January 5, 2018

The Pulse of Entertainment: First Lady CeCe Winans-Love and Others Honored at ‘1st Ladies High Tea'

"When you understand who you are then its pretty easy I think," said CeCe Winans-Love, 10-time Grammy winning Gospel vocalist and First Lady of Nashville Life Church, about the challenges of the 1st ladies of the church. "When people try to become something that their not or what they think people expect...I think it becomes hard."

Such words of wisdom came in abundance while talking to the many first ladies of churches during the 10th annual "First Ladies High Tea" event held in late 2017 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. CeCe Winans-Love is married to Pastor Alvin Love, II of the Nashville Life Church and she joined other first ladies who were honored at the L.A. Focus event. Winans-Love received the "Spirit Award." The "First Ladies High Tea" honors were founded by L.A. Focus publisher Lisa Collins. The event always features celebrity guests who are presenters or hosts.

The 2017 "First Ladies High Tea" hosts were Dr. Bobby Jones and Dr. Beverly "Bam" Crawford, pastor of Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church. Aside from the first ladies of the church other honorees included 37th District Congresswoman Karen Bass and actress Wendy Raquel Robinson for their community service. The first ladies honored also included Regina Taylor of Park Windsor Baptist Church, Morgen Wilbourne of Pacific Crossroads Church, Patricia Swancy of Peace Apostolic Church and Cynthia Bueina of Restauracion Total Church.

"I had to adapt," said First Lady Patricia. "My husband (Bishop Howard Arthur Swancy) and his late wife started the ministry. It was a very thriving ministry when I came into it. It was well organized and I had to adapt to it. It wasn't that big of an adaptation. The love of the Lord Jesus Christ (helped her to adapt). He is always there for me."

"Me and my husband (Rev. Terrell Taylor) were members of the church," said First lady Regina. "We grew up in the church and went to elementary and high school together and he introduced me to the church. I accepted Christ there. We started as young adults. When the senior pastor retired he became the senior pastor - so we have a long history. Just trusting and believing God and having him led me and the support of my husband and entire family and our church family has been so warm and supportive." When I asked how God talks to her she said, "God talks to me through the Word of God. He'll lead you to the scripture that's perfect for you."

"My husband replanted the church a year and half before we got married," said First Lady Morgen. "He was a single pastor and I married into the role of first lady. But our church was a young one. Good friends and Jesus (helps her adapt). I talk to Jesus every morning, staying grounded in the Word. He most often talks to me when studying the Bible with other people. I hear him through the Word when I'm having conversations with others."

The "First Ladies High Tea" honors began in 1997 to celebrate and embrace the role of first ladies and women in the church providing community service. Past honorees have included California First Lady Maria Shriver, Oscar nominated Cicely Tyson, former Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Burke, the legendary Nancy Wilson, Gospel duo Mary Mary, TV One founder Cathy Hughes, actor/activist Hill Harper and Attorney General of California Kamala Harris.

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: 19th annual "Uplifting Minds II" Free Entertainment Conference (Baltimore and Los Angeles). Entertainment Business panel and national talent showcase competition (vocal, songwriting and dance) with over $13,000 in prizes.  www.UpliftingMinds2.com.

January 12, 2018

The Pulse of Entertainment: In Warner Bros' Paddington 2 Home is Where the Love Is

By Eunice Moseley 

 

Warner Bros' presents the second installment of the Paddington Bear saga with Paddington 2 starring Ben Wishaw as the voice of Paddington Brown. The live-action comedy is based on the best-selling book by Michael Bond first published in 1958 with illustrations by Peggy Fortnum. The bear will become a live again in Paddington 2 arriving in theatres January 12, 2018. The British resident continues his adventures in London with the Brown family in tow.

He decides it is his goal in life to get his Aunt Lucy a special present from London for her 100th birthday - a place she was on her way to visit before she ran into the orphaned Paddington and decided it was her duty to raise him. He finds the perfect present, an antique book that has pop-up pages of historical landmarks in London. Paddington tries to work for the money to buy the book but not before a self-centered local celebrity steals the book because he believes it is a treasure map. Paddington is a witness to the crime and is in hot pursuit. It seems Paddington is discovered by the police running from the crime scene so now they believe its Paddington who's the theft. This is where the new adventures of Paddington begin.

