FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Rochelle Hill
917-446-1752
Rochelle@thejigroup.com
JI GROUP Hosts Red Carpet for Darrin Dewitt Henson and his Universal Film, The Express Henson’s Commanding Movie Portrayal of Jim Brown, in Theaters October 10
New York, NY – JI GROUP will celebrate the accomplishments of Darrin Dewitt Henson, with an exclusive, engagement from 10 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. at Aspen Restaurant/Lounge, Fri. Oct. 3. The NAACP Image Award nominee, is best known for his five-season role, as street hustler turned husband and father, Lem Van Adams, in the hit television show Soul Food. Based on the incredible, true story of Syracuse University football pro Ernie Davis, the first African American to win a Heisman Trophy and the first Heisman Trophy winner, of any race, at Syracuse, The Express (www.theexpressmovie.com) offers up a reinvented Henson in his role as Jim Brown, of whom some say is the best running back of all-time. Starring along side Dennis Quaid, Charles Dutton, Rob Brown and Omar Benson Miller, Henson demonstrates why his transition from the TV screen to the big screen was well worth it.
The JI Group will provide its stellar, far from standard, cosmopolitan celebration for Darrin Dewitt Henson and his celebrity friends, as he brings Hollywood back to his hometown of New York. 500 hundred tastemakers, business elites and style divas in the entertainment, media, marketing, public relations, finance and fashion industries will be checking their inboxes, this week, for their e-invitations to this red carpet bash.
Exclusive invitations to a “Dialogue with Darrin,” will take place pre-party-time, where Darrin will have an intimate discussion with guests on his role as Jim Brown, the process of making the movie and host a brief Q & A session. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a private photo session and receive swag bags that include special autographed items courtesy of Henson.
About Darrin Dewitt Henson
Darrin Dewitt Henson, a Bronx, NY native, is an actor, producer, and director. Henson had a lead role in Sony Screen Gems STOMP THE YARD last year. STOMP THE YARD opened #1 at the box office, taking in 21 million its first weekend. Darrin plays Grant, the lead stepper of Mu Gamma. Debuting in March of 2007, Henson starred in the HBO Film LIFE SUPPORT, featuring Queen Latifah. In THE SALON, starring Vivica A. Fox, Darrin plays the hotshot attorney. THE SALON is now available on DVD. Since his transition from television to the big screen has been such a big success, Darrin is now receiving several film offers.
About JI GROUP
Joint Interest Group (JI GROUP) coordinates events for New York City’s cosmopolitan, business elite. Catering to the savvy professional and the forward thinking entrepreneur, the JI Group has a solid history of highlighting, celebrating, and enabling the successful mind by offering relevant and compelling events. Its reach extends to the thousands, hosting fundraisers, seminars, and educational events at Trump Towers, Djangos, D'Or, and Aspen outfitted with the JI Group signature appeal. To learn more, visit www.thejigroup.com.
###
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
New Charity Foundation Launch!
If He Can, We Can! New Charity Foundation Launches Dedicated to Barack Obama and the Power of the Word Can!
September 5, 2008--- New York, NY --- If He Can, We Can! New Charity Foundation Launches Dedicated to Barack Obama and the Power of the Word Can! The excitement and momentum that Barack Obama's nomination and campaign has sparked into our communities is unlike any presidential nominee America has ever seen. Mega- Stars such as: Kayne West, Oprah, Jay-Z, Robert De Niro and Chris Rock to name a few are joining in and chanting those ever present campaign words, "Yes We Can!" The movement has been widespread through music, fashion and even the big screen with Will Smith set to play Obama in an upcoming film. What many may not see is the overwhelming effect that Obama is providing to inspire the young, urban youth especially young black men. One of the charity organizations that has formed to inspire youth, that with the belief in yourself everything is possible is, "If He Can, We Can".
The purpose of the organization is to inspire and intensify the excitement generated by the historic campaign of Senator Barack Obama. "We are calling into action all young, and young at heart to action. We cannot afford to lose the momentum generated by our society's desire for change here in America and around the world," said founder Julian Gibson.
It is the goal of the foundation to continue to build on the progress that has been made in this monumental election and to hold and increase the youth enthusiasm of the campaign. "It is important to note that even though our major political campaigns only arrive every four years, most young people of all races and background live within those four years paycheck to paycheck and some even day to day," said Gibson. The board of directors for If He Can, We Can strongly believe that it is imperative to the future of youth everywhere to help implement and enforce the change that has been offered to society in the recent years.
"We cannot afford to let the energy generated by the hope and ideals of Senator Barack Obama and all the great leaders that have come before him go to waste. We urge you to support us in our effort to help the youth and provide a bridge to the future for many minorities and young people of all backgrounds."
Some of the project plans of If He Can, We can include: tutoring, voter registration, succession programs and community programs aimed at getting today's youth involved in tomorrow's politics. For more information on If He Can, We Can please visit www.ifhecanwecan.com
About Barack Obama
Barack Obama was raised by a single mother and his grandparents. They didn't have much money, but they taught him values from the Kansas heartland where they grew up. He took out loans to put himself through school. He went on to earn his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Obama turned down lucrative job offers after law school to return to Chicago, leading a successful voter registration drive. He joined a small law ï¬rm, taught constitutional law and, guided by his Christian faith, stayed active in his community. Finally, his advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Obama and his wife Michelle are proud parents of two daughters, Sasha and Malia.
