‘The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel’ — Presented by LIFETIME
The long-awaited biopic, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, is set to premiere Saturday, April 11th at 8/7c on Lifetime! Executively produced by Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott, this film is an absolutely colorful and captivating story about the Legendary Clark Sisters, their history, their humble beginnings and their rise to become who they are today. This film will pull you in from the first scene and pluck at your heart strings til the very end! So well-written by Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker, the movie is just as beautifully executed by its actors!
The role of their mother, the great Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, is played by Aunjanue Ellis, and the 5 Clark Sisters features Christina Bell as “Twinkie”, Kierra Sheard as “Karen”, Sheléa Frazier as “Dorinda”, Raven Goodwin as "Denise” and Angela Birchett as "Jacky"! Mannnnn, these ladies killed it! The film itself carries a very palpable anointing that you will experience rather than watch. And these actresses do a fabulous job with demonstrating both the cost and reward of carrying on Mattie Moss Clark’s. It will leave you with a heart-felt appreciation for these modern-day legends realizing to what depth that are truly “blessed and highly favored”!
Personally speaking, I am honored to cover this remarkable biopic and will do so throughout. Meanwhile, make sure you tune in for the big LIFETIME premiere on 4/11!
For more, please visit www.mylifetime.com.
*Images Courtesy of Lifetime
DRESS LIKE A GENT
#AJFF20 Closes with Best Documentary, Saul & Ruby, To Life!
What an amazing blessing to experience such a profound film festival festival in celebration of its 20 year anniversary! This year’s celebratory festival lasted 18 days and drew over 38,000 film-goers from start to finish. Including shorts, documentaries, world premieres, international features, dramedies and more, the AJFF has earned a remarkable name for itself where it concerns the “cinematic exploration of the Jewish experience — Jewish culture and history, life in Israel, and the work of Jewish artists.” The closing night just topped it all off beautifully!
Last night’s closing film feature, Award-Winning Best Documentary, Saul & Ruby, To Life!, was an absolute genius of a film and heart-throbbing. Little did we know that Saul, Ruby And Saul’s daughter Hanna were there to perform musically following the close of the Q&A Session! This film is a remarkable visual journey of two determined holocaust survivors; Saul the drummer (95 years old) and his 90-year old beloved counterpart Ruby who plays accordion and keys. The two holocaust survivors wish to utilize their music to articulate their journey from horrific tragedy to ultimate triumph. Traveling from city to city, their biggest dream which eventually comes to pass is — “to bring their music back to where both men suffered painful loss, their birthplace of Poland, to honor their own families and the countess other mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who suffered and died there.”
Not only were us guests amazed by the impact of their story on the big screen, but we were even more grateful to have these great legends present to close out the festival with their band including Saul’s unwavering musical addition and daughter, Hanna. This film is a must-watch! For more, please visit www.ajff.org.
Photos Courtesy of Dominic Helton
A Recap of Rewind The Documentary — #AJFF20
A few nights ago, I had the privilege of seeing an unforgettably chilling, yet triumphant documentary called Rewind at the 2020 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival! Rewind is a rather disturbing documentary about a young Jewish-American man named Sasha Joseph Neulinger who finds himself combing through an innumerable collection of family videos recorded by his dad. This now adult Sasha, narrates his life as a child “in rewind” beginning from the early days where he was a seemingly happy young boy, bright-eyed and care-free to an angry child who speaks very casually about wanting to commit suicide. The film so appropriately titled gives its viewers a visual depiction of this very sad downward spiral with Sasha amidst secrets, family incest and namely, sexual/ psychological child abuse. The content of this film still speaks vividly to me since the that night’s screening and proves to be a totally gripping and heartfelt subject. Sasha takes us through the grueling pages of his life from A - Z and more importantly, he shows us what true courage and restored self-worth looks like.
Following the screening that night, there was a highly informative Q&A session facilitated by Terri Bonoff (CEO JF&CS), Ula Zusman (JF&CS Nationally Certified Counselor), Dan Arnold (JF&CS Director of Clinical Services, & Dave Moody (Owner of CD Moody Construction Co., Sexual Abuse Survivor/ Spokesperson). The questions from the audience seemed to flow very divinely as the panelists provided us with the absolute best insight into victim/ abuser realities and they responded impeccably to our questions regarding the film and its sensitive content. Needless to say, I left out feeling more educated on the subject of sexual child abuse and inspired to be advocate for those so affected.
