'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse' Star Shameik Moore and Director Peter Ramsey Speak On Bringing Miles And Brooklyn To The Screen

The era of the one-size fits all superhero is a thing of the past. In Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Afro-Latino web-slinger, Miles Morales is finally getting his moment on the big screen, and his debut couldn’t be more cinematically satisfying. Voiced by The Get Down’s Shameik Moore and helmed by Rise of the Guardians director Peter Ramsey, who has the distinct title of being the first Black person to direct a big budget animated feature, Into The Spider-Verse is something special. Along with his co-directors, Bob Persichetti and Rodney Rothman, Ramsey's take on Miles' story is bold and Brooklyn to its core. The film opens the floodgates for an entirely new visual style when it comes to animated storytelling. 

In the film, Miles, while hanging out with his uncle, Aaron (voiced by Mahershala Ali) in New York City’s subway tunnels gets bitten by a radioactive spider transforming him into Spider-Man. As he grapples with his new powers, and a strained relationship with his father, Jefferson (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry) Miles soon discovers that he might not be the only high-flying superhero in the universe. 

Just ahead of the film's premiere Shadow and Act spoke with Shameik Moore and director Peter Ramsey about the two-year journey to bring Miles’ story to the big screen, and why we can expect to see more of the A1-loving teen in the near future. 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Photo Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images 

Veteran Journalist Shaun Robinson Dishes On Her New Mega-Project With Lifetime Network

The news sector has not been a welcoming space for Black women. And yet, veteran journalist Shaun Robinson has been a staple on our television screens for over two decades. The Spelman alum began her career at Detroit's WGPR-TV (now WWJ-TV) --the first Black-owned television station in the United States and quickly became one of the nation’s top journalist. Robinson covered Bill Clinton’s Impeachment proceedings in the ‘90s and the Oklahoma City bombing before becoming a host of the acclaimed NBC show, Access Hollywood — a role she held for 16 seasons before moving on in 2015. Never one to be confined to a certain role or a certain type of news coverage, the Emmy Award-winning journalist and avid philanthropist is ready to add a new title to her lengthy resume -- executive producer. 

Recently, Shadow and Act caught up with the Detroit native to talk about how the news landscape has shifted and evolved during this current political administration, and her forthcoming mega-project with Lifetime. 

"When I was growing up in the business, the number one lesson you learn was to get the facts before you report them," Robinson reflected on the way journalism has shifted since she first began her career. "There were checks and balances back then. Sure, everyone wanted to be first, but you made sure to check all of your sources, and get the information from both sides of the story before you went on the air and reported anything." 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Sandra Bland's Sisters Speak On Her Life, Legacy And HBO's 'Say Her Name: The Life And Death of Sandra Bland'

We know her name. Sandra Annette Bland — affectionately known as Sandy by her friends and loved ones— was just 28 years old in July 2015, when she was pulled over for what should have been a routine traffic stop in Prairie View, Texas. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Bland was ripped from her vehicle by a Texas State Trooper and jailed in Waller County. Three days later, she was found hanged in her jail cell. From the moment the news of her death was reported, it was met with immediate outrage and suspicion. Her story became a leading face in the #SayHerName movement that focus on the Black women and girls who have been victims of police violence but have often been overshadowed in the #BlackLivesMatter movement by male victims whose stories have received more attention. 

Though Bland’s family is no closer to having answers than they were three years ago, they’ve partnered with Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner to bring Sandra’s story to the big screen while ensuring that her legacy and her name continues to echo loudly around the world. HBO’s Say Her Name: The Life & Death of Sandra Bland begins just ten days after the young activist’s death and follows Bland’s family and the Black community as they desperately search for answers. 

