Oprah Winfrey Says A Wrinkle in Time Is Like the New The Wizard of Oz
Ava DuVernay didn't read Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel A Wrinkle in Time as a young girl. But, when she agreed to direct the $100 million movie for Disney, she had some stipulations. Chief among them: The director wanted to hire a diverse cast of characters. "I wasn't just casting for actresses," she says in the current issue of TIME. "I was casting for leaders—icons."
And did she ever. Mindy Kaling, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon were cast as Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatsit, respectively, while Rowan Blanchard, Zach Galifianakis, André Holland, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Deric McCabe, Levi Miller, Michael Peña and Chris Pine round out the star-studded cast. "Reese is the hottest producer in town. Oprah's the most prolific, venerable legend of television and an artist and entrepreneur. And Mindy's one of the few women running a show with her name, about her," DuVernay says of beloved Hollywood trio. "When I think about the three of them together as a unit of celestial beings, it feels right."
Newcomer Storm Reid was cast in the lead role of Meg Murray. After seeing the young star's audition, DuVernay tells the magazine, "She became the benchmark for what I was looking for."
From the start, DuVernay was nervous. "Women directors, we're not getting people just saying, 'Hey, let's talk about this $100 million sci-fi epic." But Tendo Nagenda, a Disney executive who gave her the script, was persistent. "Ava, imagine the worlds you can create," she recalls him saying. "And I said, 'Worlds?' He said, 'There are planets, and you get to decide what they look like.' I was just like, 'I do?' How many women hear that? How many people of color hear that?"
DuVernay impressed Witherspoon, who in the past has brought many books to the big screen. "I've never seen somebody demand inclusiveness like that. It's just a different perspective, and you don't get that unless we start to have powerful filmmakers of different colors, different genders," the Oscar winner says. "You're just gonna have the same 20 dudes making the same 20 movies over and over and over again." Winfrey agrees, recalling, "I looked at [DuVernay] in her jeans and sneakers and those dreads out there calling it. It's just the coolest damn thing to watch her with those big-ass machines. It just feels like, 'OK, next generation: There you are.'" In fact, Winfrey says, "I felt like we were making the new Wizard of Oz for another generation."
Having a biracial heroine will have profound impact on audiences, she adds. "When you don't see yourself, there is a subconscious psychological manifestation," she says. "It's diminishing." But to have someone who looks like Reid finally in the forefront? "That will have impact far beyond anything any marketer, any researcher, any of us even know," Winfrey promises TIME.
Walt Disney Pictures' A Wrinkle in Time premieres March 9, 2018.
#RHoA: Cynthia Bailey Is ‘Open’ to Marriage Following Divorce From Peter Thomas
Staying single! Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey vowed to stay single for one year after turning 50 in February — and it seems she is a woman of her word. The reality star sat down with the folks over at Us Weekly to talk about life post-divorce and how the dating world has changed.
The reality star admits that she has been on several dates since her divorce from Peter Thomas was finalized in March and has met them through the dating app, Raya. “I’m just going on dates and I’m just having fun. I have to eat. I may as well eat with someone that would like to take me to dinner,” Bailey told
However, the dating game isn’t what it used to be. In the 10 years she has been off the market, Bailey realized that “the cougar thing happened.”
“Apparently the older guys my age like young girls,” Bailey told Us. “No one calls anymore. It’s all about texting…just understanding emoji’s and stuff because apparently food emoji’s ain’t always talking about food. Rain ain’t really rain.”
Bailey has let viewers into her dating life, as she’s been seen on RHOA with motivational speaker Will Jones. She says he’s a “great guy,” but the Atlanta native is keeping her options open. “I don’t want to rush into anything. I want to take some time for myself. I’m just not really ready,” Bailey revealed.
But has she since changed her views on marriage? In 2016, the RHOA star said that she would “never marry again” after her split from Thomas.
“I still want love in my life. I don’t know if that love looks like a marriage, I don’t know if it looks like me living with him, him living with me. I don’t know what that looks like. I definitely want love in my life,” Bailey told Us. “It’s not like I’m looking for marriage but I’m open to it. It could just go either way for me.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays on Bravo at 8 p.m. ET.
#EMPIRE: Season 4 RECAP Dwight Who?
