Issue # 108
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OVERSEEN & OVERHEARD
HE GOT GAME…Spike Lee seems to be everywhere these days–in Cannes, creating cell phone flicks, urging Sen. Clinton to exit the presidential race, promoting his new movie (The Miracle at St. Anna). Well, add to that list the production of a documentary about baller Michael Jordan to his credits. Here’s the interesting part, the National Basketball Association will provide financing for the 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks-produced project. The doc will air on ESPN. Kudos to the NBA and ESPN for reaching out to Lee. Collabs with newer Black filmmakers would make the deal even more innovative.
THE FALL OF O?…The media industry is buzzing about a ratings drop for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and a circulation decrease for the mag, O. According to The New York Times, the average audience for her daytime show has fallen nearly 7% this year–its third straight year of decline. And, the circulation of O has fallen by more than 10% in the last three years. Some have speculated her endorsement of Senator Barack Obama is costing her White female fans, but since the figures show a steady decline over a three-year period, The A-List doubts this is the only reason. “Politics have always had an impact on programming during an election campaign…So there may be some recent correlation between Oprah’s endorsement of Obama and the decline in her ratings but that would not account for a three year trend,” notes Dame Dhyana Ziegler, Ph.D., Professor of Journalism, Florida A&M University. “The entire industry is experiencing some challenges in meeting the desires and taste of a multimedia consuming audience. There is a technological shift taking place in the industry and as more people turn to the Internet for information and programming, television ratings will continue to suffer.” So what’s O to do? “The name of the game is multimedia and interactivity,” declares Ziegler. “In order to keep her edge, Oprah has to adapt to the change in audience habits.” But according to Renee Prewitt, host of the public affairs talk show “On Point,” WDMK (www.KissDetroit.com), Detroit, Winfrey has build an unbeatable brand. “Her brand remains a powerfully strong asset…she [for example] signed up about one million people for her online book class, which is something that has never been done before and set the bar for everyone else,” notes Prewitt. For a great number of when Oprah says it, it’s gospel.” Yet, the decline may just be an indication of people finally wanting to think more for themselves than being spoon-fed and wanting to see different cover choices, show format and more. Variety is supposed to be, after all, the spice of life.
PRAISE TV…Speaking of the supposed Queen of Media, one of her “subjects” is making moves. Dr. Phil, whose TV show is produced by Harpo Productions, has announced he is developing a talk show for The Rev. T.D. Jakes through his own production company for CBS. Jakes is no stranger to Hollywood. His sermons air on Trinity Broadcasting and his film Woman, Thou Art Loosed! resonated with a select group of Black moviegoers. One thing is for sure with this venture, we will probably be able to count on a mega self-help fest with these two personalities involved.
EYE FOR TALENT…Remember when we told y’all to be on the lookout for a young actor named Tristan Wilds who was on the come up (see issue #47: thealistmagzine.blogspot.com/2006/12/47.htmll)? Following the end to “The Wire,” on which he was a regular, Wilds has landed on the new CW version of the 1990s show “Beverly Hills 90210.” Finally a brotha in BH, but we hope he gets a juicy storyline that would make even Dillon McKay (Luke Perry) jealous.
MATCH MADE IN HOLLYWOOD?…If you heard the news that P. Diddy a
nd Eddie Murphy’s ex, film/TV producer Tracey Edmonds have hooked up, there may be more to the story. Insiders tell The A-List, there’s another reason the pair have been spotted out together: work. They are hatching a new TV show idea. When we hear more, we’ll be sure to let you know.
SISTAS IN CELLULOID…Attention African-American female filmmakers. Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival and Lecture Series is seeking films directed, written or produced by women of color. On Sept. 26-28, 2008, Reel Sisters will present “Hue Women & Cinema Blues: Exploring the Impact of Colorism in America.” Interested? Download your application at www.reelsisters.org or www.withoutabox.com. Filmmakers may submit any length or style of film in: shorts, narratives, documentaries, animation, works-in-progress. The submission deadline is June 6.
PEACHTREE RIPE FOR HOLLYWOOD….Hey filmmakers and producers, Georgia’s calling. Governor Sonny Perdue last week signed into law the 2008 Entertainment Industry Investment Act that will give increased tax incentives and other perks for any qualified production filming in the state. With folks like Tyler Perry and Rob Hardy and William Packer’s Rainforest Films making Georgia their base, the state is living up to its new moniker “Hollywood of the South.” Georgia’s not the only destination revamping its film tax breaks to lure in more productions of color, see “Philly Discusses Diversity” below.
