Teyana Taylor’s Directorial Debut: ‘Get Lite’ Set at Paramount, Starring Emmy Winner Storm Reid

Teyana Taylor Met Gala

Teyana Taylor is poised to go behind the camera in her directorial debut for Get Lite, an upcoming film at Paramount, and get this, Emmy Winner Storm Reid is starring. Reid, a rising star is producing the film through A Seed & Wings Productions her production company, and Kenya Barris is producing under his banner, Khalabo Ink Society.

Deadline exclusively reported and here’s the description:

The film follows a studious New York City teenager who has his world upended when he falls for a charismatic beatmaker (played by Reid) who recruits him to join her Litefeet dance crew, forcing him to choose between a safe academic path and his rekindled love of dance.

Get Lite, is written by Eric Gross and will be produced by OFFBRND’s Bill Karesh, along with Reid’s mother Robyn Simpson under A Seed & Wings Productions and Anni Weisband. Taylor is executive producing and Coco Gilbert is co-producing. 

Taylor, has been more than exploring Hollywood as of late as she has been expanding her film/TV resume. This includes great reviews for her leading role in A Thousand and One, a critically acclaimed film.

Reid, who’s known for her role in Euphoria, has become one of the most in-demand young stars in Hollywood. As mentioned she’s an Emmy Winner for her guest role in HBO’s The Last of Us and was seen in Missing and The Nun 2

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“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” Director P. Frank Williams Launches Multimedia Venture ‘For The Culture By The Culture’

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P. Frank Williams, a recipient of Emmy and eight NAACP Image Awards for his work in television and film production, has launched his multimedia production company, For The Culture By The Culture Media Inc. (@FXCXC). This venture comes on the heels of his recent success directing and executive producing the highly-anticipated “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” set to premiere on HULU this Thursday, March 21. 

Williams has produced and directed several acclaimed projects centered around Black culture and music. These include TV One’s renowned documentary series “Unsung” and “Unsung Hollywood,” BET’s award-winning series “American Gangster,” “Hip Hop Homicides” executive produced by 50 Cent and Mona Scott-Young and films such as “Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan,” “A Hustler’s Ambition” by Universal/Def Jam Records, and award shows such as BET Awards and BET Hip-Hop Awards.

Williams explains, “After working in newspapers, magazines, TV, and film for over 25 years, producing content for major networks and streamers, I noticed a recurring issue: stories about people of color were often not being produced by people of color themselves. For The Culture By The Culture aims to fill that void by ensuring representation both in front of and behind the camera. Specializing in Black culture, hip-hop, sports, true crime, and music, @FXCXC is a unique one-stop content studio that handles everything from idea generation to production, editing, and delivery. @FXCXC stands out as one of the first global culture content companies led by individuals who are deeply rooted in the culture they represent.”

The launch of the new multi-media venture follows Williams’ latest project, directing and executive producing the eagerly awaited documentary “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” in partnership with Swirl Films & Mass Appeal and co-executive produced by Jermaine Dupri, Luke Campbell, and 21 Savage. The documentary is a celebratory exploration of the boisterous times of Freaknik, the iconic Atlanta street party that drew hundreds of thousands of people in the 80s and 90s, helping put Atlanta on the map culturally. It takes a close look at the rise and fall of the event that began as a Black college cookout, impacting culture, race, politics, and the 1996 Olympics.

“Freaknik left an undeniable mark on American and Black culture. Its legacy is timeless. With ‘90s nostalgia everywhere and millennials fascinated with their parents’ fun times, it has reemerged into the pop culture consciousness,” describes Williams. “Executive produced by Black music icons like Jermaine Dupri and Luther Campbell, ‘Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told’ also breaks down how Atlanta became the capital of Black culture that it is today. It laid the foundation for the explosion of Black southern music and style that dominates the world today.” 

“For many of us golden era twenty-somethings coming of age in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Freaknik was our Woodstock, a street festival rooted in the energy of American classic films like ‘American Pie’ and ‘School Daze’. At its height in the mid ‘90s, Freaknik was a traffic-stopping, city-shuttering juggernaut cult classic non-stop party. Us Gen Xers created this weekend long rebellion against our parents and authority that still continues to resonate with audiences and people all over the world decades later.”