*Information on Barack Obama obtained from www.barackobama.com
September 5, 2008--- New York, NY --- If He Can, We Can! New Charity Foundation Launches Dedicated to Barack Obama and the Power of the Word Can! The excitement and momentum that Barack Obama's nomination and campaign has sparked into our communities is unlike any presidential nominee America has ever seen. Mega- Stars such as: Kayne West, Oprah, Jay-Z, Robert De Niro and Chris Rock to name a few are joining in and chanting those ever present campaign words, "Yes We Can!" The movement has been widespread through music, fashion and even the big screen with Will Smith set to play Obama in an upcoming film. What many may not see is the overwhelming effect that Obama is providing to inspire the young, urban youth especially young black men. One of the charity organizations that has formed to inspire youth, that with the belief in yourself everything is possible is, "If He Can, We Can".
The purpose of the organization is to inspire and intensify the excitement generated by the historic campaign of Senator Barack Obama. "We are calling into action all young, and young at heart to action. We cannot afford to lose the momentum generated by our society's desire for change here in America and around the world," said founder Julian Gibson.
It is the goal of the foundation to continue to build on the progress that has been made in this monumental election and to hold and increase the youth enthusiasm of the campaign. "It is important to note that even though our major political campaigns only arrive every four years, most young people of all races and background live within those four years paycheck to paycheck and some even day to day," said Gibson. The board of directors for If He Can, We Can strongly believe that it is imperative to the future of youth everywhere to help implement and enforce the change that has been offered to society in the recent years.
"We cannot afford to let the energy generated by the hope and ideals of Senator Barack Obama and all the great leaders that have come before him go to waste. We urge you to support us in our effort to help the youth and provide a bridge to the future for many minorities and young people of all backgrounds."
Some of the project plans of If He Can, We can include: tutoring, voter registration, succession programs and community programs aimed at getting today's youth involved in tomorrow's politics. For more information on If He Can, We Can please visit www.ifhecanwecan.com
About Barack Obama
Barack Obama was raised by a single mother and his grandparents. They didn't have much money, but they taught him values from the Kansas heartland where they grew up. He took out loans to put himself through school. He went on to earn his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Obama turned down lucrative job offers after law school to return to Chicago, leading a successful voter registration drive. He joined a small law ï¬rm, taught constitutional law and, guided by his Christian faith, stayed active in his community. Finally, his advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Obama and his wife Michelle are proud parents of two daughters, Sasha and Malia.
*Information on Barack Obama obtained from www.barackobama.com
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
BLUEPRINT 3!!! Jay-Z's Grand Finale on Def Jam
Jay-Z Announces Blueprint 3
We reported earlier that Jay-Z was speaking about the Blueprint 3! Well, here is a little update.
Jay-Z has announced he is working on his 11th and final Def Jam album, "The Blueprint 3."
The rapper made the announcement August 6, 2008 during a guest appearance on highly requested Kanye West’s Glow In The Dark tour in Madison Square Garden, New York.
During the set West asked the crowd if he could play them a few new beats he had recently recorded in Hawaii, including a track called "Jockin’ Jay-Z."
For all the questioned the opening lyrics of the song- here you go!
"That bloke from Oasis said I couldn’t play guitar
somebody shoulda told him I’m a BLEEP'n rock star.
Today is gonna be the day that I’m gonna throw it back to you," he rapped about Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, who recently slammed the organisers of the Glastonbury festival for booking Jay-Z as a headline act. Jay allows no one to question his talent!
"The Blueprint 3" is also set to feature another track produced by Kanye West entitled "Brooklyn."
We reported earlier that Jay-Z was speaking about the Blueprint 3! Well, here is a little update.
Jay-Z has announced he is working on his 11th and final Def Jam album, "The Blueprint 3."
The rapper made the announcement August 6, 2008 during a guest appearance on highly requested Kanye West’s Glow In The Dark tour in Madison Square Garden, New York.
During the set West asked the crowd if he could play them a few new beats he had recently recorded in Hawaii, including a track called "Jockin’ Jay-Z."
For all the questioned the opening lyrics of the song- here you go!
"That bloke from Oasis said I couldn’t play guitar
somebody shoulda told him I’m a BLEEP'n rock star.
Today is gonna be the day that I’m gonna throw it back to you," he rapped about Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, who recently slammed the organisers of the Glastonbury festival for booking Jay-Z as a headline act. Jay allows no one to question his talent!
"The Blueprint 3" is also set to feature another track produced by Kanye West entitled "Brooklyn."
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
USHER and FOOTBALL!! ARE YOU READY?
Are you ready for football season? We know we are. But if your enthusiasm for the start of this year’s NFL season could use a little kick in the pants, check out the planned — and rumored — musical performances associated with the launch and conclusion of it.
The NFL has now confirmed that its 89th season will be ushered in by … well, none other than Usher.
The R&B star will perform during a special and (more importantly) free pregame event on September 4 at 3 p.m. in New York’s Columbus Circle. Country crooner Keith Urban will also take the stage, right before the defending Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants, face the Washington Redskins in this year’s season opener.
Article published by Chris Harris-Article pulled from MTV.com
The NFL has now confirmed that its 89th season will be ushered in by … well, none other than Usher.
