Snoop Dogg
Launched in 2014 and staged again in 2016, The Black Movie Soundtrack show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles has become one of the venue’s most popular and fun franchises. The series’ third edition last evening (Sept. 25) further solidified the event’s must-attend status as Chaka Khan, Raphael Saadiq, Charlie Wilson, El DeBarge, Meshell Ndegeocello, BeBe Winans and Dionne Farris—including surprise guest Snoop Dogg—paid homage to eight decades of black cinema.
Following a montage of clips from films running the gamut from the 1930s to present day, the show kicked off amidst audience cheers as host Craig Robinson declared, “We’re baaaaaack.” Then after promising “two hours of undiluted black excellence,” Robinson introduced the evening’s first performers: Ndegeocello, DeBarge and Khan. They individually performed a trio of songs dating back to the 1970’s blaxploitation era including, respectively, “Across 110thStreet,” “Trouble Man” and “Let’s Do It Again.” DeBarge later returned to sing “Rhythm of the Night,” the hit dance anthem from the 1985 Motown Productions film The Last Dragon.
From there, the evening offered more vocal treats as Saadiq’s smooth tenor saluted the legacy of the late film writer/director John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood) with “Ask of You” (from Singleton’s Higher Learning) and “O-o-h Child” while images of Singleton with his children flashed across a giant video screen. Music from films by Prince and Spike Lee were also spotlighted. In honor of the former, the indefatigable Wilson earned a dancing ovation from the crowd with a rollicking cover “Baby I’m a Star” while Khan’s lusty voice graced an emotion-packed interpretation of “Purple Rain.” She also reaped enthusiastic applause for “Love Me Still” from Lee’s 1995 movie Clockers.
Snoop Dogg literally had the Bowl audience jumping to its feet and yelling his name as he sauntered onstage to reprise the title track from the 1992 movie Deep Cover (he was the featured guest on the Dr. Dre song). Preceding the rapper’s unannounced arrival was another special moment: a look back at another 1990’s cultural milestone Love Jones. Ndegeocello and the show’s musical director Marcus Miller showcased their blazing bass skills as they performed the track “Rush Over.” Farris, wearing a caped jumpsuit whose giant wings were festooned with blue and purple lights, claimed props for her faithful turn on the song she contributed to the original Love Jonessoundtrack, “Hopeless.”
Rounding out the evening was music from Hidden Figures, Black Pantherand Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Having earlier performed “Greatest Love of All,” Winans (“I truly miss my sister Whitney [Houston]”), closed the evening with the Bill Withers gem “Lean on Me” as the evening’s performers and audience sang along. Withers is one of the talents discovered by the legendary entrepreneur Clarence Avant, the central focus of the 2019 Netflix documentary film The Black Godfather.
Accompanying Miller and his band (pianist Kris Bowers, keyboardist John Beasley, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., drummers Louis Cato and Massamba Diop) was the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Vince Mendoza. Also joining comedian Robinson as co-host was film producer/director Reginald Hudlin (The Black Godfather, Boomerang), who co-produces the Black Movie Soundtrack concert series.
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DEADLINE IS REPORTING THAT MATTHEW GLAVE (FIRST MAN) AND HUNTER SANSONE (STAR GIRL) HAVE JUMPED ABOARD REGINALD HUDLIN’S (HOUSE PARTY, THE BLACK GODFATHER) DISNEY+ FILM SAFETY.
THE NEW FILM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY SHOOTING IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IS INSPIRED BY THE UPLIFTING TRUE STORY OF FORMER CLEMSON SAFETY RAY MCELRATHBEY. THE FILM WILL PREMIERE EXCLUSIVELY ON THE DISNEY+ STREAMING PLATFORM WHEN RELEASED.
“THIS IS A POWERFUL SCRIPT THAT TOUCHES EVERYONE WHO READS IT,” SAID HUDLIN. “AND NOW WE ARE ASSEMBLING A CAST OF WONDERFUL YOUNG ACTORS WHO WILL BRING RAY MCELRATHBEY’S AMAZING TRUE STORY TO LIFE ON THE SCREEN.”
SAFETY IS THE EMPOWERING STORY OF RAY MCELRATHBEY, A YOUNG MAN FACING A SERIES OF CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES, WHOSE FAITH AND PERSISTENCE HELP HIM TO TRIUMPH OVER REPEATED ADVERSITIES AND PLAY FOOTBALL ON SCHOLARSHIP AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, ALL WHILE STRUGGLING TO RAISE AND CARE FOR HIS 11-YEAR-OLD BROTHER FAHMARR. THE FILM STARS JAY REEVES (ALL AMERICAN) AS RAY; THADDEUS J. MIXSON (THE GRIND) AS FAHMARR; AND CORINNE FOXX (47 METERS DOWN: UNCAGED) AS KAYCEE. RANDY MCKINNON (WHERE THE WATER RUNS) AND NICK SANTORA (SCORPION, THE FUGITIVE AT QUIBI) WROTE THE SCREENPLAY, THE FILM IS BEING PRODUCED BY MARK CIARDI (CHAPPAQUIDDICK, INVINCIBLE).
