Variety is reporting streaming giant Netflix has acquired an African animated series entitled, “Mama K’s Team 4,” a first for the streaming service. The show is produced by South Africa’s award-winning Triggerfish Animation Studios and British kids’ and family entertainment production company CAKE. Christopher Vourlias reports:
“The series follows four teenage girls living in a futuristic version of Lusaka, Zambia, who are recruited by a retired secret agent to save the world. It was created by Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, who in 2015 was one of eight winners of the Triggerfish Story Lab, a pan-African talent search backed by the Cape Town-based animation studio and The Walt Disney Co. The series is designed by the Cameroonian artist Malcolm Wope.
In the past decade, Triggerfish has become a powerhouse in South Africa’s burgeoning animation industry. Its first two animated features, “Adventures in Zambezia” (2012) and “Khumba” (2013), are two of the five top-grossing South African movies of all time.”
In December 2018, Netflix announced it would begin aggressively acquiring original content from African countries. One of the shows Netflix acquired in December 2018 is Queen Sono, a classic spy drama featuring Quantico, a woman spy, who juggles dangerous missions and personal drama. Played by South African actress Pearl Thusi, the show will see Quantico travel across the African continent on missions with a home base in South Africa.
To read the article about Mama K’s Team 4 in entirety, visit Variety.
On Thursday, April 11, 2019, ten producing teams will take to the stage at the third annual PitchBLACK interactive pitching session, a spirited battle of content creators vying for up to $150,000 in funding. The event is part of Black Public Media’s 13-week 360 Incubator+ for broadcast programs, web series and virtual reality projects, a program designed to identify and pipeline quality black content. The PitchBLACK forum, hosted by veteran producer Sandra Rattley, will be held Thursday in NYC. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday, April 12.
Based in Harlem, Black Public Media (BPM) is the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated solely to media content about the black experience. Its 360 Incubator+ hones the skills of experienced producers and filmmakers — and their projects. Since mid-January, the participants, or 360 Fellows, have been working intensively under the guidance of mentors in preparation for PitchBLACK, a high-stakes pitching session in front of industry professionals.
The six projects competing for a license agreement for public media distribution and funding ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 include the broadcast projects The 3,000 Project by Keith McQuirter and LaNora Williams-Clark (mentor Chris Hastings), Changing State by Leola Calzolai-Stewart and Kiley Kraskouskas (mentor Sonia Gonzalez-Martinez); The House I Never Knew by Randall Dottin (mentor Byron Hurt); Commuted by Nailah Jefferson (mentor Yoruba Richen); Listen to My Heartbeat by Nyjia July (mentor Sabrina Schmidt Gordon) and A Love Supreme: Black, Queer and Christian in the South by Katina Parker (mentor Michèle Stephenson). The two digital projects participating are A Good Man, a web short by Michael Fequiere (mentor Joe Brewster) and Heroes of Color, a web series by David Heredia (mentor Kimson Albert).
Two virtual reality projects vying for engagement campaign funding of up to $100,000 are Greenwood Avenue by Ayana Baraka (mentor Rachel Falcone) and Points of View by Alton Glass and Donovan DeBoer (mentor Michael Premo).
On Friday April 12, a benefit supporting the work of Black Public Media will begin at 7 p.m. Filmmakers Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster will receive the inaugural Trailblazer Award. The winner of the first Nonso Christian Ugbode Digital Media Fund award, will also be announced. The award is named after Ugbode, a renowned digital storyteller and BPM’s late director of digital initiative. Representatives from American Documentary Inc. / POV, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Ford Foundation, Foundation for a Just Society, MacArthur Foundation, Sundance Institute, Surdna Foundation, Third World Newsreel, Tribeca Film Institute and Women Make Movies will also be in attendance.
BPM Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz and BPM Founding Executive Director Mable Haddock will also be on hand for this exciting experience.
The world is mourning the loss of rapper and philanthropist Nipsey Hussle who was killed over the weekend in front of his Marathon clothing store in Los Angeles, CA. Born Ermias Asghedom, Hussle was an entrepreneurial rapper who bought a strip mall in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, creating businesses and jobs for people in the community. Forbes recently chronicled his philanthropy and business interests.
NPR Music critic Rodney Carmichael writes:
“Nipsey Hussle was widely respected in the hip-hop world, not just for his musical contributions but for the hustle ethic personified in his chosen stage name. He overcame the obstacles of an unforgiving environment, made famous by generations of West Coast rap legends, to become one of the most beloved and inspirational figures within the culture.”
Hussle rose to fame with a number of mixtapes and creative marketing techniques. For example, in 2013, he independently made 1000 copies of his CD Crenshaw, selling them each for $100. Rap legend Jay-Z purchased 100 copies of his CD raising Hussle’s profile outside of the independent rap industry. Hussle said he wanted to use a “scarcity model” to combat the idea of giving away music for free.
