Cheryl Boone Isaacs Re-Elected Academy President

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Cheryl Boone Isaacs was re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tuesday night (August 5) by the organization’s Board of Governors.
In addition, Jeffrey Kurland was elected first vice president, Leonard Engelman and John Bailey were elected to vice president posts, Dick Cook was elected treasurer, and Bill Kroyer was elected secretary.

Boone Isaacs is beginning her second term as president and her 22nd year as a governor representing the Public Relations Branch. Last year Kurland served as vice president. Both Engelman and Cook were re-elected to their posts. These will be the first officer stints for Bailey and Kroyer.

Boone Isaacs currently heads CBI Enterprises, Inc., where she has consulted on marketing efforts on such films as “The Call,” “The Artist,” “The King’s Speech,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “Spider-Man 2” and “Tupac: Resurrection.”Boone Isaacs previously served as president of theatrical marketing for New Line Cinema, where she oversaw numerous box office successes, including “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and “Rush Hour.” Prior to joining New Line in 1997, she was executive vice president of worldwide publicity for Paramount Pictures, where she orchestrated publicity campaigns for the Best Picture winners “Forrest Gump” and “Braveheart.” This year, she was inducted into the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Hall of Fame, and received the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Horizon Award and the 2014 Trailblazer award from Essence magazine.

Academy board members may serve up to three consecutive three-year terms, while officers serve one-year terms, with a maximum of four consecutive years in any one office.

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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards—in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners­—the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
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Oxygen Media Screens 'Preachers Of L.A.'

The Cast To Make Special Appearances In 

Atlanta and Dallas For Exclusive Q&A Sessions

NEW YORK, NY – August  5, 2014 – Oxygen Media and AMC Theatres are giving fans an advance screening of the season two premiere of the hit docu-series "Preachers of L.A.” on Tuesday, August 12 at 7 PM exclusively at select AMC locations. A full week before the show premieres, screenings will be open to the public and held simultaneously at five AMC locations in Atlanta, Houston, Washington DC, Dallas and Tampa.  The cast will make special appearances in Atlanta and Dallas for exclusive Q&A sessions with the audience. The highly anticipated series gives viewers a candid and revealing look at six boldly different, world-renowned mega-pastors in Southern California: Bishop Noel Jones, Minister Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Jay Haizlip, Pastor Wayne Chaney, and Bishop Ron Gibson. Season Two premieres on Wednesday, August 20 at 10 PM ET/PT on Oxygen.

“Preachers of L.A.” is full of self-discovery and change with growing families and ministries, incredible women of strength beside the preachers, and ever-changing relationships. On the season premiere, the preachers meet at Bishop Jones home to begin planning an outreach event that will positively impact the community of Los Angeles. Sparks fly when Pastor Haizlip confronts Deitrick about deceiving him at their wedding. Bishop Gibson clashes with Bishop Jones about Loretta’s involvement in the event and their relationship status. Meanwhile, Loretta herself faces off with First Lady LaVette at Dominique’s Sip N See. Will the preachers be able to put their differences aside and come together to plan this impactful event?

In addition, Oxygen will air four “Preachers of L.A.” after-show specials beginning Wednesday, August 27 at 11 PM ET/PT.  Hosted by network personality Susie Castillo, with a special appearance by relationship expert Paul Brunson, the cast will open up about love, relationships, faith, family, and compromise as they go in-depth on some of the most talked-about controversial topics of the season. Oxygen invites fans to ask the preachers questions via Twitter or Instagram video throughout season two and throughout the after-shows. Questions with hashtag #AskAPreacher will be pulled into a dedicated section on Oxygen.com (http://www.oxygen.com/shows/preachers-of-la), where fans may read submitted questions, submit their own, and watch videos of the preachers’ answers. The preachers will answer questions during each after-show special to be published as exclusive digital content, and some answers may air on TV. 

The “Preachers of L.A.” screening is free and open to the public. Fans can RSVP by visiting http://www.preachersoflatour.com/ and select the “RSVP NOW” button to choose a city and reserve seats. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis. 

PREACHERS OF L.A. SEASON TWO PREMIERE SCREENING LOCATIONS:

ATLANTA:

AMC Phipps Plaza 14

3500 Peachtree Road, NE

Atlanta, GA 30326

DALLAS:

AMC Mesquite 30

19919 LBJ Freeway

Mesquite, TX 75149

WASHINGTON, DC:

AMC Hoffman Center 22

206 Swamp Fox Road

Alexandria, VA 22314

HOUSTON:

AMC Gulf Pointe 30

11801 South Sam Houston Pkwy East

Houston, TX 77089

TAMPA:

AMC The Regency 20

2496 W. Brandon Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33511

“Preachers of L.A.” is produced by L. Plummer Media in association with Relevé Entertainment, with Lemuel Plummer, Holly Carter, Chris Costine and Deitrick Haddon serving as Executive Producers. 

