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Social Media Scoops: EMPIRE Season 3

By  at August 31, 2016  ,  No comments
If you want the scoop on Empire Season 3 (premiering September 21 at 9/8 Central on FOX), you need to follow the right people on social media.

The legendary (and youthful) Mario Van Peebles has been in Chicago for the past 2 weeks to direct a future episode of "Empire". 


 He shared pics of new cast member Taye Diggs with Taraji P. Henson, as well as group selfies with Jussie Smollett and Bryshere "Yazz" Gray. 



In addition to that, he had some fun with extras (in the video posted below). 
A video posted by Mario Van Peebles (@mario.van.peebles) on

Hopefully, Season 3 will be better than Season 2.

Fox executives must focus on the STORY and not demographics.  The demographics will come if the story is good. There's no need to create a cheesy season full of episodes catering and pandering to people of color.

#BlackMusicMatters | Kindred The Family Soul's "Legacy of Love"

By  at August 05, 2016  ,  No comments

For the past 2 days, Kindred The Family Soul has provided Chicago with musical relief. As the city copes with civil unrest and teacher layoffs, there have been soothing sounds coming from The Promontory in Hyde Park-- courtesy of the aforementioned singing duo. The Philadelphia-based group is here to promote their latest project, "Legacy of Love". (A project that I have already pre-ordered.)


The new project's lead single, "All My People", has powerful lyrics which are very timely and relevant. It's a song about togetherness and unity in a time where people are disagreeing about #BlackLivesMatter and how people should #StayWoke. 

For the sake of peace, Kindred's vocalists Fatin and Aja use their music to help listeners focus on the big picture: "One Love". 



"Legacy of Love" will be released on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. It is available on The Kulture Shop, iTunes, Google Play, and other digital outlets. 


[FTC Disclosure: I wrote this blog on my own without any compensation.]

From Actor To Journalist, Tom Jay Jones Stays Current

By  at July 22, 2016    1 comment
For Cleveland native Tom Jay Jones, "all jobs matter". Since 1995, he has been active in the Los Angeles as an actor, volunteer, and fitness coach. 

 Recently, Jones added a new job to his employment repertoire: independent journalist. A few years ago, he hosted entertainment segments for various production companies. Now, the ball is in his court. 

He's currently working on news segments about police brutality and community activism.

Check out his report below:



Ronald "Kwesi" Harris, Renowned College Advisor, Dies At 56

By  at June 18, 2016  ,  2 comments
UPDATE: 
Visitation will be Friday, June 24, 2016 at Leak & Sons Funeral Home (18400 S. Pulaski, Country Club Hills, IL) 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

A public memorial will be held Saturday, June 25, 2016 at the Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center on the campus of Chicago State University. 

You may enter at 95th and St. Lawrence or 99th and King Drive. 

10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. (Early arrival is encouraged) 

Source: The Family's Official Page 
   
He was committed to creating new opportunities for black males on Chicago's South Side.

Ronald "Kwesi" Harris, 56, director of the African-American Male Resource Center at Chicago State University, passed away after a battle with cancer. Known as "Baba Kwesi" to his students, family, and friends, the energetic Harris worked tirelessly to improve academic possibilities for countless men of color. 

Born and raised in Chicago, Harris became a successful product of the public school system. He graduated from Simeon Vocational High School in 1977 and completed a Bachelor's degree program at Central State University in 1981. 



(Ronald "Kwesi" Harris speaks to 2CN (now Big Zack TV) in 2011)

Ayesha Jaco, Lupe Fiasco, and Ronald Kwesi Harris


Baba Kwesi's work attracted the attention of big names in entertainment-- including rapper Lupe Fiasco and TV actor John Marshall Jones ("Smart Guy"). In fact, Lupe Fiasco dedicated song lyrics of "Mission" to Baba Kwesi in 2014.
  
For this writer, "Baba Kwesi" was an influential source of encouragement. He invited me to film news segments when the university still preferred larger media outlets to film on campus. He would compare my media outlet to "CNN" because he supported young men who dreamed. 

