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Smith"},{"term":"Treasure Fingers"},{"term":"Trump"},{"term":"Tuskegee"},{"term":"Tyler Perry"},{"term":"U.S. Mint"},{"term":"U.S. Poet Laureate"},{"term":"US Open"},{"term":"United Kingdom"},{"term":"University of North Dakota"},{"term":"University of Notre Dame"},{"term":"Unsung"},{"term":"Ursula Burns"},{"term":"VH1"},{"term":"Valerie Jarrett"},{"term":"Valerie Smith"},{"term":"Vanessa Kingori"},{"term":"Vanity"},{"term":"Vanity Fair Oscar Party"},{"term":"Virginia Johnson"},{"term":"Vivian Green"},{"term":"Vogue"},{"term":"W Magazine"},{"term":"WNBA"},{"term":"Walker's Legacy"},{"term":"Wanda Sykes"},{"term":"We Are King"},{"term":"We Are Queens"},{"term":"WeTheProtesters"},{"term":"Wealth"},{"term":"Weight Watchers"},{"term":"Wheaton College"},{"term":"Will Smith"},{"term":"Williamsburg"},{"term":"Wimbledon"},{"term":"With this Ring"},{"term":"Wondagurl"},{"term":"Xerox"},{"term":"Yara Shahidi"},{"term":"Yoga Racheal"},{"term":"Yona Harvey"},{"term":"You Had Me at Black"},{"term":"YouTubers"},{"term":"Zanele Muholi"},{"term":"Zara"},{"term":"Zella Ziona"},{"term":"Zena Howard"},{"term":"Zoanne Clack"},{"term":"abc family"},{"term":"accessories"},{"term":"accomplishments"},{"term":"achievements"},{"term":"acting"},{"term":"affirmative action"},{"term":"afro"},{"term":"age"},{"term":"airlines"},{"term":"album reviews"},{"term":"album sales"},{"term":"ancestry"},{"term":"anxiety"},{"term":"applications"},{"term":"appropriation"},{"term":"architect"},{"term":"architecture"},{"term":"array"},{"term":"arson"},{"term":"arthoe"},{"term":"austin"},{"term":"austin while black"},{"term":"baby"},{"term":"baby news"},{"term":"bad boy"},{"term":"bail"},{"term":"ballerina"},{"term":"bands"},{"term":"baseball"},{"term":"basketball"},{"term":"beauty products"},{"term":"beauty supply stores"},{"term":"bias"},{"term":"birth"},{"term":"birth control"},{"term":"black artists"},{"term":"black ballerinas"},{"term":"black belle"},{"term":"black business"},{"term":"black celebrities"},{"term":"black church"},{"term":"black death"},{"term":"black directors"},{"term":"black girl groups"},{"term":"black girl magic"},{"term":"black hair"},{"term":"black joy"},{"term":"black liberation"},{"term":"black photographers"},{"term":"black students"},{"term":"black woman pastors"},{"term":"black woman travel"},{"term":"black women bodies"},{"term":"black women choreographers"},{"term":"black women friendships"},{"term":"black women history"},{"term":"black women representations"},{"term":"blogging"},{"term":"book"},{"term":"book deals"},{"term":"breast cancer"},{"term":"brown university"},{"term":"buy black"},{"term":"calendar"},{"term":"camping"},{"term":"campus sexual assault"},{"term":"cancer"},{"term":"change"},{"term":"characters"},{"term":"charity"},{"term":"charts"},{"term":"chemist"},{"term":"chi-raq"},{"term":"child abuse"},{"term":"children"},{"term":"choreographers"},{"term":"chrissy 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gaga"},{"term":"landmark"},{"term":"lauren makk"},{"term":"lawyer"},{"term":"lbgtqi"},{"term":"leadership"},{"term":"legalization of marijuana"},{"term":"legislation"},{"term":"lemonade syllabus"},{"term":"let's move"},{"term":"library"},{"term":"life"},{"term":"lingerie"},{"term":"little black girls"},{"term":"little black girls."},{"term":"live performances"},{"term":"longevity"},{"term":"look"},{"term":"love"},{"term":"low budget travel"},{"term":"makeup"},{"term":"marijuana"},{"term":"marketing"},{"term":"marriage"},{"term":"mayor"},{"term":"meagan taylor"},{"term":"medical marijuana"},{"term":"medicine"},{"term":"menstrual hygiene"},{"term":"menstruation"},{"term":"miami"},{"term":"miley cyrus"},{"term":"military"},{"term":"minimum wage"},{"term":"miss America"},{"term":"missing persons"},{"term":"mixed race"},{"term":"mixtapes"},{"term":"models"},{"term":"morgan freeman"},{"term":"motherhood"},{"term":"motivation"},{"term":"museums"},{"term":"music business"},{"term":"national book awards"},{"term":"national poetry month"},{"term":"natural hair."},{"term":"ne-yo"},{"term":"networks"},{"term":"new babies"},{"term":"new books"},{"term":"new jersey"},{"term":"new shows"},{"term":"notebooks"},{"term":"nude photos"},{"term":"old age"},{"term":"oldest person alive"},{"term":"omar tyree"},{"term":"online media"},{"term":"opioids"},{"term":"over 50"},{"term":"painting"},{"term":"panama"},{"term":"parties"},{"term":"pharmaceuticals"},{"term":"phot"},{"term":"photo exhibits"},{"term":"photo shoots"},{"term":"photographers"},{"term":"physicists"},{"term":"pilots"},{"term":"planes"},{"term":"playlist"},{"term":"political activism"},{"term":"pollution"},{"term":"pop culture"},{"term":"poverty"},{"term":"pregnant"},{"term":"premieres"},{"term":"presidential elections"},{"term":"presidential race"},{"term":"prison industrial complex"},{"term":"prison reform"},{"term":"production deals"},{"term":"professions"},{"term":"pursuit of sexiness"},{"term":"q\u0026a"},{"term":"quilting"},{"term":"race"},{"term":"radio"},{"term":"raised fists"},{"term":"rally"},{"term":"rappers"},{"term":"ratings"},{"term":"raven-symoné"},{"term":"raynette turner"},{"term":"records"},{"term":"rehab"},{"term":"remix"},{"term":"report"},{"term":"restaurants"},{"term":"rock and Roll Hall of Fame"},{"term":"rock music"},{"term":"rolling stones"},{"term":"rom-coms"},{"term":"salvator aquino"},{"term":"sammus"},{"term":"sasheer zamata"},{"term":"satellites"},{"term":"sayhername"},{"term":"school supplies"},{"term":"science"},{"term":"self portraits"},{"term":"selfies"},{"term":"senegalese twists"},{"term":"sentencing"},{"term":"sexuality"},{"term":"shaun king"},{"term":"sheroes"},{"term":"shooting"},{"term":"shootings"},{"term":"shopping"},{"term":"short stories"},{"term":"singing"},{"term":"singles"},{"term":"slavery"},{"term":"small businesses"},{"term":"software engineers"},{"term":"special needs"},{"term":"spike lee"},{"term":"spoken word"},{"term":"star wars"},{"term":"state dinner"},{"term":"stationary"},{"term":"staycation"},{"term":"stephanie dorceant"},{"term":"storytelling"},{"term":"strings"},{"term":"students"},{"term":"stunts"},{"term":"stuntwoman"},{"term":"style"},{"term":"summer reading"},{"term":"supercentenarian"},{"term":"support black business"},{"term":"swim team"},{"term":"tamron Hall"},{"term":"teachers"},{"term":"teaching"},{"term":"temple university"},{"term":"the perfect guy"},{"term":"the view"},{"term":"theatre"},{"term":"theology"},{"term":"three fifths"},{"term":"tour dates"},{"term":"track and field"},{"term":"transgender women"},{"term":"treat yoself"},{"term":"trina"},{"term":"tuli art"},{"term":"tv films"},{"term":"tv series"},{"term":"twins"},{"term":"twists"},{"term":"unconventional beauty"},{"term":"unions"},{"term":"university"},{"term":"upcoming tour"},{"term":"viagra"},{"term":"victims"},{"term":"video"},{"term":"video game"},{"term":"videos"},{"term":"viral"},{"term":"visibility"},{"term":"voting"},{"term":"water colors"},{"term":"western"},{"term":"whiskey on the rocks tour"},{"term":"white supremacy."},{"term":"womanism"},{"term":"women athletes"},{"term":"women rappers"},{"term":"wondaland"},{"term":"workplace"},{"term":"wrongful death"},{"term":"yhebe design"},{"term":"yoga"},{"term":"young women athletes"},{"term":"zadie smith"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Culture "},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"The Culture is an entertainment and culture guide for women of the African Diaspora. We cover art, design, tech, literature, and music. Presented by For Harriet\n"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/-\/film?alt=json-in-script\u0026max-results=8"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/search\/label\/film"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/-\/film\/-\/film?