The R&B star will perform during a special and (more importantly) free pregame event on September 4 at 3 p.m. in New York’s Columbus Circle. Country crooner Keith Urban will also take the stage, right before the defending Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants, face the Washington Redskins in this year’s season opener.
Article published by Chris Harris-Article pulled from MTV.com
Monday, August 18, 2008
12TH ANNUAL URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL
News Release Issued: August 18, 2008 10:00 AM EDT
Queen Latifah Announced as 2008 Honorary Chair of Urbanworld Film Festival
Presented by BET Networks
2008 Slate of Diverse Films Features Special Closing Night Screening of 'The
Secret Life Of Bees' Starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson,
Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo
Festival Sponsors Include HBO, Time Warner Cable, Grey Goose, WNBC, Black
Enterprise, ESSENCE, VIBE, Power 105.1, the Directors Guild of America, AMC
Theatres, Fox Searchlight Pictures and the Weinstein Company
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Urbanworld Film Festival presented by
BET Networks, the largest international competitive festival of its kind,
today announced that Academy Award-nominated actress Queen Latifah will serve
as Honorary Chair of this year's festival. Dedicated to the exhibition of
independent and mainstream cinema by and about people of color, Urbanworld
also announced it will screen 85 films at this year's festival in New York
City from September 10-14. All festival screenings will be held at the AMC
Loews 34th Street Theaters.
This year's selection showcases New York-based films and filmmakers
celebrating local artists and communities, as well as a strong representation
of international filmmakers from around the world. The 2008 slate will
culminate in the special closing night screening of The Secret Life of Bees,
followed by a Q&A with talent from the film including Queen Latifah, Sophie
Okonedo ('Hotel Rwanda'), and screenwriter/director Gina Prince-Bythewood
('Love & Basketball').
"These are really exciting times for the festival," said Stacy Spikes,
founder of Urbanworld. "On display we have films of nearly every genre,
created by filmmakers of nearly every background. This robust selection of
cinema, together with our new partnership with BET Networks, promises to make
this the best Urbanworld yet."
"We're thrilled to have hip-hop's first lady Queen Latifah sign on as
honorary chair for this year's festivities," said Alvin Bowles, Senior Vice
President, Integrated Marketing, BET Networks. "The exciting lineup of
cinematic talent rounds out our mission to embrace and support the new wave
of filmmakers of color through our partnership with Urbanworld."
"I am thrilled to be the honorary chair of the Urbanworld Film Festival this
year," said Queen Latifah. "It is an important and exciting festival and the
perfect place to showcase my new film The Secret Life of Bees."
The five-day festival includes feature, documentary, and short film
screenings, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings and
the celebrated Actor's Spotlight, featuring Queen Latifah and to be aired on
BET, with previous honorees including Vondie Curtis Hall, Samuel L. Jackson,
Billy Dee Williams and Rosie Perez.
Urbanworld and BET Networks also announced this year's roster of marquee
sponsors. HBO returns for the 12th year as the founding sponsor of the
Urbanworld Film Festival. Time Warner Cable joins the festival as a Prestige
Sponsor. Grey Goose will serve as an Official Sponsor. Principal Sponsors
will include The Weinstein Company, WNBC, Black Enterprise, ESSENCE, VIBE,
and Power 105.1. The Directors Guild of America and AMC Theatres return as
Benefactor Sponsors. Sponsoring studios include Fox Searchlight and the
Weinstein Company. The Hilton Times Square will serve as the host hotel of
the festival, where registration and panels will take place.
Highlights and Notable Films of 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival Include:
The Secret Life Of Bees, the special closing night screening, written for the
screen and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and stars Queen Latifah (the
Festival's Honorary Chair), Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and
Sophie Okonedo. A touching story about the need for love, family and
redemption, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES explores our undeniable desire for a
sense of belonging and the often daunting journeys that we must navigate to
achieve it. Set in South Carolina during the turbulent Civil Rights era, the
home of the intelligent and independent honey-making Boatwright sisters
(Latifah, Keys and Okonedo) is suddenly thrust into upheaval with the arrival
of fourteen year-old Lily Owens (Fanning) and her caretaker Rosaleen (Hudson).
Surrounded by the unexpected comforts, grace and deep rooted spirituality
Lily (Fanning) encounters in the Boatwright home, she forms a maternal bond
with each of these women whose unique and special gifts help reconcile the
loss of her mother. Lily ultimately comes to the realization that sometimes
you must leave home in order to find it. The film is scheduled for
nationwide release on October 17, 2008.
Wu: The Story Of The Wu Tang Clan, directed by Gerald Barclay, is a gritty
documentary that traces the history of the ever-popular Wu-Tang Clan. In the
summer of 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan emerged from the slums of Staten Island and
took the hip-hop world by storm. Their legacy spanned over a decade,
garnering fans worldwide and generating sales in excess of $50 million.
For more information about the 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival presented by BET
Networks, please visit or http://www.urbanworld.org/ or
http://www.bet.com/urbanworld.
