The USC School of Cinematic Arts has announced that Miky Lee will deliver the 20024 Commencement address.
James Gray, director, writer, and Sca alumnus, will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award at the graduation ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium on Friday, May 10, 2024.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement. “Miky works across borders, cultures, and genres, and champions the kinds of projects our students aspire to creating. We are so pleased she agreed to be this year’s graduation speaker.”
Sca alumnus Jon M. Chu, who graduated in 2003 with a Bfa in film & television production, will speak at this year’s main, university-wide commencement ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Alumni Park.
As Commencement Speaker,...
James Gray, director, writer, and Sca alumnus, will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award at the graduation ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium on Friday, May 10, 2024.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement. “Miky works across borders, cultures, and genres, and champions the kinds of projects our students aspire to creating. We are so pleased she agreed to be this year’s graduation speaker.”
Sca alumnus Jon M. Chu, who graduated in 2003 with a Bfa in film & television production, will speak at this year’s main, university-wide commencement ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Alumni Park.
As Commencement Speaker,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Harlem is returning for its third season, and four new faces have been added to the cast of the Prime Video series. Kofi Siriboe (Queen Sugar), Logan Browning (Dear White People), Robin Givens (Batwoman), and Gail Bean (Snowfall) have been cast in recurring roles, according to Deadline.
Starring Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandai, Jerrie Johnson, and Tyler Leple, the Prime Video comedy-drama follows four female best friends in their thirties as they balance their careers and love-lifes while living in Harlem. The show was created by Tracy Oliver.
Read More…...
Starring Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandai, Jerrie Johnson, and Tyler Leple, the Prime Video comedy-drama follows four female best friends in their thirties as they balance their careers and love-lifes while living in Harlem. The show was created by Tracy Oliver.
Read More…...
- 4/4/2024
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Harlem is one of the leading Apple TV Series with 7.2 IMDb and 98% Rotten Tomatoes ratings, and how can I not mention how eagerly fans are waiting for Season 3 of the series?
The ladies are back, ready to make waves in their jobs, relationships, & big city dreams.
The wildly successful American comedy TV series Harlem is gearing up for its much anticipated third season, which promises more laughter, drama, & unexpected twists.
Harlem, created and skillfully performed by Tracy Oliver, who also acts as executive producer, has become an instant hit with relatable characters and an intriguing story that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
Season 2 has left us wanting more, and the third season promises to bring the same winning blend of humor and passion that has made Harlem one of the best on television.
Brace yourself for an incredible journey through Harlem’s streets as the series keeps unlocking its combination of love,...
The ladies are back, ready to make waves in their jobs, relationships, & big city dreams.
The wildly successful American comedy TV series Harlem is gearing up for its much anticipated third season, which promises more laughter, drama, & unexpected twists.
Harlem, created and skillfully performed by Tracy Oliver, who also acts as executive producer, has become an instant hit with relatable characters and an intriguing story that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
Season 2 has left us wanting more, and the third season promises to bring the same winning blend of humor and passion that has made Harlem one of the best on television.
Brace yourself for an incredible journey through Harlem’s streets as the series keeps unlocking its combination of love,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Mantisha
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
Harlem is coming back soon!
The Amazon Prime Video series is returning for Season 3, and there are some big new additions to the cast, via Deadline.
From writer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip), Harlem is a comedy following four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, the mecca of Black culture in America. Together, they level up from their 20s into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big city dreams.
While we don’t have a premiere date yet, we do know who is returning and joining the series.
Click through to see who is in Harlem Season 3…...
The Amazon Prime Video series is returning for Season 3, and there are some big new additions to the cast, via Deadline.
From writer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip), Harlem is a comedy following four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, the mecca of Black culture in America. Together, they level up from their 20s into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big city dreams.
While we don’t have a premiere date yet, we do know who is returning and joining the series.
Click through to see who is in Harlem Season 3…...
- 3/28/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Exclusive: Harlem is coming back for Season 3 and fans will see four new faces when the show returns. Kofi Siriboe (Queen Sugar), Logan Browning (Dear White People), Robin Givens (Batwoman) and Gail Bean (Snowfall) have been set in recurring roles.
Siriboe will portray Seth, an MLB player whose confident, charmin, and sweet mannerisms land him a spot in one of the ladies’ hearts. Browning will portray Portia, an edgy and beautiful woman from Ian’s (Tyler Lepley) childhood, whose return to Harlem causes a stir. Givens will portray Jacqueline, Eva’s no-nonsense mother. Bean will portray Given’s daughter Eva, a driven, yet playful, venture capitalist who has started working with Tye (Jerrie Johnson).
From writer Tracy Oliver, Harlem is a comedy following four best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, the mecca of Black culture in America, starring Meagan Good as “Camille,” Grace Byers as “Quinn,” Shoniqua Shandai as “Angie,” Jerrie Johnson as “Tye,...
Siriboe will portray Seth, an MLB player whose confident, charmin, and sweet mannerisms land him a spot in one of the ladies’ hearts. Browning will portray Portia, an edgy and beautiful woman from Ian’s (Tyler Lepley) childhood, whose return to Harlem causes a stir. Givens will portray Jacqueline, Eva’s no-nonsense mother. Bean will portray Given’s daughter Eva, a driven, yet playful, venture capitalist who has started working with Tye (Jerrie Johnson).
From writer Tracy Oliver, Harlem is a comedy following four best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, the mecca of Black culture in America, starring Meagan Good as “Camille,” Grace Byers as “Quinn,” Shoniqua Shandai as “Angie,” Jerrie Johnson as “Tye,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Despite there being far too many firsts still left to achieve, Black creators have indelibly left their mark on the television landscape for decades.
Just think of names like Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Lee Daniels (“Empire”), and Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”), whose series went on to become credited for reviving network television, or writers like Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Donald Glover (“Atlanta”), and Lena Waithe (“The Chi”), who have been able to build their own sort of TV empire with the shows they have written and/or produced.
Even networks like BET, Starz, and MTV still run off of the creative ingenuity of executive producers like Tyler Perry (“Sistas”), Courtney A. Kemp (“Power”), Mona Scott-Young (“Love and Hip Hop”), and even RuPaul (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”).
Often when retelling the story of Black representation on television, there is first acknowledgment of how the writers rooms initially were not reflective of what their casts looked like.
Just think of names like Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Lee Daniels (“Empire”), and Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”), whose series went on to become credited for reviving network television, or writers like Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Donald Glover (“Atlanta”), and Lena Waithe (“The Chi”), who have been able to build their own sort of TV empire with the shows they have written and/or produced.
Even networks like BET, Starz, and MTV still run off of the creative ingenuity of executive producers like Tyler Perry (“Sistas”), Courtney A. Kemp (“Power”), Mona Scott-Young (“Love and Hip Hop”), and even RuPaul (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”).
Often when retelling the story of Black representation on television, there is first acknowledgment of how the writers rooms initially were not reflective of what their casts looked like.
- 2/28/2024
- by Marcus Jones and Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Horror movies have a unique way of captivating audiences with their blend of suspense, fear, and at times, dark humor. As we look ahead into 2023, the horror genre is not showing any signs of slowing down. In this article, we’ll tease some of the most awaited horror titles set to chill our spines and provoke our thoughts in the coming months. The Blackening Delivers Satire with Scares Director Tim Story brings us ‘The Blackening’, a horror-comedy that intertwines satire with traditional scares. The screenplay by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins is noted for its self-awareness and smart humor that...
