Gail Choice
OW Contributor

Gail Choice is the creator of the upcoming television series "Hollywood by Choice." Choice is an independent film/ television producer and entertainment columnist.

Mar 8 2012

Hollywood by Choice

Every now and then someone submits a story to me that I feel compelled to share with the Our Weekly readership. This particular story involves the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) and filmmaker Julie Dash.

Mar 1 2012

Hollywood by Choice

Actress Octavia Spencer walked away with the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 84th annual Academy Awards Show Sunday. Spencer’s character Minny Jackson in “The Help” aptly displayed her comedic as well as dramatic abilities and demonstrated how grounded an actress she is. Her grace and beauty warmed the audience and her sincere words touched the hearts of many. Spencer is the fifth Black actress to win in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Feb 23 2012

Hollywood by Choice

Hats off to the recently departed 2012 Pan African Film Festival. 

To the community’s delight, the film festival and art show returned to our own backyard at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, and the adjoining theater now known as The Rave Cinemas. 

The festival, often referred to simply as PAFF, continues to showcase great feature-length films, such as Steve Harvey’s “Think Like a Man,” scripted from his best-selling book, which kicked off the festival. 

Feb 9 2012

PAFF institute, fashion show, children's festival planned

The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) celebrates its 20th anniversary starting this evening with the opening-night gala and screening of the Los Angeles premiere of “Think Like a Man.”
Based on the New York Times best-selling book by television-and-radio host and comic, Steve Harvey. The ensemble cast includes Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union and Chris Brown.

Feb 2 2012

Hollywood by Choice

Cymphonique might not be a household name right now, but give her time; she’s got the makings of a superstar.

Sixteen-year-old Cymphonique Miller is the daughter of businessman, music mogul and philanthropist Percy Miller and sister of Romeo Miller. But she didn’t use her connections to get the starring role on Nickelodeon’s new live-action comedy series “How to Rock.”

She decided not to tell the producers during her audition who she was related to, opting to trust in her own skills as a singer, dancer and actress.

Jan 26 2012

Hollywood by Choice

The 2012 Academy Award Nominations were announced Tuesday and as hoped for and expected, both Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were nominated for the coveted award.

Here’s how it stands; in the category of Best Actress: Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”; Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”; Viola Davis, “The Help”; Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”; and Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn.”

Across Black America

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

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”