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=9\u0026max-results=8"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"For Harriet"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/09683917312535044896"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"27"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"8"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-2900815392455491540"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-03T12:43:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-08-03T12:46:49.731-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ava Duvernay"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"black women filmmakers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ava DuVernay Will Be the First Black Woman to Direct a $100 Million Film"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cimg alt=\" photo shutterstock_275005601.jpg\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/i789.photobucket.com\/albums\/yy172\/thehlmn\/thehlmn018\/shutterstock_275005601.jpg\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAva DuVernay's next huge project will be a film adaptation of the classic book \"A Wrinkle In Time.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Disney production will receive \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment\/envelope\/cotown\/la-et-ct-wrinkle-tax-credits-20160802-snap-story.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E$18 million in tax credits\u003C\/a\u003E with a budget of more than $100 million. The film blog \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blog.womenandhollywood.com\/ava-duvernay-will-be-first-african-american-woman-to-helm-100-million-film-4001572bacb4#.6a9sj3juz\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWomen and Hollywood\u003C\/a\u003E confirms that she is the first Black woman to direct a film with a budget this huge.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C!-- Large --\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EAva DuVernay will be the first African American woman to helm a live-action feature with a budget over $100 million. Only two other women have directed live-action films with a budget in this range. Kathryn Bigelow was the first in 2002 with “K-19: The Widowmaker.” Patty Jenkins will be the second with next year’s “Wonder Woman.” And now Ava DuVernay will be the third. And she’ll be the first woman of color.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDuVernay has come a long way from her days of directing small independent films. Both 2011's \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005NKDL2Q\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;linkCode=ll1\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=7462e1881b72d1e6d1e18cdd5bc1efd7\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI Will Follow\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E and \u0026nbsp;2012's \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Middle-Nowhere-Omari-Hardwick\/dp\/B00S66P2GC\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1470246299\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=ava+duvernay\u0026amp;linkCode=ll1\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=a3cd174c6d738890538208fb421265fe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMiddle of Nowhere\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E had minuscule budgets. DuVernay won the best director prize at Sundance for the later film.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EShe went on to direct 2014's \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Selma-David-Oyelowo\/dp\/B00S0X4HK8\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1470246299\u0026amp;sr=8-5\u0026amp;keywords=ava+duvernay\u0026amp;linkCode=ll1\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=bfcc6a89a430e19857908a496a84681d\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESelma\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E which had a $20 million budget.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDuVernay's career has flourished, in part, because of versatility. She's at the head of OWN's upcoming drama \u003Ci\u003EQueen Sugar. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003EHer \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/07\/ava-duvernay-will-make-history-with-her.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edocumentary on mass incarceration\u003C\/a\u003E will open the New York Film Festival in September.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E Oprah will also appear in the film.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/2900815392455491540\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/08\/ava-duvernay-will-be-first-black-woman.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/2900815392455491540"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/2900815392455491540"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/08\/ava-duvernay-will-be-first-black-woman.html","title":"Ava DuVernay Will Be the First Black Woman to Direct a $100 Million Film"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"For Harriet"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/09683917312535044896"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/i789.photobucket.com\/albums\/yy172\/thehlmn\/thehlmn018\/th_shutterstock_275005601.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-4293480535584779767"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-23T17:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-03-24T20:24:50.589-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Elise Neal"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hollywood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"interview"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reality TV"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Elise Neal Talks Breaking the Internet at 50 and Creating Her Own Lane in Hollywood"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cimg alt=\" photo elisebody.png\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/i789.photobucket.com\/albums\/yy172\/thehlmn\/elisebody.png\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eby Kimberly Foster @\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/kimberlynfoster\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKimberlyNFoster\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EElise Neal is a familiar face. She's among an ever-growing cohort of Black actors whose given name you might not always remember but whose work you don't forget. We, sometimes, refer to them by the names of their most beloved characters, not because we don't respect the actor but because they come to feel like family.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere are so few representations of Black life that when you find one that resonates, you hold on to it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut we must hold equally tight to the creators. The Black actors who pour everything into our favorite television and film roles struggle to be recognized in a system that discards their talent.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThankfully we, the fans, can maintain a kind of closeness through social media, where our unsung faves offer up snippets of their lives.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's where Elise Neal (you might remember her as Yvonne in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Hughleys\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eor Yevette in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EHustle and Flow\u003C\/i\u003E) regularly serves face and body. The actress, who turned 50 on March 14, \u0026nbsp;posts updates about her work and appearances on Twitter and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/therealneale\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInstagram\u003C\/a\u003E, but she also publishes images that highlight a figure that's remarkable for a woman of any age.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast week, one photo of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/03\/50-year-old-elise-neal-is-giving-us-all.html#axzz43jZa7aPO\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENeal in a bikini\u003C\/a\u003E made the digital rounds. The response highlighted how rare images of confident, sexy women over 40 remain, but also how much we need their work. Because we can't forget that the possessor of that toned frame is also a great, underutilized actress.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EFor Harriet \u003C\/i\u003Ecaught up with Elise Neal for a conversation on aging gracefully, staying fit, and creating your own.