Source: screencrush.com

Hollywood cannot deny the box office success that was Think Like a Man, which is why they’re trying to create it with a sequel, The LA Times confirms.

Before the film even hit theaters, Will Packer was saying a sequel was already approved, but Screen Gems has just put out the official word on part deux, saying they have rehired Keith Merryman and David A. Newman to write the script.

Think Like a Man brought in $91 million in the United States alone after its opening in April, making it one of the year’s most profitable comedies thus far and also answering critic’s widely asked question of whether a film with a nearly all-black cast could perform well at the box office.

Beyond naming the screenplay writers, Screen Gems hasn’t let on about whether all of the actors from the first film will appear in the second. At the very least, I think most people are hoping Kevin Hart will reprise his role and considering he’s already on board for another flick from the studio, we’re pretty sure they recognize how he made the movie.

Nevertheless, for the success Think Like a Man had at the ticket counter, some women were less than enthused about part one, so given this news, will you see the sequel?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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When we see some people play a character in movies or television shows we think, “They’re really good at what they do.” But then there are others who might also be good at what they do because they tend to always play similar roles or they have similar character traits that make us say, “I wonder if this is how they are in real life.”

Check out these actors who seem to put a dose of their true selves into their work…

Read the rest of this entry »

Source: MN

I made many mistakes during my dating years: pining after emotionally unavailable men, hanging around men I didn’t like just because they liked me, ruling out potential dates for superficial reasons, the list goes on.

But now, several months on the other side of married life, I believe there is one great decision I made while dating – deciding not to live with my husband before we got married.

Though at times it seemed financially impractical, living together was never a consideration for us. We agreed that we wanted to date while we were dating and be married when we got married.

This put us in a different mindset from many cohabitating couples we know who have been dating for years. Of course, there is no universal timetable for relationships because every couple moves at its own pace. In addition, some couples don’t want to ever get married. Just as men aren’t interested in buying a cow when they’re getting the milk for free, women have decided they don’t want to marry a pig when all they want is the sausage. However, I’ve observed women who want to marry their boyfriends yesterday, but have settled for playing house while waiting not-so-patiently for him to pop the question.

As a result, I advise any woman who is interested in getting married in a timely fashion to think twice before cohabitating.

I’m not saying there aren’t people who move in together, get engaged soon after, get married and live happily ever after, but it seems a mutually good experience is not the common outcome for cohabitating couples.

There are countless examples of cohabitation gone bad, yet every woman seems to think she will be different only to end up nodding her head just the same in recognition of Gabrielle Union’s character in the popular movie, Think Like A Man. Homegirl was living with her boyfriend for nine years without any semblance of commitment. That would have been funny, if not so sadly common.

The New York Times recently reported: chances are pretty good that a woman desiring to get married will find moving in together just postpones marriage indefinitely, results in a less satisfied marriage and/or increases the likelihood of divorce. The Times found that cohabitating couples are more likely to have kids than get married.

So, why do people continue to support this failed relationship model?

The most ridiculous of arguments is that people are using “cohabitation as a way to ‘test drive’ a marriage.” For one, a marriage is not a car. And even if it were a car, the “test drive” would be dating not cohabitating. No car company would allow you to take their car home, drive it all over town for years, eating and spilling in it, getting into fender benders, and generally treating the car like it is yours to keep.  That is what kind of “test drive” you’re engaging in when you compare it to cohabitating.

Further, there is no way to test a marriage without actually being married.

Sure, it’s important to get to know the person you want to marry, but you can know enough about someone you’re dating without living with him. For instance, if he insists on moving in with you right away, you know he lacks patience. (Just kidding…sort of.) Thinking of my own marriage, there are things that make my husband and I different that we didn’t know until we got married, but those things aren’t dealbreakers and would not have been worth finding out beforehand.

The progression in our relationship and the clear distinction of our married life from our dating life is much more exciting and valuable than knowing beforehand if we fold towels the same.

Besides, when does a “test drive” morph into a “committed drive”? If you’re still claiming to be test-driving your marriage years after moving in together then you’re kidding yourself. Someone in that relationship is being led like a clueless horse with a carrot dangling in front of it, biding their time until they realize it’s being wasted.

If you want to be married, then you deserve to be with someone who wants to marry you. Why settle for someone who wants to drag you through a grueling, multi-year audition only to possibly decide that you’re not right for the part? You deserve someone who isn’t wanting to play pretend by living together because he would much rather have you for real in a marriage.

Alissa is a writer living in Columbus, OH. Follow her on Twitter @AlissaInPink or check out her blog: This Cannot Be My Life

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Source: Allblackwoman.com

I don’t know what kind of star treatment Jay-Z and Kanye West are accustomed to when they travel abroad to Paris but for regular negroes living in the capital city’s country, let’s just say the sentiment toward their presence in society doesn’t appear to be a welcoming, “we’re glad you’re here.” That’s evident by the latest racial fiasco plaguing the nation: a ban of Steve Harvey’s film adaption of “Think Like a Man” which will not be shown in theaters there. Fabienne Fessell of Global Voices says simply put, the look of the film is “too black.”

