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"Selma" Earns 4 Golden Globe Nominations; Viola Davis, Don Cheadle Also Honored

selma-movie
Film and television awards season continued ramping up as the nominations for the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards were announced this morning.

David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. in "Selma"; director Ava DuVernay (insert)
David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma”; director Ava DuVernay (insert)

Martin Luther King Jr. biopic “Selma” scored big with nominations not only for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Original Song (“Glory” by John Legend and Common) and Best Actor (David Oyelowo), but also with the first Golden Globe nomination for an African American female director, Ava DuVernay.
“Annie” star Quvenzanhé Wallis earned a nod in the Best Actress – Comedy or Musical category and in  television, Viola Davis was honored with a nom in the Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for her starring role in “How To Get Away With Murder.”  Don Cheadle was recognized in the Best Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical for his work in “House of Lies” and Uzo Aduba received a nod for her supporting work in “Orange is the New Black.”
The Golden Globes, hosted for the second year by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, will take place Jan. 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and air live on NBC at 8pm EST.
Below is the full list of nominations:
BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
BOYHOOD
IFC Productions and Detour Filmproduction; IFC Films
FOXCATCHER
Annapurna Pictures; Sony Pictures Classics
THE IMITATION GAME
Black Bear Pictures; The Weinstein Company
SELMA
Paramount Pictures and Pathé; Paramount Pictures
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Working Title Films; Focus Features

Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Uzo Aduba Nominated for 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards

2014 SAG nominees Viola Davis (l), Cicely Tyson (c) and Uzo Aduba (r)
2014 SAG nominees Viola Davis (l), Cicely Tyson (c) and Uzo Aduba (r)

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced the nominees for the 21st Annual SAG Awards today.  Among those honored were industry veteran Cicely Tyson, who earned a nod in the “Best Female Actor in a Television movie or Miniseries” category for her work in “A Trip to Bountiful.” (In 2013, the same role on Broadway earned Tyson a Tony Award for Best Actress.)
Viola Davis was recognized with a nomination in the Female Actor in a Drama Series category for ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder” and “Orange Is The New Black”‘s Uzo Abuda garnered a nod for Female Actor in a Comedy Series.
The SAG Awards will air live Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. PST on TBS and TNT from the Shrine Exposition Hall in Los Angeles.  The full list of nominees follows below:

‘Get On Up,’ ‘Selma,’ ‘Dear White People’ Score NAACP Image Award Nominations (Full List)

"Dear White People"
NAACP Image Award Best Picture nominee “Dear White People”

“Belle,” “Beyond the Lights,” “Dear White People,” “Get On Up” and “Selma” have grabbed top film nominations for the 46th annual NAACP Image Awards.

The Image Awards will be handed out Feb. 6 in a ceremony telecast live by TV One.
“Get On Up” star Chadwick Boseman, “Selma’s” David Oyelowo, Nate Parker of “Beyond the Lights,” Gugu Mbatha-Raw of “Belle” and Tessa Thompson of “Dear White People” are among the actors who were cited.
Boseman, Oyelowo and Mbatha-Raw are all portraying real-life people.
In the TV heat, ABC freshman “Black-ish” and “How to Get Away with Murder,” Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” BET’s “The Game” and “Being Mary Jane” were among the top nominees. ABC did well, earning three of the five drama-series nominations. Also notable was Lifetime’s scoring seven of the 10 nominations in the two lead acting categories for telefilm/miniseries/dramatic special.
Here is a full list of Image Award nominees:
MOTION PICTURE

Motion Picture

  • “Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)
  • “Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)
  • “Dear White People” (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)
  • “Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)
  • “Selma” (Paramount Pictures)

Actor in a Motion Picture

  • Chadwick Boseman – “Get On Up” (Universal Pictures)
  • David Oyelowo – “Selma” (Paramount Pictures)
  • Denzel Washington – “The Equalizer” (Columbia Pictures)
  • Idris Elba – “No Good Deed” (Screen Gems)
  • Nate Parker – “Beyond The Lights” (Relativity Media)
 Actress in a Motion Picture
  • Gugu Mbatha-Raw – “Belle” (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)
  • Quvenzhané Wallis – “Annie” (Columbia Pictures)
  • Taraji P. Henson – “No Good Deed” (Screen Gems)
  • Tessa Thompson – “Dear White People” (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)
  • Viola Davis – “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” (The Weinstein Company)