 What consoles me is that Baba Kwesi changed the world. He fought to turn his institution into "The Chicago State University". Because of his works, black men with the greatest challenges were able to able to achieve great triumphs. 

Baba Kwesi will be missed. However, his work continues. He planted a seed in so many of his supporters that will grow into fruits of his legacy. 

Rest well. 





Overlooked Actors, Vol 1: The Cool Guys

By  at June 14, 2016  ,  1 comment
If you're tired of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Steve Harvey starring in every movie or TV show-- you are not alone. There are thousands of overlooked, under appreciated actors who deserve an international spotlight. Unfortunately, the entertainment business has a Catch-22: you need experience to get work but you can't find work without previous experience. 

Thankfully, I have noticed a few men who found a way around the Catch 22 by creating their own opportunities.

(Don't worry, ladies. I will profile my favorite female actors in the next post.) 


JAS ANDERSON
(Follow him on Facebook) 


Check out his demo reel:




Anderson is one of my favorite "overlooked" actors. I enjoyed his work on the hit web series, "For Colored Boys". From there, he has landed roles on "Law & Order: SVU" , and "Blue Bloods". 
While I dislike seeing him play characters who are always thugs, prisoners, or rappers, I admire his tenacity and stage presence. He delivers great monologues and will eventually land an award-winning role one day. 

SHAUN VAN PRUDE
(Follow him on Facebook)

As a product of the U.S. Military, Shaun Van Prude embodies strong values that can help him in other fields-- including acting. 

Prude is a versatile actor who can play a variety of roles and works well with directors. Yet, Prude faces the same challenge as Anderson above: the temptation of giving in to "typecasting". Due to his height (6'4) and inner-city background, some casting directors might see him only as a detective or an athlete.  
Fortunately, he knows how to produce his own YouTube videos and creates his own images.  

Check out this monologue that I wrote for him:  



MICHAEL MAPONGA
(Follow him on Facebook) 







Michael Maponga is putting his own twist on "The American Dream". He was born in Zimbabwe but grew up in Texas. Now, he is trying to bring the best of both worlds together to reach large audiences. 

Maponga's work ethic is incredible. In addition to acting, he is an entrepreneur. His current project, AfroLandTV, is expected to be a Netflix-type entertainment source. 

 Check out his comedy audition tape below: 


 




Stay tuned for Overlooked Actors, Vol 2: Wonderful Women -- a profile of some amazing female actresses.

Fantasy Casting | "The Good Times Movie"

By  at January 18, 2016  ,  No comments
For years, the concept of a "Good Times" movie was been floating around.

 Recently, I have been wondering about who would play the Evans family in the film. If I could cast the film, the following actors would be chosen:

Uzo Aduba as "Florida Evans"



Uzo is hot right now. From "Orange Is The New Black" to "The Wiz: Live", the 34-year-old powerhouse has the dramatic range to pull off this role.

Lamonica Garrett as "James Evans"



Currently, Lamonica is the "boyfriend" of Hollywood. He's played the role in "black-ish" and "Mr. Robinson" and he needs an upgrade. As soon as I saw him, I immediately thought of James Evans.

In my movie version, I would imagine the alternative: James returns from Mississippi and surprises his family who thought he was dead. 

Marcus Scribner as "Michael Evans"



Marcus is already 5'11 but he could still pull off Michael Evans. 

Drew Sidora as "Thelma Evans" 



Drew's in her 30s but she's youthful enough to pull of this role. Plus, she is gorgeous. 

Jerrod Carmichael as "JJ Evans"

Jerrod would definitely be "Dyno-mite" in this role. He's funny and likable on the screen. 

The "Carmichael Show" star has the comedic timing and confidence to get the job done. 

Who are your picks?

Yazz: Erica Campbell's Surprise Guest At Celebration of Gospel 2016?

By  at January 12, 2016  ,  No comments

Gospel superstar Erica Campbell ("Mary Mary") is promising a surprise guest to join for her as she performs the hit song, "I Luh God" at BET's Celebration of Gospel 2016.