- 2/13/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Variety’s annual Showrunners Dinner presented by A+E Studios on Thursday night gathered writers recognized on the publication’s annual TV Producers Impact List, as well as several of this year’s Emmy nominees. In addition, megaproducer Chuck Lorre was honored with Variety’s first Norman Lear Award.
Held at Merois, on the rooftop of the Pendry West Hollywood, the Variety Showrunners Dinner included a very funny acceptance speech by Lorre, who pointed out some of the similarities — but more humorously, the differences — between the two icons.
“I think everyone here understands the enormity and significance of Norman Lear’s body of work,” Lorre began. “So in accepting this award, I don’t think it’s false modesty to take a moment and focus on the very large differences between his career and my own. For starters, Norman Lear began his career writing for Hollywood legends like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Held at Merois, on the rooftop of the Pendry West Hollywood, the Variety Showrunners Dinner included a very funny acceptance speech by Lorre, who pointed out some of the similarities — but more humorously, the differences — between the two icons.
“I think everyone here understands the enormity and significance of Norman Lear’s body of work,” Lorre began. “So in accepting this award, I don’t think it’s false modesty to take a moment and focus on the very large differences between his career and my own. For starters, Norman Lear began his career writing for Hollywood legends like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
- 1/12/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
To say it’s been a strange, turbulent year might be a bit of an understatement. Historically, 2023 marks the year of the dual strikes by WGA and SAG-AFTRA, the first time in over 60 years that Hollywood writers and actors went on strike at the same time. While both fought for better working conditions and deservedly won, the work stoppage no doubt plays a large role in the theatrical slate both this year and at least into the next. Through it all, horror continues to thrive. Box office records were shattered and indie darlings and international gems continue to surprise audiences. Of course, it’s in the most turbulent times where horror thrives most; audiences turn to horror for catharsis or release from real world anxieties and fears.
That reflects in 2023’s horror offerings, which has given everything from unexpected lo-fi indie hits like Skinamarink and Screambox’s can’t-miss The Outwaters...
That reflects in 2023’s horror offerings, which has given everything from unexpected lo-fi indie hits like Skinamarink and Screambox’s can’t-miss The Outwaters...
- 12/22/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Comedy drama Harlem has been renewed for a third series at Amazon Prime, and here are the details.
Writer Tracy Oliver made her name writing a series of comedy features with Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, including 2016 sequel Barbershop: The Next Cut, the wonderful Girls Trip, a film starring Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish, which flew under the radar in 2017 and is well worth seeking out, and 2019’s Little. Oliver most recently penned a television adaptation of First Wives Club, which ran for three series, and last year’s comedy horror The Blackening.
She then went on to create single camera comedy Harlem, which, reports Variety, has just been renewed for a third series at Amazon Prime. While the setup is nothing new – the series follows four friends who met at University in New York, and subsequently have to support each other through the trials and...
Writer Tracy Oliver made her name writing a series of comedy features with Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, including 2016 sequel Barbershop: The Next Cut, the wonderful Girls Trip, a film starring Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish, which flew under the radar in 2017 and is well worth seeking out, and 2019’s Little. Oliver most recently penned a television adaptation of First Wives Club, which ran for three series, and last year’s comedy horror The Blackening.
She then went on to create single camera comedy Harlem, which, reports Variety, has just been renewed for a third series at Amazon Prime. While the setup is nothing new – the series follows four friends who met at University in New York, and subsequently have to support each other through the trials and...
- 12/11/2023
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Netflix has renewed one of its most-talked-about series of the year.
Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 is officially in the works.
The news doesn't come as much of a surprise, given the show's impact.
Taking one of the most popular shows and making a real-life version certainly got everyone talking, but it's been interesting, albeit a little too fast-paced.
"There was no red light in our decision to greenlight Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we've premiered at Netflix," Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series Brandon Riegg said in a statement about the pickup.
Squid Game: The Challenge's Unique Concept is Its Biggest Flaw
"We're so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.
Netflix has renewed one of its most-talked-about series of the year.
Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 is officially in the works.
The news doesn't come as much of a surprise, given the show's impact.
Taking one of the most popular shows and making a real-life version certainly got everyone talking, but it's been interesting, albeit a little too fast-paced.
"There was no red light in our decision to greenlight Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we've premiered at Netflix," Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series Brandon Riegg said in a statement about the pickup.
Squid Game: The Challenge's Unique Concept is Its Biggest Flaw
"We're so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.
- 12/6/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Amazon is returning to Harlem.
The streamer has handed out a third-season renewal to the comedy series starring Meagan Good from creator and executive producer Tracy Oliver.
The pickup comes after season 2 of the New York-set comedy about female friendship debuted in February. The series is a co-production with Universal Television and Amazon Studios.
“Harlem has continued to tell outrageously hilarious stories through the perspective of these uniquely special characters. Fans can look forward to more laughs, wit, and cultural commentary from the brilliant mind of Tracy Oliver and the amazing cast, Meagan, Grace, Jerrie, and Shoniqua,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. “This critically acclaimed series has been embraced by so many and it is a privilege to bring season three to our global Prime Video customers.”
Harlem is exec produced by Oliver (Girls Trip) and Amy Poehler’s Universal Television-based Paper Kite Productions and...
The streamer has handed out a third-season renewal to the comedy series starring Meagan Good from creator and executive producer Tracy Oliver.
The pickup comes after season 2 of the New York-set comedy about female friendship debuted in February. The series is a co-production with Universal Television and Amazon Studios.
“Harlem has continued to tell outrageously hilarious stories through the perspective of these uniquely special characters. Fans can look forward to more laughs, wit, and cultural commentary from the brilliant mind of Tracy Oliver and the amazing cast, Meagan, Grace, Jerrie, and Shoniqua,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. “This critically acclaimed series has been embraced by so many and it is a privilege to bring season three to our global Prime Video customers.”
Harlem is exec produced by Oliver (Girls Trip) and Amy Poehler’s Universal Television-based Paper Kite Productions and...
- 12/6/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Brunch with the girls is back on!
Prime Video has renewed Harlem — about four friends trying to live their best lives — for Season 3, TVLine has learned.
More from TVLineSquid Game: The Challenge Renewed for Season 2 at NetflixLeverage: Redemption Renewed for Season 3, Makes Move to Prime VideoSo You Think You Can Dance Renewed for Season 18 With a New Judging Panel - Including Nigel Lythgoe (Exclusive)
“The only thing more fun than making Season 2 of Harlem was getting to travel across the country and watch it with our fans!” series creator and writer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, The Blackening) said in a statement.
Prime Video has renewed Harlem — about four friends trying to live their best lives — for Season 3, TVLine has learned.
More from TVLineSquid Game: The Challenge Renewed for Season 2 at NetflixLeverage: Redemption Renewed for Season 3, Makes Move to Prime VideoSo You Think You Can Dance Renewed for Season 18 With a New Judging Panel - Including Nigel Lythgoe (Exclusive)
“The only thing more fun than making Season 2 of Harlem was getting to travel across the country and watch it with our fans!” series creator and writer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, The Blackening) said in a statement.
- 12/6/2023
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
Amazon Prime Video has renewed “Harlem” for a third season.
From “Girls Trip” and “The Blackening” writer Tracy Oliver, “Harlem” follows four best friends in Harlem — Camille (Meagan Good), Tye (Jerrie Johnson), Quinn (Grace Byers) and Angie (Shonique Shandai) — who navigate new phases of their careers, relationships and big city dreams together.
Season 1 of “Harlem” premiered December of 2021, while Season 2 aired in February of this year.
