSENCE’s milestone year, iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell partnered with ESSENCE to grace the magazine’s first self-shot and styled cover. In Campbell’s cover story, At Home With: Naomi Campbell, the supermodel prepares to celebrate her own milestone 50th birthday later this month and takes readers inside her life with an intimate self-portrait during COVID-19 social isolation. Using an iPhone, Campbell shot and styled all the photos herself — marking the first time she has ever photographed herself for a cover. ESSENCE’s special Golden Anniversary issue also takes a look at some of the joys, pains, laughter, triumphs and stories that have impacted the Black community over the past half-century—including the novel coronavirus and …
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