When Lynnette Ramirez, president of Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s eponymous production company, logs onto Zoom to discuss the release of “Heist 88,” the company’s first feature, with Variety, her virtual background catches the eye. It’s a black-and-white photo of two children — a little boy and a little girl — alongside the Bassett Vance Productions logo.
It doesn’t take long to recognize that the striking shot is a family photo — and the two kids are the Hollywood power couple’s now-teenage twins Bronwyn and Slater Vance.
“This company is about legacy,” Ramirez says. “And not just their family’s legacy — but it certainly feels like that’s where the heart is.”
Indeed, Bassett Vance Productions is a family business, but it’s more than that. Formally founded in 2020 as one of the partnering companies with MTV Entertainment Group’s development program for Bipoc and women filmmakers,...
It doesn’t take long to recognize that the striking shot is a family photo — and the two kids are the Hollywood power couple’s now-teenage twins Bronwyn and Slater Vance.
“This company is about legacy,” Ramirez says. “And not just their family’s legacy — but it certainly feels like that’s where the heart is.”
Indeed, Bassett Vance Productions is a family business, but it’s more than that. Formally founded in 2020 as one of the partnering companies with MTV Entertainment Group’s development program for Bipoc and women filmmakers,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Bank robbers tend to be fairly easy to root for in movies. After all, it’s not the audience’s money getting pocketed onscreen. They typically don’t want to kill anybody, and their schemes tend to be pretty spectacular. “Heist 88,” a new Showtime release inspired by a real-life Chicago robbery from the year 1988, doesn’t trust viewers to be so accepting, so it spends most of its time underlining the generic reasons that its aggrieved crack team have for taking on the job. It’s a crime film that finds little joy in criminality, crammed with characters who’ve been backed into a corner, hindered by an overarching morality that doesn’t match the material.
Courtney B. Vance leads the feature as Jeremy Horne, an over-the-hill thief about to head back to prison. At a celebration of life for his brother, remembered as a Black community leader, Horne...
Courtney B. Vance leads the feature as Jeremy Horne, an over-the-hill thief about to head back to prison. At a celebration of life for his brother, remembered as a Black community leader, Horne...
- 9/29/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
The Courtney B. Vance-fronted Showtime original film “Heist 88” will debut next month on Paramount+, followed by a premiere on the linear pay cable channel. The story chronicles a master criminal who arranges an $80 million bank job prior to beginning a prison sentence. The film, produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, Bassett Vance Productions and Gunpowder & Sky, will debut on Paramount+ with Showtime beginning Sept. 29. It’ll make its linear debut on Showtime on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 9:00 p.m.
Written by Dwayne Johnson-Cochran and directed by Menhaj Huda, “Heist 88” is inspired by true events. The film features Vance as Jeremy Horne who can convince anyone to do anything. He recruits four bank employees to partake in a mega-bucks heist. Taking place before the advent of modern computerization and cybersecurity, it reunites Vance with Keesha Sharp. She portrayed Dale Cochran in “The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
Written by Dwayne Johnson-Cochran and directed by Menhaj Huda, “Heist 88” is inspired by true events. The film features Vance as Jeremy Horne who can convince anyone to do anything. He recruits four bank employees to partake in a mega-bucks heist. Taking place before the advent of modern computerization and cybersecurity, it reunites Vance with Keesha Sharp. She portrayed Dale Cochran in “The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
- 8/28/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Showtime has an exciting new original movie, and the cast is impressive.
Heist 88 is headlined by two-time Emmy Award-winning actor Courtney B. Vance and produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, Bassett Vance Productions, and Gunpowder & Sky.
Inspired by one of the largest bank robberies in U.S. history, the film will stream exclusively on Paramount+ with Showtime starting on Friday, September 29, and on Showtime on Sunday, October 1 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt.
"Inspired by true events, Heist 88 is the unbelievable story centered on Jeremy Horne (Vance), a criminal mastermind with an innate ability to convince anyone to do just about anything, who decides to pull one last job before going to prison," the cabler's official description teases.
"He recruits four young bank employees to steal close to $80 million dollars in a daring and brazen assault on the U.S. banking system."
"The film takes place in a time before widespread...
Heist 88 is headlined by two-time Emmy Award-winning actor Courtney B. Vance and produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, Bassett Vance Productions, and Gunpowder & Sky.