ABOUT THE 2008 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL:
Beginning this year, BET Networks has signed on for a three-year strategic
partnership to present the Urbanworld Film Festival. The unique partnership,
strengthened by BET's position as the leading media and entertainment
provider for African Americans and consumers of Black culture, will further
establish the festival as one of the world's largest competitive film
festivals designed to redefine and enhance the roles of multicultural
constituents in contemporary cinema.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS:
BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA)(NYSE: VIA.B), is the
nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public
affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary
BET channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media
Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the
dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business
extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment,
music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET
Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET
Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET
Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home
environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, which provides
ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET
International, an extension of BET network programming for global
distribution.
ABOUT URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL:
Urbanworld launched in August 1997 and was founded by former executive at
Miramax Stacy Spikes. Over the past eleven years, Urbanworld has presented
approximately 700 features, shorts and documentaries, with estimated
attendance reaching 15,000+. Now in its twelfth year, the Urbanworld Film
Festival is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind.
Urbanworld re-defines the competitive film festival landscape with its fresh
and necessary approach to spreading the voices of a multicultural world. The
Urbanworld Film Festival is an initiative produced by the Urbanworld
Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing programs and
events that support the development and success of the urban filmmaking
community. Stacy Spikes serves as chairman emeritus. Gabrielle Glore serves
as executive producer.
12TH ANNUAL URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL
2008 ROSTER
Closing Night Film: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Spotlight Screenings Include:
WU: THE STORY OF THE WU-TANG CLAN directed by Gerald Barclay
TENNESSEE directed by Aaron Woodley
Narrative Features Include 16 Films:
BALL DON'T LIE directed by Brin Hill
BALLAST directed by Lance Hammer
CIGARETTES FOR BREAKFAST directed by Daniel Williams
I USED TO LOVE HER directed by Mark Harris
JAZZ IN THE DIAMOND DISTRICT directed by Lindsey Christian
PHANTOM PUNCH directed by Robert Townsend
SEAL TEAM VI directed by Mark Andrews
SECOND CHANCE directed by Iris Huey
SISTER'S KEEPER directed by Kent Faulcon
SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE directed by Leon Lozano
STREETBALLERS directed by Matt Krentz
THE HEART SPECIALIST directed by Dennis Cooper
THIS IS NOT A TEST directed by Christopher Angel
TRUTH HALL directed by Jade Dixon
UP WITH ME directed by Greg Takoudes
WHITE LIES BLACK SHEEP directed by James Spooner
Narrative Shorts Include 40 Films:
(MIS) LEADING MAN directed by Morocco Omari
3RD OF JULY directed by Ben Chace
A DAY'S WORK directed by Rajeev Dassani
A PRAYER directed by Louie P.
AFIA directed by Lacey Duke
AWILDA AND THE BEE directed by Lyndon McCray
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: THE MOVIE directed by Buttahman
CLASSIFIED directed by Sherman Payne
CRENSHAW NIGHTS directed by Pete D. Gelles
EXPECTATIONS OF A FATHER directed by Jerry E
HOLLYWOOD JEROME directed by Frey Hoffman
KUNG FU GRANNY directed by Myra Sito Velasquez
LARRY (THE ACTOR) directed by Eric Poydar
LIMPIANO SAPOS directed by Vero Shamo-Garcia
LINUS directed by Julius Onah
LO directed by Joe Kim
LOVE CONQUERS AL directed by Kamali Minter
NAPPY HEADS directed by Sabrina Moella
OVER DA RAINBOW directed by Jared Lapidus
PALM TREES DOWN 3RD STREET directed by Maria Judice
PAPICHULO directed by Marquis Smalls
PREMATURE directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green
SHY directed by April Rouveyrol
SIRI OKO FO directed by Heather Murphy
SOUTH CENTRAL DAZE directed by Marquise C.
THE DOLL directed by Dante James
THE PRINCE OF VENICE directed by Yaa Boaa Aning
THE SECOND COMING directed by Ya'ke Smith
THE SOUL SEARCHERS SERIES: GET THEE BEHIND ME directed by Jeffrey Wray
THE YOUNG AND EVIL directed by Julian Breece
UK SPOTLIGHT - BLANK SLATE SHORTS PROGRAM (8 FILMS)
URBAN GENESIS directed by Larry Bryant
VICTIM directed by Cesar Mazariegos
Documentary Features Include 19 Films:
ADJUST YOUR COLOR: THE TRUTH OF PETEY GREENE directed by Loren Mendell
ALL OF US directed by Emily Abt
ARUSI directed by Marjan Tehrani
BALLOU directed by Michael Patrei
BIGG SNOOP DOGG'S YOUTH AUTHORITY directed by Gabriel London
CALAVERA HIGHWAY directed by Renee Tajima-Pena
DIARY OF A TIRED BLACK MAN directed by Tim Alexander
FAMILIAR VOICES directed by Danny Mendoza
IN PRISON MY WHOLE LIFE directed by Marc Evans
LA AMERICANA directed by Nicholas Bruckman
MALCOLM'S ECHO: THE LEGACY OF MALCOLM X directed by Dami Akinnusi
NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET directed by James Dziura
ONE BAD CAT directed by Thomas G. Miller
SLINGSHOT HIP-HOP directed by Jackie Salloum
SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING directed by Robert Small
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER directed by Jeremy Robins
THE REAL GREAT DEBATERS directed by Brad Osborne
THIS IS THE LIFE directed by Ava DuVernay
TWO TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE directed by Guy Logan
Documentary Shorts Include 7 Films:
50 SHOTS directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green
EL PLAY directed by Pablo Medina
FRESH OF THE BOAT by Katrina Lucas
JUROR NUMBER SIX directed by Rachel Lyon
SEEN BUT NOT HEARD directed by Cyrille Phipps
THE 13TH AMENDMENT directed by Mike D.