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFor Harriet: Last week pictures of you broke the internet. When did you realize that your were going viral?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EElise Neal: Actually my phone started going off a lot while I was asleep. I was trying my best to ignore it. By 7 o'clock I had that thing like, “Oh my God. Something could be wrong. Somebody could be at the hospital or something could be really wrong.” I picked up the phone and then I see that it's just going crazy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYou wash your face and you're like, \"Are they talking about that picture that I posted a couple of days ago?\" Oh my God. It was really so surreal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\" photo Screen Shot 2016-03-23 at 4.03.39 PM.png\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/i789.photobucket.com\/albums\/yy172\/thehlmn\/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-23%20at%204.03.39%20PM.png\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPhoto: Instagram\/TheRealNealE\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: \u0026nbsp;There was picture of you in a bikini and there was another one that was really cute. I think you were maybe in a club celebrating your birthday in a white dress.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Yes. Here's the progression. A week before my birthday, this photographer and I were going back and forth about doing a photo shoot. Then I knew I was going to have a birthday celebration on the weekend before my birthday. My birthday fell on a Monday. That's no fun for anybody. I knew I was going to be in Dallas celebrating my birthday for the weekend, so I was like, \"we've got to do this photo shoot before I leave for Dallas before my birthday.\" I took about three different looks. Even in my post in my bikini I said \"When your photographer wants to take pictures before you get to set.\" That's completely what that was. We were on our way somewhere to do more pictures in the look, but he wanted to test his light and test me or whatever before we got there so I took a quick pose. Then I posted it on my IG. That's when everything got started. The next day I flew for my pre-birthday party. It just all kind of happened at the same time, and it was crazy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-version=\"6\" style=\"background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 8px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background: url(data:image\/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BC1dIRhi420\/\" style=\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E#FBF when @ishootamerica wanted to take pics before we got to the location .. #prebdaybehavior #BLACKDONTCRACK\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"\u003EA photo posted by Elise Neal (@therealneale) on \u003Ctime datetime=\"2016-03-12T01:53:19+00:00\" style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\"\u003EMar 11, 2016 at 5:53pm PST\u003C\/time\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" defer=\"\" src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EFH: You mentioned that you were out celebrating your birthday last week. You celebrated your 50th birthday. Did you have any anxiety about turning 50?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEN: I think that's what's been so cool. I feel like I'm an ambassador, of sorts, at this moment of embracing life and embracing who you are. I really did not have any anxiety. Call me crazy. It's kind of how I live my life. I think everybody's life is different. Everybody has different things that allow them to do and move in the way that they want. I've always been kind of my own animal. If I'm supposed to turn 50 and start to shrivel up and die, I'd rather continue to work out, dance and love life and enjoy life like I do than do that. It's just me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: Are there any mature women that you look up to who you really think are just living life like you are?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Absolutely! Of course a lot of us do, but I love and admire Oprah Winfrey for the fact that she seems like this mogul who clearly has a lot of responsibility but always seems to just have a good time. She has a party with all of her friends in the entertainment business, playing cards, hanging out with Gayle.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn my opinion, your age shouldn't mean that you shouldn't be having fun. Just because I don't have kids, doesn't mean I don't have responsibilities. Just because you have kids, doesn't mean you're not supposed to have fun. Just because you have five kids doesn't mean that you still can't be sexy. I think a lot of people get stuck on what people tell you you're supposed to do and be. At the end of the day, it's your life. You've got to figure out what makes you happy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH:\u0026nbsp;One of the reasons why your photos broke the internet is because you look great for any age.\u0026nbsp;You look great for a 30 year old. How do you maintain your figure?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Well, thank you very much, first of all. I will say anyone that's over 35 knows that it takes work to maintain your body and your figure. I'm just not one to shy away from that work. Am I an advocate for doing a lot of crazy things to get there? No. Because even though people want to complain about it, the easiest way to be fit and the easiest way to have a good body is to freaking work out. It really is that simple. I feel like everybody looks for a short cut. I will say that I don't eat bread.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI don't eat bread. I don't eat cheese. I don't like cheese. I don't eat a lot of sweets. I'm smart enough to portion control my food. I like the way I look and I know doing a certain type of workout and doing certain things makes me look great in my clothes. I'd rather look great in my clothes.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's a choice. It's not even that hard. I tell people that all the time. It's so not that hard. It's more of a mental thing than it is anything else. I look at people who I think are amazing like J. Lo, Nicole Murphy, and Jada Pinkett Smith.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou got to be Team No Excuses for yourself in your life, you know. And I'm listing the people who I look at like Nicole Murphy who has a lot of kids. I used to see her at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1VG8lq0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBilly Blanks\u003C\/a\u003E back in the day, still getting that workout in. You know, you have to do mind over matter and just make it happen\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: There are a couple of posts on your Instagram of you working out and talking about your fitness. Is it important for you to make sure that the people who follow you know that this does not just happen?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Yeah! You know I try my best, even before this whole viral craze, to just let people know it's possible, and it's not happening naturally. I try my best to let people know, yeah, I'm in the gym at midnight sometimes because that's what my schedule allows. Yeah, I'm here at Barry's Boot Camp working out. I like people to know that I'm not a natural stick. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. I got to move this junk around. I got to work it out just like anyone else. You know I like certain foods, and then I have my cheat days where I'm eating grains and doing everything else. But in the meantime, I'm drinking a lot of water along with those grains. And then the next day I'm going to counterbalance it with a very hard work out.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: So let's talk about your career a little bit. Of course you've had some kind of iconic television roles. Recently you transitioned to reality TV with \"Hollywood Divas.\" How was reality for you?