Inspired by one of the largest bank robberies in U.S. history, the film will stream exclusively on Paramount+ with Showtime starting on Friday, September 29, and on Showtime on Sunday, October 1 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt.
"Inspired by true events, Heist 88 is the unbelievable story centered on Jeremy Horne (Vance), a criminal mastermind with an innate ability to convince anyone to do just about anything, who decides to pull one last job before going to prison," the cabler's official description teases.
"He recruits four young bank employees to steal close to $80 million dollars in a daring and brazen assault on the U.S. banking system."
"The film takes place in a time before widespread...
- 8/28/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
A series of changes have taken place at Showtime. Variety has confirmed the network has canceled “Ziwe” after just two seasons and has picked up Mandy Patinkin’s “Seasoned” to series, delivering a six-episode order.
Hosted and executive produced by comedian Ziwe Fumudoh, the talk show focused on presenting trending hot topics concerning race, politics and other cultural issues as well as musical numbers, interviews, guest stars and comedic sketches. Guests on Season 2 included Drew Barrymore, Rowan Blanchard, Blake Griffin, Emily Ratajkowski and Mia Khalifa, among others. The series first debuted in 2021.
With the loss, that leaves Showtime without a current late night talk show following the cancellation of “Desus & Mero” (which Ziwe also served as a writer on before moving to her own show). The changes come as part of Showtime’s reevaluation of the programming slate after MTV Entertainment Group president and CEO Chris McCarthy stepped in...
Hosted and executive produced by comedian Ziwe Fumudoh, the talk show focused on presenting trending hot topics concerning race, politics and other cultural issues as well as musical numbers, interviews, guest stars and comedic sketches. Guests on Season 2 included Drew Barrymore, Rowan Blanchard, Blake Griffin, Emily Ratajkowski and Mia Khalifa, among others. The series first debuted in 2021.
With the loss, that leaves Showtime without a current late night talk show following the cancellation of “Desus & Mero” (which Ziwe also served as a writer on before moving to her own show). The changes come as part of Showtime’s reevaluation of the programming slate after MTV Entertainment Group president and CEO Chris McCarthy stepped in...
- 4/5/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s film Heist 88, which had been earmarked for Paramount+, will be moving to Showtime, Deadline has learned. Additionally, I hear the network has made decisions on two of its three comedy pilots, handing a six-episode series order to Seasoned, starring Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, and passing on The Wood, based on the 1999 feature film. Showtime also has opted not to renew Ziwe, hosted and executive produced by comedian Ziwe Fumudoh, for a third season.
Paramount Television Studios, which produces The Wood, will be shopping it elsewhere.
Original movies were a staple on Showtime in the 1980s, 90s and 2000s until the network shifted to original series. The network recently returned to the genre after a14-year break with Ray Donovan: The Movie. Heist 88, which stars Vance, falls into one of the three new programming lanes for Showtime recently outlined by Chris McCarthy,...
Paramount Television Studios, which produces The Wood, will be shopping it elsewhere.
Original movies were a staple on Showtime in the 1980s, 90s and 2000s until the network shifted to original series. The network recently returned to the genre after a14-year break with Ray Donovan: The Movie. Heist 88, which stars Vance, falls into one of the three new programming lanes for Showtime recently outlined by Chris McCarthy,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance have renewed the overall deal with MTV Entertainment Studios for their Bassett Vance Productions, and have set Heist 88, starring Vance, as the first feature under the new pact.
Directed by Menhaj Huda (Kidulthood),the film, which is currently shooting in Chicago, reunites two-time Emmy winner Vance with his The People vs Oj Simpson: American Crime Story co-star Keesha Sharp and Bentley Green, who recently starred alongside him in AMC’s 61st Street.
In addition to Vance, Sharp and Green, Keith David, Xavier Clyde, Nican Robinson and Precious Way also star in Heist 88, which is inspired by true events and tells the unbelievable story of one of the largest bank heists ever to occur in the United States.
In the film, written by Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, Vance portrays Jeremy Horne, a criminal mastermind with an innate ability to convince anyone to do just about anything,...
Directed by Menhaj Huda (Kidulthood),the film, which is currently shooting in Chicago, reunites two-time Emmy winner Vance with his The People vs Oj Simpson: American Crime Story co-star Keesha Sharp and Bentley Green, who recently starred alongside him in AMC’s 61st Street.
