Flint residents get a small victory over the water contamination battle.
An environmental watchdog group finds more drinking water systems around the country are contaminated “Forever chemicals”, full story.
U.S. Supreme Court Rules To Allow Flint, Michigan Residents To Sue Over Water Contamination, full story.
“I’m incredibly excited to carry the Red Table Talk torch with my family in Miami,” said Gloria Estefan in a statement. “Jada and I have spoken about this a lot and feel my daughter, niece and I can tackle issues important to us and our fans with a new and fresh voice.”
Facebook has extended their original series Red Table Talk for three more years, according to Deadline. The talk show is hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith along with her mother Adrienne Banfield Norris and her daughter Willow Smith. The trio tackle generational issues, relationships, social and personal issues between themselves and guests on the show.
The new deal comes with a spinoff hosted by music artist Gloria Estefan. Red Table Talk: The Estefans will be set in Miami and will also be hosted by Estefan’s daughter and musician Emily Estefan and her niece and award-winning TV host Lili Estefan. Smith and Estefan will both executive produce the series.
Pinkett-Smith posed with the Estefans in an Instagram post to announce the new series.
“I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with these 3 phenomenal women! I am so happy! #REEstefans”
“I’m incredibly excited to carry the Red Table Talk torch with my family in Miami,” said Gloria Estefan in a statement. “Jada and I have spoken about this a lot and feel my daughter, niece and I can tackle issues important to us and our fans with a new and fresh voice.”
The Smith family tackled issues such as rapper T.I.’s controversial comments about his daughter’s virginity, Wale‘s issues with finding love as a celebrity and more. Red Table Talk became Facebook Watch’s most popular show and holds the record for the most-watched original episode on the platform. Their episode with Jordyn Woods after rumors that she had sex with NBA star and father of Khloe Kardashian‘s daughter Tristan Thompson garnered 7.5 million viewers in the first 24 hours. The show resonated with its audience and earned itself an Emmy nomination for best talk show in 2019.
Streetcars in Georgetown will not be a reality,for now. The DC Council says the money is not there to extend the rail.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Legend said. “I never bank on things like that happening. With Christmas albums, sometimes they’re treated more like novelty albums or not kind of considered in the main body of people’s career and their work, but I put a lot of love into that Christmas album and worked with some of the best musicians in the world.”
The 10-time Grammy winner said when he was recording 2018’s “A Legendary Christmas,” he didn’t treat it like a part-time project, which might be the reason it earned a Grammy nod for best traditional pop vocal album, competing with records from Barbra Streisand, Elvis Costello, Michael Bublé and Andrea Bocelli.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Legend said. “I never bank on things like that happening. With Christmas albums, sometimes they’re treated more like novelty albums or not kind of considered in the main body of people’s career and their work, but I put a lot of love into that Christmas album and worked with some of the best musicians in the world.”
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Raphael Saadiq produced the album, which features guest appearances from Grammy favorites Stevie Wonder and Esperanza Spalding.
“We just had so much fun making it and I’m very happy it got the recognition it got,” he said.
Legend is set to perform at Sunday’s Grammys alongside DJ Khaled, Meek Mill and others in a special tribute to late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Legend’s collaboration with Hussle and Khaled, the song “Higher,” is nominated for best rap/sung performance.
Legend knows how impactful a Grammy performance could have on a song: When he sang “All of Me” at the 2014 show, it helped the song reach new heights. It eventually topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became one of the year’s biggest hits.
“(‘All of Me’) had been slowly working its way up the urban AC charts and hadn’t crossed over to any other chart really, and when we performed at the Grammys, it just took over,” he said.
The piano-playing superstar is experiencing similar success with his new single, “Conversations in the Dark,” which quickly topped the iTunes chart last week.
“This is the first song I’ve ever put out that went to No. 1 on iTunes on the first week of release, so it’s kind of cool for me at this stage in my career have a song do that,” he said. “It’s cool to see a song getting embraced so quickly… The song, I think, voices the way people feel about the people they love, and that’s kind of what I do best — write songs that help give a voice to those kinds of feelings.”
“Conversations in the Dark” also got a boost since Legend performed the track on last week’s episode of NBC’s “This Is Us.”
“It was great for the song. Obviously, people watch ‘This Is Us’ to get their heart strings pulled a little bit and so I think the song was perfect for that moment. When they reached out to me, I didn’t even know what song I was going to do, but when we finished ‘Conversations in the Dark’ I was like, ‘Oh, that’s got to be the one,’” said Legend, who is a coach on NBC’s “The Voice.”
