Black Design Collective Honors Ruth E. Carter

Ruth E. Carter

By Darlene Donloe

The Black Design Collective (BDC), an organization established to promote and support the work of fashion designers and costumers trying to navigate the industry, honored Academy Award-winner Ruth E. Carter during a gala recently at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).

Carter, who won an Oscar for her groundbreaking costumes on Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther was feted at the star-studded soiree for her body of work, which includes Malcolm X, Being Mary Jane, Selma, Amistad, Do the Right Thing and more.  Her Oscar® win made her the first African American woman to take home the coveted prize in the Costume Design category.  She is currently brainstorming her next project, Coming to America 2, starring Eddie Murphy.  The project will reunite the two.

“We didn’t have those mentors like you see here today with the Black Design Collective,’ said Carter. “We were out there getting our work done - struggling to have our designs seen. And now here comes an organization that is all about support and inclusion. We should support that in every single, solitary way because they’re important.”

(l-r) Kevan Hall, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Angela Dean, Thomas 'TJ' Walker, and Beverly Johnson

Founders of the newly created collective include designer Kevan Hall and fellow designers Angela Dean, and Thomas ‘TJ’ Walker. They started the organization to not only support established designers but also to raise money for students at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in downtown L.A. 

Thomas 'TJ' Walker  

Hall said the event was important because it amplifies the talent and importance of black designers.

“We thought it was important to celebrate Ruth,” said Hall. “We started this project a year and a half ago. We wanted to amplify her and show her body of work. Fast forward, the movie The Black Panther came out and now she has an Oscar®. That wasn’t the case a year and a half ago. We just wanted to celebrate our friend. We wanted to give scholarships to deserving students and wanted to bring them up.”

Devert Monet Hickman

During the gala, Devert Monet Hickman became the first recipient of a BDC $10,000 scholarship.

“This is just amazing,” said Hickman, a former dancer in The LionKing and Cirque du Soleil.  “I’m not just happy for me, I’m happy for all Black designers. This scholarship and recognition mean so much to me.”

Kevan Hall

The criteria was their grade point average,” said Hall. “They also had to write an essay about what changes they’d like to see in fashion. They had to present their portfolio to the founding members. They had to show us what their skill level was and what they wanted to do and what they wanted to do in their future. The criteria for the scholarship was their grade point average. They also had to write an essay about what changes they’d like to see in fashion. They had to present their portfolio to the founding members. They had to show us what their skill level was and what they wanted to do and what they wanted to do in their future.”

In addition, the evening kicked off the newly established partnership between the Black Design Collective and title sponsor, AT&T, with their Believe Los Angeles initiative. Believe Los Angeles is a grassroots employee-driven campaign committed to supporting workforce development, career readiness programs, with a special emphasis on digital media and entertainment employment opportunities for underserved students in Los Angeles, especially diverse millennials. The goal of Believe Los Angeles is to increase the number of diverse storytellers in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera, with a special emphasis on digital media and entertainment employment opportunities for diverse millennials in Los Angeles. 

“AT&T is proud to be the title sponsor of the Black Design Collective’s Scholarship Kickoff event,” said Rhonda Johnson, president of AT&T California. “We believe that the Black Design Collective’s mission of creating a platform to amplify and support the work of black designers is essential and aligns perfectly with our Believe Los Angeles initiative.”

(l-r) Margaret Avery, Gabrielle Union, and Anna Maria Horsford

Celebs on hand for the celebration included Congresswoman Maxine Waters, former Senator Diane Watson, Mykelti Williamson, Yolanda Adams, Loretta Divine, Margaret Avery, A.C. Green, Beverly Johnson, former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Councilman Curren Price, Roshumba Williams, NBC4’s Beverly White and Gabrielle Union, who praised Carter for her work on BET’s Being Mary Jane as well as other projects.

Gabrielle Union

 “You don’t get inspired or excited about Mary Jane without Ruth” said Union. “She sets a tone. We should celebrate her every day, Union said on the red carpet. “She’s just incredible. She’s been a huge part of my career from the very beginning. And she continues to allow us to shine and do what we do best and kill it. She doesn’t talk about it, she is about it.”

Celebs were singing the praises of Carter throughout the evening.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters

“Ruth Carter is a fantastically creative woman who has paid her dues,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “She has worked her way to this part in her life. She deserves to be respected and honored by everybody. I appreciate the whole idea of providing mentorships for other young designers coming up.”

Loretta Devine

Actress Loretta Devine worked with Carter on BET’s Being Mary Jane.