PRODUCTION WILL FILM IN BOTH CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA AND ATLANTA, GEORGIA BEFORE WRAPPING IN MID-NOVEMBER
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The real Ray McElrathbay, director Reginald Hudlin and actor Jay Reeves, who plays Ray in the film SAFETY. #safety #Disney+ #Disneyplus
Disney has announced that production has begun on a new original movie, Safety for Disney+. The drama is inspired by the true story of Clemson University safety, Ray McElrathbey.
What’s happening:·
- Production has begun in South Carolina on Walt Disney Pictures’ Safety, a drama inspired by the uplifting true story of former Clemson safety Ray McElrathbey.
- Safety will film on locations in both Clemson, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia before wrapping production in mid-November.
- The feature will stream exclusively on Disney+.
About the movie:
- “Safety is the empowering story of Ray McElrathbey, a young man facing a series of challenging circumstances, whose faith and persistence help him to triumph over repeated adversities and play football on scholarship at Clemson University, all while struggling to raise and care for his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr.”
Creative Team:
Safety is directed by:
Reginald Hudlin via LA Times
- Oscar nominee Reginald Hudlin (Django Unchained, Marshall)
Written by:
- Randy McKinnon (Where the Water Runs)
- Nick Santora (Scorpion, The Fugitive at Quibi)
Produced by:
- Mark Ciardi (Chappaquiddick, Invincible)
The film stars:
Jay Reeves via IMBd
- Jay Reeves (All American) as Ray
- Thaddeus J. Mixson (The Grind) as Fahmarr
Corrine Foxx via IMDb
- Corinne Foxx (47 Meters Down: Uncaged) as Kaycee.
What they’re saying:
- Director Reginald Hudlin: “This is a powerful script that touches everyone who reads it; and now we are assembling a cast of wonderful young actors who will bring Ray McElrathbey’s amazing true story to life on the screen.”
About Disney+:
- Disney’s new direct to consumer streaming service launches in select markets on November 12, 2019 and will be available (at launch) for $6.99/month $69.99/year.
- The family friendly streaming on demand service will showcase hundreds of titles from the Walt Disney Company’s massive library as well as new original content currently in development.
Featured franchises include:
- Pixar
- Marvel
- Star Wars
- National Geographic
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CLEMSON – The featured actors in the movie “Safety” – the film currently being shot on the Clemson University campus – aren’t big-name stars, but they may be after the film is released late next year.
Jay Reeves, who is best known for his role as Shawn Scott in the CW TV series “All American,” will star as former Clemson football player Ray Ray McElrathbey, who while a student at Clemson in 2006 was granted custody of his younger brother, Fahmarr.
Fahmarr, who was 11 at the time, will be played by Thaddeus J. Mixson, while Corinne Foxx will play Kaycee, McElrathbey’s love interest.
Mixson played in “The Grind,” a short drama, in 2014. Foxx, the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx, played the role of Sasha in “47 Meters Down: Uncaged,” an adventure-drama released last month.
Safety director Reginald Hudlin, center, is flanked by Ray Ray McElrathbey, left, and actor Jay Reeves. (Photo: PROVIDED)
“The great thing about this film is it’s all young actors,” said the film’s producer, Mark Ciardi. “We didn’t have to get big stars. I think what the movie about is really the star.”
The film will focus on McElrathbey balancing his life as a student and athlete while caring for his younger brother.
Filming began on Clemson’s campus on Sunday and will continue through Saturday, when scenes will be shot during halftime of the Clemson vs. Charlotte football game at Memorial Stadium. Fans are being urged to remain in their seats at halftime.
McElrathbey, who is serving as a consultant for the film, said Tuesday that he has developed quite the rapport with Reeves.
“We’re taking in each other’s mannerisms,” McElrathbey said. “You know how they say sometimes with married couples if you spend a lot of time together, you start to look alike? I guess it’s one of those things because we spend a great amount of time together these days, so I guess you start to favor one another in a sense.
“He’s a great actor. He’s learning my dialect and speech patterns and all that and it’s weird to have somebody study you to portray, but also humbling.”
Mark Ciardi, producer for the film ‘Safety’ being filmed at Clemson, watches a scene from the movie Monday. (Photo: SCOTT KEEPFER/Staff)
Ciardi said competition for the film’s three major roles was intense.
“Just in Atlanta casting we had over 5,000 people, so it’s like winning the lottery,” Ciardi said. “You look for that chemistry.”
Ciardi said that someone has been cast to play the role of then-coach Tommy Bowden, but the remaining coaches will be “composite characters.”
After filming wraps in Clemson this weekend, the remaining scenes will be shot in Atlanta, which is McElrathbey’s hometown. Filming is expected to conclude in mid-November and the movie will debut on the soon-to-launch Disney+ service late next year.
Disney also has the option of releasing the film theatrically, and Ciardi is confident that there will be “a huge screening” for the film at Clemson.
5 THINGS ABOUT THE MOVIE: Why Disney is making a movie about Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY ON SCREEN: Disney movie about a former Clemson player will film on campus, at Memorial Stadium
CAST MEMBER: So you want to be in a movie about Clemson football? This may be your chance
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