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: I like reality TV. \u0026nbsp;I mean, I wouldn't have even put my toe in that pond if I wasn't a fan. What I'm trying to do now, because I am not returning to \"Hollywood Divas\", I'm wanting to own my own shows. I think I would be happier owning my own shows. I think it's way past time for me to own my own product. Right now, I'm producing my own TV show. I don't want to talk on it. My own reality show, right now. We're in the works and getting that whole finalized, and we're going to be shooting the trailer for that very soon. So I can't say too much about it, but I'm really excited about that. So that's where I am on reality.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\" photo hwd_divas_group.jpg\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/i789.photobucket.com\/albums\/yy172\/thehlmn\/hwd_divas_group.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENeal appeared in the first seasons of Hollywood Divas on TV One\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: That's understandable, And I will say as someone who watches the show, it does not come as a huge surprise that you might step away.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBut, let's go back, post #OscarsSoWhite there's a lot talk from black creators, black actors, black producers and directors about the importance and the need of creating your own vehicles, creating your own projects, putting your own money up. How do you feel about that?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Girl, we need about five years to sit and talk on this. But in a brief moment here, I'll say this. That is so true that it is time for everyone to create their own vehicles. And not necessarily just because of the bandwagon or because it's the cool thing that everybody wants to say that they're doing.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's more so that this town [LA] and the climate right now of entertainment is all about being in the position of power. And if you're in the position of power, then you can control more, so that's the best way to go. You don't want to be so dependent on someone else to give you something. And I'll say that that has been a downfall even of mine. I've gotten to the point where I'm getting up off my own butt and saying \"No more\" to the systematic way of doing it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI think a lot of people like myself make so much money that you kind of become a robot. Then I finally go, \"You know what? I could be doing this myself. I have so many connections. Let me figure this out.\"\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI went to the ABFF [American Black Film Festival] Honors. I knew Jeff Friday, who is the creator of ABFF, \u0026nbsp;before I started acting. We met when he used to be a producer of commercials years ago. And I see how he's been able to make this beautiful place for new filmmakers to make a name for themselves. He's got Ryan Coogler and all these other great people. \u0026nbsp;[I thought] that could be me! That could be me. Why am I sleeping?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo with that knowledge and getting ramped up from seeing that, I'm actually producing my first short film and we start shooting in two days.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA friend of mine introduced me to two other amazing female producers. Their names are Carol Shine and Alani Ford and the three of us have created this really great short film. It's called \"Anywhere, USA\" and cameras roll in two days.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: As a Black woman in Hollywood are you discouraged from striking out on your own or discouraged from speaking up about being overlooked?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: I'm more of a grinder. If I'm not speaking on something, it's because I'm so busy grinding to get what I want in this career that I don't take a lot of time to get on a soap box. It's not me. I'd rather be about it than talk about it. I don't think its fair, if you're not part of the solution, to continually talk on the problem. You know what I'm saying? It's kind of counterproductive. So, now that I am being about it, and creating my own, so now I feel like I'll be able to be part of the conversation because I'm trying to be part of the change, as opposed to just putting a twitter post up and complaining. That's counterproductive.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: Has the internet and the way that it makes it so much easier to distribute your own content and easier to create your own content been one of the reasons why you have decided to create your own projects?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: No, not at all. This is what I'll say about the internet. I don't like when people want to just say that they can produce, or say that they are directing, or say that they can do this and do that. I have been in this entertainment industry for over 25 years, so I think I'm qualified. I'm not trying to do something with a bad camera or just with my cell phone and possibly not make it look great or possibly not make it have great sound. I'm trying to do quality projects, and I think that's the way to go. If you want people to really respect your content, your content has to hold up to the masses, and I'm hoping that's what we create starting in the next couple of days.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm not trying to do anything that is not as perfect as we can make it be. And I think that comes with knowledge, that comes with great cameras, that comes with people who really know what they're doing.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: Is there anyone working out there, a black filmmaker, a black producer, black director, that has created something that really caught your eye recently?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: I'm such a fan of Ava DuVernay. I mean she's amazing to me. Her stories are amazing. She's amazing! She makes amazing movies. I look up to her and what she's been able to accomplish.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: \u0026nbsp;It does seem that there are a few [great] parts for Black women, particularly in television, parts that are grittier and more substantive, parts for women in their forties and fifties. Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union and Regina King are doing really great work. Do you feel like that space is opening up a little bit or is this just going to be a passing moment?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: It's so funny because from the outside looking in, everything seems like it's moving in a really good trajectory. But from the inside, we know the behind the scenes of things.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI love \"Being Mary Jane,\" and she knows it. Like, I will tweet about it sometimes, or tweet her. Like, I love that show. And let me explain why I love shows like that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI don't think it's always necessary to go back in time for us to shine. I love a show like \"Being Mary Jane\" because she's a fabulous reporter with amazing clothes. But she is smart, and she is of the moment, and she is right on point to where we are today. I enjoy stories that are about us: beautiful, positive, Black women today.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EKing is just an amazing actor, so it doesn't matter what she's on, she's going to kill it. So I'm very proud and happy for her. But again, us talking about three women, maybe four. Is that a big change? Five, because you can't leave out Taraji.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIs that a big change? When there's at least four hundred networks? Is that a big change? And I understand why people want to say \"Oh my god, it's changing! Look at these five women!\" But you've got to think there's another thousand networks. They're still not servicing us in a big way. A lot of stuff is \"come and be the guest star,\"\"come and be reoccurring,\" \"dumb down your character so the other characters on our show can shine.