“Surprising as it may be, the answer lies in the fact that the film has an all-black cast. French cinema is often pointed at for not fairly displaying all components of the country’s multiethnic population. Although the recent success of the movie Les Intouchables, which earned French African actor Omar Sy the Cesar award for Best Actor in 2012, caused great pride and hope among French nationals from Africa and the Caribbean, it was not to be the turning point for a deep and lasting change.”

That’s painfully obvious. The issue with France is somewhat two-fold though. It was not even a full month ago that we were discussing the country’s objection to the Miss Black France pageant which was being held in Paris. Opposition suggested that singling out black beauty went against the country’s nationalist identity of being Frenchmen not hyphenated factions of afro-French or Caribbean French, and so forth. The message was that the singling out of black beauty was somewhat hypocritical because in the same breath that black people in the country were asking to be included more in society, they were turning around and excluding the rest of the population from their celebration. What was missing in that discussion was an understanding of why such pageants are needed and how white beauty is celebrated in an exclusionary fashion on a non-stop basis. It’s just that when something has been the status quo for so long and those images look like the ones you see in the mirror, it’s not so easy to pick out what’s wrong with the picture.

When it comes to “Think Like a Man,” that same attitude is evident. Martinican blog People Bo Kay reposted a note published on the Facebook page of Negro News, entitled “France does not want all-black couples in movies,” that says the film won’t see the light of day in French cinema because it’s romantic element not diverse enough.

“The French state has had a sociopolitical strategy which favors interracial relationships rather than valuing communities,” the note reads. “In the comedy ‘Think like a Man’, the focus is on black couples.”

I wonder does that same argument hold strong when it comes to all-white couples in romantic comedies. Who’s the person checking to make sure there are interracial couples celebrated on screen then? I didn’t think so.

The second piece to this ban is the overarching issue of black cinema as a whole. I can’t help but think about the recent uproar over the all-black remake of A Streetcar Named Desire and ask, what is it about all-black cinema that’s so threatening anyway? I feel like the idea is almost like, let’s not give them any ideas. If they see themselves on film they might start to think they matter, they have talent, they can rise above their current circumstances, they can be equal to white people. You wouldn’t know it was 2012 looking at these examples of exclusion, which is so bold that those responsible for and attempting to lessen the black influence don’t even feel compelled to mask their motives.

In the Negro News note, the authors go on to offer another explanation of the ban that’s less about black cinema as a whole and a more calculated. They suggest the ban is part of the country’s singling out of two men who have risen above their assumed place in society so to speak, given the fact that no Tyler Perry movie has been shown in the country either. The note says:

“Black actor and producer Tyler Perry’s movies are never scheduled in any French movie theaters or are only released in DVDs, even though he has been used to leading the US box-office, as with ‘Why did I get Married’ and ‘For Colored Girls’. The French society acts hypocritically, when it refuses to show movies from black producers who earn millions from conveying a positive message to the African diaspora through their films.”

I know we often get hung up on Tyler Perry’s simplistic, one-dimensional portrayal of African American life but his movies do have positive messages and his very own story of success is a testament to the multi-cultural audience black film producers, directors, and writers can bring to the theater. But those in power don’t want to see that. Much like the expectation that “Think like a Man” would only be half of the success it actually was in its opening weekend, and the New York Times laissez faire approach to a critique, female bloggers at Condemns say the powers that be in France simply can “not understand how a movie with a mainly black cast could actually lead the box-office!” Perhaps they should look to their American alley for the Blueprint on that $33.7 million opening weekend success.

Nationalist pride is a noble goal for the French people to aspire to but achieving that by forcing cultures to assimilate to the white standard is not the way to go. The measuring stick by which this film has been judged ought to be the same one used for films featuring other races or else onlookers have no choice to assume the motive here is to silence black representation not just celebrate the French national identity.

What do you think about this ban of “Think Like a Man?”

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

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Hot, gorgeous, swexy fine Michael Ealy stopped by Wendy Williams’ purple couch to discuss his dating preferences, what his mom wants to know about his movie roles and what really went down with he and Taraji once the cameras stopped rolling. Watch the video here.

Would you like to see Taraji and Michael together?

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Hey loves! The weekend is just about over and I’ve got a few more tidbits to share. There’s music news, wedding news, movie news, baby news and more!  Check it out…

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Thanks to the release of the romantic comedy “Think Like a Man,” inspired by Steve Harvey’s similarly titled self-help book, everyone seems to be talking about how women can benefit from taking on a masculine approach to life. The film and book address personal relationships, but can this concept be applied to the boardroom?

