Source: miumiu.com

If you’ve ever seen director Ava DuVernay’s work in either I Will Follow or Middle Of Nowhere, you know that she is immensely talented and has a knack for filming people of color in a way that has them looking absolutely regal. Recently, DuVernay partnered with high fashion brand Miu Miu, a subsidy of Prada, to produce a short film featuring the brand’s clothing. The film, called “The Door,” does not include any dialogue but it tells a story of a woman whose friends are trying to help her cope with and overcome a recent breakup.

In addition to Gabrielle Union, the woman whose going through the breakup, the film also features Adepero Oduye, from Pariah and Steel Magnolias, Emayatzy Corinealdi from DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere, (which was an awesome film by the way), singer Goapele and veteran actress Alfre Woodard. DuVernay explained that the film got its title “The Door” because: “In the film, characters arrive at the door of a friend in need, bringing something of themselves. Eventually, we witness our heroine ready to walk through the door on her own. The door in the film represents a pathway to who we are.”

Check out this beautifully made 9-min film below. (If you’re not at work, make it full screen so you can bask in the beauty. )

Light-skinned Rocker Lenny Kravitz is rumored to be playing the late great dark brown skinned “Sexual Healing” crooner, Marvin Gaye, in a biopic about his life, this according to published reports.

According to The Huffington Post:

The project is directed by Julian Temple, known for his documentary “London: The Modern Babylon” as well as “Absolute Beginners.” Temple also has plenty of experience with bringing music to the big screen, having directed a number of movies about the Sex Pistols. The Gaye movie will center on the soul singer’s later years. Gaye, as NME notes, battled alcoholism and nasty tax issues while living in London.

Okay so let’s get to the heart of the issue: they couldn’t cast an actor/singer with a similar hue and physical features to carry the role of Gaye?

Yes, we are discussing this again, especially in lieu of Hollywood’s soon-to-be-released biopic of Nina Simone, a dark-skinned singer, pianist, and civil rights activist, whose liken will be attempted on screen by the brown-skinned yet racially ambiguous Zoe Saldana. Pictures have been circulating around online showing Saldana on the set of the film in darker foundation and wearing a prosthetic nose and fake teeth, which all had to be added to mimic Simone’s naturally African features.  This issue, for obvious reasons, has struck a chord with many folks in the black community who feel that the production team behind this flick should have gone with an actress of the same shade and physical characteristics.

Let’s be real: actresses like Kimberly Elise, Adepero Oduye (Pariah) and Viola Davis are just a few names who are as talented as a Saldana yet better physically matched to be cast as Simone. The production team could have hired one of them and saved the blackface we see in those pictures.

“I hear you but why is it that nobody had a problem when Laurence Fishburne played Ike Turner or Denzel played Malcolm X? I understand why you ladies are upset but then again aren’t we being a bit hypocritical?” asked some dude I was debating with recently via a Facebook thread.  It’s a provocative question considering that when it comes to public discussion around colorism, the emphasis is mostly on how black women are aesthetically perceived, especially through the lense of color. Yet self-esteem issues related to colorism – particularly the whitewashing of darker skinned people in the media – also does have an impact on black men that’s not being discussed.

Actor Taye Diggs spoke candidly about insults he incurred as a child for the color of his skin, particularly being passed over for light-skinned boys by young women in high school. But he did say that seeing more darker-skinned men on television helped to raise his self-esteem. “I’m still trying to figure out how this came to be. For me, when I saw Tyson Beckford hailed as this beautiful man by all people, that caused a shift in my being. And I remember literally waking up and walking the streets feeling a little bit more proud,” he told My Brown Baby.

However, I don’t think that women care more about it when colorism strikes out at women or that women tend to be more protective of our image, thus more vocal about any attempts to misrepresent it. I know there were a few eyebrows raised, including my own, at the casting of light-skinned, gray-eyed Terrence Howard as Nelson Mandela in the soon-to-be-released Winnie. Therefore, it wouldn’t be fair to say that we as a community have been totally obtuse to the whitewashing of black men in the media. And it doesn’t mean that we critique these images less, if anything, we critique them more.

And just to be clear: this is more than a light-skinned/dark-skinned thing.  It is an issue about continuity.  Actors, who play real life historical figures, should probably resemble the person they are trying to recreate on screen, including black people. Unlike popular opinion, black folks are not interchangeable. That’s just like remaking Lassie, the old film and television show about a smart white boy saving Collie dog, and casting a pit bull named Cocaine in his place. Even if the show is remotely entertaining, we all know that this dog ain’t Lassie.

And Kravitz is definitely that pitbull. When I think of Marvin Gaye, I think of “I Want You”; “Distant Lover”; his many duets with Tammi Terrell, his Trouble Man soundtrack; his panty-tossing/drawers-dropping rendition of the national anthem at the 1983 NBA All Star Game and his chocolate-complexion on the cover of the What’s Going On album. I just don’t see Kravitz being that. Now Neo-soul singer Bilal or Jesse L. Martin, who was once rumored to play Gaye in another biopic?  I can see that.