The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Television in association with Paper Kite Productions. Executive producers include Oliver; Paper Kite’s Amy Poehler and Kim Lessing; 3 Arts’ Dave Becky; Britt Matt; Pharrell Williams; and I Am Other’s Mimi Valdés.
“The only thing more fun than making Season 2 of ‘Harlem’ was getting to travel across the country and watch it with our fans!” said Oliver. “Thanks to everyone who showed up to support and watched it at home! We’re so...
From “Girls Trip” and “The Blackening” writer Tracy Oliver, “Harlem” follows four best friends in Harlem — Camille (Meagan Good), Tye (Jerrie Johnson), Quinn (Grace Byers) and Angie (Shonique Shandai) — who navigate new phases of their careers, relationships and big city dreams together.
Season 1 of “Harlem” premiered December of 2021, while Season 2 aired in February of this year.
The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Television in association with Paper Kite Productions. Executive producers include Oliver; Paper Kite’s Amy Poehler and Kim Lessing; 3 Arts’ Dave Becky; Britt Matt; Pharrell Williams; and I Am Other’s Mimi Valdés.
“The only thing more fun than making Season 2 of ‘Harlem’ was getting to travel across the country and watch it with our fans!” said Oliver. “Thanks to everyone who showed up to support and watched it at home! We’re so...
- 12/6/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Prime Video has renewed Harlem for a third season.
From writer Tracy Oliver, Harlem is a comedy following four best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, the mecca of Black culture in America, starring Meagan Good as “Camille,” Grace Byers as “Quinn,” Shoniqua Shandai as “Angie,” Jerrie Johnson as “Tye,” and Tyler Lepley as “Ian”.
In Season 2, after blowing up her career and disrupting her love life, Camille had to figure out how to put the pieces back together. Tye tried to figure out how to make meaningful connections while navigating a nasty divorce. Quinn sought out balance as she rode the emotional roller coaster of life, and Angie looked for luck at every turn as she tried to find her place in the world. Together, the women continued to level up into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big city dreams.
According to the release, Season 3 will return with...
From writer Tracy Oliver, Harlem is a comedy following four best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, the mecca of Black culture in America, starring Meagan Good as “Camille,” Grace Byers as “Quinn,” Shoniqua Shandai as “Angie,” Jerrie Johnson as “Tye,” and Tyler Lepley as “Ian”.
In Season 2, after blowing up her career and disrupting her love life, Camille had to figure out how to put the pieces back together. Tye tried to figure out how to make meaningful connections while navigating a nasty divorce. Quinn sought out balance as she rode the emotional roller coaster of life, and Angie looked for luck at every turn as she tried to find her place in the world. Together, the women continued to level up into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big city dreams.
According to the release, Season 3 will return with...
- 12/6/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
On December 6, the 2023 IndieWire Honors ceremony will celebrate 11 filmmakers, creators, and actors for their achievements in creative independence. Comedian and filmmaker Dewayne Perkins will host the event. We’re showcasing their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles event.
Long before “The Blackening” became the freshest horror comedy of 2023, it was a twinkle in the eye of Dewayne Perkins. The comic, who will take the stage to host the IndieWire Honors this week, spent years making sketches about the way horror films treat Black characters. This ongoing work with the concept resulted in “The Blackening,” which follows a group of friends whose Juneteenth cabin retreat quickly turns deadly when they discover a racist board game determined to kill them.
The film, which Perkins adapted from his own sketch alongside Tracy Oliver, opened to rave reviews this summer after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and being...
Long before “The Blackening” became the freshest horror comedy of 2023, it was a twinkle in the eye of Dewayne Perkins. The comic, who will take the stage to host the IndieWire Honors this week, spent years making sketches about the way horror films treat Black characters. This ongoing work with the concept resulted in “The Blackening,” which follows a group of friends whose Juneteenth cabin retreat quickly turns deadly when they discover a racist board game determined to kill them.
The film, which Perkins adapted from his own sketch alongside Tracy Oliver, opened to rave reviews this summer after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and being...
- 12/3/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
It appears as though another killer is on the loose, now that a sequel to "The Blackening" is officially moving forward.
In a year that's seen many a high-profile box office bomb (and not just the big-budget variety either), director Tim Story's well-received slasher comedy is a testament to the power of thriftiness. While the film only made $18.5 million at the global box office, that was more than enough to cover its $5 million budget and then some. It's also further proof that no genre is consistently thriving in the post-2020 lockdowns era quite like horror, with "The Blackening" joining "M3GAN" and "Five Nights at Freddy's" as horror flicks that successfully launched shiny new film franchises in 2023.
According to Variety, "The Blackening" writers Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins -- who based their script on the short sketch of the same name by Perkins' comedy troupe 3Peat -- are now in...
In a year that's seen many a high-profile box office bomb (and not just the big-budget variety either), director Tim Story's well-received slasher comedy is a testament to the power of thriftiness. While the film only made $18.5 million at the global box office, that was more than enough to cover its $5 million budget and then some. It's also further proof that no genre is consistently thriving in the post-2020 lockdowns era quite like horror, with "The Blackening" joining "M3GAN" and "Five Nights at Freddy's" as horror flicks that successfully launched shiny new film franchises in 2023.
According to Variety, "The Blackening" writers Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins -- who based their script on the short sketch of the same name by Perkins' comedy troupe 3Peat -- are now in...
- 11/26/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
When director Tim Story’s horror comedy The Blackening was released back in June, co-writer and star Dewayne Perkins told Variety that he envisioned the film being the start of a franchise, one that could bring back the “same group, sprinkle in some new people. I feel like we’ve got something good, and I love the dynamic, but fresh blood always turns things up a little bit.” Now Variety has confirmed that a sequel to The Blackening is officially in development!
The Blackening didn’t exactly set the box office of fire, earning just $18.5 million… but since the movie had a budget of $3 million (plus another $2 million for marketing), that’s enough for producer MRC and domestic distributor Lionsgate to feel that it’s worth going back to for a sequel. They’re developing the follow-up with Perkins, co-writer Tracy Oliver, and producer E. Brian Dobbins.
Story directed The...
The Blackening didn’t exactly set the box office of fire, earning just $18.5 million… but since the movie had a budget of $3 million (plus another $2 million for marketing), that’s enough for producer MRC and domestic distributor Lionsgate to feel that it’s worth going back to for a sequel. They’re developing the follow-up with Perkins, co-writer Tracy Oliver, and producer E. Brian Dobbins.
Story directed The...
- 11/21/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
After scaring up $18 million in theaters earlier this year, horror-comedy The Blackening is getting a sequel from Lionsgate, Variety has exclusively announced this afternoon.
Variety notes, “producer MRC and domestic distributor Lionsgate have entered into talks with Dewayne Perkins, Tracy Oliver and producer E. Brian Dobbins to develop a follow-up film.”
The first film was made on a production budget of just $5 million, so there’s needless to say lots of potential for this to become a profitable Scary Movie-type horror franchise.
Stay tuned for more on The Blackening 2 as we learn it.
The Blackening, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along,...
Variety notes, “producer MRC and domestic distributor Lionsgate have entered into talks with Dewayne Perkins, Tracy Oliver and producer E. Brian Dobbins to develop a follow-up film.”
The first film was made on a production budget of just $5 million, so there’s needless to say lots of potential for this to become a profitable Scary Movie-type horror franchise.
Stay tuned for more on The Blackening 2 as we learn it.
The Blackening, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along,...
- 11/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
MRC and Lionsgate are developing a sequel to “The Blackening,” the hit horror-comedy from Dewayne Perkins and Tracy Oliver.
