Random Things I've Been Meaning to Post About

So I must begin this much overdue post with a huge apology to Thandie Newton. I underestimated her talent in such a huge way. She was incredible in For Colored Girls, as was the entire cast. The movie was a departure from the average Tyler Perry project. I thought the cinematography was actually well done. I thought the movie was powerful. For some the movie may have been “too” much. However I don’t think this project For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enough is something that can ever be simple. The title is not simple. The stories are not simple. The characters are not simple. It to me seems like a composite of “too much.” Which makes it powerful and beautiful. The other argument is th e dramatic black film…people say they are tired of the movie of the black struggle. Point taken…however that is somewhat the difference between movies and tv most times. I say let’s just be happy we have a black film, support it, and allow for opportunities for other films to flood the theatres.

Speaking of Tyler Perry and more uplifting entertainment…where the movies tend to hit one nerve….the plays hit anoth er. Madea’s Big Happy Family is imo the best of Tyler Perry’s plays. It was the usual setup of any of the Madea plays for the one exception, no Cora who has been the only staple character in the world of Madea besides Madea…because Madea has one very confusing family tree if we are speaking honestly taking in both the movies and plays. So what makes this play different…nothing. I just think the format has finally been perfected, has been refined, has reached a certain quality now that Tyler Perry is now Tyler Perry. I can’t find an actual document listing the names of the cast, strange eno ugh, to spotlight certain members of the cast who were incredible. This time around, the acting wasn’t too shabby…though a bit overly dramatic I was impressed they could “go there.” Cause some haven’t been able to go to actual emotional places. I know I and have heard others skip the singing in many of the previous plays. Not this one. The singing is really something to watch and the songs aren’t that half bad. And of course Madea is Madea. Funny and straight shooting. I regret not having paid the high price to go see it live when it came to New Orleans. However, I did not have that high price and still enjoyed the experience watching it for $1 from the redbox, in which I had to stalk via online to get a copy of the dvd. Mr. Pe rry the ticket prices man, the ticket prices. Don’t forget your people. I can’t afford the ticket prices.

Speaking of actors to spotlight…let’s first start with Essence Atikins. She’s been doing her thing since Smart Guy and is still under rated in so many ways. I just recently say her in the movie, Preacher’s Kid which starred Letoya Luckett formerly of Destiny’s Child. This movie would have been just some movie if it wasn’t for Ms. Essence. She had a small role, but to me she stole the movie and carried it on her back with the few scenes she was in. So I just wanted to spotlight her.

So Desperate Housewives keeps finding ways to keep the show alive which is pretty incredible because it has been on the air for quite some time now. What’s the current secret? Vanessa Williams. After the end of Ugly Betty, which broke my heart, Vanessa Williams returns to t he screen in her great diva-bitch fashion that she does so well and completely steals the show. Wilhelmina Slater will always be missed by me, but this will suffice.

Speaking of Desperate Housewives, I s aw this amazing indie film on HBO on demand a few months back titled Don’t Let Me Drown. It was really cool. Carlos, Gabby’s husband was also in the film, which is how I relate it to desperate housewives. The two stars of the movie, E. J. Bonilla and Gleendilys Inoa gave incredible, natural, rich performances. I always like to see what the careers of these young emerging actors are like to try to put two and two together. The two stars of this movie will be in another indie movie that looks very promising. The film is called Yelling to the Sky and has somewhat of a all star cast in the sense of new young emerging promising talent. Of course the two actors previously mentioned are in it. So is Academy Award Nominated Gabourey Sidibe, Issiah fro the old school Halle Berry, Laura Linney film Loosing Issiah, Marc John Jeffries, and Lenny Kravitz's daughter Zoe Kravitz in the lead role.

Speaking of Laura Linney and Gabourey...these two starred in what was probably my favorite new show of the season, Showtime's, The Big C. The season finale had me crying.

Showtime’s other great show, Dexter. Last season Rita, Dexter’s wife, was killed by the season’s serial killer. It was compelling, gripping, shocking, and honestly it pissed me off. I recognized it as great, great writing, but I vowed to not watch the show again as it was just too much for me to deal with, Dramatic right? Anyway, I didn’t stick to the dramatics I silently spoke and have been watching this season faithfully just like the others not knowing how they would keep me involved after such hurt. These Dexter people are smart…they must have been like, what can we do for Brian to keep him with us…I know let’s call Julia Stiles from Save the Last Dance. That worked for me. And Julia Stiles is giving her best performance since she was breaking it down in club steps, breaking it down with Kerry Washington. It has made for the best season of Dexter since the 1^st or 2^nd season imo. BTW, a little disappointed with Weeds this season. The show has been on a decline for me since season 2 and with no Celila...it's been rougher.