Ahead of the film’s debut, Shadow and Act sat down with Bland’s older sisters Sharon Cooper and Shante Needham to discuss the movie, who Sandy was, and how they’ve continued to push forward in the midst of overwhelming grief. 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Tyra Banks Talks 'Life Size 2' And Why Eve Was Never Supposed to Be In the Cards For Her

Nostalgia is king in the entertainment industry these days. With countless reboots and revamps in and out of the box office and on our television screens, there is something both comforting and whimsical about returning to a past time in our lives. For those of us who came of age in the new millennium, Life Size was a distinct pop culture moment. The film followed an angsty young tween, Casey (Lindsay Lohan), who while mourning her mother, inadvertently brings her Eve fashion doll (Tyra Banks) to life. The plucky Disney tale was supposed to be just another Disney Channel flick at the time, but instead, it became a phenomenon. Now, almost two decades later, Banks has stepped back into Eve’s stilettos for Freeform’s Life Size 2: A Christmas Eve. 

This time around, Eve is inadvertently awakened by Grace Manning (grown-ish actress Francia Raisa) — a spoiled twenty-something socialite turned CEO, who has been tasked with taking over her mother’s company Marathon Toys —the same organization that established the Eve dolls. 

The sequel to Life Size didn’t come together quickly. Though Banks first announced the film was in development in 2012, the movie was not greenlit until April 2017. Nearly six years after she first began discussing a sequel to Life Size, Shadow and Act sat down to chat with Banks about becoming Eve again, why the sequel is so much sexier than the original, and why she knew Raisa was the right choice to push this film forward. 

"It was so exciting to step into the high heeled shoes — the very painful high heeled shoes of Eve after eighteen years," Banks told Shadow and Act. 

Knowing how much fans loved the original, and now that the iconic supermodel was on board as an executive producer, she wanted to be confident that she gave Eve and Life Size the reverence that they deserved. 

"I wanted to make sure as an executive producer of the sequel to give you all that stuff that you loved about it the first time but switch it up. I wanted to twist it up and also mature it up a little bit so that people who watched Life Size when they were little and are now adults could have something that they could relate to." 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

On some supermodel shit with the iconic Tyra Banks. We talked Life Size 2, returning to Eve almost 20 years later & why the sequel is much sexier than the OG flick ✨✨#LifeSize2 #Freeform Full interview soon come, but check out my stories for a snippet 🎬

188 Likes, 24 Comments - Aramide Tinubu (@awordwitharamide) on Instagram: "On some supermodel shit with the iconic Tyra Banks. We talked Life Size 2, returning to Eve almost..."

Tyler Perry And The Cast Of 'Nobody's Fool' Talk Getting R-Rated, Traits For An Ideal Mate And Whoopi's Epic Wig

After more than two decades in the entertainment industry, Tyler Perry is switching things up once again. Just seven months after the debut of his first R-rated psychological thriller, Acrimony, Perry is premiering his first R-rated comedy, Nobody’s Fool. Shot in just ten days, the romantic comedy with a twist brings together The Haves and the Have Nots darling Tika Sumpter along with Emmy winner, Tiffany Haddish. Perry was well aware of Haddish's talent before her breakout role in Girls Trip, the director and actress worked together back in 2014 on Perry’s OWN series If Loving You Is Wrong. In Nobody’s Fool, he paired Haddish and Sumpter up as sisters, Tanya and Danika respectively. In the movie, the sisters are reunited after the hilarious but hot-headed Tanya is released from prison after a five-year stint. 

Tanya’s re-entry into Danika's life upends the straight-laced advertising executive's picture perfect world including her online relationship with a man that Tanya is confident is "catfishing" her sister. Perry didn’t just stop with Haddish and Sumpter — he rounded out his raunchy and entertaining rom-com with Power star Omari Hardwick as Frank, Tanya’s boss who is desperately interested in Danika, E.G.O.T. legend Whoppi Goldberg as the Tanya and Danika's mom, Lola and the mega-talented Amber Riley as Danika’s bestie, Callie. 

Ahead of the film’s premiere Shadow and Act got the opportunity to sit down with Tyler Perry and the cast to chat about Nobody's Fool and how much fun they had while making it. 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

My latest for @shadow_act 🎬 I caught up with Tyler Perry and the cast of @nobodysfool to chat about those superficial standards they once had on their dating lists✨

70 Likes, 19 Comments - Aramide Tinubu (@awordwitharamide) on Instagram: "My latest for @shadow_act 🎬 I caught up with Tyler Perry and the cast of @nobodysfool to chat about..."