Lucious is getting tired of Cookie being so dismissive of him which also includes the bedroom. Lucious insists that just because he's missing a leg and his memory isn't fully intact doesn't mean he's not capable of satisfying her or defending his family. He claims vengeance is his, but Cookie makes it clear she's running the show when it comes to taking down the DuBois'. They've got one shot to put Diana down for good.
Cookie and Lucious' first act is to get rid of Angelo's chauffer and kidnap him. They want him to sign a confession, stating that Diana kidnapped Bella and then extorted Hakeem to get him to turn against his own family. Angelo claims he didn't know anything about that. It happened before his mama brought him on board. Angelo also points out that if he signs the confession under duress, it won't be admissible in court.
Lucious tells Angelo they have a lot in common. They both have controlling mothers who like to tear them down. Even though they're in a deserted alley, and Angelo knows how low the Lyons will go, he doesn't give in. The only thing he believes he has in common with Lucious is that they both banged Cookie.
Lucious snaps and begins to viciously beat Angelo, proving the old Lucious is still in there somewhere. Lucious' memory is returning, and when it comes to Angelo, all those memories are bad; so bad that Lucious wants to shoot Angelo in the head with the gun he brought. Because Cookie hurt Angelo way more than he hurt her, Lucious gives Angelo a choice. He can sign the confession or Diana gets her head blown off. Angelo chooses the former.
Next, it's time to head to the ball, and Cookie and Lucious are going to be Angelo's guests of honor. Lucious promises it will be the bloodiest damn ball they've ever had.
#MUSICNEWS: See Chris Brown Perform At Hot 97’s “Hot For The Holidays” Concert
Chris Brown turned up the heat with his performance at Hot 97’s annual “Home For The Holidays” concert, at New Jersey’s Prudential Center.
Breezy got the party started with his bouncy west coast bangers “Ayo” and “Loyal,” followed by his recent Trap-n-B cut “High End.” He then brought fans back with the classic “Yo (Excuse Me Miss),” and then returned current with “Questions” and “Hope You Do,” off his brand new album, Heartbreak On A Full Moon.
See the full performance HERE
#NEWHIPHOP: STREAM Jeezy’s Album ‘Pressure’
Jeezy is BACK with Pressure, the eighth album in his celebrated discography.
The Snowman arrives with a flurry of guests, including Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole on the highly-anticipated “American Dream.” Other combos include Kodak Black and YG (“Pressure”), Tory Lanez and Rick Ross (“Like Them”), and WizKid and Trey Songz (“The Life”).
The album is a reflection of Jeezy’s current lifestyle. “You know, we’re eight albums in, 12 years in the game, but I’m all about living the dream and living life right now, so you’re going to hear that in the music,” he told Billboard. “It’s lifestyle. I’m going to speak my truth. I’m going to let you know [on] this album: I really live it. If you aspire to be like me, I’m going to show you how to get that going. It ain’t about how I used to live, what I used to do; it’s real time right now.”
Let it snow. Stream Jeezy’s Pressure HERE
#AMTRAK: There are ‘Multiple fatalities’ after Amtrak train derails in Washington State!
Prayers up! An Amtrak train derailed in Washington state this morning, leaving “multiple fatalities” after part of the train careened off an overpass onto a heavily-trafficked highway below, a local official said.
The number of fatalities on board the train was not immediately clear, but no one was killed on the roadway of Interstate 5 below, according to the Pierce County Sheriff. Several motorists on the highway were injured when their vehicles were struck by the derailed train.
CBS News affiliate KIRO-TV reports first responders are treating the derailment as a mass casualty incident. Authorities have not yet provided details on injuries.
“Emergency crews are on the scene and the Amtrak Management is responding,” an Amtrak spokesperson said in a statement. “Some injuries are reported. Service between Seattle and Portland is suspended for the time being.”
Amtrak train 501, which departed shortly before 8 a.m. local time from Tacoma, was part of a new service that launched Monday morning. The train is able to carry up to 250 people, but Amtrak said there were approximately 78 passengers and five crew members on board at the time.
#Beyonce her ‘Drunk in Love’ Video Lawsuit has been Dismissed!
According to our friends over at theJasmineBRAND Beyonce is no longer facing a lawsuit over her ‘Drunk In Love’ music video.
