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Tag: Spike Lee

  • In Oscar-Nominated Documentary ‘The Perfect Neighbor,’ Police Catch—But Never Stop—a Killer

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    When Ajike Owens was alive, she dreamed of becoming a famous entrepreneur. “You laugh at me,” she’d tell her mother, Pam Dias, “but one day the whole world’s going to know my name.” Years later, filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir thought about Owens’s avowal while sifting through the 30-plus hours of police body-camera footage and audio recordings that make up The Perfect Neighbor, her Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary about the two years leading up to Owens’s killing.

    The documentary tells the story of Susan Lorincz, who regularly called police to the otherwise tight-knit Florida community where Owens was raising her four children to complain about neighborhood kids playing near her rented property. On June 2, 2023, Lorincz rang authorities over a dispute involving Owens’s children, roller skates, and a missing iPad. Minutes later, the white 58-year-old Lorincz fatally shot her Black neighbor, 35-year-old Owens, through her closed front door.

    Susan Lorincz tells her side of a neighborhood dispute, as captured in police body-cam footage that fuels much of The Perfect Neighbor.Courtesy of Netflix

    As the case against Lorincz was coming together, attorneys for Owens’s family gained access to hours of police body-camera footage through the Freedom of Information Act. Reviewing it alongside her producing partner and husband, Nikon Kwantu (whose cousin was Owens’s best friend, Kimberly Robinson-Jones), Gandbhir said it “reminded us of films like The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity. The community had lived a real-life horror film. So we wanted to create something that placed you in the community.” To raise both media awareness around Owens’s killing and money for the family, Gandbhir and her editor, Viridiana Lieberman, made a film in which cops inadvertently serve as cinematographers.

    Image may contain Adult Person Face Head Photography Portrait Senior Citizen and Hair

    Geeta Gandbhir is a double Oscar nominee for The Perfect Neighbor (best documentary feature) and The Devil Is Busy (best documentary short).Bryan Derballa/Getty Images

    Some have argued that watching a film told largely through the very same system that failed Owens could make viewers identify too closely with law enforcement. “We were really not that concerned with the perspective of the police. They were just the vehicle to showcase this community as they were. When the police come into communities of color, surveillance can be used to criminalize,” Gandbhir tells Vanity Fair in response. “We wanted it to humanize.”

    She doubles down on the belief that “our society essentially failed this community. [The police] didn’t see them as worth protecting. Susan was able to weaponize her race and privilege. And by not realizing she was a danger to the community and probably herself, her life is ruined too,” Gandbhir continues. “She’s ostensibly spending the rest of her life in jail. And as an abolitionist at heart, I really wish that on no one.”

    Lorincz attempted to utilize Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law as a defense, arguing that she was legally allowed to use deadly force because she feared for her life when Owens banged on her door demanding to speak after her son said Lorincz threw a pair of skates at him. This was also the successful legal tactic of Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, who was acquitted in 2013. In 2024, Lorincz was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison. She has appealed her conviction.

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    Savannah Walsh

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  • Pope Leo XIV celebrates cinema with Hollywood stars and urges inclusion of marginal voices

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    VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV welcomed Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, Greta Gerwig and dozens of other Hollywood luminaries to a special Vatican audience Saturday celebrating cinema and its ability to inspire and unite.

    Leo encouraged the filmmakers and celebrities gathered in a frescoed Vatican audience hall to use their art to include marginal voices, calling film “a popular art in the noblest sense, intended for and accessible to all.”

    “When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges,” he told the stars. “It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we didn’t know we needed to shed.”

    The encounter, organized by the Vatican’s culture ministry, followed similar audiences Pope Francis had in recent years with famous artists and comedians. It’s part of the Vatican’s efforts to reach out beyond the Catholic Church to engage with the secular world.

    But the gathering also seemed to have particular meaning for history’s first American pope, who grew up in the heyday of Hollywood. The 70-year-old, Chicago-born Leo just this week identified his four favorite films: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Sound of Music,” “Ordinary People,” and “Life Is Beautiful.”

    Pope Leo XIV meets with Spike Lee during an audience with and stars directors from the cinema at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Vatican Media Via AP)

    In a sign of how seemingly star-struck he was, Leo spent nearly an hour after the audience greeting and chatting amiably with each of the participants, something he rarely does for large audiences.

