Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman will star in the movie adaptation of the play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” for Netflix.
George C. Wolfe (“Lackawanna Blues”) will direct from a script by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the award-winning play by August Wilson. Other cast include Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) and Michael Potts.
Denzel Washington is producing with Todd Black and Dany Wolf. Constanza Romero is executive producing. Academy Award winner Ann Roth is the costume designer and Branford Marsalis has been signed as the composer.
The story centers on Ma Rainey, the pioneering “Queen of the Blues,” during the time she is making a record in a studio in Chicago in 1927 with tensions boiling between her, her white agent and producer and her bandmates. The play won the 1985 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play.
Netflix announced the project on Wednesday. Filming...
George C. Wolfe (“Lackawanna Blues”) will direct from a script by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the award-winning play by August Wilson. Other cast include Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) and Michael Potts.
Denzel Washington is producing with Todd Black and Dany Wolf. Constanza Romero is executive producing. Academy Award winner Ann Roth is the costume designer and Branford Marsalis has been signed as the composer.
The story centers on Ma Rainey, the pioneering “Queen of the Blues,” during the time she is making a record in a studio in Chicago in 1927 with tensions boiling between her, her white agent and producer and her bandmates. The play won the 1985 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play.
Netflix announced the project on Wednesday. Filming...
- 6/19/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix will be making the feature adaptation of August Wilson’s award-winning play Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Denzel Washington is producing the film and it’s a project he has long spoke about in development to Deadline with the original plan for nine of Wilson’s plays to be movies on HBO. That deal was moved over to Netflix.
Viola Davis, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her work in Washington’s adaptation of Wilson’s Fences, will star in Ma Rainey along with Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo and Michael Potts. The project reteams Davis and Washington on their third Wilson endeavor after starring in both the 2010 Broadway revival of Fences and the 2016 film version, which he directed and also earned three Oscar noms. Davis and Washington both won Tony Awards for their roles.
Production starts next month in Pittsburgh.
Multiple Tony and DGA award...
Denzel Washington is producing the film and it’s a project he has long spoke about in development to Deadline with the original plan for nine of Wilson’s plays to be movies on HBO. That deal was moved over to Netflix.
Viola Davis, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her work in Washington’s adaptation of Wilson’s Fences, will star in Ma Rainey along with Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo and Michael Potts. The project reteams Davis and Washington on their third Wilson endeavor after starring in both the 2010 Broadway revival of Fences and the 2016 film version, which he directed and also earned three Oscar noms. Davis and Washington both won Tony Awards for their roles.
Production starts next month in Pittsburgh.
Multiple Tony and DGA award...
- 6/19/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Franziska Schissler, Alexander Kane, Jason Skeen, Khu, Alex Giuffreda, Leonard Jackson | Written and Directed by Justin Price
2245, the Earth’s sun has dwindled and no longer provides the energy needed to sustain human life. Five hired mercenaries travel to an uncharted planet to collect a rare mineral known as stardust to replenish the dying star. After their spaceship crashes on the alien planet, they are stalked and hunted by a creature far more advanced than anything they have ever encountered before.
Opening with a scene that is a blatant rip-off of The Terminator, complete with robots walking over a skull-filled landscape and then cutting to a scene with an Ed-209 wannabe, is probably not the best way to introduce your movie – reminding your audience of bigger-budgeted and more well-made films is not the best, or brightest, way to kick of Any low-budget movie; let alone one that is clearly...
2245, the Earth’s sun has dwindled and no longer provides the energy needed to sustain human life. Five hired mercenaries travel to an uncharted planet to collect a rare mineral known as stardust to replenish the dying star. After their spaceship crashes on the alien planet, they are stalked and hunted by a creature far more advanced than anything they have ever encountered before.
Opening with a scene that is a blatant rip-off of The Terminator, complete with robots walking over a skull-filled landscape and then cutting to a scene with an Ed-209 wannabe, is probably not the best way to introduce your movie – reminding your audience of bigger-budgeted and more well-made films is not the best, or brightest, way to kick of Any low-budget movie; let alone one that is clearly...
