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
What would you do if shortly after losing your job you receive an offer to hack into a computer for $5 million? This concept is explored in the new British heist film The Pay Day (Vertical Entertainment, November 11). The post-pandemic story was developed and written by award-winning actors Sam Benjamin and Kyla Frye, who co-star in the movie as Jennifer and George.
“It’s a working class tale about characters … 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
Author, entrepreneur, executive, speaker, and film producer, Robert Pascuzzi, has always been a student of personal development, and that has not changed in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic. “We’re gonna move out of this and the question is, what have you learned from this whole thing?” The Ravine novelist and filmmaker tells So Booking Cool. “Because hopefully this has been a time for everybody to do some … Read the rest
The word networking isn’t one that excites many people. However, if you imagine and/or can mingle in an arena that interests you, networking suddenly doesn’t seem so bad. Well, what about networking outside of your industry? Angelfish director Peter Lee discusses in Part 2 of our conversation about connecting with professionals from other fields, especially in the creative space.
“The creative industry merges and mixes so much that I … 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