    Drawing applause from the celebrities, Leo acknowledged that the film industry and cinemas around the world were experiencing a decline, with theaters that had once been important social and cultural meeting points disappearing from neighborhoods.

    “I urge institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value” of movie theaters, he said.

    Celebrities just happy to be invited

    Many celebrities said they found Leo’s words inspiring, and expressed awe as they walked through the halls of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, where a light luncheon reception awaited them after the audience.

    “It was a surprise to me that I even got invited,” Spike Lee told reporters along the red carpet gauntlet in the palace.

    During the audience, Lee had presented Leo with a jersey from his beloved Knicks basketball team, featuring the number 14 and Leo’s name on the back. Leo is a known Chicago Bulls fan, but Lee said he told the pope that the Knicks now boast three players from the pope’s alma mater, Villanova University.

    Actress Cate Blanchett leaves at the end of an audience of Pope Leo XIV with actors and directors from the cinema, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

    Actress Cate Blanchett leaves at the end of an audience of Pope Leo XIV with actors and directors from the cinema, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

    Blanchett, for her part, said the pope’s comments were inspiring because he understood the crucial role cinema can play in transcending borders and exploring sometimes difficult subjects in ways that aren’t divisive.

    “Filmmaking is about entertainment, but it’s about including voices that are often marginalized and not shy away from the pain and complexity that we’re all living through right now,” she said.

    She said Leo, in his comments about the experience of watching a film in a dark theatre, clearly understood the culturally important role cinemas can play.

    “Sitting in the dark with strangers is a way in which we can reconnect to what unites us rather than what divides us,” she said.

    A ‘hit and miss’ guest list that grew

    The gathering drew a diverse group of filmmakers and actors, including many from Italy, like Monica Bellucci and Alba Rohrwacher. American actors included Chris O’Donnell, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, his wife.

    Director Sally Potter said she was impressed that Leo took the time to speak with each one of them. And she said she loved his comments about the value of silence and slowness in film.

    “It was a good model of how to be and how to think about cinema,” she said, noting especially Leo’s defense of “slow cinema” and to not see the moving image just in terms of algorithms.

    Actress Greta Gerwig leaves at the end of an audience of Pope Leo XIV with actors and directors from the cinema, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

    Actress Greta Gerwig leaves at the end of an audience of Pope Leo XIV with actors and directors from the cinema, at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

    Director Gus Van Sant said he liked Leo’s vibe.

    “He was very laid back, you know, he had a fantastic message of beauty in cinema,” he said.

    Archbishop Paul Tighe, the No. 2 in the Vatican culture ministry, said the guest list was pulled together just in the last three months, with the help of the handful of contacts Vatican officials had in Hollywood, including Martin Scorsese.

    The biggest hurdle, Tighe said, was convincing Hollywood agents that the invitation to come meet Leo wasn’t a hoax. In the end, as word spread, some figures approached the Vatican and asked to be invited.

    “It’s an industry where people have their commitments months in advance and years in advance, so obviously it was a little hit and miss, but we’re very pleased and very proud” by the turnout, he said.

    The aim of the encounter, he said, was to encourage an ongoing conversation with the world of culture, of which film is a fundamental part.

    “It’s a very democratic art form,” Tighe said. Saturday’s audience, he said, was “the celebration of an art form that I think is touching the lives of so many people and therefore recognizing it and giving it its true importance.”

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    Visual journalists Trisha Thomas and Isaia Montelione contributed.

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    Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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  • Pope Leo XIV celebrates the power of cinema with star-studded Vatican audience

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    The Vatican shared the spotlight with Hollywood on Saturday as Pope Leo XIV hosted dozens of stars, including Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee and Monica Bellucci for a special audience celebrating the power of cinema. 

    The event, organized by the Vatican’s culture ministry, took place in a frescoed Vatican audience hall. Leo called on the attending artists to use their art to include marginalized voices and praised film to console and challenge audiences. 

    “It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we did not know we needed to express,” Leo said. 

    The first U.S.-born pope also acknowledged the financial difficulties facing movie theaters. He said institutions should not give up, but “cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value” of theaters, drawing applause from the audience. 

