Author Archives: Sonya's Spotlight
← Older posts Newer posts →CREED III in theaters 3/3/23
December 22, 2022After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose. Creed III is the third installment in the successful franchise and is Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut. Director: Michael B. Jordan Screenplay by: Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin Story by: Ryan Coogler and Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin Starring Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad Produced By Irwin Winkler, p.g.a., Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, p.g.a., Elizabeth Raposo, p.g.a., Jonathan Glickman, Sylvester Stallone
Posted in Cinema, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentEmancipation L.A. Premiere Photos
December 22, 2022Apple Original Films world premiere of “Emancipation” at the Regency Village Theatre. “Emancipation” premiered in theaters on December 2 and globally on Apple TV+ on December 9, 2022.
Posted in Photos, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentEmancipation – in theaters December 2, and globally on Apple TV+ December 9
December 1, 2022“Emancipation” tells the triumphant story of Peter (Will Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom. The film is inspired by the 1863 photos of “Whipped Peter,” taken during a Union Army medical examination, that first appeared in Harper’s Weekly. One image, known as “The Scourged Back,” which shows Peter’s bare back mutilated by a whipping delivered by his enslavers, ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery. Starring Will Smith, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor, Mustafa Shakir, Steven Ogg, Grant Harvey, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Jayson Warner Smith, Jabbar Lewis, Michael Luwoye, Aaron Moten, Imani Pullum Directed By Antoine Fuqua Produced By Will Smith, Jon Mone, Joey McFarland, Todd Black Executive Produced By Chris Brigham, Antoine Fuqua, James Lassiter, Heather Washington, Cliff Roberts, Glen Basner, Scott Greenberg
Posted in Movie News | Leave a commentKING COMBS MAKES HISTORY AS FATHER-SON DUO REACH NO. 1 ON US AIRPLAY CHARTS
November 23, 2022Diddy Song Link- https://diddy.lnk.to/GottaMoveOnVideo Link – https://Diddy.lnk.to/GottaMoveOnVideoKing Combs https://music.empi.re/combskodak WHO: Sean “Diddy” Combs Christian “King” Combs WHAT: Sean “Diddy” Combs and his son, Christian “King” Combs, each soared to the top of the charts with their hit new songs “Gotta Move On” featuring Bryson Tiller and “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” featuring Kodak Black, respectively. Diddy topped the R&B Airplay chart with “Gotta Move On” as Christian dominated the Mainstream R&B Airplay chart with “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.” This is a proud moment for the legendary mogul, whose recent return to music has been met with nothing but LOVE and to experience it alongside his son, Christian, who’s worked hard to forge his own legacy with Bad Boy Entertainment, makes it all the more significant for Diddy. With “Gotta Move On” hitting number 1, this marks 11 number 1 hits total for Diddy and King Combs’ first number 1. “Seeing me and my son Christian climb the charts together is a dream come true and I’m so proud of all the hard work to reach No. 1, but this win is much bigger than music,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs. “This milestone is about carrying on the legacy of our family and showing the world that 30 years from now, we’ll still be on top.” “Locking in my first #1 record is crazy. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into getting this record to where it is, we’re finally here and we can’t stop now!”, states Christian. “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” featuring Kodak Black was released in July and has quickly become the unofficial song of the summer. The track has over 14 million views on YouTube and 33 million+ streams. The single was derived from the 1996 Bad Boy classic “Crush on You” by Lill Kim and Lil Cease. This is Christian’s first number 1 smash record. “Gotta Move On” featuring …
Posted in Celebrity Profile, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentSONY MUSIC & THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON ANNOUNCE THE START OF THE THRILLER 40 GLOBAL CAMPAIGN
November 1, 2022THRILLER 40 TO BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 18Preorder HERE Forty years after the release of Thriller, the album that catapulted Michael Jackson into the superstardom stratosphere, Sony Music and The Estate of Michael Jackson announce the start of the global campaign to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the King of Pop’s landmark album. As part of the campaign, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music will host fan events around the world, all free to the public, including immersive experiences, screenings of the Thriller 40 documentary, and other fan parties. There will be two immersive experiences. The first occurs in Dusseldorf, Germany, November 10-13, and the second in New York City, November 18-20. Each will feature specific track-focused experiences, interactive elements, and social and photo opportunities throughout. Fans in eight other cities around the world will be treated to a private one-time-only screening of the Thriller 40 documentary, which details the making of the biggest-selling album in the world. And in other cities, fans will be invited to special Thriller-themed parties celebrating the release of the new expanded album and will have the opportunity to hear the full double-disc album for the first time. Further details and info on how fans can get tickets for the various fan events can be found HERE. Released November 30, 1982, the Thriller phenomenon revolutionized music, video standards, and choreography through Michael’s innovations for melding sound and visual art, the influence of which is still felt today. Thriller went on to win a record-setting eight Grammys. With over one hundred million copies sold, it is the best-selling album of all time and the first to be certified triple diamond by the RIAA. Read more HERE.