After the microbudget production (just $5 million) made more than $18 million at the box office, producer MRC and domestic distributor Lionsgate have entered into talks with Perkins, Oliver and producer E. Brian Dobbins to develop a follow-up film.
Directed by Tim Story and co-written by Perkins and Oliver, “The Blackening” follows a group of college friends who reunite for Juneteenth weekend and are hunted by a killer who asks them to determine who is the Blackest among them — lampooning the common horror movie trope that sees the Black character die first. Perkins initially conceived the story as a sketch for his comedy troupe 3Peat, which developed into a short for Comedy Central, before Oliver reached out to develop it into a feature.
The project premiered in 2022 as a TIFF Midnight Madness selection,...
After the microbudget production (just $5 million) made more than $18 million at the box office, producer MRC and domestic distributor Lionsgate have entered into talks with Perkins, Oliver and producer E. Brian Dobbins to develop a follow-up film.
Directed by Tim Story and co-written by Perkins and Oliver, “The Blackening” follows a group of college friends who reunite for Juneteenth weekend and are hunted by a killer who asks them to determine who is the Blackest among them — lampooning the common horror movie trope that sees the Black character die first. Perkins initially conceived the story as a sketch for his comedy troupe 3Peat, which developed into a short for Comedy Central, before Oliver reached out to develop it into a feature.
The project premiered in 2022 as a TIFF Midnight Madness selection,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Between Slotherhouse arriving on Hulu, buddy comedy Shaky Shivers arriving on Screambox, and the theatrical release of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, this week belongs to the horror comedy. Horror comedies also happen to make for perfect Halloween viewing, as they frequently offer tricks and treats in the form of laughs and scares. Naturally, this week’s streaming picks are dedicated to horror comedies, emphasizing lesser-seen titles.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein – Prime Video
This is the first of many movies in which the comedic pair encounter Universal Monsters, and it’s a delightful mashup all ages can enjoy. Here, Lon Chaney Jr.’s Larry Talbot tries to warn Chick (Bud Abbott) and Wilbur (Lou Costello) that Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) has arrived in their town with nefarious plans to...
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein – Prime Video
This is the first of many movies in which the comedic pair encounter Universal Monsters, and it’s a delightful mashup all ages can enjoy. Here, Lon Chaney Jr.’s Larry Talbot tries to warn Chick (Bud Abbott) and Wilbur (Lou Costello) that Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) has arrived in their town with nefarious plans to...
- 10/16/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers from “The Blackening,” now streaming on Starz and available on VOD.
Tracy Oliver is best-known as the co-writer of “Girls Trip” and the creator of “Harlem” and “First Wives Club,” but she’s also quite proficient with numbers. And in terms of the success of her latest film, “The Blackening,” the numbers tell an important tale.
“I don’t think people understand the math of it all,” Oliver says, settling into a plush beige armchair in the lobby of the 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach on a sweltering day in June. “Even my family thought I made more on “Girls Trip” than I actually did.”
Despite the 2017 comedy becoming a massive box office hit — earning more than $140 million worldwide — Oliver didn’t have any backend on the film. “It was considered such a risk when we made it that they weren’t going...
Tracy Oliver is best-known as the co-writer of “Girls Trip” and the creator of “Harlem” and “First Wives Club,” but she’s also quite proficient with numbers. And in terms of the success of her latest film, “The Blackening,” the numbers tell an important tale.
“I don’t think people understand the math of it all,” Oliver says, settling into a plush beige armchair in the lobby of the 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach on a sweltering day in June. “Even my family thought I made more on “Girls Trip” than I actually did.”
Despite the 2017 comedy becoming a massive box office hit — earning more than $140 million worldwide — Oliver didn’t have any backend on the film. “It was considered such a risk when we made it that they weren’t going...
- 10/4/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
On June 10, 2023, screenwriter Ed Solomon ("Men in Black," "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," "Full Circle") tweeted the following:
"Wanted to gauge interest on something. If I were to do a series of Zoom workshops during the strike (was thinking Q & A sessions on various parts of the craft of writing), would anyone show up?"
Within minutes, he received a Dm from The Black List founder Franklin Leonard, who, along with his team, including the company's senior vice president Megan Halpern, was offering to help facilitate the types of conversations Solomon wanted to have. A couple of weeks later, Word By Word was officially up and running.
With its title taking inspiration from Anne Lamott's writing book "Bird By Bird," which Solomon calls "the best book [he's] ever read on writing," the weekly Zoom sessions are free and open to the public, feature major figures from the world of screenwriting as guests,...
"Wanted to gauge interest on something. If I were to do a series of Zoom workshops during the strike (was thinking Q & A sessions on various parts of the craft of writing), would anyone show up?"
Within minutes, he received a Dm from The Black List founder Franklin Leonard, who, along with his team, including the company's senior vice president Megan Halpern, was offering to help facilitate the types of conversations Solomon wanted to have. A couple of weeks later, Word By Word was officially up and running.
With its title taking inspiration from Anne Lamott's writing book "Bird By Bird," which Solomon calls "the best book [he's] ever read on writing," the weekly Zoom sessions are free and open to the public, feature major figures from the world of screenwriting as guests,...
- 9/1/2023
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
One of the year’s best horror-comedies, The Blackening is hilarious throughout but never forgets it’s also a horror movie. The satire is clever, the social commentary is poignant without being obtuse, and the ensemble cast has great chemistry. Like many holiday-set horrors that came before it, it’s guaranteed to become an annual Juneteenth viewing among fans.
The Blackening‘s 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD releases pack in even more laughs to with special features, including an audio commentary from director Tim Story, actor/co-writer Dewayne Perkins (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and co-writer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip).
Here are eight things I learned from The Blackening commentary…
1. The opening text was not in the script.
The opening text – which reads “The following is based on true events… that never happened.” – was not in the script. Story added it after production to set the tone for the movie.
“The guys...
The Blackening‘s 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD releases pack in even more laughs to with special features, including an audio commentary from director Tim Story, actor/co-writer Dewayne Perkins (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and co-writer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip).
Here are eight things I learned from The Blackening commentary…
1. The opening text was not in the script.
The opening text – which reads “The following is based on true events… that never happened.” – was not in the script. Story added it after production to set the tone for the movie.
“The guys...
- 8/29/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Senior television literary agent Melissa Orton-Cortez, most recently from CAA, has joined Adventure Media as a manager and partner alongside founding partners Chris von Goetz, James Robins Early and Aaliyah Williams.
This marks a reunion for Orton-Cortez and fellow former lit agents-turned-managers von Goetz and Robins Early who worked together for a decade at ICM Partners prior to the agency’s acquisition by CAA last year when von Goetz and Robins Early left and teamed with Williams to launch Adventure.
Meanwhile, Orton-Cortez transitioned to CAA where she had been for the past year. She was the highest profile departure in the recent round of layoffs at the agency, and a number of companies pursued her over the last couple of weeks. She opted to go with Adventure.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Adventure with my dear friends and colleagues,” Orton-Cortez said. “For the last year, I’ve...
This marks a reunion for Orton-Cortez and fellow former lit agents-turned-managers von Goetz and Robins Early who worked together for a decade at ICM Partners prior to the agency’s acquisition by CAA last year when von Goetz and Robins Early left and teamed with Williams to launch Adventure.
Meanwhile, Orton-Cortez transitioned to CAA where she had been for the past year. She was the highest profile departure in the recent round of layoffs at the agency, and a number of companies pursued her over the last couple of weeks. She opted to go with Adventure.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Adventure with my dear friends and colleagues,” Orton-Cortez said. “For the last year, I’ve...