“It’s funny because the label is little behind. We were just putting it out to have it ready for ‘This Is Us,’ but now we’ve seen how incredible the response has been, so now we’re like, ‘Oh, let’s go to radio and let’s do all the things you normally do to promote a single,’” he said. “Up until we released it, I don’t think the label knew how big of an impact it would have.”
“People say so much about the other awards, but it’s special when it comes from your own people,” said Foxx, who won best supporting actor for his role in “Just Mercy.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jamie Foxx has won a plethora of major awards including an Oscar and Grammy. But after the African American Film Critics Association recognized him Wednesday night, the actor-singer called its honor just as special.
Foxx along with Eddie Murphy and Jordan Peele were among some of the honorees at the 11th annual ceremony in Los Angeles.
“People say so much about the other awards, but it’s special when it comes from your own people,” said Foxx, who won best supporting actor for his role in “Just Mercy.”
“It’s just special,” he said after receiving the award from the organization, which actively reviews films with an emphasis on projects that include the black experience. The awards mainly highlight films produced, written, directed and starring people from the African diaspora along with other ethnic projects that break new ground.
Oscar contender “Parasite,” a South Korean thriller, won two awards for best screenplay and foreign film, sharing the honor with “Atlantics,” a Senegalese love story.
Through his translator, “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho said African Americans played a big role for him while studying cinema during college in South Korea. He said he used to create his own subtitles to Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” and “Jungle Fever.”
“At the time, my English wasn’t that good, so subtitling it was quite an experience,” Bong said. “I had no idea there was various curse words in the English language. Thanks to Spike Lee, I learned so many things.”
Bong said he finally met Lee at an award show a couple weeks ago. The director took a picture with Lee, but didn’t get a chance to tell him about how he subtitled his films in college.
“If any of you guys are acquainted with him, please tell him I would like to get in touch with him,” his translator said as the audience burst into laughter.
After Bong left the stage, Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter — who has worked with Lee for more than 20 years — said she could put the two directors in touch with each other.
Murphy was not in attendance, but he won for best actor for his role in Netflix’s “Dolemite Is My Name.”
For a second time, a film directed by Peele won the AAFCA award for best picture. His movie “Us,” starring Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, won the show’s top honor.
“For my second project, the whole question was ‘What are you going to do?’ I knew that I wanted to bring something different, something that people weren’t expecting,” said Peele, who also won for best director. In 2018, his film “Get Out” took home the award for best picture.
“I wanted to take a risk,” he continued. “It means so much to me to be acknowledged for this huge risk, this huge swing. … This encourages myself and a whole lot of other people to take big swings.”
Music exec Clarence Avant was honored with the game changer award. The Netflix documentary “The Black Godfather,” which depicts Avant’s story, was named best documentary.
Matthew Cherry, who earned his first Oscar nomination for “Hair Love,” took home the award for breakthrough director.
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” director Peter Ramsey said Cherry “struck a nerve” with his animated short film, which delved into a story about an African-American father who learns how to style his daughter’s hair for the first time.
“It’s important to honor each other, especially when groundbreaking film making is happening,” Cherry said. “It’s been happening since the beginning of cinema, so it’s really important that we honor each other.”
The Virginia state senate passed tougher gun laws to keep fire arms out of the hands of people deemed dangerous. The bill must now be approved by the House.
Newly Crowned Miss Black DC USA 2020 talks about her platform and non-profit organization
Join prominent professionals of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area for an evening of networking, performances, and philanthropy. Miss Black DC USA 2020 will be sharing her plans to continue the legacy of service. More information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/miss-black-dc-coronation-ceremony-charity-fundraiser-tickets- 86776431643
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Bowser’s walk started along the 31-hundred block of 16th Street, NW. Other crews were disbursed across the city in hopes of getting an accurate count of the homeless.
Washington, D.C. (Wednesday, January 22, 2020) – A week after facing a firestorm of criticism for evicting homeless persons from under the K Street Bridge in NE, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser set out tonight to get a true count of those experiencing homelessness. It was part of a national initiative called the Point In Time (PIT) count, an annual effort to access the full-scope of homelessness in order to match that need with services. While initially her staff indicated Bowser would be hitting the streets with volunteers and her administration, Bowser did not participate in the effort to directly engage with the homeless.
WHUR News Director Renee Nash followed several crews who were tasked with counting the number of homeless along the McPherson Square area in NW. In less than 10 minutes, volunteers encountered 7 homeless persons all trying to escape the frigid cold. They camped inside the McPherson Square Metro Station. Unfortunately for the homeless, that station closes at 11pm and they were forced further out into the cold elements to find vacant spaces on park benches or steam crates.
