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Exclusive: Nia Long has inked with Artists First for representation.

Long is next up portraying Katherine Jackson, matriarch to the Jackson musical family, in Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael. The movie, directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan and starring Jaafar Jackson and Colman Domingo comes out October 3.

Most recently Long starred opposite Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the comedy You People from Kenya Barris, which debuted at No. 1 on Netflix.

She also reprised her role as Jordan Armstrong for the Peacock limited series The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which premiered to record ratings and reunited the original cast. The series earned her a 2023 NAACP Image Award. Long also starred in Sony’s Missing, the follow-up to the cult hit Searching from Aneesh Chaganty.

Long previously produced and starred in the Netflix thriller Fatal Affair which premiered at No. 1 on the streamer. She also...

Nia Long and Larenz Tate will serve as ambassadors for the 2025 American Black Film Festival.

This year’s ABFF, presented by Nice Crowd, will be held in Miami Beach June 11-15, followed by an online segment June 16-23 on ABFF Play.

In their role as ambassadors, the “Love Jones” stars will help bring awareness to the festival’s mission of showcasing Black content and fostering opportunities for creators of color to succeed in the film and TV industry. Plus, ABFF has set a special screening of their hit 1997 classic romance, dubbed “ABFF Remembers: Love Jones,” an intimate conversation and musical tribute celebrating the legacy of the film. Long and Tate will reunite to reflect on the making of the film, their experiences on set and their enduring friendship.

“Their work in ‘Love Jones’ remains iconic, and they have long been trailblazers in the industry,” stated Jeff and Nicole Friday, founders of Nice Crowd,...

André Holland is bringing Black romance to Sundance with his latest independent film “Love, Brooklyn.”

Directed by Rachael Abigail Holder (in her feature debut), it’s a charming story about a man named Roger (Holland), who is suffering from writers’ block while he attempts to pen a story about the changing landscape in Brooklyn. As the plot plays out, it becomes clearer that Roger’s creative impasse is linked to his indecision about his romantic relationships — as he toggles between a friendship with his ex, Casey (Nicole Beharie), a fine-art gallerist, and a situationship with Nicole (DeWanda Wise), a single mother with a young daughter (Cadence Reese).

Holland tells Variety he was attracted to the role because he could relate to Roger’s “romantic confusion” on a personal level. “It was an opportunity to get into an emotional state that I feel familiar with and that I wanted to explore and understand better,...

Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards, which recognize the year’s best editing achievements in film and TV.

The American Society of Editors made the announcement Monday, along with revealing that longtime Robert Altman and Tyler Perry collaborator Maysie Hoy and Star Wars Oscar winner Paul Hirsch will be bestowed with career achievement honors during the ceremony, set for January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

The Filmmaker of the Year honor goes to an artist who “exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” Ace said. Recent recipients include John Waters, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Kathleen Kennedy and Christopher Nolan.

“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” said Ace president Sabrina Plisco, Ace, noting Chu’s...

Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award from the American Cinema Editors (Ace), it was announced on Monday.

The award recognizes “an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” according to Ace. Film editors Maysie Hoy and Paul Hirsch will also receive career achievement honors for their “outstanding career contributions to film editing.”

All honors will be presented at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards on Jan. 18 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Nominations will be announced on Dec. 11.

“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” says newly elected Ace president Sabrina Plisco. “From the vibrant energy of In The Heights to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians, his films are a testament to the power of cinema to transport, entertain and inspire.

Nia Long will play Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, in director Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biographical drama about the King of Pop.

It’s been previously announced that Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson will play the eponymous musician while Colman Domingo will portray the family’s patriarch, Joe Jackson.

“Nia has delivered iconic performances throughout her career,” Fuqua said in a statement. “I’ve been a fan for a long time because her characters stay with you. I’m excited to now work alongside her as she pours all of that into Katherine Jackson: a woman who was the glue, the rock, and the heart of the Jackson family during its best and its most turbulent times.”

“Michael” is expected to chronicle the singer’s complicated legacy. According to the logline, the story will portray a “brilliant yet complicated man” who became known as one of the greatest performers of all time.

Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael has cast Nia Long as Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson. The Antoine Fuqua-directed movie is now shooting for an April 18, 2025 global theatrical release.

“Beyond Nia’s incredible talent, I was deeply moved by her connection to the material and her commitment to honoring Katherine and the love she had for her son,” said Michael producer Graham King.

Fuqua added, “Nia has delivered iconic performances throughout her career. I’ve been a fan for a long time because her characters stay with you. I’m excited to now work alongside her as she pours all of that into Katherine Jackson: a woman who was the glue, the rock, and the heart of the Jackson family during its best and its most turbulent times.”

