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Pioneering director Ayoka Chenzira gives voice to the inner lives of women at a time when they were mostly ignored, making this coming-of-age story a rare gift to treasure

Ayoka Chenzira is a pioneering black director whose films have been finding a new audience with younger generations as she enters her 70s. Her 1994 feature debut Alma’s Rainbow has now been restored and rereleased; it is a coming-of-age movie that is funny and warm, if a little scrappy. It’s set in a Brooklyn townhouse owned by prim and proper Alma (Kim Weston-Moran), who runs a beauty parlour on the ground floor. In this all-women space, Chenzira luxuriates in her female characters. The fact that historically so few films have been made about the inner lives of black women gives Alma’s Rainbow a precious quality, and the feeling that it’s a gem to treasure.

Alma lives in the...

Like so many indie filmmakers of the late 20th century, Ayoka Chenzira is not as well-known as she should be, nor has she made as many films as her talent warrants. But the ones she’s made remain impactful.

Her short “Hair Piece: A Film for Nappyheaded People” is celebrated as a first from a Black woman animator, and its focus on Black hair remains as timely as ever. And now “Alma’s Rainbow,” her 1994 feature-film debut centered on Black womanhood, returns to US theaters in a new 4K restoration.

Written, directed and produced by Chenzira — who has gone on to guide a new generation of filmmakers and new-media creators at Spelman for more than 20 years — “Alma’s Rainbow” captures the dynamic between mother and daughter during a pivotal turning point in the younger woman’s life. Like Leslie Harris’s debut feature, 1992’ “Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.,” “Alma’s Rainbow” is...

"Explores the interior lives of Black women with loving acuity." Kino Lorber has revealed the latest official US trailer for a 4K re-release of an indie coming-of-age film titled Alma's Rainbow, originally released in 1994. The film is a comedy-drama about three African American women living in Brooklyn, Alma's Rainbow explores the life of teenager Rainbow Gold (played by Victoria Gabrielle Platt) as she enters womanhood and navigates standards of beauty, self-image, and the rights women have over their bodies. Director Ayoka Chenzira's acclaimed film highlights a multi-layered Black women's world where the characters live, love, and wrestle with what it means to exert and exercise their agency. This new 4K restoration was done by the Academy Film Archive, The Film Foundation, and Milestone Films - supervised by Mark Toscano. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation. This new edition and 4K re-release will play in limited art house cinemas around the US,...

“Alma’s Rainbow” made history in 1993 as one of the first 35mm American features to be directed, written, and produced by a Black woman. Director Ayoka Chenzira’s unsung gem about three women living in Brooklyn is now primed for rediscovery thanks to a 4K restoration from Kino Lorber and Milestone Films. IndieWire has the exclusive trailer for the re-release below.

The coming-of-age comedy explores the life of teenager Rainbow Gold (Victoria Gabrielle Platt), who is entering womanhood and navigating conversations and experiences around standards of beauty, self-image, and the rights Black women have over their bodies. Rainbow attends a strict parochial school, where she studies dance, and is just starting to become aware of boys. Meanwhile, she lives with her strait-laced mother Alma (Kim Weston-Moran), who runs a hair salon in the parlor of their home.

But when Alma’s free-spirited sister Ruby (Mizan Kirby) shows up from Paris after 10 years away,...

1980: Dallas' Sue Ellen remembered Kristin shot J.R.

1988: Santa Barbra's Julia stopped her wedding to "Mason".

1989: Another World's Sharlene and John married.

1995: One Life to Live's Todd was shot in Ireland."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Radio soap opera Central City premiered on NBC Blue. The Blackett-Sample-Hummert serial told the story of a blue-collar manufacturing hub of 50,000 denizens. Elspeth Eric starred as Emily Olson with Van Heflin as Bob Shellenberger. Heflin was eventually replaced by Myron McCormick.

1957: On The Edge of Night, Billy Harper (Pud Flanagan) accidentally overheard Mary's (Anne Sargeant) confession...

