When Terra Renee went to audition for an under-five role (a minor acting part with five lines or less) and saw about a thousand women who also fit the bill, she knew she had to do something. “I closed the door and I walked away,” she tells So Booking Cool. “I said I have to create jobs for women of color in this industry.”
She was young, zealous, but awakened … Read the rest
Sometimes advice is situational, other times it is lasting. Researching and creating while awaiting the next opportunity is a philosophy that award-winning independent filmmaker Nakia Stephens (Cream x Coffee; Suga Water; Nepotista) continues to impart. While this guidance is for those who aspire to tell stories for the screens, it can be applied to anyone with a dream. Recently, the Damn Write Originals founder spoke with … Read the rest
There are levels to the craft, something fitness mogul and songwriter-turned filmmaker Barry Jay and Emmy-winning television and film professional Mike Manning understand well. The two recently appeared on So Booking Cool to promote their new multi-award-winning film The Way Out, which is now available on digital, demand, and DVD.
With The Way Out being his third film, Jay decided to take a bit of a different approach. “People … Read the rest
Sometimes actors will seek books for craft, sometimes they will seek it for perseverance. Sheena Faust, star of the feel-good Another Christmas (Stacie Davis Films) and creator of the upcoming series WAISS (Why Am I Still Single?) can relate. “I really enjoy personal development books,” she tells SBC. “I think that this craft can be difficult at times. It is a journey. Actors, whenever we start … Read the rest
From books and journalism to filmmaking, Stacie Davis Hamilton has been a storyteller for many years. The likes of Mildred D. Taylor (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry), Lorraine Hansberry (A Raisin in the Sun), and Barbara Park (Junie B. Jones) were early inspirations, especially the latter who she credits for introducing her to writing. A pivotal moment in her journey came during her … Read the rest
Rickey Jackson personifies strength. In 2014, he was America’s longest wrongfully held prisoner, making him incarcerated for nearly 40 years. He bears his story in the new must-see, star-reviewed docu-thriller Lovely Jackson, directed by Matt Waldeck. From the man himself, Jackson exclusively shares the top 7 reasons people should watch the film, which just premiered at this past month’s American Black Film Festival (ABFF).
1. It has an underlying … Read the rest
Award-winning visionary Hezues R, whose worn the hats of creative director, executive producer, screenwriter, music video director, U.S. delegate, and two-time White House honoree, says he is now doing his most important work to date with his upcoming film about mental health, Suicide Saint. The branding and advertising maven, who is also an entrepreneur and keynote speaker, has created successful campaigns for many including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs … Read the rest
The new award-winning documentary, The Prison Within, asks viewers to change what they think they know about incarcerated people. In the gripping film, narrated by Hill Harper, survivors of brutal crime and prisoners gather to share their respective untreated trauma by participating in the Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG). The group is described as a restorative justice program that helps incarcerated individuals understand and gain insight into the underlying … Read the rest
The Animal People documentary raises conversations about activism and using one’s voice. While it may seem easy to connect the two, there are strong opinions about there being a difference between a Twitter Warrior and an activist, the belief that social issues and causes are more than hashtags, and praise should be reserved for those who are actively working to make change, whether they choose to broadcast it or not. … Read the rest
“There is no direct path to being a director, which is ironic,” Angelfish (2019) filmmaker Peter Lee tells So Booking Cool in support of his debut feature film, starring rapper Princess Nokia and Jimi Stanton (The Punisher, Wu-Tang: An American Saga).
Lee’s interest in film began in his youth, which involved the tradition of going to the “cinema” or “the movies” (he admits he is still … Read the rest