\" That's great for those five women. That's amazing. And that's why they're getting awards. Because they are amazing. When you put us in roles that we are the stars of, we do shine.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut I want people to also remember that there's a whole lot of other networks with a whole lot of other shows where they like to dumb us down and just put us on there and not utilize us in a creative way. And I don't think that's where I want to end up.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENow, I will do it just like anyone else. I will do it because that's money. That's what we need to do. But that's not where I want to end up. So, to keep from just doing that, I am creating my own content. Because I can be the star of that. I can get writers to write for me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\"Being Mary Jane\" is a show that was written for BET with a black female lead in mind. So you have to kind of know what you want to do and then kind of do it in this town. Like I said, it's better to own your own thing. Ava DuVernay isn't really working for anybody else. You know what I'm saying? So you kind of got to go \"Okay, this is what I see me as\".\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd I'll say this, being fifty in this town is not looked at as a great thing for most people. Personally, I don't care. But they don't necessarily want to hire me, whether I look young or not, because I am fifty. But that doesn't deter me, because I'm not a negative person. I know that I'm talented enough. I've gotten awards. I've done a lot of work. That's not it. It's more so the town wants to put their own labels on you and that's fine. But I can create it myself and be the star with myself and hire who I want, and we can go out and win awards. And then the town starts to pay attention. That's just kind of how it goes.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: When it comes to financing, one of the major obstacles in getting things made is people just don't have the money. They can't find the money.\u0026nbsp;How do you approach financing. Have you encountered obstacles in getting things made because you just can't find people to fund it?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Of course! Like I said, everybody wants to look out for self. This is me putting my toe in the water. It's a short film, so this one's not as hard. This is something that you get some investors, and you create. But this is just the toe. So I'm praying that this toe in gets people excited enough that then when I hit them with the complete film that I would ask for financing for, they've already seen the short and then we can go from there. It's baby steps, you know, baby steps. I haven't done a lot of asking, but, you know, we'll see.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: You are a veteran in the entertainment industry. You mentioned that you've been doing this for 25 years. Is there a role that you were offered that you turned down and you regret?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Not like that so much. There's roles that I've wanted that I was close to getting that I didn't get that I was like \"Dang!\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: Which roles?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: Well, I almost got Beyoncé's role in Austin Powers [Goldmember]. I was next in line for that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat would have been so amazing. So that was kind of like \"Dang!\" But you know I can't beat out Beyoncé! I got a call from someone close to the production like \"Elise, I saw your name and your picture up. I think you're close to getting that role.\" I was like \"Get the hell out of here!\" I got so excited, but then I got the call that she was going to do the soundtrack, and, of course, that's when it went to her. Of course, it's Beyonce! You can't compete with that. But that would probably be one.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\" photo 30594318_1200x1600.jpg\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/i789.photobucket.com\/albums\/yy172\/thehlmn\/30594318_1200x1600.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"75%\" \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElise Neal played Yvonne Hughley from 1998-2002 Photo: UPN\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: So you were on TV. You did \"The Hughleys.\" It seems like now people who you would have thought of as movie stars are moving to television. How do you feel about that? It seems like the stigma about TV is diminishing.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: And I hate the fact that that's happening now. When I was doing TV, I couldn't even do certain roles because I couldn't get out of the contract. But now everyone's embracing it. Things are just changing all over the place. But I will say it becomes a little hard for the new actors when a lot of those roles on television are being taken away by huge talent from movies. It's become a little more sticky. When you've got people like Laurence Fishburne doing TV and Lady Gaga doing TV, it's like \"Well, how am I gonna compete with that?\" \u0026nbsp;Angela Bassett. It's a lot of money. I mean, I hate that people who do a lot of film finally got a hint that you can make a lot of money doing TV, but they have.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFH: So you mentioned that you are leaving \"Hollywood Divas.\" There was a little bit of friction between you and some of the other women. And there was one particular argument that I thought was really interesting. You and the other women were on a panel, and you mentioned that you are not married and you do not have children. You made the choice that you did not want to have children if you did not have a husband. After that, Golden Brooks was a little bit offended by the way that you delivered that. And there was a confrontation and it escalated. Which was kind of surprising to me. I'm interested in how frequently you find yourself having to defend the fact that you don't have children and that you're not married.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEN: I don't have to defend that, usually, at all. I think everyone is pretty clear on that your body, your choice. But I like Golden even to this day, even though we don't speak. I like Golden. I liked Golden in that moment. I think that is my problem with certain shows and certain ways that things happen on reality TV. I like my friends to still be my friends. I don't want anyone trying to taint our friendship by adding craziness to the mix to the point where they don't understand me and I don't understand them. And I would rather not do anything that does that. And that's pretty much all I want to say about that show because it's over. I'm moving on the next thing.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/4293480535584779767\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/03\/elise-neal-talks-breaking-internet-at.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/4293480535584779767"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/4293480535584779767"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/03\/elise-neal-talks-breaking-internet-at.html","title":"Elise Neal Talks Breaking the Internet at 50 and Creating Her Own Lane in Hollywood"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"For Harriet"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/09683917312535044896"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-4323373142101525476"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-11T10:52:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-02-11T10:53:26.009-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Taraji P. Henson"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Taraji P. Henson to Star as NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson in New Film \"Hidden Figures\""},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/imageshack.com\/i\/pnWmFbhoj\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/imagizer.imageshack.us\/v2\/xq90\/923\/WmFbho.jpg\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETaraji P. Henson \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/01\/taraji-p-henson-wins-golden-globe-best.