Like many couples, April (Nadine Ellis) and Derrick (Darrin Dewitt Henson) feel like the spark is missing from their marriage. With the demands of work and their hectic schedules, they find themselves in a six-month dry spell. Desperate to shake up their love life and rekindle their passion for each other, they decide to share a steamy night with their free-spirited friends, Christy (Michelle Krusiec) and Matt (Gabriel Olds). Soon after, April and Derrick find themselves dealing with unexpected feelings and must find a way to let go of the mistrust and fall in love with each other all over again. Check out the exclusive trailer for Four of Hearts before picking up the DVD on June 17.

Four of Hearts: Movie Pictures GalleryFour of Hearts: Movie Pictures Gallery 1Four of Hearts: Movie Pictures Gallery 2Four of Hearts: Movie Pictures Gallery 3Four of Hearts: Movie Pictures Gallery 4Four of Hearts:...

Eljida, ahoy! In episode 5 of The CW's "Star-Crossed," we learned that there is a secret alien community hidden in the swamps of Louisiana, where human-Atrian government liaison Gloria sent her half-alien baby to live in a heartbreaking send-off scene. And that wasn't even the biggest thing to happen in the episode!

There was also: the reveal of a secret Trag, an arrest, a super-hot hookup between Taylor and Drake, some bonding between Taylor and Teri, some bonding between Taylor and Sophia and the reveal of Sophia's crush. Basically, the love situation at this point is so complicated there isn't actually a shape that could be used to describe it that could do it justice. (Teri still likes Roman who likes Emery who's dating Grayson, while Lukas likes Sophia who likes Taylor who's hooking up with Drake).

The Atrians got their first chance to walk the streets of Edendale with an...

Okay, so, a lot of stuff went down during the fourth episode of "Star-Crossed," "And Left No Friendly Drop." But none of it was as amazing as the moment when Teri realized some blonde b**** from the opposing school purposefully poisoned Sophia, calmly took her earrings off and headbutted that witch to the ground. That's what happens when you mess with an Atrian!

Then, after Sophia was saved by Emery's quick thinking (and a stab from an epi pen), we bore witness the greatest melee ever involving high school students in speedos punching the crap out of each other. Best move: When Drake started to pull a dude from the opposing team out of the pool, then punched him back down. Take that! (Also, here was an awww-worthy moment: Eric and Drake glanced at each other mid-fight, then didn't punch each other. That's called progress, people!)

There was that other...

Did you see that twist coming? Stop reading if you haven't seen episode 4 of The CW's excellent new alien drama, "Star-Crossed," because star Victoria Platt is about to discuss the epic twist involving her U.S. government alien relations liaison Gloria Garcia and the secret Atrian son she has been hiding.

It turns out that the little boy is half-human, half-Atrian -- but not just any Atrian. He's Nox's son, a.k.a. Roman and Sophia's half-brother. It turns out Nox wasn't necessarily the heroic, diplomatic family man everyone thought he was when he was killed accidentally at the end of the pilot.

Star Victoria Platt tells Zap2it that the half-Atrian child was as much of a surprise to her as it was to viewers. "I found out when they sent me the script. I had absolutely no idea," she says. "That was another one of those moments where...

Victoria Platt (All My Children, Guiding Light, The Mentalist, Bones) has booked a recurring role on the new CW series Star-Crossed, premiering Monday, February 17, 2014. Star-Crossed centers on a romance between a human girl and an alien boy, when he and eight others of his kind are integrated into a suburban high school 10 years after they landed on Earth and were consigned to an internment camp.  Victoria plays "Gloria Garcia," a cool and collected U.S. Government liaison assigned to the school. Her character is being described as a "space-age Olivia Pope." Their words (from the press release), not mine. The recurring character will be featured in nine...

New York -- The rafters are shaking downtown at the Public Theater, where the dynamic new hip-hop musical, "Venice," is rocking the Anspacher Theater. It's a potent, dystopian mashup of rap music, Shakespeare's "Othello," sibling rivalry and political intrigue. And there's a sweet love story, too.

