Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu is grateful as she has recently wrapped up shooting for her upcoming film, Looop Lapeta. Taking to the Instagram handle, the actress has penned a gratitude note for the makers for offering her the film. Taapsee has shared a behind-the-scenes picture of her wherein she can be seen holding the script while speaking to the director and other crew members of the film. In her note, Taapsee has mentioned that she initially wanted to say ‘NO’ to the film during narration but ended up saying ‘Yes’. Along with the picture, she wrote, “I ran behind some films and some have just thankfully fallen in my lap. This being the latter I couldn’t be more grateful to these guys and the luck line in my palm. From entering the narration with the idea to say No, to leaving it with an immediate Yes, thanks to these gentlemen for hanging by a solid script and concept for years and being more sure of me being Savi than I was. P.S- I guess in the end an actor has to ‘run’ behind/for a good script :) #NoComplaints #LooopLapeta.”
Tag: Bollywood
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Dia Mirza ties the knot with Vaibhav Rekhi
The Thappad actor got married to businessman Vaibhav Rekhi in Pali Hill, Bandra in an intimate ceremony on February 15. Dia looked stunning in a crimson red Raw Mango sari that featured golden motifs and a thick border. All smiles, she kept the overall look simple but opted for heavy jewellery comprising a polki necklace, jhumkis and a maangtika. Vaibhav, on the other hand, was seen in an all-white ensemble — kurta, nehru jacket and churidaar. He completed the look with tan juttis and a golden safa.
Her hair was tied in a neat low bun adorned with a white gajra, and she completed the look with basic nude lips, a red bindi, and soft eyeliner. Prior to this for the pre-wedding festivities, she opted for a white turtleneck lace dress paired with flats. The look was styled with a dainty hair clip and soft makeup.
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Kangana says she feels at home on the battlefield
Actor Kangana Ranaut has shared a behind-the-scenes picture from the sets of her upcoming action film, Dhaakad. In her social media post, the actor said that she was ‘born to fight’, and finds ‘solace in conflict’. She called it ‘the confessions of a hot-blooded Kshatriya woman’. The picture, shared on Twitter and Instagram on Tuesday, showed Kangana in closeup, with prosthetic battle scars on her face. Dhaakad, directed by Razy Ghai, was being shot in Madhya Pradesh. Kangana wrote in her caption, “You may think it’s strange to find solace in conflict,you may think it’s not possible to fall in love with the sound of the clash of swords,for you BATTLEFIELD might just be ugly reality but for the one who is born to FIGHT there is no other place in this world where she belongs.”
It was with a picture from Dhaakad and her other upcoming film, Thalaivi, that Kangana compared herself to Meryl Streep and Gal Gadot. “Massive transformation alert, The kind of range I display as a performer no other actress on this globe has that right now, I have raw talent like Meryl Streep for layered character depictions but I can also do skilled action and glamour like Gal Gadot #Thalaivi #Dhaakad,” she had written.
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Sushmita Sen and Rohman Shawl put breakup rumours to rest
Breakup rumours have been swirling around Sushmita Sen and Rohman Shawl after the former Miss Universe posted a cryptic note on Instagram a few days ago. The couple seems to have now put the speculations to rest as they made an appearance together.
Sushmita and Rohman posed together for the paparazzi while they were out and about in the city on Friday. Rohman was seen sporting a white T-shirt and black joggers while Sushmita was in a casual black ensemble.
Earlier Sushmita had left her fans worried after she shared an anonymous note about man-woman relationships, which sparked off breakup rumours for the two. She had shared a cryptic post that revealed a hint of malice towards men, and a section of users were speculating if the 45-year-old actress had broken up with Rohman.
Sushmita took to her Instagram account and shared an anonymous quote, “The problem is women think he will change, he won’t. The mistake men make is thinking she’ll never leave, she will.”
Sushmita and Rohman have been dating since 2018. The duo often keep making appearances in each other’s mushy social media posts. Rohman also shares a great bond with Sushmita’s daughters Renee and Alisah.
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NJ ARTS THRIVE
By Mabel Pais
NJPAC “IN YOUR LIVING ROOM” WITH AWARD WINNING ARTISTS
SOUL MAN ANTHONY HAMILTON, NEWARK’S OWN HIP HOP ARTIST, REDMAN AND THE LEGENDARY DENIECE WILLIAMS LIVE INTERVIEWS ON NJPAC’S FACEBOOK LIVE
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.- 7: 30 p.m. on NJPAC’s Facebook.com/NJPAC
NJPAC: “In Your Living Room” continues with “NJPAC Backstage.” “NJPAC Backstage” is a series of celebrity interviews with renowned and beloved artists who will share their intimate stories of performing and how they are coping during this pandemic.
“NJPAC Backstage” is hosted by NJPAC’s Talk Show Host, Latoya Dawson. Dawson will conduct the Intimate interviews with revered artists soul man Anthony Hamilton, Newark’s own hip-hop artist, Redman who topped the rap charts in the 90’s and an in-depth interview with the legendary Deniece Williams who performed big hits “Let’s Hear It For The Boy,” “Silly,” “Black Butterfly” and many more.
