Author Archives: Sonya's Spotlight
← Older posts Newer posts →JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL in theaters December 13
November 2, 2019Synopsis: In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world’s most dangerous game. #JUMANJI
Posted in Movie News | Leave a commentBLACK AND BLUE ATL BLACK CARPET SCREENING
November 2, 2019Atlanta’s own Tyrese Gibson, Academy Award nominated Naomie Harris, and Nafessa Williams (CW’s BLACK LIGHTNING), plus the film’s director Deon Taylor welcomed a lively audience to the exclusive black carpet screening of the Screen Gems’ BLACK AND BLUE at The Plaza Theatre on October 23, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photos by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Screen Gems) SYNOPSIS: BLACK AND BLUE is a fast-paced action thriller about a rookie cop (Academy Award® nominee Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage. www.blackandblue.movie. BLACK AND BLUE opened nationwide on October, 25, 2019
Posted in 98TH ACADEMY AWARDS, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentBlack Excellence Celebrated The Grand Opening Of Tyler Perry Studios
October 7, 2019Black Excellence Celebrated The Grand Opening Of Tyler Perry Studios BY JOI-MARIE MCKENZIE · OCTOBER 6, 2019 The stars were out Saturday when Tyler Perry invited hundreds of A-list celebrities to celebrate the grand opening of his studios in Atlanta. The director, screenwriter, producer and playwright made history as the only Black man to own a major movie studio in the U.S. Perry invited many of his frequent collaborators to his fete, which took place on the 330-acre lot, including Oprah Winfrey, Cecily Tyson, Taraji P. Henson, Jill Scott, Whoopi Goldberg, and Keshia Knight Pulliam. Other Hollywood heavyweights came, including Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, Beyoncé, Jay Z and Halle Berry, along with politicos such as John Lewis, Bernice King and Stacey Abrams. Back in June, Perry explained during his BET Awards acceptance speech that “when I built my studio, [it was in the] poorest Black neighborhood in Atlanta so the kids can see that a Black man did that and they can too.” “The studio was once a confederate army base,” he said of the land, known as Fort McPherson, which was previously used as a Confederate Army base during Civil War, when the south fought to keep Black people enslaved. According to his website, Perry purchased the land in June 2015, which now holds 12 sound stages for movie productions. He dedicated each soundstage to a Black person who’s made strides in Hollywood, including the late Diahann Carroll. Source: https://www.essence.com/celebrity/tyler-perry-grand-opening-studios/ Source: https://www.essence.com/celebrity/tyler-perry-grand-opening-studios/ ______________________________________________________________ ESSENCE WAS THERE! EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AT THE CELEBRATION OF CINEMA’S PAST AND PRESENT Back in 2006, Yolanda Adams said three simple words to then rising writer-director Tyler Perry when he questioned how he scored an invite to Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball. “I’m looking at all these people in the room. There’s Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson. Turn around: there’s Sidney …
Posted in Celebrity Profile, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentGemini Man in Theaters October 11
September 23, 2019SYNOPSIS: Gemini Man is an innovative action-thriller starring Will Smith as Henry Brogan, an elite assassin, who is suddenly targeted and pursued by a mysterious young operative that seemingly can predict his every move. The film is directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ang Lee and produced by renown producers Jerry Bruckheimer, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger. Also starring are Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. Gemini Man opens in theaters October 11, 2019. CAST: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong Directed by Ang Lee Screenplay by David Benioff and Billy Ray and Darren Lemke Story by Darren Lemke and David Benioff Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer,David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger Executive Producers Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Guo Guangchang, Brian Bell, Don Murphy #GeminiManMovie
Posted in Movie News | Leave a commentBlack And Blue in Theaters October 25
September 23, 2019BLACK AND BLUE is a fast-paced action thriller about a rookie cop (Academy Award®nominee Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage. Directed by: Deon Taylor Written by: Peter A. Dowling Produced by: Sean Sorensen Executive Producers: Joshua Throne, Roxanne Taylor Cast: Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter, Reid Scott, Beau Knapp, Nafessa Williams #BLACKANDBLUEMovie
Posted in Cinema | Leave a comment2019 BLACK MUSIC HONORS XSCAPE, FREDDIE JACKSON, YOLANDA ADAMS, TAMIA, & ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
