Digging into Reginald Hudlin’s résumé is like the most inspiring rabbit hole you could possibly tumble down. Most people know Hudlin as the director of such classic ’90s films as House Party and Boomerang. And while he’s been consistent on the directing front, most recently with his Netflix doc The Black Godfather,about music industry legend Clarence Avant, Hudlin also served as the first president of entertainment for BET in the early 2000s, where he developed popular shows including Sunday Best and the BET Hip-Hop Awards. He’s also produced highly regarded films and TV shows including Django Unchained and The Boondocks, and he’s written seminal story arcs for Marvel’s Black Panther comic book series, including cocreating everyone’s favorite little sister, Shuri. Basically, Reginald is a superhero in his own right for creativity. In this episode of Fast Company‘s podcast Creative Conversation, Hudlin explains how creative risk-taking not only led to personal breakthroughs but shaped black culture and pop culture at large. “Typically, if I follow my gut, you get House Party or Boomerang or Black Panther. And when I do the smart thing, that’s when projects fail,” Hudlin says. “People go, ‘Oh man, I’m not going to sell out.’ I’ve tried to sell out. And you know what? It doesn’t work for me. I’ve just found I have to do what I believe in. If I believe in it, no matter how improbable the concept is, it tends to succeed very well. So that makes decision-making very clear: Just do what you believe in—period.” Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company’s podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.Comment+ Permalink
Here I am on the Red Carpet with Clarence Avant with his wife Jackie, his daughter, producer Nicole Avant and her husband, Netflix CCO Ted Sarandos. Here I am onstage flanked by producers Nicole Avant and Byron Phillips. Me with Tichina Arnold, who I worked with on the pilot of EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS) and Joe Talbot, the director of THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO. Here we are back with Chaz Ebert, who presented us with our awards. Comment+ Permalink
I produced this movie in Georgia a while back and here it comes! Can’t wait for you all to see it.
EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment CEO Tom Ortenberg has completed an acquisition of U.S. distribution rights to the slave rebellion action-thriller Emperor. Briarcliffe has dated the film for a March 27 theatrical release. The film is directed by Mark Amin and written by Amin and Pat Charles, and stars Dayo Okeniyi, Kat Graham, Bruce Dern, James Cromwell and Mykelti Williamson. The film is based on a true story, and Okeniyi plays Shields Green, an escaped slave who will do anything to free his family. Racing north, Green joins forces with the legendary John Brown in the battle at Harpers Ferry, a key battle of the abolitionist movement which helped spark the Civil War. The film is produced by Sobini Films’ Amin and Cami Winikoff, and Reginald Hudlin. Pic was shot on location in Savannah, Georgia. Ortenberg called Emperor “a terrific, moving film with great heart that could not be more timely.” Said Amin: “Here was a young slave who ran away from his plantation, made it to freedom, and had Fredrick Douglas offer to send him to Canada to live in safety. Instead he chose to join John Brown and fight for the principles he believed in. This is what inspired me to make this film.” Hudlin said, “This isn’t a slavery movie. It’s a freedom movie. This is a film about a man smart enough and strong enough to fight the system and change the world.” Briarcliff was launched by the former Open Road chief Ortenberg and its releases so far have included Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9, El Chicano and Don’t Let Go, which starred David Oyelowo and Storm Reid.Comment+ Permalink
The Clippers and Marvel collaborate to create Black Panther-inspired Kawhi Leonard bobblehead
Today the L.A. Clippers announced that limited-edition bobbleheads will be available exclusively to a select number of fans attending Clippers home games on February 5th against the Miami Heat and March 1st against the Philadelphia 76ers.
For the team’s February 5th game, the Clippers have collaborated with Marvel to create a limited-edition bobblehead featuring Kawhi Leonard portrayed as Black Panther that will be available to the first 10,000 fans attending the game. The bobblehead, which is presented by City National Bank, the official bank of the L.A. Clippers, sits on a pedestal that features the Clippers logo, City National Bank logo and the Black Panther mask, and Kawhi in the Clippers’ black statement jersey with accents of the Black Panther’s suit weaved throughout the jersey’s design. Each fan who receives a bobblehead will receive a unique redemption code for a free digital Marvel comic. In addition, City National Bank will host a pre-game conversation for Clippers Courtside MVPs with Reginald Hudlin, a contributing writer to the Black Panther comic book series.
On March 1, the first 10,000 fans to enter the arena will receive an exclusive Paul George bobblehead, courtesy of Cedars-Sinai the official health partner of the L.A. Clippers. Paul’s bobblehead sits on a pedestal that features the Clippers logo and Cedars-Sinai logo, and the “Young Trece” billboard that has been displayed across L.A. Paul is wearing the Clippers’ blue icon jersey and the black and white colorway of his recently released “PG4” Nike signature shoe. The “PG4” is the fourth edition of his signature shoe and is available at retail, globally, on January 24.
To purchase tickets for either of these games or any upcoming Clippers’ home games, fans can visit www.clippers.com.
