Author Archives: Sonya's Spotlight
← Older posts Newer posts →Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots & Love Thy Neighbor Premieres
May 28, 2013PREMIERES May 28, 2013, at 9 p.m. ET/PT Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots is a new television drama from the prolific writer, director and producer Tyler Perry. The show follows the complicated dynamic between the rich and powerful Cryer family and the hired help who work in their opulent Savannah, Georgia, mansion. From the outside, the Cryers are the enviable face of success and wealth, but behind the veil, the family’s dysfunction threatens to destroy their world of privilege. Cryer family patriarch Jim Cryer (John Schneider) is a powerful judge whose double life, including tawdry affairs with high-priced escorts, puts his family and political ambitions at risk. His wife, Katheryn Cryer (Renée Lawless), is the ultimate matriarch, portraying a loving and dutiful wife, but she is willing to do anything to protect her family’s status. Their son, Wyatt (Aaron O’Connell), is a troubled, angry jock who cares little for his own image and finds himself in and out of rehab. His sister, Amanda (Jacyln Betham), a struggling law student, tries harder to live up to her parents’ expectations but unknowingly has befriended a scurrilous young woman, Candace Young, with the power to ruin the entire family. Hanna Young (Crystal Fox) is the Cryers’ maid and the matriarch of her family. Despite having no money, she has found other types of wealth through religion and virtue. She prides herself on her dutiful son, Benny (Tyler Lepley), the glue who helps keep the family together. Hanna does have one dark secret, however—her estranged daughter, Candace (Tika Sumpter), a manipulative opportunist who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. In a bizarre coincidence, Candace is shocked to find out that her newfound friend Amanda’s father is Jim Cryer, the very man who has been paying her for sex and …
Posted in Highlight | Leave a comment“KIDDIE CORNER” – THE SMURFS 2 & TURBO – Summer Releases
May 27, 2013Vivica A. Fox and JB Smoove at L.A. Premiere of SMURFS 2 In support of THE SMURFS 2, in theaters July 31, Sonya’s Spotlight Web Mag showcased photos of children from around the world (chosen randomly), with their SMURFS 2 paraphernalia. The first kids chosen (Angella and Emanuel) were vacationing in Jamaica & Sonya’s Spotlight surprised them with a SMURFS 2 FAN & SMURFTASTIC ACTIVITY BOOK (see below)! Twitter: @SocialSmurf #SMURFS2 _____________________________________________________________________________________ TURBO -In theaters July 17 Plot Outline From the makers of Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, TURBO is a high-velocity 3D comedy about an underdog snail who kicks into overdrive when he miraculously attains the power of super-speed. But after making fast friends with a crew of streetwise, tricked-out es-car-goes, Turbo learns that no one succeeds on their own. So he puts his heart and shell on the line to help his pals achieve their dreams, before Turbo-charging his own impossible dream: winning the Indy 500. Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Ken Jeong, Maya Rudolph, Ben Schwartz, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson http://www.turbomovie.com/ http://twitter.com/goturbo In advance of the film’s release, top celebrities attended a local screening of the film in Los Angele. Check out Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, Tony Award winner Courtney B. Vance, and star of TV Land’s “The Soul Man”, Wesley Jonathan.
