Exclusive Interview w/ Carmen Madden, Director of “Everyday Black Man”

While at this year’s Urbanworld Film Festival, I was blessed enough to meet Carmen Madden, the upbeat Writer/Producer/Director of the film festival favorite Everyday Black Man. Since its 2009 debut, Everyday Black Man has made the rounds at Oakland Int’l Film Festival, San Diego Black Film Festival, San Francisco Women’s Int’l Film Festival, American Black Film Festival and became the Best Narrative Winner at the Tallahassee Film Festival, Best Narrative Winner/Programmers Award at the Pan African Film Festival and the Best Feature Winner at the Peach Tree Village Best Int’l Film Festival. And I’m proud to announce it will soon appear on DVD and VOD!

The trailer and story have been covered here on S&A before, but for those unaware it’s the tale of Moses Stanton (Henry Brown), a quiet and thoughtful man who since closing the door to his violent past, runs a small neighborhood store while watching over his daughter Claire (Tessa Thompson) who doesn't know he exists. When a young man, Malik, comes in claiming to be a black Muslim that is doing good for the neighborhood, Moses takes him on as a partner but soon realizes that Malik (Omari Hardwick) is nothing but a drug dealer seeking to destroy the neighborhood and Claire. Does Moses stand back and accept things the way they’re going or does he become the man he used to be in order to save his beloved neighborhood and his daughter? That’s the essence of the story.

I spoke via telephone with Carmen at her CLM Productions office to discuss the movie, her career, and her new distribution deal.

Naturi Naughton on "Mad Men" a bust, just as predicted

Well, whoever saw the episode that just aired a few hours ago realizes what I said weeks ago about Naturi Naughton appearing on AMC's Mad Men: her role was a big nothing.

**SPOILERS WITHIN**

Naturi, who for the record I enjoy as a singer and actress, played Lane Pryce's (Jared Harris) new squeeze, a somewhat shock to Don Draper (who can give an ef and has his own problems) and to Pryce's stuffy dad who meet her on a visit to the Playboy Club (or restaurant, or whatever that spot officially was) wherein we get to see her resplendent as a 'bunny', outfit and all. Later in the episode, she's officially introduced (sans bunny ears & tail) as Pryce's new lady and is dismissed as quickly. About in all, sis had about 5 lines total.

I'm still unsure why her appearance was so heavily touted (truth be told, I forgot) since basically she plays the same role another sister played as former cast member Michael Gladis' shocking girlfriend (wha? ...a Black!) - and this sis was the first non-servant featured on the show. I wanted to expect differently for Naturi, but you know what they say about wishes and horses. Considering that Pryce won't be in next week's episode (the character is taking a leave of absence) and that Mad Men only has about three more episodes left for the season, I doubt she'll appear in more than one more episode for the year. Guess headlines about her feature role were overblown and that advertising in 1965 remains as lily as it almost does today.

Still, she was good in what they gave her so I suppose she should be recognized for that.

I'd rather see Carla the maid (Deborah Lacey) brought back. At least her role had some substance and created a somewhat foil to chickenhead wife Betty Draper/Francis' January Jones.

Feel free to chime in.


(originally posted on www.ShadowandAct.com)

Eva Mendes Sex Tape

Eva Mendes Sex Tape from Eva Mendes

The sex tape everyone has been waiting for with Eva Mendes is finally here and you won't believe what kinds of positions she gets into.

The Brothers of Summer

With the new tv show Undercovers premiering next month, starring the already oft-mentioned Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who I know best at Freema Agyeman’s (#1 on my ‘Wifey List’) sister on Dr. Who, and pretty-boy extraordinaire Boris Kodjoe, I thought I’d focus on what seems to be, in a good way, a proliferation of Black men on tv shows lately. Although these guys are supporting characters, they’re playing some pretty intense roles and putting forth some great comedic and dramatic performances. Though none of these are network shows like Undercovers, they are often better (and sometimes better performing) than those.

ZEMIRA short screening a big success!

Just wanted to let my readers (all 15!) know that our August 12th screening of the short version of my film Zemira, entitled A little bit Of More was a success. We had two back to back showings and the room was packed each time. The feedback was instrumental in our getting to the next step as a wide range of film fans, friends, family and other industry folks (actors, producers, programmers, etc) really expressed what they liked and didn't like about it. Thankfully, the latter was a bare minimum.

So Mecca and our D.P. Cisco and I and the rest of the team are going full steam ahead still in trying to make the Zemira feature happen. It's all about the getting the $$$ to finance this now.