HIP HOP HOLLYWOOD
ON THE SET…Move over Will Smith, Bow Wow says he’s ready to take your place as the top “raptor.” And he’s lining up the roles. Already cast in the sports drama Patriots, he just confirmed he has signed on to join the cast of “Entourage.” He has snagged a recurring role as a stand-up comedian managed by Eric (Kevin Connolly). This is just more evidence of the ability of rap artists to easily transition into film and TV–unlike that of folks in rock, pop, country or even R&B.
NEWS
FCC CONSIDERS FREE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET
Federal regulators may require the winner of airwaves being auctioned off by the government to provide free wireless high-speed Internet service across a large swath of the country. The vote will come up when the Federal Communications Commission meets June 12. A similar proposal, however, was rejected last year. If passed, the resulting network must reach 50 percent of the population four years after the winner gets a license and then 95 percent after 10 years and under the plan, the winning bidder would provide free high-speed service on a small portion of the spectrum that potentially could be available on millions of Americans’ phones and laptops. A move such as this could help close the digital divide in communities of color.
EVENT COVERAGE
PHILLY DISCUSSES FILM DIVERSITY
The Greater Philadelphia Film Office Diversity in Filmmaking Discussion, held May 20, brought a panel together that represented ethnicity currently working in the film industry, to encourage greater diversity on film sets. With tax incentives offered to the film industry, Philadelphia is ever becoming a movie town. Recent films such as Tenure feature Luke Wilson, Tina Fey’s Baby Mama and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening all having just filmed in the city. According to the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) there are many more film productions on the way (including ones from Black Hollywood). But there’s a problem, not enough skilled crew to work the productions. In particular, it’s hard to find skilled crew on each set that reflects the diversity that is Philadelphia. This riled up the crowd attending the panel discussion, who complained that the problem was actually dealing with the Philadelphia Film Unions, which are notoriously non-diverse. A rep from the GPFO maintained however that if one obtains proper training or if they focus on making independent (aka non-union) films, union membership would not be an issue.
Of course, this didn’t satisfy the attendees. As one person responded: “No pay on Indy films.” In fact, Kathilyn Phillips of Kat Scratch Films (http://www.katscratchfilms.com) put out a call for paid positions, looking to hire film crew of all color and creed for her last film and only one African American contacted to interview. Needless to say, this was a lively discussion. The film industry in Philly is booming and those, especially of color, need to prepare now for the impending increase in demand for qualified crews. –Le Anne Lindsay
LIVE PERFORMANCE REVIEW
LES MISERABLES, Walnut Theatre, Philadelphia
Do you hear the people sing, singing the songs of angry men, it is the music of a people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drum, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes.
These are the lyrics to “Do You Hear The People Sing” part of the score from Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables, which opened May 21st running through August 3 at Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre, a fabulous conclusion to their 199th season!
This is not a Broadway touring production; Walnut Street Theatre, under the adept direction of Mark Clements, has produced an all-new staging of this popular musical, based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel.
The production is complete with workable sets, a quality orchestra and a stage full of talented voices. Perhaps the cast could have been a bit more multicultural however, the role of Javier is played by a Benjamin Bratt look-alike Paul Schoeffler, whom the audience fell in love with. Speaking to one theatergoer Nancy Lindsay who had seen several productions of Les Mis, Walnut Street’s staging the most enjoyable so far!
For The A-List, as wonderful as the score is to Les Mis, the show is really held together by the lead role of Jean Valjean. The casting of Philadelphia native Hugh Panaro is a perfect fit. Panaro plays the range of ages with graceful subtleties and commands the stage reminiscent of Charlton Heston as Moses. (photo by Brett Thomas)–LL
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
BET CEO Debra Lee to Multichannel News: “But the fact that I’m the first African-American chair [of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's Cable Show] in this day and time is not a good testament to this industry.”
SPOTTED
“America’s Best Dance Crew’s” Shane Sparks and singer/actress Christina Milan hostin’ a dance competition and charity event for young girls at the Penny Lane Families Foster Family Agency in L.A.. Shane, who is also a choreographer on the hit FOX TV show “So You Think You Can Dance,” taught the girls a few moves. The event was part of The McGraw-Hill Companies’ Global Volunteer Day program, a global community outreach initiative now in its fifth year. (photo credit: Garpot Studio).
The A-List is: Lauren Coleman, founder/co-publisher…Ann Brown, co-publisher…Melissa Ross, European correspondent…LeAnne Lindsay, contributor…Anthony Davis, contributor…Gil Robertson, contributor…Dan Williams, contributor…Jaleesa Brown, contributor…Clemetine Clarke, columnist