South African Crime Thriller 'Number 37' is an Exhilarating Ride About Greed and Desperation (Review)

In her superb crime thriller, Number 37,  South African filmmaker Nosipho Dumisa channels the master of horror, Alfred Hitchcock to show the impact of desperation and greed on a person's soul. Dumisa turns her lens on a man named Randal (Irshaad Ally), a former drug dealer who is left crippled as a result of a botched robbery. Devastated by his inability to sustain the life he once had, and desperate to stay under the radar of a diabolical loan shark named Emmie (Danny Ross), Randal's only outlets are his long-suffering girlfriend Pam (Monique Rockman), and the pair of binoculars she gifts him. 

Set in the gloomy and gritty government housing projects in Cape Town, Dumisa pulls no punches when it comes to illustrating the violence and abject poverty that continues to chew away at impoverished communities of color. The filmmaker also refuses to make excuses for her main character. Though Randal is confined to a wheelchair and his home, it’s clear that he is is the villain in his own story. Seeing no way to carve out a better path for himself, the ill-tempered criminal thrusts much of his pain and anger on Pam — who tries but fails to sustain it. 

The couple’s luck seems to shift one day when Randal — hopelessly looking to connect with the outside world, witnesses the murder of a police officer at the hands of the project's most violent criminal, Lawyer (David Manuel). Seeing the murder as an opportunity to escape his present circumstances, Randal decides to blackmail Lawyer for the money he owes Emmie so he can start a new life. 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

'Legacies' Stars Peyton Alex Smith and Quincy Fouse Talk Magic And Mystique In The CW's New 'TVD' Spinoff Show

Nearly a decade after The CW first introduced us to Mystic Falls' bloodthirsty characters in The Vampire Diaries, and the New Orleans set-The Originals, executive producers Julie Plec and Brett Matthews are presenting the final installment of their supernatural saga, Legacies. Set in the distant future, Legacies follows a group of magical teens who all live in safe confines of the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted as they struggle to control both their magical and hormonal urges. 

Run by headmaster and TVD alum Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis), the Salvatore student population also boasts a few familiar faces. The Originals alum, Danielle Rose Russell stars as Hope Mikaelson, the first ever vampire/werewolf/witch hybrid who witnessed her parents' destruction during the final season of The Originals. Fans of the original television dramas will also remember Josie (Kaylee Bryant) and Lizzie Saltzman (Jenny Boyd), Alaric’s twin daughters who have their own battles to face. 

While Mystic Falls is no stranger to supernatural events, vampires, werewolves and witches, Legacies is set to unveil something fans of The Vampire Diaries universe have never seen before. 

Ahead of the series premiere, Shadow and Act traveled to Atlanta where Legacies is filmed. We spoke with The Quad alum, Peyton Alex Smith, who stars as Rafael -- a troubled young man just uncovering his true nature as a werewolf and Quincy Fouse, who plays M.G., a cheeky vampire trying to find his footing in the world. 

For Smith, stepping into a world that was already 236 episodes deep with The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, wasn’t as intimidating as one would think. After all, before becoming Rafael, he wasn’t uber-familiar with the franchise. "I’d seen a couple of episodes, but I wasn't really familiar with the world at all," he explained. "It was an eye-opening experience for me because, on the back end, I've been able to catch up on everything. " 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Jada Pinkett Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris On 'Red Table Talk' and Sacred Spaces For Black Healing

There are few safe spaces in the media for Black women to come together and speak about issues that affect them personally and across the Diaspora. Recognizing the need for explosive and healing dialogue, legendary actress Jada Pinkett Smith, her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris and daughter, Willow Smith, decided they would create such a space for themselves. 

In May 2018, the women opened up their lives and home for the profoundly impactful and moving Facebook Watch series, Red Table Talk. Over the course of 10-episodes, the women discussed a wide range of difficult subjects including sex, feuds in Black Hollywood and even addiction. Using their magnetic personalities and bold transparency, the Smiths and Banfield-Norris welcomed millions of viewers and several A-list guests to their red table. 