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.- 7: 30 p.m. on NJPAC’s Facebook.com/NJPAC
Thursday, February 18: Anthony Hamilton
Thursday, February 25: Redman
Thursday, March 4: Deniece Williams
About Anthony Hamilton
Anthony William, “Soul Man.” (Photo : Courtesy NJPAC) Proclaimed a “national treasure” by the Los Angeles Times, GRAMMY® Award winning singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Anthony Hamilton has achieved global sales of over 50 million albums. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame inductee notably performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle, cementing his place in the history books as the “narrator of love.” His raw, awe-inspiring performances garnered the attention of National Public Radio (NPR) where he starred in their ‘Noteworthy’ documentary series. Additionally, he became the “first R&B artist to sell an album at Cracker Barrel.” To learn more, visit: AnthonyHamilton.com
About Redman
Redman.”(Photo : Courtesy NJPAC) Reginald “Reggie” Noble (born April 17, 1970), better known by his stage name Redman, is an American MC, rapper, DJ, record producer and actor. He came to fame in the early 1990s as an artist on the Def Jam label. In 1990, the Funk Doctor made his world debut on the EPMD album “Business as Usual,” appearing on tracks “Hardcore” and “Brothers On My Jock”. He is well known for his collaborations with Method Man, including their starring roles in films and sitcoms. He was a member of the Def Squad in the late 1990s. For the past two decades Redman has brought us some classic albums and some of the most energetic stage performances the world over. A General & Veteran in the game, he looks & feels better than ever before. For more information, visit: redmansworld.com
About Deniece “Niecy” Williams
Deniece “Niecy” Williams (Photo: Courtesy NJPAC) Iconic four-time Grammy Award winner and 12-time nominee, Deniece Williams has transformed R&B/Pop/Gospel music over an amazing and versatile five-decade career that has produced both stellar #1 Pop and R&B singles with powerful messages of self-empowerment to fun disco hits. This legendary songbird with a spectacular four-octave range voice as heard in her multi-platinum hit songs, “Let’s Hear It for The Boy,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” “Free,” “I Surrender All,” “I Believe In You” and “This Is My Song” is an American treasure that paved the way for many of today’s superlative singers. Williams has been nominated for 12 Grammys over the course of her career; won four most recently. To learn more, visit: DenieceWilliams.com
This collection of virtual performances can be found on the Arts Center’s website, at njpac.org/inyourlivingroom. Check out NJPAC’s Facebook and Twitter feeds for live events throughout the week, which will be archived on the website.
Nickel Creek Performs
Join NJPAC for two livestream performances of Nickel Creek broadcasting from the oft-sunny locale of Santa Barbara, CA. The band will dig through the catalog to perform two unique shows (no repeats!) on February 21 and 28 at 7:30PM both nights. In addition to the shows, NJPAC is excited to offer MORE CREEK: a VIP experience including a short fan request set and Q&A following each performance. For tickets, visit njpac.org/event/nickel-creek
Sun, Feb 21 @ 7:30PM
Sun, Feb 28 @ 7:30PM
About NJPAC
For more information and updates about the Arts Center’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, visit NJPAC.org
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Newark Arts Happenings
Creative Convenings: Newark Women’s Writers Workshop, Feb 26th
Newark Arts “Women’s Writers Workshop” Poster
(Photo / Courtesy newarkarts.org)The first Newark Women’s Writers Workshop (NWWW) of 2021 is on Friday, February 26th at 6 pm via Zoom. NWWW celebrates the new book, “A Glimmer of Death,” by award winning author, Valerie Wilson Wesley. Valerie will give you insight into her prolific process of writing so be sure to bring your questions.
This Newark Arts Creative Convening is a free, virtual, public event.
RSVP: newarkarts.eventbrite.com
To learn more, visit NewarkArts.org/CreativeConvenings
Call for Artists – Valley Street Mural
The South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) is seeking mural proposals for 20 Valley Street in downtown South Orange.
A qualified artist or team of artists will be commissioned to design and install a mural conveying the theme of “Harmony” and the idea that people are connected to each other and the world around us.
Proposal deadline: March 15, 2021.
To learn more, visit sovillagecenter.org/pub/news/story/616
The Newark Arts Calendar is back!
Whether virtual or socially distanced, you are invited to submit arts and cultural events taking place in the greater Newark area to our Arts Calendar, a free promotional tool for the Newark arts community that lives on the NewarkArts.org home page. Let’s support one other! To learn more, visit newarkarts.org/artscalendar
The ArtStart Mini Grant Application Cycle is open
ArtStart provides funding to organizations and individuals to create music, dance, theatre, film, visual and literary art projects that benefit the residents and neighborhoods of Newark. Winning proposals will be awarded grants ranging up to $3,000 each.
Apply now at newarkarts.org/artstart! Award grantees will be announced in June 2021.
ArtStart was established in 2001, with the mission to nurture arts and cultural activities throughout the city of Newark, especially for youth and under-served populations.
