movies

Oct 17 2011

“The Last Stand”

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in a starring role for the first time since he took office, as filming started today in Nevada and New Mexico for his new Western, “The Last Stand.”

The star plays a former Los Angeles Police Department officer who ends up sheriff of a small border town after a botched operation, according to Lionsgate. He must take on a drug kingpin who escapes the FBI and flees for Mexico, heading straight for the town.

May 24 2011

New study finds that African Americans have a voracious appetite for entertainment

NEW YORK, N.Y.—BET Networks unveiled a new report that challenges the Hollywood mindset that African Americans only support Black movies and outlines the $6.3 billion buying power of this demographic. According to REEL FACTS: A Movie Goer Consumption Study on average, 81% of the movies seen by African Americans do not prominently feature an African American cast, storyline or lead Black star. The study provides an in-depth understanding of African American movie goers and their consumption patterns versus general market movie goers.

May 20 2011

Diversity and Social Change Initiative

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Hollywood movies directed by African Americans are significantly more likely to include African American characters with speaking roles than movies not directed by African Americans, according to a report released today from USC Annenberg.

Dec 6 2010

Tangled edges out competition

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—"Tangled,'' Disney's animated re-telling of the Rapunzel tale, took over the top spot at the box office, knocking the smash "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I'' into second place, according to final figures released today.

The 3-D "Tangled'' earned $21.6 million between Friday and Sunday to lead a generally lackluster weekend at theaters, according to Hollywood.Com Box-Office. The film has earned $96.6 million in two weeks of release.

Nov 22 2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A boy wizard conjured up a magical opening weekend, as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1'' earned $125 million to easily top the domestic box office, according to final figures released today.

The strong showing was a surprise to no one, thanks to the legions of "Potter'' fans across the country and around the globe. Many fans waited for hours in line to catch midnight showings Friday morning. Those showings alone earned $24 million, according to Hollywood.Com Box Office.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.