(Photo: GQ)
Hussle released his first project, Slauson Boy Vol. 1, in 2005. In 2008, he released the mixtape Bullets Ain’t Got No Name Vol. 1. The Compton raised rapper’s last album, Victory Lap, was released in 2018 after years of anticipation and earned the philanthropist a 2018 Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
A father of two, Hussle was in a longterm relationship with actress Lauren London, having recently been featured on the cover of GQ magazine. Hussle and London share a son Kross, who was born in 2016. The doting father brought his daughter Emani (born from a previous relationship) and London to the 2018 Grammy Awards. Hussle, who is of African-American and Eritrean descent, outfitted a local elementary school with sneakers for students and giving much needed renovations to the building. Hussle grew up with his mother, never meeting his father who was Eritrean. Hussle recently visited Eritrea learning about his East African heritage.
Photo: Twitter
A former gang member who turned his life around, Hussle was scheduled to meet with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Police Chief Michael R. Moore to discuss how to end gang violence in Los Angeles the day following his death. Los Angeles police have issued an APB for Eric Holder, who is suspected of killing Hussle and injuring two others.
(Twitter)
Hussle was 33. Rest in power.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual. Follow The Burton Wire on Instagram or Twitter @TheBurtonWire.
RAVEN'S HOME - Disney Channel's "Raven's Home" Executive Producer, Eunetta Boone. (Disney Channel/Craig Sjodin)
RAVEN’S HOME – Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home” Executive Producer, Eunetta Boone. (Disney Channel/Craig Sjodin)
The entertainment industry is reeling over the sudden death of Veteran comedy writer and producer Eunetta T. Boone. Boone is Executive Producer and Showrunner of Season 3 of the Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home, co-starring Raven-Symoné. According to Boone’s obituary, she died of a heart attack and was found in her Los Angeles home March 20. In the wake of Boone’s death, Raven-Symoné and the Disney Channel released statements.
Raven-Symoné’s statement:
“My heart is heavy following the loss of ‘Raven’s Home’ executive producer EunettaBoone. Eunetta was a pioneer and an inspiration to everyone she met. She was a masterful storyteller, an empathetic leader and a beacon of light to so many. I’m sending love and my deepest sympathies to Eunetta‘s family and friends and all who knew and loved her. She will be missed. Thank you for everything Eunetta.”
The Disney Channel’s statement about Boone’s death:
“EunettaBoone was a wonderful person and a consummate storyteller and teacher, and through her leadership on many productions including ‘Raven’s Home,’ she did so well what she enjoyed most — mentoring creative talent. Eunetta will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by everyone who knew her. All of us at Disney Channel grieve her passing and send our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.”
Boone wrote and produced for a myriad of television sitcoms including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Living Single and The Parent ‘Hood. Boone served as executive producer of My Wife & Kids and The Hughleys simultaneously. She also created and served as showrunner of the show One on One starring Flex Alexander and Kyla Pratt. In addition to her work in the field, Boone also worked as a screenwriting instructor in UCLA’s Extension Program. She holds journalism degrees from the University of Maryland (B.A.) and Columbia University (M.S.).
Please find Eunetta T. Boone’s Obituary below:
Eunetta Boone, showrunner of “Raven’s Home,” has passed away at the age of 63 from an apparent heart attack. Boone, who inspired many diverse writers throughout her career, had taken the reins on the third season of the popular Disney Channel series last year. She was found deceased in her Los Angeles home on Wednesday morning (March 20).
Boone’s reputation as a consummate storyteller was well-earned through her roles as creator and executive producer of the comedy series “One on One” and “Cuts” as well as having been co-executive producer of “My Wife and Kids” and “The Hughleys.” She also wrote on the staffs of “The Parent ‘Hood,” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”
After “One on One,” Boone taught screenwriting at UCLA Extension for six years. Last year she decided to return to producing and threw her hat in the ring to join the staff of “Raven’s Home.” She was brought on as a consultant toward the end of season two which led to her being asked to run the series in season three which is in production.
Boone began her career as a sports reporter for the Baltimore Sun, the first African American woman to cover sports in Baltimore. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a Journalism degree and received her Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University.
She is survived by her mother, Eunice Taylor; sister, Regina Ward; nieces, Breawna Taylor, MaKenna Ward and a host of friends and family.
Rest in power.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual. Follow The Burton Wire on Twitter @TheBurtonWire.