Books on the Move: Island in The Sun
Celebrate Black History Month by joining Teaching Artist Wincey Terry for an interactive reading of “Island In The Sun”! Watch more at njpac.org/booksonthemove
About Newark Arts
Newark Arts’ mission is to power the arts to transform lives. Established in 1981 as the Newark Arts Council, the organization’s vision is to become a nationally recognized catalyst for the collaborative power of the arts in the City of Newark and urban America.
Newark Arts is the producer of Newark Creates, a community-led citywide cultural plan, created in partnership with the City of Newark. Newark Arts’ key initiatives include Arts Education Newark (AEN), the ArtStart community grantmaking program, and the Newark Arts Festival.
To keep up to date on all the latest news from Newark Arts, sign up for our newsletter at newarkarts.org and follow @Newark_Arts on Twitter and @NewarkArts on Facebook and Instagram.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)
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Reese Witherspoon, Lauren Neustadter to be honoured at 2021 Caucus Awards
Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon and her banner Hello Sunshine’s president of TV and film, Lauren Neustadter, will be honoured as producers of the year at The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors’ 2021 Caucus Awards next month. According to Variety, the 38th annual gala event will be held virtually on March 4.
“Grey’s Anatomy” actor James Pickets Jr will serve as the host.
Screenwriter-filmmaker Aaron Sorkin, director Susanne Bier, “Black-ish” star and emerging producer Marsai Martin and Vin Di Bona will also be honoured at the ceremony.
Community leaders and philanthropists Jeanne and her late husband Tom Townsend will be bestowed with the Humanitarian Award.
Caucus co-founder Norman Lear will make a special guest appearance at the virtual awards ceremony.
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Kate Winslet: Hollywood is working toward making women feel safe
Kate Winslet thinks Hollywood is creating a space for younger women to be “safe” at work which wasn’t present before. The ‘Titanic’ star has praised the work done by the film industry in the wake of the allegations against disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein – who is currently serving 23 years in prison for sex offences including assault and rape – as she believes there is a “shift” happening which will the “younger generation” go to work on film sets without feeling frightened.
She said: “The thing that is shifting in ways that will absolutely be long lasting is how women’s voices are being received. There is a space that has been created for a younger generation that is going to be safe.
“My daughter is 20, and she just came into the industry about a year and a half ago. And what’s wonderful for me, as her mum, is just watching her have a courage of conviction and self-belief that is just unwavering, because she’s entering a time when we’re clearing the s*** away from them, these girls.
“These girls are going to change the world, and they’re going to be strong, and they’re going to be powerful, and they’re going to be f****** amazing. And that is because we’re getting all the bad stuff out of the way for them and all they will know is to use their voice in positive, powerful ways, to lead with compassion, to be strong role models and friends. And that, to me, is the biggest thing that has shifted.”
And Kate believes this decade will be one in which more women than ever begin “championing and supporting other women”.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter for their Actress Roundtable, she said: “This is the decade of women championing and supporting other women without judgment. This is happening right now, and that has come as a result of the mass united swell that has emerged from #MeToo.
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Bullet Train: Sandra Bullock to work with Brad Pitt
Bullet Train is shaping up to be an unmissable action-thriller to watch out for, owing majorly to the casting coup of our wildest dreams. Over the past few months, there have been various additions to the power-packed ensemble in the upcoming David Leitch directorial, which is being headlined by Brad Pitt. Now, there’s another A-list star, whose name has been attached to the project.
According to Deadline, Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock is said to be starring alongside Brad in Bullet Train, which also stars Joey King, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Zazie Beetz, Michael Shannon, Logan Lerman, Masi Oka and Andrew Koji along with Lady Gaga. Interestingly, if the report is indeed true, Bullet Train will be the first time that fans will get to witness Pitt and Bullock on the big screen together as the duo have surprisingly never worked with each other before. Sony neither confirmed nor denied the casting rumours with Deadline.
Are you excited about the possibility of watching Sandra Bullock and Brad Pitt together for the first time on-screen in Bullet Train? Share your thoughts with Pinkvilla in the comments section below. Based on Kotaro Isaka’s Japanese novel Maria Beetle, Zak Olkewicz has penned Bullet Train’s script with Leitch supervising it.
For the unversed, Bullet Train is based on five assassins who end up in a fast-moving bullet train which is heading from Tokyo to Morioka. The five characters slowly realise that their individual missions are in fact connected with the final outcome showing us who makes it off the train alive and what awaits them at the terminal station.
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Halle Berry says ‘no man has ever taken care’ of her
Halle Berry has insisted ‘no man has ever taken care’ of her. The 54-year-old actress has responded to trolls who left negative comments on a recent Instagram post after she shared a meme which said “women don’t owe you s***”.
After a follower replied claiming that isn’t “what most wives tell their husbands who pay for everything”, Halle said: “Well i’m not one of them. no man has ever taken care of me…. EVER! (sic)”
When another user suggested she “had some trouble with men” in her life, she fired back: “Nope, they had trouble with me”. The former ‘X-Men’ star – who has previously been married to David Justice, Eric Benet and Oliver Martinez – insisted she is focused on living her “best life” and learning from past mistakes. One person told Halle to ask herself what she is “doing wrong” and suggested she “can’t keep a man”. She brilliantly replied: “Who said i wanted to keep them? i’m all about living your best life. if you make a wrong move, course correct and re-spin and start again! (sic)”
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Bollywood mourns the demise of Rajiv Kapoor: A soul gone too soon
Bollywood celebrities took to social media to mourn the demise of actor Rajiv Kapoor who passed away due to a cardiac arrest in Mumbai on Tuesday, February 9.