Intricate vocal harmonies infuse the pulsating anthems and ballads performed by a youthful, energetic cast, and the staging is acrobatic and effective, in the irresistible Public Lab production that opened Thursday night. Director Eric Rosen co-created the book and co-wrote the lyrics with Matt Sax, who wrote the music.

The complex, often-operatic score, which includes additional music by Curtis Moore, delineates character and creates a moody atmosphere while compellingly advancing the story. Chase Brock's versatile choreography creates a feverish sense of foot-stomping rebellion, as well as somber, elegiac moments.

Haaz Sleiman and Leslie Odom Jr. play half-brothers on opposite sides of a feud that...

A woman at a club leaves after receiving a text message, bumping into another woman along the way. She's shot, (that was a woman's hand holding the gun so not much room for a slew of suspects). Patrick (Simon Baker) comments Lisbon (Robin Tunney) looks rested. Chief Henderson (Dean Norris) called for help. Patrick notices two shots were fired to her head. Her name is Yolanda (Natalia Costellanos) and she has a stamp on her wrist from Club Luxure. He also notices her polish was 'sloppily' applied... She was also wearing a sports bra with which Lisbon agrees. Patrick wonders why she was wearing a disguise, which was the key word for this episode, as will be revealed later. Henderson knew her, she was an undercover cop, working narcotics. Known as Yoli, her ID must be kept secret. Henderson leaves after insulting Patrick and telling Lisbon to keep the "circus act under control.

While a second season on ABC seems like a real long shot, ABC hasn't officially cancelled The Gates (unlike say, My Generation). One of the show's stars however has been told that there won't be a second season.

The Gates follows a Chicago police detective (Frank Grillo) who moves his family to a gated suburban community to become the neighborhood's security chief. They soon discover that their new neighbors aren't as normal as they appear to be. The large cast includes Andrea Powell, Rhona Mitra, Marisol Nichols, Luke Mably, Travis Caldwell, Skyler Samuels, Chandra West, Colton Haynes, Janina Gavankar, Justin Miles, Victoria Gabrielle Platt, James Preston, Georgia Cole, Johnny Messner, Brett Cullen, Shannon Lucio, Devyn A. Tyler, McKaley Miller, and Louis Herthum.

Ratings expectations are lower in the summer months but the suburban supernatural series averaged only a 0.9 rating in the all-important 18-49...

Though ABC didn't have much luck with their Eastwick drama, the network is trying another kind of supernatural series, The Gates, for the summer months. Will this one make it to season two?

The Gates revolves around a big city cop who moves his family to a quiet gated community where many of the residents aren't exactly what they appear to be. The ensemble cast includes Rhona Mitra, Colton Haynes, Frank Grillo, Janina Gavankar, Chandra West, Luke Mably, James Preston, Marisol Nichols, Skyler Samuels, Travis Caldwell, Victoria Platt, and Justin Miles.

The series debuted on Sunday, June 20th, to an unimpressive 1.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic and just 4.78 million viewers. Considering all of the network's promotion, this was a disappointing start. The premiere ranked first in the demo and second in total viewers for the timeslot.

  In week...

Sneak Peek an extended preview clip from Little Engine Entertainment's "The Gates", ABC's newest supernatural, vampire/werewolf dramatic TV series, debuting Sunday, June 20.

"...'Nick Monahan' and his family move from Chicago to a quiet, upscale planned community called 'The Gates', where he will be chief of police. They soon realize that their neighbors are not who they seem to be..."

Cast includes Frank Grillo as 'Nick Monahan', former Chicago cop who has moved his family to a quiet community for his new job as the chief of police, Marisol Nichols as 'Sarah Monahan', Nick's wife, Travis Caldwell as 'Charlie Monahan', Nick and Sarah's teenage son, Luke Mably as 'Dylan Radcliff', a vampire owner of a biotech company who lives in the neighborhood, Rhona Mitra as 'Claire Radcliff', also a vampire and Dylan's wife, Janina Gavankar as 'Leigh Turner', a female cop who works with Nick,...