Aretha Franklin To Receive Billboard Women in Music Icon Award

Aretha-Franklin
After making history as the first female artist to have 100 hits on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, Aretha Franklin blazes yet another trail as the first recipient of Billboard Women in Music’s Icon Award.
Franklin’s latest achievement was announced by Billboard, which gives the award to a female artist whose music has helped shape the industry. Although Jennifer Lopez received an Icon Award last year at the Billboard Music Awards, Franklin’s honor marks the first time the award has been at Billboard’s annual Women in Music awards luncheon.
The event, which will also honor Ariana Grande for Rising Star and Idina Menzel for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, will take place Dec. 12.
The Billboard Women in Music awards recognize female music executives for helping to make a difference in the music industry.
article by Qwest7 via eurweb.com

Kerry Washington to Star in Warner Bros. Thriller "Unforgettable"

Kerry Washington Starring in Unforgettable
Kerry Washington (AMY GRAVES/GETTY IMAGES)

“Scandal” actress Kerry Washington is in talks to star in the Warner Bros. thriller “Unforgettable,” sources confirm. The deal is still in the early stages but sources say both sides are determined to get a deal worked out.
“Belle” director Amma Asante is set to direct the film, which centers on a man whose new wife is menaced by his ex-wife. Warner Bros.-based Denise DiNovi is producing with partner Alison Greenspan. Christina Hodson is writing the script for “Unforgettable.”
article by Justin Kroll via Variety.com

Pharrell Williams Honored with Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

An honor: Pharrell Williams was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday for his acclaimed career in music
On top of his seven Grammy awards, Pharrell’s success is now cemented in the streets of LA.  The singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday.

In line with his stylish reputation, the superstar appeared in a bright jacket from his line, Billionaire Boys Club, and acid wash jeans adorned with the Adidas logo on his bum.  He finished off the fun look with red Chanel combat boots and a hat with a graphic blue-and-yellow ribbon.

Family affair: The 41-year-old was joined by his family, including wife Helen Lasichanh and son Rocket
Family affair: The 41-year-old was joined by his family, including wife Helen Lasichanh and son Rocket

His wife Helen Lasichanh and son Rocket clapped as the 41-year-old accepted his award and listened to a speech by dear friend, Ellen DeGeneres.

“It’s not possible to experience constant euphoria, but if you’re grateful, you can find happiness in everything.  While I’ve expressed gratitude many times for what my song “Happy” did for me personally, I will never stop saying thank you,” he wrote.
 article by Ariela Kozin via dailymail.co.uk

Filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood Issues Urgent Open Letter; Support Black Film #BeyondTheLights

gina prince bythewood
Writer-Producer-Director Gina Prince-Bythewood issues Open Letter about her film Beyond The Lights. ” We need positive images to counter the negative portrayals we see every day.”

After the first preview audience screening of “Love & Basketball” a 17 year-old Black boy said, “The movie taught me how to love.” Fourteen years later, after the first preview audience screening of “beyond the lights,” a 17 year-old Black boy said, “I didn’t really believe in hope and love before, but this movie changed me.” That is why I make movies. Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to the world.
nate & gina

I love movies. And I dig a great love story; the kind that wrecks me, then builds me back up and leaves me inspired. I write what I want to see. I wanted to make a love story with two people of color in the lead. Not a romantic comedy. A love story. “Beyond the Lights” took incredible fight to get made. Four years of writing, and two years of overcoming “no.” Every studio balked. Twice. But I kept fighting. What gave me the courage was “Love & Basketball.” Every studio turned down that film, too. But I never gave up because I believed in it with my whole heart and soul.