Host-producer Naved Jafri and singer Lata Mangeshkar were among the first celebrities who mourned the death of Rajiv Kapoor on Twitter. Jafri wrote, “He was a pure heart and a very nice human being. May his soul rest in peace, deepest condolences to the family.”
Actor Sanjay Dutt tweeted, “Absolutely heartbroken to hear about the demise of Rajiv Kapoor. A soul gone too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with the Kapoor family in this difficult time. Om Shanti”
Madhuri Dixit recalled being directed by Rajiv Kapoor in Prem Granth. She wrote on Twitter, “I had the opportunity of working with #Rajiv Kapoor in the film PremGranth. It was a difficult subject which he handled with great maturity though it was his first film. Remembering the wonderful moments we shared. My heartfelt condolences to the Kapoor family. RIP.”
Rajiv Kapoor’s nieces Riddhima, Karisma and Kareena also took to her Instagram handles and bid adieu to her uncle.
Son of Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor made his acting debut with Ek Jaan Hain Hum (1983). He shot to fame with his father’s last directorial Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). Some of his other memorable films include Aasmaan (1984), Lover Boy (1985), Zabardast (1985) and Hum To Chale Pardes (1988). Rajiv moved to film direction and production later.
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Sonakshi Sinha narrates poem on farmers, salutes ‘the hands that feed us’
Sonakshi Sinha, who has expressed solidarity with the protesting farmers, has now shared a tribute to them on Instagram. She lent her voice to a poem which tries to explain why the farmers have left their homes to protest on the streets and why they are being branded as rioters. She also shared a montage of powerful visuals from the agitation. “Nazarein milake, khud se poocho – kyun? A tribute to the hands that feed us… a beautiful poem written by @varadbhatnagar. Shot and conceptualized by @gursanjam.s.puri and narrated by me. #farmersprotest,” she wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
Earlier, Sonakshi expressed her disapproval towards tweets posted by Bollywood and sports stars criticising international celebrities for supporting farmers. “The voices raised are about the violation of human rights, suppressions of free internet and expression, state propaganda, hate speech and abuse of power,” she shared a post originally by a handle @storysellercomics on Instagram stories.
The post said, “Journalists are being harassed. Internet has been banned. Protesters are being vilified through state and media propaganda. Hate speech (desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maro sardaro ko resurfaced) is flourishing. THAT is the issue that’s taken global centre stage.”
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Lisa Haydon third time pregnant
Model and actress Lisa Haydon, who is already mom to two sons, Zack and Leo, is expecting her third child soon. Her son Zack was born in 2017, while she had her son Leo in 2020. Lisa took to social media and shared a video in which she announced that her third child is coming in June and it’s a girl! Her son, Zack made an entry in the video and said that his mom has a baby sister in her tummy.
Lisa captioned the video as, “Coming this June… So I’ve actually been meaning to get on here and chat with you all, and to catch you all up with stuff that’s been happening lately… A baby sister (she tells her son).” The actress is married to British entrepreneur Dino Lalvani.
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Kangana to leave Twitter, backs homegrown app Koo
Dhaakad actor Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday threatened to quit Twitter. Kangana also said she will soon join homegrown app Koo. This comes after the microblogging site “withheld a portion of the accounts” identified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) within India.
Kangana took to Twitter and wrote, “Your time is up @Twitter time to shift to #kooapp will inform everyone soon about my account details there. Absolutely thrilled to experience home grown #kooapp.”
In her previous tweet, Kangana also called out Twitter and its founder Jack Dorsey for withholding accounts.
Twitter had recently deleted Kangana Ranaut’s tweets about farmers’ protest. “We have taken action on Tweets that were in violation of the Twitter Rules in line with our range of enforcement options,” Twitter had said in a statement.
Twitter India had recently suspended Kangana Ranaut’s official account for a few hours. It has also taken down a post by the actor in which she quote tweeted a tweet by cricketer Rohit Sharma over his remarks on the ongoing farmers’ protest.
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Now, US comic Trevor Noah puts India’s farmer protest on global radar
Stand-up comic and late night show host Trevor Noah is the latest international personality from the entertainment industry to highlight the ongoing farmers agitation. Through his popular TV programme “The Daily Show”, the Emmy-winning presenter on Wednesday night explained the origins of the farmers’ protest, their demands and the subsequent global support the agitation has received.
On February 2, a tweet by pop star Rihanna triggered a wave of support for the protesting farmers by a number of global personalities, activists and politicians. “Why are India’s farmers protesting? The government tried to change the decades-old agriculture laws and that’s when the manure hit the fan,” Noah tweeted, along with the video link.
In the show’s segment ‘If you don’t know, now you know’, which ran over eight minutes, the 36-year-old South African comic pieced together news clippings to provide a holistic view of the protest. The video clip also mentioned the burning of effigies of Rihanna and Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, who had voiced her support.