    Pope Leo XIV poses with actors, filmmakers, directors, and scriptwriters during an audience at the Clementine Hall on November 15, 2025 in Vatican City.

    Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images


    “His speech was beautiful and very inspiring, about hope and our work in cinema. We’re glad we came,” said Judd Apatow, who attended the audience with his wife and fellow Hollywood star Leslie Mann. 

    “It was so inspiring,” Mann added. 

    Leo spent nearly an hour greeting guests and making conversation with each attendee. Lee, a basketball lover, gifted the pontiff a New York Knicks jersey that featured the No. 14 and Leo’s name on the back. Leo may be a known Chicago Bulls fan, but Lee said he told the pope that the Knicks’ current roster includes three players from Villanova University, the Holy Father’s alma mater. Lee said Leo’s words about film were “very, very moving.” 

    Pope Francis held similar audiences with artists and comedians. The audiences are part of the Vatican’s efforts to reach out beyond the Catholic Church to engage with the secular world.

    Papal Audience With The Film Industry

    Pope Leo XIV greets Spike Lee during an audience at the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on November 15, 2025 in Vatican City.

    Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images / Mario Tomassetti


    A pope who “grew up with cinema”

    Leo is the first American-born Pope and grew up during Hollywood’s heyday. Earlier this week, he listed his four favorite movies: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Sound of Music,” “Ordinary People,” and “Life Is Beautiful,” all classics that celebrate love and hope in the face of darkness. Leo will also be the subject of his own movie, a documentary from the Vatican that traces his life from Chicago to St. Peter’s. 

    “He is a pope who grew up with television and grew up with cinema, and it’s a natural (medium) to tell his story,” said Monsignor Paul Tighe, the Vatican’s culture secretary, in a conversation with CBS Saturday Morning. 

    Tighe said the large group of filmmakers and actors was pulled together during the last three months. Vatican officials used contacts in Hollywood, including Martin Scorsese, to help craft the list of attendees. The hardest part, Tighe said, was convincing Hollywood agents that the invitation wasn’t a hoax. Tighe told CBS Saturday Morning that he hopes the event shows that the Church embraces the arts, instead of just tolerating them. 

    “We have to trust that the artist, even when he or she is being provocative, is trying to wake us up, grab our attention, and make us think about things that are important,” Tighe said. 

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  • SCAD Savannah Film Fest: Spike Lee and Sydney Sweeney Among Seven in Second Wave of Honorees (Exclusive)

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    The sizable roster of talent set to accept honors at the 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the nation’s largest university-run film festival, just got even longer. Just days after announcing 10 prominent honorees, the fest is set to announce seven more, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

    Also headed to Georgia: Park Chan-wook (writer/director of Neon’s No Other Choice) for the International Auteur Award; Brendan Fraser (star of Searchlight’s Rental Family) for the Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award; Spike Lee (writer/director of A24’s Highest 2 Lowest) for the Legend of Cinema Award; Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (star of Neon’s Sentimental Value; Amanda Seyfried (star of Searchlight’s The Testament of Ann Lee); Kristen Stewart (director/producer of The Forge’s The Chronology of Water); and Sydney Sweeney (star/producer of Black Bear’s Christy).

    They join previously announced honorees Will Arnett (writer/star of Searchlight’s Is This Thing On?) for the Luminary Award; Hannah Beachler (production designer of Warners’ Sinners); Craig Brewer (writer/director of Focus’ Song Sung Blue); Rose Byrne (star of A24’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) for the Luminary Award; Miles Caton (star of Warners’ Sinners) for the Rising Star Award; Jon M. Chu (director of Universal’s Wicked); Zoey Deutch (star of Netflix’s Nouvelle Vague) for the Breakthrough Performance Award; Joel Edgerton (star of Netflix’s Train Dreams) for the Vanguard Award; Rian Johnson (writer/director of Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery); Jennifer Lopez (star of Roadside’s Kiss of the Spider Woman); Mark Hamill (star of Neon’s The Life of Chuck) for the Lifetime Achievement Award; Oscar Isaac (star of Netflix’s Frankenstein) for the Icon Award; Dylan O’Brien (star of Roadside’s Twinless) for the Lumiere Award; Benny Safdie (writer/director of A24’s The Smashing Machine) for the Maverick Director Award; Miles Teller (star of A24’s Eternity); and Tessa Thompson (star/producer of Amazon/MGM’s Hedda) for the Distinguished Performance Award.