I had the same passion for this story. People ask me all the time if I feel discriminated against as a black female director and I actually don’t. I get offered a ton of stuff. But I like to direct what I’ve written. I feel what’s discriminated against are my choices, which is to focus on people of color as real people. Those are the films that rarely get made and those are the films that take a lot more fight. But I’m up for the fight, because if we don’t fight for this we stay invisible. I want us to look up on the screen and see ourselves reflected beautifully. I want us to look up on screen and learn how to love the right way. I want us to look up on screen and see a black man who is strong, sexy, complicated, and real. I want us to look up on screen and see a black woman fighting to find her voice, find her authentic self and be brave enough to live an authentic life. I want us to look up on screen and be inspired to want more for ourselves, to want to love, and to love ourselves.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4A5GDmwUv4&w=560&h=315]
There is a perception within our community and the world that black people don’t love each other. That we don’t fight for each other. That perception is so dangerous. We need positive images to counter the negative portrayals we see every day. And positive doesn’t mean perfect. Perfect is boring. I want real. But more than anything, “beyond the lights” is a really good movie experience that I don’t want you to miss. It is the kind of movie that should be shared. That collective explosive reaction to character, story, and music is fun. The advanced screenings have been like revivals. Audiences break into applause during the movie. Phenomenal performances. Insane chemistry between Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker.  Dope music.  Beautifully complex mother/daughter and father/son relationships that are rarely explored with people of color.  You will laugh. You may cry.  You will feel.  And you may be changed.  I hope you check out the film over this holiday weekend.  It is a time to be grateful.  It is time to be inspired. It is a time to fight.
Gina Prince-Bythewood

Carlton Wins! Alfonso Ribeiro Voted Champion of "Dancing With The Stars", Takes Home Mirror Ball Trophy

New champion: Alfonso Ribeiro held the mirror ball trophy up high on Tuesday night after winning the 19th season of Dancing With The Stars

His dance partner said: “He’s one of the most hard working people I’ve ever met.”  Turning to the “Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air” star, Carson added: “You deserve it.”

article via dailymail.co.uk

Viola Davis Producing ABC Drama Based on Michigan Prosecutor Kym Worthy

Viola Davis and Kym Worthy
Viola Davis and Kym Worthy

”How To Get Away With Murder” star Viola Davis is about to step behind the camera for her next project… another ABC drama, about another powerful female lawyer.
Davis and her producing partner Julius Tennon have teamed with producer Debra Martin Chase (“Sparkle”) for “Conviction,” a legal drama inspired by the life of Kym Worthy, the chief prosecutor of Wayne County, MI, known as the toughest woman in Detroit, reports Deadline.com.
Worthy became the second African-American to serve as a county prosecutor in Michigan when she was appointed as chief prosecutor of Wayne County in 2004. She is known for a number of high-profile cases, like filing charges against Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and her campaign to clear a massive backlog of 11,000 unprocessed rape test kits in Detroit.
The script is being written by Jason Wilborn (“Damages”), with Jeff Melvoin (“Army Wives”) on board as show runner.  Davis and Tennon are executive producing through their JuVee Productions, and Martin Chase through her Martin Chase Prods. ABC Studios, where Martin Chase Prods. has an overall deal, is the studio.
Also executive producing are Kim Swann and Leah Keith who brought Worthy’s story to Hollywood, and Melvoin, while Wilborn serves as co-executive producer and Martin Chase Prods.’ Charles Pugliese as producer. Worthy will serve as a consultant.
In addition to “Conviction,” Swann is developing several projects with Worthy as her producing partner. Keith is adapting her novel “A Rented Life” into a feature. At ABC and ABC Studios, Martin Chase Prods. also has a limited series in development based on the book Catherine The Great by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Massie with a script by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael Cristofer (“Gia”).
article via eurweb.com

Beyoncé, John Legend and Juicy J Win American Music Awards

Beyonce
Beyoncé (PHOTO CREDIT: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/ GETTY)

It was a big night in music last night at the American Music Awards. Beyoncé and John Legend won the Favorite Female and Male awards in the Soul/R&B category.  Mrs. Carter also won the Favorite Album award for her latest album, Beyoncé.

The night’s big winners also included soulful newcomer Sam Smith for Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock and Katy Perry featuring Juicy J took home Single of the Year for “Dark Horse.”  See the full list of winners below:

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
Imagine Dragons
WINNER: One Direction
OneRepublic
FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
WINNER: Iggy Azalea “The New Classic”
Drake “Nothing Was The Same”
Eminem “The Marshall Mathers LP 2”
FAVORITE ARTIST – LATIN
Marc Anthony
WINNER: Enrique Iglesias
Romeo Santos
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
John Legend
WINNER: Sam Smith
Pharrell Williams