“Ruth knows what she’s doing,” said Devine who worked with the costumer on Being Mary Jane. “She can always add to the character. When I was on Being Mary Jane and I had to play a butch character, she had it perfect from the top to the bottom. It made all the difference in the success of the character.”

Mykelti Williamson and family

“Actors don’t even know who characters are until they are asked to put that costume on,” said Mykelti Williamson. “And Ruth Carter is one of those people when you talk to her about what you’ve been thinking and you listen to what she wants to bring to the character, you put it together and you get dressed – you are that character. Ruth is tremendous. She’s phenomenal. She’s been in service to a lot of us for a very long time. And we love her. I saw her name, I made it my business to be here. Everything she does, she gets better. She has no boundaries. She’s one of those people who can do anything.  She can do sci-fi, thriller, comedy, she can do period pieces. She can do anything.”

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Set for December

Today, Director/Writer J.J. Abrams and Producer Kathleen Kennedy were joined by stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Oscar Isaac, Billy Dee Williams, Naomi Ackie, Joonas Suotamo, and Anthony Daniels, and droids BB-8 and D-0, for a panel discussion at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, moderated by Stephen Colbert.

It was a day of surprises at Star Wars Celebration for the enthusiastic fans in attendance as the title of the final installment of the Skywalker saga was also revealed, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. 

It's All About The Music For Robey's Birdland Blue

By Darlene Donloe

I walked into a jazz club and a play broke out.  That’s what happens once you enter Birdland Blue, a Robey Theatre Company production currently making its world premiere at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

In Birdland Blue, the audience literally walks into a jazz club setting complete with a smoky atmosphere, drinks, neon lights, a bandstand, tables and chairs, and jazz musicians playing on a bandstand.

(L to R) Eddie Goines, Damon Rutledge, Michael D. Ricks, Marcus Clark Oliver,
Rogelio Douglas III, Jermaine Alexander
Photo by Ian Foxx

Birdland Blue, clearly not a documentary, takes place one night – and what a night it is!

This is a fly-on-the-wall look at what happens behind the scenes at what was one of the hottest New York City jazz clubs in the summer of 1959. Anyone who was anyone or wanted to be someone would go there. Stars from television, film, and sports filled the 500-seater. Jazz legend Miles Davis and his equally legendary sextet have just released Kind of Blue, Davis’ signature piece. On stage with Davis are John Coltrane, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb. It just didn’t get any better than this.

Davis was known for being moody, for improvising and for pushing his music toward the unknown. 

L to R: Darrell Phillip, Jermaine Alexander, Rogelio Douglas III, Tiffany Coty, Marion Newton, Michael D. Ricks, Randy Ross, Ricardo "Rick" Mowatt, Damon Rutledge,
Eddie Goines, Marcus Clark Oliver, Charles Isen
Photo by Ian Foxx

Davis was like a jazz god during that time. He was producing some of the industry's most enduring music. Known for being impatient, Davis, who died in 1991, knew his worth and wasn't about to let anyone take advantage of him or his band. He took care of his band because he also knew their worth. He worked hard to be authentic – not making it about the money. But at the same time, he wanted what he was due and would get in someone’s face if they didn’t come correct. He butted heads with the club manager (Charles Isen) over money. He also butted heads with his band members. He ironically wasn’t happy when Chambers (Rogelio Douglass III) appeared to be getting hooked on drugs. He was disappointed and mad when he heard Coltrane (Jermaine Alexander) and Cannonball (Damon Rutledge) were about to leave the band. He also butted heads with a particularly violent, twisted and racist cop (Darrell Philip) who looked to Davis for a shakedown. Davis wasn’t having it. All of this is going on while Davis himself is dealing with his own demons, including a cocaine habit.

Charles Isen
Photo by Ian Foxx

The actors playing parts of the sextet emote the feeling of a group of ‘cats’ who’ve been playing together for a while. The male banter that goes on before they take the stage is classic as they wax lyrical about everything from women to tall tales, to how some of them are taking longer solos than they should.

One particular night in August, an attractive female reporter (Tiffany Coty) from Upbeat magazine comes to the club to interview Davis. The encounter reveals his fabled lustful side.

Miles Davis

Marcus Clark-Oliver
Photo By Ian Foxx

While watching Marcus Clark-Oliver work the club as Davis, the audience has to suspend disbelief. Davis was a short, dark, skinny man with a raspy voice. Clark-Oliver is a tall, light-skinned, handsome man with a healthy voice.  He doesn’t really display the essence of a Davis – but rather gives the audience insight into this legendary performer. Clark-Oliver gives a stellar performance. The supporting cast all give enjoyable performances.  The actors who are pretending to play the various instruments are adept at feigning actually playing.