 My guess is that Yazz The Greatest ("Empire") is the special guest. In the teaser interview, Erica states that her guest is "on a show that everybody likes." In addition to that, I figured out that it could be him due to the seating charts posted on BET's website.

 We'll find out if I was right on January 31 at 8 PM/7 PM Central when "Celebration of Gospel" airs. 

 The popular show is hosted by Yazz's TV mom, Taraji P. Henson.

The "Upfront" Truth About Ad Sales (Big Zack TV Preview)

By  at November 16, 2015  , ,  No comments
As my mentor says often, the real purpose of television is to sell advertising. I learned that lesson when I worked as a P.A. in ad sales at a major TV network. Three years after being laid off, I still see the real "truth in advertising" and why most networks profit off stereotypes. 

In my new TV series, "The Upfronts", I plan to chronicle the misadventures of an African-American ad sales executive who tries to influence better programming-- with disappointing but hilarious results. The show's protagonist, Damien Hartford, is a newly promoted VP of ad sales who gets tired of selling spots on terrible shows. To achieve this goal, he forms an undercover relationship with the VP of Programming-- an African-American woman-- who has no problems with the station's current strategy.

Will Damien succeed? Find out in January 2016 when "The Upfronts" premieres on YouTube and Vimeo. 

Devin S. James "Sells His Soul" (In Book Format)

By  at October 26, 2015  , ,  No comments
Devin Sean James has moved on-- figuratively and literally. 

 Last year, he was known as the spokesperson for Ferguson, Missouri, with a dark secret; now, he shares secrets to success via LinkedIn and his new website.

His latest post, "Tradeshow Tips Part 1- Reasons Why Your Booth Ain't Poppin'", gives tips to convention and trade show representatives who find themselves people watching instead of networking.  

Mr. James' latest project, Inside Ferguson: A Voice For The Voiceless, is an exclusive account to what he witnessed during his time in the embattled Midwestern town.  For this 33-year-old father of two, it is important to shed light on the injustices that millions of Americans face everyday. 

With all of his knowledge, Mr. James could become a teacher or a politician. 

Stay tuned..



Eat Like Fitness Guru Dolvett Quince!

By  at October 17, 2015  , ,  No comments

Dolvett Quince has "the juice". 

The popular fitness expert has trained celebrities like Boris Kodjoe and everyday people on NBC's "The Biggest Loser".

Now, he's sharing some tips on eating healthy while you pursue your work out goals.

We're not sure of his exact age but he should be in his early 40s-- given the age of his son, Isiah. 

Whatever the case may be, he's someone you should and try to emulate in your eating habits.



Time For A U-Turn: Where "Empire" Went Wrong

By  at October 14, 2015  ,  4 comments
The thrill is gone.

 Inflated TV ratings aside, Empire fans are not showing love for the Lyon family like they did last season.

In fact, that's where the show went wrong: the "plot twist" of Lucious revealing that he didn't have ALS. From there, the show has been transforming into a cheap gospel stage play. (Cookie is now Karen Clark Sheard; Lucious is Sinbad; and Jamal is one of Steve Harvey's children.) 

All in all, the characters' road map is leading the show down the road to cancellation.  

What Can The Writers Do?
* Beg Fox Executives To Ditch Demographics And Pursue Stories
Fox executives are busy trying to cater to a multicultural audience instead of tell good stories. I don't watch "Empire" for the diversity; I watch "Empire" for the story of an American family which happens to be diverse.

The celebrity cameos are distracting and the storyline seems disjointed. We are 4 episodes into Season 2 and they are just getting around to Vernon's disappearance? Did Tyler Perry join the writing staff?

*Lay Back On The Flashbacks 
Too much backstory is not a good story.  Writers tend to go off on a tangent instead of dealing with the issues at hand. I don't need to know the family history of mental illness to understand Lucious and Andre's relationship.

 Less is more. 

