Author Archives: Sonya's Spotlight
← Older posts Newer posts →ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. – New York Special Screening Footage
January 1, 2018ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. New York Special Screening Published Originally November 2017 Synopsis: Roman J. Israel, Esq. is set in the underbelly of the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Denzel Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney whose life is upended when his mentor, a civil rights icon, dies. When he is recruited to join a firm led by one of the legendary man’ s former students – the ambitious lawyer George Pierce (Colin Farrell) – and begins a friendship with a young champion of equal rights (Carmen Ejogo), a turbulent series of events ensue that will put the activism that has defined Roman’s career to the test. Starring: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell Directed By: Dan Gilroy Produced By: Jennifer Fox, Todd Black, Denzel Washington Executive Produced By: Brian Oliver, Betsy Danbury, Charles D. King, Kim Roth, Poppy Hanks, Michael Bloom, Adam Pincus, Aaron L. Gilbert, Alex Lebovici, Steve Ponce, Derek Dauchy, Ben Ross Trailer: https://youtu.be/iaTUTSvCHJw
Posted in Photos | Leave a commentTV One Premieres “Behind The Movement” Trailer
December 31, 2017TV ONE TO PREMIERE THE ORIGINAL FILM, BEHIND THE MOVEMENT, IN FEBRUARY 2018 The Story Behind the Rise of the Montgomery Bus Boycott With New Trailer Debuting Starring Meta Golding, Loretta Devine, Isaiah Washington and Roger Guenveur Smith Actress Meta Golding stars as Rosa Parks in TV One’s Behind The Movement. SILVER SPRING, MD – December 1, 2017 – Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat 62 years ago was only the beginning. Premiering on TV One in February, Behind the Movement offers a closer look at how the history-making Montgomery Bus Boycott was planned in just three days and ultimately led to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. A new trailer released today, provides a glimpse into Mrs. Parks’ thoughts as she sat on the bus that December evening. “It was reported that I was tired and that wasn’t true,” states Meta Golding as Rosa Parks in the trailer. “I was tired of all the injustice, all the fear and indignity that they were putting us through. That’s the truth.” Starring Golding (“The Hunger Games”) as Rosa Parks, Isaiah Washington (“The 100”) as E.D. Nixon, Loretta Devine (“Waiting to Exhale”) as Jo Ann Robinson, Roger Guenveur Smith (“American Gangster”) as Raymond Parks and Shaun Clay as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Behind the Movement reveals the untold story of how a group of everyday people decided this incident was the right time to take a stand for their civil rights and demand equal treatment. Premiering during Black History Month, this original made-for-television movie honors the contributions of many unsung heroes of this watershed moment in the Civil Rights struggle. The film recounts the inner workings and behind the scenes preparation that took place during three intense days between the fateful evening when Parks refused …
Posted in Streaming, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentUNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball Achieves Record-Breaking Fundraising Goal, Raising Over $1.3 Million
December 21, 2017Sold out gala brought out the Who’s Who in Atlanta; Spectacular performance by Tyrese Gibson, who helped raise $100,000 through the fund the mission appeal The Who’s Who of Atlanta attended the 34th annual UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball, raising more than $1.3 million for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); a record- breaking achievement for the gala founded in 1983. The sold-out signature fundraising event had more than 1,200 attendees, including host Mayor Kasim Reed, Mayor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, UNCF president Michael L. Lomax, corporate co-chairs Rodney Bullard, vice president of community affairs at Chick-fil-A, Inc.; Ted Blum, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Atlanta office; Wendy Stewart, president of Bank of America Atlanta division; and celebrity co-host actor/singer Tyrese Gibson, who helped raise $100,000 through a fund the mission appeal. “Every year, the Atlanta community’s contribution surpasses my expectation,” said Justine Boyd, regional director, UNCF. “With the support of our corporate sponsors, volunteers, and the steadfast commitment of Mayor Kasim Reed, who has led the charge for the past eight years, we continue to raise the bar in providing resources to deserving students and our 37 UNCF-member institutions, four of which are in Atlanta.” Masked awards were presented to last year’s co-chairs Brannigan Thompson, senior vice president, Voya Financial; Donta’ Wilson, senior executive vice president and chief client experience officer, BB&T; and Mayor Reed, who passed the torch to Mayor-elect Bottoms, presenting the change of guard of the ball. “It has been an honor to have Mayor Reed spearhead our efforts in improving the lives of the next generation of leaders,” said Lomax. Trailblazers, like Mayor Reed, Mayor- elect Bottoms, both HBCU graduates and newly appointed Randall Woodfin, Mayor of Birmingham and Morehouse alum, play an integral role in changing the narrative of HBCUs and the …