    “I’m overjoyed with the lineup of remarkable honorees joining us this year,” Christina Routhier, the fest’s executive director, said in a statement. “Their contributions to the industry are truly inspiring, and I’m especially excited for the opportunities our students and audiences will have to learn from them, which is what make the SCAD Savannah Film Festival such a singular and transformative experience.”

    At this year’s edition of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, which will run Oct. 25-Nov. 1, the honorees will participate in award presentations, moderated conversations and master classes with SCAD students.

    Kayla Rocca

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    Scott Feinberg

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  • 9/6: Saturday Morning

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    New unemployment data sparks concern; the family behind the New York institution, Russ & Daughters.

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  • Oscar winning director and producer Spike Lee talks new film

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    Oscar winning director and producer Spike Lee talks with “CBS Mornings” about his new film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” what it’s like working with actor Denzel Washington again and other projects.

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  • I’m Leaving With Something! Denzel Washington Hilariously Hijacks A$AP Rocky’s Watch Mid-Interview: ‘That Watch Is Gone!’

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    You have to hand it to Denzel Washington… literally, if your bling catches his eye. Our favorite unc brought the unserious shenanigans to a now-viral interview by snatching co-star A$AP Rocky’s watch.

    Source: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / Getty

    As the beloved star approaches retirement from acting, he’s making the most of every moment. The Oscar winner didn’t hold back in his “Epic Conversations” interview for GQ with Rocky and their Highest 2 Lowest director Spike Lee.

    Denzel Washington Swiftly Swipes A$AP Rocky’s Watch In Viral Moment

    The trio of New York City natives reflected on past projects and collaborations, but Unc clearly had something else in mind. A certain accessory must have called to the theater titan like the Green Goblin mask because Washington couldn’t resist it.

    Rocky shared his love for Lee’s signature dolly shots in films like He Got Game and Malcolm X. Without skipping a beat, Washington showed his love for nice jewelry by playfully snatching the watch off the “Fashion Killa” star’s wrist.

    “Keep talking, keep talking,” the Fences phenomenon said as he reached over to grab Rocky’s arm with the finest finesse.

    “Yo! I’m getting robbed by Denzel right now!” Rocky said, busting out laughing.

    “That watch is gone, you know that, right?” Lee asked about his longtime friend and collaborator.

    “You can take him outta New York, you can’t take the New York out of him, yo. You dig? It looks better on you anyway, OG.” Rocky continued, gracefully going with the flow as Washington quietly put it on his wrist.

    Our unbothered unc held up the gold timepiece on his arm and winked into the camera as the conversation continued because… who’s gonna check him? The only real crime is getting forced into a “Who Wore It Best?” competition with a Hall of Fame face card like Denzel Washington.

    A few laughs later, Washington returned it to the table next to his co-star. Then he switched from “Othello” to “Deebo” once again as he dapped up Rocky for his upcoming album and palmed the watch in one smooth move.

    “I saw you steal that again, but that’s aight,” the soon-to-be father of three mentioned.

    “I didn’t steal it! You gave it to me!” Washington laughed.

    Despite his distinguished demeanor onscreen, Washington was delightfully joked out throughout the chat.

    A$AP Rocky Reveals The Father-Son Dynamic Started Before The Film, Denzel Washington Jokes The Family Resemblance Could Be Real

    The “Pretty Flaco” performer recalled always getting comparisons to the Hollywood heartthrob, saying he’d be a “trillionaire” if he got a penny for every time he heard it. “My whole life, like, my mother gassed me up and told me I look like this man,” he said.

    “So, Mom, should we tell him?” Washington joked with his seemingly long-lost son.

    Even Lee agreed his stars are twinning in his interview with Complex.

    Although Washington said he didn’t see the resemblance that got the Bottega Veneta spokesman a “mini” audition for the role, Rocky recalled a fatherly moment with the legend that changed his life.

    The “Fashion Killa” artist’s friend and Washington’s son, John David Washington, invited Rocky over for Christmas because he was depressed over the anniversary of his father’s death. Rocky said he was overwhelmed by the big, happy family gathered together and the chance to meet one of his lifelong idols.