Brit actress Rhona Mitra (Doomsday) headlines ABC’s new summer show The Gates, a supernatural small-town cop show that premiers this Sunday in the Us, more specifically on ABC. The series takes place in a suburb of Chicago and follows a big-city cop move his family to what he thinks is a quiet suburb when he’s appointed chief of police. Then he comes to realise it’s not a quiet as he thought… it’s actually populated with monsters!

The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with perfectly manicured homes protected by the massive iron gates, but a dark and delicious secret is buried just beneath the surface of this picturesque neighborhood. Like most families that settle inside The Gates, the Monahans are unmoored from a complicated life they abandoned in Chicago. Named the new police chief of The Gates, Nick Monahan is expecting a change...

We have 2 clips from the series premiere episode of ABC's"The Gates" as well as interviews with cast members Frank Grillo, Rhona Mitra, Chandra West, Skyler Samuels, Marisol Nichols, Justin Miles, Luke Malby, Colton Haynes, Janina Gavankar and Travis Caldwell. The Fox Television Studios production is written by Grant Scharbo and executive produced by Gina Matthews and Scharbo. The series premieres on Sunday, June 20th at 10:00 p.m. Et and runs for an hour. Cast and their roles: Frank Grillo as Nick Monohan, Marisol Nichols as Sarah Monahan, Rhona Mitra as Claire Radcliff, Luke Mably as Dylan Radcliff, Travis Caldwell as Charlie Monohan, Skyler Samuels as Andie Bates, Colton Haynes as Brett Crezski, Chandra West as Devon, Victoria Platt as Peg Mueller, Justin Miles as Marcus Jordan and Janina Gavankar as Leigh Turner.

Brit actress Rhona Mitra (Doomsday) headlines ABC’s new summer show The Gates, a supernatural small-town cop show that takes place in a suburb of Chicago and follows a big-city cop move his family to what he thinks is a quiet suburb when he’s appointed chief of police. Then he comes to realise it’s not a quiet as he thought… it’s actually populated with monsters!

Nestled inside a private mountain community are The Gates. The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with perfectly manicured homes protected by the massive iron gates, but a dark and delicious secret is buried just beneath the surface of this picturesque neighborhood.

Yes, The Gates is another supernatural show coming to ABC in June, and like the previous supernatural show I got really excited about – Happy Town – we can (and should) expect this one to get cancelled early! Anyway,...

ABC has released a second, slightly longer promo for its upcoming supernatural crime drama "The Gates", which debuts on June 20th. Just by virtue of the fact that Rhona Mitra's in it, I'm willing to give it a shot; here's hoping it fares better than "Happy Town" did!

"The Gates" stars Frank Grillo as Nick Monohan, Marisol Nichols as Sarah Monahan, Rhona Mitra as Claire Radcliff, Luke Mably as Dylan Radcliff, Travis Caldwell as Charlie Monohan, Skyler Samuels as Andie Bates, Colton Haynes as Brett Crezski, Chandra West as Devon, Victoria Platt as Peg Mueller, Justin Miles as Marcus Jordan, and Janina Gavankar as Leigh Turner. It's produced by Fox Television Studios, executive produced by Gina Matthews, and written and executive produced by Grant Scharbo and Richard Hatem.

Synopsis:

Nestled inside a private mountain community are The Gates. The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with...

ABC have three new shows lined up for this summer, one of which is a supernatural small-town cop show that takes place in a suburb of Chicago called The Gates. The series is headlined by Rhona Mitra (Doomsday) and follows a big-city cop move his family to what he thinks is a quiet suburb when he’s appointed chief of police. Then he comes to realise it’s not a quiet as he thought… it’s actually populated with monsters! Thanks to Dread Central we have the official synopsis and teaser trailer for the series which premieres June 20th at 9pm on ABC:

Nestled inside a private mountain community are The Gates. The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with perfectly manicured homes protected by the massive iron gates, but a dark and delicious secret is buried just beneath the surface of this picturesque neighborhood.

Like most...

ABC will be premiering its new supernatural crime drama "The Gates" on June 20th, and along with a teaser promo for the show, we've got the complete cast listing and a synopsis to share.