Posted in R&B Pop Culture, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentGarden Lights, Holiday Nights And More at Atlanta Botanical Garden
December 19, 2017I got in the Christmas Spirit early this year, thanks to Atlanta Botanical Garden! As one of the first to tour the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s seventh annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, I felt like I was in a Winter Wonderland – basking in the beauty of lights here, lights there, strings of lights everywhere! If you’re needing a Holiday Pick-Me-Up, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden will do wonders for your spirit! “See why Nature’s Wonders us all the buzz!” through January 7. Escape the rat race at the malls this holiday weekend by unwinding at Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, where a massive new woodland display, “Nature’s Wonders,” will immerse you in the holiday spirit. The world’s largest curtain of light, synchronized with music and sound effects, creates the dramatic illusion of ice storms, sunrises, volcanic eruptions and more for a magical, mesmerizing experience like none other! Make it an evening by dining at Longleaf restaurant (reservations recommended). Buy tickets online and save! Reminiscing: My Summer Excursion at Atlanta Botanical Garden UP NEXT Atlanta Botanical Garden Reach for the stars with winter’s favorite plant exhibition Orchid Daze soars to all new heights February 10 – April 1 with towering displays of dazzling orchids that will envelop visitors in tropical warmth, vibrant colors and a fascinating variety of fragrances. Presented in the Fuqua Conservatory and Orchid Center, the annual exhibition complements the country’s largest permanent collection of species orchids with bold, bright flowers and tropical foliage sure to whisk visitors away with a lush wintertime escape. In the Conservatory Lobby, vertical canvases of different sizes spill with living Corsage Orchids, Pansy Orchids and Slipper Orchids looming over visitors, while below carpets of orchids will mirror the patterns on the canvases above. Upon entering the …
Posted in Photos, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentMOLLY’S GAME | IN THEATERS DEC 25
December 2, 2017MOLLY’S GAME is the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe. Molly’s Game (starring Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner) is in theaters on Christmas Day, December 25th
Posted in Streaming | Leave a commentSHERRI SHEPHERD TO CO-STAR IN UPCOMING BIOPIC BRIAN BANKS WITH ALDIS HODGE AND GREG KINNEAR
November 25, 2017Actress and Emmy-Award winning former co-host of ABC’s “The View” Sherri Shepherd has joined Aldis Hodge (Underground) and Greg Kinnear to co-star in biopic Brian Banks, directed by Tom Shadyac (Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor, Evan Almighty) for producers Shivani Rawat’s ShivHans Pictures and Amy Baer’s Gidden Media. The biopic tells the story of Banks (Hodge), an All-American high school football player committed to USC by his junior year whose life was upended in 2002 when he was falsely accused of rape. Despite maintaining his innocence, Banks was railroaded through the system and sentenced to a decade of prison and parole. With the help of the California Innocence Project, spearheaded by Justin Brooks (Kinnear), the criminal defense attorney and CIP co-founder, Banks’ conviction was overturned in 2012. He briefly played with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2013 preseason. Shepherd will portray Banks’ mother, Leomia, who was the glue that kept Banks together during his trial. The script was written by Doug Atchison who wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Akeelah and the Bee. The production takes place in Memphis, where Shadyac lives. He will bring in local film students to shadow and learn while he shoots the film. The project was originally developed through Baer’s development fund Gidden Media. She will produce alongside Shivani Rawat and Monica Levinson (ShivHans Pictures) who also financed. Banks, Brooks, Derrick Tseng and Neil Strum are executive producers. Shepherd’s film credits include co-starring with Katherine Heigl in “One for the Money” and with Chris Rock in “Top Five.” Additionally, she has co-starred in such movies as the award-winning “Precious,” “Woodlawn,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” “Guess Who,” “Who’s Your Caddy,” “Beauty Shop” and “Ride Along 2,” starring Kevin Hart. Shepherd will begin shooting the second season of NBC sitcom “Trial and Error,” starring John Lithgow in March 2018 where she will reprise her co-starring role as legal secretary “Anne Hatch.” Shepherd is …