- 9/12/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
This quirky family comedy conceived as an antidote to blaxploitation pictures was adapted from a play that claims no goal beyond feel-good entertainment — and a little preaching about black solidarity. Broad humor, simple characters and thin dramatic conflicts can’t blur the fact that this comedy has its heart in the right place. A game group of talented actors assures us that we’re gonna be glorified, unified and filled-with-pride!
Five on the Black Hand Side
Blu-ray
Olive Films
1973 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date February 27, 2018 / available through the Olive Films website / 21.99
Starring: Clarice Taylor, Leonard Jackson, Virginia Capers, Glynn Turman, D’Urville Martin, Richard Williams, Sonny Jim Gaines, Ja’net DuBois, Bonnie Banfield, Frankie Crocker, Tchaka Almoravids, Carl Mikal Franklin, Cal Wilson, Philomena Nowlin, Brenda Sutton, Imamu Sukuma, Godfrey Cambridge.
Cinematography: Gene Polito
Film Editor: Michael Economou
Original Music: H.B. Barnum
Written by Charlie L. Russell, from his play
Produced by Brock Peters,...
Five on the Black Hand Side
Blu-ray
Olive Films
1973 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date February 27, 2018 / available through the Olive Films website / 21.99
Starring: Clarice Taylor, Leonard Jackson, Virginia Capers, Glynn Turman, D’Urville Martin, Richard Williams, Sonny Jim Gaines, Ja’net DuBois, Bonnie Banfield, Frankie Crocker, Tchaka Almoravids, Carl Mikal Franklin, Cal Wilson, Philomena Nowlin, Brenda Sutton, Imamu Sukuma, Godfrey Cambridge.
Cinematography: Gene Polito
Film Editor: Michael Economou
Original Music: H.B. Barnum
Written by Charlie L. Russell, from his play
Produced by Brock Peters,...
- 4/14/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
David Smyrl, best known for his role as Sesame Street‘s Mr. Handford, died Tuesday, Philly.com reports. He was 80.
The writer, singer, voiceover artist and actor was diagnosed with lung cancer in January. He passed away at Lankenau Medical Center near his home in Philadelphia.
Smyrl first appeared on television in the 1970s program Express Yourself, before landing a gig writing for the ABC sitcom Benson. Later, he served as a writer and performer on The Cosby Show, portraying contractor Sam Lucas in five episodes between 1985 and 1987. In 1990, he succeeded actor Leonard Jackson as store owner Mr. Handford on Sesame Street,...
The writer, singer, voiceover artist and actor was diagnosed with lung cancer in January. He passed away at Lankenau Medical Center near his home in Philadelphia.
Smyrl first appeared on television in the 1970s program Express Yourself, before landing a gig writing for the ABC sitcom Benson. Later, he served as a writer and performer on The Cosby Show, portraying contractor Sam Lucas in five episodes between 1985 and 1987. In 1990, he succeeded actor Leonard Jackson as store owner Mr. Handford on Sesame Street,...
- 3/25/2016
- TVLine.com
David Smyrl, an actor best known for playing store owner Mr. Handford on “Sesame Street,” has died at age 80. The Philadelphia native, who won a People’s Choice Award for his work on the ’80s sitcom “Benson,” died Tuesday months after receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer, according to the Associated Press. Smyrl also worked as a writer on “The Cosby Show,” on which he occasionally appeared as a contractor named Sam Lucas. Also Read: Garry Shandling, 'Larry Sanders Show' Star, Dies at 66 In 1990, he took over for Leonard Jackson as Mr. Hanford, the cheerful singing owner of Hooper’s Store on.