Emmy winner Imelda Staunton (That Girl) is the voice of bear Aunt Lucy and the Brown family consists of Emmy winner Hugh Bonneville ("Downtown Abby") as father Henry Brown, Oscar nominated Sally Hawkins (Paddington) as mother Mary Brown, Madeleine Harris (Paddington) as sister Judy Brown and Samuel Joslin as brother Jonathan Brown. The Brown family adores Paddington as well as everyone else in the London neighborhood. In Paddington 2 the happy go-lucky bear discovers that home is where the love is, even behind bars. Three-time Golden Globe winner Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm) is Nuckles McGinty the very mean prison cook, who along with other criminals melts at the innocent love that Paddington offers everyone he meets.

Paddington 2 is directed by Paul King and produced by David Heyman. The Warner Bros', Heyday Films, StudioCanal production also stars Julie Walters (Harry Potter) as family friend Mrs. Bird; Oscar winner Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter) as antique shop owner Samuel Gruber who was selling the book; Oscar winning Peter Capaldi (Paddington), Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant (Legends of the Lost Tribe) as local celebrity actor Phoenix Buchanan who believes there is a treasure map in the pop-up book and steals it before Paddington can buy it; Michael Gambon (Harry Potter) as bear Uncle Pastuzo; Ben Miller (The Prince & Me), Jessica Hynes (Harry Potter), Noah Taylor (Game of Thrones), Tom Conti (The Dark Knight Rises) as Judge Gerald Biggleswade, and Sanjeev Bhaskar ("Unforgotton") as Dr. Jafri.

Paddington 2 is Rated PG and arrives in theatres January 12th.

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: 19th annual "Uplifting Minds II" Free Entertainment Conference (Baltimore Sat, April 21, 2018 at Security Square Mall and Los Angeles in October). Entertainment Business panel and national talent showcase competition (vocal, songwriting and dance) with over $13,000 in prizes.  www.UpliftingMinds2.com. 

January 19, 2018

The Pulse of Entertainment: The Caucus Honors Those That Make Television and Film Happen

"The Caucus was founded on the premise of celebrating those folks who make television and film happen," said actor James Pickens, Jr. ("Greys Anatomy") about The Caucus for Producers, Writers and Director's 35th annual "Caucus Awards Dinner" he was co-hosting with actress Aimee Garcia ("Dexter") recently at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. "To recognize and celebrate those folks that make the industry happen behind the camera. Some say they want to be a producer but what does that really mean. I'm still trying to find out myself."

For 35 years the Caucus has been celebrating and honoring film and television producers, writers and directors. At this event there were many honored such as actor Alfonso Ribeiro ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air") with the "Entertainer of the Year" award for hosting "America's Funniest Home Videos;" producer and writer James G. Hirsch ("The Incredible Hulk") received the "Lifetime Achievement Award," and producer Michele Nasraway ("Dancing with the Stars") received the "Distinguished Service Award" for being executive producer of the highly successful "America's Funniest Home Videos."

"There are many different types of producers. There are creative producers, there are the money producer, there are the studio producers," said honoree Alfonso Ribeiro ("Dance 360"), made infamous by his acting as Carlton in the successful sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." "I think what the creative producers do is allowing you to put in a position to, at the end of the day, do your best...I think that's the separator between the people we know and the people that call themselves producer. A lot of it is being able to be put in a position to achieve your highest goals and the right producer to put you in the circumstance that allows you to achieve it. Those are the projects you should want to be on and people you want to be involved with. Those projects say and blow up to become great pieces of art and it starts with a producer knowing how to pit the right pieces together."

The Caucus is 42 years old providing its members opportunities and through its non-profit foundation which provides grants for emerging media projects. Members include Academy Award winning Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Emmy winning JJ Abrams (Alias), Suzanne de Passe (The Jackson Five) and Lee Miller ("Cher," "Bloopers").

"I'm one of the executive producers...So I see to the daily operations...making sure the show gets to the network and on aired on time," said honoree Michele Nasraway (Vin Di Bona Productions ) about her job as executive producer of ‘America's Funniest Home Videos.' Producers really have to have their hands in everything. They are responsible for the finished product, the staff, making sure that the staff's happy, to make sure - in our case - the people that send in their submissions are happy and make sure every thing goes smooth."

Others honored that day included Dan Cohen, President of Paramount Pictures Corporation, with the "Executive of the Year" award; Stephanie Austin, producer at Beachwood Productions, with the "Chairs Award," and James G. Hirsch, President of Papazian-Hirsch Entertainment, with the "Lifetime Achievement Award."

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: 19th annual "Uplifting Minds II" Free Entertainment Conference (Baltimore Sat, April 21, 2018 at Security Square Mall and Los Angeles in October). Entertainment Business panel and national talent showcase competition (vocal, songwriting and dance) with over $13,000 in prizes.  www.UpliftingMinds2.com. 