URSULA RUCKER - POET directed by Michael J. Dennis
Queen Latifah Announced as 2008 Honorary Chair of Urbanworld Film Festival
Presented by BET Networks
2008 Slate of Diverse Films Features Special Closing Night Screening of 'The
Secret Life Of Bees' Starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson,
Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo
Festival Sponsors Include HBO, Time Warner Cable, Grey Goose, WNBC, Black
Enterprise, ESSENCE, VIBE, Power 105.1, the Directors Guild of America, AMC
Theatres, Fox Searchlight Pictures and the Weinstein Company
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Urbanworld Film Festival presented by
BET Networks, the largest international competitive festival of its kind,
today announced that Academy Award-nominated actress Queen Latifah will serve
as Honorary Chair of this year's festival. Dedicated to the exhibition of
independent and mainstream cinema by and about people of color, Urbanworld
also announced it will screen 85 films at this year's festival in New York
City from September 10-14. All festival screenings will be held at the AMC
Loews 34th Street Theaters.
This year's selection showcases New York-based films and filmmakers
celebrating local artists and communities, as well as a strong representation
of international filmmakers from around the world. The 2008 slate will
culminate in the special closing night screening of The Secret Life of Bees,
followed by a Q&A with talent from the film including Queen Latifah, Sophie
Okonedo ('Hotel Rwanda'), and screenwriter/director Gina Prince-Bythewood
('Love & Basketball').
"These are really exciting times for the festival," said Stacy Spikes,
founder of Urbanworld. "On display we have films of nearly every genre,
created by filmmakers of nearly every background. This robust selection of
cinema, together with our new partnership with BET Networks, promises to make
this the best Urbanworld yet."
"We're thrilled to have hip-hop's first lady Queen Latifah sign on as
honorary chair for this year's festivities," said Alvin Bowles, Senior Vice
President, Integrated Marketing, BET Networks. "The exciting lineup of
cinematic talent rounds out our mission to embrace and support the new wave
of filmmakers of color through our partnership with Urbanworld."
"I am thrilled to be the honorary chair of the Urbanworld Film Festival this
year," said Queen Latifah. "It is an important and exciting festival and the
perfect place to showcase my new film The Secret Life of Bees."
The five-day festival includes feature, documentary, and short film
screenings, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings and
the celebrated Actor's Spotlight, featuring Queen Latifah and to be aired on
BET, with previous honorees including Vondie Curtis Hall, Samuel L. Jackson,
Billy Dee Williams and Rosie Perez.
Urbanworld and BET Networks also announced this year's roster of marquee
sponsors. HBO returns for the 12th year as the founding sponsor of the
Urbanworld Film Festival. Time Warner Cable joins the festival as a Prestige
Sponsor. Grey Goose will serve as an Official Sponsor. Principal Sponsors
will include The Weinstein Company, WNBC, Black Enterprise, ESSENCE, VIBE,
and Power 105.1. The Directors Guild of America and AMC Theatres return as
Benefactor Sponsors. Sponsoring studios include Fox Searchlight and the
Weinstein Company. The Hilton Times Square will serve as the host hotel of
the festival, where registration and panels will take place.
Highlights and Notable Films of 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival Include:
The Secret Life Of Bees, the special closing night screening, written for the
screen and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and stars Queen Latifah (the
Festival's Honorary Chair), Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and
Sophie Okonedo. A touching story about the need for love, family and
redemption, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES explores our undeniable desire for a
sense of belonging and the often daunting journeys that we must navigate to
achieve it. Set in South Carolina during the turbulent Civil Rights era, the
home of the intelligent and independent honey-making Boatwright sisters
(Latifah, Keys and Okonedo) is suddenly thrust into upheaval with the arrival
of fourteen year-old Lily Owens (Fanning) and her caretaker Rosaleen (Hudson).
Surrounded by the unexpected comforts, grace and deep rooted spirituality
Lily (Fanning) encounters in the Boatwright home, she forms a maternal bond
with each of these women whose unique and special gifts help reconcile the
loss of her mother. Lily ultimately comes to the realization that sometimes
you must leave home in order to find it. The film is scheduled for
nationwide release on October 17, 2008.
Wu: The Story Of The Wu Tang Clan, directed by Gerald Barclay, is a gritty
documentary that traces the history of the ever-popular Wu-Tang Clan. In the
summer of 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan emerged from the slums of Staten Island and
took the hip-hop world by storm. Their legacy spanned over a decade,
garnering fans worldwide and generating sales in excess of $50 million.
For more information about the 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival presented by BET
Networks, please visit or http://www.urbanworld.org/ or
http://www.bet.com/urbanworld.
ABOUT THE 2008 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL:
Beginning this year, BET Networks has signed on for a three-year strategic
partnership to present the Urbanworld Film Festival. The unique partnership,
strengthened by BET's position as the leading media and entertainment
provider for African Americans and consumers of Black culture, will further
establish the festival as one of the world's largest competitive film
festivals designed to redefine and enhance the roles of multicultural
constituents in contemporary cinema.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS:
BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA)(NYSE: VIA.B), is the
nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public
affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary
BET channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media
Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the
dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business
extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment,
music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET
Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET
Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET
Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home
environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, which provides
ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET
International, an extension of BET network programming for global
distribution.