September 12, 2019Rousing Performances by Avery Wilson, Dee-1, Jade Novah, Jagged Edge, Jekalyn Carr, Naughty By Nature, June’s Diary, Keke Wyatt, Kelly Price, Le’Andria Johnson, 702, MAJOR. & More Captivated the Audience Nationally Syndicated Television Special Airs September 14-October 20 Airs On Bounce TV On Sunday, Oct 20 The highly anticipated 4th Annual 2019 Black Music Honors hosted by television and radio personality Rickey Smiley and Grammy® Award-winner and actress LeToya Luckett-Walker is currently airing in national broadcast syndication. The star-studded show was taped live at The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, GA. Honoree Xscape, received the Urban Music Icon Award presented by AT&T for the platinum selling quartet group’s 25 years in the industry. Chart-topping crooner, Freddie Jackson, whose career has spanned over 33 years, received the Legend Award, presented by State Farm. Yolanda Adams received the Gospel Music Icon Award, culturally-conscience eclectic group, Arrested Development, received the Hip Hop Icon Award, while songstress, Tamia, received the Soul Music Icon Award. Leon Timbo and Major. performed a special tribute in honor of Rock and Roll Hame of Famer, Bill Withers. Many memorable performance tributes (PW: BMH) by Avery Wilson, Dee-1, Jade Novah, Jagged Edge, Jekalyn Carr, Naughty By Nature, June’s Diary, Keke Wyatt, Kelly Price, Le’Andria Johnson, Melanie Fiona, 702, were met with standing ovations. Viewers can click Blackmusichonors.com/Airtime.html to check local airdates and broadcast times. The night culminated with founder and chairman, Don Jackson, expressing gratitude to the honorees, presenters and performers for making the night unforgettable. He stated,” the Black Music Honors gives us an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the trailblazers of African-American music.” The 4th Annual Black Music Honors show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Producer and Michael A. Johnson as Producer and Director. State Farm returns as …
Posted in 57th NAACP Image Awards, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentHUSTLERS SCREENING IN NEW YORK – HUSTLERS in theaters September 13
September 12, 2019ALEXANDER WANG HOSTED SCREENING METROGRAPH, NEW YORK TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 HUSTLERS follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. The film is inspired by the article published by New York Magazine entitled “The Hustlers at Scores” written by Jessica Pressler. #HUSTLERS
Posted in 98TH ACADEMY AWARDS, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentJOKER in theaters October 4
August 28, 2019Director Todd Phillips “Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study. Three-time Oscar nominee Phoenix (“The Master,” “Walk the Line,” “Gladiator”) stars in the titular role alongside Oscar winner Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull,” “The Godfather: Part II”) as Franklin. The film also stars Zazie Beetz (“Deadpool 2”), Frances Conroy (TV’s “American Horror Story,” Hulu’s “Castle Rock”), Marc Maron (TV’s “Maron,” “GLOW”), Bill Camp (“Red Sparrow,” “Molly’s Game”), Glenn Fleshler (TV’s “Billions,” “Barry”), Shea Whigham (“First Man,” “Kong: Skull Island”), Brett Cullen (“42,” Netflix’s “Narcos”), Douglas Hodge (“Red Sparrow,” TV’s “Penny Dreadful”) and Josh Pais (upcoming “Motherless Brooklyn,” “Going in Style”). Oscar nominee Phillips (“Borat,” “The Hangover” trilogy) directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Oscar-nominated writer Scott Silver (“The Fighter”), based on characters from DC. The film is produced by Phillips and Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born,” “American Sniper”) under their Joint Effort banner, and Oscar nominee Emma Tillinger Koskoff (“The Wolf of Wall Street”). It is executive produced by Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Aaron L. Gilbert, Joseph Garner, Richard Baratta, and Bruce Berman. Behind the scenes, Phillips is joined by director of photography Lawrence Sher (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “The Hangover” trilogy), production designer Mark Friedberg (“Selma,” “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”), editor Jeff Groth (“War …
Posted in Reboot | Leave a commentTravis Scott and Kylie Jenner attend the Travis Scott: “Look Mom I Can Fly”
August 28, 2019Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner attend the Travis Scott: “Look Mom I Can Fly” Los Angeles Premiere at The Barker Hanger on August 27, 2019 in Santa Monica, California.
Posted in Photos, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentAngel Has Fallen in theaters Now
August 26, 2019Angel Has Fallen Synopsis: Authorities take Secret Service agent Mike Banning into custody for the failed assassination attempt of U.S. President Allan Trumbull. After escaping from his captors, Banning must evade the FBI and his own agency to find the real threat to the president. Desperate to uncover the truth, he soon turns to unlikely allies to help clear his name and save the country from imminent danger. #AngelHasFallen
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