News

Exclusive: Filmmakers Maurice Hall and Tony L. Patterson have set the cast for their third feature together, the indie dramedy #WorstChristmasEver. The list includes B.J. Britt (The Groomsmen Last Dance), Taja V. Simpson (Tyler Perry’s The Oval), Shanti Lowry (The Game), Bill Bellamy (Bel-Air), Tamala Jones (Ordinary Angels), Maurice Hall (High Potential), Tyler Lofton (The Pitt), and Mo Ashley (All American: Homecoming).

Written by Patterson and Hall, who also features in the ensemble, the film follows recently divorced workaholic Billy Turner (Britt) as he’s persuaded to fly across the country to celebrate Christmas with his children, James (Lofton) and Haley (Ashley), his ex-wife, Alicia (Lowry)….and her new fiancé, Chris (Hall). Billy’s longtime friends, Larry (Bellamy) and Cynthia (Jones), try to talk him off a ledge in his dread of this years’ holiday. And in a feat to drink away his sorrows, he literally stumbles upon high powered lawyer,...

Exclusive: Kasey Kitchen’s boutique entertainment and lifestyle firm Marque PR is expanding with a new Atlanta office set to open in April.

Marque PR was founded by Kitchen in 2020 and is headquartered in Los Angeles.

Clients of Marque PR include Hayden Panettiere, Peter Facinelli (Twilight franchise), Isaiah Mustafa, Steven Krueger (Yellowjackets), Toni Trucks (Seal Team) , Suzana Pires, Jae Suh Park, Kearran Giovanni (Major Crimes), Shanti Lowry, Riley Voelkel, Aleks Paunovic (Suits LA), Maz Jobrani, Daniella Monet (Victorious), Lauren Buglioli (Bad Monkey), Sarah Wynter (24), Zibby Allen (Virgin River), Alyshia Ochse (True Detective), Jenn Lyon, Susie Abromeit (The Purge), Carson Boatman (Days of Our Lives), Jessi Case (Mother’s Day), Seth Lee, Rhoyle Ivy King (All American: Homecoming), Patrick Gilmore (Travelers), Christopher Russell, Dan Payne (Virgin River), Nathaniel Potvin, Ross McCall, Andrea Laing (Yule Log), Julie Tolivar...

We have an exclusive clip from Mike Ho's psychological thriller, Persona, to share with you today. It's out on Digital and On Demand right now. A woman wakes up locked in a house, injured, with no memory. Can she figure out who is coming back for her…before the doors are unlocked? Persona stars Shanti Lowry, Sophia Ali, Andrew Howard, and Omar Gooding. Lowry produced the fick. The film is distributed by Gravitas Ventures. ...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Stars: Shanti Lowry, Sophia Ali, Andrew Howard | Written by Blyth Kemp | Directed by Mike Ho

Persona managed to give me a shock before I even started watching it. Its IMDb entry lists it as running two hours and twenty-one minutes, which seemed a bit excessive for the film’s plot. Thankfully, when I put it on, the actual running time was a more reasonable hour and forty-two minutes, and even that was a bit longer than needed.

A woman wakes up with no memory of who or where she is. Where is a filthy house, one that looks like it’s been used as a squat for the homeless. Actually, it’s serving a much more sinister purpose, its doors locked and windows boarded up, it’s serving as a prison for her.

On the TV, the news is reporting another woman is missing, abducted from a nearby mall. Could...

Mike Ho’s “Persona” (2024) is a kidnapping drama sans any color and texture. A woman wakes up in an unknown house. She has no recollection of the circumstances that transpired and has brought her there. She fumbles around for clues and markers that can give her a certainty or inkling of the stuff that has gone down here. Groping in the dark, she stumbles across another bruised woman, Samantha. It is only after some effort the woman recalls her name being Tricia.

What’s definite, however, is the reality of the house where the two are caged. The exits are all sealed up. But the ominousness of the captor lingers in the air. At any point, he may be back. There’s no real threat though the endangering man makes his appearance brashly. The film is essentially circling two women who are bracing themselves for the inevitable return of the kidnapper.

"Did we do something to deserve it?" "No one deserves this..." Gravitas Ventures has unveiled the official trailer for Persona, an indie horror thriller from director Mike Ho, mostly known for making many music videos over the last decade. Set for a VOD release in December if anyone wants to watch. Not sure why they needed to use the same Persona title as the iconic 1966 Ingmar Bergman film. A woman wakes up locked in a house, injured with no memory. She's terrified yet relieved to find a woman bound in another room. These two strangers must work together to figure out what's really going on before the door is unlocked. Who is coming back for her? Why are they locked up in this house? Starring Shanti Lowry and Sophia Ali, with Andrew Howard and Omar Gooding. This doesn't look so interesting - better to just rewatch Saw again. // Continue Reading...

