Honorees and directors Ryan Coogler, left, and John Singleton attend the seventh annual AAFCA Awards. (Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Images for AAFCA)
By Tre’vell Anderson
“I am an endangered species, but I sing no victim’s song. I am a woman. I am an artist and I know where my voice belongs.”
These words, borrowed from jazz singer Dianne Reeves’ “Endangered Species,” rang out in Hollywood’s Taglyan Complex on Wednesday night as actress Sheryl Lee Ralph belted them from the stage. Quite fittingly, they embody the purpose of the African American Film Critics Assn. which, for the seventh year, hosted an awards dinner to honor its selection of the year’s best films and television shows. And with a broader conversation about diversity unfolding in the entertainment industry, the organization’s importance was placed front and center.
“For all of us here who are filmmakers, creators, [we know that] black product is always devalued,” said Reginald Hudlin, producer of this year’s Oscars ceremony. “It’s always seen as a piece of business, not a piece of art. So the importance of [black] film critics, of us being able to critique and respect our own work is really crucial.”
Hosted by Terrence J and Nischelle Turner, the night attracted some of the most influential names in black Hollywood. What seems like a reincarnation of the Black Oscars, the gathering honored a diverse lot of 10 films the association believed to be the best of the last year. Those films included “Straight Outta Compton,” which took home the top prize; “Creed” and “Beasts of No Nation” along with “The Danish Girl,” “Carol” and “The Martian.” Shows including “Survivor’s Remorse,” “black-ish” and “How to Get Away with Murder” were also recognized. “Creed’s” Ryan Coogler was named best director.
Individual honors were presented to Hudlin, famed director John Singleton and Jeff Clanagan of Codeblack Films. Clanagan’s words, while accepting the Ashley Boone award for his work in marketing and distribution, received much applause for its direct approach to addressing ways black Hollywood can respond to the broader industry’s lack of diversity. “We should be doing for ourselves versus always chasing the studios when they’re saying no,” he said. “Don’t take no for an answer. Our culture transcends and travels worldwide.”
Clanagan suggested content creators make use of the Internet and social media as platforms to get their productions out to the world.
And when people say that black films aren’t good business decisions?
“This notion [that] our movies don’t travel overseas is [expletive],” he said. “There are audiences over there and they want to see us, [so much so that] they get it on bootleg.”
As for what studios can do, HBO Films’ president Len Amato had an idea during his acceptance speech for the Cinema Vanguard Award.
“Diverse initiatives and programming are no longer altruistic endeavors,” he said. “The country is changing and the industry must change with it. It makes good business sense.”
Terrence J perhaps summed up the evening the best, which can be applied to why awards shows that celebrate people of color and their cultural productions are important.
“This is an opportunity for us to celebrate each other, for us to encourage each other and for us to continue to motivate each other in the creative journeys we’re on,” he said.
And if you were looking for Hudlin to comment on the Academy Awards…
“Someone wanted me to say something about the Oscars…,” he began. “It’s on Feb. 28. Please watch the show. It’s going to be fantastic.”
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By Anne Thompson | Thompson on Hollywood, February 12, 2016
If the Academy didn’t diversify its nominees this year, producers Reginald Hudlin and David Hill have assembled a wide range of presenters, from Abraham Attah to Dev Patel.
Michael B. Jordan
Overlooked Oscar nominees Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”) and Abraham Attah (“Beasts of No Nation” join the roster of 2016 Oscar presenters.
Oscars show producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin revealed Friday a third slate of presenters for the 88th Oscars telecast. The Oscars, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live on Sunday, February 28, on ABC.
The presenters include Oscar winners Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”), Louis Gossett, Jr. (“An Officer and a Gentleman”), Common (“Selma”), and Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”) as well as current nominees Eddie Redmayne, Cate Blanchett and Rachel McAdams. Comedians Louis C.K. and Sarah Silverman join TV star Sofia Vergara as well as Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Jennifer Garner and Dev Patel.
Previously announced presenters and performers include:
Steve Carell
Priyanka Chopra
Benicio del Toro
Tina Fey
Whoopi Goldberg
Ryan Gosling
Kevin Hart
Quincy Jones
Lady Gaga
Byung-hun Lee
Jared Leto
Julianne Moore
Olivia Munn
Margot Robbie
Jason Segel
Andy Serkis
J.K. Simmons
Sam Smith
Charlize Theron
Jacob Tremblay
Kerry Washington
The Weeknd
Pharrell Williams
Reese Witherspoon
The 88th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 28, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Cary Fukunaga, Abraham Attah and Idris Elba
McDonald’s All Day Breakfast TV Spot, ‘The Intern’ Feat. Reginald Hudlin
Thanks to the folks at Burrell Advertising who came up with the idea and my team at Xenon who put together an awesome crew!
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Image Awards to Feature A Roster of Black Hollywood’s Biggest Names
by EurPublisher
*An all-star lineup of talent is confirmed to attend and/or present at the 47th NAACP Image Awards and Terrence Jenkins and Tracey Edmonds are set to co-host the LIVE red carpet pre-show, it was announced today by Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin, the executive producers of the telecast.
The 47th NAACP Image Awards will broadcast LIVE on February 5 on TV One from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium from 9-11p.m. ET (PT tape-delayed) and the one-hour pre-show will air LIVE from the red carpet from 8-9 p.m. ET (PT tape-delayed).
Hosted by Anthony Anderson, talent scheduled to attend includes Will Smith, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Gina Rodriguez, Kerry Washington, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tika Sumpter, Keegan-Michael Key, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Chadwick Boseman, Shameik Moore, Abraham Attah, Michael B. Jordan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Loretta Devine, Shonda Rhimes, Omari Hardwick, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Sanaa Lathan, RonReaco Lee, Keke Palmer, Teyonah Parris, Michael Ealy, Tom Joyner, LeToya Luckett, Ken Jeong, F. Gary Gray and more. Also expected are cast members from “Empire” – Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Jussie Smollett, Bryshere Gray, Grace Gealy, Trai Byers, Serayah, Gabourey Sidibe, Ta’Rhonda Jones, Kaitlin Doubleday, Lee Daniels and Danny Strong.
In addition, the NAACP “Entertainer of the Year” will be revealed. This special honor is bestowed upon an individual within the entertainment industry who has achieved notable success in multiple projects and mediums.
As previously announced, Brittany “Bree” Newsome; Justice League NYC; Concerned Student 1950 Collective at the University of Missouri, Columbia; The University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter; Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III; Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley; Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, and Jussie Smollett will receive the NAACP “Chairman’s Award” and John Legend will receive the NAACP “President’s Award.”
Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin are the Executive Producers, Co-Executive Producers are Kimmie H. Kim and Byron Phillips, Tony McCuin is the Director and Robin Reinhardt is the Talent Producer.
The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishment of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners were voted upon by NAACP members and will be announced when the envelopes are opened LIVE on stage during the two-hour star-studded TV One telecast on February 5.
The 47th NAACP Image Awards is sponsored by AMC, AT&T, Bank of America, Comcast NBCUniversal, Chrysler/UAW, FedEx, Ford Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, The Walt Disney Company, and Wells Fargo.
For all information and latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at naacpimageawards.net.
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