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Blackbuck poaching case: Salman gets respite in arm license case from Jodhpur court
Yashpal Goyal in Jaipur
JAIPUR (TIP): In the infamous blackbuck poaching case of 1998, the District and Sessions Court Jodhpur Metropolitan, on February 11, dismissed the two petitions of the Rajasthan government that alleged that Salman Khan, a Bollywood star, had submitted a false affidavit in connection with the arms act case and blackbuck poaching case. “The Jodhpur District and Session Court Judge Raghavendra Kachawal dismissed both the pleas of the state government after pronouncing the 18-page judgement, Salman’s lawyer Hastimal Saraswat told TIP on telephone from Jodhpur. “Salman appeared in the said case through a video conference (virtual appearance) before the judge as per the court directive when the judgement was announced in the court “, Saraswat who was present with the Public Prosecutor Lada Ram Vishnoi, said.
On June 19, 2019, Jodhpur’s Lower Court CJM-Rural had rejected the Rajasthan government’s two pleas alleging that Salman made a false affidavit in connection with the arm’s license in the blackbuck poaching case under section 340 of Cr. PC.The government appealed in the District and Sessions Court where the judgement was pronounced on February 11.
Background
In December 2006, a plea was made in the local court here asking it to hear an application that alleged that Salman had provided misleading information about his arms license. “Salman submitted an affidavit in the trial court during the hearing of the case against him under the Arms Act that his arm license was missing. But during the same period, it was produced in the commissioner’s office in Mumbai for renewal”, the prosecution had told the court.
On January 18, 2017, CJM had acquitted Salman in the arms case under sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the arms act saying he (Salman) used the firearms with expired license in the poaching of black buck at Kankani near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998. Whereas the petition challenging Salman’s affidavit on missing arm license filed by the prosecution in 2006 was not decided with the arm act verdict.
A case was registered against Khan under Arms act in October 1998 for allegedly possessing arms without a valid license during the alleged poaching of black bucks at Kankani village near Jodhpur. The case was filed by the forest department.
On April 2018, after 19 years of legal battle, a CJM courtsentenced the Bollywood star Salman Khan to five years in jail and Rs.10,000 fine in the October 1998 blackbuck poaching case, while acquitted five co-accused including four stars Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre under section 9/51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Salman then appealed the judgment in the higher court after getting bail in 2018.
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IT’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH
By Mabel Pais
Recognizing and Honoring Black Americans through Film, Radio & DiscussionVia Utah Film Center
Black History Month is an opportunity for us to learn, listen, discuss, and work toward the significant changes we ALL desperately need for an equitable future.
Thismonthlet’s recognize and honor not only the challenges and struggles of African-Americans but also celebrate the political savviness, artistry, and historical significance of the Black community via film. Screenings and Events are FREE where date and time are indicated.
LIL’ BUCK: Real Swan
DIR: Louis Wallecan l 2019 l France/USA l Eng l Doc l 1h 25m
Official Selection: 2019 Tribeca Film Festival
Charles “Lil Buck” Riley learned the smooth art of Memphis ‘Jookin,’ on the streets, parking lots, and slippery floors of the Crystal Palace Roller Rink in Memphis, Tennessee, igniting a lifelong passion for dance.
Lil Buck won a scholarship to study ballet and took his dancing to a whole new level, merging street-style Jookin with classical technique. After a breathtaking video was taken of him dancing to Camille Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan” accompanied by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma went viral, Lil Buck’s career exploded.
In this exuberant documentary, director Louis Wallecan takes an in-depth look at this extraordinary artist whose passion, drive, discipline, and talent have blazed a unique new path in the world of dance that has included performing all over the world, touring with Madonna, mentoring young dance students, and becoming a passionate advocate for arts education.
DRIVING WHILE BLACK
DIR: Gretchen Sorin & Ric Burns l 2020 l USA l Eng l Doc
“Sorin’s research has allowed us to assemble a moving, visual story that shows the joy and liberation that accompanied the freedom promised by the automobile and the daily struggle for Black Americans to seek their independence in a country that, to this day, does not fully acknowledge how systemic racism defines much of our history.” – Ric Burns
‘Driving While Black’ draws on a wealth of recent scholarship – and based on and inspired in large part by Gretchen Sorin’s recently published study of the way the automobile and highways transformed African American life across the 20th century – the film examines the history of African Americans on the road from the depths of the Depression to the height of the Civil Rights movement and beyond.