ABOUT URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL:
Urbanworld launched in August 1997 and was founded by former executive at
Miramax Stacy Spikes. Over the past eleven years, Urbanworld has presented
approximately 700 features, shorts and documentaries, with estimated
attendance reaching 15,000+. Now in its twelfth year, the Urbanworld Film
Festival is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind.
Urbanworld re-defines the competitive film festival landscape with its fresh
and necessary approach to spreading the voices of a multicultural world. The
Urbanworld Film Festival is an initiative produced by the Urbanworld
Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing programs and
events that support the development and success of the urban filmmaking
community. Stacy Spikes serves as chairman emeritus. Gabrielle Glore serves
as executive producer.
12TH ANNUAL URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL
2008 ROSTER
Closing Night Film: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Spotlight Screenings Include:
WU: THE STORY OF THE WU-TANG CLAN directed by Gerald Barclay
TENNESSEE directed by Aaron Woodley
Narrative Features Include 16 Films:
BALL DON'T LIE directed by Brin Hill
BALLAST directed by Lance Hammer
CIGARETTES FOR BREAKFAST directed by Daniel Williams
I USED TO LOVE HER directed by Mark Harris
JAZZ IN THE DIAMOND DISTRICT directed by Lindsey Christian
PHANTOM PUNCH directed by Robert Townsend
SEAL TEAM VI directed by Mark Andrews
SECOND CHANCE directed by Iris Huey
SISTER'S KEEPER directed by Kent Faulcon
SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE directed by Leon Lozano
STREETBALLERS directed by Matt Krentz
THE HEART SPECIALIST directed by Dennis Cooper
THIS IS NOT A TEST directed by Christopher Angel
TRUTH HALL directed by Jade Dixon
UP WITH ME directed by Greg Takoudes
WHITE LIES BLACK SHEEP directed by James Spooner
Narrative Shorts Include 40 Films:
(MIS) LEADING MAN directed by Morocco Omari
3RD OF JULY directed by Ben Chace
A DAY'S WORK directed by Rajeev Dassani
A PRAYER directed by Louie P.
AFIA directed by Lacey Duke
AWILDA AND THE BEE directed by Lyndon McCray
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: THE MOVIE directed by Buttahman
CLASSIFIED directed by Sherman Payne
CRENSHAW NIGHTS directed by Pete D. Gelles
EXPECTATIONS OF A FATHER directed by Jerry E
HOLLYWOOD JEROME directed by Frey Hoffman
KUNG FU GRANNY directed by Myra Sito Velasquez
LARRY (THE ACTOR) directed by Eric Poydar
LIMPIANO SAPOS directed by Vero Shamo-Garcia
LINUS directed by Julius Onah
LO directed by Joe Kim
LOVE CONQUERS AL directed by Kamali Minter
NAPPY HEADS directed by Sabrina Moella
OVER DA RAINBOW directed by Jared Lapidus
PALM TREES DOWN 3RD STREET directed by Maria Judice
PAPICHULO directed by Marquis Smalls
PREMATURE directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green
SHY directed by April Rouveyrol
SIRI OKO FO directed by Heather Murphy
SOUTH CENTRAL DAZE directed by Marquise C.
THE DOLL directed by Dante James
THE PRINCE OF VENICE directed by Yaa Boaa Aning
THE SECOND COMING directed by Ya'ke Smith
THE SOUL SEARCHERS SERIES: GET THEE BEHIND ME directed by Jeffrey Wray
THE YOUNG AND EVIL directed by Julian Breece
UK SPOTLIGHT - BLANK SLATE SHORTS PROGRAM (8 FILMS)
URBAN GENESIS directed by Larry Bryant
VICTIM directed by Cesar Mazariegos
Documentary Features Include 19 Films:
ADJUST YOUR COLOR: THE TRUTH OF PETEY GREENE directed by Loren Mendell
ALL OF US directed by Emily Abt
ARUSI directed by Marjan Tehrani
BALLOU directed by Michael Patrei
BIGG SNOOP DOGG'S YOUTH AUTHORITY directed by Gabriel London
CALAVERA HIGHWAY directed by Renee Tajima-Pena
DIARY OF A TIRED BLACK MAN directed by Tim Alexander
FAMILIAR VOICES directed by Danny Mendoza
IN PRISON MY WHOLE LIFE directed by Marc Evans
LA AMERICANA directed by Nicholas Bruckman
MALCOLM'S ECHO: THE LEGACY OF MALCOLM X directed by Dami Akinnusi
NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET directed by James Dziura
ONE BAD CAT directed by Thomas G. Miller
SLINGSHOT HIP-HOP directed by Jackie Salloum
SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING directed by Robert Small
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER directed by Jeremy Robins
THE REAL GREAT DEBATERS directed by Brad Osborne
THIS IS THE LIFE directed by Ava DuVernay
TWO TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE directed by Guy Logan
Documentary Shorts Include 7 Films:
50 SHOTS directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green
EL PLAY directed by Pablo Medina
FRESH OF THE BOAT by Katrina Lucas
JUROR NUMBER SIX directed by Rachel Lyon
SEEN BUT NOT HEARD directed by Cyrille Phipps
THE 13TH AMENDMENT directed by Mike D.