The number of working women has increased to 72 million (up from 44 million in 1984) and accounts for nearly half of America’s workforce according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Yet, the executive suite remains a man’s world. Women make up only 2.6% of Fortune 500 CEOs.

The gender gap in the corner office is often attributed to unwritten rules of the workplace that favor men. Today’s workplace is fueled by old principles based on masculine norms. Masculine attributes like self-confidence, assertiveness and dominance are more valued than those associated with women. Women find themselves in a catch-22: when they exhibit these “masculine” characteristics, they often fall victim to backlash for being bitchy or less socially skilled.

There’s a stigma carried by female leaders. Leadership requires a person to be decisive and in charge. When a woman takes on this role, they are deemed undesirable. A Work & Power Survey conducted by Elle and MSNBC.com found that the vast majority of respondents who expressed a gender preference for their leaders felt men were more likely to be effective leaders.

The workplace values the traits of men more, but doesn’t want a woman to embody them, lest she be deemed unfriendly. How can a woman win? Researchers at the University of London found that women who suppress their nature in favor of aggressive management styles were less likely to have a cooperative staff. Women fared better when they embraced feminine qualities of sensitivity and good communication. The secret to success is a balancing act, adjusting behavior for each situation with the right mix of male and female traits.

As work becomes more global and collaborative, many companies are turning away from old values in favor of a fresh, feminine approach. Women are more intuitive to bringing in all points of view and are stronger with networking and supporting each other. Rigid hierarchy and top-down management are being dismantled in favor of a more inclusive, collegial style that women are naturally adept.

The face of business is changing in step with how business is done. American women are receiving more college diplomas than men, and are more likely to pursue an advanced degree. Education is a key factor in determining who gets hired. It is inevitable that there will eventually be more women than men in the workplace. In the very near future men will be asking how they can think like a woman to get ahead.

Cortney Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City. You can follow her on Twitter @CleveInTheCity.

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Sam: What should you do if a man has all of the morals and qualities you look for but he doesnt get your sense of humor or understand some of the vocabulary you use? (I  hope I’m not sounding shallow :/)

DY: I guess the answer to that depends on how much you value the conversation/shared interest aspect of a relationship. For some people, that’s the most important thing. For others, it doesn’t matter that much. I wouldn’t call you shallow for being concerned that your man doesn’t have a $100 vocabulary, but I will ask you to ask yourself if a man not having that really makes that much of a difference in your life.

Source: Mediaoutrage.com

So a lot of women haven’t felt Steve Harvey’s “Think Like a Man” meme ever since his book came out a few years ago, and the corresponding movie that was just released has reignited a lot of the negative feelings women have toward the idea. You can add Malinda Williams to the list of ladies who do not approve because she recently went on a mini Twitter rant that basically said, get that ish out of here.

“God gave me the gift of being able 2think like a woman. I’m gonna hold on 2that treasure. – but I will support my fellow thesps & filmmakers,” she tweeted before adding.

“If God wanted us to think like men, he would have formed us from Adam’s brain instead of his sensitive rib. – stay in your lane.”

Tell us how you really feel! Malinda also retweeted a message from someone else that said, ““Folks better not let these movies/books take ya out of God’s grace & get put out of ya man’s place.”

I don’t know if it’s that serious, but these ladies obviously support traditional male/female roles in relationships. Judging from her comments, I take it Malinda did not contribute to the $33 million the film took in this weekend.

What do you think about her  thoughts on thinking like a man?

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

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From EurWeb.com

Riding high as a box office success, “Think Like A Man,” the film adaptation of Steve Harvey’s “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment” is not short on ingredients for something worth talking about.

While having an all-star cast (Kevin Hart, Megan Good, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall, Terrence J, Taraji P. Henson, Romany Malco, Gabrielle Union, Jerry Ferrara, Jennifer Lewis and Gary Owen) is comforting, it’s equally fulfilling to have a not so hidden asset make himself known in a memorable way. Such is the case with Producer Will Packer, who also did duty in front of the camera by trading lines with Hart for a particular bathroom scene.

“I really literally did not have an actor for that scene,” Packer confessed to EURweb’s Lee Bailey. “And Kev didn’t know who was gonna be in the scene with (him) until literally right before we shot it. He was like ‘Wait a minute. Hold on. Let me get this straight. You’re taking a job from a working actor?’ He gave me a hard time. He gave me s*** is what he gave me. But it was fun. It was me getting a chance to just have fun.”

Packer’s appearance in the film marks his latest on camera foray. The Rainforest Films co-founder previously appeared in the 2000 romantic thriller “Trois.”  While he enjoyed his screen time, don’t expect Packer to follow in the footsteps of Spike Lee with his onscreen face time equaling his time on the other side of the film camera.

“Spike does it on a big level. He’s a real character in his films,” said Packer of his onscreen face time. “I have on several of my films done a little sneak here and there. This one is probably the most … it’s the biggest cameo I’ve had since “Trois.”

For the complete story, visit EurWeb.com.