WENN

Keri Hilson

Miss Keri baby is back! The pretty singer/songwriter attended the premiere for the Lifetime movie, Steel Magnolias, in NYC this week looking like a fancy ornament. Hilson arrived on the red carpet rocking a long-sleeved minidress covered in white, maroon, silver and dark blue sequins. To accessorize, she wore gold pumps, a satin blue clutch and a turquoise and gold necklace. Have to show love to the great haircut and bold red lip. But while she looks good, I’m not really a fan of the prints on this dress, and I feel like she could have done more with this look. I don’t know, if you’re going to go for the straightforward bodycon dress look, that dress has to have some pop! This doesn’t though…Regretfully, I say stop.

WENN

Anybody else excited about the Steel Magnolias remake? Initially, I wasn’t, being that I’m not a fan of remakes, especially ones of really, really good movies. But I’m always down to support the sistahs! Especially Queen La. Latifah, who is a producer for the Lifetime remake, has released promotional pictures of all the ladies dolled up. The movie is set to debut on the Lifetime Network on October 7, and stars not only Queen Latifah (as M’Lynn), but Alfre Woodard (as Ouiser), Phylicia Rashad (as Clairee), Jill Scott (as Truvy), Condola Rashad, Phylicia’s daughter (as Shelby) and Adepero Oduye, of Pariah fame (as Annelle). Check them out:

That hair on Queen = FRESH. She looks like she stepped straight out of a CoverGirl ad.

As pretty as that blue dress is on Alfre, she looks stunning in this gold gown.

Work Adepero! And the hair is looking wonderful as well. Can a sistah get some product recommendations please?

Both Phylicia and Condola look beautiful. And Condola is her father’s twin (Ahmad Rashad)!

Heeeeeey Jilly, girl! Looking good!

So are you excited about the remake? Will you be tuning in?

*Photos courtesy of Gossipwelove.com and Mylifetime.com.

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Source: Broadway Stars

Back in October we found out that Lifetime was planning a remake of the classic movie “Steel Magnolias” but with an all-black cast and most of you were less than enthused. But now that we know who will actually be staring in this new project let’s see if that makes a difference.

According to Deadline.com, Queen Latifah will take the lead role in the new casting, and she’s surrounded by some pretty high-quality star power. In addition to the Queen’s role as M’Lynn Eatonton, originally played by Sally Field in the 1989 original, the remaining cast is as follows: Ouiser (Alfre Woodard), Clairee (Phylicia Rashad), Truvy (Jill Scott), Annelle (Adepero Oduye) and Shelby (Condola Rashad).

The Sony Pictures production will follow the six Louisiana women’s lives through their ups and downs as they gather at Truvy’s beauty shop to contemplate the mysteries of life, death, husbands, children, and all the other things women congregate together to talk about. And even if audiences aren’t so thrilled about the remake, Lifetime certainly is. President and general manager Nancy Dubuc had this to say:

“The caliber of talent associated with this film is astounding and falls in line with our strategy to make Lifetime a first stop for the industry’s best both in front of and behind the camera.

“Queen Latifah, Phylicia, Alfre, Jill, Adepero and Condola are some of the most celebrated women in music, film, television and stage — and we could not be more thrilled and honored for them to bring Robert Harling’s poignant story about the strength of women to a whole new generation.”

So, what do you think? Can this cast pull it off or were there other actresses you hoped to see in the remake?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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If you made the very intelligent decision to go see the film Pariah this past year (or in this early new year), then I’m sure you’ve seen Adepero Oduye’s face before. She actually plays the main character, Alike, who struggles with her identity as a lesbian. While her character in the film prefers fitted caps and baggy jeans, in real life, Adepero clearly likes to show out on the red carpet (make that a purple, and a blue and white carpet…). Check out her looks from this past weekend.

On Saturday, Oduye hit up the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. in this eclectic pantsuit in a gorgeous African print. The jacket had a very unique cut since it skipped buttons for a flowing, open bottom, and the pants seemed to be of the skinny leg, cigarette pant persuasion. She topped the vibrant blue, gold and white printed ensemble off with a loose yellow top and bronze colored, strappy, open-toe heels. Her natural hair was braided at the crown, and she kept both her makeup and jewelry to a minimum.

By now you’ve probably heard some of the hype behind the independent short turned feature film “Pariah.”(You might have even heard about it here.) Well, I, along with another Madame Noire editor, had a chance to see an advanced screening of this movie back in September. Even though we saw the film months ago, it’s a story that sticks with you. Shortly after the screening we had the opportunity to tape into one of the masterminds behind the film, director Dee Rees.

After seeing a group of what Rees describes as “out and proud” teenagers in Brooklyn, she started thinking about her own story and how she lacked  confidence and self awareness when she first came out as a lesbian. This thought eventually turned into the subject for Rees’ senior thesis for NYU’s film school.

“Pariah” is a coming of age story for a black, lesbian teenager growing up in Brooklyn, New York. The lead character Alike, played by actress Adepero Oduye, deals with expressing her sexual identity, fighting to maintain a relationship with her mother Audrey, played by Kim Wayans, and finding herself as a woman.

Rees who has stated that the movie is largely autobiographical spoke with Madame Noire about what inspired the film, her own story and what she wants audiences to learn.

Adepero Oduye, star of the Sundance film, "Pariah"

It may be winter on the East Coast, but many were making waves at the Sundance film festival, including Adepero Oduye, breakout star of the black lesbian movie, “Pariah.” Get more about “Pariah,” as well as the rest of today’s news, after the jump…

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