- 8/28/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
UK Sundance title ‘Scrapper’ starts out for Picturehouse Entertainment.
Disney’s performing arts comedy Theater Camp and Universal comedy-horror The Blackening will look to end the five-week run of Barbie atop the UK-Ireland box office, with Oppenheimer also threatening to take top spot following strong holds.
Opening in 352 cinemas, Theater Camp is a comedy about the eccentric staff of a rundown theatre camp in upstate New York, who must band with the founder’s son to keep the facility afloat.
Directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman in their feature directorial debuts, it debuted at Sundance Film Festival in January,...
Disney’s performing arts comedy Theater Camp and Universal comedy-horror The Blackening will look to end the five-week run of Barbie atop the UK-Ireland box office, with Oppenheimer also threatening to take top spot following strong holds.
Opening in 352 cinemas, Theater Camp is a comedy about the eccentric staff of a rundown theatre camp in upstate New York, who must band with the founder’s son to keep the facility afloat.
Directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman in their feature directorial debuts, it debuted at Sundance Film Festival in January,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Ordinarily, curling up for a night of games, laughter, (optional stimulants) and fun with old friends is a perfect recipe for a catch-up. Real friends can always pick up where they left off – no matter how long they’ve been apart – and adding a pack of cards, a super sweet cocktail and some random board games into the mix should guarantee a good time.
Another good way to find out who your real friends are is for a crazed killer to force you to choose which one should die.
Morgan (Yvonne Orji) and Shawn (Jay Pharoah) are excited to set up for their annual Juneteenth celebration with college friends. The cabin in the woods they’ve rented for the occasion is super cute and Morgan’s trusty group bonding activity – her games night set-up – is good to go. Unfortunately so is The Blackening; the offensively ‘retro’ game the couple stumble...
Another good way to find out who your real friends are is for a crazed killer to force you to choose which one should die.
Morgan (Yvonne Orji) and Shawn (Jay Pharoah) are excited to set up for their annual Juneteenth celebration with college friends. The cabin in the woods they’ve rented for the occasion is super cute and Morgan’s trusty group bonding activity – her games night set-up – is good to go. Unfortunately so is The Blackening; the offensively ‘retro’ game the couple stumble...
- 8/23/2023
- by Emily Breen
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Blackening is a riotous new comedy horror that excels in both of the genres it’s mashing together. With a huge ensemble cast, full of talented comedic performers, we had the pleasure to speak to, well, pretty much all of them, in the global junket.
Below you can watch our entertaining interviews in their entirety, beginning with Dewayne Perkins, X Mayo & Jermaine Fowler. Following that is a second grouped interview, this time consisting of Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls & Grace Byers, We then speak to Jay Pharoah and Melvin Gregg, before ending on the talent behind the lens, speaking to both Tracy Oliver and Tim Story. Enjoy!
Dewayne Perkins, X Mayo & Jermaine Fowler
Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls & Grace Byers
Jay Pharoah & Melvin Gregg
Tracy Oliver & Tim Story
Synopsis
Seven friends go away for the weekend, only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta.
Below you can watch our entertaining interviews in their entirety, beginning with Dewayne Perkins, X Mayo & Jermaine Fowler. Following that is a second grouped interview, this time consisting of Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls & Grace Byers, We then speak to Jay Pharoah and Melvin Gregg, before ending on the talent behind the lens, speaking to both Tracy Oliver and Tim Story. Enjoy!
Dewayne Perkins, X Mayo & Jermaine Fowler
Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls & Grace Byers
Jay Pharoah & Melvin Gregg
Tracy Oliver & Tim Story
Synopsis
Seven friends go away for the weekend, only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta.
- 8/22/2023
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Director Tim Story‘s The Blackening is now available on PVOD ($19.99), and up next the horror-comedy heads to Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD this month.
The Blackening is available on Digital and On Demand August 15 and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (+Blu-ray & Digital), Blu-ray (+DVD & Digital) and DVD August 22 from Lionsgate.
Check out an exclusive clip from the film’s featurettes package below, wherein the cast and crew discuss the house that became the central location in this year’s horror-comedy satire.
“We were lucky enough to find… in Brentwood of all places… this old house has been there probably 100 years. We wanted this house that we were gonna be locked into to have a character of itself. A character that looks spooky at times, but also in the daylight is inviting,” Tim Story explains in the featurette for The Blackening, which you can watch down below.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along,...
The Blackening is available on Digital and On Demand August 15 and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (+Blu-ray & Digital), Blu-ray (+DVD & Digital) and DVD August 22 from Lionsgate.
Check out an exclusive clip from the film’s featurettes package below, wherein the cast and crew discuss the house that became the central location in this year’s horror-comedy satire.
“We were lucky enough to find… in Brentwood of all places… this old house has been there probably 100 years. We wanted this house that we were gonna be locked into to have a character of itself. A character that looks spooky at times, but also in the daylight is inviting,” Tim Story explains in the featurette for The Blackening, which you can watch down below.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along,...
- 8/14/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
As financial barriers to filmmaking tech lower — while barriers to higher education continue to rise and student loans remain a legislative flashpoint — film programs nationwide have had to consider how to adapt to stand out.
Many programs have added LED walls (Uncsa, DePaul) and are building backlots that rival Warner Bros. (Scad). Some upstarts are successfully climbing the ranks of a crowded field — Brooklyn College’s Feirstein is only 8 years old — while others are doubling down on long-established reputations: Think Wesleyan (a liberal arts school committed to celluloid) or USC (a big program with an even bigger alumni network). All the while scholarships, financial aid, tuition expenses and postgraduate grants are becoming more paramount to would-be student decision-making.
With all this in mind, THR has compiled its 13th annual list of the nation’s top film programs.
1. American Film Institute
Los Angeles
“If you’re at AFI, you’ve earned that spot,...
Many programs have added LED walls (Uncsa, DePaul) and are building backlots that rival Warner Bros. (Scad). Some upstarts are successfully climbing the ranks of a crowded field — Brooklyn College’s Feirstein is only 8 years old — while others are doubling down on long-established reputations: Think Wesleyan (a liberal arts school committed to celluloid) or USC (a big program with an even bigger alumni network). All the while scholarships, financial aid, tuition expenses and postgraduate grants are becoming more paramount to would-be student decision-making.
With all this in mind, THR has compiled its 13th annual list of the nation’s top film programs.
1. American Film Institute
Los Angeles
“If you’re at AFI, you’ve earned that spot,...
- 8/11/2023
- by Mia Galuppo and Sydney Odman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: The Austin Film Festival has set producer Lauren Shuler Donner, writer-producer James V. Hart and filmmaker So Young Shelly Yo as honorees of its 30th edition, taking place from October 26 – November 2.
Donner will receive the Polly Platt Award for Producing, with Hart claiming the the Heart of Film Award and Shelly accepting the New Voice Award.
Introduced in 2019 as a means of honoring producers with a keen sense of story and a history of fostering new talent, the Producing prize has previously been bestowed upon Dede Garner, Stephanie Allain and Sarah Green.
Coming in recognition of Hart’s contributions to film and television, as well as his service to the screenwriting community, the Heart of Film Award has also since 2013 been bestowed on the likes of Enchanted producer Barry Josephson and Beverly Hills Cop scribe Daniel Petrie Jr.
Also established in 2019 was the New Voice Award, recognizing unique and captivating new voices in film,...
Donner will receive the Polly Platt Award for Producing, with Hart claiming the the Heart of Film Award and Shelly accepting the New Voice Award.