    Washington channeled the paternal love he needed most, telling Rocky to stop wasting time with things like lean and his situationship at the time. “In a few years, you know you got to get it together. It’s about family,” Rocky said, repeating the life-changing advice.

    Clearly, it stuck because Rocky is an adorably devoted partner to Rihanna, head-over-heels in love with their sons RZA and Riot, and eagerly awaiting their third child.

    Even while letting it all hang out in a candid conversation, Washington casually drops gems nonstop that remind us why he’s the greatest to ever do it. If the trio is this entertaining in one interview, their new film is undoubtedly a must-see.

    Catch Highest 2 Lowest in theaters near you and check out the full Epic Conversations episode with Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, and Spike Lee below.

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    lexdirects

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  • Whew Lawd! The Hottest Thirst Traps Of The Week, Vol. 109

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    You know what it is!

    Source: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

    Back at it again with the hottest thirst traps that dropped during an eventful week dominated by Tiffany Haddish addressing the rumors she welcomed a child with Jason Lee, Megan Thee Stallion feeding her man, her man, her man Klay Thompson a now-viral catfish and spaghetti meal, JaNa Craig seemingly cozying up with Key Glock, Tasha Cobb Leonard stunning at the Stellars, and more.

    As promised, we’ve compiled swoon-worthy stunners (and our thirst-trappin’ celebrity faves) with Ice Spice making her return to the series after stunning at the star-studded Highest 2 Lowest premiere in NYC.

    The ‘In Ha Mood’ rapper made her acting debut in Spike Lee‘s latest joint centered around a music mogul (Denzel Washington) faced with a life-or-death moral dilemma after being targeted with a ransom plot.

    Check out the trailer below:

    Directed by the Oscar-deserving Lee, Highest 2 Lowest also stars A$AP Rocky, Jeffrey Wright, and Ilfenesh Hadera in the buzzy film now playing in select theaters/opening Sept. 5, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    “And A$AP, man. Fire,” said Lee about Rocky’s acting performance during an appearance on Carmelo Anthony’s 7pm in Brooklyn show, per Billboard.

    “I mean, there’s some scenes with him and D head to head, he ain’t backin’ up. It’s like, ‘I’m here too!’ Very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing with the world.”

    This week’s thirst trap compilation also features Rubi Rose delivering heat along with Angela Simmons and Kelis giving what needs to be gave.

    There’s also big baddie energy from Lexi Williams, Jayda Wayda, and more so we invite you to enjoy our latest collection of top-tier thirst traps on the flip.

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    Alex Ford

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  • ‘In less than 90 days it’s either going to be me or him in the Oval Office’: Kamala Harris holds one final rally in Atlanta

    ‘In less than 90 days it’s either going to be me or him in the Oval Office’: Kamala Harris holds one final rally in Atlanta

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    Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the site of the former Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

    The final large-scale campaign rally for United States Vice President Kamala Harris in Atlanta took place on Saturday afternoon outside the Atlanta Civic Center.

    The “When We Vote We Win” rally was similar to the many Harris has held in metro Atlanta, featuring high-profile politicians, musical artists, actors, and local celebrities and large, energetic crowds. On Saturday rappers 2 Chainz and Pastor Troy performed, and director Spike Lee, actress, singer Victoria Monet, and Atlanta’s own Monica made appearances on behalf of the Harris-Walz ticket.

    “I really do believe Atlanta will be a difference-maker in this election. If you think you can sit this one out, you are absolutely wrong.”

    Victoria Monet

    Several large American flags served as a backdrop for what is Harris’ last rally in the largest county in battleground Georgia. As of Friday, more than four million Georgians cast ballots, according to data from the Secretary of State’s Office. Fulton County saw a 58% turnout during early voting, which amounted to 439,944 ballots. If Harris was going to reach any undecided voters it might not be in decidedly blue Atlanta. She was amongst friends and ardent supporters on this day.

    “I really do believe Atlanta will be a difference-maker in this election. If you think you can sit this one out, you are absolutely wrong,” said Victoria Monet.

