The 2019 Sundance Film Festival wrapped up this weekend in Park City, Utah, and we’ve got the skinny on some of the nudity seen at the festival!… read more
B lack directors are making power moves in the entertainment industry. Many of them are racking up accolades for their work while breaking down racial barriers in an effort to ensure that the next generation of Black filmmakers have a seat at the table. One of those trailblazers is Chinonye Chukwu . Chukwu recently made history at the Sundance Film Festival by becoming the first Black woman to win the Grand Jury Prize for her movie Clemency , IndieWire reported. #Sundance2019 : “Clemency” Filmmaker Chinonye Chukwu Is First Black Woman to Win Festival's Biggest Prize https://t.co/jLS5yQ2RP4 pic.twitter.com/3w88ZlmiAc — IndieWire (@IndieWire) February 3, 2019 The prize is the highest honor that is given at the festival, the news outlet writes. Chukwu’s film —which stars Alfre Woodard , Danielle Brooks , Wendell Pierce , and Aldis Hodge —is centered on a prison warden who has to carry out death row executions. The film explores how doing the executions has a psychological impact. Chukwu, who wrote and directed the film, is humbled by the honor. “When everybody was saying ‘No’ this story does not have an audience, you, Sundance and the people who have seen this film have proven that there is an audience for this film, and I thank you,” she said in a statement, according to Deadline . “I wrote this because I wanted audiences, I wanted us, I wanted myself to connect with the ecosystem of humanity’s connected to incarceration, so we as a society can stop defining people by their worst possible acts, that we can end mass incarceration, and dismantle the mass prison industrial complex, and root our societies in true justice and mercy and freedom, which is all tied to our joy inside, that nobody can ever incarcerate or execute.” The filmmaker joins a distinguished list of pivotal directors who have won the Grand Jury Prize for their U.S. Dramatic entries, including Ryan Coogler , Damien Chazelle , and Desiree Akhavan . Black women in entertainment are starting off the year strong. In January, Marsai Martin made history as Hollywood’s youngest executive producer, Regina Hall became the first Black woman to receive a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress, and Taraji P. Henson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. SEE ALSO: #BlackExcellence: Taraji P. Henson To Receive Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame #BossMoves: 14-Year-Old Marsai Martin To Become Youngest Hollywood Executive Producer In History [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3845349″ overlay=”true”]
What Men Want hits theaters next week. The latest movie was super producer Will Packer that stars Taraji P Henson tells the story of Ali Davis, a successful black woman trying to make partner at a big sports agency in Atlanta that has clients like Lisa Leslie , Shaquille O’Neal and more. When she gets passed up for a big promotion to someone who isn’t as good as she is, Ali starts wonders what else she needs to do to succeed in a man’s world. Hoping to find answers from a psychic who makes her drink a weird concoction that suddenly allows her to hear what men are thinking. Using her newfound ability, Ali starts to turn the tables on her obnoxious male colleagues while racing to sign the next basketball superstar. This movie highlights a strong woman who isn’t afraid to make the first move on a guy, puts her career first and is willing to stop at nothing to get to the top. While watching this hilarious tale of Ali Davis I drew a parallel to some of my successful Black female friends who haven’t been able to find love. So I asked Taraji her thoughts on why men are cautious when approaching successful Black women. Taraji thinks when Black women label themselves as strong it can scar potential dates away. Taraji explained that “A lot of men feel like they don’t have anything to offer,” a successful Black woman but they need to, “Stop thinking of it in terms of material things. Usually, when a woman is successful and she’s made her way in the world and she’s got her money, she’s financially stable — What she needs and what’s often missing is the emotional support. Sometimes that’s literally what we need from a man. We need emotional support and to feel loved unconditionally.” That What Men Want star goes on to explain that when she has to go out in the world and fight her battles and prove her worth she needs a man at home who is saying, ‘Baby you can do it.’ Taraji goes on to explain how calling yourself a strong black woman can scare potential men you want to date away. In What Men Want Taraji’s ambition does come into play with her relationship interest in the film, which is played by former Underground star Aldis Hodge. The ups and downs of their relationship journey lead to some really funny on camera moments that make What Men Want extremely funny helping 2019 continue Hollywood’s run at some extremely great films. So on February 8th so see What Men Want if you want to see a funny movie that pushes gender norms while entertaining to the masses.
Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty via Madamenoire : In 2019, talented women are still relying on men to advocate on their behalf for deserved higher salaries at work. Oscar winner Octavia Spencer revealed during a Sundance panel mentioned that basketball champion, LeBron James ,had to vouch for her to receive a higher pay for her role in their upcoming Netflix series. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit James is producing the Madame C.J. Walker series, that documents the life of the first Black female millionaire in U.S. history. “I have to say, when I was negotiating my deal for Madam C.J., LeBron James had to intervene,” Spencer said, according to IndieWire. “So we need all our male counterparts to be in the fight with us.” Spencer’s admission comes almost a year to the day where she confessed another ally, actress Jessica Chastain , vouched for more pay for Octavia for their 2011 film, “ The Help .” SEE ALSO: Octavia Spencer To Play Hair Mogul Madam CJ Walker In New Netflix Series “I love that woman, because she’s walking the walk and she’s actually talking the talk,” Spencer said of her former co-star. “She said, ‘Octavia we’re gonna get you paid on this film. You and I are gonna be tied together. We’re gonna be favored nations, and we’re gonna make the same thing.’ Fast forward to last week, we’re making five times what we asked for.” While it’s incredible that both men and women have aligned themselves to help the actress get paid what she deserves, it’s still disturbing that without these allies, Black women would continually be left behind in the race for equality. “I think my goal is to make sure that all women of color get equal pay, and all women get equal pay,” Spencer told audiences at the Sundance panel. “The only way to do it is to have these conversations, to talk numbers with your costars. Jessica and I stood together, and that was interesting that she would take that position — well, I mean, she is Jessica Chastain — but we also need advocates and allies in negotiating.” Check out photos of Octavia Spencer on the red carpet below! ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Cardi B and Offset Are Reportedly Back Together Woman Speaks Out After Alleged Sexual Assault Inside An Atlanta Night Club ‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Hospitalized In Chicago After Alleged Homophobic Attack [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”1874031″ overlay=”true”] Follow @TheRSMS
Jermaine Jackson wants no parts of the ‘ Leaving Neverland’ documentary , which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and details the explosive sexual assault allegations against his brother Michael Jackson . On Wednesday, Jermaine appeared on Good Morning Britain to defend his late brother and speak on behalf of the entire Jackson clan, saying: “I’m a thousand percent sure because Michael was tried by a jury and he was acquitted on all of this because there was no real evidence. There was nothing there. I will say this, our family are tired, very tired. Let this man rest. He did a lot for the world, let him rest. I will say this, there is no truth to this documentary.” He added: “We are living in a time when people can say anything and then it’s taken as truth… they would rather believe a documentary than what was said under oath. We are still mourning… just leave us alone, leave him alone. Let him rest, please, let him rest. He deserves to rest.” The controversial four-hour exposé will premiere on HBO this spring. Will you be watching?
Michael Jackson has been dead for nearly a decade now. But the absence of this iconic singer has not prevented new and VERY disturbing allegations of child abuse from being leveled against the King of Pop. There's a new documentary coming to HBO that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival last week — it's titled Leaving Neverland and it focuses on Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck 40, both of whom claim Jackson abused them as children. The film delves deeply into these heinous charges, too. Such as what? We've listed many of them below, courtesy of what Robson and Safechuck say in this documentary. Be warned, however, many of these stories (if true) are legitimately horrifying… 1. We’ll Start with Robson He was five when he met Jackson after winning a dance contest on the Australian leg of the singer’s 1987 Bad tour. 2. The Misconduct Started Early Robson claims the abuse started when he was seven years old and Jackson introduced him to pornography and alcohol. 3. YIKES: Robson says the artist had a cardboard cut-out of Peter Pan in his bedroom, which he would look at while he masturbated behind him. 4. Who Was Safechuck? He was a young actor who was 10 years old when he struck up a friendship with Jackson after starring in a Pepsi commercial alongside the superstar. 5. A Jarring Confession Safechuck says he started staying the night in MJ’s bed on a frequent basis — and claims the star told him he had performed oral sex on him while he was asleep. 6. I Was the First “He told me I was his first sexual experience,” Safechuck says in the film. View Slideshow
This week we take a look at a hit from this year’s Sundance Film Festival that goes into limited release this weekend, along with five skin-filled flicks released on August 10 in years past!… read more
Get ready folks, because this is gonna knock your dick in the dirt! Absolutely ageless actress Heather Graham is celebrating her 48th birthday today! … read more
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