 *Be Humble
Arrogance caused the writing team to lose its mojo. You are only as good as your last show. The writers need to go back to basics and outline a great story. Now, it seems as if they are writing anything to pander to viewers with low intelligence.

 Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to entertain people these days. That's why the writers probably won't change.

 

Looking For Work In Chicago? Try These Places

By  at September 30, 2015  , , ,  No comments
Contrary to popular belief, you can make it in Chicago! 

 The job market is fine; job seekers are looking for work in all the wrong places.

 If you want to find quick employment, try the following options.

 CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW STAFFING

Staffing agencies that specialize with conventions and trade shows are the best bets for people looking to secure relatively easy work and solid pay within 3 weeks of sending resumes.
(Some exceptions may apply.) 

 Summer is very slow but the fall, spring, and winter are great times to find consistent work. 

 Chicago's minimum wage is 10.00/hr for 2015 and will increase in increments until 2019 when it will be 13.00/hr.

* Convention Connection (Website)

Kate Zeitvogel, Director of Sales & Staffing
- Technology, Education, Retail focused shows
(Occasional medical shows)
- Wardrobe: White shirt, Black jacket and pants
Locations: Hyatt, Swissotel, Sheraton, McCormick Place

*Action Figures-Chicago (Website)

Lori Jaffe, Manager
- Medical and Government focused shows
- Wardrobe: Blue shirt, Black jacket and pants 
Locations: McCormick Place

*ShiftGig (Website)
Eddie Lou, CEO 
- Bartenders, servers, brand ambassadors 
Locations: Various 


EXTRAS CASTING

Chicago's TV and film industry is getting stronger every year. Extras can find work quickly without little hassle.
The only items to remember are: 1) Be ON TIME; 2) Bring 3 changes of clothes; 3) Bring 2 forms of ID; and 4) Be patient

 Anthony White Casting
*Independent films and TV shows
("Southside With You", "The Blexicans") 

 Joan Philo Casting
("Chicago Med"/ "Chicago Fire")


Tail Sticks Casting
("Chicago PD) 

 (Google these places or find them on Facebook) 

 Extras casting pays about 80 dollars for 8 hours with time and a half. You can get a pay bump for wardrobe fittings, vehicle uses (25 dollars) and a higher pay grade if you are a stand-in. (Stand-ins are test dummies to help light the scene for actors with similar physical features). 

 Stand-ins get about 140 a day. But you have to pray that you look like the actor who needs one. It's like playing the lottery.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Native Chicagoans can try Uber as well. I have a few friends who are making big bucks from Uber. 

Just steer clear of places like ATN (Across The Nation) Promotions. They offer high paying jobs but take almost 2 months to pay for certain gigs. 


Dear Periscope Users: Strategize, Then Monetize!

By  at September 02, 2015  , ,  No comments
Before you start that Periscope account, please read this blog carefully!

Periscope is the latest live streaming video phenomenon. The sleek design and pop-up style chat makes it a great way to interact with current friends and make new ones. In addition to that, the app can help content creators generate buzz and monetize their brands.

Unfortunately, the average Periscope user is trying to generate attention with pointless streams. Instead of using the app to create amazing contents, most folks stream stupid stuff like picking out outfits, getting ready for bed, and criminal plots. (Yes, two idiots streamed their plans to commit crimes!) 

If you want to make money from Periscope, try the following tactics:

*Plan Your Broadcasts
It appears to be an obvious statement but very few appear to grasp this concept! 

If you must do something spur of the moment, turn your Twitter rants into a video discussion. 

*Engage With Your Audience
Don't just read the comments; use the comments to improve what you do.  

After each broadcast, stay in touch with your viewers and create customized content for their liking. When you build a following, you can merchandise your content (like the Hell To Naw video) or plan meetups at your local coffee shop. 

Big Zack TV will be using Periscope soon to create an amazing event that will get media buzz!

Stay tuned! 

*Keep It Clean
You can partner with businesses by presenting content they can post for a large audience. Try not to use vulgar language if you can help it. You can be funny without cursing.