About AMC Theatres

AMC Theatres (NYSE: AMC) is the guest experience leader with 341 locations and 4,945 screens in the United States. AMC has propelled innovation in the theatrical exhibition industry and continues today by delivering more comfort and convenience, enhanced food & beverage, greater engagement and loyalty, premium sight & sound, and targeted programming. AMC operates the most productive theatres in the country’s top markets, including No. 1 market share in the top three markets (NY, LA, Chicago). www.amctheatres.com

Celebs Host Little Miss African American Pageant

Laila Ali and Meagan Good to Host Annual Event,

Dawnn Lewis is Mistress of Ceremonies

Los Angeles - The Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant (LMAA) comes of age this year with its 21-year anniversary celebration on August 10, 2014 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.  Actresses Laila Ali and Meagan Good will co-host, joining Dawnn Lewis, the mistress of ceremonies, as a bevy of little beauties, ages six to 12, make their way on stage to compete for over $10,000 in scholarships and prizes. Pageant producer Lisa Ruffin notes that this year's event will also celebrate past contestants who have grown up and gone on to accomplish wonderful feats!

Judges this year include Penny Johnson Jerald (ABC-TV's "Castle); Ella Joyce (TV One's Belle's); Lamman Rucker (TBS's "Meet the Browns"); Shamicka Lawrence (VH-1's "Hollywood Exes") and TV/radio host Mother Love, to name just a few. The pageant starts at 4:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.littlemissafricanamerican.org as well as at the door. VIP and reserved seating is available.

As the longest running pageant of its kind, the Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant continues to extend its history of dedication to a legacy of nurturing young girls into proud and intelligent young women. The original creation of actress/ choreographer Lisa Ruffin, the Little Miss African American Scholarship pageant has consistently emphasized brains over beauty, positively impacting the lives of thousands of impressionable young women.

Pageant producer/ choreographer, Lisa Ruffin

Cites Ruffin, "These young ladies just keep me going strong. This year, as we turn 21, we honor them all, past and present. Alycia Jones was the very first LMAA and received her bachelor's degree from University of Florida. Our second, Alexis Witherspoon competed in the Olympics Trials, then graduated from USC. LaTanya Fisher was LMAA 1995 and she graduated from USC as well. Myisha Lyseight was LMAA 1996. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from UCLA. She went on to complete her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Syracuse University in New York. She also played it forward by joining the LMAA staff last year."

"The state of Texas produced LMAA 1998, Lauren Hayes. Lauren graduated from the very prestigious Notre Dame and is currently working there. Then there is Miss Shakina that Academy Award winner Mo'Nique crowned," continues Ruffin. "She graduated from USC and is in Law School at Howard University. We train our girls to wear their C.A.P. (Confidence, Awarness & Pride)!"

For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://littlemissafricanamerican.org/ .

Oxygen's 'Nail'd It' Set To Premiere October 7

Host Adrienne Bailon is Joined by Rotating Panel of Expert Judges 

Including Jan Arnold, Tom Bachik, Terrance Terry and Elaine Watson 

NEW YORK, NY – August 4, 2014 – Oxygen Media ‘MANIpulates’ the hottest fashion trend of nail art into a creative and innovative competition series, “Nail’d It,” premiering Tuesday, October 7 at 9pm ET/PT.  Hosted by Adrienne Bailon (“The Real”), “Nail’d It” pits 18 of the best up-and-coming nail artists against one another as they claw their way to the top to claim a life-changing grand prize of $100,000. The series premiere coincides with Oxygen’s rebrand on Tuesday, October 7th across all platforms, launching the network’s new logo and tagline, very real, targeting young, modern women.

"Nails are the ultimate fashion accessory and I couldn't be more excited to host 'Nail’d It,'" said Bailon."I've always been obsessed with nail art and I can’t wait for everyone to see the creativity, passion and talent of these 18 artists. They are going to be blown away!"

“For these emerging nail artists, this isn’t just a job, it’s their passion,” said Rod Aissa, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development for Oxygen Media. “Our young, female audience will relate and root alongside these everyday nail artists as they pursue their dream and compete on “Nail’d It” to be recognized as one of the best.”