Long said, “Katherine Jackson is an incredible pillar of strength and grace for the entire Jackson family. As a mother,...

Margaret Riley, the respected agent, manager and Lighthouse Management & Media partner who served as a producer on the Fox News drama Bombshell, has died. She was 58.

Riley died Tuesday at her home in Brentwood after a private battle with ovarian cancer, her friends Lainie Becky and Matthew Weinberg told The Hollywood Reporter.

Riley was a talent/literary manager at Brillstein Entertainment Partners from October 2006 through March 2016, when she joined Lighthouse Management & Media, which had just been launched by founder and CEO Aleen Keshishian.

“We are devastated by the loss of our colleague and friend Margaret Riley, who was a passionate advocate and champion for artists,” Keshishian said. “We share our deepest condolences and love with her family, friends and clients.”

Riley’s current and former clients over the years have included actors Mark Ruffalo and Bridget Moynahan; CSI creator Anthony Zuiker; directors Susanna Fogel, Stella Meghie and Rj Cutler...

Fandoms everywhere can now rejoice, for in October Our Flag Means Death finally returns to our screens for its second season. Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi will be romancing the high seas once more thanks to an enormous outpouring of love and support from the show’s fans. The safety of the cult favorite is not yet known beyond season two, but if this one is as good as the first, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying.

Talking of little shows that could, Doom Patrol is back for its last ever block of episodes, having long outlasted the many of the other ill-fated DC streaming series. Season two of The Gilded Age is also streaming this month, with Bertha challenging both Mrs. Astor and the old system in this new run.

And if none of that is up your street, there’s always Jason Statham punching sharks in the face,...

Rhys Darby in ‘Our Flag Means Death’ season 2 (Photograph by Nicola Dove/Max)

Max’s 2023 October lineup of series includes new seasons of Our Flag Means Death, The Gilded Age, and 30 Coins, as well as the second half of Doom Patrol season four (the final season). A documentary focusing on the notorious Bling Ring premieres on October 1st, along with all five Final Destination films.

In addition to a batch of horror films joining the network’s lineup, Max is celebrating Halloween with new seasons of Ghost Adventures and The Haunted Museum.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In October 2023:

October 1

3 Godfathers (1948)

The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)

All About the Benjamins (2002)

The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995)

Angels in the Outfield (1951)

The Answer Man (2009)

Anthropoid (2016)

Appaloosa (2008)

The Apparition (2012)

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Badlands (1973)

Be Cool (2005)

Bee Season (2005)

Beetlejuice (1988)

The Benchwarmers (2006)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blindspotting (2018)

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)

Cesar Chavez (2014)

Charlie Wilson’s War...

[This interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike authorization.] Cruel Summer Season 2 is set in the Y2K era. Taking place in three different time periods in the same year at the end of the millennium, Gen Z stars Sadie Stanley (21) and Lexi Underwood (19) are leaning into the early 2000s nostalgia that defined their childhoods for the season. But what are their favorite pop culture references from that time? We asked, and their answers are in the video interview above. The Princess Diaries (2001) is at the top of Stanley’s mind when thinking about her favorite 2000s movies. “That was like my childhood,” she told us in the TV Insider office. Almost Famous and American Psycho (both 2000) are two more beloved flicks. For Underwood, her favorites are 10 Things I Hate About You, Love Jones, and Love & Basketball. When it comes to favorite TV shows, One Tree Hill is the first that comes to mind for Stanley,...

When Jonathan Majors was recently profiled by The Cut, he revealed that after playing physical roles in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” plus the upcoming “Creed III” and “Magazine Dreams,” he wants to star in a romantic comedy.

During the conversation (and his subsequent Ebony magazine cover), Majors shared a few of his favorite romantic films, including “The Notebook,” “Love Jones,” “Blue Valentine” and “Love & Basketball.” He also claimed to “fall in love every day,” telling the reporter, “Life is so beautiful. Love is everywhere.”

After appearing as a presenter at the NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night alongside “Insecure” creator and star Issa Rae, Majors’ fans are clamoring to make his rom-com dreams come true sooner rather than later.

As the two bantered and displayed their easy chemistry on stage, viewers — including this reporter — took notice.

“Issa, I love nights like this. We all get to get together,...

Lyricist and composer Paul Williams will be honored by the 13th annual Guild of Music Supervisors awards with the 2023 Icon award at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on March 5. The awards show will also be posthumously honoring former Sony Pictures Entertainment senior VP and music supervisor, Pilar McCurry.

