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← Older posts Newer posts →Vocal Coach Stephanie Spruill Receives Recognition for Michael Biopic
August 4, 2026The biopic Michael reached $1 billion, Vocal Coach Stephanie Spruill Receives Recognition for her role in shaping the Sound of both Juliano Valdi and Jaafar Jackson, who portrayed Michael Jackson in the film. Legendary Grammy Award-participating vocal coach, singer, and producer Stephanie Spruill is behind the scenes, bringing decades of musical excellence to the big screen as the vocal coach behind the voices in the Lionsgate/Universal Pictures biopic Michael. The biopic Michael has reached the $1 billion worldwide box office, Spruill is receiving significant attention for her vital role in shaping the blockbuster’s sound. Cast member Juliano Valdi, who portrayed the young Michael, credited Spruill heavily for his performance, explaining during a CNN interview that they worked intensely until he perfectly mirrored Michael’s signature sound. Spruill’s role was pivotal, working with both Juliano Valdo, Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew and the son of Jermaine Jackson, and the Jackson 5 cast, coaching them to authentically capture the vocal tone and phrasing that defined Michael Jackson’s global legacy. Her expertise helped shape performances that honor not just the music but the emotional and artistic depth of one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Stephanie Spruill worked closely with Michael Jackson. He called her at 3:00 am to organize and direct the adult and children’s choir for Jackson’s Hit “Can You Feel It”, coupled with featuring her soprano vocals in the backgrounds. Stephanie Spruill also worked on “This Place Hotel,” aka “Heartbreak Hotel,” and played tambourine on “Dancing Machine.” “I believe this is a full circle moment to work on this masterpiece, MICHAEL.” As I often say, “It’s Divine Intervention.” Born in Los Angeles, Spruill launched a career that would span over five decades and include performances at The White House, on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Grammys, The Oscars, and many stages around the world. Spruill has since become one of the most recorded background vocalists in music history, contributing to thousands of …
Posted in Music & Film | Leave a commentOfficial Trailer: I PLAY ROCKY starring Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone
August 4, 2026PLAY ROCKY starring Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone In Select Theaters November 6 The film is an electrifying true story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky—he was meant to be Rocky Balboa. Told “no” at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie. Directed by: Peter Farrelly Written by: Peter Gamble Produced by: Christian Baha, Toby Emmerich, Paul Currie, Peter Farrelly Cast: Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, Stephan James, Kiki Seto
Posted in BronzeLens Film Festival - August 21–30, 2026 | Leave a commentInside Miracle Watts And Tyler Lepley’s Intimate Los Cabos Wedding
August 4, 2026Tyler Lepley and Miracle Watts are officially husband and wife. The actors, who met on the set of Starz’s P-Valley in 2021, said “I do” in Los Cabos, Mexico, on Saturday, July 25, at the Acre Resort. And while the couple could have had a who’s who guest list, they preferred to make their nuptials an intimate celebration, one filled with the people who actually were integral in their story. “We made a conscious decision to keep our guest list intimate. It wasn’t about inviting famous people or making a statement, it was about surrounding ourselves with the people who have truly loved, supported, and been part of our journey,” Watts tells ESSENCE. “Having our closest family and friends there made the entire celebration feel incredibly personal and full of love.” Recalling the moments that filled her heart the most, the beauty says they include walking down the aisle with her parents to see her husband. “Walking down the aisle was a feeling I’ll never be able to fully put into words. I didn’t know what to expect. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions, and the moment literally took my breath away,” she says. “Having both my mom and dad walk me down the aisle made it even more special. Feeling their emotions in that moment made everything so much more meaningful, and it’s a memory I’ll always hold close.” An additional family moment she cherishes is opting against the traditional bouquet throw to instead dedicate her wedding florals to her mom. “My mom and I have always had such a close bond, and I wanted to honor her in a way that reflected our relationship,” Watts says. “I was already able to share a father-daughter dance with my dad, so creating a special moment just for my mom felt right. It was one …
Posted in Photos, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentThe Thomas Crown Affair | Official Teaser Trailer In Theaters March 5, 2027
August 4, 2026Academy Award® winner Michael B. Jordan directs, produces, and stars in a visually breathtaking, sensual, and unexpectedly moving heist thriller, where the most dangerous man in the room is the one nobody’s watching. Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Kenneth Branagh, Adria Arjona, Lily Gladstone, Danai Gurria, Pilou Asbæk Directed By: Michael B. Jordan Produced By: Michael B. Jordan, Elizabeth Raposo, Marc Toberoff, Patrick McCormick, Charles Roven Executive Produced By: Jason Hall, Alan R. Trustman Written By: Drew Pearce and Jason Hall
Posted in Movie News, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentSPIDER-MAN™: BRAND NEW DAY in theaters Now
August 4, 2026SPIDER-MAN™: BRAND NEW DAY 2026 ACTION/ADVENTURE It’s a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves – a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them. DIRECTED BY Destin Daniel Cretton WRITTEN BY Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers BASED ON THE MARVEL COMIC BOOK BY Stan Lee and Steve Ditko PRODUCED BY Kevin Feige, p.g.a., Amy Pascal, p.g.a., Avi Arad, Rachel O’Connor, p.g.a. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Louis D’Esposito, David Cain CAST Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffal _________________________________________________________________________________________ ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ soars to $927 million worldwide, the second-highest debut ever By Auzinea Bacon AUG 2, 2026 Spider-Man and Boomerang in Columbia Pictures SPIDER-MAN™: BRAND NEW DAY. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Sony Pictures’ and Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” soared to the second-biggest North American opening weekend ever with a $355 million haul at the box office, according to industry experts, just behind “Avengers: Endgame,” which opened to $357 million in 2019. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” — released almost five years after the last “Spider-Man” movie — earned $927 million worldwide, also the second-biggest opening ever, according to Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak. Its franchise’s predecessor, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” opened to $260 million in North America. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is a “perfect storm” for a major blockbuster, according to Chris Colombo, founder of box office analytics firm Brighter Path. “You have the intellectual property, you have the character, you have the (fear of missing …