Introduced in 2019 as a means of honoring producers with a keen sense of story and a history of fostering new talent, the Producing prize has previously been bestowed upon Dede Garner, Stephanie Allain and Sarah Green.
Coming in recognition of Hart’s contributions to film and television, as well as his service to the screenwriting community, the Heart of Film Award has also since 2013 been bestowed on the likes of Enchanted producer Barry Josephson and Beverly Hills Cop scribe Daniel Petrie Jr.
Also established in 2019 was the New Voice Award, recognizing unique and captivating new voices in film,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
What’s a hilarious medley of Black friends to do when they’re cruelly placed in a slasher, a genre notorious for killing off Black characters before the real gore even begins? They can’t all die first! In Tim Story’s brazenly meta-horror comedy The Blackening, co-writers Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins amplify the latter’s 2018 Comedy Central sketch to a whole new level. A film just as devoted to its roaring one-liners and deadpan physical comedy as it is bold with a serious take on culture crisis, The Blackening proudly boasts its slasher-parody outline and makes the narrative transparently personal for its people.
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘The Blackening’?
Well, they may not all die, but since when has a slasher cold-open been merciful to a couple staying in a cabin in the middle of nowhere? The only thing that stands out in the case...
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘The Blackening’?
Well, they may not all die, but since when has a slasher cold-open been merciful to a couple staying in a cabin in the middle of nowhere? The only thing that stands out in the case...
- 7/15/2023
- by Lopamudra Mukherjee
- Film Fugitives
Lionsgate gave director Tim Story’s horror comedy The Blackening a theatrical release on June 16th, with a Premium VOD release following last Friday, July 7th. Now they have announced that a digital release is coming down the line on August 15th, with the 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD release following on August 22nd. The 4K will be released in a combo pack with the Blu-ray, and there will also be a combo pack that contains the Blu-ray, the DVD, and the digital release. Copies are already available for pre-order on Amazon.
Story directed The Blackening from a screenplay by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins. Inspired by a Perkins-scripted 3Peat comedy sketch that aired on Comedy Central in 2018, the film is about a group of Black friends who go away for the weekend only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who forces them to play a game with life-or-death consequences.
Story directed The Blackening from a screenplay by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins. Inspired by a Perkins-scripted 3Peat comedy sketch that aired on Comedy Central in 2018, the film is about a group of Black friends who go away for the weekend only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who forces them to play a game with life-or-death consequences.
- 7/11/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
After scaring up an estimated $7 million in theaters over Juneteenth weekend, director Tim Story‘s The Blackening is now available on PVOD. Even better? The horror-comedy heads to 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD in August!
The Blackening arrives on Digital August 15 and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (+Blu-ray & Digital), Blu-ray (+DVD & Digital), and DVD on August 22 from Lionsgate.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and co-written by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) and Dewayne Perkins (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
Joe Lipsett wrote in his 4-star TIFF review, “While the film isn’t Scream levels of meta, The Blackening fuses social commentary about the Black experience in contemporary America with slasher conventions in a highly entertaining fashion.”
“The humour is successful,...
The Blackening arrives on Digital August 15 and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (+Blu-ray & Digital), Blu-ray (+DVD & Digital), and DVD on August 22 from Lionsgate.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and co-written by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) and Dewayne Perkins (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
Joe Lipsett wrote in his 4-star TIFF review, “While the film isn’t Scream levels of meta, The Blackening fuses social commentary about the Black experience in contemporary America with slasher conventions in a highly entertaining fashion.”
“The humour is successful,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Cruel Angels Past Sundown: "New Mexico Territory, 1882: She comes to the Klein ranch at sunset, a strange naked pregnant woman dragging a cavalry saber. Annette Klein and her husband have built peace between their marriage and secret relations beyond, but their serenity dies in bloodshed tonight through a cannibalistic demon and a mad preacher.
Annette barely escapes the bloodbath to the nearby town of Low’ s Bend, where she might find safety with a shotgun-toting barkeep, two no-nonsense boarding room ladies, and the gunslinging bounty hunter who’ s captured Annette’ s heart.
But hell is at her heels. If she’ s going to survive until dawn, she’ ll have to forget everything she knows about peace and mercy, and face a hollow malevolence more ancient and ruthless than she’ s ever imagined."
Written by Hailey Piper, Cruel Angels Past Sundown will be available on July 25th from Death’s Head Press!
Annette barely escapes the bloodbath to the nearby town of Low’ s Bend, where she might find safety with a shotgun-toting barkeep, two no-nonsense boarding room ladies, and the gunslinging bounty hunter who’ s captured Annette’ s heart.
But hell is at her heels. If she’ s going to survive until dawn, she’ ll have to forget everything she knows about peace and mercy, and face a hollow malevolence more ancient and ruthless than she’ s ever imagined."
Written by Hailey Piper, Cruel Angels Past Sundown will be available on July 25th from Death’s Head Press!
- 7/7/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Aftersun (Charlotte Wells)
One of last year’s most resonant films, Aftersun looks at the scratchy dynamics between a father and daughter while on vacation. It’s about memory, the finite nature of the relationships in our lives, and the difficulties of a parent’s diminishing mental health. Charlotte Wells knows where to put the camera in her debut—undeterred from taking risks, from placing her characters outside of the frame, from looking at shadows instead of the people themselves. Aftersun is a rare, tremendous first film, full of heart and focused melancholy; it breaks you down and fills you up simultaneously. The consistent inclusion of camcorder footage, and the fact that it enhances the story rather than becoming a distraction, further...
Aftersun (Charlotte Wells)
One of last year’s most resonant films, Aftersun looks at the scratchy dynamics between a father and daughter while on vacation. It’s about memory, the finite nature of the relationships in our lives, and the difficulties of a parent’s diminishing mental health. Charlotte Wells knows where to put the camera in her debut—undeterred from taking risks, from placing her characters outside of the frame, from looking at shadows instead of the people themselves. Aftersun is a rare, tremendous first film, full of heart and focused melancholy; it breaks you down and fills you up simultaneously. The consistent inclusion of camcorder footage, and the fact that it enhances the story rather than becoming a distraction, further...
- 7/7/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Lionsgate gave director Tim Story’s horror comedy The Blackening a theatrical release on June 16th – but if you didn’t catch the movie on the big screen or if you did and want to watch it again in the comfort of your home as soon as possible, we have some good news. The Blackening is set to receive a Premium VOD release on July 7th. Yes, tomorrow!
Story directed The Blackening from a screenplay by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins. Inspired by a Perkins-scripted 3Peat comedy sketch that aired on Comedy Central in 2018, the film is about a group of Black friends who go away for the weekend only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who forces them to play a game with life-or-death consequences. The idea asks a reasonable question: since it seems that Black characters are usually the earliest victims in horror films,...
Story directed The Blackening from a screenplay by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins. Inspired by a Perkins-scripted 3Peat comedy sketch that aired on Comedy Central in 2018, the film is about a group of Black friends who go away for the weekend only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who forces them to play a game with life-or-death consequences. The idea asks a reasonable question: since it seems that Black characters are usually the earliest victims in horror films,...
- 7/6/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Prepare to head back into the Further this week. The long Fourth of July Weekend means a lighter week ahead for new horror releases, but there’s still plenty to keep you busy. That includes a highly anticipated horror sequel arriving in theaters this week and a home release for one of the year’s funniest horror comedies.
Here’s all the new horror releasing July 3– July 7, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Alice Maio Mackay’s acclaimed slasher film Bad Girl Boogey released on digital platforms July 4 with a DVD release on July 11.