CHISHOLM ’72 – UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED
DIR: Shola Lynch l 2004 l USA l Eng l Doc l 1h 17m
2006 Peabody Award
Official Selection: 2004 Sundance Film Festival
TUESDAY, FEB 16 @ 10:00 PM EST
“A refreshing antidote to the opportunism and cynicism that rules the political roost today…an inspiring tale of someone who made a difference.” – The Hollywood Reporter
“An essential historical record of Chisholm’s campaign and its multidimensional significance to American culture and politics told in Chisholm’s voice…Crucial example of how necessary independent filmmaking is to civic engagement.” – Terri Simone Francis, Asst. Professor – Film Studies & African American Studies, Yale University
Shirley Chisholm (Photo: Courtesy Utah Film Center) Recalling a watershed event in US politics, this compelling documentary takes an in-depth look at the 1972 presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress and the first to seek nomination for the highest office in the land. Following Chisholm from her own announcement of her candidacy through her historic speech in Miami at the Democratic National Convention, the story is a fight for inclusion. Shunned by the political establishment and the media, this longtime champion of marginalized Americans asked for support from people of color, women, gays, and young people newly empowered to vote at the age of 18. Chisholm’s bid for an equal place on the presidential dais generated strong, even racist opposition. Yet her challenge to the status quo and her message about exercising the right to vote struck many as progressive and positive. Period footage and music, interviews with supporters, opponents, observers, and Chisholm’s own commentary all illuminate her groundbreaking initiative, as well as political and social currents still very much alive today.
BELOVED COMMUNITY PROJECT (Panel)
Wednesday, February 17 @ 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM EST
Join Utah Film Center for a special live screening of the ‘Beloved Community Project’ documentary film followed by a post-film panel hosted by Brolly Arts and Salt Lake Community College. Guests TBA.
SPIRITS OF REBELLION: Black Indie Cinema from LA
DIR: Zeinabu Davis l 2017 l USA l Eng l 1h 41m
Best Feature Doc & Audience Award – 2016 BlackStar Film Festival
Best Film by a Woman of Color – 2016 African Diaspora Intl. Film Festival
Best Feature Doc– 2017 San Diego Film Awards
Best Feature Doc – 2017 University Film Video Association
Tuesday, February 23 @ 10:00 PM EST
‘Spirits of Rebellion: Black Independent Cinema’ from Los Angeles documents the lives and work of a small critically acclaimed group of black filmmakers and media artists known as the Los Angeles Rebellion, a group brought together through shared experiences as students in the UCLA film production MFA program between 1967 and 1992. It is now recognized as an important part of the ‘Black Arts Movement’ on the West Coast.
‘Spirits of Rebellion’ offers the story of the movement in an accessible style through over 30 interviews with the filmmakers today as well as archival footage, clips from rarely seen films of the group, and reflections from leading scholars on film history and African-American cinema.
ON THE TOPIC OF LOVE – (CONVERSATION & CLIPS) – Thursday, February 18 @ 8:30 PM –10:00 PM EST
Youth in TV Comedy ‘grown-ish.‘ (Photo: Courtesy Utah Film Center) ‘On The Topic Of Love’ is presented by Westminster College’s Black Excellence program: featuring an evening of student-led discussion hosted by Victoire Soumano with panelists Kyana Hamilton and Jenessa Jimoh focusing on clips from the tv comedy ‘grown-ish.’ This event is a partnership between Utah Film Center and Black Excellence, which is part of the ‘Student Diversity and Inclusion Center of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion’ Office. They will dive into dating and romance in a predominantly white community by shedding light on the silver linings, challenges, and misconceptions in navigating relationships and college as a person of color.
BLACK, BOLD, & BRILLIANT: ‘BLERD’ EDITION FILM & DISCOURSE
Eng l 120 l Wednesday, February 24 @ 8:00 PM EST
Black, Bold, & Brilliant presents the next episode in Utah Film Center’s series of conversations about Black-centric films and media: ‘Blerds.’ The term for Black nerds, “Blerds”, was first introduced into the mainstream in 2006 via a reference from the television show, “Scrubs”. Since then, cultural recognition for Blerds has grown exponentially. This cultural explosion, often seen as the sole purview of white America in the media, has unleashed the power, imagination, and beauty of Blerds, which they’re celebrating! Join the discussion for a deeper dive into their rich and storied lives viewed through the lens of touchstones like “Black Panther,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” HBO’s “Watchmen and Lovecraft Country,” “Star Wars,” and so much more.
This event features a discussion with Jay Whittaker, Derek Thomas, and Imani Powell, and is moderated by Aja Washington, Meligha Garfield, and Billy Palmer.
Moderators:
Aja Washington is a black feminist, social worker, and activist who grew up in Southern California. She is a community co-host on KRCL’s Thursday night show, ‘Changing the Narrative,’ is a founding member of Black Lives Matter Salt Lake City and works on various activism projects in Salt Lake City.
Billy Palmer is Co-Host and Associate Producer of RadioACTive, a community affairs show that highlights grassroots activists and community builders weeknights at 6 p.m. on Salt Lake City-based 90.9fm KRCL. For more than 20 years, Billy has been a community organizer and advocate for youth empowerment, civil rights, neighborhood reinvestment and DV/SA survivors.
Meligha Garfield (he/him) is the inaugural director for the Black Cultural Center (BCC) at the University of Utah—a center that works to holistically enrich, educate, and advocate for students, faculty, staff and the broader community through Black centered programming, culturally affirming educational initiatives, and retention strategies.
For more information or to watch any of the films or discussions, visit utahfilmcenter.org
(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)
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Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott ‘still madly in love’
The former couple – who share three-year-old daughter Stormi together – have been split up for two years but “there is a lot of love there” still between the two of them. A source shared to E! News: “Kylie and Travis are still madly in love. You can tell every time they are together that there is a lot of love there. Both of their faces light up when they are together and both seem very happy. They are amazing co-parents and have a great routine.”