URSULA RUCKER - POET directed by Michael J. Dennis
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Jonas Brothers!!
NEW YORK — The sounds of thunder and early-evening traffic were easily drowned out by the squeals of hundreds of fans gathered outside the Apple Store downtown on Tuesday. They were all eagerly waiting to see a free performance by the
Jonas Brothers, whose third album (and second with Disney's Hollywood Records), A Little Bit Longer, was released the same day.
Many fans had been waiting on the sidewalk for a long time. Julie Forkell and daughters Brooke, Hannah and Abby drove in from Philadelphia and were in line since Monday. "I've never done anything like this before," said 11-year-old Hannah. "It's actually been really fun. We've been listening to our iPods, and I slept for a lot of the time. We've been just keeping each other busy." Nine-year-old Abby was a little less patient. "It seems like [time] goes by so slow, because I'm so excited!"
Mom Julie said she used the experience to bond with her children. "I really like spending time with my kids. They're really good girls, and the Jonas Brothers are just awesome. They're darlings." And, as Julie pointed out, they're very photogenic. "They make extremely wonderful wallpaper. As in, 'Let's cover up our freshly painted blue bedroom with about 10,000 magazine pictures of Nick and the gang!' "
About an hour before the performance was scheduled to start, the skies over Manhattan opened up, and a hard rain poured down on the fans for a solid 10 minutes. Twenty-two-year-old Ginno Murphy, wearing a garbage bag to keep dry, thought it was all worthwhile. "It's kind of cool to be a part of it. It's good to see people so excited about a band."
Shortly before 8 p.m., the doors to the Apple Store were opened wide and fans were allowed in, one small group at a time. More than 500 audience members took their places on the second floor of the store — a lucky few were able to score seats directly in front of the stage, and the rest had to stand, corralled by the store's employees.
When Nick, Joe and Kevin finally appeared, the place went wild. There was plenty of screaming and also a bit of crying. The brothers hit the stage along with their backup musicians, and after a brief thank-you to the fans from Joe, they launched into "That's Just the Way We Roll" from their self-titled second album. About an hour's worth of pop-rock music followed, including songs from all three JB albums.
During the opening bars of "Year 3000," the band started to jump up and down in unison, and the fans did the same. The entire floor shook, and for a brief moment, this reporter thought the whole thing would come crashing down onto the first level below.
Things calmed down a bit when Nick, usually seen strapped to his guitar, sat down at a piano to sing the title track from A Little Bit Longer, about what he experienced when he was first diagnosed with diabetes. "I want you to sing this with me as loud as you can," Nick told the audience mid-song. Of course, they obliged.
The performance ended with a lively rendition of "Burnin' Up," the first single from the new album. Then the brothers left, with the audience filing out shortly after.
"It was awesome," 19-year-old Christine Soto said of the performance. Her best friend Lauren Kwong added: "It was worth the 12-hour wait!"
Fans who were unable to attend the event can download the performance on iTunes, but they'll have to hold out for a while: It won't be available until the holidays.
This report is provided by MTV News
Jonas Brothers, whose third album (and second with Disney's Hollywood Records), A Little Bit Longer, was released the same day.
Many fans had been waiting on the sidewalk for a long time. Julie Forkell and daughters Brooke, Hannah and Abby drove in from Philadelphia and were in line since Monday. "I've never done anything like this before," said 11-year-old Hannah. "It's actually been really fun. We've been listening to our iPods, and I slept for a lot of the time. We've been just keeping each other busy." Nine-year-old Abby was a little less patient. "It seems like [time] goes by so slow, because I'm so excited!"
Mom Julie said she used the experience to bond with her children. "I really like spending time with my kids. They're really good girls, and the Jonas Brothers are just awesome. They're darlings." And, as Julie pointed out, they're very photogenic. "They make extremely wonderful wallpaper. As in, 'Let's cover up our freshly painted blue bedroom with about 10,000 magazine pictures of Nick and the gang!' "
About an hour before the performance was scheduled to start, the skies over Manhattan opened up, and a hard rain poured down on the fans for a solid 10 minutes. Twenty-two-year-old Ginno Murphy, wearing a garbage bag to keep dry, thought it was all worthwhile. "It's kind of cool to be a part of it. It's good to see people so excited about a band."
Shortly before 8 p.m., the doors to the Apple Store were opened wide and fans were allowed in, one small group at a time. More than 500 audience members took their places on the second floor of the store — a lucky few were able to score seats directly in front of the stage, and the rest had to stand, corralled by the store's employees.
When Nick, Joe and Kevin finally appeared, the place went wild. There was plenty of screaming and also a bit of crying. The brothers hit the stage along with their backup musicians, and after a brief thank-you to the fans from Joe, they launched into "That's Just the Way We Roll" from their self-titled second album. About an hour's worth of pop-rock music followed, including songs from all three JB albums.
During the opening bars of "Year 3000," the band started to jump up and down in unison, and the fans did the same. The entire floor shook, and for a brief moment, this reporter thought the whole thing would come crashing down onto the first level below.
