Mary J. Blige in next Tyler Perry film

By Jay A. Fernandez-Hollywood Reporter

March 19, 2009

Tyler Perry is adding some harmony to his next picture.

The writer-director has cast nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige (pictured left) in "I Can Do Bad All by Myself," an adaptation of one of his early plays. Blige joins Taraji P. Henson, recently nominated for an Oscar, in the Lionsgate release, which is due in theaters Sept. 11.

In the film, Blige will play a nightclub manager and singer who is good friends with Henson's character. Madea, Perry's most iconic creation, also will appear in the movie, which is shooting at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

Blige is coming off two sold-out national tours and is in the studio working on a new album due out this year from Interscope Geffen. The singer already has eight platinum or multiplatinum albums.

Blige, who is repped by ICM and Kendu Isaacs, recently guest starred on "Entourage" and is lining up another TV gig for later in the year. She most recently appeared in "Prison Song," and her music has graced a host of TV and feature soundtracks.

Cool Black's Mad Commentary: I love, Love, LOVE Mary J. She is my favorite singer and has been since What's The 411?, but can she act? We'll find out this fall I guess. The only time I've seen her act was on an episode of The Jamie Foxx show where she played Ron "Mr. Biggs" Isley's daughter and...I love, Love, LOVE Mary J. she is my favorite singer.

*More on Tyler Perry's next two films in my post appropiately titled Tyler Perry's Next Two Films

Chris Brown/Rihanna Re-enactment

Alleged Chris Brown/ Rihanna Altercation Re-Enacted In Disturbing PSA
DoSomething.org public service announcement aims to spread awareness of dating violence.
By Gil Kaufman-MTV News

Using what it claims are "actual detective notes," the teen organization DoSomething.org has released a disturbing public service announcement (below) that re-enacts a domestic-violence altercation that is unspecified but clearly based on the alleged incident between Chris Brown and Rihanna. The PSA aims to spread awareness about dating violence. (Warning, the clip contains violent imagery.)

The nearly two-minute video features a somber voiceover narrator reading the police transcript of a report on the incident as a pair of young actors play out the scenario that police claim took place on February 8, in which Brown is alleged to have beaten and bitten his girlfriend during an argument inside his rented car. While the clip does not portray the bloodied, bruised aftermath of the alleged fight — and distances itself from Brown and Rihanna by using white actors — it paints a grim picture of dating violence.

The PSA ends with the words, "Mad? Do something about it. One in three teens are abused in a relationship." The video encourages teens to wear three bracelets, one blue, two black, to illustrate the statistics about dating abuse (they are available at dosomething.org/abuse).
Commenting on the clip, DoSomething CEO Nancy Lublin told The Associated Press, "We didn't want to be overdramatic. Our goal was not to shoot a Lifetime TV movie. ... There was no need to sensationalize things. It was bad enough."

Lublin noted that the organization purposely used white actors to move the conversation away from the celebrity singers, who are both black, and onto the more general topic of domestic violence.

"The public is very focused right now on Chris and Rihanna," Lublin said. "I think people need to realize that this is an issue that goes beyond those particular people, and it affects everybody of every race. And so we wanted this to not be an exact re-enactment. We wanted instead to say: Could this be you?"

Brown, 19, has been charged with two felony counts, assault and making criminal threats, in the case and is due back in court on April 6 for his arraignment, at which time he could enter a plea.

Go here for domestic-violence resources, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse.



Previous news
Rihanna to hit the big screen with 'Bodyguard' ?

LAPD Details Rihanna Beating

Chris Brown drama 2009

MLK on MTV?

Deal could turn King’s words into songs
Estate makes contract with EMI for music, online media
By MARK DAVIS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A music-publishing giant and one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s sons announced a deal Tuesday that they say will extend the reach of the civil-rights leaders’ speeches and other works to songs and online media.