For The Culture By The Culture has production offices both in Burbank, CA, and Atlanta, GA. Stay tuned for official announcements regarding upcoming productions with Tube, TV One, BET, and other partners.

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‘Dune: Part Two’ Approaching $500 Million at Box Office

'Dune: Part Two' Approaching $500 Million at Box Office

Who said the theatrical movie industry is hurting? Dune: Part Two, the highly anticipated sequel to the Warner Bros. tentpole, did not get the memo, as it is approaching $500 million, already eclipsing the first film. 

Variety reports the science-fiction epic, directed by Denis Villeneuve, just hit $494.7 million worldwide. The monster haul includes $208 million from North America and about $289 million internationally. Dune: Part Two is expected to exceed $500 million by Monday. This also matters since only a handful of films hit the half-billion mark post-pandemic. The sequel is already the highest-grossing film in 2024 at the worldwide box office, but it’s still early in the year. 

So get this: Dune: Part Two has only been in theaters for ten days but has already doubled the total domestic earnings of the first film, which earned $108 million. Now there’s an asterisk: the original film back in 2021 was released in theaters and on HBO Max, which arguably affected ticket sales in that scenario. 

Here’s the breakdown of ticket sales performance outside of the U.S. and Canada: 

China ($36 million)

U.K. ($32.8 million)

Germany ($25 million)

France ($24.9 million)

Australia ($15.6 million).

Much of the marketing is word-of-mouth, and there’s been interest in formats outside of standard screenings, where Dune: Part Two has made over $100 million from Imax theaters.

The sequel is based on the seminal 1965 Frank Herbert novel Dune, which continues the story of Dune. Cinematically, it follows, as Variety reports, “the mythic quest of Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, who seeks safety in the desert after powerful royals betray his family. Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Walken join the sprawling cast of Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, and Stellan Skarsgård.”

Dune: Part Two was co-produced and co-financed by Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment for $190 million, with an expected $100 million to market around the world.

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‘Breathe’ Trailer: Jennifer Hudson Leads With Common and Quvenzhané Wallis in Sci-Fi Thriller

‘Breathe’ Trailer: Jennifer Hudson Leads With Common and Quvenzhané Wallis in Sci-Fi Thriller

At least on-screen, Jennifer Hudson is about to lose her breath in the first trailer of Breathe, a new sci-fi thriller opposite Quvenzhané Wallis, Common, Raúl Castillo, and more.

Directed by Stefon Bristol, who helmed See You Yesterday, the film also stars genre veterans Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) and Sam Worthington (Avatar).

Here’s the official description: 

Breathe is a heart-pounding thriller set in the future. After Earth is left uninhabitable due to lack of oxygen, a mother Maya (Hudson) and her daughter Zora (Wallis) are forced to live underground, with short trips to the surface only made possible by a coveted state-of-the-art oxygen suit made by Maya’s husband, Darius, whom she presumes to be dead. When a mysterious couple arrives claiming to know Darius and his fate, Maya tentatively agrees to let them into their bunker but these visitors are not who they claim to be ensuing in mother and daughter fighting for survival.

Produced by Variance Films, Breathe will hit theaters on April 26 and be available on digital and on-demand the same day. In industry terms, that’s called a day-and-date release. 

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‘The Crow’ Trailer: FKA Twigs and Bill Skarsgård in Epic Fight for Their Souls in Highly Anticipated Remake

‘The Crow’ Trailer: FKA Twigs and Bill Skarsgård in Epic Fight for Their Souls in Highly Anticipated Remake

Do you remember The Crow? Great film. It is a tragic real-life situation that resulted in the untimely death of Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, being shot on set back in 1994.

It’s been decades since The Crow, and now the remake starring FKA Twigs and Bill Skarsgård has a new trailer. The Crow is bound for a summer release on June 7. Originally based on the graphic novel by James O’Barr, Skarsgård takes over the reins as the titular character Eric Draven, who is a man who finds the love of his life, Shelly Webster, played by FKA Twigs, until both love birds, no pun intended are murdered “at the hands of evil men, leading Eric’s soul to come back to Earth as a violent anti-hero wanting revenge” as reported by Shadow and Act.

“Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right,” from the synopsis.

This is a big deal for the cast and director as FKA Twigs, Skarsgård, and director Rupert Sanders are stoked to finally bring O’Barr’s universe back for all to see. “I am so thrilled to be in THE CROW alongside the talented Bill Skarsgård and extraordinary director Rupert Sanders,” FKA Twigs said. “The love Bill and I share on screen is effortless and indicative of the authenticity and ease that I dreamed of bringing to the role of Shelley. Eric and Shelley’s unbreakable unity is so profound and beautiful, something I hope we all feel at least once as part of the human experience. I am so excited that the trailer is being unveiled and even more excited to have the world see the film this summer.”

“The Crow is the original anti-superhero. His story is about tragic loss, about dealing with the pain of everything that comes with losing someone you love, something that all of us have or will encounter at some point in our lives. It is about the dark shadow of grief, about what we would do when something so meaningful is taken from us,” from Sanders, who also added how the mid nineties film of The Crow starred the iconic and late, Brandon Lee. “The original graphic novel is deeply meaningful for so many, and the character, his journey and his need for revenge has inspired a canon of films for the last three decades. Our version goes back to that graphic novel by James O’Barr, who I had the honour of meeting shortly before production, and explores the love story as the primary drive for our film,” he said. “What Alex Proyas did with The Crow in 1994 – and Brandon Lee’s iconic embodiment of that character – will forever impact that generation and others to follow. It was a culture-defining film that is beloved to this day and has inspired many other iterations both inside and outside The Crow Universe.”

“That film sparked a fire with the youth of that day, a youth who grew up on hard, alternative rock, punk and metal, that binged on MTV and zines. It held a mirror to that generation in the aesthetic of the film, its smoky, rain-drenched streets, stylized and subverted sets, its leather-clad hero and chain wielding villains. It expressed its time in a very specific, music-driven vision, that spoke to a young audience who had never been spoken to in that way. It became a cult classic,” Sanders added. “Our interpretation of James’ work also reflects this young generation, whose tastes and references have changed so dramatically from the original film. Hopefully it speaks to them in their language, with their style and music and hopefully will get them to discover Alex Proyas’ film and James O’Barr’s graphic novel, bringing a new audience to the source material.”

Sanders also described the story as “as universal as an epic poem or Greek myth” because it ” deals with the very primal, naturalistic emotions of love, grief and rage and it also deals with the supernatural and physiological imaginings of heaven and hell, the dead and the undead.”

“It explores the great positive force of love and the great negative force of rage and hate that stands in its shadow, it asks what would we do, but also what would we have become by doing so. When Eric slumps to the floor, covered in the blood of the slain, we look deep into his eyes and he asks us…why?” he continued. “I am very pleased to have worked with two young actors whose performances are the backbone of this film. Bill Skarsgård is so committed and vulnerable, monstrously violent and delicately tender, he brings so many layers to the complex emotion of a man consumed with so much love and hate, but also a man who will do anything for the woman he loves. He fights, numb with pain and grief, killing and maiming for the one he loves…but to what end? FKA Twigs brings the same unique and wondrous talent that she does to her entire volume of work and her performance and the vacuum created by her absence undoubtedly gives reason for this Crow to be born.”

The Crow also stars Danny Huston and is written by Zach Baylin and William Schneider, based on O’Barr’s original graphic novel. Edward R. Pressman, Samuel Hadida, Victor Hadida, John Jencks, and Molly Hassell are producing

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[WATCH] Chris Tucker Talks About The Difficulty Making Another “Friday” Movie

Chris Tucker Reveals He Was Only Paid 10K For Friday

Comedian Chris Tucker has previously spoken about why he hasn’t appeared in any of the Friday sequels, even though the movie’s producer Ice Cube says that he offered Tucker $12 million to appear in an upcoming sequel. In an interview with Big Tigger on V-102 FM in Atlanta, Tucker has spoken again about the challenges that would have to be faced if he were to participate in another Friday sequel.