Williams’ standards have been recorded by such decorated artists as Ray Charles, David Bowie, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Diana Ross, the Carpenters, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross and Willie Nelson, among others. He’s previously been recognized with six Oscars, nine Grammys, six Golden Globes, and two Emmy nominations.

“There is a strange, beautiful alchemy, that occurs when the perfect song placement transforms

both the scene and the song,” said Williams in a news release. “I have been graced with many opportunities to write music for picture in my career, and it feels like magic every single time.

The 2023 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors is set to recognize Kerry Washington, Courtney B. Vance, Charles D. King and Janelle Monáe with special honors during the annual award ceremony saluting excellence in the motion picture and television industry.

Washington, an Emmy winner and SAG and Golden Globe-nominated actor, director and producer, will be presented with the Excellence in the Arts Award (Female), while two-time Emmy winner Vance will accept the award for Excellence in the Arts (Male). MacRo founder and CEO King will be presented the Industry Leadership Award, while eight-time Grammy-nominated artist, producer and actor Monáe receives the Renaissance Award. Kasi Lemmons’ 1997 drama “Eve’s Bayou” will be honored with the Classic Cinema Award.

The fifth ABFF Honors will take place on Sunday, March 5, hosted by Emmy-nominated writer, actor and comedian Deon Cole. The intimate, non-televised dinner and award ceremony is executive produced by Nicole and Jeff Friday (under...

When Leon Thomas III wrote his song “Love Jones” a few years ago, he had one artist in mind for a feature: Ty Dolla $ign. “I really didn’t know this man,” Thomas tells Rolling Stone. When he saved the recording to his iTunes, he named the file “Love Jones ft. Ty Dolla $ign.” He never imagined that years later, Ty would not only hop on the song but sign him to his label imprint, Ezmny Records.

“It’s just crazy to see that now we’re at this point...

For the fourth annual CultureCon presented by the Creative Collective NYC, renowned stars Nia Long and Larenz Tate will take the stage in a “Love Jones” reunion, marking the film’s 25th anniversary.

Long and Tate will headline a Creative Genius conversation — a mainstage dialogue celebrating some of the most impactful names in culture — on Saturday, Oct. 8, as part of the weekend’s festivities. Past creative genius speakers include Spike Lee, John Legend, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King and Sanaa Lathan.

Created by founder Imani Ellis, the Creative Collective NYC is a community dedicated to curating brave spaces for creatives of color.

In its fourth year, the organization’s marquee event went on tour, making stops in three major cities. In May, Stacey Abrams, Jay Ellis and Saucy Santana provided rare insights to the audience at the first conference stop in Atlanta. Guests also had the opportunity to attend several exciting activations,...

Jussie Smollett acknowledged his legal difficulties Thursday at a Harlem premiere screening for his gay romantic drama “B-Boy Blues,” expressing gratitude for finishing his feature directorial debut despite his personal issues.

“Sometimes we all go through things, you know, but what I know for sure is I am so… if I don’t know nothin’, I know how blessed I am,” Smollett said in his first major public appearance since receiving a five-month prison sentence in March for lying to Chicago cops about a racist and homophobic 2019 attack. “I know how grateful I must be. It is not up for debate. I must be grateful. To the universe, to God, to our ancestors, whoever you want to believe it is.”

The former “Empire” acknowledged the challenges of making the film — based on the bestselling 1994 novel of the same name from author James Earl Hardy, who co-wrote the script along with Smollett.

Sundance Institute and Picturehouse have announced additions to the 2022 Sundance Film Festival: London programme today.

Alongside the twelve feature films, two short film strands and industry events previously announced, the festival will also present a new podcast strand with live audiences, including Girls on Film and Evolution of Horror; a 25th-anniversary screening of Love Jones, a special screening of Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave; and a screening of Janicza Bravo’s Lemon chosen by keynote speaker, producer Christine Vachon.

The Festival will open up the spirit of Sundance Film Festival to UK audiences by screening three films at upwards of 25 cinemas across the country. A Love Song, Free Chol Soo Lee and Good Luck To You, Leo Grande will screen alongside recorded Filmmaker Q&As during the festival dates of 9 to 12 June 2022.

For the first time ever, the festival will include an exciting programme of live podcast recordings within the line-up.

Next summer is already confirmed to be a “Summer of Soul.”

Oscar, Grammy, and Peabody award-winning documentary “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” has sparked a reimagining of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which the film explores.

Produced and directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, “Summer of Soul” was the inspiration for a new outdoor music festival set for 2023. The Harlem Festival of Culture (Hfc) will take place in Marcus Garvey Park, formerly known as Mount Morris Park, the same site as the original festival.