I mentioned ABC pulling the plug on Ugly Betty and breaking my heart, well they did it again this season with My Generation. Maybe I was the only one who liked the show. I don’t know. But I did. I thought it was smart and well made and I was into it and two episodes deep it gets cut off on me. I’m like I know I saw a preview for next’s weeks episode. When, how will I ever see it? I was really enjoying the performance from Sebastian Sozzi, who is a new actor I got wind of from the show. The next episode was really going to feature his character, so I'm mad he didn't get that spotlight. All this made for the season of TV rough for me. Not like I have had the time, but then again I have had the time, but what is there really to watch. There isn’t really anything that interests me. Thank goodness BET has done something so profound and has saved The Game. Is it too late to save Girlfriends. What was that, the CW. Man those people really did a number to black tv didn’t they.

My favorite past-time, The Young and the Restless, has been truly good daytime TV for the past week all rolling off of a trip to New Orleans that became a trip of lust and romance between Sharon and Adam. To top that, there's the addition of a new black character and employment of a black actor, Angell Conwell. This girl has been acting for years and has one of those recognizable faces, but hasn't made it big big as I had no idea what her name was. She's killing it on Y&R, and I have to say...is it me or doesn't she look like Jennifer Hudson or Jennifer Hudson's sister/cousin.

Breaks My Heart

Oh this breaks my heart. So on November 5, 2010 Tyler Perry will release his next motion picture, a film adaption of the play "Four Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuff" which will include an all star cast that originally included Mariah Carey, but now stars Thandie Newton in that spot as Mariah had to drop out for reasons that have not yet surfaced. I'm so bummed. Don't get me wrong, Thandie Newton is an amazing actres and I'm sure she is fantastic in this film, but I was so excited to see what Mariah would bring and looking at the trailer a lot of Thandie's scenes are with Whoopi Goldberg, which would have meant a lot of Mariah's scenes would have been with Whoopi Goldberg. Now that breaks my heart even more. My two favorite women could have been together...acting in brilliance. Wold have been something I tell ya. Oh well, I'm still looking forward to the movie.

Real Talk

Got a chance to meet and listen to JD and Katelynn from The Real World: Brooklyn speak at ULL this week for ULL’s GLBT week’s activities. I’m really happy I went because first I enjoyed it. Katelynn is realy funny and had the audience cracking up. Second it was just plain nice to be out of the house and return to my old stomping ground and run into a few people and get a few hugs. Third, it was important. I performed a solo piece my senior year in one of my theatre classes that took on the issue of kids committing suicide because of bullying regarding homosexuality. That was a year ago, and now the issue has continued and been brought to more of a national attention, so supporting this cause, hearing the stories, I think all of that can be simple step in the right direction. If more people understood, could put a face to it, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to judge/hate. Oh the world we live in.

JD

Katelynn

Shots From Drood

I have no idea when these pictures were taken or who took them, but they look great. Drood was the last show I was in back in March, and it served as my first musical ever. The musical is based on The Mystery of Edwin Drood written by Charles Dickens. I played The Rev. Crisparkle. My cast battled between who I looked like Morgan Freeman or Danny Glover. Lol. I'll take either, they're both talented actors to be compared to.

Testing

Testing to see if the Microsoft program actually works. Advancement? Possible.

The Christmas Dinner Audio Preview (Low Quality)

To anyone reading, it has been a long time. I went away for the summer, but I'm back and posting something that's cool for me to post. I wish the audio was better, but I wanted to put it up anyway.

The Birthday Dinner Photo Gallery

If you look on the side bar you can check out the photos for The Birthday Dinner.

The Christmas Dinner: A Play By Brian Egland Reading

So we had the reading of The Christmas Dinner Sunday, May 1, 2010, and I have to say..I was pleased and surprised about how great everything went. I usually don't know if I really ike my script until I get to hear my words. I really liked it. I think it is more powerful than The Birthday Dinner which is a huge statement for me to make. For the reading we were fully casted with 10 actors for the 10 charcaters in the play. Everyone from The Birthday Dinner returned with the exception of Hunter Burke (Miles), he just couldn't make it. That is one busy man. I'll point out the new cast members in some of the pics I will post below.