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ewon a Golden Globe\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E this year for her remarkable performance as Cookie Lyons in \u003Ci\u003EEmpire\u003C\/i\u003E. During her acceptance speech, the Oscar-nominated actress underscored that she'd been waiting 25 years for this moment. Well, now that Taraji's time is here, she's making some impressive, important choices.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne of those we're most excited about is her upcoming role as mathematician Katherine Johnson for Fox 2000.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003EThe film is based off of a the book, \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/006236359X\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=006236359X\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=R2QCVCFBHHKKRMWM\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJohnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson calculated by the hand the trajectory of astronaut John Glenn's orbit around the earth in 1962. The Friendship 7 mission was the first completed by an American astronaut. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJohnson received the\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/11\/nasa-pioneer-katherine-g-johnston-to.html#axzz3zg04HlOK\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003EPresidential Medal of Freedom\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E in 2015.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFox has set a Jan. 13 release date for “Hidden Figures.”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003Eh\/t \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/variety.com\/2016\/film\/news\/taraji-p-henson-hidden-figures-katherine-johnson-1201702679\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EVariety\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/4323373142101525476\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/02\/taraji-p-henson-to-star-as-nasa.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/4323373142101525476"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/4323373142101525476"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2016\/02\/taraji-p-henson-to-star-as-nasa.html","title":"Taraji P. Henson to Star as NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson in New Film \"Hidden Figures\""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"For Harriet"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/09683917312535044896"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-9005241640820558580"},"published":{"$t":"2015-11-12T12:51:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-11-12T13:05:39.906-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"black women filmmakers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"contests"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Essence's Black Women In Hollywood Short Film Contest Is Open for Submissions"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-t4IGa_Skze0\/Vjojs7XuWoI\/AAAAAAAAEeo\/pgSlby2icu4\/s1600\/essence-black-women-in-hollywood-short-film-contest.jpg\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.essence.com\/shortfilmcontest\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Essence Black Women In Hollywood Short Film Contest\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is now open for submissions. This year the contest is looking for documentaries that show how the modern day Black family looks, exists and grows in today's society.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor the third annual contest, filmmakers are invited to submit a documentaries no longer than 20 minutes. The winner will be selected by a panel of ESSENCE editors and will be honored at the 9th annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon on February 25, 2016.  The winning filmmaker will also receive $2,500. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003EThe deadline for submissions is December 14th. Interested filmmakers can enter the contest \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.essence.com\/shortfilmcontest\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ehere\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. ESSENCE has a great track record for finding phenomenal talent. We love \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/11\/essences-black-women-in-hollywood-short.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethis film\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E that won in 2014."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/9005241640820558580\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/11\/essences-black-women-in-hollywood-short.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/9005241640820558580"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/9005241640820558580"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/11\/essences-black-women-in-hollywood-short.html","title":"Essence's Black Women In Hollywood Short Film Contest Is Open for Submissions"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/blank.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-t4IGa_Skze0\/Vjojs7XuWoI\/AAAAAAAAEeo\/pgSlby2icu4\/s72-c\/essence-black-women-in-hollywood-short-film-contest.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-6454176732042649752"},"published":{"$t":"2015-10-19T09:53:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-10-19T14:08:33.798-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"biopics"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tamala Jones"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tammi Terrell"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Tamala Jones to Produce Tammi Terrell Biopic With Full Support of the Legend's Famly "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cimg src=\"http:\/\/i789.photobucket.com\/albums\/yy172\/thehlmn\/shutterstock_303288773.jpg\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBest known for her string of duets with Marvin Gaye, relationships with James Brown and David Ruffin of the Temptations, as well as her tragic death at the age of 24 from brain cancer, Motown legend Tammi Terrell's life was more than well-lived.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn a much anticipated film produced by Tamala Jones, star of ABC's 'Castle', a Tammi Terrell's biopic is currently in development with filming scheduled to begin in 2016.  With the the full support of Terell's family and her estate, the feature film will be the first produced by Jones' Foxy Roxy Productions in partnership with Sean Dwyer and Elizabeth Cullen.  Jones' film is the only biopic authorized by Terrell's estate.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003EBased on the 2005 biography,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1904408168\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=1904408168\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=QOKZXA5HDD5F6ZKP\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EMy Sister Tommie - The Real Tammi Terrell\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=forhar-20\u0026amp;l=as2\u0026amp;o=1\u0026amp;a=1904408168\" height=\"1\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" width=\"1\" \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, by Terrell's sister Ludie Montgomery and Vickie Wright, the film is the culmination of nearly a decade's worth of hard work to get Tammi's story told. The screenplay for the untitled film was adapted by Sylvia Jahshan and will chronicle Tammi's life from her youth in Philadelphia and her 10 year career in the entertainment industry.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETerrell was first signed to Scepter records at the age of 15. By age 17, she was headlining with the James Brown Review. She left the business for a short time to pursue studies in pre-med but quickly returned, and was signed to Motown in 1965, on her 20th birthday. She was teamed with Marvin Gaye in 1967.  