Hfc was founded by Harlem native, Ambassador Digital Magazine editor-in-chief Musa Jackson, who attended the original festival as a child and appeared in “Summer of Soul.” Nikoa Evans and Emmy-nominated event producer Yvonne McNair are also co-founders of the Hfc.

“The original event was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one that I will never forget,” Jackson said in a press statement. “With this initiative,...

Summer Of Soul (… Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), the Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson-directed film that won the Oscar and the Grammy for documenting 1969’s now-famed Harlem Cultural Festival, has inspired a reboot of the landmark music event.

Ambassador Digital Magazine editor-in-chief Musa Jackson, who attended the 1969 event and appeared in Summer of Soul, said Tuesday that he, BNP Advisory Group strategist Nikoa Evans and event producer and Captivate Marketing Group president Yvonne McNair are teaming to launch the Harlem Festival of Culture in the summer of 2023.

The multi-day outdoor concert event will be a reimagining of the 1969 fest and take place in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, where the original took place when it was known as Mount Morris Park. Official dates have not yet been announced.

Organizers told Billboard that a series of events leading up to the Hfc kicks off Friday with an open-mic night at...

As 2021 reaches its merciful end we are only happy to look forward—towards March, mainly, and what Criterion’s planning as spring springs. The 4K stride continues with Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Cercle Rouge, which screened this summer in (from what I’ve heard) a splendid restoration, and Scorsese’s The Last Waltz, my 2008 Blu-ray of which is perhaps no longer up to snuff. Will Neil Young’s coke snot come clearer in 2,160 pixels?

Aldrich’s Flight of the Phoenix joins while some pretty deep cuts are added to the collection: Hungarian filmmaker Márta Mészáros’s Adoption and Theodore Witcher’s Love Jones.

See artwork below and further details on all titles here:

The post Criterion's March Lineup Includes Le Cercle Rouge and The Last Waltz in 4K first appeared on The Film Stage.

This week’s Insecure took a much-needed break from all the boyfriend drama and focused on the show’s strongest element: Black female friendship.

The squad gathered for a long-overdue girls night, which was supposed to include a bougie hot stone massage. However, their spa date was a no-go after a pipe burst, and the girls decided to kick it at Issa’s instead.

More from TVLineInsecure EP Amy Aniobi Dissects Episode 7's Waiting to Exhale HomageInsecure Recap: Owning Your ChoicesA Succession Mystery, Examined: Did They Really Just Kill Off [Spoiler]?

There was smoking, drinking and some singing and dancing to...

Isaiah (Kofi Siriboe) and Stevie (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing) don’t meet cute in “Really Love.” They meet with understated beauty, at a time in their lives when ardor and connection will be tested by the dreams each has harbored for much of their lives. He’s a talented painter watching other art school classmates get representation and gallery shows. She’s in the last year of law school and sure to be courted by elite firms.

For her debut feature, director Angel Kristi Williams doesn’t make it easy on her protagonists. And her deliberateness of vision, trust in story and clear-eyed empathy suggest she’s a talent to keep track of. For their restrained yet smoldering performances, the two lead actors received a special jury acting prize at the 2020 SXSW film festival.

Stevie and Isaiah first connect at a gallery opening in front of a large painting of a woman.

In 1997, Jeff Friday, founder and CEO of Jeff Friday Media, was working as the film division president of UniWorld Group, a prominent multicultural advertising agency headquartered in New York and founded by legendary ad world maven Byron E. Lewis. In January of that year, in search of new clientele within the entertainment industry, Friday headed to the Sundance Film Festival. It was the first film festival he had ever attended. It was also the year writer-director Theodore Witcher’s award-winning “Love Jones” screened at the fest, ushering in an era of what Friday calls “the glory days of Black cinema.” That film, and the experience of seeing it at Sundance, altered the trajectory of Friday’s career.

“This was right around the time of such films as ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back,’ ‘Love and Basketball,’ and Spike Lee,” Friday recalls. “‘Sex, Lies and Videotape’ had just happened and there...

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Black romance in movies has evolved since the days of “Porgy and Bess,” “Carmen Jones,” or “Claudine,” but it’s safe to say that the ’90s and 2000s marked a particularly sweet spot for the genre. To celebrate romance movies that helped shape the perception of Black love onscreen in the last 25 years, we put together a list of seven essential films that you can stream on Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Hulu.

See our roster of Black romance movies below, and for more recommendations be sure to read our monthly Criterion Collection picks and Spike Lee movies to watch.

“Love Jones”

Where to Stream: Amazon Prime

“Love Jones” is quintessential viewing for lovers of Black romance films.