Now, the People’s Choice award-nominated series is launching new episodes. Shadow and Act got the opportunity to speak with Pinkett Smith and Banfield-Norris about their critically acclaimed series and why it has been vital for them to speak their truths. 

"It’s been a great opportunity for us to learn and grow together," Banfield-Norris said of the show's impact on her family. For the mother/daughter duo, the most beautiful aspect about this journey is that it has allowed multiple generations of Black women to have in-depth and honest conversations that have been historically stifled or unspoken. "Your mistakes can be eye-opening." 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

10 Things We Need To See In 'Black Panther 2'

It’s time to make sure your passport is valid and your most iconic Wakandan couture is starched and pressed, because the Black Panther sequel officially has the green light. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler recently signed a deal to write and direct Black Panther 2. 

The Creed filmmaker will take all of 2019 to pen the script for the highly anticipated sequel, which will head into production in late 2019 or early 2020. We're guessing that the movie will hit theaters sometime in early 2021. As we prepare ourselves for what will surely be another legendary superhero flick with a stunning, melanin-filled cast, here are 10 things that we absolutely must see when Black Panther 2 finally does hit the big screen. 

1. A larger scope of Wakanda 

Though the majority of Black Panther was set in Wakanda, the mythical East African nation that boasted everything from lush greenery to grand skyscrapers made of vibranium, much of the film was concentrated in closed spaces in T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) palace, or in other places across the globe. 

There was a glimpse of the immense scale of the country from the aerial shots inside T’Challa’s plane. We also got to see how the various traditions and tribes within the country mixed during his coronation ceremony, and when he and Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) ventured out for a walk in the marketplace. But we can't really know if Wakanda is the utopia we think it is until we see how the average Wakandan lives, outside of the palace. 

2. Responsible Tension  

You can’t have a good superhero movie without some tension and conflict, and it's possible that Wakanda's new open borders policy for refugees could be the source of that. But considering the real-life horrors of the global treatment of refugees, it's important that a film of this magnitude and impact would handle this topic with the nuance and care it deserves. One of the most pivotal aspects of Black Panther was that it presented people of the African diaspora in all of our complexities. We expect nothing less in the sequel. 

Our origins are the same; however, we have different customs, traditions and cultures. Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) had Wakandan ancestry, but he was raised in Oakland and spent his life wading through the cesspool that is American racism. The differences in experiences will surely cause some strain between native Wakandans and outsiders. 

Also, with the borders of Wakanda open, vibranium will undoubtedly become more vulnerable. So we are eager to see how Coogler and his team will handle immigration in Black Panther 2. 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

TIFF 2018: George Tillman Jr. On Adapting Book 'The Hate U Give' To The Big Screen

Since the mega success of 1997’s Soul Food, director George Tillman Jr. has been telling stories that enable people to deeply examine their own lives and their connections with others. He's directed Notorious and The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, and he’s also worked diligently as a producer films like Mudbound and the Barbershop franchise. Now the prolific filmmaker is bringing Angie Thomas’ stunning novel The Hate U Give to the big screen. The narrative centers around Black teenager Starr Carter, and her experiences participating in activism paralleling the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Following the film's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Shadow and Act sat down to chat with Tillman about why this was a story he felt compelled to tell, and what he’s uncovered over the course of his career. For Tillman, the entry point into Starr’s world was first sparked by Thomas’ novel. 

"When the book came to me it wasn't published," Tillman told Shadow and Act. "Angie was still in the process of editing the book. I got it really early — in January 2016. I was working with Cheo Hodari Coker, who I did Notorious with. He wanted me to do an episode . I went out to Brooklyn, and the book came to me in my second week of shooting." 

"I didn't have a lot of time, but I did read the first chapter," he said. "The first chapter starts off at the party where Starr's hanging out. She says, 'I don't know if I'm supposed to be at this party.' She was uncomfortable, and I thought, 'Wow, I’ve never seen a story about a young 16-year-old, African American dealing with identity issues.'" 

