Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Entertainment”

Lauryn Hill Released From Prison, Says Attorney

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2013

Lauryn Hill Released From PrisonDANBURY, Conn. — DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — Lauryn Hill’s attorney says she has been released from federal prison after serving time for failing to pay taxes.  Hill left the facility in Danbury, Connecticut today.  Her attorney Nathan Hochman says he hasn’t had a chance to speak to his client yet.

Hill pleaded guilty last year to not paying taxes on more than $1.5 million earned from 2005 to 2007. She was sentenced in July to serve three months. Under terms of her plea agreement, she’ll spend the next three months under home confinement. She lives in South Orange, N.J.
Hill, a former member of the Fugees and winner of multiple Grammys, has said she stopped paying taxes after she dropped out of the music business to protect herself and her children, who now number six.
article via huffingtonpost.com

Halle Berry To Star in CBS Drama Series ‘Extant’

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2013
Halle Berry CBS Show
Halle Berry will take her first major TV series role in “Extant,” the serialized drama from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and CBS Television Studios that CBS greenlit in August.  In addition, Berry and producing partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, have entered into a two-year, first look production deal with CBS Television Studios.
In “Extant,” Berry will play an astronaut returning from a year-long solo space mission who tries to reconnect with her husband and son in their everyday life. Her experiences in space and home lead to events that ultimately change the course of human history.
“I’m always on the lookout for amazing roles, and when you see material that contains this strong of auspices, nuance and complexity, it compels me to run toward it no matter the medium,” Berry said. “For five months a year, I’ll get to live with and play this incredibly intelligent and vulnerable woman, and for the remainder of the year I’ll continue to look for other roles that move me as deeply as this one.”

Geraldine Moriba Named Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for CNN Worldwide

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2013

gmoriba
CNN recently named Geraldine Moriba the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion.  In her new role, Moriba will offer strategic guidance on issues of diversity to the CNN Management team and chair the network’s diversity council.
Of her new position, CNN President Jeff Zucker said: “Geraldine is the ideal candidate to take on this very important role within the organization at a critical time for us,” said Zucker. “I had the pleasure of working with her prior to my time at CNN, and always found her to have a terrific sensibility and understanding of some of the complex issues we face when it comes to diversity and inclusion. As we look to reimagine what CNN will be in the years to come, this role on my team will be invaluable in shaping the kind of organization we want and need to have.”
Moriba, an award-winning producer who led CNN’s “In America” documentary team, is passionate about diverse content making it on air: “Some of the smartest journalists in the business work at CNN and I know that the prevailing sentiment in our newsrooms is that it is crucial for our content and workforce to reflect the audience we serve,” she said. “These are goals accomplished by working as a team. This isn’t only about pursuing a noble purpose, it’s about continuing to share news from across our increasingly diverse and interconnected world, in even more effective ways.”
Moriba’s experience includes 16 years at NBC News and a number of prestigious awards including Emmy Awards, an Alfred I. DuPont Award and two Peabody Awards.
article via clutchmagonline.com

Natural Girls United! Customizes Dolls With Natural Hair Styles

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2013

tumblr_mu0c14wDtL1rwazoko6_1280

Who needs a Barbie when you can get a customized doll with your favorite natural hair style? Karen Byrd started the The Natural Girls United! project to showcase the positive view of ethnic beauty.

tumblr_mu0c14wDtL1rwazoko3_1280
From Karen Byrd’s bio:

There have been quite a few studies done that show that African-American boys and girls often think of black dolls as bad and white dolls as good.  Of course, this is not something that the parent is teaching their child. So why are they getting these mixed messages about good and bad skin color, or good and bad hair?  It all has to do with the images they see as they grow up. If a child is constantly looking at images, dolls, television, books and magazines – and only seeing beauty as something or someone with non-ethnic features and long, straight hair – then they are going to assume that this is what beauty is. It is something that has hurt our young people for centuries.  

8810532

The Natural Girls United! come in a variety of styles. There’s dolls in dreadlocks, kinky twists, as well as short-cropped afros. Not to be left out, there’s even a male doll with dreadlocks. The prices range from $45.00-$140.00. For more information on the dolls, check out the site www.naturalgirlsunited.com or follow Natural Girls United on Twitter and Natural Girls United on Facebook.

article by Yesha Callahan via clutchmagonline.com

 

Forest Whitaker To Play Colin Powell in Feature Film

By goodblacknews on October 2, 2013
Forest Whitaker arrives at the premiere of the movie 'The Butler' during the 39th Deauville American Festival on August 30, 2013 in Deauville, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)
Forest Whitaker arrives at the premiere of the movie ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ during the 39th Deauville American Festival on August 30, 2013 in Deauville, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

Forest Whitaker is on a real winning streak.  This year his leading role in the blockbuster Lee Daniels’ The Butler is generating serious Oscar buzz, and now he has reportedly signed on to play former Secretary of State Colin Powell in an upcoming biopic.  Actor Jeffrey Wright previously played Powell in Oliver Stone’s 2008 film W, but the influential Republican has never had a standalone film of his own.