Sheryl Ned (Pearl Pete) Jasmine Chapman ( Jeryline Pete)

Lance Guidry (Miles Zeeman) Andrew John ( Mason Lite)

My Good Friends Meghan Raca and Trina Auzenne with Kenny Gabriel (Guy Channing)

The Mother Daughter Duo

Jasmine Chapman (Jeryline Pete) & Amandah Baker (Emma Osmond)

Emma and her Boo!

Andrew John (Mason Lite) & Amandah Baker (Emma Osmond)

Allison Schilhab (Ava Stone) & Jeremy Drewery (Kaden "KC" Channing)

The Pete Women

Emma, Jeryline, Judith, & Pearl

Amandah Baker, Jasmine Chapman, Kristina Marshall, & Sheryl Ned

The Men of the Family

KC, Guy, & Boris

Jeremy Drewery, Kenny Gabriel, & Jamel Small

Part of

The Christmas Dinner Reading Cast

Jeremy Drewery, Kenny Gabriel, Amandah Baker, Jasmine Chapman, Me, Kristina Marshall, Jamel Small

And I Finally Got To See

I finally got a chance to see David E. Talbert's Love In The Nick of Tyme courtsey of BET. Sundays BET has been geting it right. A few months ago they played Polly, and though I missed it, I appreciated them putting backk on the air for new viewers to see it's brillance. Now I was debating on buying Mr. Talbert's new DVD cause well, I'm broke and I can't afford to buy some random DVD that I don't know if it's good or not. Especially when I don't even own some of my favorite films on DVD. But the catch is, I do like Mr. Talbert's work and I really wanted to see it. And the cast line up seemed really interesting. Morris Chestnut, Avant, Treynce from American Idol and Terry Dexter. Luckily enough BET heard my silent cry and BET put it on the air, I of course didn't know about it, but my mom did and recorded it. It was good. Mr. Talbert's work is very professional and refined, though I don't think this was his best play....I really enjoyed it. And I was able to enjoy more, because it didn't jeapordize any of my funds. The one thing in the play.....that was like oh lord...though it's petty of me....he had a character named Jeryline.

Being that my lead character's name is Jeryline....it was like oh man...people going to think I stole that from him....but really I was mor ebotheres by the fact that the name, imo, didn't really fit the character. The name's two powerful for such a samll charcter. But that's just how I see it.

In other news BET is also airing the movie that I rented and posted about, Truth Hall. I debated spending the $3.00 to rent this movie off of Amazon and finally talked myself into and was highly upset that I did. Now.....oh man....hindsight....I should have waited. BET would have played it all along and I would of found out I didn't like it...for free.

But either or....I really do appreciate BET exposing those Black Films and Black Artists...whether the work is great or still aspiring. I wonder what I have to do to get The Birthday Dinner on the Sunday lineup.

I Heart The Color Purple

Sometimes life work out right. Got a call from Ms. Kristina Marshall who played Judith in The Birthday Dinner. She's doing fine btw. Well, long story short, she stumbled upon two tickets to The Color Purple and was even having trouble giving the extra ticket away...that is until she called me. I had no idea that the tour was coming around here, which I really need to get on cause I don't want to miss anything else.

Needless to go into detail....the play was amazing. It was just amazing. I feel very honored to see a great show like this as I don't have the means to go to New York to catch all of the Broadway show's I would love to see. Though the show was great, I did see the touring production. The cast did amazingly...but I would love to see Fantasaia as Ceily. Oh my. I would love to see that. But I'm happy I at least saw something and what I did see was amazing.

Spotlight: Actors Who Killed It

Luis Guzman

You most deffinetly recognize this face when you see it. This actor, Mr. Guzman, has been in about every Latin/Hispanic (sorry I'm not sure what term is politically correct) movie/show that has been out, except for Ugly Betty for some strange reason. At least I didn't see him on it. Well he is currently on a show on HBO called How To Make It In America which stars homeboy who played Jake on One Tree Hill, my favorite rapper, Kid Cudi, and one of my favorite rising actors, Victor Rasuk. Well Mr. Guzman is killing it on this show. All of those years of taking part in all of those movies are really showing effect in some great performances by this man. Could he be the next Monique?