"As I kept reading it, the dialogue and the language reminded me of a party I went to years ago in my high school times, and a shooting happened," Tillman recalled. "The way (Angie) caught that, and the themes — I was just blown away. I had to get on the phone with her right away. We talked maybe two weeks after that. We went through how I saw the movie, the important characters, the voice, the theme. We completely connected. Then I was able to sell it to Fox at that point." 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Cress Williams on 'Black Lightning,' Jefferson's Endgame and Why The Show Is Forever Changed

Black Lightning has returned full throttle for a second season, and the stakes are higher and grittier this go-round. Last season, Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams), a man who had been turned his back on his superhero alter-ego Black Lightning, decided he could no longer sit back and watch his city, Freeland, descend into chaos. After a nine-year hiatus, he chose to slip back into his super suit and use his superhuman abilities to harness and control electricity to try and save his community. 

Jeff’s decision to step back into the masked vigilante’s shoes had quite the effect on his family. Namely, his scientist ex-wife, Lynn (Christine Adams) with whom he’d been working to rekindle a romance, and the couple’s daughters, Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain) – strong-minded young women who are discovering their own superpowers. 

Despite his best efforts to help the people of Freeland, the season finale of Black Lightning ended with Jefferson at death's door. The menacing Tobias (Marvin Jones III), and his violent 100 gang nearly got the best of the high school principal. Just before the season premiere, Shadow and Act, headed to Decatur, Georgia to tour the Black Lightning set and speak to Williams about Season 2, how everything is about to change for the Pierce family, and why Jefferson will be juggling a lot more demons both in and out of his suit. 

"The first part of this season is Jefferson realizing all of the bad things that happened in season one," Williams says. "He's ready to take all the good and is kind of in denial about the bad. In the first three episodes, he's getting confronted with, 'This is the bad repercussion of what you did to the school, this is the bad repercussion of this and that — this is the bad repercussion of your daughter now having powers.' He’s also grappling with his family, Anissa's jumped in, and she's active as Thunder, Lynn's Green Light Babies, and Jennifer's wrestling with her powers." 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Salim Akil On Making 'Black Lightning' Blacker Than Ever And Why Black Women Are The Backbone Of The Series

Black superhero drama Black Lightning is back, and its sophomore season promises to be even more powerful than the first. 

Under the bold direction of executive producer Salim Akil, Black Lightning is primarily about family and the sacrifices one makes to keep them safe. The series follows Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams), who had given up his crime-fighting alter ego Black Lightning for the sake of his wife and kids. Nine years later, he’s a high school principal with a tumultuous relationship with his now ex-wife Lynn (Christine Adams), and they co-parent two daughters Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain). When a dangerous gang threatens the city of Freeland, he’s forced to resume his vigilantism, while protecting his secret identity from a government agency that's hot on his trail and keeping his daughters safe, who might just be superheroes too. 

Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, this show's explosive first season proved that it was much more than a stereotypical showcase of good versus evil. The show includes nuanced narratives about drug addiction, police brutality, government conspiracies and unsanctioned experimentation on Black bodies.  

Ahead of the season premiere, Shadow and Act traveled to Decatur, Georgia, where Black Lightning is filmed, to speak with Akil, tour the set, and get an inside scoop into the upcoming season. 

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Producer Will Packer and Director Malcolm D. Lee Talk The Cleverly Crafted 'Night School' →

Life comes at you fast, which is certainly the case for Kevin Hart’s character Teddy in the new Will Packer-produced comedy, Night School. Teddy is a high school dropout, whose charisma and impressive salesman abilities have allowed him to create a precariously built life of luxury with the woman of his dreams, Lisa (Megalyn Echikunwoke). However, his world crumbles under his feet when he finds himself out of a job without a degree or any other skills to fall back on. Determined to keep up the facade of his luxe lifestyle, Teddy turns to a night school class and a no-nonsense teacher named Carrie (Tiffany Haddish) — with the hopes of finally earning his GED. With electrifying chemistry between Hart and Haddish and a fantastic supporting cast that includes Romany Malco, Keith David and Insecure’s Yvonne Orji, it’s clear that after Think Like A Man, Ride Along and The Wedding Ringer, the Hart/Packer machine is just getting the ball rolling.