For more, please visit www.rewinddocumentary.com.
Photos Courtesy of Dominic Helton
AJFF20 Film Review — Serial Bad Weddings 2
Following its very popular 2014 film debut of Serial Bad Weddings which made close to $174 in sales, fans and film buffs alike eagerly pile in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center for the 2020 AJFF special screening of its sequel, Serial Bad Weddings 2 (Qu’est-ce qu’on a (encore) fait un bon dieu?)! This film set in France and is in French with English subtitles. It is a hilarious account of a French Bourgeois couple (Les Verneuils) who find themselves struggling to fully adapt and accept their multicultural family and all of its complexities. Their charming daughters each marry men of different ethnicities, religious and cultural backgrounds, but when their newly acquired son-in-laws plan to abort France with the daughters amidst their perpetual cultural frustrations, the Verneuils do everything in their power to sway their decision. This film seriously had me chuckling the whole time. It was a beautiful and realistic way to demonstrate the many challenges of living in a multicultural world where everything doesn’t always add up, but adjustments are necessary. This is a must-see!
For more screenings and further details about the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, please visit www.ajff.org.
Photos Courtesy of Dominic Helton
Johnny Ray Gill’s DVD & Chill
Award-winning actor and filmmaker Johnny Ray Gill recently hosted the premiere screening of his highly-anticipated short film, DVD & Chill in LA. Although I didn’t make the event, I’ve since had the privilege of checking out the Short and was really impressed with the way the storyline sucked me in from the jump! This film is a wickedly captivating psycho thriller that follows an evening between a groupie named Zora (who is obsessed with Hollywood Star “Shemar Moor”) and Shemar’s manipulatively charming half-brother Cyrano. Zora lures Cyrano over to watch a DVD he brings to the apartment in hopes of using him as bait to get close to her wild obsession with Shemar. At the same time, Cyrano uses his magnetic smooth talk in an attempt to subvert her game.
This short film is a brilliant visual portrayal of how very easily we can become engulfed with a celebrity personality and on the other hand prey on those who are sadly so gullible and vulnerable. As you keep watching, you’ll find that both parties, the “opportunist and the predator” will both have their price to pay one way or another.
This film is written, directed and produced by Johnny Ray Gill. For a more complete bio on this genius creative director, click here.
DRESS LIKE A GENT
1:1 Interview with Lawrence Flowers & The New Single, “Way”
A week ago, I got a chance to interview Lawrence Flowers on the same night of LFI’s Single Release Party for the new song entitled “Way”. Little did I know that it would turn out to be an organically-intimate and unforgettable worship encounter! Yup, that Friday night, October 25th would definitely go down in HIStory!
When asked to give us some insight into this new single “Way” and what inspired it, Lawrence said that it originally evolved from one of the sessions he attended at The Sanger’s Movement. One of the challenges during that particular session was to come up with an arrangement of the Star-Spangled Banner. He further explains how one of the groups started a chant that he was inspired by and ended up turning into a very simple, yet prophetic musical rant that the entire room caught on to like an anthem. Furthermore, the song “Way” was written with the purpose of encouraging people in the midst of challenges we face as a nation, personally or otherwise, that Jesus is the only WAY.
The brilliant thing that I’ve noticed about Lawrence’s musical style is that his music always seems to be written very intuitively and touches the core of a person. It always comes from a place of sincere desire to pull people up higher and minister healing to the soul. This song is evidence! That night, we got a chance to hear not only this song, but he also surprised us by telling us that the night would be a whole pop-up LIVE album recording! Mannnnn, I was geeked! Not only am I a fan, but I trust that whatever LFI (Lawrence Flowers & Intercession) releases, is going to minister to me in a very fresh and living way EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
And that it did!