In addition to Vance, Sharp and Green, Keith David, Xavier Clyde, Nican Robinson and Precious Way also star in Heist 88, which is inspired by true events and tells the unbelievable story of one of the largest bank heists ever to occur in the United States.
In the film, written by Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, Vance portrays Jeremy Horne, a criminal mastermind with an innate ability to convince anyone to do just about anything,...
- 8/25/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: UTA has signed acclaimed director-producer Anthony Hemingway (Genius: Aretha) and his production company Anthony Hemingway Productions for worldwide representation in all areas.
Hemingway is an Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA and NAACP Image Award who has also been recognized with the PGA’s David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television. He most recently directed and executive produced ABC’s reboot of LA Law, as well as the True Lies pilot for CBS. He also recently directed and exec produced Genius: Aretha—the third season of National Geographic’s acclaimed anthology series Genius, starring Cynthia Erivo and Courtney B. Vance.
Hemingway broke out as.a director in the mid-to-late 2000s, while helming a pair of episodes for HBO’s iconic series, The Wire. In the years since, he has gone on to direct episodes of such acclaimed series as Battlestar Galactica, Community, The Closer, Fringe, Once Upon a Time,...
Hemingway is an Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA and NAACP Image Award who has also been recognized with the PGA’s David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television. He most recently directed and executive produced ABC’s reboot of LA Law, as well as the True Lies pilot for CBS. He also recently directed and exec produced Genius: Aretha—the third season of National Geographic’s acclaimed anthology series Genius, starring Cynthia Erivo and Courtney B. Vance.
Hemingway broke out as.a director in the mid-to-late 2000s, while helming a pair of episodes for HBO’s iconic series, The Wire. In the years since, he has gone on to direct episodes of such acclaimed series as Battlestar Galactica, Community, The Closer, Fringe, Once Upon a Time,...
- 4/27/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s Bassett Vance Productions is teaming with MTV Entertainment Studios and writer Nathan Alan Davis on a limited series about the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, Variety has learned exclusively.
News of the series comes just before the 100 year anniversary of the massacre, which left hundreds of Black people dead and entire homes and businesses destroyed. The series tells the story of Greenwood district in Tulsa, which at that time was the wealthiest Black community in the United States and known as “Black Wall Street.” The series is the first project from Bassett Vance Productions as part of the deal made with MTV Entertainment Studios in 2020.
“As storytellers – together with Courtney, Angela and Nathan – we have the privilege of shining a light on a devastating event in our history that is important, necessary and still resonates 100 years later,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content...
News of the series comes just before the 100 year anniversary of the massacre, which left hundreds of Black people dead and entire homes and businesses destroyed. The series tells the story of Greenwood district in Tulsa, which at that time was the wealthiest Black community in the United States and known as “Black Wall Street.” The series is the first project from Bassett Vance Productions as part of the deal made with MTV Entertainment Studios in 2020.
“As storytellers – together with Courtney, Angela and Nathan – we have the privilege of shining a light on a devastating event in our history that is important, necessary and still resonates 100 years later,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content...
- 5/24/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Bassett Vance Productions, the production company formed by Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, has hired Lynnette Ramirez as head of development, Variety has learned exclusively.
Ramirez is tasked with finding and developing diverse stories with a strong emphasis on Bipoc voices in front of and behind the camera for multiple platforms. The first of these projects will be announced in the coming weeks. She will work alongside Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, Bassett Vance Productions’ producing partner. Last fall, Bassett Vance Productions was announced as one of the partnering companies with the ViacomCBS MTV Entertainment Group’s development program for Bipoc and women filmmakers.
“We are thrilled that Lynnette has joined our team,” Bassett and Vance said. “Our goal has always been to tell great stories for all screens. Lynnette brings over 20 years of extensive experience and success in this industry, as well as a passion for inventive, powerful storytelling. With Lynnette leading our development team,...
Ramirez is tasked with finding and developing diverse stories with a strong emphasis on Bipoc voices in front of and behind the camera for multiple platforms. The first of these projects will be announced in the coming weeks. She will work alongside Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, Bassett Vance Productions’ producing partner. Last fall, Bassett Vance Productions was announced as one of the partnering companies with the ViacomCBS MTV Entertainment Group’s development program for Bipoc and women filmmakers.