Posted in Music, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentThe 7th Annual Hollywood And African Prestigious Awards (HAPAwards) – OCTOBER 29
October 31, 2022Check Back For Photos… The HAPAwards is one of the most attended awards shows in the Hollywood calendar. This year, the HAPAwards honored American and African community leaders, international political figures, dignitaries, celebrities, and stars who are pioneers in motion pictures, arts, music, and comedy. As an organization bound to celebrate the outstanding achievements of artists in various entertainment genres, the vision is to continue blending cultures and promoting the beauty and richness of Africa and America while spreading peace throughout the world. We stand together in harmony with the African and Hollywood music, films, and comedy entertainment industry while supporting positive and respectful messages to the world, especially about Africa. WHO: Paula “Sacrifice” Patton; Michael M. ”Power Book III” Mays; KJ “Tyler Perry’s Sisters” Smith; Ser’Darius “The Big Leap” Blain; Cedric “The Neighborhood” The Entertainer; Lawrence Hilton “A House Divided” Jacobs; Bianca “Queen Sugar” Lawson; Elisha “Wonder Years” Williams; Dule “The Wonder Years” Hill; Chrissy “Howard High” Stokes; Yolanda “The Chi” Ross; Donnel “General Hospital” Turner; Susan Kelechi “This Is Us” Watson; Connie ”Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Chiume; Michael “Coming 2 America“ Blackson; Devaughn “Winning Time-The Rise of the Lakers Legendary Dynasty” Nixon; Taryn “Karen” Manning; Joel “The Chi” Steingold; Hosts: Actor Darius McCray and Mbuki Litvishkova (Former Miss Kenya- Miss Universe); and many more
Posted in On the Scene | Leave a commentMARIO VAN PEEBLES GETS RAW AND UNCUT ON TV ONE’S ORIGINAL SERIES “UNCENSORED” SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 AT 10 P.M./9C
October 31, 2022Check out exclusive and shocking outtakes from Mario’s episode on Uncensored: Unscripted! UNCENSORED: Mario Van Peebles The hit autobiographical series, “UNCENSORED”, explores the lives of your favorite personalities as they provide first-hand accounts of their success and the obstacles they faced throughout their careers. Mario Van Peebles is the talented director behind classic films like New Jack City and Posse, which played major roles in shaping American culture. He was inspired by his famous filmmaking father, Melvin Van Peebles’, legacy, and gets UNCENSORED on how he built his own legacy in Hollywood on his terms.This season will finale with Deon Cole next, Sunday, November 6. “UNCENSORED” is produced for TV One by Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal, and James Seppelfrick (Executive Producers), Jay Allen and Nikki Byles (Co-Executive Producers), and Rachel Valley (Producer) of Swirl Films. For TV One, Austyn Biggers is the SVP of Programming and Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production. This season will finale with Deon Cole next, Sunday, November 6. “UNCENSORED” is produced for TV One by Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal, and James Seppelfrick (Executive Producers), Jay Allen and Nikki Byles (Co-Executive Producers), and Rachel Valley (Producer) of Swirl Films. For TV One, Austyn Biggers is the SVP of Programming and Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production. For more information on “UNCENSORED” and “UNSUNG,” visit TV One’s YouTube Channel and check out exclusive, behind-the-scenes content on http://www.tvone.tv. Viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on TV One’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) Be sure to follow “UNCENSORED” & “UNSUNG” on Facebook and Instagram (@UncensoredTVOne) using the hashtag #UncensoredTVOne and #UNSUNG. About TV One NetworksTV One Networks is the hub of black culture and entertainment with a broad offering of original programming and classic series, serving both diverse audiences for TV One and CLEO TV. Launched in January 2004, TV One currently serves 43 million households and …
Posted in Inspirational | Leave a commentGLOBAL SUPERSTAR AND QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS MARIAH CAREY ANNOUNCES SPECIAL LIMITED ENGAGEMENT HOLIDAY SHOWS
