Sergio Mendes and will.i.am Set To Perform At Governors Ball On Oscar® Sunday, February 22

 

will.i.am

LOS ANGELES, CA – Grammy® Award-winning artists Sergio Mendes and will.i.am are set to take the stage at the Governors Ball, the Academy’s official post-Oscars® celebration, on Oscar Sunday, February 22.  They will perform for the Ball’s 1,500 guests, which will include Oscar winners and nominees, show presenters and performers, and other luminaries.

Mendes, a renowned producer, composer, keyboardist and vocalist, has been a force on the international music scene for more than five decades and continues to evolve creatively through new collaborations and media.  One of the most successful Brazilian artists of all time, Mendes became familiar to American audiences with the album “Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66,” which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012.  He has recorded more than 40 albums, won one Grammy and two Latin Grammy Awards, and earned a 2011 Oscar nomination for the original song “Real In Rio” from the animated feature film “Rio.”  He currently is composing and producing music for several film and album projects, and still tours worldwide.

 

Sergio Mendes

Los Angeles native will.i.am is a global music artist and tech entrepreneur who has earned seven Grammys, an Emmy®, two CLIOs, two NAACP Image Awards and several other honors for his creative and philanthropic work.  He came to prominence as the front man for The Black Eyed Peas, whose multi-platinum albums include “The E.N.D.” and “Monkey Business.”  His most recent album, “#willpower,” includes several guest artist collaborations in a fusion of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic/dance music.  In addition to writing or performing songs for such animated features as “Rio 2,” “Rio” and “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” will.i.am voiced characters in all three films and played supporting roles in “Date Night” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

The Governors Ball performance will feature songs from Mendes’s Latin Grammy-winning “Timeless” album, which was produced by will.i.am and featured such artists as Justin Timberlake, John Legend, The Black Eyed Peas and Stevie Wonder.

The Governors Ball will be held in the Ray Dolby Ballroom on the top level of the Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.  The Oscars, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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#Oscars

Codeblack and Ebony Release Original Short Film

Actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield Channels Lena Horne in

"A Lady Must Live: A Lena Horne Tribute." 

February 20, 2015 – (Los Angeles, CA) Codeblack Films, a Lionsgate Company, has partnered with Ebony Magazine to release an original short film in honor of Black History Month, "A Lady Must Live: A Lena Horne Tribute." 

This mesmerizing short film stars actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield (I Will Follow, “Being Mary Jane”) as the legendary Grammy and Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Lena Horne, who has a grand legacy as a groundbreaking performer, beauty icon, and passionate American civil rights activist. It will be available exclusively on Ebony.com, and a separate two-minute version will be released today on the Codeblack and Ebony Magazine Facebook Pages.

“A Lady Must Live” coincides with Codeblack Films’ month-long social media salute to Ms. Horne and other trailblazers of Black History, including Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress and run for President, Ava DuVernay, the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award and win Best Director honors at the Sundance Film Festival and Ursula Burns, the first African-American woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

"As a company, we are increasingly focused on developing digital content and partnerships like this one to adapt to the changing landscape of the film industry in the digital era. The key is creating content people connect with, whether it's a two hour film or a two minute short on Facebook," says Codeblack Films founder and President, Jeff Clanagan.  “Our Black History Month digital series provides us with a vibrant and immediate platform to share the stories of some of the most influential figures in history.  We have steadily developed our social media footprint, and are very proud to bring the audience a look at a beautiful tribute to the amazing Lena Horne.”

Codeblack has developed a following of more than four million fans on their Facebook pages and has rapidly become a leader and innovator in the digital media space, creating and releasing original content with Kevin Hart, Shaquille O'Neal, Sanaa Lathan, Mike Epps, and other high-profile talent.

For more information on Codeblack: facebook.com/codeblacklife,

Twitter @CodeblackLife, and Instagram @CodeblackLife. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FILM.: http://www.ebony.com/video/black-history/lena-horne-light-girl-lady-codeblack-ebony-short-987#.VOdJrCj1s3R

Youth Empowerment Conference Set For March 28

The Youth Empowerment Conference hosted by National Congress Of Black Women (NCBW-LAC) will be held on Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at Mount Saint Mary's University, located at 10 Chester Place, Los Angeles, CA 90007. You are encouraged to attend this free life-changing, most inspiring and motivating conference. Engage with speakers from all walks of life and professions - doctors, engineers, scientists, financial advisors and more. Speakers will focus on mentoring and services important to your academic and professional success. The day promises to be filled with fun and excitement for students in grades 9-12.  

 

To register contact Diane Drummer, Event Chair, (800) 895-3180 ext. 7 or email info@ncbwinclac.org. Space is limited!  

 

ABOUT

For thirty years, the National Congress of Black Women, Incorporated has operated nationally and internationally as a nonprofit 501(c)(3).  In 2009, the Los Angeles Chapter was founded, joining the fight to improve our communities through educational, economic and cultural development of African American women and their families.    Annually, the organization is able to offer scholarships to local students and works towards achieving program initiatives through its partnerships and fundraising opportunities such as the annual luncheon.