“We are thrilled that Lynnette has joined our team,” Bassett and Vance said. “Our goal has always been to tell great stories for all screens. Lynnette brings over 20 years of extensive experience and success in this industry, as well as a passion for inventive, powerful storytelling. With Lynnette leading our development team,...
- 4/29/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
FX has handed “Heist 88” a script development deal. The potential series will be executive produced by and is set to star “American Crime Story” Season 1 alum Courtney B. Vance. Here’s the logline: Set in 1988, “Heist 88” tells the true story of arch-criminal and master manipulator Armand Moore (Vance) who persuaded four young, African-American employees of First National Bank of Chicago to steal $70 million via a sophisticated takedown of the banking wire system. Do you get how they came up with the title? Also Read: Louis Ck Dropped by FX After His Apology for Sexual Harassment Dwayne Johnson-Cochran will write and executive.
- 11/27/2017
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story star Courtney B. Vance and director Anthony Hemingway are back at FX, teaming with writer Dwayne Johnson-Cochran for drama Heist 88. Vance is set to star in the project, now in development, which is based on the true story of convicted swindler Armand Moore. Written by Johnson-Cochran, with former CSI: NY showrunner Pam Veasey executive producing, the 1988-set Heist 88 tells the true story of arch-criminal and master...
- 11/27/2017
- Deadline TV
"White Water," the period dramedy starring Sharon Leal and Larenz Tate, directed by Rusty Cundieff, and produced by Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, made TV One ratings history. The original TV movie, which premiered on the network last Saturday, was the most watched TV One original movie premiere for the network since November 2011. It was also, according the network, the No. 1 TV One movie telecast among Total Adults, 25-54, and the second most watched TV One program so far this year, behind the No. 1 most watched show, the NAACP Image Awards. On the social media scale, "White Water" ranked #5 in Nielsen Social’s Daily Top 5 ranking for Saturday Feb. 7Th ...
- 2/12/2015
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Van Cliburn
Ansel Elgort ("Fault in our Stars," "Carrie") has signed to play the title role in the biopic "Van Cliburn" for Temple Hill and Crystal Entertainment. Ari Daniel Pinchot, Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen will produce.
Van Cliburn was a 23-year-old lanky pianist from Texas who emerged from out of nowhere to win the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958. It was the first time the tournament was held, and was organized by the Ussr in an effort by Kruschev to lord Soviet superiority over the Us during the height of the cold war. [Source: Deadline]
Brilliance
Talks between Jared Leto and Legendary Pictures for the "Dallas Buyers Club" star to take over from Will Smith in Julius Onah's "Brilliance" have reportedly broken down. Leto, who met with Onah last Monday, reportedly turned down the role last week and puts him back in the running for Marvel's "Doctor Strange...
Ansel Elgort ("Fault in our Stars," "Carrie") has signed to play the title role in the biopic "Van Cliburn" for Temple Hill and Crystal Entertainment. Ari Daniel Pinchot, Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen will produce.
Van Cliburn was a 23-year-old lanky pianist from Texas who emerged from out of nowhere to win the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958. It was the first time the tournament was held, and was organized by the Ussr in an effort by Kruschev to lord Soviet superiority over the Us during the height of the cold war. [Source: Deadline]
Brilliance
Talks between Jared Leto and Legendary Pictures for the "Dallas Buyers Club" star to take over from Will Smith in Julius Onah's "Brilliance" have reportedly broken down. Leto, who met with Onah last Monday, reportedly turned down the role last week and puts him back in the running for Marvel's "Doctor Strange...
- 6/23/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Dwayne Johnson-Cochran is attached to direct Shirley MacLaine and possibly William Hurt (he's interested but nothing official has been announced yet) in the upcoming adaptation of a novel titled Men Of Granite by author Dan Manoyan. The book tells the story of a group of immigrant kids who were Hungarian, Armenian, Yugoslavian, and Macedonian growing up in Granite City, Illinois, who went on to become the 1940 state basketball champions. A teacher, Sophie Prather saw something in the struggling kids and introduced them to the Recreation Center where they began to play basketball together. But as the town was divided economically and socially, it was seemingly...