Christy Respress, Executive Director for Pathways to Housing DC was among the dozens of volunteers counting the homeless and asking critical questions. While most of those living on the streets were happy to answer and hear about options to getting off the streets, there were a few people declining to talk. Like a woman sleeping in the park. She was wrapped up in a blanket and would not respond. But she did ask for a hat. That request was quickly granted and Respress moved on to try to help the next homeless person.
PIT count comes just one week after Bowser drew lots of criticism when city crews moved in to evict dozens after residents in the NoMa neighborhood started complaining about homeless tents and debris blocking their path. The homeless was given two weeks notice to leave the area or their items would be hauled off by city crews. Most left without a real plan of where to go next.
The mayor says the PIT count provides key information on the size, scope, and service needs of the homeless. According to the stats from the 2019 count, there was a 5.5% reduction in the overall number of persons experiencing homelessness in 2018 and a 45% decrease in family homelessness since Mayor Bowser began implementing her Homeward DC plan in 2016. According to a statement issued by the Mayor, chronic homelessness in the District has declined by 13.5% and is at its lowest rate in 15 years.
Several homeless advocates have disputed those numbers.
Dugan, who took the helm of the academy in August, alleges unlawful gender discrimination, sexual harassment, unlawful retaliation and unequal pay.
Nipsey Hussle would receive a special tribute at this year’s Grammy Awards: Kirk Franklin, DJ Khaled, John Legend, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch and YG are all set for the tribute performance. Full story.
Missy received the Music Innovation award. She talks about her illness and and being honored and being in the room with so much amazing black talent!
The video circulating on social media of Ex-NBA guard Delonte West was shot on a cellphone.
Distracted drivers beware, they are renewing a push to ban holding a phone while behind the wheel. Full Story.
The D.C. has lost a legend Tuesday night DeMatha Catholic High School basketball coach Morgan Wootte, died at the age of 88. Full story.
The program, which was streamed and included a live audience, featured Kellogg Foundation President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron, actress Storm Reid, the Exonerated Five’s Raymond Santana, Baratunde Thurston, and Jamilah Lemieux, and many others. They all discussed their experiences and ways to lead to a more just and equitable future for all.
“That’s the first step: it’s acknowledging that marginalized people, and specifically black and brown people, have been disproportionately penalized for countless years and it still continues to happen. But with conversations like this, in safe spaces like this, we’re able to progress,” said actress Storm Reid of Euphoria and A Wrinkle In Time. “The way we can make change is the willingness to be uncomfortable.”
“We’re able to move forward because we understand the narrative and control the narrative. The narrative is to talk to our young people and tell them how much power they have, how they can occupy these spaces of importance, and how they can make systematic change from within,” said the Exonerated Five’s Raymond Santana.
The event also highlighted work done by grantees in several communities across the U.S. implementing the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) process.
“We believe before we can work together to improve education, transform the criminal justice system, expand access to healthcare, create jobs, or make our communities more equitable overall, we have to confront how racism affects our shared history and our daily experiences,” said La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “We have to overcome differences. We have to bridge divides and heal relationships so we can work together, first and foremost. And that’s what we mean by healing.”
Among other topics, panelists discussed the power of youth, building trust between communities, and the upcoming 2020 census.
The event corresponded with a week of events across the country including in Chicago; Los Angeles; Dallas; Cincinnati; Jackson, MS; New York City; Selma, AL; Little Rock, AR; Detroit, MI; Versailles, KY, and more. Visit www.dayofracialhealing.org for a complete list of events and join the conversation online using the hashtag #HowWeHeal.
To watch the live stream of the event, see the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt_QjS6QcEk&feature=youtu.be
Netflix had said it expected to add 7.6 million subscribers, and analysts thought the service would fare even better. The increase pales slightly next to the 8.9 million subscribers the service added in the fourth quarter of 2018.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix is holding its ground in the streaming wars, passing its first big test since Apple and Disney launched rival services.
The company added 8.8 million worldwide subscribers during its fourth quarter, surpassing expectations at a time when it faces heated competition.
Netflix had said it expected to add 7.6 million subscribers, and analysts thought the service would fare even better. The increase pales slightly next to the 8.9 million subscribers the service added in the fourth quarter of 2018.
The stock dropped about 2.5% immediately in after-hours trading, likely due to a cautious forecast for the first quarter. But shares rebounded and later traded up more than 2%.
The company — a pioneer in producing streaming media and binge-worthy shows — now boasts more than 167 million subscribers worldwide, bolstered by a list of well-received movies and shows released late last year. That includes the fantasy show “The Witcher” and Oscar nominees “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story.”