Exclusive: BET+ is gearing up for the holiday season with the release of eight new original films that’ll begin rolling out in November. The slate includes a variety of genres including family comedies, yuletide romances, and a little musical magic featuring Amber Riley, Bill Bellamy, Loretta Devine, among others.

The full breakdown of the 2021 BET+ holiday films is below.

A Christmas Wish

Roz McKenzie, a single mother, is calling upon a miracle so she and her daughter can survive Christmas.

Starring: Noree Victoria, Nadia Simms, Blue Kimble, Javon Johnson

Written and Directed by: Christopher Nolen

A Rich Christmas

A spoiled and ungrateful socialite learns a valuable lesson one Christmas after her mega-rich father forces her to work at the first property he ever owned – a family homeless center.

Starring: Bill Bellamy, Vanessa A Williams, Tyler Abron, Brandee Evans, Denise Boutte

Directed by: Victoria Rowell

Written by: Shateka “Sj” Johnson...

In today’s TV news roundup, MTV announced when the 2021 “MTV Movie & TV Awards” will air, and Netflix revealed the premiere date for the third season of “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous.”

Dates

MTV announced that the 2021 “MTV Movie & TV Awards” will air live from Los Angeles on May 16. Following that event, MTV will air “Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted” (working title) on May 17, which will recognize the best moments from reality shows and celebrate everything reality TV. Hosts, honorees, performers, presenters and additional details for both events will be announced at a later date. Sponsors of the two-night celebration include The Real Cost (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and Sonic.

Netflix announced that “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” will return for a third season on May 21 with 10 new episodes. Inspired by the “Jurassic World” franchise, the animated series follows six teenagers who were chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Camp Cretaceous,...

Exclusive: Allblk has cast the stars for its legal drama Lace, with Maryam Basir (The Chi), Skyh Black (Sistas) and Tanyell Waivers (Queen Sugar) set to join the series. Also joining the principal cast are Antoine Harris (The Breaks) and Terrell Carter (Empire). Kemy Time productions co-founder Katrina Y. Nelson, Michelle Ebony Hardy, Adam Starks and Tracy Grant created the series.

Lace, directed by Deuces and Brotherly Love helmer Jamal Hill, follows a prolific Los Angeles attorney who often blurs the lines between right and wrong to protect her rich and powerful clientele. The series will premiere in the fall and also features Taylor Bynoe, Mollie Dolcimascolo and Isaac Stephen Montgomery in supporting series regular roles.

Basir’s Lacey McCullough is a successful and highly connected attorney whose influence sometimes leads her down a very dark path. With the help of her trusted associates, Othello Charles (Black) and Britney Deveaux (Waivers) – and the ever-efficient twins,...

Are Anthony and Lisa ready to become empty-nesters in the seventh season of the Family Time TV show on Bounce TV? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Family Time is cancelled or renewed for season eight. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustration when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the seventh season episodes of Family Time here. Status Update Below.

A Bounce TV family comedy series, Family Time stars Omar Gooding, Angell Conwell, Bentley Kyle Evans Jr., and Jayla Calhoun with Paula Jai Parker, Tanjareen Thomas, Erica Shaffer, Clayton Thomas, and Shanti Lowry in recurring roles. Season seven guests include Stokley Williams, Denise Boutte, KiKi Haynes, and Rodney Perry. Created by Bentley Kyle Evans, the sitcom follows the lives of...

The 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were held at 8:00pm (Eastern and Pacific) on Friday night, June 26, in a ceremony broadcast on CBS and hosted by “The Talk” stars Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood and Marie Osmond. “General Hospital” was the top nominee with 23 bids, followed closely by “Days of Our Lives” (22) and “The Young and the Restless” (21). But who were the big winners? Scroll down for the complete list in all categories from Best Drama Series to Best Special Effects Costumes, Makeup and Hairstyling.

SEEWhen are the Daytime Emmys? New dates for 2020 nominations and ceremony finally announced

Not all of the winners were presented during the telecast, which was held virtually to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 as the pandemic raged on in the United States. Many top categories were handed out during the two-hour prime time event, but additional categories were announced right...