In each episode, the talented contestants will face-off crafting flawless flat paint designs and over-the-top 3D masterpieces using everything from lacquers, gels and acrylics to embellishments and unorthodox materials.  The winners and runners up from the first six episodes will compete in a high-stakes four-part finale until only one artist is left standing to win the grand prize and opportunity to have their designs featured in a cover story for Nail It! magazine.  Pushed beyond their creative limits, the contestants will be critiqued by a rotating panel of judges, including industry icon and leading expert on trends, Jan Arnold (@cndworld), CND’s Co-Founder and Style Director;  Top “Man”-icurist, Tom Bachik (@tombachik), who polishes the nails of celebrities from red carpets events to sold out arenas; expert nail artist and celebrity manicurist, Terrance Terry (@terranceterry), known as the “Nail Villian” for his uncensored personality and ability to push the envelope; and distinguished judge of nail art competitions worldwide, Elaine T. Watson (@elainetwatson), Cuccio International’s VP of Marketing and Sales and Global Education Director.  In addition, Nail It! magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Stephanie Yaggy Lavery (@nailitmag), and People Style Watch’s Beauty Director, Holly Carter (@hollsbeauty), will serve as guest judges during the season. 

MEET THE CONTESTANTS:

•  Amber Trawick, Tampa, FL @preciousnails220
• Angela Beer, Alberta, Canada  @angela_beer
• Ashley Craig, Fort Myers, FL @nail_betch  
• Celeste Hampton, Washington, D.C. @celestialnails
• Chris Mans, Irvine, CA @JeweledNails
• Classic Mully, San Francisco, CA @ClassicMully
• Denise "China" Washington, Fort Lauderdale, FL @chinanails
• Jamie Melchor, Fresno, CA @nailsbyjme
• Jami Procopio, Syracuse, NY @nailbang
• Julie Ventura, Chestnut Ridge, NY  @juliev37
• Kandi Banks, Long Beach, CA @kandiyamz
• Lauren Wireman, Cape Coral, FL @wildflowersnails
• Lakia Lewis, Youngstown, OH @Exclusive_nailsbykia
• LaToya Parker, Miami, FL @nailartaddict305
• Robert Nguyen, Oceanside, CA @nailguytv
• Temeka Jackson, Orange, CT @Customtnails1
• Thao Dang, Beaufort, SC @_lovepeacenails
• Winnie Huang, B.C., Canada @WinnieIsAwesome

For more information on the show, the judges and the contestants, please visit: http://www.oxygen.com/shows/naild-it.  In addition, fans can check out the official Facebook page and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NailedIt.

“Nail’d It” is produced by Matador with Jay Peterson, Todd Lubin and Shye Sutherland serving as Executive Producers.  

About Oxygen Media

Oxygen Media is a multiplatform entertainment brand that targets young, multicultural women.  Available in 80 million homes, Oxygen Media is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. For more information visit www.oxygen.com and to follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OxygenPR.

'Alive Inside' Pairs Music With Dementia Patients

By Darlene Donloe

Music really is a universal language. It speaks to everyone.

Alive Inside is an emotionally charged documentary about music and its affects on dementia patients. The documentary leaves a lasting impact.

Directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett the documentary beautifully and craftily demonstrates how music can actually change and enhance lives. It was spearheaded by social worker Dan Cohen.

Through music some people are able to fight depression while it helps others bring back a sense of self.  After research Cohen noted how music had the ability to reawaken forgotten or buried memories and emotions in dementia patients.  The film documents the affect music has on people who have otherwise been unresponsive.

In the film Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, visits several nursing homes, talks to residents, learns their musical interests and presents them with the kind of music they’ve had a relationship with. In some cases it’s a three-hanky scene as one by one patients who have been expressionless for years are suddenly talking, singing, and even dancing. 

 

Henry Dreher

An example is 94-year-old Henry Dreher, whose life consisted of sitting in a chair all day with his head down.

Almost immediately after headphones are placed on his ears, Dreher’s eyes open, his face changes, he speaks and then begins to sing with a renewed joy. It’s a miracle to behold.

Cohen, who has a background in high-tech training and software applications, initially began his journey by putting together a short film featuring Dreher and posting it on the Music & Memory website. The result was 7 million views.  A Kickstarter campaign netted Cohen some much needed funds to complete the film.  One of Cohen’s goals is to see musical headsets given to every patient in every nursing home in the country. A lofty idea indeed, but Cohen is undeterred.  Surprisingly, Cohen faced backlash when he spoke to nursing home execs about introducing the personalized music to their patients. One of the reasons cited was reluctance to changing the standard operating procedure.  

Statistics show that more then 600 nursing homes in 45 states are Music & Memory certified, with 19 of those in California.

This past January Alive Inside received the Audience Award at Sundance.

Alive Inside is one of the best documentaries this year. The film is currently open in New York and Los Angeles.