The boost helps reaffirm Netflix’s strong standing in the increasingly crowded world of video streaming. The fourth quarter was an important milestone for Netflix, as it was marked its first head-to-head competition with Apple’s $5-per-month streaming service and Disney’s instantly popular $7-a-month option.
Still, it’s unlikely to be a smooth road for Netflix. NBC, HBO and startup Quibi are all planning to launch new streaming services soon.
Two big questions loom: How much are consumers willing to pay for each video streaming option? And how many will they pay for before reaching subscription fatigue?
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings acknowledged the increased competition in a call following earnings, but said he believes the services are mostly capturing new viewers who are transitioning from traditional TV watching.
“It takes away a little bit from us,” he said of the Disney Plus launch. “But again, most of the growth in the future is coming out of linear TV.”
Netflix has one major advantage over competitors: it has been collecting data on the shows viewers crave for years.
“Netflix’s scale allows it to reach mass audiences, which makes it easier for them to create hits when compared to newcomers to the market,” EMarketer analyst Eric Haggstrom said.
Netflix’s most popular plan costs $13 a month, far more than competitors from Disney, Apple and Quibi. But its price is comparable to HBO Now, and it boasts one of the largest libraries of TV shows and movies, not to mention regularly updated original shows.
Hastings reiterated that Netflix isn’t interested in introducing ads. Noting that the digital advertising market is dominated by companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, he said, “there’s not easy money there.”
It’s also less controversial to avoid digital advertising and the scrutiny around companies making customers’ personal information that comes with it, he said.
In its quarterly letter to shareholders, Netflix included a chart of Google search trends that showed people searching more often for “The Witcher” than for competing shows including “The Mandalorian,” “The Morning Show” and “Jack Ryan,” from Disney, Apple and Amazon, respectively.
In the U.S., Netflix added 420,000 subscribers, below its own estimates. Growth in its home country has been slowing in the last year, partly because most people in the U.S. who want Netflix already subscribe.
The company reported profit of $587 million on revenue of $5.47 billion, exceeding expectations.
Netflix said it expects to add 7 million subscribers during the first three months of this year, well below the 9.6 million subscribers it added in the first quarter last year.
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Technology writer Michael Liedtke contribued to this report.
“We are grateful to Martha and Bruce Karsh for their transformative investment and support of our students and our vision to create a diverse workforce of highly-skilled scholars equipped to take on careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA.
WASHINGTON D.C. [January 22, 2020] –Howard University proudly announces a generous $10 million gift from the Karsh Family Foundation to endow its prestigious and highly competitive STEM program, which will be renamed the Karsh STEM Scholars Program (KSSP). Founded in 2017, the program is designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities earning a Ph.D. or combined M.D./Ph.D. in a STEM discipline. This is the largest gift in Howard University history.
The gift also creates the Lomax KIPP Scholarships,a unique, debt-free financial aid program for graduates of KIPP, the Knowledge is Power Program, a nationwide network of high performing public schools in underserved communities. Lomax KIPP Scholarships are named in honor of Michael L. Lomax, CEO and President of United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and a longtime distinguished advocate and inspiration for African American students seeking higher education.
“We are grateful to Martha and Bruce Karsh for their transformative investment and support of our students and our vision to create a diverse workforce of highly-skilled scholars equipped to take on careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA. “When we created this program, with the support of the Board of Trustees, we envisioned building a model program to demonstrate how higher education can serve as a pipeline to diversify STEM fields nationally, but we knew it wouldn’t be sustainable without external resources. This gift will ensure that Howard can train the nation’s brightest students who desire to obtain their Ph.D. or combined M.D./Ph.D. for generations to come.”
The Karshes’ gift will support the overall KSSP graduate scholarship and ensure its future viability to fund cohorts of approximately 30 scholars per year. The announcement arrives just as applications for the fourth cohort are streaming in prior to the Jan. 30 application deadline.
“We are excited to endow this visionary program at Howard,” said Martha and Bruce Karsh.
“Simply put, we believe education, expertise and research in STEM fields will define mankind’s future, and we are proud to be able to help Howard attract and support the best and brightest students for its already renowned program.”
According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Howard University is the No. 1 baccalaureate institution of African American science and engineering doctorate recipients.
Each year, the STEM program attracts hundreds of competitive high school students who are interested in careers as research scientists, surgeons, policy makers and corporate leaders. Scholars selected for the program receive a scholarship that covers 100 percent of the tuition and fees associated with attendance. The program provides an inclusive learning environment to challenge students, through rigorous coursework, mentorship and immersion experiences.
“Thanks to this generous gift, the Karsh STEM Scholars Program will realize its full potential to cultivate a workforce pipeline of talented students from underrepresented communities who are well equipped to become leaders in the global STEM community,” said KSSP Program Director Ronald Smith.