Josh Zuckerman

Do you watch Desperate Housewives? You might not recognize him in this picture, but this is Eddie. The homeboy who is killing on the woman and the actor who is just killing it. His performance on this past Sunday's episode hit me like a tidal wave. I was blown away, but the depth of it...but Desperate Housewives imo does provide good quality moments very often. You might also remember this Josh from his role on Klye XY. He was Lori's professor boyfriend who appeared to be double dipping between good and evil, but abc fmaily canceled the show before everything are anything was really cleared. Anyway, proud to see Mr. Josh move on and to something that made him shine like the one I am mentioning.




Wendie Malick
This lady played the principal in the squeal to Alvin and the Chipmunks and killed it. I know, the Alvi and the Chipmunks movie....I like them...my brother who didn't want to watch it...liked it...and this women killed it. I checked out her IMDB and she's been acting for years. I even recognized her once I saw her filmography. I guess some actor's never get into that super bright spotlight, but Wendie: you are killing it. Keep doing it. BTW Theodore is so great. I heart him.

And I Finally Got To See

I finally worked up the nerve and spent the money buying the beloved Polly. The Disney African American TV Musical Movie Directed By Debbie Allen. Polly is an adaption of Pollyanna. Basically if Pollyanna and her people were black...and the result is it would be good. It was good. It even had a sequel, in which I brought too. The sequel deffinetly pale in comparison to the first, but man is it nice to see a world you love extend and to see those characters and bonds alive once more...even if it's not as great. At least I like things like that.

Well though the sequel fell off a bit, what I really enjoyed most was seeing the realtionship between Polly and Jimmy Bean. I guess I'm a sucker for a good love story or what seems to be a good love story.

Now this is Polly and Jimmy Bean then.

And this is Polly and Jimmy Bean now.

I would love to see a third film. These kids have grown up to be beautiful people and that is of course the makings of a great TV romance. All jokes aside it would be great to see Polly and Jimmy bean togather again as adults in a whole new action adventure story. Come on Debbie Allen...make this happen for me. lol.

Why Did I Get Married Too

So the man who I get much comparison to,premiered...well ya'll all know...Why Did I Get Married TOO came out last weekend. I saw it twice. By circumstance, but happy I did. I get to view the movie two different ways. I was actually able to watch the movie once and take in the movie for the script, camera angles, acting, facial expressions, plot, etc...and then I was able to take in the movie by how it impacted the audience...seeing what made them react and learning even more what makes an audience tick or in some cases what ticks them off.

I thought the movie was good. I've had this and I've heard that about the film, but for what the film was and for the audience that it was really made for, it was great. The audience was really into it. I don't think it had that same thing the first movie had, but that being said this movie was more grabbing due to it's complex plot that kept me on my toes.

Janet was amzing in the movie. I always thought she was a great actress since Poetic Justice than as I got older I got acquainted with her earlier works TV works. I have no idea why Janet has done more films (then again she is a busy singing superstar.) But there was a apart in the movie and Janet turned around and I looked at her eyes and her face, and Janet was completly gone. I thought that was pretty cool as an actor watching another actor and as a Janet Jackson fan. It was interesting to see her disappear and be totally lost in someone else or another emotion than what is commonly seen.

Overall, I think Tyler Perry...well obviously the man is doing well...I think he's getting better at the movie thing too. I hope he starts to put more focus on qulaity of film. I believe that would be the next step for him to break out of the box he's being put into. Maybe with the next project he'll do it. His necxt film is a movie version of the play Four Colored Girls Who've Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is not Enough. And the movie has an allstar cast. I'll post about it later.

The Christmas Dinner Reading

Returning from my 2nd trip to the E.R. in a three month span...and amongst other dramas of life, I would like to focus on some positive aspects of life. That being said...The Christmas Dinner is going to have a reading. I'm very excited about it. As of right now I have 8.5 of my 10 actors needed which excites me because putting together schedules is a tough thing...so I'm happy to have 8.5 schedules that had some free time. The Christmas Dinner will only be a reading, not a staged reading, or a production (as of now). I'm just having a reading to kind of hear how the words sound, what works and what doesn't work, and of course to reunite with my incredible cast from The Birthday Dinner with the addition of two new actors for the two new characters that are introduced in The Christmas Dinner. Anyway for those who may or may not read this blog, and for those who are interested in my work, saw The Birthday Dinner and enjoyed, or whatever and would like to hear the reading of The Christmas Dinner...send me an e-mail...or make a comment on this post. I may have a few places avilable and it could be beneficial to have a few ears. IDK. Since it's not a staged reading...I do feel I have to limit what ears hear, since it will be a cold read for the cast. But all that is details. Hopefully everything works out and hopefully I stop needed to go to the E.R.