Shortly before Night School's premiere at Urbanworld 2018, Shadow and Act sat down to chat with Packer, the film's director Malcolm D. Lee, Hart, and Haddish. After many years of friendship, the actors were finally able to work together on a film, something they talked about extensively when they were coming up through the comedy clubs of Los Angeles.

Hart and Packer had been working on the concept for Night School for quite some time, but the final script came together just as the frenzy surrounding Girls Trip was kicking into high gear.

"Kevin and I were developing," Packer revealed. "This is his first time producing a movie, so he and I produced it together. This is our seventh movie together, but we did not have a director. Malcolm and I had just finished Girls Trip, and I showed Kevin an early cut of the film. He loved it and said, 'Let's go get Malcolm Lee.'"

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

TIFF Interview: Director A.V. Rockwell Talks Her Film ‘Feathers' And How Philando Castile's Death Inspired Its Powerful Storyline

Countless films have examined the pain and traumas of black, male adolescence. From Moonlight to Menace II Society, these stories have woven stunning tapestries, which unpack what it means to come of age as a black male in America. However, few films have provided a space of healing for their characters, allowing them to work through their pain to overcome their past.With her lush, 19-minute short, Feathers, director A.V. Rockwell presents Elizier's (newcomer Shavez Frost) story. A new student at The Edward R. Mill School for Boys, Elizier must learn to release the anger and grief of his past, to press forward in his life and become the person he was always meant to be. Tucked in the corner of a restaurant in the midst of the Toronto International Film Festival, Shadow and Act sat down to chat with Rockwell about her love letter to black men and what inspired her to capture Elizier's story on screen.

"I am definitely frustrated. Generally speaking, there is just so much going on, and it's not even anything new. Looking back over the decades at our relationship with officers, with the police force — this is a recurring thing. The proof is right there, but even that doesn't feel like that is enough. It's like the world doesn't seem to give a damn about us, and that feeling is what Feathers is about," Rockwell said. "Society doesn't give a damn about you — whether you live or die. Our lives aren’t valued, and it definitely doesn't feel like your life shares the same value as your non-black friend."

"I thought, 'I want to do something that addresses that.' How does it feel to move through the world from such a young age, but already have that awareness or see a parent die?" she continued. "I thought about Philando Castile’s daughter; how does she feel to have seen her dad die viciously that way? Now she has to go through the world without a dad. Those images will be in her head with her for the rest of her life. Now she is being raised by a single mom. What is that going to mean for them, and in carrying all of this, what is that going to mean for her children, her grandchildren? How is that going to travel through the generations? I was frustrated by that, and thinking of their point of view," the director explained.

"Using their story as an allegory experience, I really wanted to lift them and push the message: Lift each other. When the rest of the world seems to have let go, that doesn't mean that you still should not care about each other," Rockwell implored. "The black community should continue to push society to change, but we can also take steps among ourselves. We need to take a look at our traumas and the way we deal with them — and the way we can find a way out of them."

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian On 'Fig Tree,' The Brutality Of War And The Sacrifice Of Filmmaking

War is horrific and cruel. Its brutalities burrow into the memories of everyone it touches, forever changing landscapes and lives left in its wake. From her memories of the end of the Ethiopian Civil War, Ethiopian-Israeli writer-director Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian takes an unflinching look at war in her feature film debut, Fig Tree. A sumptuous film about pain and perseverance, Fig Tree was awarded the Audentia Award for Best Female Director at the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF). Set in Addis Ababa in 1989, Davidian's film centers around Mina (Betalehem Asmamawe), a 16-year-old girl who is desperate to hold on to both her homeland and Eli (Yohanes Muse), her Christian boyfriend, who is frantically evading being drafted into Mengistu Haile Mariam's army.

Shadow and Act sat down to chat with Davidian about this compelling, coming-of-age story and the sacrifices she made to make this film.

Davidian left war-torn Ethiopia when she was just 11 years old, but Mina's story is quite different from her own. Fig Tree was born out of Davidian's desire to connect to her memories and the feelings from her childhood that still lingered with her.

"I started to go to pharmacy school, but I was rejected," she said. "During that time, I was watching a ton of movies. I was inspired to share the way I viewed the world, especially because I would always see these awful headlines about Ethiopia and Africa. I came from there, and I wanted to share what it was really like, and how it made me feel. It's beautiful, and Amharic is a beautiful language. I felt in my soul that it was something that I needed to share."