- 3/25/2016
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
By now you’ve probably listened to the soundtrack for the Breaking Dawn – Part 1 soundtrack at least a couple dozen times… or more. Recently Imperial Mammoth performed a live, acoustic version of their soundtrack song, ‘Requiem on Water’, at the MySpace offices. Enjoy the video from Imperial Mammoth below:
A couple of days ago Laura Jane Scott and Leonard Jackson, Aka Imperial Mammoth, stopped by our offices to perform a (dare we say gorgeous) acoustic set for the staff, including their song ‘Requiem on Water’ which is featured in a key scene in ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.’ The newlyweds (as of like 2 weeks ago, congrats you two!) have a really interesting story about how they became a couple, and then a band, and then how their music got on to one of the most highly anticipated soundtracks in recent memory.
Meet Imperial Mammoth, Breaking Dawn’s Breakout Band
Myspace Music | Myspace Video
You can also see more on their MySpace page.
(Thanks Noor!)
What did you think of this live acoustic version of ‘Requiem on Water’? Do you like this song?...
A couple of days ago Laura Jane Scott and Leonard Jackson, Aka Imperial Mammoth, stopped by our offices to perform a (dare we say gorgeous) acoustic set for the staff, including their song ‘Requiem on Water’ which is featured in a key scene in ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.’ The newlyweds (as of like 2 weeks ago, congrats you two!) have a really interesting story about how they became a couple, and then a band, and then how their music got on to one of the most highly anticipated soundtracks in recent memory.
Meet Imperial Mammoth, Breaking Dawn’s Breakout Band
Myspace Music | Myspace Video
You can also see more on their MySpace page.
(Thanks Noor!)
What did you think of this live acoustic version of ‘Requiem on Water’? Do you like this song?...
- 12/3/2011
- by Evie
- twilightersanonymous.com
Imperial Mammoth, who'll be featured on The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1's Original Motion Picture Soundtrack with their song "Requiem on Water," has spoken up about their reaction to being chosen for the album. Talking to Pattinson Post, the two group members Leonard Jackson and Laura Jane Scott explained that their decision to submit a song for the album was "a shot-in-the-dark kind of thing." As self-identified Twilight fans, they explained, "it was one of those serendipitous things like 'why not?' We didn’t give it much thought beyond that and it sort of slipped out of our minds. Months later, Laura got a call out of the blue from Alex Patsavas, a big hero of ours. She said that she had just been to an early screening of Breaking Dawn and that our song was in it. We couldn’t tell anybody for the longest time,...
- 10/20/2011
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
Rolling Stone has an interesting article that looks at the effect being a part of the Twilight Saga soundtracks has on bands. For some lesser known bands, it’s exactly what they’ve always dreamed of. Read more below:
No surprise – having a track featured on a Twilight soundtrack offers unparalleled exposure. The movie series has a diehard fan base – the three films have grossed nearly $1.7 billion at the box office – and Twilight fans are music fans, as well: since 2008, the three films’ soundtracks have sold a combined five million copies in the U.S. alone. Joy Formidable frontwoman Ritzy Bryan, who learned a month ago that her band’s moody track “Endtapes” would serve as the opening cut for the Breaking Dawn soundtrack, is confident that being included in the film will open new avenues for the breaking London trio. “I think we’re definitely going to reach people that won’t have heard of the band,” Bryan says. “That can only be a good thing.”
It’s a similar story for Imperial Mammoth, a virtually unknown Los Angeles-based husband-wife duo that consists of Leonard Jackson and Laura Jane Scott. “It was sort of like when they show up at your house with the big novelty check,” Jackson says. “It’s almost mind-numbing.”
The person responsible for selecting Twilight’s musicians for the soundtrack is Alexandra Patsavas, who has been the music supervisor for all of the Twilight films. She says she relishes the opportunity to expose Twilight audiences to newer artists. “It never gets less thrilling,” she says.
Not all artists however, have jumped at the opportunity to add Twilight to their resume. Bon Iver, whose St. Vincent-assisted song “Roslyn” appeared on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack, was skeptical when first approached with the idea. “We were unsure as to whether or not we wanted to take part,” says Kyle Frenette, Bon Iver’s manager.