- 6/2/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
The acting dynamo couple of Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance have jointly come on board as executive producers on filmmaker and screenwriter Dwayne Johnson-Cochran’s riveting documentary Be Known: The Mystery of Kahil El’Zabar, about the legendary avant garde jazz musician.The film, which was recently screened at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago back in January, and at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, will have another sneak preview again in Chicago at the DuSable Museum on Saturday May 10, 2014 at 7Pm.Co produced and edited by Christopher Scott Cherot (Hav Plenty, G, Mooz-Lum), the film chronicles the day-by-day, gig–to-gig struggle and harried life of a...
- 5/1/2014
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Filmmaker and screenwriter Dwayne Johnson-Cochran’s new and acclaimed documentary film about avant garde jazz musician Kahil El’Zabar, titled Be Known, will be screened at the 8th annual Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers – West, which takes place at the American Film Institute facilities in Los Angeles on Saturday April 12th.Showing along with Roger Ross Williams’ God Loves Uganda and D. Channsin Berry’s The Black Line (Profile of the African-American Woman), Be Known is a “warts and all” exploration of the life and career of a truly original artist who has been "modern jazz's kept secret” for decades. Unique and totally someone who moves to the beat of...
- 3/27/2014
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Among modern jazz enthusiasts, Kahil El’Zabar is known as jazz music’s “best kept secret.” Unique and totally someone who moves to the beat of different drummer, El’Zabar is world renowned as a true innovator, a teacher and one of the truly original voices and presences in jazz music and has been for decades.However he’s also human. In fact, rather too human, and who leads… how say we say... a rather complicated and messy life off the stage. Now filmmaker and screenwriter Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, who is a long time boyhood friend of El’Zabar, has made a remarkable, penetrating “warts and all” documentary of the jazz great called Be Known.Not only is the film a...
- 1/15/2014
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Among modern jazz enthusiasts, Kahil El’Zabar is known as jazz music’s “best kept secret.” Unique and totally someone who moves to the beat of different drummer, El’Zabar is world renowned as a true innovator, a teacher and one of the truly original voices and presences in jazz music and has been for decades.However he’s also human. In fact, rather too human, and who leads… how say we say... a rather complicated and messy life off the stage. Now filmmaker and screenwriter Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, who is a long time boyhood friend of El’Zabar, has made a remarkable, penetrating “warts and all” documentary of the jazz great called Be Known.Not only is the film a...
- 12/3/2013
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Regina King will star and co-direct/produce the documentary The Story of A Village, alonside L.A. writer/director/journalist Dwayne Johnson-Cochran (not to be confused by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson). In this March interview, King revealed details about the doc, which follows Tiffany Persons, who traced King's maternal DNA roots back to Sierra Leone, as Persons goes to Sierra Leone to repair a school in a village. Regina said: It’s about a woman named Tiffany Persons who is a friend of mine that I’ve know for years. About five years ago she traced my mother’s side of DNA, and it went back to West Africa. Specifically, Sierra Leone, Senegal,...
- 6/4/2012
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
If you’ve been reading this site long enough, you may recall that Angela Bassett will be making her directorial debut, with a film called United States, previously titled Erasure – an adaptation of the popular novel of the same name by Percival Everett.
I checked in not-so long ago with the screenwriter (Dwayne Johnson-Cochran) who’s adapting the book into screenplay format and he told me that there really wasn’t anything new to report on it, and that I should reach out to him again after a few months, which I most certainly will.
Angela’s been busy lately, with Green Lantern, Jumping The Broom, and the upcoming ABC TV drama she’ll be starring in as New York City’s first female commissioner, and other projects I’m probably not mentioning; so, who knows if United States/Erasure will ever be realized.
But what does all this have to do with Precious,...
I checked in not-so long ago with the screenwriter (Dwayne Johnson-Cochran) who’s adapting the book into screenplay format and he told me that there really wasn’t anything new to report on it, and that I should reach out to him again after a few months, which I most certainly will.
Angela’s been busy lately, with Green Lantern, Jumping The Broom, and the upcoming ABC TV drama she’ll be starring in as New York City’s first female commissioner, and other projects I’m probably not mentioning; so, who knows if United States/Erasure will ever be realized.
But what does all this have to do with Precious,...
- 2/26/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Update: I’ll repost this as new titles are added to the list…
Compared to recent years, 2011 is shaping up to be one of the better years for black cinema, or blacks in cinema, in terms of both volume and variety.
With For Colored Girls now mostly behind us, I’d like to look ahead to what we can expect to see in theaters in 2011.