The exes aren’t ruling out the possibility of getting back together but won’t put any pressure on their romance for the time being and are just concentrating on co-parenting their daughter.
The insider added: “Kylie and Travis spend a lot of time together with Stormi as a family and aren’t ruling out getting back together. They aren’t putting pressure on the relationship right now.”
And it has also been claimed Travis and Kylie have been stronger than ever following their brief split.
Another source shared: “Kylie and Travis truly enjoy one another and are in love, but it can often be hard navigating their lives at such a young age. The couple needed to take a step back to reevaluate many things, but in doing so, they are better now than ever.” Travis has close bond with Stormi and pledged to always love Kylie even if they weren’t together. Speaking about his relationship with the reality star, he said: “Stormi is one of the best human beings I know. She’s like my best friend. She makes life a little bit easier. She just inspires me and she surprises me every day with how she’s thinking. It’s so crazy. I love her mommy and I always will. The hard part about relationships is just trying to be in one without a million outside voices interfering.”
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Mank leads Golden Globe nominations with 6 nods
After a year where the pandemic nearly emptied movie theaters, Netflix dominated nominations to the 78ths Golden Globe Awards on Wednesday, Feb 3, with David Fincher’s Mank leading film nominees with six nods and The Crown topping all television series. The Globes, delayed about two months due to the coronavirus, tried to muster some of the awards’ usual buzz on Wednesday in a largely virtual awards season bereft the kind of red-carpet glamour the Globes annual feast on. And perhaps to account for the otherwise lack of it, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association heaped nominations on two lavish period pieces of high royalty — both the Hollywood variety (Mank dramatizes the making of Citizen Kane) and the British kind. Mank, about Citizen Kane co-writer Herman Mankiewicz, landed nominations for best film, drama; best actor for Gary Oldman; best director for Fincher, best supporting actress for Amanda Seyfried; best score; and best screenplay for Jack Fincher, the director’s father who penned the script before dying in 2003. Netflix, which topped all studios at the Globes last year, too, led with a commanding 42 nominations, with 22 coming in film categories and 20 in television. No other studio was close.
The Crown also landed six nominations including best series, drama, and acting nods for Olivia Colman and Josh O’Connor. The final season of Schitt’s Creek trailed with five nominations, while Netflix’s Ozark (four nods) and The Queen’s Gambit (two nods) also added to the streamer’s totals. Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 — which is also a Netflix release — came in second with five nominations, including nods for best film, drama; best director and best screenplay for Sorkin; supporting actor for Sacha Baron Cohen; and best song.
The other nominees for best film in the drama category were Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland, Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman and Florian Zeller’s The Father. Netflix doesn’t report box office figures and both Nomadland and The Father are yet to open beyond a qualifying run in theaters. So the category’s total box office — a historic low of about $265,000 — is due to “Promising Young Woman.” A year after fielding no female nominees for best director — or best feature film nomination for any movie directed by a woman — the HFPA nominated more female filmmakers than it had before. Regina King (One Night in Miami), Zhao and Fennell were nominated for best director, alongside Sorkin and Fincher. The nominees for best musical or comedy film are: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm; Hamilton,; Music; Palm Springs; The Prom. The nominees for best television series, drama, are: The Crown; Lovecraft Country; The Mandalorian; Ozark; Ratched. The nominees for best television series, musical or comedy, are: Schitt’s Creek; Ted Lasso; The Great; The Flight Attendant; Emily in Paris. The nominees for best motion picture, foreign language, are: Another Round; La Llorona; The Life Ahead; Minari; Two of Us.
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Angelina Jolie’s Those Who Wish Me Dead sets release date
Angelina Jolie-starrer Those Who Wish Me Dead will debut in US theatres on May 14 this year, Warner Bros has announced. According to Deadline, the Taylor Sheridan-directed Westerner will premiere on streamer HBO Max the same day as per the release strategy of Warner Media for the year 2021. Based on Michael Koryta’s 2014 novel of the same name, the film is described as a female-driven Western set amidst a wildfire raging in the Montana wilderness.When a teenager witnesses a murder, he finds himself being pursued by twin assassins in the Montana wilderness. Though there is a survival expert tasked with protecting him, the forest fire threatens to destroy them all. The cast also includes Nicholas Hoult, Jon Bernthal, Tyler Perry, Aidan Gillen, Medina Senghore, Finn Little and Jake Weber. Sheridan is known for writing the screenplays of Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water and Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario. He made his directorial debut with critically-acclaimed thriller Wind River in 2017.
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Elliot Page and Emma Portner divorcing after 3 years
Actor Elliot Page and Emma Portner said Tuesday that they are divorcing after three years of marriage. “After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce following our separation last summer,” the Canadian couple said in a joint statement. “We have the utmost respect for each other and remain close friends.” They gave no further details. Page, the 33-year-old Oscar-nominated star of Juno, Inception and The Umbrella Academy, and Portner, a 26-year-old choreographer and dance teacher, announced their marriage early in 2018 after only having hinted at their relationship on social media. Portner was vocal in her support of Page when the actor came out as transgender in December, an announcement that was widely greeted as a watershed moment for the trans community in Hollywood.