The actual actors playing throughout the show are Ricardo Mowatt, Marion Newton, and Randy Ross, who is also the playwright.

Ben Guillory

Ben Guillory, the artistic director and co-founder of The Robey Theatre Company has assembled an impressive cast.  He makes good use of the small space. Actors walk between the tables where the audience is seated just as they would in a club. It felt a bit like theater in the round.

Birdland Blue, written by Randy Ross, directed and produced by Ben Guillory, stars Marcus Clark Oliver, Jermaine Alexander, Damon Rutledge, Tiffany Coty, Michael D. Ricks, Rogelio Douglas III, Darrell Phillip, Eddie Goines, Jason Mimms, Charles Isen, and Shaw Jones. 

The remarkable musicians who perform Davis’ music live throughout the show include Marion Newton (bass), Ricardo Mowatt (percussionist0 and Randy Ross (saxophone). These musicians added to the ambiance needed to depict a true jazz club.

Birdland Blue is the first show in The Robey Theatre Company’s 25^th anniversary season. It was developed in The Robey Theatre Company’s Playwrights’ Lab.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Birdland Blue gets an O (oh, yeah).

Birdland Blue, Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Thur.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. through May 12; $35 (seniors, students, veterans, LAUSD teachers $22.50), groups of 10 or more, $20, 866 811 4111.

Avengers: Endgame Cast Holds Press Conference

The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”

CHECK THIS OUT: https://youtu.be/unJzy1XwQ2k

Kevin Feige produces “Avengers: Endgame,” and Anthony and Joe Russo are the directors. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau, James Gunn, and Stan Lee are the executive producers, and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay.

Producer Kevin Feige and directors Anthony and Joe Russo were joined by stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Brie Larson, Paul Rudd, Danai Gurira and Karen Gillan for the Jon Favreau-hosted global press event.

Henson and Rockwell Are The Best of Enemies

By Darlene Donloe

*Best of Enemies, opening today (April 5) in theaters nationwide, is based on a remarkable true story about the relationship between civil rights activist Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson) and C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), the Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan.

If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear the story was based somewhere in the Stone Age.

Instead, it takes place in 1971 Durham, North Carolina!! 1971!!   

Blacks and whites are at odds with each other. The Klan and some other less than friendly whites use the “N” word liberally.

The subject matter of the film is the volatile issue of school integration.  When the “black school” suffers a fire and smoke damage, the question becomes what to do with the black students. The natural solution would be for the black students to simply be bussed to the same school as the white students. Hold your horses!  The white people in the community have a huge problem with that. They don’t want to live next to blacks, eat next to blacks, date blacks, etc. So why in the world would they go to school with blacks? Who knew that the 1954 ruling Brown vs. The Board of Education somehow managed to miss the town of Durham?

Ann Atwater is a fireball. She is relentless when it comes to fighting for justice for blacks, especially the underserved. C.P., who owns a gas station, is a diehard KKK member who joined because he wanted to belong to something. He is hellbent on stopping blacks and whites from integrating.

When the all-white male city council and the citizens of Durham are unable to come to an amicable decision, a mediator named Bill Riddick (Babou Ceesay) is brought in to conduct a charette. Everyone has to come together so they can solve the problem.  Riddick also mandates that everyone get to know someone from a different race – but they can’t talk about the issue. They have to really try to get to know each other. It’s a challenge to be sure.

Robin Bissell has directed a penetrating, uncomfortable gem. Everyone delivers a superb acting turn. Henson and Rockwell are stellar. Anne Heche, who plays C.P.’s wife turns in some good work as does John Gallagher Jr. whose business is shut down after he sides with the black folks.  Good performances from  Ceesay, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, and Nick Searcy.

Bissell’s direction places the audience in the middle of this backward town.  It’s a painful place to be.

Best of Enemies, based on the book by Osha Gray Davidson, is both an ugly and a beautiful story all at once. It’s compelling, gut-wrenching, provocative, volatile, and intense.

Best of Enemies, written and directed by Robin Bissell, stars Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Wes Bentley, Anne Heche, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Bruce McGill, Babou Ceesay, John Gallagher Jr., Nick Searcy, Caitlin Mehner, Sope Aluko, and Rhoda Griffis.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), The Best of Enemies gets an O (oh, yeah).