Posted in Cinema | Leave a commentMichael Jackson biopic now released to streaming
July 18, 2026When it was initially released, there was some speculation that the musical biopic “Michael” wouldn’t be available for streaming any time soon. Those fears proved wrong. “Michael,” which made its theatrical debut April 24, is now available on premium video on demand. It hit the streaming market June 9. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jaafar Jackson — who is the son of Jermaine Jackson and nephew of the late pop icon — as Michael Jackson in his teen and adult years. The film chronicles the life of the singer as a 10-year-old (Juliano Valde) with his brothers in The Jackson 5 through his tour for his “Bad” album in 1988. The PG-13 film also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Michael Jackson’s parents, Joe Jackson and Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as the singer-songwriter’s longtime manager, John Branca. Lionsgate made the announcement earlier that it would be available to purchase on PVOD for $24.99 on such digital platforms as Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and YouTube Movies & TV. Since digital rentals are typically $5 less than purchase prices, Michael should be available to rent on PVOD for $19.99 for a 48-hour period. The film has been a blockbuster, earning $97 million in North American ticket sales for its opening week. At the start of this week, “Michael” to date had earned $340.1 million domestically and $509.6 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $849.7 million. It had a production budget of $200 million before marketing costs, according to Variety. Currently, “Michael” is the second highest-grossing music biopic of all time, behind the Queen and Freddie Mercury 2018 biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which earned more than $900 million worldwide. It hasn’t gotten widespread critical praise. Rotten Tomatoes critics largely blasted “Michael” with …
Posted in Music & Film | Leave a commentThe 2026 ESPYS
July 18, 2026Black Love at the 2026 ESPY Awards, An Exclusive With Gina Prince-Bythewood + Essential Loc Products for the Summer On Wednesday, July 16, the who’s who of sports convened upon the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City to celebrate the last year of athletic greatness at the 2026 ESPY Awards. From the New York Knicks winning the NBA championship (they took home Best Championship Performance and Best Team with their leader, Jalen Brunson, at the forefront) to Stephen Curry being awarded the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for all of his philanthropy work, anyone who lifted a trophy this year, or uplifted the community using their platform as an athlete, was honored on the big stage. To give the night the star power it deserved, stars hit the carpet decked out in their best looks—and with their best boos. No jerseys, no cleats. Just formal and fly. It’s a celebration! From Steph and Ayesha to Simone and Jonathan, the gowns were gorgeous, the suits were sharp, and the love was apparent. We gathered up images of a few standouts and hope you can feel the love through the screen. Source: https://www.essence.com/celebrity/black-couples-at-the-2026-espy-awards/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=260716_PM_Daily_Newsletter_16Jul2026&utm_content=2026071609 _________________________________________________________________________________________ The The 2026 ESPYS presented by Capital One honored Jalen Brunson, Myles Garrett, Alysa Liu, Fernando Mendoza, Shohei Ohtani, A’ja Wilson, the New York Knicks & more Hosted by Marcello Hernández, the awards show featured appearances from The Savannah Bananas, Simone Biles, Stephen Curry, Allyson Felix, Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, DJ Khaled, Tracey Morgan, Jayson Tatum, Lindsey Vonn, and more By Courtney Clawson On Wednesday evening, an elite lineup of athletes and Hollywood stars gathered at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City to celebrate the year’s best moments in sports at The 2026 ESPYS Presented by Capital One. The show, which aired live on ABC …
Posted in ESPYS | Leave a commentTHE ODYSSEY World Premiere Photos
July 9, 2026Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX®film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX® film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026. The Odyssey stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron. The Odyssey is produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan for their company, Syncopy. The executive producer is Thomas Hayslip. Genre: Mythic Action Epic Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron Written and Directed by: Christopher Nolan Produced by: Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan Executive Producer: Thomas Hayslip Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX®film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX® film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026. Starring: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron Directed By: Christopher Nolan Produced By: Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan
Posted in Movie News | Leave a commentMOANA in theaters July 10
July 9, 2026Moana In Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. The film is directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”); produced by Dwayne Johnson, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Thomas Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth and Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated features “Moana” and “Moana 2.” Audiences can experience the brilliant cinematic sights, sounds and songs of “Moana” in U.S. theaters on July 10, 2026.
Posted in Cinema | Leave a commentLECRAE WINS BIG AT 2026 BET AWARDS
July 2, 2026Lecrae closes out Black Music Month with a win. During the 2026 BET Awards this past weekend, the Reach Records co-founder received the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for “Headphones” (with Killer Mike & T.I.) off of his critically acclaimed album, Reconstruction. It’s his third win overall. The new win further solidifies Lecrae’s role as one of the most influential artists in the Christian hip-hop space. His tenth studio album, and the equally attuned deluxe version (Reconstruction: Second Story), crystallizes the sound he’s been honing across his prolific discography over the past two decades. Following two Grammy nominations, announcing his retirement from touring, and the release of his book, Set Me Free, the award-winning artist made history by becoming the first Christian rapper to headline NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Now, Lecrae extends his winning streak while bringing his signature style of faith-based hip-hop to “Culture’s Biggest Night.”
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