On the DONLOE SCALE:  D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK) and E (excellent), Alive Inside gets an E (excellent).

Running time: 74 minutes.

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/aliveinside/ 

'Beyond The Lights' Set For November 14 Release

 BEYOND THE LIGHTS is the story of Noni Jean, a hot new award-winning artist who is primed for superstardom.  But not all is what it seems, and the pressures cause Noni to nearly fall apart - until she meets Kaz Nicol, a promising young cop and aspiring politician who’s been assigned to her detail.  Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them to put their career ambitions ahead of their romance.  But can Kaz's love give Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be?

Release: November 14, 2014

Writer: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver, Richard Colson Baker (“MGK”) and Danny Glover

Producers: Stephanie Allain, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Ryan Kavanaugh, Amar’e Stoudemire 

Executive Producer: Tucker Tooley, Matt Alvarez

Rating: PG-13

Trailer: http://pr.mammothnyc.com/BeyondTheLights/Outreach/Trailer.zip 

Chadwick Boseman Is Super Bad in 'Get On Up'

By Darlene Donloe

Chadwick Boseman said he doesn’t want to become the guy who does all of the biopics on black people.  One can’t blame him for that.

However, he is so good at playing real people like Jackie Robinson in the film, 42 and James Brown in his latest film, Get On Up, that he may have just gotten pigeonholed.

Get On Up is the behind the scenes story of, James Brown, the Godfather of Soul who is also affectionately known as the hardest working man in America. The film takes  audiences on the journey from Brown’s impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures in music.

This movie may just catapult Boseman into the superstar stratosphere. He has proven he’s no fluke.

To his credit, Boseman doesn’t try to mimic Brown, instead he gives the audience the essence of the superstar.  Boseman, looking good in costumes designed by Sharen Davis and nine wigs designed by consultant Robert Stevenson, has got some moves.  He dances like Brown and most of all – he has Brown’s voice and cadence. He does a credible and impressive acting job.  He literally doesn’t have a misstep. Boseman, who originally didn’t want to play the role, delivers a tour de force performance.

It’s no secret that Brown, who died in 2006 at the age of 73, had a troubled life. Even from the beginning he had a hard way to go. He lived in an abusive household where he was beaten by his father and eventually abandoned by his mother. He later lived in a brothel owned by his aunt before venturing out on his own. He landed in jail several times, was married several times, had a host of kids, was physically abusive, but never, ever, lost the music that was in him.

 

(l-r)  Craig Robinson and Chadwick Boseman

James Brown lived and breathed music. To this day, no one can touch him. And, like he said himself once, you can’t name anyone in music who wasn’t influenced by the James Brown sound.

The movie, of course, has some holes. It’s difficult to tell a man’s life in a two-hour film. However, that being said, the film felt more than a bit disjointed. It was choppy and all over the place in its presentation. It bounces in and out of sequences. It felt like it wasn’t quite sure just what kind of film it wanted to be. It skips over some elements of Brown’s life, including his kids, wives and numerous arrests on domestic violence charges. At times the movie feels like a drama and then in the next frame feels like a comedy.

The film opens in 1988 when Brown reportedly fired a shotgun into the ceiling of one of his buildings, allegedly upset about folks using his bathroom.  It then proceeds to mosey on down memory lane by taking us on a journey through Brown’s impoverished childhood and through his rise to stardom as one of the most influential artists in the 20^th century.  But the movie doesn’t present his life in order, which sometimes feels like the movie is rambling.

Some of the comedy arrives in Boseman’s deadpan looks in the camera. He also, occasionally, speaks straight into the camera. It’s rather comical.

Still, there are some amazing performances. Boseman is brilliant and will surely get a nod during awards season. Other standouts include the always impressive Viola Davis and Nelsan Ellis who plays Brown’s right hand man and best friend, Bobby Byrd.

Aside from Boseman, who shows up and shows out, the star of this movie is the music!!! You can’t sit still while watching it. You literally want to Get Up Off Of That Thing.

Get On Up stars Boseman, Davis, Ellis, Jill Scott, Octavia Spencer, Craig Robinson and Dan Aykroyd.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK) and E (excellent), Get On Up gets an O (OK).

Get On Up, in theaters nationwide Aug. 1, is directed by Tate Taylor (The Help) and written by John-Henry Butterworth, Jez Butterworth and Steven Baigelman.

The music is composed by Thomas Newman. It’s produced by Mick Jagger, Erica Huggins, Brian Grazer and Victoria Pearman.

There is also a soundtrack in support of the film. 

It’s Rated PG-13, Running Time: 2h 18 min.

Go see Get On Up because The Funk Don’t Quit.