In September of 2020, I came across a tweet from Felicia Pride about the premiere of her feature film, a romantic drama entitled Really Love. At the time, I'd known Pride for her short film Tender about two women having an intimate morning after a one night stand. What stopped me during this aimless social media scroll in particular, was the feature's poster. Actor Kofi Siriboe - who has actually taken my breath away in real life - was pictured embracing the utterly stunning Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, whom I recognized from Mara Brock Akil's Love Is. I was immediately smitten.

Pride wrote, "So proud that Really Love is premiering at AFI Fest's Special Presentations. Filmmaking is not for the faint of heart. And this baby was determined to teach us all the things and challenge us like firstborns do. Grateful to have learned a different kind of perseverance and steadfastness to a mission bigger than you.

Actor Nia Long has joined the cast of Netflix’s upcoming romantic comedy “Plus/ Minus.”

Long, whose recent onscreen credits include the thriller “Fatal Affair,” 1960s-set drama “The Banker” and “Roxanne Roxanne,” will appear alongside “Riverdale” star Lili Reinhart and Luke Wilson.

The previously announced ensemble also includes “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” actor Danny Ramirez, David Corenswet (“House of Cards”), Aisha Dee (“The Bold Type) and Andrea Savage (“I’m Sorry”).

Directed by Wanuri Kahiu, the filmmaker of the romance drama “Rafiki,” “Plus/ Minus” centers on Natalie (Reinhart), whose life diverges into two parallel realities on the eve of her college graduation. One version sees her become pregnant and navigate motherhood as a young adult in her Texas hometown, and the other journey takes place as she moves to Los Angeles to pursue her career. Per the logline of the movie, the contrary paths lead the 20something Natalie to experience life-changing love,...

It can be a difficult task for any discerning viewer to sift through the sheer volume of movies streaming on Netflix. It’s an even greater challenge if searching specifically for Black films. As an extension of IndieWire’s monthly list of the best new films on Netflix, this list will be updated monthly as new titles become available, and old titles will be replaced.

From “Insecure” showrunner Prentice Penny’s acclaimed directorial debut, “Uncorked,” to Theodore Witcher’s only feature film, the cult-classic romantic drama “Love Jones” — which signaled the end of the “hood movie” era of the 1990s and foreshadowed the so-called “buppie movie” phase of the early 2000s — and more, there’s a little something for everyone this month. It also happens to mark the 156th year since the commemoration of Juneteenth.

Big Sean just dropped a brand new music video for his new single 'Body Language' featuring Jhene Aiko and Ty Dolla $ign.

The epic new video, which released on Wednesday features the 32-year-old rapper as he recreates classic scenes from the ’90s hit romantic films with his longtime girlfriend singer Jhene Aiko, 32, and Ty Dolla $ign, 38.

The 'Blessings' hitmaker took to Instagram, where he shared several visuals from his new single.

"Body Language video @jheneaiko @tydollasign. Big homage paying to a few of my favorite flicks growin up… (Link in bio) #Detroit2," Big Sean wrote in the caption.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bigsean (@bigsean)

Earlier that day, he shared a video, featuring footage from the latest track, writing "Know it’s a lot on ya mind, but I need ya focus now! Body Language music video out now @Jheneaiko n @tydollasign… #Detroit2."

View...

Big Sean is pulling out his acting skills in his latest music video. On Wednesday, Dec. 16, the "Blessings" rapper dropped the visuals for his latest single "Body Language" featuring his longtime girlfriend singer Jhené Aiko, 32, and Ty Dolla $ign, 38, off his fifth studio album, Detroit 2. Throughout the video Sean reimagines himself in scenes from classic '90s Black films. The video begins with the 1997 film Love Jones with the 32-year-old rapper portraying Darius Lovehall—originally played by Larenz Tate. "Don't just take your clothes off, take the problems off / Take the armor off, take all the drama off," he rapped into a microphone at...

Big Sean has released a new music video for “Body Language,” his Detroit 2 collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign and Jhené Aiko.

Befitting the ultra smooth tune, the “Body Language” video is unabashedly steamy and very clever as Big Sean and Aiko transpose their real-life relationship into a medley of homages to classic Nineties romance films. The pair appear as the postal worker and salon employee Tupac and Janet Jackson play in Poetic Justice; Aiko sets fire to an ex’s car like Angela Bassett in Waiting to Exhale; and while...

