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
We often discuss the process of writing a book, but how does one protect (or sustain) that process? 24-year-old educator and author Jared McPhoy shares his approach for when he penned his debut page-turning memoir By Grace Through Faith: A Journey of Self-Discovery (Priceless Publishing).
“The truth is no one I knew knew I was writing a book,” he tells SBC. “I kept it a secret for a very long … 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
How can a writer be unique on the page when emulating another writer? Multi-hyphenate and doctor, Omar Mora, explains how this is possible. He uses his new book Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru (Moras Productions; illustrated by Miguel Guzman and Edwin Estrada), which launched at this past 2022 Comic Con, as an example. “Ancient Explorers is inspired by stories like Indiana Jones, The Goonies… Read the rest
The marvelous Miss Melba Moore recently visited So Booking Cool to discuss her thoughts on her accomplishments and honors (next year she will receive her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and next month, she will be awarded with not one but two, presidential honors); whether or not music is vibrational; if she still trains as a vocalist decades later; her thoughts on the current state of R&B; … Read the rest
In the wake of the pandemic and social unrest, Rudeboy’s Restaurant filmmaker Philipp Yaw has turned to art. “I think like a lot of African American people, we’re not unfamiliar with struggle,” he tells So Booking Cool. “And so, I think I’ve kind of been raised and trained from a young age to take the hurt, take the pain, and channel that into something.” During his childhood, he utilized his … 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
In So Booking Cool’s continuing conversation, get to know Emmy-winning editor Nena Erb, ACE. The film and television professional, whose career spans beyond a decade, just earned a 2020 Emmy nomination for her work (alongside assistant editor Lynarion Hubbard) on the HBO series Insecure’s Lowkey Trying episode, directed by Kerry Washington. Erb discusses her foray into the industry; her favorite genre to work on; her thoughts on award shows; … Read the rest