“Bad Girl Boogey follows Angel, whose mother was brutally murdered one Halloween night when blood was shed by a deranged killer wearing a parasitic mask cursed with black magic and bigotry. Sixteen years later, when Angel’s best friend is slaughtered by a killer with the same mask, they must overcome their personal struggles,...
Here’s all the new horror releasing July 3– July 7, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Alice Maio Mackay’s acclaimed slasher film Bad Girl Boogey released on digital platforms July 4 with a DVD release on July 11.
“Bad Girl Boogey follows Angel, whose mother was brutally murdered one Halloween night when blood was shed by a deranged killer wearing a parasitic mask cursed with black magic and bigotry. Sixteen years later, when Angel’s best friend is slaughtered by a killer with the same mask, they must overcome their personal struggles,...
- 7/5/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
After scaring up an estimated $7 million in theaters over Juneteenth weekend, director Tim Story‘s The Blackening is now headed home to Premium Video On Demand outlets this Friday, July 7, Bloody Disgusting has learned.
The Blackening, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and co-written by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) and Dewayne Perkins (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
Joe Lipsett wrote in his 4-star TIFF review, “While the film isn’t Scream levels of meta,...
The Blackening, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherf****** game.
Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and co-written by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) and Dewayne Perkins (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?
Joe Lipsett wrote in his 4-star TIFF review, “While the film isn’t Scream levels of meta,...
- 7/5/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers from “The Blackening,” now playing in theaters.
Dewayne Perkins is living his dream — though the $8 million box office tally for “The Blackening” wasn’t something he actually dreamed was possible.
The microbudget (just $5 million) horror-comedy, co-written by and starring Perkins, follows a group of college friends who reunite to celebrate Juneteenth at a cabin in the woods, only to be hunted by a killer. But in a genre where the Black character usually dies first, what happens when all the characters are Black?
Perkins conceived the idea in 2016 as a sketch for his Chicago-based comedy troupe 3Peat. When it aired as a short on Comedy Central in 2018, the clip went viral and got the attention of Tracy Oliver, who — hot off the $140 million box office success of 2017’s “Girls Trip” — called with the idea that they could expand “The Blackening” into a feature film.
Dewayne Perkins is living his dream — though the $8 million box office tally for “The Blackening” wasn’t something he actually dreamed was possible.
The microbudget (just $5 million) horror-comedy, co-written by and starring Perkins, follows a group of college friends who reunite to celebrate Juneteenth at a cabin in the woods, only to be hunted by a killer. But in a genre where the Black character usually dies first, what happens when all the characters are Black?
Perkins conceived the idea in 2016 as a sketch for his Chicago-based comedy troupe 3Peat. When it aired as a short on Comedy Central in 2018, the clip went viral and got the attention of Tracy Oliver, who — hot off the $140 million box office success of 2017’s “Girls Trip” — called with the idea that they could expand “The Blackening” into a feature film.
- 6/24/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The first trailer for Sony’s sex comedy No Hard Feelings, hitting theaters June 23, includes star Jennifer Lawrence consoling an ex by declaring she hasn’t forgotten him: “Last night, I thought, ‘I miss that fucker.’ ” Moviegoers might share similar nostalgia, recalling a not-long-ago era when studio offerings centering on ribald jokes would regularly play theatrically — before going missing.
This summer suggests a possible changing of the tide. As audiences return to cinemas post-pandemic, studios appear to be using the next few months as a testing ground for the theatrical return of the R-rated comedy. No Hard Feelings, about an awkward teen whose parents hire Lawrence’s character to date him, will later have company from Lionsgate’s Joy Ride (July 7), Universal’s Strays (Aug. 18) and MGM’s Bottoms (Aug. 25). Such projects are akin to horror films in offering viewers the experience of watching shocking moments with a group of like-minded strangers.
This summer suggests a possible changing of the tide. As audiences return to cinemas post-pandemic, studios appear to be using the next few months as a testing ground for the theatrical return of the R-rated comedy. No Hard Feelings, about an awkward teen whose parents hire Lawrence’s character to date him, will later have company from Lionsgate’s Joy Ride (July 7), Universal’s Strays (Aug. 18) and MGM’s Bottoms (Aug. 25). Such projects are akin to horror films in offering viewers the experience of watching shocking moments with a group of like-minded strangers.
- 6/22/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Ed Solomon, film and television writer, has teamed up with the Black List to host Word by Word. The show will broadcast live on Zoom starting Thursday, June 29.
“During a strike years ago, I took some writing classes in order to challenge the way I was approaching my work,” Solomon said in a statement. “This time, I wanted to open it up for others who maybe felt the same. This led to the idea of making a space for creatives at every stage of their practice and career to ask questions and hear others talk about things that aren’t in writing books or better taught elsewhere–in particular, things about the inner process.”
He continued, “I want this series to be casual, accessible, personal, honest, and (hopefully) interesting… but most of all, fun. I’m truly looking forward to learning from the many incredible guests who will be participating.
“During a strike years ago, I took some writing classes in order to challenge the way I was approaching my work,” Solomon said in a statement. “This time, I wanted to open it up for others who maybe felt the same. This led to the idea of making a space for creatives at every stage of their practice and career to ask questions and hear others talk about things that aren’t in writing books or better taught elsewhere–in particular, things about the inner process.”
He continued, “I want this series to be casual, accessible, personal, honest, and (hopefully) interesting… but most of all, fun. I’m truly looking forward to learning from the many incredible guests who will be participating.
- 6/21/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
The Blackening is a potent blend of comedy, and thrills that parodies and challenges the genre’s tropes, specifically those around a mostly Black cast. Under the direction of Tim Story and script by Tracy Oliver, and Dewayne Perkins, the film pays homage to some iconic horror franchises like Scream, Friday the 13th, and Saw with a bit of Cabin In The Woods sprinkled in for some extra razzle dazzle. In the midst of the chaotic hijinks, the narrative centers Black American culture and all of its complexities. The film also stars Perkins, Jermaine Fowler, Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, with Yvonne Orji, and Jay Pharoah.
Things start at a cabin in the woods like most horror movies these days. Morgan (Orji) and Shawn (Pharoah), a couple who are a part of a group of college friends reuniting after 10 years. The plan is...
Things start at a cabin in the woods like most horror movies these days. Morgan (Orji) and Shawn (Pharoah), a couple who are a part of a group of college friends reuniting after 10 years. The plan is...
- 6/21/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The Blackening star Grace Byers didn’t just take on the tired trope of Black characters dying prematurely in horror movies. Her no-nonsense character, Allison, also challenged the idea that Blackness can be measured.
The Tim Story-directed horror-comedy revolves around a group of college friends who reunite for some fun at a remote cabin, but things quickly go awry when they become the target of a masked killer and his menacing board game, The Blackening. Eventually, Byers’ character suggests that the group split up, and this approach is yet another horror trope that rarely works out well for everyone. Recognizing this pattern, the college friends immediately criticize Allison’s judgment, attributing it to the white side of her biracial identity. (The friend group ultimately heeded Allison’s advice.)
The Pennsylvania-born, Cayman Islands-raised Byers is also biracial, so she understands exactly what her character is going through when her identity is constantly called into question.
The Tim Story-directed horror-comedy revolves around a group of college friends who reunite for some fun at a remote cabin, but things quickly go awry when they become the target of a masked killer and his menacing board game, The Blackening. Eventually, Byers’ character suggests that the group split up, and this approach is yet another horror trope that rarely works out well for everyone. Recognizing this pattern, the college friends immediately criticize Allison’s judgment, attributing it to the white side of her biracial identity. (The friend group ultimately heeded Allison’s advice.)