This ambivalence was nothing new for Patsavas, who says that certain bands have historically been reluctant to lend their music to anything involving movies. She feels, however, that Twilight is a special case – a film series that has “treated music respectfully.” Ultimately, Bon Iver would come to agree. “Twilight was reaching an audience that we couldn’t,” Frenette says. “Taking part in the New Moon soundtrack helped expand Bon Iver’s fanbase.”
Read the full story on Rolling Stone here.
It’s interesting how different bands react in such different ways.
What do you think of this look at the Twilight Saga soundtrack bands?...
No surprise – having a track featured on a Twilight soundtrack offers unparalleled exposure. The movie series has a diehard fan base – the three films have grossed nearly $1.7 billion at the box office – and Twilight fans are music fans, as well: since 2008, the three films’ soundtracks have sold a combined five million copies in the U.S. alone. Joy Formidable frontwoman Ritzy Bryan, who learned a month ago that her band’s moody track “Endtapes” would serve as the opening cut for the Breaking Dawn soundtrack, is confident that being included in the film will open new avenues for the breaking London trio. “I think we’re definitely going to reach people that won’t have heard of the band,” Bryan says. “That can only be a good thing.”
It’s a similar story for Imperial Mammoth, a virtually unknown Los Angeles-based husband-wife duo that consists of Leonard Jackson and Laura Jane Scott. “It was sort of like when they show up at your house with the big novelty check,” Jackson says. “It’s almost mind-numbing.”
The person responsible for selecting Twilight’s musicians for the soundtrack is Alexandra Patsavas, who has been the music supervisor for all of the Twilight films. She says she relishes the opportunity to expose Twilight audiences to newer artists. “It never gets less thrilling,” she says.
Not all artists however, have jumped at the opportunity to add Twilight to their resume. Bon Iver, whose St. Vincent-assisted song “Roslyn” appeared on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack, was skeptical when first approached with the idea. “We were unsure as to whether or not we wanted to take part,” says Kyle Frenette, Bon Iver’s manager.
This ambivalence was nothing new for Patsavas, who says that certain bands have historically been reluctant to lend their music to anything involving movies. She feels, however, that Twilight is a special case – a film series that has “treated music respectfully.” Ultimately, Bon Iver would come to agree. “Twilight was reaching an audience that we couldn’t,” Frenette says. “Taking part in the New Moon soundtrack helped expand Bon Iver’s fanbase.”
Read the full story on Rolling Stone here.
It’s interesting how different bands react in such different ways.
What do you think of this look at the Twilight Saga soundtrack bands?...
- 10/14/2011
- by Evie
- twilightersanonymous.com
Alexandra Patsavas and a couple of contributor artists for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1's Original Motion Picture Soundtrack have spoken up about the forthcoming album with Rolling Stone. Christina Perri, whose song for the soundtrack "A Thousand Years" will be released next week, had this to say about the news of her inclusion on the album: "I really had to contain myself . . . I was sweating I was so excited." Meanwhile, The Joy Formidable ("End Tapes" on the album) lead Ritzy Bryan said, "I think we're definitely going to reach people that won't have heard of the band," Bryan says. "That can only be a good thing." Finally, Imperial Mammoth ("Requiem On Water")'s Leonard Jackson told Rolling Stone, "It was sort of like when they show up at your house with the big novelty check . . . It’s almost mind-numbi ...
- 10/12/2011
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
Steven Spielberg directed a film version of Alice Walker.s novel that at the time was somewhat controversial. More for the color of its director, but it seems like much of a tame controversy as time has passed. What you do find is a fantastic film. In the 1930s South, Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) has had a hard life. She was raped by her father (Leonard Jackson) and had two children by him by her fourteenth birthday. She.s forced into an unhappy marriage with widower Albert Johnson (Danny Glover) who treats her more as the help than as a wife. Not to mention the constant beatings that has broken Celie. Celie.s sister Nettie (Akosua Busia) comes to live with her and...
- 2/15/2011
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.