The Karsh Family Foundation was founded in 1998 by Bruce A. Karsh, Oaktree Capital Management co-founder and co-chairman, and his wife Martha L. Karsh, an attorney and designer. The Foundation’s philanthropic focus and mission is educational equity and opportunity; to date, it has made gifts and pledges of approximately $250 million to support education and scholarship at all levels.
“We are inspired by Dr. Lomax’s passion to remove all obstacles for underserved students, and his relentless passion to advocate for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),” said Martha and Bruce Karsh. “We share his vision of creating a more equitable and affordable education system from preschool to graduate school, and we are proud to honor his name with this scholarship at an institution as prestigious and historically significant as Howard University.”
Martha Karsh serves on the board of the KIPP Foundation along with Dr. Lomax, where together, they have collaborated to secure scholarships and other educational support for KIPP graduates and African American students. The Lomax KIPP Scholarships help make college more accessible to deserving students and is unique in that it promises a debt-free education for its recipients.
“Thank you, Martha and Bruce for helping to build a pipeline of KIPP students to HBCUs and for believing as I do that ‘a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in,’®”said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF.
Two Lomax KIPP Scholarships will be awarded each year. Each scholarship will cover the gap between financial aid and the cost of attendance, ensuring students have full coverage to graduate debt-free in four years. The first recipients will be selected this spring, entering Howard University in fall 2020. The gift also designates on campus support for all KIPP alumni at the Uuniversity. Currently, 53 KIPP graduates are enrolled at Howard University.
“We are filled with gratitude for the continuous support the Karsh family, Dr. Lomax and Howard University have given to our KIPP students,” said Richard Barth, CEO of the KIPP Foundation. “This scholarship and our partnership with Howard will ensure more KIPP students have access to a phenomenal college education and the opportunity to pursue their passions.”
KIPP surveys show that, at HBCUs like Howard, KIPP alumni report a stronger sense of belonging and stronger health outcomes, and are more likely to have a mentor and to seek out academic supports than students at non-HBCUs. And, KIPP’s early data indicates that KIPP alumni enrolled in HBCUs experience higher 1st to 2nd year persistence rates than peers with similar academic backgrounds enrolled in other colleges. The Karsh gift will fund a shared on-campus persistence advisor for KIPP students; a program that makes a significant difference in the success of first-generation college students. In addition, this donation establishes Howard University as one of almost 100 college partners for KIPP.
Applications are currently being accepted for the fourth cohort of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program at Howard University. The deadline to apply is Jan. 30. Interested and qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit the Karsh STEM Scholars Program website: karshstemscholars.howard.edu.
Last year’s winners were notably more diverse than this year’s field of acting nominees, which features just one performer of color: Cynthia Erivo of “Harriet.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The winners of last year’s acting Academy Awards will return to the Oscar stage next month to present the coveted statuettes.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that Olivia Colman, Rami Malek, Regina King and Mahershala Ali will present during the Feb. 9 ceremony.
It is an Oscar tradition to have previous year’s acting recipients serve as presenters the following year.
Last year’s winners were notably more diverse than this year’s field of acting nominees, which features just one performer of color: Cynthia Erivo of “Harriet.”
The 92nd Academy Awards will be presented at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and be broadcast live by ABC. For the second year in a row, the ceremony will be without a host.
Colman won best actress last year for “The Favourite” and Malek took home the best actor award for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” King won the supporting actress honor for “If Beale Street Could Talk,” while Ali’s performance in “Green Book” earned him his second supporting actor Oscar.
Former DeMatha basketball coach Morgan Wooten passed away Tuesday. The Hall of Fame coach was 88-years-old.
Smith made one of his passengers FaceTime with his girlfriend during the trip after the man said his girlfriend watched the original movie weekly.
MIAMI (AP) — Four Florida passengers were in for a shock when actor Will Smith answered their Lyft call and gave them a ride around town.
The actor was in Miami promoting his new movie, “Bad Boys for Life,” over the weekend. He picked up four riders in a 2020 Porsche Taycan, occasionally getting into the attitude of his movie character detective Mike Lowry and encouraging passengers to do their best Bad Boys imitation as his partner in crime.
Smith made one of his passengers FaceTime with his girlfriend during the trip after the man said his girlfriend watched the original movie weekly.
Smith had another passenger practice her scariest “Freeze. Police.” voice.
Before dropping them off, the actor told each passenger they would receive free rides from the ride-sharing company for the next year.
A Prince George’s County police officer has been suspended for allegedly posting to social media the arrest of a former, local, NBA start.