Tuckwer noted that the studios and producers make shooting a new Friday challenging saying, “It’s studios, and they got to want to do it, and then it’s uh producers and all that stuff,” adding, “it’s a lot, it’s a lot that goes with it.” Tucker cited he wants to be in a space where he can create while on set, as that mindset is what actually birthed a lot of the best moments in the first ‘Friday’ film.

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Top Female-Centric Documentaries to Celebrate Women in Hip-Hop

Top Female Centric Documentaries to Celebrate Women in Hip Hop

With Women’s History Month in full swing, female artists are taking over in almost every genre of music, including hip-hop. While current artists such as Doja Cat, SZA, and Beyonce continue to dominate the charts, it’s important to understand the history of trailblazing women in the genre who helped carve out a place for females in what was once considered a male-dominated space. In honor of Women’s Month, check out some of our top documentaries about women in hip-hop as well as how they overcame some of the many challenges that they faced along the way.

Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (2023 mini-series): This Netflix documentary takes viewers on a 50-year journey, highlighting the groundbreaking achievements of women within the genre. Featuring artists such as Queen Latifah, Saweetie, Coi Leray, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante, Latto, Angie Martinez, and more, this mini-series showcases the vital role that females have played and continue to play in creating music and contributing to the culture.

First Ladies of Hip-Hop (2023 mini-series): Narrated by Neneh Cherry, this mini-series tells the stories of both American and British early female rappers and hip-hop artists including Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, Roxanne Shante, Estelle, Sha-Rock, Salt-n-Pepa, Speech Debelle, and more.

The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion (2019 documentary): This documentary examines how hip-hop music and culture influenced  fashion, leading to the stratospheric and global rise of street wear and influenced both fashion trends and cultural movements on a global scale.

Queens of Hip-Hop (2003 movie): An oldie but a goodie, this film (available on Amazon Prime) tells the story of early female pioneers such as Salt “N” Pepa, Lady Luck, Rah Digga, Charlie Baltimore, and more as they broke down stereotypes and barriers to secure their rightful place in what was once almost exclusively a male-dominated industry.

Roxanne Roxanne (2017 film): This film, which was showcased at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, is a biography of Lolita “Roxanne Shanté” Gooden, a teenage girl who defied all odds in the late 1980s to become one of the most feared battle MC in Queens, New York, before eventually becoming a hip-hop legend.

Queens of Rap (2021 documentary): This BAFTA award nominee documentary focuses on Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion and the creation and cultural influence of WAP as well as its broader implications on the role of women within the hip-hop and music industries in general.

Nicki Minaj: Queen of Rap (2022 documentary): This documentary explores the multi-talented and multi-faceted Nicki Minaj, diving into her ever-changing looks, iconic sound, and unique alter-egos, all while exploring the impact that they have had on hip-hop’s complex culture.

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes (2007 documentary): This PBS special documentary takes a deep dive into the masculinity that plagued hip-hop culture for decades and explores the challenges that females within the industry faced and how creative genius, poetic beauty, and mad beats all collided with misogyny, violence, and homophobia to create the good and bad of the culture.

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‘Venom 3’ Is Heading Back to Theaters With a Title and Fall Release Date

‘Venom 3’ Is Heading Back to Theaters With a Title and Fall Release Date

Maybe you’re a Spider-Man fan or just prefer the anti-hero Venom, which is not quite in the same theatrical universe yet.

We’re on the fence over here, but one thing is for sure about the third Venom film – it will be called Venom: The Last Dance. Variety reported the new title, and Sony announced it would open in theaters everywhere on Oct. 25 this year instead of Nov. 8, as earlier reported. Expect the third installment to hit both Imax and PLFs.

Kelly Marcel is directing, and Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) is again playing the wild but comical black widow creature. Marcel penned the script with a story she also co-wrote with Hardy. Producers include heavyweights Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Hutch Parker, Marcel, and Hardy. June Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor also star alongside Hardy.

The previous Venom films grossed $1.36 billion at the global box office, which is a big deal.

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Neve Campbell Back for ‘Scream 7’ After Leaving Hit Franchise Over Salary Dispute

Neve Campbell Back for ‘Scream 7’ After Leaving Hit Franchise Over Salary Dispute

ICYMI, the Scream film series, is the most significant horror franchise in the last few decades. The scream queen who launched the lore of ghost faces is Neve Campbell. But her iconic character, Sidney Prescott, was a no-show in Scream 6 after a well-publicized salary dispute. There’s been plenty of fireworks lately with Scream behind the scenes, and now, as many suspected, Campbell is finally returning for the seventh movie.

“Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!!” Campbell emphatically posted on the gram, Tuesday. She added “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the ‘Scream’ movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled.” 

Variety reports that in addition to Campbell’s return, Scream creator and original writer Kevin Williamson is taking over the reins as director of the newest installment. He actually penned the first, second, and fourth films in the franchise and executive produced the 2022 reboot Scream along with the sequel Scream 6. Sheesh, he has his hands all over those knives. 

“It’s been nearly 30 years since my very first script, ‘Scream,’ was directed by the legendary Wes Craven,” Williamson said on IG. “I never would have predicted what it would become. Or that I would be directing the seventh installment of the franchise. I am overcome with gratitude and excitement, and I can’t wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire ‘Scream’ family as we bring back Sidney Prescott in the next chapter of the ‘Scream’ franchise. Thank you to all the ‘Scream’ fans. You are the gift that keeps giving.”

Campbell announced before Scream 6 that the salary offered to her “did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.” Then creator Williamson was vocal and said of Campbell’s claims, “I love everyone involved with ‘Scream’ and all I can say is pay her the money. Yes, you heard it, everyone. That’s what I would do. I would give her the money.”

The controversy doesn’t stop there. Campbell’s new announcement hits after Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, the stars in the two previous films, are not returning for the seventh. Barrera was let go in 2023 over social media posts about the Israel and Gaza conflict. Then Ortega dropped out, reportedly due to her schedule filming Season 2 of Netflix’s hit series, Wednesday.

Guy Busick, Scream 5 and 6 with James Vanderbilt, handles screenwriting duties for the seventh film. Vanderbilt is producing under his Project X Entertainment partners William Sherak and Paul Neinstein. Also executive producing is the film collective Radio Silence, which directed and produced the previous two Scream films.

Here’s Campbell’s full statement below.

“Hi All. I’m so excited to announce this news!!! Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!! It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the ‘Scream‘ movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7‘! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years. To the amazing ‘Scream‘ fans, I hope you are as excited as I am. See you on set @kevwilliamson.”

Welcome back, Campbell. We wish her character, Sidney, the best of luck against the new horrors that await.

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Tyrese Gibson Faces Backlash Over Child Support Payments Amid Luxury Vacations

Tyrese Reveals Psych Meds Are Behind Public Meltdown

Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson has found himself embroiled in controversy as he battles against the $10,000-a-month child support payments awarded to his youngest child with his second wife, Samantha Lee. Despite being ordered to pay the full monthly amount, Tyrese has been sending less than half, sparking outrage and accusations of neglecting his parental responsibilities.

Recent reports from Radar Online shed light on the ongoing child support war between Tyrese and Samantha Lee, with Samantha claiming that Tyrese failed to pay the required amount in December 2023 and January 2024. The couple shares a 4-year-old daughter named Soraya, whose financial support has become a point of contention between the exes.

Court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com reveal Tyrese’s attempt to defend his actions and dismiss Samantha’s efforts to hold him in contempt for non-payment. Tyrese admitted to not paying the full amount but insisted that his actions were not driven by malice. He cited a drastic drop in income since the child support order was issued as justification for his inability to meet the financial obligations.

However, what further fueled the controversy were Tyrese’s recent luxury vacations, which he defended as low-cost endeavors. In December, Tyrese shared photos on social media of himself celebrating his 45th birthday with his girlfriend, Zelie, in Dubai. He also posted images from a trip to Egypt around the same time.

In response to Samantha’s allegations, Tyrese’s lawyers argued that his holiday trips were not extravagant expenditures. They claimed that Tyrese had used frequent flyer miles to cover the cost of flights and stayed with a friend during his time abroad, minimizing the financial impact of the vacations.

Despite Tyrese’s attempts to justify his actions, a judge has yet to rule on the matter, leaving the child support dispute unresolved. The situation has reignited discussions about parental obligations, financial accountability, and the challenges of co-parenting in the spotlight.

Thoughts?

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