Issue #6

To join The A-List,
email us TODAY for
your free "membership"
thealistmag2@gmail.com

OVERSEEN & OVERHEARD

ALL EYEZ ON PERRY...Even after stinging complaints by four writers on the "The House of Payne" TV show who accuse Tyler Perry of unfair labor practices, The Family That Preys director still attracted star turn out for the grand opening of his massive Atlanta production studio. Those who crossed the picket line (albeit a small one) included: Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey (who broke out in tears when she saw Sidney Poitier), Cicley Tyson, Patti Labelle, among others. Not the progressive set by any stretch of the imagination, but what can you say. Those not celebrating? The four striking writers who, by the way, this same week attracted support from director Spike Lee. Thus, while Perry will more than boost Black film production with the studio, it's not all good unless everyone involved in the success benefits and that means playing by the rules for fair compensation. Let's see how this controversy all plays out.

THE WAR ROOM...And speaking of Spike Lee, has the acclaimed film director begun influencing other filmmakers of note to set the story straight on diverse participation in past wars? Following the release of Lee's African-American war heroes flick, The Miracle at St. Anna legendary filmmaker/producer George Lucas has announced he's bringing Red Tails, the story of the first group of Black airmen to serve as pilot escorts for American bombers in WWII, to the big screen. Could be Lucas was inspired by Lee.

BOLLYWOOD CALLING...The latest Hollywood trend seems to be foreign finance collaborations. Now Steven Spielberg has completed a $1.2-billion deal with Mumbai, India-based Reliance ADA Group to launch his own filmmaking company. If countries such as India are wooing filmmakers like Spielberg and entering the market, could new entrants in this country from other nations without the racism roots that American-based companies have finally give light to more films of color?

MUST SEE TV...Check out David Alan Grier's "Chocolate News," "The Daily Show" urban style, on Comedy Central. Grier can hang with the best of the network tongue-in-cheek hosts such as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

FADE TO WHITE...If aliens landed today and watched prime time they'd think America was all White judging from the new batch of shows. Aside from Tristan Wilds on the CW teen drama "90210," Lance Reddick and Jasika Nicole on "Fringe" (FOX), Lisa Bonet of ABC's "Life on Mars" (and she's not even one of the main characters) ad Jimmy Smits joining Showtime's three seasons-old "Dexter," there's a dearth of people of color on the tube. The networks shouldn't be surprised as shows start to tank. Face facts: America is now a Brown nation, and when television starts reflecting America's beautiful diversity the viewers will tune in. Otherwise, look for these eyeballs on your nearest computer and mobile phone screen where original, organic entertainment abounds.

ALL OBAMA, ALL THE TIME...Obama is aiming to command the airwaves as the campaign hits the final stretch. By now you've probably heard Obama has purchased a prime-time half-hour block of air time on CBS and NBC for Oct. 29 (the anniversary of Black Tuesday). But did you know the senator from Illinois, has temporarily purchased--until Nov. 4th--a TV channel. If you have the Dish network, you can tune into Channel 73 aka Obama TV, the cable channel owned and operated by the presidential candidate's campaign. Having just laid out some serious campaign cash for the network airtime, we can see where the infomerical channel with its one-time fee for endless commercial would make financial sense. But unless the campaign has some special plans to drive people to the channel, they're just going to get channel surfers occasionally tuning in.

DITTO...Speaking of Obama, if you need any more pro-Barack product, Wilson Ebiye's RockCity Entertainment along with Pearl Jr. and Cecil Holmes' Elbow Grease Productions are releasing a DVD entitled Barack Obama The Power of Change. The 110-minute DVD includes speeches by Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy, Stevie Wonder, Hill Harper, Tyson Beckford, Cornel West and Tavis Smiley.

A McCain A DAY...Obama isn't the only one dominating the airwaves. His opponent, Sen. John McCain, has been releasing a new TV ad every ad and at least three new Web ads a week, accounting to campaign observers. Between the two camps, TV viewers and Internet users are surely going to get election fatigue--leading to a total tune out.

MAKE ROOM ON THE MANTLE...James Earl Jones is taking home another award. Jones, whose career highlights include critically acclaimed films, Broadway success, lending his voice to the characters of Darth Vader and The Lion King's Mufasa, will be honored with the Screen Actors Guild's most prestigious accolade—the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment at the "15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Award," which premieres live on TNT and TBS Jan. 25, 2009.