Soon after Netflix’s Strong Black Lead launched in 2018, fans began pitching the marketing team’s social channels on the kind of acquisitions they’d like to see on the service. As viewers gravitated to films like the “Friday” trilogy, “Love and Basketball” and “Love Jones,” the Strong Black Team also noticed a specific recurring hunger for the Black-led sitcoms that ran on broadcast TV — mostly The WB and Upn — in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“Every time we would post about a new show or anything else that we were talking about in the zeitgeist, we would get people asking about ‘Girlfriends,’ wanting to watch ‘Sister, Sister,’ wanting to watch ‘Moesha,'” says Jasmyn Lawson, who until recently was manager of Strong Black Lead, overseeing its editorial output. (She’s now a part of Netflix’s comedy programming team.)

Some episodes of those shows were already available on...

Continuing our series of writers unearthing underseen films is a a rare romantic comedy that allows a black woman the chance to be happy

Historically, black women haven’t been allowed the luxury of fairytales. In the 90s and early 2000s, there was a modest sprinkling of romantic dramas and comedies like Love Jones, Jumping the Broom and Something New, but despite a more general resurgence of love stories in recent years, films that depict intimacy between brown-hued people remain scarce. Instead, black women have been hit over the head with sexist and nonsensical advice on why we’re still single and studies that suggest most of us will never get married. It’s only been in the last year or two that the narrative has begun to shift. Black women are reclaiming their romantic lives and telling their own stories.

Related: My streaming gem: why you should watch Animal Factory

Continue reading.

A slew of classic Black comedies including Sister, Sister; Moesha and Girlfriends are heading to Netflix.

The streamer has picked up seven library titles as part of its push of its Strong Black Lead strand.

In addition to Sister, Sister; Moesha and Girlfriends, it has bought the rights to The Game, One on One and Half & Half.

Moesha will launch on August 1, followed by the first three seasons of The Game on August 15. Sister Sister arrives on September 1, with Girlfriends launching on September 11 to mark the 20th anniversary of its premiere. The Parkers debuts on October 1, followed by Half & Half, and One on One on October 15.

Netflix’s Bradley Edwards, Manager, Content Acquisition and Jasmyn Lawson, Manager, Strong Black Lead said that the classics had been at the top of its subscribers’ wishlists for a long time.

The streamer launched its Strong Black Lead strand in February 2018 and...

Nia Long has long been a fixture in Hollywood, but the actor is still celebrating important firsts. With her latest film, “Fatal Affair,” Long steps into a new role, serving as an executive producer for the first time and starring in her first thriller.

“I was saying to myself months prior to reading the script, ‘Wow, it’s really crazy in all of these years being in the industry, I’ve never done a thriller,’” Long tells Variety, explaining how the project landed in her lap. “So, ultimately, I decided this was a great opportunity to ask for a producer credit, to be involved in the beginning, to help with casting, to have ideas about the script and Netflix was very supportive of that.”

And the experience was as empowering as she’d hoped. “For the first time in my career I felt heard,” she says. “I felt like I...

Streaming platform Pandora has unveiled its Most-Thumbed Movie Songs Playlist. Based on Pandora listeners’ thumbs-up activity, 102 of the most popular movie songs were rounded up.

Among the most-thumbed tracks are “Earned It” by the Weeknd from “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth from “Furious 7” and “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri from “Twilight.”

Other classic movie songs featured include “Titanic’s” “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston from “The Bodyguard” and “Mrs. Robinson” from “The Graduate” by Simon and Garfunkel.

Oscar winners for best original song also making the playlist are Adele’s “Skyfall,” from the James Bond movie of the same name, and the 2018 winner “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from the “A Star Is Born” remake.

The playlist can be streamed here. Here’s the full list of...

HBO Max has a major job on its hands to justify its approximately $15 a month subscription fee, especially given the strong competition out there from established names like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Disney Plus faced a similar challenge last year in arriving onto an already-saturated streaming marketplace, but at least had the advantage of major series like The Mandalorian to promote. While HBO Max will eventually be home to the Snyder cut of Justice League, and has some originals for its first week of availability, the big draw right now is its enormous back-catalogue of movies.

Given the various corporate elements that are going into HBO Max, including the Warner Bros. library, owners AT&T will be hoping that the combination of brand recognition for HBO programming, and a deep bench of movies, will convince people to add a new subscription to their list. To this end, HBO Max have added 122 films today,...

Do you like lists? Well, here’s a doozy. Below is everything coming to Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime in June 2020.

Though the summer sun is starting to beat down, most of us are still being encouraged to stay indoors for Covid-19 related reasons. It’s not much fun, but at the very least, there’s an absolute ton of stuff landing in June that should distract you from the call of the beach.

Of particular note is the newly launched HBO Max, which is trying to catch the eye of potential subscribers with a red-hot first month. There’s an excellent selection of movies coming on June 1st, with horror titles like An American Werewolf in London (still the best werewolf movie ever made), Final Destinations 1-4, From Dusk til Dawn and Lifeforce.

