Release Date: 1/5/16 (DVD); 2014 Genre: Drama Rating: NR Running Time: 91 mins. Studio: Maverick Entertainment Group; History In The Making Entertainment Director: Ramasses Head Cast:Sierra Mora, Angelica Marie, Foota Turner, Karen Cox Story: Phoenix, a young girl from humble beginnings is destined to be just another pretty face until she becomes a fashion model. She soon realizes that the industry is full of users and abusers, so she starts a modeling agency with her best friend Angel. Phoenix struggles to maintain her rise to fame as her relationships with friends and family are tested. Source: Maverick Entertainment.
Story: A young African American man, reeling from the tragic loss of his wife, travels to rural Maine to seek answers from his estranged mother-in-law, who is herself confronting guilt and grief over her daughter’s death. Source: IMDB. Photo Source: Thompson on Hollywood.
Release Date:1/4/16 (VH1) Genre: Drama Rating:NR Running Time: Unknown Studio(s): VH1, Atlantic Pictures Director: Seith Mann
Cast: Wood Harris (Barry Fouray), Tristan Wilds (DeeVee), Evan Handler (George ‘Juggy’ Aaron), Method Man (Darryl Van Patten, Sr.), David Call (David), Russell Hornsby (Sampson), Afton Williamson (Nikki), Antoine Harris (Ahm).
Story:The Breaks, will chronicle the journey of Nikki, David, and Deevee, three friends united by their love of hip-hop, as they work to make their big mark in the music industry. The film will travel viewers back to the Summer of 1990 in New York City where the music industry’s artists and hustlers intersect in the dance clubs and the street corners of the still crime-ridden city.
Nikki Jones is a brilliant recent grad who abandoned a scholarship to law school to pursue her dream of becoming a record exec. Her boyfriend, David Aaron, is the scrappy son of a legendary music producer who is unwilling to rest on his father’s laurels and notorious reputation. DeeVee is an aspiring producer on the hunt to find the next big rapper on the come-up.
Nikki fast talks her way into an internship at the premier hip-hop company, Fouray Entertainment, and catches the eye of the label’s infamous founder, while David struggles at the city’s top R&B radio station whose celebrity DJ refuses to program real hip-hop. Meanwhile, DeeVee returns to his roots in the Fort Greene projects to scout for talent and runs into Ahm, a drug dealer with a lyrical gift whose talent could bring them all to the next level. However, they will soon discover lives can be broken as fast as legends can be born. The Breaks has the potential to become a series after its movie premiere. Source: VH1.
Release Date: 1/9/16 (TV One); 2014 Genre: Drama Rating: NR Running Time: 88 mins. Studio(s):LOT10 Productions, Studio 11 Films Director(s): LisaRaye McCoy, Avery O. Williams Cast: LisaRaye McCoy (Mother), Brad James (Michael), Jasmine Burke (Jolie), Cycerli Ash (Dr. Smith), Nicky Buggs (Nikki), Tasia Grant (Melissa), Kerri J. Baldwin (Aunt Mabel), Van Vicker (Bobby).
Story:Jolie is dark, beautiful, and appears confident at times, but her self-esteem is extremely low. This stems from the fact that she’s the object of childhood and adult cruelty concerning the darkness of her skin. Worse of all, her sisters are lighter in complexion and always considered the prettier ones. When Jolie gets to college she falls head over heels in love with Bobby, a light skinned swim star.
Bobby is the most popular guy on campus. Isabelle, a beautiful French Creole cheerleader, who would do anything to seduce Bobby, convinces Jolie that Bobby is only fond of light skinned girls. Out of frustration, Jolie is encouraged by a friend to begin bleaching her skin. After a little research, Jolie embarks on a mission to beautify herself and earn the attention of Bobby and the lighter girls on campus.
Fast forward 10 years later, Jolie is now married to Michael, an African business tycoon with a flair for light skinned women. When he questions her about the appearance of her skin at times, she lies and says that she has vitiligo. After 4 years of marriage, Jolie has not gotten pregnant. In an attempt to find out why, disturbing news turns affects their marriage and Michael begins spending lots of time outside of the home. Thinking that he’s having an affair, Jolie enters into a deep depression.
Things begin to unravel when Jolie’s depression gets worse and Michael suggests that she see a psychiatrist. Dr. Smith is a beautiful, confident, dark skinned sister. Through counseling, a friendship develops between Jolie and Dr. Smith as Dr. Smith assists Jolie in realizing her issues and insecurities with skin color. Dr. Smith takes Jolie to a dark time in her life where she discovers how and why she has ended up in a place of darkness and sadness. Source: skinnedthemovie, official site.
Cast: Malinda Williams (Marci), Victoria Rowell (Stephanie), Karon Riley (Blair), Clifton Powell (Gavin), Gregory Alan Williams (Donald), Kristoff St. John (Lawrence), Jasmine Burke (Wilhelmina), Chrystale Wilson (Elizabeth), Deetta West (Myra).
Story: Third installment of UP’s popular Chandler family Christmas movies. This Christmas, the Chandler family, much to Stephanie’s (Victoria Rowell) dismay, seem to be distracted from the usual family holiday traditions. Marci (Malinda Williams) and Blair (Karon Riley), who tied the knot in last year’s Marry US For Christmas, are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child due on Christmas day. The couple is doing everything in their power to ensure that they have the perfect baby girl – from meditation to changing their eating habits. Work-wise, Marci is trying to juggle impending motherhood with meeting the demands of her top client, Friendly Family Floral. Blair is back to running his own firm. Money is tight but he and Marci are happy and eagerly awaiting the arrival of their little bundle of joy. Meanwhile, Marci’s Aunt Myra (DeEtta West) and Uncle Donald (Greg Alan Williams), who recently retired, are feeling useless. Eventually they find a meaningful way to occupy their time at the urging of Donald’s cousin, Gavin Brooks (Clifton Powell). Aunt Elizabeth (Chrystale Wilson) is obsessed with getting a promotion at work. Add to the mix, Stephanie’s blooming romance with Lawrence (Kristoff St. John) – who is torn between being with her or continuing his mission work. It appears the Chandler’s have abandoned their Christmas traditions and lost the spirit of Christmas. That is, until a group of kids at an orphanage helps the family to realize there is more to Christmas than wrapping gifts and baking cookies. Source(s): UPtv; IMDB.
Release Date: 1/5/16 (DVD); 2014
Black Cinema Connection 