January 26, 2018

The Pulse of Entertainment: The 2018 SAG Awards Inspired Super Heroes

By Eunice Moseley 

    In covering the 24^th annual SAG Awards the highlight for me was seeing some of the casts of the new Walt Disney Black Panther super-hero film, such as Winston Duke who plays the villain Tribe leader M’Baku and Sydelle Noel who plays a member of King T’Challa aka Black Panther’s special forces called Dora Milaje. The SAG Awards is a chance to soak up all the inspiration accumulated by those actors, actresses and media personalities gathered together to celebrate the hard work of those members of the Screen Actors Guild. The SAG Awards was held at the Shrine Hall in Los Angeles and aired live on TNT and TBS networks. It was hosted by Kristen Bell (Zootopia) and started with the red carpet arrivals and ended with the announcements of the winners voted for by SAG-AFTRA members amongst those nominated.

   Winners of the 24^th annual SAG Award honors included Francis McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role”; William H. Macy (“Shameless”) for “Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy Series; Alexander Sharsgard (The Legend of Tarzan) for “Outstanding Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series”; Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”) for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series”; Steryling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) for “Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series”; Gary Oldman (The Hitman’s Bodyguard) for “Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role”; Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards…) for “Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role”; Allison Janney (I, Tonya) for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role”; Claire Foy (“The Crown”) for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series”; Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”) for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series”; the cast of “Veep” for “Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series”; the cast of “This Is Us” for “Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series” and the cast of Three Billboards for “Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture”. Morgan Freeman (Invictus, The Dark Knight) was honored with the SAG “Life Achievement Award.”

   I asked actor Marcus Scribner (“Black-ish”) if he could see his role on a motion picture and he said, “I hope so. That’s what we are trying to transition to right now. Let’s see where it goes.”

   As Sydelle Noel came by I asked what role could she see herself starring in and she said, “I would love to play in an action hero movie. I know it’s been done, but my dream, role is to play Storm…strong, empowering woman.”

   I felt inspired and wanted to be a super hero myself. It was an atmosphere where all your favorite actors were gathered smiling at each other and the media, and being admired by the fans that came to get a glimpse. Other actors that went by me included Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”), Shakira Barrera (“Greys Anatomy”), Ted Danson (“The Good Place”), Alison Brie (The Post), Yvonne Stratrovski (The Handmaids Tale), Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black”), Amanda Warren (Three Billboards…). Molly Shannon (Hotel Transylvania), Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth), Samara Weaving (Three Billboards…), Neicy Nash (“The Soul Man”), Elizabeth McLaughling (Hand of God), Emily Tarver (Orange is the New Black”), Sean Hayes (“Will & Grace”), and Betty Gilpin (“Glow”). Watch my video coverage of the arrivals at www.Youtube.com/ThePulseofEntertainment.html

   The Screen Actors Guild Awards offered its tradition “I Am an Actor” stories to open the event and closed it with a sneak peak of TNT’s new movie The Alienist starring Dakota Fanning. The winners were selected by other actors – members of the SAG-AFTRA performance rights organization - which amounted to 121,544 people. The SAG Awards is noted as the first organization to present awards to motion picture casts and television ensembles. It was aired live exclusively for subscribers to TNT and TBS channels, which included cable, websites, mobile apps (iOS, Android) and other devices such as ROKU, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com.

February 2, 2018

 The Pulse of Entertainment: Exquisite ‘Velvet Groove' Project by Drummer Eric Valentine

The Pulse of Entertainment: Baltimore Author Dr. Kerri Hobbs to Speak at Smithfield and Enoch Pratt

"The purpose was...research for my family. Bullet point facts," said Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs about her creative non-fiction book "More Than a Fraction: Based on a true story." The book, based on her ancestors, was recently published by Imagination Lunchbox, LLC. "My son, Anthony, recommended I write the book how I tell people the story."

If you have every heard Dr. Hobbs tell a story you will be treated to the many different voices and personalities that she provides when quoting what someone has said. An education specialist Dr. Hobbs provides footnotes in the book to let the reader know when details are true. The book is about her ancestors the Fractions, who she found during a heritage search, that were enslaved on the Smithfield plantation in Blacksburg, Virginia - home of the Preston family. The Preston family was one of the richest in the state of Virginia at the time and heavily involved in the Civil War, as was their enslaved - two of which where sons of the Fraction family Thomas and Othello.