The Birthday Dinner Cast Updates

You can see Hunter Burke (Miles) At the end making a cameo in the WWE Film 12 Rounds starring WWE Superstar John Cena. We'll deffinetly be seeing Hunter on the screen more and more and more.

Kenny Gabriel (Guy Channing) has been a very busy man. He was a ina production of a great show called Indigo Blues at Cite des Art, downtown lafayette. He was amazing in it btw. From therem he went on to be in Good Thing, The ULL Performing Arts Production for this semster. I was able to see the show, since Drood ran at the same time, but I did go to a rehearsal and what can I say that hasn;t been said. Kenny is great. He is now going to step into directing and direct a scene from the play, Kimberly Akimboo.

Kristina Marshall (Judith) recently performed a selection from Porgy and Bess as part of a youth outreach put on by PASA meant to bring awareness of issues to teens through the use of art.

Amandah Baker (Emma) held the exteme position of Assitant Stage Manager for the ULL PFAR Production of Good Thing.

Jeremy Drewrey (KC Jeremy willbe in two of the driecting scenes this year for PFAR's annual showcase, one being Kenny's scene from Kimberly Akimboo. Very excited to see Jeremy since last semster he gave a really solid standout performace during that semster's showcase.

More updates to come to keep you informed on these talented actors and bright stars.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Me(Rev. Crisparkle) Lana Carver (Rosa)

The Singer Part returned for a few months. I've been busy with ULL Lafayatte Music Department's Production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, in which I was offered the role of the Rev. Crisparkle. Drood was my very first musical...and it had a full blown orchestra. I had only sang with a piano and drum before...and once to acoustic guitar. It was a huge stretch. Also it was a musical...and I've mentioned on this blog before...I'm not much of a musical theatre singer...but I felt it would be the best thing for me if I at least try my hand at it. I sucked at first and got better as it went a long, and even had some good moments. I don't believe I had good singing vocal moments...because as a singer...I don't use my voice or don't know how to use my voice under those circumstances. Kudos to those who do...(the other incredibly talented membes of the Drood cast)to have even stood on the stage and sing with such incredibly talented people is an honor and a really great oppurtunity.

The Birthday Dinner Honored

So I have some great news, that I'm posting about 2 months later. I have to apologize to anyone who may actually be reading this blog, for not updating it more regularly. But off with the news....back in Feburary...amongst having a really crazy week, I get a phone call from a lady named Gretchen Smith who is the chair of The Kenedy Center Acmerican College Theatre Festival for it's Sixth Region. She called me on a Tuesday morning, and told me that my play, The Birthday Dinner was one of the top plays at the festival, she wanted me to go to the festival Friday to be there for a reading of the play on Saturday.

To even add to the honor...I didn't technically submit my play to the Region Six Festival...so that was the first shocker...I did send it to Ms. Gretchen...but I technically submitted the play to the national festival...because the Regional Festival did not have a category for my play. The competitions were 1 acts and 10 Minute Plays...but Ms. Gretchen liked the play enough to make it an exception...now the play is lenghty to say the least and there was not enough time to read all of it...so we were set to only read the first act...Ms. Gretchen re-arranged the schedule so the entire play could be read. The reading was cool. It was interesting to have my play read by Actors from other universities and people I didn't know. I got some great feedback. And now I'm a Honored Playwrite by The John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Kennedy American College Theatre Festival Region Six For Excellence in Original Playwrighting.

Can you believe? Well yeah...BELIEF...that's what it all took.

Pics From The Birthday Dinner: A Play By Brian Egland

The Pics are finally in! They blew me away. A big thank you to Mr. Tyler Choate. These are not pictures. They are so real. I got to see what I did for the first time, and these pictures...my show was real...it was a real show. These pictures document a play...a real play. My play. The Birthday Dinner.

The Roe Effect and Other Short Films

So one night, it was late, I was having one of those days were I just simply needed some inspiration...and inspiration found me via on demand. I found these amazing short films on HBO on demand and Showtime on demand. You can see them now during this month , (Feb). One of the movies was The Roe Effect. It blew me away. It inspired me. Wish I could go more into detail, but it's something one must see for themselves to understand. What blew me most away was the fact that everyone involved was just trying to do it. Like me. And they were and they are. It inspired me. Shout outs to James Holloway and Cher Santiago. They are cool peoples and deffinetly be looking out for these two. They are taking their steps as well.