Empire's Terrence Howard To Present At Oscars

 

Terrence Howard

LOS ANGELES, CA— Oscar®-nominated actor Terrence Howard (2006) and Oscar nominee Felicity Jones will be presenters at this year’s Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will air on Sunday, Feb. 22, live on ABC.

Howard was nominated for his leading role in 2006’s “Hustle & Flow.” His other films include Oscar-winning Best Picture “Crash” (2004), “Ray” (2004), “Iron Man” (2008), “Prisoners” (2013), “Lee Daniel’s The Butler” (2013) and “St. Vincent” (2014).  Howard currently stars in the hit television series “Empire.”  His upcoming films include “Term Life” and “Cardboard Boxer.”

Jones is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for “The Theory of Everything.” Her previous film credits include “The Tempest” (2010), “Like Crazy” (2011), “The Invisible Woman” (2013) and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (2014). Jones’ upcoming films include “True Story,” “Autobahn,”  “A Monster Calls” and “Inferno.”

Oscar presenters and performers include:

Presenters:
Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Marion Cotillard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Viola Davis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Ansel Elgort, Chris Evans, Kevin Hart, Terrence Howard, Josh Hutcherson, Scarlett Johansson, Dakota Johnson, Felicity Jones, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Jared Leto, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Sienna Miller, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Murphy, Liam Neeson, Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Pine, Chris Pratt, Margot Robbie, Zoe Saldana, Octavia Spencer, Meryl Streep, Channing Tatum, Miles Teller, John Travolta, Kerry Washington, Naomi Watts, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon.

Performers:
Jack Black, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Anna Kendrick, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Adam Levine with Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Rita Ora and Tegan and Sara with The Lonely Island.

The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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#Oscars

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Virtue's 'You Are' At #25 On The Billboard Chart

SET TO PERFORM LIVE ON THE WORD NETWORK’S REJOICE IN THE WORD PROGRAM THIS FRIDAY, FEB. 20 AT 8 p.m. EST/ 7 p.m. CST

Philadelphia, PA (Monday, February 16, 2015) – Grammy, Dove and Stellar nominated female group Virtue’s latest hit “You Are” is gaining traction at gospel radio across the country by jumping +9 spots cracking Top 30 and landing at #25 with a +80 spin trend on the Nielsen BDS Gospel Airplay chart this week.

Virtue will perform “You Are” live this Friday, February 20 at 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST on “Rejoice in the Word” program on The Word Network cable channel hosted by Bishop George Bloomer.

The appearance comes on the heels of the group’s release of TESTIMONY: RELOADED (Mixed Bag/eOne) – a re-release of their 2006 Grammy-nominated album Testimony. The re-release which is available in stores and online now features the group’s current single “You Are” and a new Fred Jerkins produced track “You Deserve.”

“We are excited about all of our music, but the inspiration behind our new album [Testimony: Reloaded] comes from us being away for so long; and all of the things that happened in our lives,” states Virtue in an exclusive interview with Sister 2 Sister Magazine. “Life happened in a huge way for us. In the time we were away we all became mothers, one of us experienced divorce, and we experienced three deaths. We lost a sister, our father, and our grandmother. Our true inspiration came from real life experiences that have touched us and changed us in ways that we could never have expressed before. So, we grew up and you can hear it lyrically and vocally.”

Virtue continues to promote their rising single with upcoming appearances at the Selma 50 (An All Star Tribute to Selma) joining Fantasia, Kirk Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Ruben Studdard, The Clark Sisters and more on March 8; the Annual Gospel Superfest in Chicago (Mar 21); and the 30th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Las Vegas (Mar 27-28).

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Fifth 'Mission Impossible' Set For July 31 Release

HOLLYWOOD, CA (February 13, 2015) – Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, Bad Robot, and IMAX Corporation today announced that the fifth installment in the blockbuster “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” franchise, directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX^® format and released in IMAX® theaters worldwide beginning July 31^st.

The new film is produced by Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk. The executive producers are David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger of Skydance Productions and Jake Myers. Drew Pearce, Christopher McQuarrie, Will Staples, Laeta Kalogridis & Patrick Lussier and Dylan Kussman wrote the screenplay, based on the television series created by Bruce Geller.

The newest installment reunites Cruise with stars from 2011’s “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL,” including Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames. Joining the cast is Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson and Sean Harris.

“IMAX is so important in giving the audience the best experience of the film we have made. I am very happy to have this partnership on the next ‘MISSION,’” said Cruise.

“After the innovative way we worked with our longtime partners Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, Bad Robot and Tom Cruise on the record-setting ‘MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL,’ we are beyond thrilled to once again offer audiences The IMAX Experience^® of the latest installment of this action-packed franchise,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “This film was literally made for IMAX and summer moviegoing.”

Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures said, “Audiences the world over proved with the last ‘MISSION’ that the IMAX experience is not to be missed and so we are all thrilled to again partner with Rich, Greg and everyone at IMAX to bring this next exciting installment to their screens this summer.”

The “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” franchise has earned more than $2 billion at the box office, making it one of the most successful franchises in movie history.

The IMAX® release of the latest “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE “ film will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience^® with proprietary IMAX DMR^® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Bergman's 7th Annual Oscar Party Attracts Celebs

 Renee Taylor (2nd from left) and Joe Bologna (right) 

with title sponsor MD Sun Skin Care execs

Fig & Olive, which features gourmet cuisine from the French and Italian Rivieras – opened its doors Thursday to host Doris Bergman’s Style Lounge and Party – the first tribute of the season, honoring the upcoming 87^th Annual Academy Awards.  More than 100 of Hollywood’s finest turned out to celebrate and honor the film industry’s Oscar® nominated actors, former Oscar® winners, nominees, stylists and industry VIPs.   

The invitation-only event, hosted by MD Sun Skin Care and presented by Pura d’or Hair Care, showcased an array of fashion for him and her including couture gowns, bespoke tuxedos & suits, the finest in beauty, skin & hair care, jewelry collections, accessories, chic chapeaus, timepieces, fragrances, fashion-forward footwear, unique spirits, delectable sweets and much more!  

 Lisa Vidal (Being Mary Jane) and Silvana K. Designs

Elise Robertson & Marnette Patterson (Oscar Nominated Movie “American Sniper”), Oscar Nominee Danielle Brisebois (Original Song “Lostt Stars” from “Begin Again”), Kenny Chin (Oscar Nominated Move “Birdman”), Maddalena Ischiale (Oscar Nominated Movie “Unbroken”), Manny Marroquin (Oscar Nominated Original Song “Glory” from “Selma”), Melora Hardin (Golden Globe Winning Comedy “Transparent”), Trinity Simone (Oscar Nominated Move “Selma”) joined former Oscar Nominees Renee Taylor & Joe Bologna, Hollywood Icon & former Golden Globe Nominee Lainie Kazan, Greg Grunberg (“Masters of Sex”), Hollywood Icon, Deidre Hall, Dennis Christopher (“Django Unchained”), Jackson Pace (“Homeland”), Comedian Kevin Farley, John Savage, Kelsey Scott (2014 Oscar-winning film “Twelve Years a Slave”), Lisa Vidal “Being Mary Jane”), Michael Welch (“Twilight” Trilogy), Richard Grieco (“22 Jump Street”), and multiple award-winning actor Chris McDonald, to name a few who were among the cadre of celebrities and industry VIPs who were treated to the best of the best!

 

(l-r) Rosa Blasi and Lisa Ann Walter with Telic Footwear

Melora Hardin, (Transparent) with presenting sponsor

Pura d'or Hair Care

In the spirit of giving back, Wednesday’s Child is our official charity and will be on-site collecting new, unwrapped gifts – clothing, accessories, electronics, sporting equipment, monetary donations, etc., for a Post-Holiday Gift Drive.   All guests are encouraged to donate at least one item for teens in foster care aged 13-18.  Let’s spread the love by lending a helping hand so that these young people can look forward to a spectacular start for the New Year! 

http://wednesdayschild.davethomasfoundation.org/ 

In the spirit of giving back, guests made a monetary donation and/or donated a new,unwrapped gift for a Post-Holiday Gift Drive,  benefitting ‘Wednesday’s Child’ -- a weekly segment airing on KTTV FOX 11 News, Los Angeles, with Anchor Christine Devine. ‘Wednesday’s Child’ highlights ‘harder to place’ children in the LA County foster care system who are in need of adoptive families. “In Los Angeles County, alone, there are over 35,000 children receiving child welfare services,” says social worker, William Wong.  “This event reaches far beyond the Hollywood ‘glitz’ and into the heart and soul.  All of the guests and sponsors were extremely generous!  We have formed new relationships which extend beyond the event and, additionally, Bergman invites two foster children to join in on the festivities and experience what it felt like to be treated as a VIP -- the love from the sponsors was tremendous!” added Wong.

Gifts and services were provided by:

MD Sun Skin Care, Pura d’or Hair Care, Whirl-a-Style, Handmade Hearts by Hillel, Nitrocream, Bling It Hat Designs, Silvana K. Jewelry Designs, DI Snapback, Microderm 360, Kama Sutra, Samiah Fine Clothing, My Saint My Hero, Twisted Silver, Perch Jewelry, Single Dress, Kaya Di Koko, Single Underwear, Spongelle, Art Lewin Bespoke, Tequila Azul Imperial, Telic Footwear, Drink Hint, Sue Wong, The Virgin Cure, Arbonne, Model In A Bottle, My Dog Nose It, Shangri La Luxury, Shoppe 815, Color Wow, Tanus Designs Jewelry, Ofenbacher Fudge, GUESS,  Luna Bar & Clif Bar & Veved Ice Vodka.