HIP HOP HOLLYWOOD

THE GODFATHER NOIR...It hasn't even been a month since the leaders of a multi-state cocaine trafficking ring known as the Black Mafia Family, infamously well-known on the underground Hip Hop scene, were sentenced in Detroit federal court Friday to 30 years in prison, and already there's a film deal. Beating out several bidders, DuBose Entertainment acquired all media rights to the “Black Mafia Family” story, and is now developing a feature film.

THINKING OF A MASTER PLAN...Rapper/entrepreneur Master P's big TV plans seem to be on hold for the moment. While P's Better Black Television network already has a Web presence (http://www.betterblacktv.com/), financial backing (his own and private investors), and shows in production (including a multicultural soap opera and children's programming), he's missing one major item--a broadcast distribution outlet for his BBTV. His reps tell us exclusively he's in talks with various cable giants, but still no deal. We'll keep you posted on this one for sure.

A-LIST NIGHT OUT

VH-1 RocDoc "NWA: The World's Most Dangerous Group"

The A-List caught the recent "premiere" of the VH-1 RocDoc "NWA: The World's Most Dangerous Group." Held at the Landmark Theatre on the westside of LA, the event was a nice one though sparsely attended. After a bit of mixing during a small reception at a cozy bar/lounge adjacent to the theatre, we all ascended to the reserved theater. (Note to VH-1: Receptions normally include complimentary food and drink, so it's a bit awkward to partake in the cheese, mini-pizza, grape and cookie festival while then having to saunter across the room to purchase wine at a cash bar. Complimentary soft drinks are always nice or at least one drink ticket or skip the recep all together.)

As always, with these RocDocs; they are well-produced and leave the viewer wanting more. Special treat here: Chris Rock narrates the 90-minute piece. New interview footage from Cube and Yella gives the doc a fresh vibe, and one feels that the emotional journey is pretty much complete by the time the credits roll on this thorough documentary. We can't help but wonder though, why these producers rarely tap any female writers/experts/professors for their points of view. The long-suffering wife is the only female face we see, leaving one to actually think there aren't notable and respected female figures in LA who could speak to and were close to this subject matter. Creature Films, the force behind the project, may want to take note going forward.

In addition, there is a the nagging feeling that roles in the music industry are still very much dominated by race and those with the "power" seem to remain in those power positions holding the keys to the gateway for talented young recording artists and entrepreneurs (i.e. Jerry Heller and Bryan Turner). While the Q&A afterwards held promise, we are not certain if Eazy-E's son L'il Eazy E and Yella as "panelists" offered the most compelling insight nor provoking thoughts. Writer Cheo Hodari Coker held his own as moderator of sorts. In the house were: John Singleton, Alonzo Williams (aka Lanzo) from the World Class Wrecking crew and a few other L.A. locals.

All in all, a nice way to kick off this doc and album release of N.W.A and their Family Tree, which features a variety of "18 genre-defining" tracks by N.W.A., Snoop Dogg and others. The only thing missing is a more appropriate name to this series painfully making clear the mainstream establishment just doesn't want to let go of long-silenced reign of rock and resonation of MTV Networks historic barriers to anything non-White. Given that these documentaries cover all kinds of genres (and might we add some of the most popular not covering rock) might we see the term "RocDocs" change anytime soon?

JERMAINE DUPRI BIRTHDAY BASH, NYC

Celebrities hopped out of their Maybacks one after another @ Tejune (one of the many fly nightspots on the LIVE little cobblestone streets on NYC's Little West 12th) for music mogul/film producer Jermaine Dupri's B'D bash. L.A. Reid, Neyo, Busta Rhymes, Lil' Kim, Red Cafe....and the "A-list" goes on!!! The media was all the frenzy as celebs arrived, especially as the "Mr. & Mrs." (Dupri and Janet Jackson) pulled up. Judging from the outside--and the rumors we heard afterward-we're gonna take a wild guess and say it must have been CRAZY on the inside!!! --LeeSa B

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Acclaimed Winged Creatures director Rowan Woods to Australian paper Live News: "A [film company] executive told me straight: `Even if he [Forest Whitaker] wins the Oscar he's ugly, he's Black and he's unbankable.'"