The agreement between EMI Music Publishing and Atlanta-based Intellectual Properties Management means musicians of all types will be able incorporate to the slain minister’s words into their work, said Dylan Jones, EMI’s vice president of corporate communications. Intellectual Properties Management, or IPM, oversees licensing for The King Estate.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] The agreement, said Jones, also covers online and digital media, too. “I think that it will cross all genres and styles,” he said.

The deal should “increase The King Estate’s ability to preserve, perpetuate and protect the great legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Dexter King.

Dexter’s siblings, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, said in a statement that they had no information about the deal. They have been in a months-long court battle with their brother to settle lawsuits over their parents’ estates.

One suit seeks to determine who controls the personal items of their mother, Coretta Scott King, who died in January 2006. That suit prompted the collapse last year of a $1.4 million book deal about their mother’s life. Another suit would force Dexter to open the books of their father’s estate.

The EMI agreement, said Jones, will mean money for The King Estate — but he wouldn’t say how much. “Anytime there is money being made, the estate is entitled to recompense,” he said.

The “big picture” means people will have greater access to King’s words, said Kendall Minter, a Stone Mountain lawyer who specializes in entertainment law. “What it does is, it gives the public more of an opportunity to get the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through different vehicles,” he said.

The deal, said Atlanta entertainment lawyer Monica Ewing, is “extraordinary.”

“I can’t imagine who the people are who will be using his speeches in music,” she said.

Some EMI artists are eager to use King’s words, said Jones, who declined to name specific performers.

“This,” he said, “is a very exciting time for us.”

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.

* Related post This Day Didn't Come Easy

Rihanna to hit the big screen with 'Bodyguard' ?

NY DAILY NEWS

The battered pop star made an impromptu trip to the Big Apple over the weekend to have some meetings about impending projects: one of which is a proposed remake of 1992’s Whitney Houston/Kevin Costner flick, “The Bodyguard.” Rihanna would be taking on Whitney’s role in the updated version, which an insider says would be a “young and sexy take” on the favorite film. “GI Joe” hottie Channing Tatum’s name has been bandied about to take on Costner’s role.

“Before the situation with Chris, Ri was getting a lot of scripts. She’s been wanting to do movies for a while now,” our insider reveals. In addition to a proposed “Bodyguard” remake, Rihanna is also considering working on a “Charlies Angels” sequel, as well as potentially starring alongside Justin Timberlake, with whom she released her hit single “Rehab.” Rihanna’s camp denied the songstress has taken any meetings with any directors, producers or production companies.
In addition to talking about her acting career, Ri is working on her new album, which will be released by year’s end. Two new tracks have already been cut - “We Own the Night” and “Pretty Girl Blues.”

Unfortunately, Rihanna has no plans to write or produce her own tracks at the moment. Another person who will not be earning writer/producer credits on the forthcoming album in R&B artist Ne-Yo. “Ne-yo’s been talking about Ri and Chris, which has really hurt her feelings. She thought they were cool with each other.” (Reps for both singers denied their talent had an issue with each other.)

Ne-Yo has been vocal about his feelings on Rihanna’s relationship with boyfriend Chris Brown, who was arrested for assaulting the pop princess back in February. “I spoke to Rihanna. She says she’s fine. She didn’t go into detail about what happened...I understand it’s a painful situation; I didn’t push,” he told MTV.

In the meantime, Rihanna is surrounding herself with other friends who are more careful with what they tell the media. On Friday night, Rihanna joined longtime mentor Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce for a quiet dinner at the Spotted Pig.

The following evening, Ri was back in the West Village for a late dinner at Da Silvano. “Rihanna was dining with five friends and a security guard,” an eyewitness tells us. “It was a bit odd - she was wearing sunglasses inside at 11 PM - like that was going to stop people from noticing her!” Our spy hastens to add, “But you know, Rihanna really looked good. She seemed happy - like she’s finally healing.”