I did a bit of research, and these are the titles I came up with, all (or most) of which I expect we will see in 2011. Feel free to add any you know of that I didn’t include. I should note that I’m only counting films in which the characters that black actors play are central to the film’s plot, or films directed by black filmmakers, regardless of whether the cast is comprised of black actors or not.
First, on the indie front,...
Compared to recent years, 2011 is shaping up to be one of the better years for black cinema, or blacks in cinema, in terms of both volume and variety.
With For Colored Girls now mostly behind us, I’d like to look ahead to what we can expect to see in theaters in 2011.
I did a bit of research, and these are the titles I came up with, all (or most) of which I expect we will see in 2011. Feel free to add any you know of that I didn’t include. I should note that I’m only counting films in which the characters that black actors play are central to the film’s plot, or films directed by black filmmakers, regardless of whether the cast is comprised of black actors or not.
First, on the indie front,...
- 2/23/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
We haven’t heard much on this project since it was first covered on this blog last November (see my Dishing On “United States,” Angela Bassett’s “Precious” Critique post, to catch up on all the fine details if necessary).
I think a lot of us have been curious about it for a number of reasons – first that it’s Angela Bassett’s debut attempt behind the camera; second that it’s based on a book (Erasure by Percival Everett), which was believed to be a critique of Sapphire’s Push, which was adapted to film as Precious by Lee Daniels, and, of course, we all know how that film performed; and third, as I noted in my original post on the project, that just as connections were made between Push and Erasure, might similar links be made between the two films – Precious and United States, when the latter is released…...
I think a lot of us have been curious about it for a number of reasons – first that it’s Angela Bassett’s debut attempt behind the camera; second that it’s based on a book (Erasure by Percival Everett), which was believed to be a critique of Sapphire’s Push, which was adapted to film as Precious by Lee Daniels, and, of course, we all know how that film performed; and third, as I noted in my original post on the project, that just as connections were made between Push and Erasure, might similar links be made between the two films – Precious and United States, when the latter is released…...
- 4/8/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Angela Bassett has joined the cast of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Green Lantern" as Dr. Amanda Waller, a government agent. She joins Ryan Reynolds, Peter Sarsgaard and Mark Strong. Shooting recently started in New Orleans. Donald De Line produces the Martin Campbell-helmed film from the screenplay by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green. Berlanti also serves as a producer. Basett is set to make her feature directorial debut on "United States" which is based on the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett. Dwayne Johnson-Cochran adapts the screenplay for Bassett Vance Productions.
- 3/25/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Angela Bassett will make her directorial debut on "United States," an adaptation of the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett. Dwayne Johnson-Cochran is writing the screenplay and the story focuses on Monk Ellison, a prominent black writer who writes a fake autobiography from the perspective of a hoodlum who is barely literate. When the book looks to becoming a possible contender for the National Book Award, he's left to choose between telling the truth or being famous. This marks the first production for Bassett and husband Courtney B. Vance's production company Bassett/Vance. Bassett has had seventeen episodes of TV's acclaimed "ER" series. Her last film was Fox Searchlight Pictures' "Notorious." ...
- 3/3/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Angela Bassett will make her directorial debut on "United States," an adaptation of the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett. Dwayne Johnson-Cochran is writing the screenplay and the story focuses on Monk Ellison, a prominent black writer who writes a fake autobiography from the perspective of a hoodlum who is barely literate. When the book looks to becoming a possible contender for the National Book Award, he's left to choose between telling the truth or being famous. This marks the first production for Bassett...
- 3/3/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Angela Bassett will make her directorial debut on "United States," an adaptation of the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett. Dwayne Johnson-Cochran is writing the screenplay and the story focuses on Monk Ellison, a prominent black writer who writes a fake autobiography from the perspective of a hoodlum who is barely literate. When the book looks to becoming a possible contender for the National Book Award, he's left to choose between telling the truth or being famous. This marks the first production for Bassett...
- 3/3/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
As "ER" winds down, Angela Bassett already is lining up her next gig, one that will see her behind the camera.
The actress will make her directorial debut with "United States," an indie feature she will also produce with her Bassett/ Vance Prods. partner and husband Courtney B. Vance.