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Regina Hall On Bringing Angie Thomas' World To Life In 'The Hate You Give,' And Why It’s Always A Wonderful Time To Be A Black Woman

Regina Hall didn’t expect to be a part of the film adaptation of Angie Thomas’ explosive novel, The Hate U Give. She was cast as Lisa Carter, the loving but no-nonsense mother of protagonist Starr Carter, quite by chance. The novel and film chronicle Starr's experiences with law enforcement, her school and her community, after she watches her childhood friend get gunned down by a police officer. During the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Shadow and Act sat down to chat with the Hall about bringing a black teen girl’s experience of police brutality and injustice to the big screen. "I did Barbershop—the third installment. And after we wrapped, George said, 'You know, there's a project that I really think you'd be great for,'" Hall revealed. "I didn't know that it had a green light, nor was I sure that the studio was going to approve me for the part. A year passed and George called, and they sent the book over. I was more than halfway through the book, and then the script came. I read the script and thought that they did a great job with the adaptation—because that's hard. Then I went and met with the executives at Fox, and everyone said, 'Yes.'"

Though the veteran actress trusted Tillman’s vision, watching the film come together as the rest of the cast came onboard was a thrilling experience. "I was excited! Russell was doing it, and Amandla. I thought of the cast that George was putting together, and I was like, 'Huh? That's an interesting cast.' I thought, 'Are people going to think Starr looks like me?' Hall told Shadow and Act.

"Then they brought on Common, and Issa as the activist lawyer. Even Anthony as the villain — there were all these pieces of the puzzle. George was so clear, and he was so smart in his vision of the movie. When we were shooting, I was like, 'Oh, of course!' I couldn't see anyone else. It's not necessarily what I would've thought, and I know that there were people who were like, 'I don't know about that,'" Hall said. "So that's just a testament to George and everyone at Fox in the casting. I was very excited to be a part of it, in the rehearsals watching it come together."

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

TIFF Review: Stella Meghie’s ‘The Weekend’ Is Witty, Raw & Proves That Three Is Always A Crowd

Everything can change over the course of three days, as is chronicled in Stella Meghie’s biting comedy The Weekend. Struggling stand-up comedian Zadie (Saturday Night Live alum Sasheer Zamata) is 29, and — as she puts it — "extremely single." Regrettably, Zadie's nonexistent love life is mostly for lack of trying on her part. When she isn’t busy trying out new material on stage, she’s still pining over her ex-boyfriend turned reluctant friend Bradford (Tone Bell), even though they haven’t been together romantically in three years. To make up for skipping out on his birthday soirée for loftier plans — like eating an entire pizza and wallowing in self-pity, Zadie gifts Bradford with a first edition, signed copy of W.E.B. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk. She also invites him on a weekend getaway at her parents' bed and breakfast in picturesque northern California. Much to Zadie's disdain, Bradford invites his girlfriend, Margo (DeWanda Wise) along as well. Bougie and well-put-together, Margot knows exactly who she is. Meanwhile, Zadie — who is still trying to figure her life out — can’t take it. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Things start off on the wrong foot before the trio even arrives to the bed and breakfast. However, their trip takes an intriguing turn when a single, very sexy guest named Aubrey (Insecure’s Y’lan Noel) arrives, and takes an interest in the plucky, self-deprecating Zadie. Zamata and Noel’s scenes together are some of the best of the film, and stand out because they allow audiences to see Zadie in her own light without Bradford's shadow cast over her.

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

‘Green Book’ Pushes Past Generic Storytelling To Present A Stunning Tale Of Race Relations In The '60s

From Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? to The Help, many films have examined race relations in the 1960's. Some like Malcolm X have considered a specific character or moment in history. Others like To Sir, With Love, allowed the tumultuous times to exist in the backdrop of their stories, becoming a time capsule of America’s shameful past and wicked present. Despite the plethora of work on the subject, there has never been a film quite like Green Book. Based on the real-life friendship of an acclaimed Black classical pianist, Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) and an Italian-American club bouncer, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), Green Book chronicles the eight weeks Tony was employed as Dr. Shirley's driver and bodyguard as he embarked on a dangerous concert tour that led the men into the Deep South in the winter of 1962.