Together Terrell and Gaye became known for astring of popular hits penned by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, including, “\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000WMKXGM\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B000WMKXGM\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=EJGN5XHYQSTR2QTA\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAin’t No Mountain High Enough\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,” \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B001O867S6\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B001O867S6\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=46FNKBISFTQIFDGT\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYour Precious Love\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,” “\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000WLIDWE\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B000WLIDWE\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=3AEREWSQ75LRGZVO\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAin’t Nothing Like the Real Thing\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E” and “\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000WLK9JE\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B000WLK9JE\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=forhar-20\u0026amp;linkId=36YSDGQFBCOM5HL7\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYou’re All I Need to Get By\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.” The duo worked together until a brain tumor curbed Terrell's ability to perform. After eight unsuccessful surgeries, Tammi Terrell died on March 16, 1970.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003EJones, who will play an undisclosed supporting role in the film is certain her film will capture the true essence of who Tammi Terrell was by showing her many triumphs in the face of tragedy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"Tammi's story is about belief in one's abilities,\" says Jones, \"and overcoming tremendous obstacles to achieve tremendous success...it's American history.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EA.K. Staggers is a freelance contributor for Atlanta Blackstar and a professor of social sciences.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003EPhoto Credit: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/gallery-564025p1.html?cr=00\u0026amp;pl=edit-00\"\u003EHelga Esteb\u003C\/a\u003E \/ \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/editorial?cr=00\u0026amp;pl=edit-00\"\u003EShutterstock.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/6454176732042649752\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/10\/tamala-jones-to-produce-tammi-terrell.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/6454176732042649752"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/6454176732042649752"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/10\/tamala-jones-to-produce-tammi-terrell.html","title":"Tamala Jones to Produce Tammi Terrell Biopic With Full Support of the Legend's Famly "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"For Harriet"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/09683917312535044896"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-3082879147667778906"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-09T12:32:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-09-09T12:34:46.298-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ava Duvernay"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"black women filmmakers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ava DuVernay Expands Her Distribution Company to Support Women and Filmmakers of Color"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iDsx7EEteiA\/VfBTHYMn1MI\/AAAAAAAACuw\/GX12-9ZIMMw\/s1600\/Slide_Fall2015Aquisitions.jpg\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFilmmaker\u0026nbsp;Ava DuVernay is\u0026nbsp;relaunching her distribution company, African American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM), as Array. The newly launched Array will expand its focus to support Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern and female filmmakers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"There's a generation of filmmakers of color and women whose primary concern is that no one will see their work,\" DuVernay told \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment\/movies\/la-et-mn-ava-duvernay-20150908-story.html\"\u003ELA Times\u003C\/a\u003E. \"And that is a huge barrier. They're asking, 'Why make something if no one will see it?'\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\"Right now, there is a fundamental disrespect inherent in the distribution and amplification of films. There is a cinema segregation in how films are seen and not seen. What we're saying is, we're not going to depend on those things anymore.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EArray announced that it has two films set to release this fall: “Ayanda and the Mechanic” by South African director Sara Blecher and “Out of My Hand” by Takeshi Fukunaga. Both were acquired after playing at the Los Angeles Film Festival. “Ayanda and the Mechanic” won the Special Jury Prize in the World Fiction Competition.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E“These are both terrific films and they reflect our broadened scope,” Tilane Jones, Array’s executive director, told \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thewrap.com\/ava-duvernays-affrm-rebrands-as-array-acquires-2-films\/\"\u003ETheWrap\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EArray's current films include \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arraynow.com\/mississippi-damned\"\u003EMississippi Damned\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arraynow.com\/vanishing-pearls\"\u003EVanishing Pearls\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arraynow.com\/middle-of-nowhere\"\u003EMiddle of No Where\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arraynow.com\/i-will-follow\"\u003EI Will Follow\u003C\/a\u003E, and more.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERead the full LA Times article \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment\/movies\/la-et-mn-ava-duvernay-20150908-story.html\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ehere\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and visit Array's new website \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arraynow.com\/our-story\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ehere\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003EPhoto: Arraynow.com\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/3082879147667778906\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/09\/ava-duvernay-expands-her-distribution.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/3082879147667778906"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/3082879147667778906"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/09\/ava-duvernay-expands-her-distribution.html","title":"Ava DuVernay Expands Her Distribution Company to Support Women and Filmmakers of Color"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/blank.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iDsx7EEteiA\/VfBTHYMn1MI\/AAAAAAAACuw\/GX12-9ZIMMw\/s72-c\/Slide_Fall2015Aquisitions.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-7261707500312047689"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-26T15:14:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-08-26T15:15:17.565-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"black women filmmakers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"debut"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Katori Hall"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Playwright Katori Hall Will Make Directorial Debut with the Film 'Arkabutla'"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Jpbuc0PQHk0\/Vd4TqAUP4WI\/AAAAAAAACSA\/YrPJcGo9N2A\/s1600\/MG_0758.jpg\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E  \u003Cbr \/\u003EAward winning playwright Katori Hall, will be returning to her home city of Memphis, TN to make her film directorial debut titled \"Arkabutla.