Prince George’s County Police are investigating after an officer recorded and allegedly posted a video of former NBA player and local basketball star Delonte West following a fight. The officer has been suspended. Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski says the officer could face serious charges after posting the now viral video. Police responded to the incident Monday morning, noting the fight was over by the time they arrived. West has an admitted history of mental health problems and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. West sat on a curb on Oxon Hill Road handcuffed, shirtless and speaking incoherently. He was a standout basketball player at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt.
This year’s festival, in Park City, Utah, is not only its most inclusive edition yet — 44% of its 118 feature-length films were directed or co-directed by women, 34% were directed or co-directed by a person of color — but features a dynamic slate of proudly unconventional narrative and documentary films.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Sundance Film Festival, coming at the start of a new movie calendar, is an annual rite of renewal. New movies. New filmmakers. New voices. And that feels especially welcome this year.
Sundance always rolls around just as the worst movies are being dumped in theaters and Hollywood’s long-running awards season is petering out. This year, the run-up to the Oscars has been dispiritingly homogeneous, coalescing around a field of nominees lacking in diversity both behind and in front of the camera. With some notable exceptions, it feels like the same old.
Sundance, though, is a different story.
This year’s festival, in Park City, Utah, is not only its most inclusive edition yet — 44% of its 118 feature-length films were directed or co-directed by women, 34% were directed or co-directed by a person of color — but features a dynamic slate of proudly unconventional narrative and documentary films.
“Zola,” from director Janicza Bravo and co-writer Jeremy O. Harris, is based on a viral 148-tweet thread from 2015. “Nine Days,” the feature directing debut of Edson Oda, is set in a surreal pre-life realm where an interviewer (Winston Duke) is selecting souls to be born. The documentary “Boys State,” by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, is a story of American democracy in microcosm, told through an unusual experiment in which a thousand teenage boys build a government from the ground up.
“We do think of it as the new year of culture where people have to sit up and take notice,” says John Cooper, the director of Sundance. “Audiences have changed, too. They’re more hungry for different. That’s not just from the Oscars. That’s from, let’s face it, the world we’re living in right now. It’s the urgency of thinking outside of old normalities.”
Sundance, which kicks off Thursday and runs through Feb. 2, will bring plenty of established names. Taylor Swift will be there for the opening day premiere of Lana Wilson’s documentary on her, “Miss Americana.” The Hulu documentary series “Hillary” will bring Hillary Clinton to Park City. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell will be attendance for the premiere of the “Force Majeure” remake “Downhill.” And Lin Manuel-Miranda will be there with several films, including “Siempre, Luis,” about his father Luis Miranda, and “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme,” about his pre-“Hamilton” improvising hip-hop group.
But many go to Sundance looking for discoveries of filmmakers like Radha Blank, a New York playwright who stars in her black-and-white directorial debut, “The 40-Year-Old Version.” She plays a slightly fictionalized version of herself as a middle-aged woman who, after the death of her mother, rededicates herself to rapping.
“My protagonist, her passion is speaking truth through hip hop. For me, my passion is filmmaking. It just took me a little bit longer to articulate that for myself,” says Blank. “I know that people have labeled me a late bloomer but I’ve been writing for years. I don’t think I’m the person who’s late.”
Like many others premiering films this week in Park City, Blank has been through the lab programs of the Sundance Institute, the nonprofit founded by Robert Redford that also puts on the festival. “I’m a Sundance baby,” says Blank. “I started in the lab.” Those workshops have been a breeding ground for American filmmakers (Paul Thomas Anderson and Quentin Tarantino are among their many former participants), but the distribution landscape awaiting those filmmakers has often been fraught.
Some in the industry are predicting less ravenous buying at Sundance this year after several of the high-priced acquisitions fizzled at the box office, including the Amazon titles “Late Night” and “The Report.” But streaming services have undoubtedly helped sales at Sundance, adding an influx of buyers looking to beef up their digital libraries.
Disney Plus has a movie in this year’s children’s slate (Tom McCarthy’s “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made”). Apple had one of the festival’s most anticipated movies’ in “On the Record,” about women who have accused music mogul Russell Simmons of sexual abuse, but backed out of the film after executive producer Oprah Winfrey departed it. WarnerMedia, which is preparing the launch of HBO Max, will for the first time have a presence at the festival.
Kim Yutani, director of programming at Sundance, believes streaming services have been an unquestionable positive to the post-festival lives of Sundance films.
“I remember reading the press coverage of Sundance back in the day, and I would think: How will I ever see these films?” says Yutani. “You would see a handful of them in theatrical distribution. The rest of them were almost impossible to see. So, it’s such an exciting time to release our program and know the majority of these films will get seen.”