Green Book could have easily been yet another generic Civil Rights film or a poor reincarnation of 1989’s Driving Miss Daisy. Luckily, it was much more than that. With stellar performances from Ali -- who carried both an air of class along with the burdens of being an eccentric Black man in the ‘60s in his portrayal -- and Mortensen who put on the weight of Tony (a man who adored food), a New York accent and often crass attitude of Bronx natives are what makes Green Book a top-tier film.

Continue Reading at Shadow and Act.

‘Assassination Nation’ Is A Social Thriller That Digs Into Violent Masculinity, Transphobia And Privacy Issues That Speak To Everyone In The Internet Age

If you've ever wanted to know what would go down if the Salem Witch Trials happened in the midst of the #MeToo Movement, then Assassination Nation is your answer. There's a lot to untangle in Sam Levinson's feminist revenge fantasy. An ambitious but somewhat chaotic film, Levinson invites his audience into Salem—an American suburb where real horrors lie in everyone’s cell phone histories, downloads, and clouds. Four young women stand at the center of Assassination Nation: Lily (Odessa Young), and her best friends, Bex (Hari Nef), Sarah (Suki Waterhouse) and Em (Abra).  Despite her close bond with her friends, Lily is keeping one secret close to her chest: she’s carrying on an illicit affair with an unnamed older, married gentleman who she refers to as Daddy. Walking a delicate line between her hidden and public life, Lily is also trying to balance her increasingly fractured relationship with her misogynist high school boyfriend, Mark (Bill Skårsgard). Things begin to splinter for Lily and the rest of the town when an anonymous hacker starts dumping all of Salem’s phone and computer data on the internet en masse. The leak starts with the homophobic mayor (Cullen Moss), who gets his hidden sex life -– including his Craigslist hookups with men, and his love for lingerie -- exposed, causing him to blow out his brains in a town hall. Soon after, the hacker sets their sights on the high school principal (Colman Domingo). One of the few Black faces in a mostly white town, Principal Turrell is run out of Salem after being labeled a pedophile for having pictures of his six-year-old daughter at bathtime in his phone. As the intricate secrets and search history of 17,000 people in the town become public, Salemites spiral out of control. The scandal eventually catches up with Lily and her older man when their sexting and sultry photos leak.

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Don't Expect 'The Hate U Give' To Deliver Sanitized Storytelling Around Race

The late rapper Tupac Shakur only saw 25 birthdays. However, during his short life, he came to understand the black experience in America, which he summed up as T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E, meaning, “The Hate U Give Little Infants F*cks Everybody.” This haunting perspective would influence Angie Thomas’ award-winning novel The Hate U Give, which is now a feature film. Helmed by veteran director George Tillman Jr., Amandla Stenberg brings Thomas’ Starr to life in a heartbreaking and impactful portrayal that will surely shut down the naysayers who questioned her casting. At 16, Starr has many interests—she's a sneakerhead, a starter on her school's basketball team and an active member of her community, where her father Maverick (an outstanding Russell Hornsby) owns a corner store. However, in addition to the burdens of being a teen, Starr has trained herself to exist in between two worlds. She's continuously code-switching and navigating her way through her white, upper-class prep school and the streets where she was raised.

Though she's mastered being both versions of herself, Starr’s world shatters when she witnesses her childhood best friend, Khalil (Algee Smith), be gunned down by the police during a traffic stop. Though his character is killed not even 30 minutes into the film, Smith’s endlessly charismatic Khalil allows Starr to be her true self. In his presence, she no longer has to walk a tightrope between two worlds. The banter between Smith and Stenberg—though brief—was the stuff of which teenage love affairs are made. In the aftermath of Khalil's murder, Starr must grapple with remaining silent. It's something her loving but fearlessly protective mother, Lisa (Regina Hall), begs Starr to make a choice about: bear with the quiet or use her voice to speak for her fallen friend.

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.