The 2020 Daytime Emmy nominations were announced on Thursday, May 21, live on CBS’a “The Talk.” So who made the cut at the 47th annual kudos? Scroll down for the list of nominees.

These nominations were originally scheduled to be announced on April 27, and the trophies were set to be handed out during two Creative Arts ceremonies on June 12 and June 13 and then the main ceremony on June 14, but those plans had to be revised after the coronavirus pandemic caused public events to be cancelled or postponed across the globe. (The Olympics and the Tony Awards were also among the high-profile events affected).

SEEWhen are the Daytime Emmys? New dates for 2020 nominations and ceremony finally announced

But the Daytime Emmys regrouped and winners will be presented during a virtual ceremony to be held on Friday night, June 26, on CBS, which will be the first time since 2011 that the awards are shown on a broadcast TV network.

Vulture Watch

What's ahead for the Stallworth family? Has the Family Time TV show been cancelled or renewed for an eighth season on Bounce TV? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Family Time, season eight. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

Airing on the Bounce TV television channel, Family Time stars Omar Gooding, Angell Conwell, Bentley Kyle Evans Jr., and Jayla Calhoun with Paula Jai Parker, Tanjareen Thomas, Erica Shaffer, Clayton Thomas, and Shanti Lowry in recurring roles. Season seven guests include Stokley Williams, Denise Boutte, KiKi Haynes, and Rodney Perry. Created by Bentley Kyle Evans, the sitcom follows the lives of the Stallworth family who relocated to the suburbs after hitting the...

James Van Der Beek is one of the 12 celebrities on “Dancing with the Stars” Season 28, but this won’t be his first time on the show. Sort of.

Remember “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23”? The short-lived ABC sitcom that ran from two seasons on which the “Dawson’s Creek” alum played a vain, narcissistic version of himself? Yeah, well, that James Van Der Beek was on “Dancing.” In the “Apartment 23” Season 1 finale, which aired in May 2012, James is cast on “Dancing” and develops a heated rivalry with Dean Cain after he learns that the former Superman has a larger dressing room.

The storyline carried over into Season 2, and Karina Smirnoff, who at the time had just won Season 13 of “Dancing” with J.R. Martinez, guest-starred as Dean’s partner. James wasn’t partnered with a real “Dancing” pro on the show, but rather the fictional Angie Beckencort (Missi Pyle), who was not great,...

It’s Daytime Emmys weekend, celebrating the best in daytime and streaming programming and spanning achievements in dramas, game shows, talk shows, animated programs, and more. The awards were presented in two parts. The lion’s share of hardware was handed out at the Creative Arts Awards on Friday night, May 3, with the rest of the categories to follow on Sunday night, May 5, during a live streaming webcast. Scroll down for the complete list of Creative Arts winners as they’re announced.

Hosted by David Osmond (“Wonderama”), the Creative Arts ceremony honored performers, writers, directors and various below-the-line craftspeople, among other daytime TV professionals. The presenters who handed out trophies were Laila Ali (“Home Made Simple”), Lamon Archey (“Days of Our Lives”), Bob Bergen (“Wabbit”), Sasha Calle (“The Young and the Restless”), Anne Marie Cummings (“Conversations in L.A.”), Tiffany Derry (“Top Chef Junior”), Najee De-Tiege (“The Bay”), Akbar Gbaja-Biamila...

The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are only a few days away, and the television academy has announced the presenters who will take the stage at both of this weekend’s ceremonies. The Creative Arts Awards will be held on Friday night, May 3, followed by the main ceremony on Sunday night, May 5. Sunday’s show will be hosted by Mario Lopez and Sheryl Underwood and air live on the web (scroll down for those details at the bottom of this post).

The Creative Arts Awards will be hosted by David Osmond (“Wonderama”) and will feature the following presenters: Laila Ali (“Home Made Simple”), Lamon Archey (“Days of Our Lives”), Bob Bergen (“Wabbit”), Sasha Calle (“The Young and the Restless”), Anne Marie Cummings (“Conversations in L.A.”), Tiffany Derry (“Top Chef Junior”), Najee De-Tiege (“The Bay”), Akbar Gbaja-Biamila (“American Ninja Warrior Junior”), Courtney Hope (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Adrienne Houghton and...