October 28, 2022MARIAH CAREY’S “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” COMING TO TORONTO’S SCOTIABANK ARENA + NYC’S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TICKETS ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC STARTING FRIDAY, OCT. 28 AT 10 AM ET ON LIVENATION.COM Today, singing and songwriting icon Mariah Carey has announced her latest Christmas revue – Merry Christmas To All! – which celebrates the global superstar’s repertoire of classic holiday songs. The special two-date only run will be on December 11th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada and December 13th at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Presented by Live Nation, the Merry Christmas To All! shows will be a hot-ticket this winter as these live dates will be the only Christmas concerts from Mariah Carey this holiday season. Tickets will be available to the general public starting Friday, October 28th at 10 AM ET at LiveNation.com. During ticket checkout, fans will also be able to purchase an exclusive t-shirt as well as a copy of Mariah’s illustrated holiday fairytale, The Christmas Princess, which is set to release on November 1st. About Mariah CareyMARIAH CAREY is an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, producer and multiple award-winning artist and songwriter. She is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to-date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (18 of which are self-penned) – more than any solo artist in history. With her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent, Carey is truly the template of the modern pop performance. Mariah is also an inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, numerous American Music Awards, three Guinness World Record titles, both Billboard’s “Artist of the Decade” and “Icon” awards, the World Music Award for “World’s Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium,” the Ivor Novello Award for “PRS for Music Special International Award,” and BMI’s “Icon Award” for …
Posted in Spotlight, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever in theaters November 11
October 26, 2022Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom. Release date: November 11, 2022 (USA) TrendingDirector: Ryan CooglerLanguage: EnglishCostume design: Ruth CarterScreenplay: Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert ColeProducers: Kevin Feige, Nate Moore
Posted in Cinema, Film | Leave a commentTILL in theaters October 28th
October 4, 2022a statement from director Chinonye Chukwu – When I was approached to write and direct a story about Emmett Till, I found myself drawn to a singular figure at the center of his orbit. I saw an opportunity to subvert expectations and approach the narrative through another lens – from the maternal point of view of Mamie Till-Mobley. Had it not been for Mamie, her son’s memory would have evaporated into thin air. She was the catalyst for a modern day civil rights movement that has laid a formidable framework for future activists and Freedom Fighters. I felt compelled to champion Mamie’s legacy and center her in the spotlight where she rightfully belongs. Mamie’s untold story is one of resilience and courage in the face of adversity and unspeakable devastation. For me, the opportunity to focus the film on Mamie, a multi-faceted Black woman, and peel back the layers on this particular chapter in her life, was a tall order I accepted with deep respect and responsibility. On the daily, Mamie combatted racism, sexism, and misogyny, which was exponentially heightened in the wake of Emmett’s murder. Mamie did not cower. Instead, she evolved into a warrior for justice who helped me to understand and shape my own similar journey in activism. And as a filmmaker, showing Mamie in all her complex humanity was of utmost importance. The crux of this story is not about the traumatic, physical violence inflicted upon Emmett – which is why I refused to depict such brutality in the film – but it is about Mamie’s remarkable journey in the aftermath. She is grounded by the love for her child, for at its core, TILL is a love story. Amidst the inherent pain and heartbreak, it was critical for me to ground their affection throughout the film. …
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