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHall wrote the play \"The Mountaintop\" a fictional story about Martin Luther King's last night at the Lorraine Motel in downtown Memphis, TN. Hall's first film will be a narrative short based on \"a true-life incident she witnessed as a teenager.\" According to Shadow and Act the film will possibly in black and white, in mid-October with a budget of about $30,000-50,000.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003EThe story follows a champion bull rider who is reunited with his young children after being away from home: \"To give his kids something of the elation he feels as a bull rider, buys a Jet Ski for a family visit to DeSoto County’s Arkabutla Lake. When a white lake official sees Chauncey with the Jet Ski, he assumes the recreational watercraft is stolen, leading to a confrontation that causes anger and disillusionment — the sense of hopelessness you take from a situation like that.”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn her film debut Hall says, “I don’t think of it as transitioning, I think of it as straddling. I don’t ever want to leave theater. In theater, the fact that you are in the room with the audience means the story is a living, breathing, transmural thing… With film, you’ll reach more people than you would in a theater, but also the visual experience is more all-encompassing.”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- Large --\u003E \u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9450107725766363\" data-ad-slot=\"6852641998\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E \u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003EHall plans to use local talent for her film and will have casting calls in Memphis at the end of the month. Email katorihallcasting@gmail.com for more information.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPhoto: katorihall.com\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/7261707500312047689\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/08\/playwright-katori-hall-will-make.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/7261707500312047689"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/7261707500312047689"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/08\/playwright-katori-hall-will-make.html","title":"Playwright Katori Hall Will Make Directorial Debut with the Film 'Arkabutla'"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/blank.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Jpbuc0PQHk0\/Vd4TqAUP4WI\/AAAAAAAACSA\/YrPJcGo9N2A\/s72-c\/MG_0758.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675981418905103524.post-4904388963264272503"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-25T14:12:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-08-25T14:12:13.156-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"art"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blackout for Human Rights"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"creatives"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"film"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Los Angeles"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"music"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":" Don't Miss Blackout for Human Rights Festival on Aug 29th in LA"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ciPPjc4Args\/VduqbLuSpfI\/AAAAAAAACLk\/KoPJX0047q0\/s1600\/Blackout%2BMusic%2B%2526%2BFilm%2BFestival%2BGraphic%2B1.png\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBlackout for Human Rights, a collective of creatives dedicated to justice, will present the first annual Blackout Music \u0026amp; Film Festival on August 29 in Los Angeles.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOrganizations dedicated to social justice including Black Lives Matter, ColorofChange,  Million Hoodies, Dream Defenders, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, For Harriet, and more have teamed up to present the festival which includes two special screenings of award-winning films, three featured panels on storytelling, social justice and music, live musical performances, a signature artist showcase and more. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMichael Latt, Director of Blackout Music \u0026amp; Film Festival, said:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EWe're excited to bring the Los Angeles community together to celebrate the power of storytelling in film, music and art in illuminating our shared humanity and exploring the complex social issues of our time. Centered \u003Cimg src=\"file:\/\/\/page1image21280\" \/\u003Eon the intersection of social justice and storytelling, the Blackout Festival reflects our commitment to the idea that all of our stories deserve to be told and all of our lives deserve to be valued and protected in policies and laws.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-C61IUr8JcDE\/VdusNLqcV0I\/AAAAAAAACLw\/mzzcV6QGfTg\/s1600\/Blackout%2BFestival%2BProgramming%2BGraphic.png\" width=\"100%\" \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA press release for the festival reads:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EThe festival kicks off with a special screening of Marc Silver’s Sundance Film Festival award- winning documentary \"3 1\/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets,\" presented by PICO National Network’s Live Free Campaign. In addition, there will be a special screening of Justin Simien’s award-winning film “Dear White People.”\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith Blackout Music \u0026amp; Film Festival, our goal is to create a space for the exhibition and exploration of art that provides a springboard for critical analysis, community building and creative collaboration,\" stated filmmaker Ryan Coogler, founding member of Blackout for Human Rights.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Signature Artist Showcase includes work from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Adrian Franks, Hank Willis Thomas, Synthia Saint James, Bayeté Ross Smith, Damon Davis, Shikeith, Mariella Angela, Nikkolos Mohammed, Basil Kincaid, Darryl King, Whitney Alix of Rebel Citizen and spoken word performances by Leo Breckenridge and actress\/musician\/artist Amandla Stenberg. The \"#SayHerName Voices for the Cause Music Showcase,\" features live musical performances by Grammy Award winner Lalah Hathaway, V. Bozeman (Empire), PJ (Atlantic Records) and more.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe three featured panels throughout the day will cover a wide range of topics including the importance of diversity in media representation, the role of art in activism, effective solutions for racial justice, and more. The storytelling panel featuring actress, Tracee Ellis Ross, The Blacklist founder, Franklin Leonard, director, Justin Simien, actor, Mo McRae, Entertainment Tonight co- host, Kevin Frazier and more.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYou can buy tickets here and visit \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.blackoutforhumanrights.com\/about-blackout-festival.html\"\u003EBlackout for Human Rights\u003C\/a\u003E for more information.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPhotos: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.blackoutforhumanrights.com\/about-blackout-festival.html\"\u003EBlackout for Human Rights\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/feeds\/4904388963264272503\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/08\/dont-miss-blackout-for-human-rights.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/4904388963264272503"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5675981418905103524\/posts\/default\/4904388963264272503"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/theculture.forharriet.com\/2015\/08\/dont-miss-blackout-for-human-rights.html","title":" Don't Miss Blackout for Human Rights Festival on Aug 29th in LA"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/blank.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ciPPjc4Args\/VduqbLuSpfI\/AAAAAAAACLk\/KoPJX0047q0\/s72-c\/Blackout%2BMusic%2B%2526%2BFilm%2BFestival%2BGraphic%2B1.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}}]}});