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the presenters for both the 46th Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy® Awards and the 46th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards. The galas will both be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Southern California

On Friday, May 3rd, the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards will feature many star-studded presenters including host David Osmond (Wonderama), Laila Ali (Home Made Simple with Laila Ali), Lamon Archey (Days of our Lives), Bob Bergen (the voice of Porky Pig), Sasha Calle (The Young & the Restless), Anne Marie Cummings (Conversations in L.A.), Tiffany Derry (Top Chef Junior), Najee De-Tiege (The Bay), Akbar Gbaja-Biamila (American Ninja Warrior Junior), Courtney Hope (The Bold and the Beautiful), Adrienne Houghton & Israel Houghton, Matt Iseman (American Ninja Warrior Junior), Vanessa Baden Kelly (Giants), Hunter King (The Young & the Restless), Vanessa Lachey (Top Chef Junior), Wil Lash (Anacostia), Liana Liberato...

In today’s roundup, the “I Am Richard Pryor” documentary gets a world premiere at SXSW and NBC announces premiere dates for “America’s Got Talent” and “American Ninja Warrior.”

Casting

“Girlfriends” alum Khalil Kain will join as a recurring character on the second season of “Bronx Siu” on the Urban Movie Channel, premiering on March 21. He will join Brian White, Shanti Lowry, Denise Boutte and Ameer Baraka in the new season of the New York police procedural.

Dates

“I Am Richard Pryor,” a new documentary looking at the life of the iconic comedian and actor, will make its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 12. The film will then air on Paramount Network on March 15 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt and encore on Comedy Central at 11:30 p.m. Et/Pt. Exclusive interviews with celebrities, like Tiffany Haddish, Howie Mandel, Lily Tomlin and Jennifer Pryor,...

Planet Mirrorballus is still aliiiiiiiive! James Van Der Beek — TV’s James Van Der Beek — faced off against the Real Dean Cain in the hardwood rectagon on tonight’s Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23. That’s a huge mouthful of extra cheese, but it totally worked, because when does extra cheese not?

James’ Dancing With the Stars arch rival Dean Cain got to dance with real-life pro Karina Smirnoff, while James — who had difficulty contending with his original boozy, strung-out partner on last week’s episode — met his bedazzled match this week in new partner Valentina (Shanti Lowry). Sadly,...

It’s a super showdown this Tuesday on Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (ABC, 9:30/8:30c), when James Van Der Beek finally faces off against nemesis Dean Cain on Dancing With the Stars — and we’ve got 18 photos of the fierce parquet action.

Related | Apartment 23 Exclusive: My Boys Vet Kyle Howard Comes Between Chloe and June

Who will get a leg up on his competition, TV’s erstwhile Dawson or Superman himself? All that ABC’s official synopsis reveals is that when “James finally step into the spotlight, mouths will drop.”

Check out The...

I thought orginally that The Coalition was something new to S & A, but I discovered that back in July 2011 we first reported about this film produced by Team Sizzle, a production company financed by Baltimore Ravens football player Terrell Suggs. The production company previously produced two short films, Sisters and When Beautiful People Do Ugly Things, both written and directed by Monica Mingo and back during the summer of 2011 in Arizona, Mingo directed Team Sizzle's first feature film The Coalition. The films stars Denyce Lawton, J.R. Ramirez, Adrienne Bailon,  Nadine Ellis, Shanti Lowry, Eddie Goines and Jackee Harry and according to Team Sizzle is...

Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and its live score opened Dan Pritzker's eyes to the possibilities of silent movies. But was choosing Louis Armstrong as his subject a step too far?

I was working on a screenplay about Buddy Bolden, "inventor" of jazz, when I went to a screening of the classic Chaplin silent film City Lights. Dimly lit beneath the silver screen was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing the score live. I'd never seen anything like it. By the time the Little Tramp restored the Blind Girl's sight, I had decided to write another film, a silent one about jazz that would be stylistically like films of the Chaplin era.

Bolden's career ended in 1907, when he was committed to an asylum. The concept of there having been an "inventor" of jazz seemed far fetched. Jazz, I figured, developed incrementally, over time. But what if there really was such a person?...

Jackée Harry has entertained millions of viewers throughout her extensive career in both daytime and primetime television. Fans of her beloved roles on Another World, 227, and Sister Sister will get the opportunity to see her back in action on the Gmc network's world premiere of The Ideal Husband, debuting this Saturday at 7 p.m. Et (and again at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.). But how does this daytime alum perceive her illustrious career? And does she carry regrets about her career choices? Find out in this special two-part original We Love Soaps TV interview.

We Love Soaps TV: Ms. Harry, it is such a pleasure to talk with you, I have admired your work all the way back to Another World. But I’d like to start by talking about this exciting movie that is coming up this Saturday, February 26th, called The Ideal Husband, airing on Gmc at 7 p.