According to the A.V. Club, the new movie, entitled Powell, will “focus on that pivotal moment of Powell’s 2002 speech to the U.N., in which he dramatically claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and sacrificed his sterling reputation in the service of Bush’s desire to invade at all costs.”
The intended release date and the rest of the cast are currently unknown.
article via thegrio.com

Damon Wayans Jr. Sells Comedy Pilot to Fox Network

By goodblacknews on September 27, 2013
Damon Wayans Jr
Damon Wayans Jr. (Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)

Fox has landed “Man/Child,” a project from Damon Wayans Jr. with a pilot production commitment.  Comedy centers on two single dads who move in together and struggle to find the balance between being responsible parents and debaucherous bachelor.  “Wilfred” showrunners Reed Agnew and Eli Jorne will pen and executive produce “Man/Child,” with Wayans Jr. also executive producing.  “Modern Family” director Jason Winer will direct “Man/Child” and also receive an executive producer credit.  20th Century Fox TV and Small Dog Picture Company will produce the pilot.
“Man/Child” marks one of Wayans Jr.’s first forays behind the camera. The thesp, who hails from the comedic powerhouse Wayans family, appeared in Fox’s “New Girl” pilot before ankling the show and taking on a lead character on ABC’s “Happy Endings.” “Happy Endings” was cancelled after three seasons by ABC earlier this year.
article by AJ Marechal via Variety.com

Rick Owens Uses Step Dancers to Model His New Collection in Paris, With Fierce Results

By goodblacknews on September 26, 2013
Designer Rick Owens debuted his spring/summer 2014 collection in Paris today. In lieu of models, Owens called upon a team of step dancers to show off his clothing.  And dance!  They marched down a metal staircase… 
They marched down a metal staircase...
bjpandabear/Instagram / Via gramfeed.com
… and took to the runway.

... and took to the runway.
blamanda/Instagram / Via gramfeed.com

Wearing signature androgynous, monochromatic garb typical of Owens. Which was also probably pretty comfortable to dance in!



They performed a routine much more rigorous than mere cat-walking.  And about 1,000 times more interesting.  And the fashion crowd went mostly wild with praise.  This spectacle resulted in what might be the only literally fierce runway stills in the history of fashion.

see full article by Angela Vitello with video at buzzfeed.com

Obama Names ‘Scandal’ Creator Shonda Rhimes To Kennedy Center Board

By goodblacknews on September 26, 2013

The Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts is about to get a taste of some Olivia Pope – kind of.  On the day of the Season 10 debut of Grey’s Anatomy, President Barack Obama today used some of his patronage power and appointed Shonda Rhimes, the creator/EP of the medical drama and Scandal, to the Center’s Board of Trustees. Obama also appointed the Carlyle Group’s CEO David Rubenstein Empire Global Ventures’ CEO Alexandra Stanton, Chicago art gallery owner Amalia Pera Mahoney, FI Investment Group CEO Frank Islam and Entravision Communications’ CEO Walter Ulloa to the Board Thursday as well. “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead,” said Obama in a statement when making the announcements.
Rhimes was a big supporter of Obama’s campaigns for President as both a donor and even worked in a phone bank with Private Practice actress Kate Walsh for the candidate. Season 10 of Grey’s Anatomy premieres tonight on ABC with Season 3 of the D.C. political drama Scandal set to launch on October 3rd.
article by Dominic Patten via deadline.com

Jet Magazine Offers ‘The Best Man Holiday’ Scholarship To College Students

By goodblacknews on September 25, 2013

TheBestMan-610x250
Jet magazine has teamed up with NBC Universal’s movie The Best Man Holiday to present a scholarship awarded to five deserving college students.  The two partners have announced that they will be providing The Best Man Holiday Spring 2014 Scholarship – which has also received the sponsorship from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
“Jet is committed to the advancement of education for all individuals, especially those in the Black community, and I’m very excited that we have the opportunity to partner with NBC Universal to offer five students scholarship funds that may help further them toward earning a college degree,” said Jet magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Mitzi Miller in a statement.
“I love the first installment of The Best Man because it told a dynamic story of a group of diverse, adult friends who maintained a strong friendship since their years at college. What better way to celebrate such an inspiring narrative than to help a student finish college so they might one day enjoy that same experience.”  Students who are interested in applying should submit all materials by Tuesday, October 15 and winners will officially be announced in the November 25 issue of JET.
Visit JetMag.com for more information.
article by Lilly Workneh via thegrio.com

Three African-Americans Earn MacArthur Fellowships in 2013

By goodblacknews on September 25, 2013
Three African-American fellows have been named to this year's MacArthur Fellows. Pictured from left-right are Kyle Abraham, Tarell McCraney and Carrie Mae Weems. (Photos courtesy of The MacArthur Foundation)
Three African-American fellows have been named to this year’s MacArthur Fellows. Pictured from left-right are Kyle Abraham, Tarell McCraney and Carrie Mae Weems. (Photos courtesy of The MacArthur Foundation)

Twenty-four talented individuals were recognized Wednesday morning after they were named the 2013 class of MacArthur fellows – an honor given to an extraordinary group made up of individuals who have achieved much success in their personal creative pursuits.  This year, three African-Americans — Kyle Abraham, Tarell McCraney and Carrie Mae Weems – have been identified by the MacArthur Foundation and join the group of fellows who are each awarded $625,000 to use as they wish towards their creative visions.
“This year’s class of MacArthur Fellows is an extraordinary group of individuals who collectively reflect the breadth and depth of American creativity,” said Cecilia Conrad, Vice President, MacArthur Fellows Program.  “They are artists, social innovators, scientists, and humanists who are working to improve the human condition and to preserve and sustain our natural and cultural heritage. Their stories should inspire each of us to consider our own potential to contribute our talents for the betterment of humankind.”
In particular, the work of these three visonaries attempts to teach lessons and transform the ideas associated with the African-American experience.  Abraham is a New-York-based dancer and choreographer whose work is often inspired by some of his childhood memories growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.