"The Gates" stars Frank Grillo as Nick Monohan, Marisol Nichols as Sarah Monahan, Rhona Mitra as Claire Radcliff, Luke Mably as Dylan Radcliff, Travis Caldwell as Charlie Monohan, Skyler Samuels as Andie Bates, Colton Haynes as Brett Crezski, Chandra West as Devon, Victoria Platt as Peg Mueller, Justin Miles as Marcus Jordan, and Janina Gavankar as Leigh Turner. It's produced by Fox Television Studios, executive produced by Gina Matthews, and written and executive produced by Grant Scharbo and Richard Hatem.

Synopsis:

Nestled inside a private mountain community are The Gates. The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with perfectly manicured homes protected by the massive iron gates, but a dark and delicious secret...

Two high-profile CBS comedy pilots have found their female leads.

Lindsay Sloane has been tapped to star opposite Kyle Bornheimer on the untitled Bays/Thomas project, and Melissa McCarthy has landed the Molly role on the Chuck Lorre-produced "Mike and Molly."

Elsewhere, Marisol Nichols and Rhona Mitra have boarded ABC's series "The Gates" as leads, with Victoria Platt, Justin Miles and Skyler Samuels also cast in the project.

The Bays/Thomas multicamera comedy revolves around an unmarried couple, Tommy (Bornheimer) and Gina (Sloane), who are in love, but Tommy has commitment issues. Gina is a waitress who fantasizes about running her own business.

Sloane, repped by Gersh and Thruline, is onscreen with Bornheimer in "She's Out of My League."

"Molly" is a multicamera romantic comedy about Mike (Billy Gardell), an overweight, charming police officer, and Molly (McCarthy), a pretty and plump woman, who meet at Overeaters Anonymous.

"Gilmore Girls" and "Samantha Who?...

The Los Angeles cast of Pippin includes Michael Arden, Jonah Blechman, Dan Callaway, Bryan Terrell Clark, Nicolas Conway, Rodrick Covington, James Royce Edwards, Tl Forsberg, Sara Gettelfinger, Tyrone Giordano, Harriet Harris, Rebecca Ann Johnson, Troy Kotsur, Jos? F. Lopez, Jr., John McGinty, Anthony Natale, Aleks Pevec, Victoria Platt, Ty Taylor, Nikki Tomlinson, Melissa Van Der Schyff and Alexandria Wailes. Tony Award winning, the musical is composed by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell) and is directed by Jeff Calhoun. Deaf West Theatre is best known to Los Angeles audiences for their Ctg productions of Big River, at the Taper and Sleeping Beauty Wakes at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre's production of "Pippin" opens the Mark Taper Forum's 2009 season on Sunday, January 25, at 6:30 p.m. Both deaf and hearing actors sign and sing the magical musical comedy with book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, "Pippin" continues performances through March 15. "Pippin" is the captivating coming of age story about a young man's search for meaning in his life, as told by a lively band of troubadours in the Roman Empire. The episodic quest of Pippin, the son of the powerful Charlemagne, takes him through battlefields, orgies, revolution, and finally, love and domesticity, as he tries to find a place for his "spirit to run free," for his "corner of the sky." This production interweaves music, voice, American Sign Language and dance, and combines powerful storytelling techniques from both hearing and deaf cultures.

Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre's production of "Pippin" opens the Mark Taper Forum's 2009 season on Sunday, January 25, at 6:30 p.m. Both deaf and hearing actors sign and sing the magical musical comedy with book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, "Pippin" continues performances through March 15. "Pippin" is the captivating coming of age story about a young man's search for meaning in his life, as told by a lively band of troubadours in the Roman Empire. The episodic quest of Pippin, the son of the powerful Charlemagne, takes him through battlefields, orgies, revolution, and finally, love and domesticity, as he tries to find a place for his "spirit to run free," for his "corner of the sky." This production interweaves music, voice, American Sign Language and dance, and combines powerful storytelling techniques from both hearing and deaf cultures.