*Related blog entry LAPD Details Rihanna Beating

"MacGyver" being reassembled as feature film

By Borys Kit and Jay Fernandez

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - It will take more than twine, bubble gum and a pencil to do it, but the science-oriented adventure series "MacGyver" is being developed as a feature film for New Line.

"MacGyver" ran from 1985 to 1992 on ABC. Richard Dean Anderson, later of "Stargate: Atlantis" and "SG-1" fame, starred as an incredibly resourceful secret agent for the Phoenix Foundation who frequently would escape from dangerous situations with ingenious and lightning-quick engineering trickery.

Two telefilms starring Anderson aired in the years after the show's cancellation. The character eventually achieved enough cultural recognition to become a reference for anyone attempting to jury-rig a solution out of household items. "Saturday Night Live" took the concept to the next level with its "MacGruber" spoofs starring Will Forte.

Raffaella De Laurentiis, daughter of veteran producer Dino De Laurentiis, is producing the movie through her Raffaella Prods. along with Martha De Laurentiis and series creator Lee Zlotoff. Dino De Laurentiis is executive producing.

No writer has been hired. The studio hopes to find a script that acknowledges the concept's pop-culture profile yet still makes for a serious and fun adventure movie.

"We think we're a stick of chewing gum, a paper clip and an A-list writer away from a global franchise," said New Line's Richard Brener.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)

Cool Black's Mad Commentary: I used to love, Love, LOVE this show. I hope the film producers do the show justice and not another lame tv remake like "The Dukes of Hazzard" and such.

Tyler Perry's Next Two Films

Lionsgate has acquired the rights to the next two films from writer/director/actor/producer Tyler Perry, "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself" and "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too." The announcement comes as the latest title in Lionsgate's Tyler Perry franchise, "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail," continues its reign as the country’s #1 film for the second week in a row.

Academy Award® nominee Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") stars in "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself," which is based on Perry's play of the same name. Perry's signature character, the indomitable Madea, will be featured in the film. Principal photography is scheduled to begin on March 16 at the new Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself" is expected to be released nationwide on September 11, 2009.

"Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too" is a sequel to the 2007 critical and box office hit "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married." Principal photography will begin later this year, and the film is expected to be released nationwide on Easter weekend, April 2, 2010. Last year, "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns" opened on Easter weekend (March 21, 2008), with a three-day box office total of $20 million.

-Black Talent News

LAPD Details Rihanna Beating

Singer told cop how Chris Brown punched, bit her in February assault

The Smoking Gun

MARCH 5--In case you seek more information about the singer Rihanna's alleged beating at the hands of her boyfriend Chris Brown, a Los Angeles search warrant application further details the February 8 incident involving the chart-topping singers. In a sworn affidavit, LAPD Detective De Shon Andrews provides an account of the attack based on Rihanna's statements to police. The search warrant affidavit, a copy of which you'll find below, was filed to secure cellular phone records for Rihanna, Brown, and one of Rihanna's personal assistants. According to the affidavit, Brown sought to push Rihanna out of his rented Lamborghini during an argument, and banged her head against the car's passenger window. He then allegedly punched her repeatedly and warned, "I'm going to beat the shit out of you when we get home! You wait and see!" Bloodied, Rihanna reportedly then called her assistant Jennifer Rosales and left a message asking the aide to call police.

Brown responded, the affidavit notes, by saying, "You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I'm really going to kill you!" Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is referred to in the affidavit as "Robyn F." Brown was charged today with assault and making a criminal threat, both felonies, and is expected to be arraigned later today In L.A. Superior Court. Brown's phone records are of particular interest to LAPD investigators since a second Rihanna assistant, Melissa Ford, told Det. Andrews on February 17 that she had received a text message from Brown apologizing "for what he had done to Robyn F. and advised Ford that he was going to get help." The text message, Ford told cops, came from a number she recognized as Brown's. A call today to that number, which carries an area code from Brown's home state of Virginia, was immediately forwarded to an "automated voice messaging system."

Below the now infamous leaked photo

*Previous post Chris Brown drama 2009