Netflix already has at least nine films at Sundance, including “Miss Americana,” another opening-day documentary in “Crip Camp,” about the disability rights movement, and Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” follow-up, “The Last Thing He Wanted,” a Joan Didion adaptation starring Anne Hathaway and Ben Affleck.
Rees, who will also serve as a juror, has deep ties to Sundance, where she first attended workshops and later premiered both her debut, “Pariah,” and “Mudbound.” She says it was “a validating force” in her development as a filmmaker. But Rees would like to see the industry embrace more daring films. It’s not just about Netflix, she says.
“The better question to ask is: What studios didn’t make this film? We took this film all over and no studio wanted to make it. Am I not supposed to make it because Netflix is the only one raising its hand?” says Rees. “I hope people will ask: Why didn’t Universal make this film? Or why didn’t Paramount make this film?”
“Audiences are smart,” Rees adds. “People want interesting, complicated, not-happy-ending films, and I think it’s up to the industry to meet the audience’s taste. If we were doing ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ and ‘Panic in Needle Park,’ people would show up.”
At Sundance, some of the most urgent movies may be more likely to be documentaries. Among those at this year’s festival are “The Dissident,” about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; “The Fight,” about the American Civil Liberties Union’s legal battles with the Trump administration; “Us Kids,” about the survivors of the Parkland, Florida, high-school massacre; and “Welcome to Chechnya,” about activists secretly saving LGBTQ Chechens from a government crackdown.
Regardless, Sundance remains the pre-eminent launching pad of new talent in American cinema and a place where little-known dreamers become established filmmakers. Oda, the Brazilian-born “Nine Days” director, had a successful career in advertising before quitting his job to study film at the University of Southern California.
“I don’t know how but I’m now making this movie and it’s at Sundance,” said Oda, chuckling. “This is surreal to me. All my favorite filmmakers screened at Sundance and still screen at Sundance. Sundance was the goal. That’s the top of the mountain. Of course, there’s no top of the mountain — my movie’s about that — but you still have that in your head.”
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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Applications are being excepted for the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program at Howard University.
The deadline is fast approaching for college students with an interest in pursuing a career in the Foreign Service. The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is now accepting applications. My guest is Bunmi Akinnusotu – Deputy Director Rangel Fellowship @ Howard University Bunche Center for International Affairs
Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs. More information here: www.rangelprogram.org.
The program covers tuition, travel, room and board, and provides a stipend. Deadline is February 4th.
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
A new poll examines the attitudes of African-American about President Trump and the direction of the country.
Perry’s first feature for Netflix!
‘Bad Boys 3’ breaks box office records over the weekend, full story
‘A Fall From Grace’ Tyler Perry’s First Netflix Movie, the reviews are in, read more.
A sad day for The People, Lawmakers vote along party lines against raising the minimum wage.
Prince George’s overtakes Montgomery as the top job creator in Maryland suburbs, full story.
In the you tried it on Dr. King Holiday news: Amtrak has apologized to civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill after she said she was asked to give up her seat on a train. Full story.
Debate Ongoing In Trump’s Senate Impeachment Trial
Schiff chairs the House Intelligence Committee. Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow insisted that Trump was denied “due process” in the House impeachment process. Later today or tonight, senators will vote on trial guidelines put forth by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Cippolone said the guidelines lay out a fair process for the impeachment trial. Schiff called McConnell’s road-map a “process for a rigged trial.” While acting as jurors in the impeachment trial, senators must remain in their seats and are not allowed to speak.
Senators are also prohibited from carrying smartphones or other communications devices. Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates must be in DC for the trial. They are Vermont’s Bernie Sanders, Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar, Colorado’s Michael Bennet and Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts. The Iowa caucuses take place early next month. The House impeached the President last month for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in the investigation of the Ukraine scandal.
There is still time to donate books directly to United Way or to go on-line to make a donation. For a list of books needed or to make a donation, click the link.
Adelphi, Maryland (Monday, January 20, 2020) – Putting new books in the hands of area youth. 96.3 WHUR and United Way of the National Capital Area hit the streets of Adelphi, Maryland Monday to collect age appropriate books for middle school students across the DMV.
The effort was part of a daylong event at Buck Lodge Middle School in honor of Dr. King Day. Hundreds of students packed the school to participate in workshops, plays, and a host of other activities designed to foster a cultural community engagement to reinforce the legacy of Dr. King.