"States," based on the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett, is a dramatic comedy about Monk Ellison, a prominent black literary figure who writes a faux autobiography from the perspective of a barely literate hoodlum to decry what is wrong with the glorification of "ghetto" culture. But when the book is lauded as a possible contender for the National Book Award, he must choose between pride and fame.
Dwayne Johnson-Cochran wrote the adaptation, which is being eyed for a summer start.
"States" will be the first project produced by Bassett/Vance.
Featurewise, Bassett, repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment, recently appeared in...
The actress will make her directorial debut with "United States," an indie feature she will also produce with her Bassett/ Vance Prods. partner and husband Courtney B. Vance.
"States," based on the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett, is a dramatic comedy about Monk Ellison, a prominent black literary figure who writes a faux autobiography from the perspective of a barely literate hoodlum to decry what is wrong with the glorification of "ghetto" culture. But when the book is lauded as a possible contender for the National Book Award, he must choose between pride and fame.
Dwayne Johnson-Cochran wrote the adaptation, which is being eyed for a summer start.
"States" will be the first project produced by Bassett/Vance.
Featurewise, Bassett, repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment, recently appeared in...
- 3/2/2009
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Courtney B. Vance and Jack Davenport are the first actors cast in ABC's hot drama pilot "Flash Forward," which is rumored as a potential companion to "Lost."
"Flash Forward," from David S. Goyer, Brannon Braga and ABC Studios, is based on Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel and chronicles the chaos that ensues after everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and has a mysterious vision of the future that changes lives forever.
Vance will play Stan Wedeck, the Los Angeles bureau chief of the FBI.
Davenport will play Lloyd Simcoe, who is trapped in Northern California when the event occurs and struggles to reach his son in a Southland hospital.
"Flash Forward," which has a pilot order with a series penalty behind it, will be directed by Goyer. He is executive producing with Braga, Jessika Borsiczky Goyer, Vince Gerardis and Ralph M. Vicinanza.
For six seasons, Vance...
"Flash Forward," from David S. Goyer, Brannon Braga and ABC Studios, is based on Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel and chronicles the chaos that ensues after everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and has a mysterious vision of the future that changes lives forever.
Vance will play Stan Wedeck, the Los Angeles bureau chief of the FBI.
Davenport will play Lloyd Simcoe, who is trapped in Northern California when the event occurs and struggles to reach his son in a Southland hospital.
"Flash Forward," which has a pilot order with a series penalty behind it, will be directed by Goyer. He is executive producing with Braga, Jessika Borsiczky Goyer, Vince Gerardis and Ralph M. Vicinanza.
For six seasons, Vance...
- 12/2/2008
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A total of 19 candidates are vying for eight seats on the WGA West's board of directors.
To introduce the candidates to members, the Wgaw will host a "Candidates Night" town hall forum Sept. 3 at the guild's headquarters in Los Angeles.
Members will receive a ballot package that will include candidate statements, rebuttals and the ballot.
Ballots can be mailed in or cast at the Wgaw's annual membership meeting Sept. 22 and will be counted Sept. 23.
The candidates include five incumbants: Aaron Mendelsohn, Mark Gunn, David A. Goodman, John F. Bowman and Kathy Kiernan. The remaining candidates are: Howard Michael Gould, Tim Day, Timothy J. Lea, Bernard Lechowick, Aaron Solomon, Mick Betancourt, Karen Harris, Kat Smith, Howard Kuperberg, Kevin Droney, Ashley Gable, Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, Katherine Fugate and Luvh Rakhe.
To introduce the candidates to members, the Wgaw will host a "Candidates Night" town hall forum Sept. 3 at the guild's headquarters in Los Angeles.
Members will receive a ballot package that will include candidate statements, rebuttals and the ballot.
Ballots can be mailed in or cast at the Wgaw's annual membership meeting Sept. 22 and will be counted Sept. 23.
The candidates include five incumbants: Aaron Mendelsohn, Mark Gunn, David A. Goodman, John F. Bowman and Kathy Kiernan. The remaining candidates are: Howard Michael Gould, Tim Day, Timothy J. Lea, Bernard Lechowick, Aaron Solomon, Mick Betancourt, Karen Harris, Kat Smith, Howard Kuperberg, Kevin Droney, Ashley Gable, Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, Katherine Fugate and Luvh Rakhe.
- 7/23/2008
- by By Leslie Simmons
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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