Photo: Mucad Ibrahim, 3, is the youngest victim in the NZ Mosque Massacres. (Photo: Google Images)
Photo: Mucad Ibrahim, 3, is the youngest victim in the NZ Mosque Massacres. (Photo: Google Images)
Mucad Ibrahim, 3, is the youngest victim of the Mosque attacks that took place in New Zealand in March. According to Carol Kuruvilla of Huffington Post, Ibrahim was separated from his family during the attack at Christchurch’s Mosque al Noor. Mucad was one of 50 worshippers at the Noor and Linwood mosques killed in the massacre.
According to the article:
“Mucad loved to play on iPads, kick around a soccer ball and chat with older people, his family and friends told The Associated Press. He was intelligent and full of energy, his brother Abdi Ibrahim said, and always seemed to be laughing. Mucad was born in New Zealand to a Somali family that immigrated to the country 20 years ago, seeking to escape violence in their homeland. The family regularly attended traditional Friday prayers at Al Noor Mosque. Afterward, Abdi Ibrahim and his friends would go to nearby Hagley Park to play soccer. Mucad often tagged along to cheer for his brother and kick a soccer ball around on the sidelines.”
Mucad was separated from his father and brother during the melee. Rest in power little one.
Reuters is reporting Brazil has waived visa requirements for visitors from the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia. In an effort to boost tourism, the Brazilian government waived the requirement, which previously occurred during the 2016 Olympics hosted by Brazil. The move coincides with President Jair Bolsonaro’s visit to the United States this week. The United States does not plan to reciprocate the visa waiver.
News of an Ethiopian Airlines crash has the Internet reeling. Multiple media outlets are reporting Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed en route to Nairobi, Kenya. The control tower lost contact with the flight six minutes after take off, landing went near Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa. According to CNN, of the 157 victims, 32 different nationalities were represented including 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadian, nine Ethiopians, eight Americans, eight Italians, seven UK nationals and eight Chinese passengers.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed offered condolences to the victims and their families. He was the first to break the news of the crash via Twitter.
The new plane was being piloted by a veteran pilot who had contacted the control tower to ask to return back to Addis Abba due to technical difficulties and was cleared to do so. Flight 302 was a Boeing 737 Max 8, the same type of plane involved in the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed soon after takeoff from Jakarta in 2018, killing 189 people.
Black Panther set designer and costume designer Hannah Beachler (L) and Ruth E. Carter.
(Photo: Google Images)
Black Panther set designer and costume designer Hannah Beachler (L) and Ruth E. Carter. (Photo: Google Images)
Tonight is the night. The 91st Annual Academy Awards ceremony is taking place and being broadcast live on ABC. This year’s broadcast will be a little different. There will be no Oscar host and two categories that actually make motion pictures distinctive from other arts — cinematography and editing — won’t be shown live. Not to worry, you can watch the disrespected categories via live stream on ABC.com.
As you know, there are some outstanding folks to watch in spite of the oversight. We’ll be looking to see if seminal filmmaker Spike Lee will finally take home an Oscar in a competitive category. Spike Lee’s longtime costume designer Ruth E. Carter is nominated in the Best Costume Design category for her amazing work on Marvel’s and Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. Hannah Beachler could also make #BlackGirlMagic if she wins the best set design award, also for Black Panther. Black Panther isn’t the only superhero film nominated. Peter Ramsey may be the first black person to win the Best Animated Feature for Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse. If that doesn’t float your boat, then RaMell Ross could very well win best documentary feature for Hale County: This Morning, This Evening.
In the interest of keeping it short and cute, The Burton Wire has pulled together a crib sheet for you on categories to watch tonight. While we’re impressed by most of the nominations, especially Roma, and unimpressed with others — see The Favourite.Like Issa Rae, we’re rooting for everybody black including Roma‘s Yalitza Aparicia and of course the incomparable Alfonso Cuarón. Barry Jenkins is always a winner to us and we recognize the soundtrack as one of the stars of his character driven films. Sorry to Bother You bothered us by not being nominated, but Hollywood isn’t quite ready to acknowledge that type of film coming from a black person yet.
Check off the list as we go through the categories and find out if we’ll have an #OscarsSoBlack moment in 2019.
“The Place Where Lost Things Go” – Mary Poppins Returns
“When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” – The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*** (Peter Ramsey)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
BlacKkKlansman***
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star Is Born
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
First Reformed
Green Book***
Roma
The Favourite
Vice
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody***
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
DIRECTOR
Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma***
Adam McKay, Vice
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Black Panther *** (Hannah Beachler)
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Cold War
The Favourite
Never Look Away
Roma*** Alfonso Cuaron
A Star Is Born
COSTUME DESIGN
Mary Queen of Scots
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Mary Poppins Returns
Black Panther*** (Ruth E. Carter)
SOUND EDITING
A Quiet Place
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody***
First Man
Roma
SOUND MIXING
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody***
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Animal Behaviour
Bao
Late Afternoon
One Small Step
Weekends
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Detainment
Fauve
Marguerite
Mother
Skin
ORIGINAL SCORE
Black Panther***
BlacKkKlansman
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Mary Poppins Returns
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
First Man***
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
FILM EDITING
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody***
Green Book
The Favourite
Vice
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Border
Mary Queen of Scots
Vice***
Check back later as we will be updating the winners as the ceremony unfolds. *** indicates category winner.