The reason for the research, what facts about the enslaved were discovered and how those facts touch on our lives today is presented in Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs' "More Than a Fraction" book tour presentation, which arrives at Historic Smithfield in Virginia and Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. The book tour arrives at the Historic Smithfield plantation (now a museum) during a Black History Month event Saturday February 10, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during their "Exploring the Roots & Culture of the Enslaved at Smithfield" excursion of the estate.

"The book is based on statements found," Dr. Hobbs pointed out. "In Othello's statements he comes off as...silly. In history books the enslaved comes off as hurt...all the time. That is what happens when the story is about the enslavers. When it's about the enslaved you can explore more on what they like to do."

The facts Dr. Hobbs found indicates that Thomas Fraction was a rebellious older brother to Othello, who followed his big brother everywhere - to enlist in the civil war for their freedom, under-threat come back after the war for their loved ones and Salem, Virginia where they brought land (unheard of for former slaves).

"The Historic Smithfield presentation will focus on the first two chapters of the book to set the foundation of where they came from in Africa," Dr. Hobbs said. "It will introduce them and other enslaved at Smithfield...their culture and a series of events to give the enslaved community personalities. Make them people."

The "More Than a Fraction" book tour arrives at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in downtown Baltimore, Maryland Thursday April 26th at 6:30 p.m. This presentation will provide a power-point presentation that shows attendees how the African culture brought to American by her enslaved ancestors is still used by the African-American community today.

"Take the information we know challenges the status quo about the history of people during that period and... I hope they walk away thinking the assumptions they had are wrong...based on movies," she said.

The company that published her creative non-fiction book, "More Than a Fraction," belongs to her son Anthony who is a multi-award winning prodigy actor and filmmaker. At 12 years old he has starred and co-starred in such projects as an Emmy nominated docu-series for PBS called The Abolitionist and in a DreamWorks film (How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs), produced three short films and is hosting an annual film festival (Imagination Lunchbox International Children's Film Festival). When I asked if his company, Imagination Lunchbox, was planning on making the "More Than a Fraction" book into a full length feature film Dr. Hobbs said, "Its open, but not a priority right now. We've not searching it (funding). The plan is for my son to do the film."

As far as the "More Than a Fraction" book tour she said, "We will see where the wind takes us. I appreciate all the interest. Every time it (the excitement) fades. I meet someone interested in it."

The "More Than a Fraction" book tour presentation has already stopped by the Red Emma Bookstore in Baltimore and at the Virginia Civil War Research Center sponsored lecture at Virginia Tech University. You can find the book online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as at the website of www.ImaginationLunchbox.com. For information on other stops 2018 for the book tour email ImaginationLunchbox@gamil.com.

The Pulse of Entertainment: The Young Karl Marx, How Thoughts Provoke Positive Change

"They can try to gag us, but they can not kill thought" and other philosophical script lines were in The Orchard presentation of The Young Karl Marx starring SAG Award winner August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds) as Karl Marx. The film, releasing exclusively in New York and Los Angeles on February 23, 2018, follows a young writer Karl Marx whose rebellious thoughts on society at the time were published in journals (newspapers) when that was basically the only form of mass communication. Together with researcher Friedrich Engels they published papers that sparked the Industrial Revolution, which drove the Labor Movement forward.

The Young Karl Marx outlined how the Communist League or Party, as it is called today, was totally different in its philosophy from the one we all know today. Directed by Oscar nominated Raoul Peck the film tells of a family man who was exiled from France because of his philosophies and published papers on economic and label issues. Frenchman Friedrich Engels, son to a wealthy factory owner, is played by Stefan Konarske. Engels' research was on the plight of the poor. That research, along with Marx's view on the big divide between the rich and poor, the use of child labor and the politics of ignoring the poor, helped the two establish the Communist League's Doctrine - a paper Marx wanted to give up publishing at one point. Marx's struggles balancing taking care of his wife and kids with the aftermath of his published work for positive change is the climax of the film - how thoughts can provoke positive change.

Produced by Nicolas Blanc, Remi Grellety and Robert Guediguian The Young Karl Marx also stars Oliver Gourmet as Pierre Proudhon a high profile author of the day whose work Marx and Engels analyzed and critiqued to bring attention to their own published papers. Vicky Krieps plays Jenny Marx, head strong wife of Karl Marx and Hannah Steele plays Mary Burns, wife of Friedrich Engels who was a former factory worker.

The Young Karl Marx will be released nationwide through The Orchard sometime in March, but those in New York and Los Angeles can look for it in theatres Feb. 23rd.