Posted in Celebrity Profile | Leave a commentNAACP IMAGE AWARDS WINNER AND BLACK-ISH STAR ANTHONY ANDERSON RETURNS AS HOST FOR THE 49TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS AIRING LIVE ON TV ONE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY MONDAY, JANUARY 15
November 25, 2017Telecast will also include a Pre-Show Airing Live from the Red Carpet The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and TV One, a television network dedicated to the best of black culture and entertainment, today announced that NAACP Image Awards winner, Emmy-award nominated actor and star of black-ish, Anthony Anderson will return as host for the 49th NAACP Image Awards. As previously announced, the two-hour special will air live on TV One Monday, January 15, 2018, the federal holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The telecast will also include a live pre-show from the star-studded red carpet. In addition, voting is open for the 49th NAACP Image Awards – NAACP “Entertainer of the Year,” the winner will be revealed during the two-hour telecast. The six nominees are: Chadwick Boseman, Ava DuVernay, Bruno Mars, Issa Rae, Chance the Rapper, and Jay-Z. Voting is open to the general public by visiting the NAACP Image Awards website – NAACPImageAwards.net – the only place to vote for the 49th NAACP Image Awards – NAACP “Entertainer of the Year.” Voting closes on Friday, November 17. The NAACP Image Awards is the most respected event of its kind and is well attended by many of the top names in the entertainment industry. In recent years some of the biggest names in film, television and music appeared including Denzel Washington, Oprah, John Legend, Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Dwayne Johnson, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Stevie Wonder, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gina Rodriguez, Chrissy Teigen, Kerry Washington, Nate Parker, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tika Sumpter, Keegan-Michael Key, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee, Loretta Devine, Shonda Rhimes, Omari Hardwick, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Don Cheadle, Sanaa Lathan, Keke Palmer, Michael Ealy, Ken Jeong, Sylvester Stallone, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, …
Posted in 57th NAACP Image Awards | Leave a commentSheffield Real Estate NEW FYI SERIES PREMIERES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 AT 10PM ET/PT
November 24, 2017Armed with the support of her husband, baseball legend Gary Sheffield, “Sheffield Real Estate” follows Grammy-nominated gospel singer, DeLeon Sheffield and her family as she manages her fast-growing real estate business, all while raising a family. DeLeon and heroutspoken business partner and mother Debbie, help upscale clients find their dream home in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. As a wife, mother to three young boys, and co-owner of a busy and bustling luxury real estate agency, balancing family and a successful career is no easy feat. However, DeLeon handles the chaos with poise, strength and definitely some laughs along the way! In the premiere episode, airing Thursday, November 30 at 10pm ET/PT, professional poker player, John and his fiancé Monique are looking for a home to start a family. With John’s party lifestyle and Monique’s family friendly visions, the house hunt gets tricky. Then at 10:30pm ET/ PT, full-time, professional musicians, Kim and Aaron are looking for a funky, mid-century home with room for a studio space. “Sheffield Real Estate” is produced for FYI by Pink Sneakers and Releve’ Entertainment. About FYI For your inspiration, for your imagination or for your innovation, FYI™ takes a modern spin on traditional lifestyle genres by embracing an adventurous and personalized approach to peoples’ taste, space, look, story and more. FYI covers a range of stories and experiences that reflect how people live their lives today, not defined by just one passion or interest. FYI has launched all-new genres, including trendsetting and brand-definitional series, such as Married at First Sight, Seven Year Switch, Tiny House Nation, He Shed She Shed and Food Porn hosted by Michael Chernow. FYI is a division of A+E Networks, a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation. The network is available in nearly 65 million U.S. homes and is one …