Here’s the TEAS: Dwayne Walker, the man who filed the lawsuit, filed a voluntary dismissal of the entire lawsuit. The suit, which was filed in Minnesota, was voluntarily dismissed, without prejudice to either party, earlier this month.
Here’s the backstory: Walker, the man who created the legendary Roc-A-Fella logo, sued Beyonce accusing her of copyright infringement, for featuring her husband’s ex-record label logo in the music video they both starred in.
Jay Z and Damon Dash founded Roc-A-Fella back in 1996 and ran the record label together until Jay left and signed a deal with Live Nation in 2009. Walker says he owns the artwork and copyrighted the logo with the United States Copyright Office. Despite his copyright, he says Beyonce used the logo prominently throughout her music video without his permission.
He points out the video has been viewed over 398 million times and the singer has also publicly displayed the logo on several other occasions, including promotional photos and other photo shoots.
Walker claims he has notified Beyonce of the infringement and she hasn’t ceased the infringing use of his work. He sued demanding an injunction against Beyonce from using the Roc-A-Fella logo permanently, a court order forcing Beyonce to deliver for impoundment all copies of the logo in her possession, along with unspecified damages and attorney fees.
RIP Kim Jonghyun Dead: Lead Singer of K-Pop Group SHINee Dies at 27
The lead singer of the K-pop group SHINee, died on Monday, December 18, according to multiple South Korean reports. He was 27.
Police told Yonhap News Agency that Jonghyun was found unconscious at a rented apartment studio in Cheongdam-dong in southern Seoul, South Korea, around 6:10 p.m. He was transported to a nearby hospital under cardiac arrest and received emergency CPR treatment but did not regain consciousness. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The cause of death is still unclear. Investigators told Yonhap News that the singer may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning as charcoal briquettes were discovered burning in a frying pan at his apartment. Jonghyun’s sister, who called first responders at 4:42 p.m., told authorities that she believed her brother had died by suicide after she received a text message from him that read, “I’ve had a hard time. Please let me go and say that I did a good job. This is my last goodbye.”
SHINee was formed in 2008 by the South Korean company SM Entertainment. The boy band consisted of five members: Jonghyun, Onew, Key, Minho and Taemin. They released six chart-topping albums in Korea and five in Japan, in addition to embarking on several world tours. Jonghyun launched a successful solo career in 2015 and collaborated with numerous other Korean artists.
Remy Ma & Papoose Celebrate Their 9th Anniversary By Starting The IVF Process
Remy Ma and Papoose are celebrating black love and their 9th anniversary.
The couple kicked off their anniversary with a trip to the doctor’s office to begin their IVF journey in hopes of conceiving their first child together.
Remy and Pap posted beautiful anniversary messages for each other. See them below.
Wishing Mr. and Mrs. Mackie the very best and many more years of love and happiness.
#OH? Rick Ross Accuses Birdman of Using Toni Braxton for Money?
Rick Ross mocks Cash Money CEO Bryan 'Birdman' Williams' cash flow problems and accuses him of using Toni Braxton for money...
In a video posted on SnapChat Rick Ross shows an article about Birdman possibly losing his house in Miami and tells his followers,
"You mean you move to Miami took out a loan on the mansion, then took out another loan on the mansion and you still ain't paid your lil niggas. You ain't had no money in six seven years nigga. You should have came and borrowed some from Rozay. Now you wanna f**k that old lady life up, too. You probably borrowing some money from her."
LA Reid Accused of Sexual Misconduct
Last week former music executive Drew Dixon came forward claiming she too had been raped by Russell Simmons back in the 90s
Drew also accuses LA Reid of sexual miscount...
In her interview with The NY Times Drew claims after she left Def Jam she got a job as an A&R with Arista Records where she was subjected to harassment by LA Reid.
Drew claims LA would sexualize her at work, invite her to his hotel room at all times of the night and would turn cold when she resisted his advances.
Drew eventually left the music industry all together.
Fun Fact: Earlier this year LA Reid was fired from Epic Records after he was accused of sexual harassment
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘YO! HO! HO!’
Merry Jack-mas? That doesn’t sound right…
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Andre
Meet Andre! So you know what to do to see more. Just CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN NOR ALTER any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
You’re Welcome!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
