Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Movies”

Mellody Hobson Appointed Chairman Of DreamWorks Animation

By goodblacknews on October 25, 2012

Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, LLC, a Chicago-based investment firm managing over $3 billion in assets, and one of the largest African American-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the United States, has been named DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Chairman of the Board.  Roger Enrico, who served as Chairman since 2004, has resigned, effective immediately. 

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world.  DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE® Magazine for four consecutive years. In 2012, DreamWorks Animation ranks #14 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are now being produced in 3D.

The Company has theatrically released a total of 24 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of “Shrek,” “Madagascar,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “How to Train Your Dragon.”  The Company’s theatrical releases for the current year are “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” on June 8, 2012 and “Rise of the Guardians” on November 21, 2012.

article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

R.I.P. Native American Activist And Actor Russell Means

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2012

Russell Means Died Last Of The MohicansActivist and actor Russell Means died of cancer Monday at his home in Porcupine, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He was 72. A prominent member of the American Indian movement, he was instrumental in Marlon Brando having a Native American accept Brando’s Best Actor Oscar at the 1973 Academy Awards as a way of highlighting the plight of American Indians. Means also appeared in several films: He debuted as an actor in Michael Mann’s 1992 film The Last Of The Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis, and his big-screen credits include Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers and the voice of the Powhatan in Disney’s 1995 animated Pocahontas as well as the 1998 sequel. Means also appeared on TV in show such as HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and CBS’ Nash Bridges.

article via deadline.com

RZA Releases Short Animated Prequel To “The Man With The Iron Fists”

By goodblacknews on October 21, 2012

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoPkmD8RC9U&w=560&h=315]

As was announced at the end of September, ahead of the film’s theatrical opening, RZA has released a short animated version of the film on Machinima’s YouTube channel, which he worked on with Eric Calderon (writer/producer of Afro Samurai).  The Man With The Iron Fists will see a USA theatrical release on November 2.  It stars RZA himself, Russell Crowe, Pam Grier, Lucy Liu and others; Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth served as producers on this $20 million project.

Octavia Spencer Gets Deal To Write Books For Middle Schoolers

By goodblacknews on October 12, 2012
Octavia Spencer, a cast member in the film "Smashed," posing for a portrait at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, file)Octavia Spencer, a cast member in the film “Smashed,” posing for a portrait at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, file)

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press via thegrio.com

Bahamas To Get ‘Sidney Poitier’ Bridge

By goodblacknews on October 10, 2012
Sidney Poitier attends the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Shirley MacLaine held at Sony Pictures Studios on June 7, 2012 in Culver City, California. The AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Shirley MacLaine will premiere on TV Land on Saturday, June 24 at 9PM ET/PST. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)Sidney Poitier attends the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Shirley MacLaine held at Sony Pictures Studios on June 7, 2012 in Culver City, California. The AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Shirley MacLaine will premiere on TV Land on Saturday, June 24 at 9PM ET/PST. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — A bridge in the Bahamas is being renamed to honor Sidney Poitier, who spent part of his childhood in the island chain east of Florida.  Prime Minister Perry Christie says the Paradise Island Bridge will be rechristened as part of next month’s 40th anniversary celebration of Bahamian independence. Christie says the 88-year-old film star is being honored because of his life story and diplomacy. Poitier has been Bahamian ambassador to Japan and UNESCO.

The Oscar-winning Poitier was born in the United States but spent much of his childhood on Cat Island, a sparsely populated island in the central Bahamas.  The Paradise Island Bridge is the largest in the Bahamas. It connects the capital to the Atlantis resort, one of the region’s top tourist destinations. The renaming was announced Tuesday.

story by The Associated Press via thegrio.com

Octavia Spencer Covers Elle Magazine's Women in Hollywood Issue

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2012

(Photo: Elle Magazine)

Bet.com reports that Academy Award-Winning actress Octavia Spencer graces the cover of Elle Magazine’s Women in Hollywood issue this month. Spencer wears a Tadashi Shoji cocktail dress in the photo, and in her article, she recounts her struggles and triumphs in the entertainment industry, including needing to stand up for herself when she was bullied by an industry icon in a room full of people.
“Early on I had to stand up to a producer — I won’t say who, but he is famous, famous. He dressed me down in a crowded office. I told him right there in front of a hundred people, ‘You don’t know me well enough to use that tone’…And then I ran to the bathroom and cried like a baby. But he never addressed me that way again. And he is known as a yeller.”
The Women in Hollywood November 2012 issue, which also features young actresses Elle Fanning and Emma Watson on two other covers, hits newsstands October 16.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

Octavia Spencer Covers Elle Magazine’s Women in Hollywood Issue

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2012

(Photo: Elle Magazine)

Bet.com reports that Academy Award-Winning actress Octavia Spencer graces the cover of Elle Magazine’s Women in Hollywood issue this month. Spencer wears a Tadashi Shoji cocktail dress in the photo, and in her article, she recounts her struggles and triumphs in the entertainment industry, including needing to stand up for herself when she was bullied by an industry icon in a room full of people.

“Early on I had to stand up to a producer — I won’t say who, but he is famous, famous. He dressed me down in a crowded office. I told him right there in front of a hundred people, ‘You don’t know me well enough to use that tone’…And then I ran to the bathroom and cried like a baby. But he never addressed me that way again. And he is known as a yeller.”

The Women in Hollywood November 2012 issue, which also features young actresses Elle Fanning and Emma Watson on two other covers, hits newsstands October 16.

article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

RZA Is Making An 'Iron Fist' Animated Short w/ 'Afro Samurai' Creator, Ahead Of Feature Release

By goodblacknews on October 1, 2012

The rapper turned actor/director’s feature film directorial debut, and one of the projects that made it on my fall 2012 list of films to see, The Man With The Iron Fists, will see a USA theatrical release on November 2.  It stars RZA himself, Russell Crowe, Pam Grier, Lucy Liu and others; Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth served as producers on this $20 million project. 

RZA Is Making An ‘Iron Fist’ Animated Short w/ ‘Afro Samurai’ Creator, Ahead Of Feature Release

By goodblacknews on October 1, 2012

The rapper turned actor/director’s feature film directorial debut, and one of the projects that made it on my fall 2012 list of films to see, The Man With The Iron Fists, will see a USA theatrical release on November 2.  It stars RZA himself, Russell Crowe, Pam Grier, Lucy Liu and others; Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth served as producers on this $20 million project. 

Nigerian Director/Producer Tony Abulu Creates Film "Doctor Bello" To Help Legitimize Nollywood

By goodblacknews on September 30, 2012
Tony Abulu, center; with Bern Cohen, left; and Andre Leigh during the filming of “Doctor Bello.” (Ángel Franco/The New York Times)

On the surface the production that commandeered a few dormant rooms at the Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital on Roosevelt Island this year resembled many other low-budget film projects in New York City. Crew members were each handling multiple jobs. Those from out of town were spending their short nights on friends’ couches. The catering consisted of a box of Dunkin’ Donuts and a carton of coffee, both empty by late morning.

The film “Doctor Bello” also features Genevieve Nnaji, left; Isaiah Washington, center; and Olumide Bakare.
But despite the production’s humble appearance there was a lot riding on it. Its director and producer, Tony Abulu, and his financial backers say the film, “Doctor Bello,” has the potential to chart a new direction for the booming Nigerian film industry half a world away.
That industry, known as Nollywood, is perhaps the world’s third-largest filmmaking industry in revenues, producing more than 1,000 titles every year. But the industry is known for churning out slapdash films with feeble story lines, amateurish acting and sloppy production values. Nearly all go straight to video and are soon forgotten.