Posted in Sports & Inspiration | Leave a commentACTOR KOFI SIRIBOE COVERS ESSENCE MAGAZINE PEOPLE “SEXIEST MAN ALIVE” AND FORBES 30 U 30
November 15, 201723 year old actor Kofi Siriboe has had a HUGE Marquis 2017 year with projects on the big screen, Universal Picture “Girls Trip”, on the small screen OWN’s “Queen Sugar” Season 2 and heralded as one to watch by Hollywood’s dynamic duo, Oprah Winfrey and Ava Duvernay as “The Next Big Thing!”. The magnetic actors stunning Essence Magazine cover has gone viral and is sending shock waves throughout the internet. Dubbed as one of People Magazines “SEXIEST MAN ALIVE”, he has also been honored as one of this years Forbes Magazine’s annual 30 Under 30 list of top artists, musicians, actors and game shakers. Essence Cover Story: https://www.essence.com/news/kofi-siriboe-essence-december-january-cover Siriboe’s career is definitely soaring at a meteoric rate and Kofi responds accordingly; “Thank you to Essence Magazine family for their constant support, thank you to , People Magazine and Forbes for the wonderful recognition, thanks to my fans for showing such a tremendous amount of love always. I’m so very grateful to be able to share my art with the world and to OWN, Universal Pictures and my team for supporting all that I do and coming along this journey with me. I feel so humbled to be selected among the exclusive club of cover male stars, sexiest man alive and 30 under 30. This puts a button on my incredibly amazing 2017 year and I look forward to growing, expanding and evolving with you.” The debut of season one of “Queen Sugar”, witnessed an instantaneous combustion with Siriboe’s character “Ralph Angel” buzzing and trending from week to week on social media. The television audiences response mainly congratulated Kofi for his choice of creating a layered “Black man on television, emoting and thus allowing America to see the humanity in them.” Siriboe further pushed the envelope with his undeniable talent, coupled …
Posted in Music | Leave a commentLarenz Tate (“Power”) and Erica Ash (“Survivor’s Remorse”) To Host 2018 Bounce Trumpet Awards Jan. 20 in Atlanta
November 15, 201726th Annual Event Takes Place Sat. Jan. 20 in Atlanta, World Premieres on Bounce Sun. Feb. 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET Larenz Tate and Erica Ash will host the 2018 Bounce Trumpet Awards, an exciting night of inspiration, history and crowd-rousing performances celebrating African-American achievements and contributions. The gala black-tie ceremony will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on Sat. Jan. 20, 2018 and will world premiere nationwide on Bounce on Sun. Feb. 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Bounce, the fastest-growing African-American network on television, now exclusively owns, produces and telecasts the star-studded event, rebranded this year as the Bounce Trumpet Awards. Honorees, performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.trumpetawards.com for more information. Tate is a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award-winner and currently stars on the hit series “Power” on STARZ. He has also appeared on the popular shows “Rescue Me,” “Game of Silence” and “House of Lies.” On the big screen, Tate most recently appeared in “Girls Trip,” with previous roles in “Ray,” “Menace II Society,” “Love Jones,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and more. Ash is an NAACP Award-winning Broadway, film and television actress currently starring on the hit series “Survivor’s Remorse” on STARZ, as well as playing Brigette Hart (ex-wife of Kevin Hart) on “The Real Husbands of Hollywood.” She will star in the new legal drama series “In Contempt” and will appear in the new theatrical motion picture “Uncle Drew” from Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment. The Trumpet Awards were conceived to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of African Americans and those who have succeeded against great odds and inspired success in others. Founded in 1992 by American Civil Rights leader Xernona Clayton, The Trumpet Awards were acquired by Bounce in 2016. The list of prestigious honorees over its 26-year history includes Muhammad Ali, Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Stevie Wonder, The African-American Women of the United States Congress, Steve Harvey, …
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