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The Pulse of Entertainment: Prodigy Actor/Filmmaker Hosts Annual Community Events to Inspire Youth and Platinum
Selling Najee Releases ‘Center of the Heart' CD November 15, 2019
 (November 5, 2019) - "Get outside and do something. Be
productive," said Anthony Michael Hobbs, a Baltimore prodigy multi-award winning actor and filmmaker,
about why his company, Imagination Lunchbox, LLC, host annual community events to inspire youth. "These days a lot of
kids sit in the house and watch Youtube and don't want to go out."
Anthony said he has no problem with kids
playing video games or being a Youtuber fan, in fact he loves video games and is a Youtuber fan too, and he just feels that
youth need more. Now 14 years-old, Hobbs began acting around the age of five appearing in national marketing campaigns for
USDA's Healthy Kids; Finish Line Athletics (in-store and catalogue); Charles River Apparel (in-store and catalogue); Villa
Sportswear (in-store and catalogue), and ToysRUs. He stars in television segments for Comcast Xfinity, Sprout Network, and
Claritin Kids Allergy. He co-starred in films for DreamWorks documentary "How to Train Your Dragon: Dragons and Dinosaurs"
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bekKOmfsWfc); United Way‘s PSA (http://vimeo.com/54017197); Norwegian Cruise-Line's
commercial, and the national classroom program called KinderRhyme - which appears in over 2600 school programs. His acting
role at age 7 playing a young Frederick Douglas in the PBS mini-series "The American Experience: The Abolitionist"
(http://video.pbs.org/video/2321796209), resulted in him attending the Emmy Awards in 2013 to represent the nomination received
by PBS for the mini-series. He also garnered six Global Stars Network awards for his acting.
At the age of around
10 Anthony decided to write, direct and produce his own films. After attending and winning at many film festivals for his
short films he decided to host his own annual film festival to screen and award short films made by youth. He is currently
preparing for his 4th year in 2020 for the "Imagination Lunchbox International Children's Film Festival" (ILICFF).
This year will be the first for his "Filmmaking Workshops for Youth" to coach young people in the process of writing
and producing their own films. Both events are held in partnership with The Baltimore Times Foundation, Times Community Services,
Inc. and the Eubie Blake Cultural Center.
"Start a business, play basketball and even if video games are your
passion, don't let it consume you - get exercise! That's just all I try to do," Anthony pointed out about the motivation
for his community service.
Anthony Michael Hobbs' first film One Nation was screened at film festivals across the
country, which includes the Gold Coast Film Festival (Port Washington, NY); the Gary International Black Film Festival (Gary,
Indiana); the Aurora Picture Show Extremely Young Film Festival (Houston, Texas); the Alhambra Theatre Film Festival (Indiana);
the West Chester Film Festival (Pennsylvania); the Montclair Film Festival (New Jersey); the San Diego International Kids
Film Festival, and the Ocktober Film Festival (New York). To date, Anthony Michael Hobbs has garnered the "Spirit Award,"
"Grand Prize for Kidz Shortz Award"; "Best Youth Filmmaker Award," and "Best Youth Short Award."
His second film Naga Pixie was screened at the Sunrise Film Festival in Nova Scotia, Canada and garnered awards from Gary
International Black Film Festival, Bonita Springs International Film Festival, and The Alhambra Theatre Film Fest - to name
a few. This third short film Agent Hollywood, garnered even more awards for his filmmaking, which includes the West Chester
Film Fest, the Blackstar Film Fest, the Hayti Heritage Film Festival, the Realtime International Film Festival, the Ocean
City Film Festival, and the Gary International Black Film Festival. In addition, Anthony Michael is a motivational speaker
who has appeared as a guest speaker for former NFL player Joel Gamble's "Joel Gamble Foundation: Career Scholars Program",
the Junior Academy, the Black Writers' Guild "Youth Presentation," and for the Root Branch Academy's "Youth
Film Festival."
The "Imagination Lunchbox International Children's Film Festival" has awarded young
filmmakers from the U. S., Spain, South Africa, Canada, Australia and Japan. The next ILICFF is in Baltimore Saturday April
11, 2020 at the Eubie Blake Center and his first annual "Filmmaking Workshops for Youth" will be Saturday/Sunday
November 23 & 24, 2019 from 12 - 3pm each day. Admission for both community projects is free. www.Anthony-Michael.com www.ImaginationLunchbox.com
 (November 1, 2019) - "Things
developed," said multi-platinum selling saxophonist Najee about his new Shanachie Entertainment
album release, "Center of the Heart," due out November 15, 2019. "We did a cover
song, ‘Alfie,' one of my favorites and I was like, this is not going to be a Smooth Jazz album, but my personal favorites."
Aside from the Bacharach/David classic "Alfie," Najee also covers a
Maxwell hit - "Somthin' Somthin'." The "Center of the Heart" project features Kenny Lattimore on "Better;"
pianist Greg Manning (Jonathan Butler) on "The Way She Moves;" saxophonist Darren Rahn (Dave Koz) on "Face
to Face," and keyboardist Demonte Posey (Eric Benet). A Billboard topper, Najee collaborated with bass player Blair Bryant
on the title track "Center of the Heart" and Rod Bonner and Superb Clawson on "One Note Love."
"I been touring. I have a two week break then I'm at Blues Alley for four nights. I've been doing it (touring) since
I was 17. At 18 I was on the USO Tour, right out of high school," Najee informed me when I asked what he had been up
to. "(While in college) I toured with Prince for three years. After college, my first major tour was with Chaka Kahn."
Najee normally produces his own music, but on "Center of the Heart" he has production assistance with producers
he says he can trust.
"The way I do records now, that interest me, its from the writers...in this case my
bass player wrote the title song," Najee said. "When it came to recording...I bring on producers I can trust." www.Shanachie.com www.NajeeOfficial.com 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: Eunice is founder of the annual "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment
Conference (ULMII), into its 20th year. Next event dates include Los Angeles Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (511) and Baltimore Saturday April 18, 2020, held in partnership with Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times. The
free conference offers an Entertainment Business Panel and a Talent Showcase and Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and
acting) with over $15,000 valued in prizes to selected artists. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com for more information or to participate as a panelist
or talent call 562-424-3836. www.GoFundMe.com/Uplifting-Minds-II-Entertainment-Conference 
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