Posted in BronzeLens Film Festival - August 21–30, 2026 | Leave a commentNo Pain, No Gain! Anthony Mackie Philosophizes about Making It
May 22, 2013By: Kam Williams Born in New Orleans on September 23, 1979, Anthony Mackie attended the Julliard School of Drama. He was discovered after receiving rave reviews for playing Tupac Shakur in the off-Broadway play “Up Against the Wind.” Immediately following, Anthony made an auspicious film debut as Eminem’s nemesis, Papa Doc, in Curtis Hanson’s “8 Mile.” His performance caught the attention of Spike Lee, who subsequently cast him in “Sucker Free City” and “She Hate Me.” He also appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” as well as in Jonathan Demme’s “The Manchurian Candidate.” Besides an impressive film career, the gap-toothed thespian has performed both on and off-Broadway. More recently, Anthony participated in the Kennedy Center’s presentation of “August Wilson’s 20th Century.” 2013 is proving very productive for Anthony, with the horror thriller “Vipaka,” the coming of age drama “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,” the crime thriller “Runner, Runner” and “Bolden” being among his offerings. Here, he talks about his new movie, “Pain & Gain,” a fact-based crime comedy co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg. KW: So, what interested you in Pain & Gain? AM: It was the script. I was really psyched about Michael [director Michael Bay] doing a story with three-dimensional characters like these who you could really delve into to see what makes them tick. KW: A Michael Bay flick with both that trademark action as well as some complex character development. It felt almost like I was watching a new genre of film. AM: That’s what made me so happy about it. When he explained to me what he was trying to do with this movie, it was something that I felt was right up my alley and that I wanted to be a part of. KW: I saw you on several talk shows …
Posted in Celebrity Profile | Leave a commentFAST & FURIOUS 6 in Theaters May 24
May 20, 2013Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent in Fast & Furious 6. Reuniting for their most high-stakes adventure yet, fan favorites Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Elsa Pataky are joined by badass series newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano. Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete. Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again. Building on the worldwide blockbuster success of Fast Five and taking the action, stunts and narrative to even greater heights, Fast & Furious 6 sees director Justin Lin back behind the camera for the fourth time. He is supported by longtime producers Neal H. Moritz and Vin Diesel, who welcome producer Clayton Townsend back to the series. http://www.thefastandthefurious.com/?__source=ggl|fast+furious|Brand|G_Fast6_Release_Brand&sky=ggl|fast+furious|Brand|G_Fast6_Release_Brand FAST & FURIOUS 6 in Theaters May 24
Posted in Cinema | Leave a commentChris “Ludacris” Bridges Cruises the Red Carpet at a VIP Screening of FAST & FURIOUS 6 in Atlanta!
May 20, 2013Grammy-winning rapper and actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges cruised into Atlanta to promote the upcoming Universal Studios release FAST & FURIOUS 6 with a VIP screening for some of the city’s most notable celebrities Thursday, May 16. Guests mingled with Atlanta’s elite including Monica and Shannon Brown, Young Jeezy and Keisha Knight Pulliam. Those in attendance had a chance to taste Ludacris’ Conjure Cognac as well as experience Atlanta’s trendiest new movie theater, Cinebistro at Town Brookhaven. Ludacris posed for photos and introduced the film to a packed house ready to jumpstart the latest addition to the FAST &FURIOUS franchise. Everyone cheered in preparation for the release of FAST & FURIOUS 6 nationwide, Friday, May 24.
Posted in Photos | Leave a commentPresidential Proclamation — African-American Music Appreciation Month, 2013
May 20, 2013BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A PROCLAMATION Since our Nation’s founding, people from every walk of life have set out to capture the American experience not just in poetry or prose, but also in the timeless quality of song. When the outcome of a revolution hung in the balance, drums and fifes filled brave patriots with the strength to carry on. When slavery kept millions in bondage, spirituals gave voice to a dream of true and lasting freedom. Through every generation, music has reflected and renewed our national conversation, bringing us together and reminding us of the humanity we share. African-Americans have always had a hand in shaping the American sound. From gospel and Motown to bebop and blues, their story is bound up in the music they made — songs of hurt and hardship, yearning and hope, and struggle for a better day. Those feelings speak to something common in all of us. With passion and creativity, African-American performers have done more than reinvent the musical styles they helped define; they have channeled their music into making change and advancing justice, from radio booths to the stage to our city streets. That story is still unfolding today. We see it in the young poet putting his words to a beat; the conservatory student perfecting her technique; the jazz musician making old melodies new again. During African-American Music Appreciation Month, let us celebrate these artists and the generations who inspired them, and let us reflect on our heritage as a Nation forever enriched by the power of song. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2013 as African-American Music …
Posted in Movie News | Leave a comment3rd Annual DERBY BRUNCH HATWALK Mother’s Day Weekend
May 14, 20133rd Annual Derby Brunch Hatwalk Brings Kentucky Derby Flair & Garden Fashions to Atlanta Mother’s Day Weekend at Villa Christina EVENT FEATURES: Hatwalk Garden Party featuring the Hatwalk Marketplace and live entertainment by the band Sol Factor Hatwalk Competition crowning the 2013 Hatwalk Divas judged by Chakiva Felder – Ms. Georgia Plus America Pop-Up Hatwalk E-Boutique offering the latest hat fashions this Spring and other Mother’s Day gift items onsite at the Pop-up Hatwalk E-Boutique, which is derived from an online store where 100% of sales proceeds benefit T.R.I.P. Hatwalk Brunch provided a full presentation from T.R.I.P. organizers along with fun activities for attendees. Raffle Tickets will be sold on-site for $5 with prizes ranging from gift cards to 2013 season Falcons tickets. The Derby Brunch Hatwalk raises much–needed funds for T.R.I.P. — a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization created to rebuild communities of color in need. Visit www.tripusa.org for more info. Sonya’s Spotlight Web Mag Coverage of The Derby Brunch Hatwalk Sponsored by WWW.GRANDDIVAENTERPRISES.COM Shop at WWW.GRANDDIVAENTERPRISES.COM for a Grand Chapeaux for your next Grand Event.
