The denizens of the fictional town of Midnight, situated somewhere in rural Texas, fight dark forces on a daily, if not hourly, basis. Lucky for them, they are unusually equipped to do so. Almost all “midnighters,” as they call themselves, have supernatural powers. Those who don’t, possess a superhuman will to use whatever talents they […]
Television
Arts + Culture: a space for local and national arts and entertainment stories, with an emphasis on stories pertaining to African and African Americans.
Posted inArts + Culture
Minnesota: a hidden market for film and television talent
New head of Minnesota Film and TV Board promotes opportunities “When filmmakers, networks and producers consider Minnesota as a location,” says Melodie Bahan, new executive director of the Minnesota Film and TV Board (www.mnfilmtv.org), “they’re thinking about snow and Norwegians. A lot of them may not be aware of what a rich community of artists of […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Dollhouse Dance Factory’s ‘Bring It Live’ coming to Minneapolis
For four seasons, former dancer-turned-instructor Dianna Williams, also known as Miss D, and her squad of young dancers from her Dollhouse Dance Factory, have wowed television audiences with their moves. Some of the behind-the-scenes drama between her, the girls, and their parents can be found on the Lifetime television reality series, Bring It. Miss D […]
Posted inArts + Culture
‘Greenleaf’ co-creator returns to roots, talks faith, Oprah and more
If you’ve seen the award-winning Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) original drama series Greenleaf, about the Greenleaf family and their Memphis megachurch, you might be surprised to learn that its co-creator has Minnesota roots. Craig Wright (Lost, Six Feet Under) is the co-creator, head writer and producer of the hit cable television series about faith and […]
Posted inArts + Culture
‘The Obama Years: The Power of Words’ – riveting retrospective revisits president’s defining moments
How many immortal speeches have been delivered by U.S. presidents and other American icons? Lincoln’s “Four score and seven years ago” Gettysburg Address; FDR’s “We have nothing to fear but fear itself;” Eisenhower’s beware of the “Military-Industrial Complex” farewell address; JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you” inaugural address; Dr. King’s “I […]
Posted inArts + Culture, National, News, Television
‘America ReFramed’ Season 5: A closer look at two of this season’s offerings
America ReFramed, a documentary series that explores America’s ever-changing socio-cultural landscape, premieres two films on the PBS World Channel this month: one looks at gentrification and the other at the life of a longtime San Francisco Bay Area community activist. A New Color — The Art of Being Edythe Boone made its national public television […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Nicole Beharie excited to host ninth season of ‘AfroPop’
The award-winning public television show AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange is now in its ninth season on PBS’ WORLD Channel. The new season premiered on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 16, and will air new episodes weekly through February 15. Since 2008, AfroPoP has presented documentaries and shorts that, according to press materials, reveal “fascinating stories on contemporary […]
Posted inLocal & State
Shed G launches TV talent show pilot
On the evening of June 21 in the New Century Theater, located at 615 Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, a studio filled with close to 200 invitation-only guests joined Shedrick Garrett, who produced and hosted the first of a series of television shows for a pilot program entitled The Shed G Show. Garrett, a.k.a. Shed […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies, Television
‘Mavis!’ set to air on HBO
“We filmed her for 18 months, about 10 concerts and three sit-down interviews, and a number of extra things,” explains Edwards, who admits it’s hard to squeeze a person’s life, especially one as rich and colorful as Staples’, in less than 90 minutes.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
‘AfroPoP,’ now in its 8th season, will finally air in the Twin Cities
The eighth season of AfroPoP, the popular public television documentary series, began this month on PBS’ World Channel.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Meagan Good: ‘Minority Report’ interview
Enjoying an enviable career that began at an early age, Meagan Good has blossomed into one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses for both big screen and television projects. The accomplished thespian was recently seen in A Girl Like Grace, a coming-of-age film which she also co-produced.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
‘Urban Perspectives’ grabs local Emmy nomination
Urban Perspectives, a weekly local urban affairs program, has received a 2015 Midwest Regional Emmy nomination for Program/Host.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
‘Empire’ star Jussie Smollett still a social activist
Before he was Jamal Lyon, the sensitive, talented gay son of drug dealer-turned-music mogul on the hit television show, Empire, Jussie Smollett, was a social activist.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
A spirited tete-a-tete with ‘The Book of Negroes’’ Aunjanue Ellis & Aminata Diallo
Aunjanue Ellis (AE) starred as Aminata Diallo in The Book of Negroes, the hit TV-miniseries based on Lawrence Hill’s award-winning best seller of the same name. Here, she and the picture’s director, Clement Virgo (CV), share their thoughts about the adaptation of the historical novel chronicling the life of an 11 year-old girl kidnapped in Africa and enslaved for decades in the U.S. until she manages to escape to Canada.
Posted inArts + Culture, Local & State, Television
Are we seeing Black feminism on prime time TV?
She said she didn’t see herself as a feminist until after she read Morgan’s When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life as A Hip Hop Feminist (2000) while attending Temple University. “For me it’s about reclaiming a type of humanity that we’ve been not given access to. We need permission [as Black females] to be human.”
Story says she “declared” herself a feminist while in college at DePaul. “I was the only Black girl women’s studies major for my first three years.” But because she refused to act and dress like fellow feminists, “Somehow I was doing feminism wrong,” recalled the professor. “I was much more hard core” than the young White feminists at the time, she added.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Sisters talk TV: ‘Empire,’ ‘Scandal,’ more than guilty pleasures
Soapy, salacious and scandalous are just some of the words that describe the current crop of popular TV shows featuring African American women. And it’s not just teens or twentysomethings turning key phrases and dialogue from the shows into trending topics on social media. The Black female academics who gathered for March 12 at Macaslester College proudly admitted to joining in the virtual viewing party on Twitter each week.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Another ‘180 Days’ brings more compelling stories
Jacquie Jones won a 2013 Peabody Award for 180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School that premiered on PBS. This time, the co-director, producer and executive producer tackles the educational challenges in a rural South Carolina town.
Posted inArts + Culture, Local & State, Television
First documentary celebrating August Wilson premieres this month on PBS
American Masters will present August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand nationwide on PBS, Friday, February 20.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies, Television
AfroPoP, a showcase for filmmakers of color
Two DuVernay films – Middle of Nowhere and I Will Follow both were shown at the Twin Cities Black Film Festival, notes Founder-Director Natalie Morrow. The acclaimed director is just one of many Black female filmmakers who successfully produced small and big-screen cinematic pieces, which typically get exposure at annual film festivals such as Morrow’s.
Posted inSports, Television
Upcoming TV show to address media neglect of women’s sports
Almost half of all athletes are women, but not even five percent are shown in this country’s media. This is expected to be discussed in the upcoming U of M Tucker Center-TPT2 co-produced Media Coverage and Female Athletes on Channel 2 this Sunday, December 1, at 7 pm. Tucker Center Associate Director Nicole LaVoi told […]