Later in the month, there are some more recent films showing up, including...

To help you anticipate and navigate all that HBO Max has to offer, TVLine presents this comprehensive list of all the TV series, movies, documentaries and specials making their debut on the new streaming service this month — all as a 100-percent free supplement to our daily and handy What to Watch and weekly TVLine-Up columns, and our monthly New on Netflix roundup.

Among Max Originals coming in June are a new Adventure Time special, Doom Patrol Season 2 and Search Party Season 3. You’ll also be able to stream the most recent episodes of HBO original series, including Insecure, I Know This Much Is True...

Lil Yachty has unveiled his 19-song track list for Lil Boat 3. It features a bevy of artists, including Drake, Future, Tyler, the Creator, A$AP Rocky, Tierra Whack and Young Thug. The album will be released on Friday.

The follow-up to 2018’s Lil Boat 2 and Nuthin’ 2 Prove, the Atlanta rapper’s upcoming LP includes his previously released single featuring DaBaby and Drake, “Oprah’s Bank Account.” The album features several team-ups: For “T.D.,” he teams with A$AP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator and Tierra Whack; “Pardon Me” features Future...

Welcome to the HBO Max era! WarnerMedia’s streaming giant arrived on May 27 and is absolutely bursting with Warner movies, TV shows, and other titles. But time waits for no man or streaming service and each new month HBO Max will be expected to bring new content to the table. Things get started in June 2020 with the first batch of HBO Max new releases.

To be clear, the majority of the original series coming to HBO Max actually belongs to HBO. Shows like I May Destroy You (June 7), Perry Mason (June 21), and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (June 28) all belong to HBO…which now just happens to be a part of HBO Max. Confusing stuff, we know, but rest assured that if you have HBO Max you’ll get these shows…and if you only have HBO, you can go ahead and just get HBO Max for the same price anyway.

HBO Max launches May 27 with a whole lot of content ready to stream immediately. But throughout the nascent streamer’s first month, even more titles will be added, from HBO Max originals like “Adventure Time: Distant Lands Bmo,” to old favorites like “Amelie,” “Black Beauty” and “The Bucket List.”

Other brand-new HBO Max originals include the third season of comedy “Search Party,” and the second seasons of “Doom Patrol,” and “Esme & Roy,” all coming June 25, and on June 18, the second season of “Summer Camp Island” and the series premiere kids competition series “Karma.”

For a list of everything that will be available on launch day, look here.

Below is the full list of everything new coming to HBO Max in June.

Also Read: Chelsea Handler Sets First Standup Comedy Special in 6 Years at HBO Max

June 1

4th & Forever: Muck City, Season One

Adventures In Babysitting, 1987 (HBO)

Amelie, 2001 (HBO)

An American Werewolf in London,...

Before HBO Max even launches — it goes live May 27 — WarnerMedia is trying to lure new subscribers by revealing what’s coming next month to the streamer.

The June lineup highlights on HBO Max include all 23 seasons of “South Park,” snapped up in a multiyear, $500 million-plus deal; James Cameron’s Oscar-winning “Titanic”; and the “Adventure Time: Distant Lands” special featuring lovable robot Bmo.

HBO Max, regularly priced at $14.99 per month (the same as HBO Now), will be available on multiple platforms and distributors through deals including with Apple, Google, Charter, Xbox, PlayStation, and AT&T/DirecTV. As of this writing, however, WarnerMedia has not locked in HBO Max deals with Comcast, Roku or Amazon.

New Max Originals this June include kids’ adventure competition series “Karma,” Season 3 of comedy “Search Party” and the second seasons of “Doom Patrol,” “Esme & Roy” and “Summer Camp Island.”

Movie highlights include “Titanic,” “Veronica Mars,” “Magic Mike” starring Channing Tatum,...

Long before what is now referred to as the streaming wars began, Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television (Bet) and Chairman of Rlj Entertainment, announced Umc — Urban Movie Channel, Rlj’s proprietary streaming network. Officially launched in February 2015 featuring “urban-themed” series and movies, the service, which is now known only as Umc, is part of a suite of channels and streamers owned by AMC Networks, after the media company acquired Rlj in late 2018.

A direct competitor to the more recognized brand in Bet+, which launched just last fall, Umc might be smaller in comparison, but it’s a characteristic that makes them much more flexible and far less averse to taking risks, especially when it comes to programming decisions. Additionally, having a five-year head start has allowed them the time to work through kinks that typically come with being a pioneer, which arguably gives them a leg-up when...