This post was written by Nsenga K Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. An expert in intersectionality and media industries, Dr. Burton is also a professor of film and television. Follow her on Twitter @ Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire.
In 1963, 250,000 students boycotted the Chicago Public Schools to protest racial segregation. ’63 Boycott connects the forgotten story of one of the largest Northern civil rights demonstrations to contemporary issues around race, education, and youth activism. The same number of people who showed up for the March on Washington just two months earlier, showed up for the 1963 boycott. Directed by MacArthur award winner Gordon Quinn and distributed by Kartequim films, ’63 Boycott’ explores the lost story of a community that fought back against racial segregation and discrimination.
Join GPB (PBS) for an online screening and filmmaker discussion Tuesday, February 26 at 8 p.m. on GPB.org. To RSVP for the online screening, click here.
Follow The Burton Wire on Twitter or Instagram @TheBurtonWire.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 08: Actor Robin Givens attends the 'Wonder Women: Acting For Television' press junket during SCAD aTVfest 2019 at Four Seasons Hotel on February 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for SCAD aTVfest 2019 )
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 08: Actor Robin Givens attends the ‘Wonder Women: Acting For Television’ press junket during SCAD aTVfest 2019 at Four Seasons Hotel on February 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for SCAD aTVfest 2019 )
Enduring actress Robin Givens has been in the acting game for three decades and shows no signs of slowing down. While promoting her latest project, “Ambitions” at the 2019 SCAD aTVfest televison festival held in Atlanta (Feb. 7-9), “The Fix” actress discussed staying power, strong women and BET’s television series “Boomerang.”
Produced by Will Packer Media in association with Lionsgate and Lionsgate-owned distributor Debmar-Mercury, and starring Givens (“Riverdale,” “The Fix,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”), “Ambitions” is a multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having recently relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city of Atlanta. The soapy drama also co-stars Essence Atkins, Brian White and Kendrick Cross.
Givens stars as ‘Stephanie Carlisle,’ the powerful wife of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (Brian White), whose true loyalty is to her family’s prestigious law firm, where she is the latest in a long line of distinguished lawyers. In a word, she’s a sparkplug looking to take over her father’s law firm and the city of Atlanta in the process.
Givens has played a variety of characters, many of whom have been strong women like Lancaster. She recently starred as Mayor Sierra McCoy on CBS’ “Riverdale” and will star in the Marcia Clark executive produced ABC show, “The Fix.” Although Givens took some time off to be a mother to her two sons, she has managed to stay relevant and employed in a sometimes fickle industry. She believes her training as an actress is what gives her staying power.
“I’m kind of old school. I really believe in studying. In this time where we have these phones and things move so fast with social media, I still believe in the craft and being good at what you do,” says the Gully actress. “The people who really love acting typically agree the key to longevity is respecting the craft.”
Givens has done just that studying and preparing for roles and surrounding herself with legendary talents like Cicely Tyson. “Cicely Tyson is like my mom in the business and kind of took me under her wing,” says Givens. “We spend hours up at night talking about acting,” says the “Ambitions” actress. “One of the things we talk about is respecting the craft,” says Givens who has appeared in over 100 television and film projects.
Givens is excited about the role of Stephanie Lancaster because she is a strong woman, who she plays with humor.
Givens is no stranger to playing strong women with her iconic performance as Jacqueline Broyer in the classic film Boomerang (1992). Givens starred as a powerful, man-eating, advertising executive who takes no prisoners along her professional journey. When asked about BET‘s “Boomerang,” a television series executive produced by Halle Berry and Lena Waithe, which centers around the children of the film’s main characters, Givens says she didn’t know anything about the show. “I really don’t know anything about it. Everybody asks me about it, but I know nothing about it.” She then elaborates a bit. “I saw Eddie [Murphy} in passing and he said, “Robin Simone, who knew we were going to do a classic?’ That’s the only thought I have because I really don’t know anything about it,” she says matter-of-factly.
The character of Stephanie Lancaster is one of a long line of strong women characters Givens has played and will play. In addition to “The Fix,” she also stars as Irma in the indie film Gully, starring Amber Heard, John Corbett, Charlie Plummer and Terrence Howard. Givens, who still auditions for roles, is ready at all times for whatever opportunity awaits her. It’s part of her training, which she advises younger actors interested in longevity in the business to consider. “When you get a chance to walk in the room, know what you’re doing and respect the craft.”
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire.