Posted in Music & Film | 1 CommentPEEPLES – In Theaters May 10
May 4, 2013SYNOPSIS: Sparks fly when Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) crashes the preppy Peeples annual reunion in the Hamptons to ask for their precious daughter Grace’s (Kerry Washington) hand in marriage. Wade might be a fish-out-of-water among this seemingly perfect East Coast clan, but he’s not about to let himself flounder. Instead, in a wild weekend of fun, dysfunction and hilarious surprises, Wade is about to discover there’s room for all kinds of Peeples in this family, no matter their differences. Writer and first-time director Tina Gordon Chism (writer of DRUMLINE) joins forces with Tyler Perry to present a laugh-out-loud look at the family ties that freak us out . . . but bind us together with love. Tyler Perry Presents “PEEPLES” stars Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tyler Williams, Melvin Van Peebles, and Diahann Carroll, and is written and directed by Tina Gordon Chism. PEEPLES is a presentation of Lionsgate and 34th Street Films, and a 34th Street Films/ Stephanie Allain/Paul Hall/Lionsgate production.
Posted in Cinema | Leave a commentOWN Sets Premieres for Tyler Perry’s Scripted Series, Greenlights Two Shows
May 2, 2013by Philiana Ng The network schedules a night filled with specials ahead of the May launches for Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots” and “Love Thy Neighbor.” OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is going all out in the lead-up to the debut of Tyler Perry‘s scripted efforts. Ahead of the launches of one-hour ensemble drama The Haves and the Have Nots and half-hour sitcom Love Thy Neighbor, OWN is rolling out what it is calling “event programming” days prior to the May premieres. The network has scheduled a special episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 26, where Oprah Winfrey will interview Perry at his home. The one-hour sit-down will be followed by a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Have Nots and Neighbor in Atlanta at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., respectively, with Tyler Perry Comes to OWN: Behind the Scenes. Two days later, OWN premieres Have Nots — starring John Schneider and Renee Lawless — at 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 28. Neighbor, toplined by Patrice Lovely, Andre Hall and Kendra C. Johnson, kicks off with back-to-back episodes starting at 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 29. Have Nots follows the dynamic between the rich and powerful Cryer family and the hired help who work in their opulent mansion in Savannah, Ga. Neighbor takes place at the family-run Love Train Diner where every day’s menu includes food, laughs, life lessons and love. OWN also has added two unscripted series to its slate. Millionaire Mama’s Boy follows the relationship between former WNBA basketball star Pamela McGee and her 25-year-old son, Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee. The Sony TV series is executive produced by Pete Tartaglia and Amy Palmer Robertson. Houston Beauty (working title) centers on Glenda Jemison, owner and director of Franklin Beauty School, the oldest continuously operated …
Posted in Highlight | Leave a commentBrandy: Addresses Violent Relationships in “Temptation”
May 1, 2013By Rych McCain She has been a superstar fixture on the Hollywood scene since she was a teenager. She has sold over 40 million records worldwide, appeared on dozens of major magazine covers, acted in film and on TV and played live concerts around the globe. Brandy Norwood’s latest album “Two Eleven” debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B Album chart. In her latest film role, Norwood plays Melinda, an abused woman as the result of a violent relationship in Tyler Perry’s latest offering “Temptation.” This role marks her return to the big screen after taking off a few years to be a mom. How did the character of Melinda relate with her? Norwood lights up: “You know what, I was so attracted to my character because of the struggles she had to face in different relationships. Sometimes women lose themselves in relationships and they camouflage and try to put on a different mask to make the relationship work. In her past, I felt that she found herself doing that and she did it too much where it really broke her down, tore her up, made her weak, vulnerable and now she’s on the run. Somewhere she thinks that’s brave and it’s not. It was so great to read a script like that and see the character unfold and almost have to be forced to confront her past so she can move on and become the woman that God created her to be.” What was Norwood’s reaction to being in a Tyler Perry movie? She reflects: “I was so happy to get a call from Tyler Perry mainly because he’s Tyler Perry! He said I want you to be in a movie and I said ‘You do – yes!’ What, am I going to say no? I was so happy …
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