The song, scheduled to release 11/1/19, is intentionally a fun one, upbeat and one that you will hear reverberate in your brain way after the song is over. Lawrence shares that the name of the album will be called “Merge” speaking to the fact that God is causing us all to merge and connect through many different avenues; much of which are unconventional. Ultimately, He is drawing us together in His own creative way which will produce a unified sound that heaven longs to hear. For me, just being there hearing all of these new songs was not only highly impressive but electrifying. Beyond the team’s amazing vocals and layered musical arrangements, there is something truly phenomenal about what God has birthed out of LFI that I believe the world is ready to receive.
Absolutely every song that we heard that night was stunning, seriously anointed and frankly, it provoked me to worship. I left out feeling like I had received an impartation of hope and strength. And though there is so much more to be said about the way God moved through the new music that evening, I almost can’t find the words to describe what happened. It kinda reminded me of a grand opening and how all the people gather with expectation, but without knowing the full details of what’s inside. When the power is finally turned on, that same surge of electricity seems to parallel with what the guests are experiencing internally. All of a sudden, everyone present whether it’s the builders, the workers, the guests, media or just whoever, all feel the same excitement and celebrate collectively as if everyone had a part to play.
John 4: 38 says, “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
Simply put — Big thanks for Lawrence Flowers & Intercession and all the genius key players who have worked so tirelessly to present this rhema musical message to us. We can’t wait for the entire album to drop!
Re-Introducing Jessie Murray
Sometimes, life hits us hard. For some, it seems to hit even harder leaving us bewildered and emotionally scarred. There are things we experience that are out of our control, but which make us into the people we are to become; stronger and more organically relevant. Thanks to social media, I was recently able to reconnect with a fellow high school colleague and friend, practically 20 years later who is a prime example. Unbeknownst to me, Jessie Murray had a story that needed to be told about trial and triumph! And after learning more about the details of what he’d experienced nearly six years ago, I felt I was the right one to tell that story and reintroduce him in a manner that he very well deserved. Jessie never imagined that in 2014, he’d find himself fighting a stand-your-ground case in the State of GA.
It happened the evening of February 15, 2014 when Jessie and his wife met up at in Forest Park, Georgia at a local bar. Coincidentally, there ended up being a birthday party there that same night. One of the attendees at the party was a gentleman by the name of Nathaniel Adams, a former Forest Park Police Officer. Drunk and staggering, Adams practically falls when trying to hug the birthday girl. Murray extends his arm in an effort to help the man who not to mention, is about to fall over on his wife and that’s when things escalate… Enraged and intoxicated, Adams gathers three other friends in the bar who proceed to chase Jessie outdoors and brutalize him inhumanely. Tragically during the brawl, Jessie’s gun goes off and kills Nathaniel Adams on scene.
5 months later in jail, Murray is faced with charges of malice murder and aggravated assault. Denying his Stand-Your-Ground Defense, the judge originally said, “It does not appear to this court that the other men in the vicinity were acting in such a way that would cause the defendant to reasonably believe that deadly force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or a third party.” Finally in 2017, due to the unwavering dedication of his attorney Mawuli Davis and other key legal advocates, Murray is acquitted, accepts a plea bargain of 5 years probation and the charges dropped. Nonetheless, the effect of this experience remains. Time is scattered and the fragments of his life recollected day by day. Yet, Jessie is hopeful and he is determined.
When asked if he has ever feared how people would perceive him as a result of the events that took place, Jessie replied, “Yes, initially I feared people’s perceptions of me. However, as time progressed, I learned that God will place the right people in my life who will see me for the man that I am.” In fact, as a journalist covering his story as well as someone who knew Jessie from back in the day, I felt that I was one of the ones who God wanted to reconnect with him on different terms — After the storm. Speaking with him, I can see the light shining in the darkness. Jessie is a man fueled with ambition which he uses to artistically express himself in music and other entrepreneurial avenues. I also ask him what he would say to someone in his shoes who could also stand a sweet re-introduction. He shares, “I would say that nothing is impossible! You just have to keep pushing and never give up on yourself or your dreams. Surround yourself with positive people that will pull you up on your low days.”
Be on the lookout for more on Jessie Murray and some very exciting upcoming projects!
^Creative Direction/ Photography by Dress Like A Gent —Styled by The Gentrobe.