A romantic, family-friendly film comes to Gmc, America.s favorite channel for inspirational music and family entertainment, as John Ruffin.s hit stage play .The Ideal Husband. starring Darrin Dewitt Henson, Erica Hubbard, Shirley Murdock and R&B artist Ginuwine comes February 26. The TV film is filled with heartwarming humor, inspiring songs and the healing power of faith, according to Gmc. .The Ideal Husband" is described as a grand musical theater experience, and is premiering exclusively on Gmc on Saturday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. Et with encore broadcasts at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. From Gmc: Tracey Malone (Shanti Lowry) is overjoyed at finally being able to have her first child after eight years of marriage. Her husband Devin...

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

HollywoodNews.com: “We were waiting to see, ‘Does this work?’ The answer is ‘Yes!’ We sold out in every city. The people really enjoyed it and gave us long standing ovations.” So says Shanti Lowry, who has the distinction of being a silent film star in the 21st century. She and Jackie Earle Hayley play the leads in the new silent film “Louis,” which has just concluded a five-city test outing, complete with a live musical score performance — Wynton Marsalis playing his own composition with a complete band.

According to her, another sweep of cities for “Louis” is soon to be scheduled, now that the first shows have succeeded.

Lowry plays a 1907 New Orleans prostitute who’s had a baby via the corrupt governor (Hayley) in “Louis,” which was lensed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond. The enterprise was especially exciting for her because...

There was no dialog to learn for “Louis,” a new release that tells story of young Louis Armstrong in a 1910s-look silent film.

Expressing her character without dialog was “technically a challenge, but a fun one,” says Shanti Lowry, who plays the female lead Grace Lamennais, a prostitute whose baby’s father (Judge Perry, played by Jackie Earle Haley) is the film’s villain.

Lowry, Haley and director Dan Pritzker watched a lot of silent films, she says, to analyze the performances. “It’s an acting style,” she notes. “It’s still a character [who has] a purpose in the scene and is still trying to tell a story.” While melodrama was the accepted style for actresses in the old silent films to get across their characters’ vulnerability, openness and gentleness, Lowry explains, “That’s a dangerous line for contemporary audiences — it might just turn them off or make them see it as just bad acting.

Here's something you don't see every day -- a silent film accompanied by a live music track featuring Wynton Marsalis and classical pianist Cecile Licad. If you're lucky enough to catch Louis live as it plays selected dates in August, though, that's exactly what you'll be watching.

The film -- directed by Dan Pritzker and starring Jackie Earle Haley, Shanti Lowry, and Anthony Coleman and featuring the work of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond -- is an homage to Louis Armstrong. Set in 1907 New Orleans, the story follows six year old Louis as he learns to play the trumpet and aids a young woman named Grace who's become mixed up with an evil judge played by Jackie Earle Haley.

Part film, part concert, Louis looks to be quite the event -- a throwback to the silent era of films, but one that features world class performers providing the aural accompaniment.

Today we have the trailer for "Louis," a modern re-imagining of early silent films and an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin and the birth of American music. Check out the trailer below. The new movie stars co-stars Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, Nightmare on Elm Street) and Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) and is set to get a limited theatrical release on August 25th. Plot: The grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide a backdrop of lust, blood and magic for 6 year old Louis (Anthony Coleman) as he navigates the colorful intricacies of life in the city. Young Louis's dreams of playing the trumpet are interrupted by a chance meeting with a beautiful and vulnerable girl named Grace (Shanti Lowry) and her baby, Jasmine. Haley plays the evil Judge Perry who is determined not to let Jasmine's true heritage derail his candidacy for governor. Trailer: If you cannot see the player,...

I don’t know much in the way of silent films. Of course the classics: Great American Train Robbery, Works of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, things of the like. If there’s one thing I’m fairly certain of it’s the bittersweet truth that the silent movie is dead. Hollywood has discovered bigger and better ways to tell stories and now those ways are they only way people will see movies. Big and flashy. Well now, as if from the grave, the silent film has re-emerged. And it is called Louis.

Today, thanks to the ladies and gentlemen over at Apple.com, the trailer for Louis was released. The film stars the drop-dead gorgeous Shanti Lowry, Anthony Coleman and (shockingly enough) Jackie Earle Haley as the films villain. Obviously, I cannot speak to the film’s successes, but the trailer does a wonderful job in showing the New Orleans...