Things calmed down a bit when Nick, usually seen strapped to his guitar, sat down at a piano to sing the title track from A Little Bit Longer, about what he experienced when he was first diagnosed with diabetes. "I want you to sing this with me as loud as you can," Nick told the audience mid-song. Of course, they obliged.
The performance ended with a lively rendition of "Burnin' Up," the first single from the new album. Then the brothers left, with the audience filing out shortly after.
"It was awesome," 19-year-old Christine Soto said of the performance. Her best friend Lauren Kwong added: "It was worth the 12-hour wait!"
Fans who were unable to attend the event can download the performance on iTunes, but they'll have to hold out for a while: It won't be available until the holidays.
This report is provided by MTV News
VH1 Hip-Hop Honors!!
VH1’s “Hip-Hop Honors” 2008 Set for October Premiere
VH1 has announced the upcoming date for its next A-List tentpole event the “VH1 Hip Hop Honors.” Now in its fifth year, “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” will once again pay tribute to the hip hop luminaries who broke new ground and propelled the genre into a truly global news phenomenon.
VH1 will fete this year’s honorees at a high-energy event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York taping Thursday, October 2, 2008 and premiering on VH1 on Tuesday, October 7.
The music and influence of each of the honorees, to be named later this summer, will be recognized through performances in collaboration with some of today’s hottest talent. Generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked and inspired the evolution of the music.
Last year’s show was hosted by Tracy Morgan and honored A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, WHODINI, Missy Elliott, the film Wild Style and Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell for New Jack Swing. The star-studded 2007 edition also featured performances by the honorees, along with appearances by Ciara, Eve, Pharrell Williams, The Game, T.I., Timbaland, Bow Wow, Busta Rhymes, Common, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole and Nick Cannon as well as Chris Rock, Harvey Keitel, LL Cool J, Kerry Washington and Diddy. Salt -N- Pepa, Nelly Furtado, Ne-Yo, KRS-One The Teacha, Jermaine Dupri, Grandmaster Caz, Nelly, Mos Def, Kool Moe Dee, Grand Wizzard Theodore and The Chief Rocker Busy Bee.
“As we’ll remind viewers with our upcoming ‘VH1 Rock Honors’ show saluting The Who, VH1’s on-air tentpole events represent the best of music and pop culture entertainment. We work tirelessly and passionately to attract the biggest stars in the industry, create must-see buzz and engage record numbers of viewers,” said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1.
“Our ‘VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the hip hop community, drawing legends from back-in-the-day to the hottest stars of the genre today. This fifth edition will reflect the true power of hip hop while promising to deliver our best Hip Hop Honors show yet,” he added.
Story pulled from: http://www.hiphoplinguistics.com/
VH1 has announced the upcoming date for its next A-List tentpole event the “VH1 Hip Hop Honors.” Now in its fifth year, “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” will once again pay tribute to the hip hop luminaries who broke new ground and propelled the genre into a truly global news phenomenon.
VH1 will fete this year’s honorees at a high-energy event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York taping Thursday, October 2, 2008 and premiering on VH1 on Tuesday, October 7.
The music and influence of each of the honorees, to be named later this summer, will be recognized through performances in collaboration with some of today’s hottest talent. Generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked and inspired the evolution of the music.
Last year’s show was hosted by Tracy Morgan and honored A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, WHODINI, Missy Elliott, the film Wild Style and Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell for New Jack Swing. The star-studded 2007 edition also featured performances by the honorees, along with appearances by Ciara, Eve, Pharrell Williams, The Game, T.I., Timbaland, Bow Wow, Busta Rhymes, Common, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole and Nick Cannon as well as Chris Rock, Harvey Keitel, LL Cool J, Kerry Washington and Diddy. Salt -N- Pepa, Nelly Furtado, Ne-Yo, KRS-One The Teacha, Jermaine Dupri, Grandmaster Caz, Nelly, Mos Def, Kool Moe Dee, Grand Wizzard Theodore and The Chief Rocker Busy Bee.
“As we’ll remind viewers with our upcoming ‘VH1 Rock Honors’ show saluting The Who, VH1’s on-air tentpole events represent the best of music and pop culture entertainment. We work tirelessly and passionately to attract the biggest stars in the industry, create must-see buzz and engage record numbers of viewers,” said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1.
“Our ‘VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the hip hop community, drawing legends from back-in-the-day to the hottest stars of the genre today. This fifth edition will reflect the true power of hip hop while promising to deliver our best Hip Hop Honors show yet,” he added.
Story pulled from: http://www.hiphoplinguistics.com/
Friday, August 8, 2008
Jay-Z!!! Summer Streets!! Read about IT!
Jay-Z and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the kick off of Summer Streets, a program that will turn NYC streets into a traffic free playground for kids. Seven miles from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Lafayette St, 4th Ave, Park Ave, up to East 72nd St. will be closed and made available every Saturday over the next three weeks from 7am to 1pm. The route will include activities such as, dance classes, bike rentals, and children's games with rest stops along the route and live music performances. Jay-Z hopes the event encourages kids to get involved in positive activities, and recalls one of his proudest moments is when he learned to ride a bike at the age of four. In other Jay news, he recently told Vibe that parts of your life are sacred for you and the people around you. In other words, his marriage is not up for discussion, and that will remain between the people close to him.
DO IT JAY!!!
Story pulled from Kredible Alerts
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