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Jane Fonda to receive Golden Globes’ Cecil B DeMille Award
Jane Fonda cemented herself into Hollywood allure as a chameleonlike actor and social activist, and now the Golden Globes will honor her illustrious career with its highest honor. Fonda will receive the Cecil B DeMille Award during the 78th annual awards ceremony on February 28, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Tuesday. A member of one of America’s most distinguished acting families, Fonda has captivated and inspired fans along with critics in such films as Klute and Coming Home. Fonda, the daughter of Oscar winner Henry Fonda and sister of Peter Fonda, made an impact off-screen by creating organizations to support women’s equality and prevent teen pregnancy and improve adolescent health. She released a workout video in 1982 and was active on behalf of liberal political causes. In a statement, HFPA President Ali Sar applauded the Golden Globe winner’s decorated career and her “unrelenting activism.” “Her undeniable talent has gained her the highest level of recognition,” Sar said of Fonda. “While her professional life has taken many turns, her unwavering commitment to evoking change has remained.” The DeMille Award is given annually to an “individual who has made an incredible impact on the world of entertainment.” Past recipients include Tom Hanks, Jeff Bridges, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, Sidney Poitier and Lucille Ball. Nominations for the upcoming Globes show are scheduled to be announced February 3. Fonda, 83, has been nominated for five Academy Awards and won two for the thriller Klute and the compassionate anti-war drama Coming Home.
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Demi Lovato to star in NBC comedy Hungry
Demi Lovato is set to star in the NBC comedy ‘Hungry’. The 28-year-old singer will also serve as an executive producer on the single-camera comedy show. The project is being written by ‘Hot in Cleveland’ creator Suzanne Martin, and will tell the story of a group of friends who belong to a food issues group, according to People. In the show, the friendship group try to help each other as they search for love and happiness. Demi will executive produce the comedy alongside Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills, as well as Scooter Braun, James Shin and Scott Manson of SB Projects. Demi – who previously starred in the hit sitcom ‘Will & Grace’ – has been open about her own eating disorder battle in the past, admitting that it led her to overdose in 2018. Speaking to model Ashley Graham on her podcast, Demi shared: “When you have certain people around you that are telling you certain things, that you should look a certain way, it makes it harder. “So I was in that situation – I was just running myself into the ground, and I honestly think that’s kind of what led to everything happening over the past year.” The ‘Cool for the Summer’ hitmaker – who was rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering an overdose – admitted to living a “lie” before her health scare. Demi revealed she was trying to convince her fans that she was happy when she really wasn’t. She said: “It was just me thinking I found recovery when I didn’t and then living this kind of lie, and trying to tell the world that I was happy with myself when I really wasn’t.”
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Robert De Niro to lead Netflix’s The Formula
Veteran actor Robert De Niro and Star Wars franchise alum John Boyega have teamed up for Netflix’s upcoming thriller The Formula. Gerard McMurray, the director behind The First Purge and Burning Sands, will helm the movie, which is based on his original idea, the streamer said in a statement. The story will follow a Formula One racing prodigy who is forced to become a getaway driver to save the only family he has left. McMurray will also produce the film through his recently formed production company Buppie Productions. Jane Rosenthal, De Niro and Berry Welsh are other producers. Boyega most recently starred in Steve McQueen’s acclaimed anthology film series Small Axe. He is currently in production on They Cloned Tyrone with Jamie Foxx. De Niro returns to Netflix following his work in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, which also stars Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. His upcoming projects include Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, and David O Russell’s untitled film.
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Priyanka Chopra steps out in winter wonderland
Priyanka Chopra is copped up in London after she got stranded due to the UK’s travel restrictions, but the actress is making the best of it. On Sunday, London received its first snowfall of 2021 as the city was carpeted with a thick blanket of white. The actress took to Instagram to share some dreamy videos of the snowfall from her window and even stepped out to enjoy the same. Clad in her statement white winter coat and white Chanel ear muffs, Priyanka looked all things happy. The actress, who has been making headlines for her terrific performance in The White Tiger, took a moment to enjoy mother nature as she was snapped by a friend while enjoying the snow. In the photo, Priyanka can be seen standing on the footpath amidst heavy snowfall. A tree and car behind the actress can be seen completely covered in snow as the actress flashes a wide smile while soaking in the winter wonderland moment. Meanwhile, Priyanka’s film The White Tiger released on Friday in India on Netflix and has been garnering praises from all quarters.
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Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas break up after dating for almost a year
Actors Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas have allegedly split after dating for almost a year. The split was the result of the stars being at “different points in their lives,” reported People magazine. “There is deep love and respect there. Ben continues to want to work on himself. He has three jobs lined up and he’s a solid father at home. They are both happy with where they are in their lives,” a source told the publication. Ben and Ana reportedly started dating while filming Deep Water. Ana will next be seen in No Time To Die and The Gray Man. Ben’s upcoming releases include The Last Duel and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Ben is co-parenting three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner. The two were married from 2005-2018.