In the late 1990s and well into the ’00s, there was a wave of black-centered romances that became wildly popular including Love & Basketball, The Wood, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Love Jones, Brown Sugar and The Best Man. Fast forward to 2020, and we are seeing a steady resurgence of black love stories in films like The Photograph, from friend of the podcast Stella Meghie, as well as Queen & Slim written by Lena Waithe and directed by Melina Matsoukas — also friends of the pod.

Modern black love stories are now making their way to TV with Ava DuVernay’s anthology series Cherish the Day starring Xosha Roquemore — who is this week’s guest on New Hollywood.

Roquemore’s star has been on the rise since her first major film role in Lee Daniels’ Precious. She went on to star in The Mindy Project, the highly underrated comedy G.B.F....

Stella Meghie is feeling the love.

As “Sonic the Hedgehog” soared to number one over Presidents’ Day weekend, “The Photograph” made a solid $13 million. Catching up with Meghie early Saturday morning after the film’s debut, the writer/director/executive producer admitted she’d been looking at the numbers.

“I’m grateful people seem to like it, but you know, who knows?” Meghie told Variety during a phone conversation. “It’s hard to judge these things on their outcome, especially going back and forth between studio and indie [film], there’s just such different scales of what success means. It’s hard when you’re in the marketplace going up against like $100 million blockbuster films and you’re just like, ‘Where do I land? What constitutes success?’”

Meghie and the film, which carries a reported $15 million budget, also received a great deal of support from other black creators on social media,...

Own will premiere its first anthology series with Ava DuVernay’s Cherish the Day starring Xosha Roquemore (The Mindy Project), Alano Miller (Underground) and the legendary Cicely Tyson. It will debut on February 11 at 10 Pm, followed by a second night on February 12 at 8 Pm. DuVernay, Roquemore, Miller and Tyson took the TCA dais on Thursday to tell us all about the new series. More specifically, DuVernay talked about why she created the series.

“I just needed a break from history,” said DuVernay, who is known for helming historically significant and heavy projects such as the Emmy-winning When They See Us and the feature Selma. “I wanted to do something lovely and light about love and how it affects ius all. I’m a sucker for love stories.”

DuVernay said she was craving a black romantic endeavor — and Cherish the Day is exactly that. The eight-episode straight-to-series dramatic anthology chronicles the...

The 2020 Sundance Film Festival has broken a record weeks before it begins: Of the 16 films in Dramatic Competition, seven tell stories primarily about the lives of black characters: “The 40-Year-Old Version,” “Charm City Kings,” “Farewell Amor,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “Nine Days,” “Sylvie’s Love” and “Zola.”

Surveying the last 30 years of Sundance, there’s usually been at least one in-competition film with black leads. In 1992 and 1989, there was one black film in competition, while 1993 had two. But prior to 2020, there had never been more than five.

Black filmmakers saw a renaissance in the late ’80s and early ’90s, a period that introduced Spike Lee, Wendell B. Harris Jr, Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Julie Dash, Matty Rich, the Hudlin Brothers, Leslie Harris, and others. Some of their films premiered and competed at Sundance, but even then they never composed a significant presence.

Between 1989 and 1993, a total of 10 films with black leads...

From the first few seconds of the trailer, The Photograph has us hooked and falling in love. Directed by Everything, Everything's Stella Meghie, the film follows the love story of two couples, in the past and the present. Mae (Issa Rae) is mourning the loss of her photographer mother when she meets Michael Block (Lakeith Stanfield). The two quickly fall head over heels as they get to know one another, but will fear stop them from making it last?

An intimate look at a series of intertwining love stories, The Photograph calls back to classic romantic black films like Love and Basketball and Love Jones, films that Meghie shared with PopSugar as being sources of inspiration. Along with Rae and Stanfield, the star-studded cast includes Jasmine Cephas Jones, Y'lan Noel, Lil Rel Howery, Teyonah Parris, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chante Adams, Rob Morgan, Courtney B. Vance, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Chelsea Peretti.

October is over which means spooky flicks (aside from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”) are done. So, Netflix is making room for its upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas programming. Prepare for the merry festivities by curling up with some hot cocoa and watching “Elliot the Littlest Reindeer,” or the second season of “The Great British Baking Show: Holidays.”

Netflix is adding to its slate of black productions by adding the ’90s films such as “Paid In Full” and the Nia Long and Larenz Tate love story “Love Jones.” The streamer is also including “Undercover Brother 2” starring Michael Jai White on its long list of movies.

Additionally, some highly anticipated TV projects are making their way to the streamer this month such as Kerry Washington’s “American Son” and “The Crown.” Fans are anxious to see how Netflix continues the royals story with its new cast including with Tobias Menzies,...