The Pennsylvania-born, Cayman Islands-raised Byers is also biracial, so she understands exactly what her character is going through when her identity is constantly called into question.
- 6/21/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lionsgate’s horror-comedy The Blackening was released into theaters for the long Juneteenth weekend, and Lionsgate is surely celebrating the film’s box office performance today.
Playing in 1,775 theaters across the country, The Blackening‘s 5-day total thus far is an estimated $7 million, which includes nearly $1 million from Thursday night previews.
The Blackening opened in sixth place at the crowded box office in its debut weekend, behind much larger studio blockbusters including The Flash, Elemental, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and The Little Mermaid. The good news for The Blackening is that the film’s production budget was just $5 million, which should allow for Lionsgate to start making box office profits real soon. The low budget horror-comedy was set up for success, whereas a mega budget film like DC’s The Flash was set up to fail.
That’s the beauty of the horror genre, as...
Playing in 1,775 theaters across the country, The Blackening‘s 5-day total thus far is an estimated $7 million, which includes nearly $1 million from Thursday night previews.
The Blackening opened in sixth place at the crowded box office in its debut weekend, behind much larger studio blockbusters including The Flash, Elemental, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and The Little Mermaid. The good news for The Blackening is that the film’s production budget was just $5 million, which should allow for Lionsgate to start making box office profits real soon. The low budget horror-comedy was set up for success, whereas a mega budget film like DC’s The Flash was set up to fail.
That’s the beauty of the horror genre, as...
- 6/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film reviews for the new releases “The Blackening,” a tart horror/comedy directed by Tim Story and the mystery comedy/romance “Maggie Moores(s), directed by John Slattery. Both In theaters since June 16th.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
“The Blackening” makes fun of the trope that the African-American character is often the first to die in horror movies by placing an all-Black group of friends in the proverbial cabin in the woods, during the Juneteenth weekend. There are confronted by a masked killer who demands that they rank their “degree of blackness” so that he can determine the correct order in which to kill them, and the cabin dwellers must rely on a combination of street smarts and their own knowledge of black history and horror films to survive.
”The Blackening” is in theaters since June 16th. Featuring Dewayne Perkins, Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg,...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
“The Blackening” makes fun of the trope that the African-American character is often the first to die in horror movies by placing an all-Black group of friends in the proverbial cabin in the woods, during the Juneteenth weekend. There are confronted by a masked killer who demands that they rank their “degree of blackness” so that he can determine the correct order in which to kill them, and the cabin dwellers must rely on a combination of street smarts and their own knowledge of black history and horror films to survive.
”The Blackening” is in theaters since June 16th. Featuring Dewayne Perkins, Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg,...
- 6/19/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
As a child, The Blackening star Antoinette Robertson was easily scared by horror movies, but it wasn’t until she got older that she realized the genre was scaring her off for a whole different reason.
Written by Dewayne Perkins and Tracy Oliver, the Tim Story-directed The Blackening is a horror-comedy that expands on Perkins’ 2018 short, parodying the age-old trope that Black characters are the first to die in horror films. Robertson plays Lisa, an ambitious lawyer who reunites with her college friends for a weekend getaway at a remote cabin. And despite some personal drama involving her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Nnamdi (Sinqua Walls), Lisa must step up to help save her friends from a masked killer, who’s ensnared them into playing a dangerous board game called The Blackening.
For Robertson, The Blackening was especially meaningful because she and her fellow collaborators were able to bring a bit...
Written by Dewayne Perkins and Tracy Oliver, the Tim Story-directed The Blackening is a horror-comedy that expands on Perkins’ 2018 short, parodying the age-old trope that Black characters are the first to die in horror films. Robertson plays Lisa, an ambitious lawyer who reunites with her college friends for a weekend getaway at a remote cabin. And despite some personal drama involving her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Nnamdi (Sinqua Walls), Lisa must step up to help save her friends from a masked killer, who’s ensnared them into playing a dangerous board game called The Blackening.
For Robertson, The Blackening was especially meaningful because she and her fellow collaborators were able to bring a bit...
- 6/18/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Blackening will go on. A California judge today denied a request for a temporary restraining order to delay the horror comedy’s release after saying the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Lionsgate failed to make their case.
In her ruling (read it here), United States District Court for the Central District of California, Judge Dale S. Fischer of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said Zahara Ariel and Jaryah Bobo “have not demonstrated any substantial likelihood of success on the merits.” They were trying to block today’s release of the pic, claiming that it infringes on their copyrights a screenplay, Southern Education, and a card game called Black Card Revoked.
“Plaintiffs present little to no detail regarding either the game or the screenplay, and there is no reason to believe that the expression of ideas in either has been copied in the making of the film,...
In her ruling (read it here), United States District Court for the Central District of California, Judge Dale S. Fischer of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said Zahara Ariel and Jaryah Bobo “have not demonstrated any substantial likelihood of success on the merits.” They were trying to block today’s release of the pic, claiming that it infringes on their copyrights a screenplay, Southern Education, and a card game called Black Card Revoked.
“Plaintiffs present little to no detail regarding either the game or the screenplay, and there is no reason to believe that the expression of ideas in either has been copied in the making of the film,...
- 6/16/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
"The Blackening" is finally changing the narrative for Black characters in the horror space - and it's about damn time.
The Tim Story-directed horror-comedy mashup, cowritten by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, reunites a group of friends - portrayed by Perkins, Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji - for a Juneteenth cabin trip gone horribly (and gorily) wrong, as they all find themselves trapped playing a deadly game with a deranged killer on the loose. While the scenario may sound familiar, it's unlike anything audiences - especially Black audiences - have ever seen before.
With its comedic moments, satirical elements, and hero-esque endgame, "The Blackening" is rare compared to traditional horror stories where Black characters don't get to control their own fate, much less survive until the end of a movie. So the cast consider it an honor...
The Tim Story-directed horror-comedy mashup, cowritten by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, reunites a group of friends - portrayed by Perkins, Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji - for a Juneteenth cabin trip gone horribly (and gorily) wrong, as they all find themselves trapped playing a deadly game with a deranged killer on the loose. While the scenario may sound familiar, it's unlike anything audiences - especially Black audiences - have ever seen before.
With its comedic moments, satirical elements, and hero-esque endgame, "The Blackening" is rare compared to traditional horror stories where Black characters don't get to control their own fate, much less survive until the end of a movie. So the cast consider it an honor...
- 6/16/2023
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
Even with the institution of gender neutral categories in the acting and supporting acting fields, everything old is new again as the Seventh Annual Black Reel Television Awards (BoltsTV) announced the list of this year’s nominees for recognition. Two names were still returning favorites to the nominations field which also included one record-breaking repeat performance and one surprising new entrant to challenge them all.
The Best Man: The Final Chapters secured its place in Black Reel Award history, with eighteen nominations, the most by any program ever in a single year. The Final Chapters, the ground-breaking mini-series that brought back all of the actors from the previous two movies, also ushered showrunner Malcolm D. Lee to three award nominations of his own for writing and directing in the series.
Perennial favorite, Donald Glover continued his recent dominance by leading the pack in personal nominations, receiving five this year. Glover...
The Best Man: The Final Chapters secured its place in Black Reel Award history, with eighteen nominations, the most by any program ever in a single year. The Final Chapters, the ground-breaking mini-series that brought back all of the actors from the previous two movies, also ushered showrunner Malcolm D. Lee to three award nominations of his own for writing and directing in the series.
Perennial favorite, Donald Glover continued his recent dominance by leading the pack in personal nominations, receiving five this year. Glover...
- 6/15/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
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