Additionally, participants were encouraged to bring grade appropriate books to help advance the reading skills and improve academic outcomes for low income middle school students across the Washington region. Books collected will benefit community schools in the DMV. “We know the power of reading and how opening up a book can literally expand the mind and imagination of our youth,” said WHUR General Manager Sean Plater. According to the Literacy Project, the number of books in the home directly correlates with higher reading scores for children. “That’s why working with United Way of National Capital Area on the ‘Stuff the Bus Book Drive’ is such a powerful campaign and WHUR is proud to play a role in empowering our young people,” added Plater.
Studies also show that students who choose what they read and have an informal environment in which to read tend to be more motivated, read more, and show greater language and literacy development.
The “Stuff the Bus Book Drive” runs through January 31st. There is still time to donate books directly to United Way or to go on-line to make a donation. For a list of books needed or to make a donation, click the link. unitedwayncabookdrive. Book prices range between $6.00 – $15.00 per book. For as little as $30, you can supply 5 students with a new book.
Maryland ranks second as one of the most educated states in the U.S.
The Senate trial of President Trump ramped up today. The Senate will vote on specific rules for the trial.
WHUT-TV is hosting their Independent Lens Pop-up Film Screenings
Grab the popcorn and get ready for some purposeful and meaningful television on the big screen. Our sister-station WHUT is hosting more Independent Lens Pop-up Filming Screenings and I have your invitation. My guest is Jeff Lee- WHUT General Manager
WHUT is hosting anIndependent Lens Pop-up Film Screening. “The First Rainbow Coalition” – Wednesday, January 22nd @ 6:30pm at Busboys and Poets at 14th and V Streets, NW. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Part 1
Part 2
Community leaders and educators discuss MLK Day and education service projects.
Did Harry have a choice?
Hank Azaria no longer wants to be the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon of “The Simpsons”. For full story.
Bad Boy 3 breaks records this weekend. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s Bad Boys For Life earned an estimated $68.1 million over the four-day Martin Luther King Day weekend. Review here.
The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a free, ticketed musical tribute titled Let Freedom Ring Celebration featuring Chaka Khan.
The unofficial motto of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is “It’s not a day off; it’s a day on.” If you weren’t able to give back or pay it forward, there is always time. If you are looking for ways to give, click here.
Impeachment managers send response ahead of Senate trial.
Coco Gauff Beats Venus Williams In Australian Open
Pro-gun rally activists will be in Richmond today. Officials are concerned about potential violence.
One person was killed, another injured in a fire in New Carrollton. Response time of fire and rescue crews debated.
Our Stuff The Bus Book Drive takes place today from 9am-1pm at the Buck Lodge Middle School.
Putting new books in the hands of area youth. WHUR is teaming up with United Way of the National Capital Area to host a Stuff the Bus Book Drive on Dr. King Day. My guest is Renee Nash – News and Public Affairs Director here at WHUR
WHUR and the United Way of the National Capital Area DR. KING DAY Stuff the Bus Book Drive Monday, January 20th from 9am to 1pm at Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi. Stop by and drop off your book. For a list of books needed or to purchase a book now, head over to whur.com. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
President Wayne Frederick talks with Dr. Art Dawkins who for decades led the Howard University music program in Jazz Studies.
ABOUT
On this episode of The Journey, President Wayne Frederick talks with Dr. Art Dawkins who for decades led the Howard University music program in Jazz Studies. Dr. Dawkins is a professional musician, jazz historian and mentor to many students and faculty.
Air Date: December 18, 2016
Discussion about the complexities of reparations for the descendants of slaves in America.
AUDIO:
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh joined his counterparts in D.C. and Virginia in filing the suit, over the ability to extend food stamp benefits beyond a three-month period… full story.
Jason Reynolds Named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature…full story
Arrest warrant issued for Odell Beckham over alleged battery on police officer…full story.
Beyoncé Sent Zendaya, Hailey Bieber, and Yara Shahidi, Cardi B and more an Entire Wardrobe of Ivy Park Clothes…full story.
Leading By Example: Yung Joc Responds To Driving For Uber, Saying He’s Not Too Big To Make An Honest Living! Full story.
State lawmakers to take a major step toward making Virginia the critical 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Full story.
Josiah Henson Museum to Be Built in Honor of Man Who Inspired ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. Read the full story of how he maps it out for us.
Courthouse to be named after late US Rep. Elijah Cummings
Striking Metrobus Garage Workers Back On The Job
Today, 2K and back in the day on Sunday afternoons.
Jack Evan’s resignation from the DC Council takes effect today. Evans resigned amid ethics violation allegations.
Three men arrested in Maryland are linked to a white supremacist group. The men were planning to attend Monday’s pro-gun rally in Richmond.
It’s the King Holiday Weekend and there are some great events and shows to catch all weekend long.
WEEKEND HAPS
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