    A first-time voter, Justin Martinez Posadas welcomed Harris to the stateg just before 2 p.m. Martinez, a senior at a local high school, said he cast his first ever presidential election ballot for Harris alongside his grandparents.

    Harris took the stage and immediately thanked Martinez and the many Georgia politicians in attendance, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock.

    “In less than 90 days it’s either going to be me or him in the Oval Office,” said Harris. “It’s time for new leadership in America and I’m ready to be that leader.”

    Harris pledged to the supporters in attendance to be a “President for all people” and asked them for their vote. “Now please talk to your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and your families.”

    Victoria Monet speaks during a campaign rally for the Democratic nominee for U.S. President, Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the site of the former Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

    To people who haven’t voted, Harris said to have a plan for when and where they votes. “Polls are open here in Georgia from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” she said.

    “We are all here because we love our country, and we know that when you love something you fight for it,” Harris said.

    Harris was in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday and will move on to Charlotte, following her rally in Atlanta, according to her campaign. Saturday is the last day for early voting in North Carolina. In Georgia, there was a record number of Black voter participation, according to data from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Over one million Black voters cast ballots during the early voting period, which ended on Friday, Nov. 1.

    Harris told the crowd to be intentional in how they build community. “There is power in that and it will strengthen our country,” Harris said during her closing remarks.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Taking Shots With Spike Lee and His Arsenal Fan Club: “It’s Always Electric When He Shows Up”

    Taking Shots With Spike Lee and His Arsenal Fan Club: “It’s Always Electric When He Shows Up”

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    Lee’s location manager Tim Stacker was waiting for us at one of three tables in the back marked reserved. Shortly after kickoff, we were joined by Lee’s son, Jackson, and his friend.

    There was a festival atmosphere at FancyFree in the buildup to the match, with chants and songs ringing out sporadically. But all the buzzy excitement was paired with a healthy dose of fear.

    In the previous two campaigns, Arsenal came up agonizingly short in its bid to dethrone Manchester City, a veritable juggernaut and the four-time defending Premier League champions. Gooner nerves were running high—including my own. I had accompanied Lee that day on assignment, but as a proud (and at-times tortured) Arsenal supporter myself, I was hardly an unbiased observer.

    Sitting next to Lee, I asked if his fandom ever got in the way of his work. Has he ever been stuck on set during, say, a Knicks playoff game? Not a chance. In those circumstances, Lee told me that the cast and crew know “it’s not going to be a long day.”

    “They know they’re going home early,” he said.

    The match began inauspiciously for Arsenal, as the indomitable Erling Haaland found the back of the net in the ninth minute to give Manchester City an early 1-0 lead.

    “How tall is he?” Lee asked me.

    “6’4,” I said.

    “Big guy.”

    Lee looked on as the City players mobbed Haaland, whose imposing frame and long blond hair evoke an ancient warrior.

    “Where’s he from?” he asked.

    “Norway,” I said.

    He glanced at the screen, assessing Haaland as if he were casting for a nordic Spike Lee joint.

    “Viking!” he said with a smile.

    Arsenal leveled the scoreline in the 22nd off a majestic goal by Riccardo Calafiori, and then took a 2-1 lead just before halftime off a thumping header by Gabriel Magalhães. FancyFree was in full voice and Lee, who had been working on a plate of waffles, stood up to exchange celebratory high fives.

    Arsenal were poised to go into intermission with a lead, as Lee and the rest of the Arsenal faithful bayed for the ref to end the first half.

    “Blow the whistle!” he yelled. “Fuckin’ bullshit here. Halftime!”

    Looking ahead to the second half, Lee said that Arsenal “can’t just play defensive.”

    “They still gotta go for it,” he said.

    But moments before the first half ended, Arsenal were dealt a stunning blow, as Leandro Trossard picked up a controversial second yellow card, leading to his dismissal from the match. The exuberance that followed Arsenal’s second goal gave way to confusion and outrage at FancyFree.

    “What?!” Lee yelled.

    The call sullied the halftime mood, as Lee and the other fans contemplated the task of playing the final 45 minutes down a man. Arsenal would have no choice but to play on the defense—or “park the bus,” to use a common soccer parlance.

    But the beer kept flowing, and so did the banter. Looking up from the table, Lee spotted Jason Andrew, the Brooklyn Invincibles cofounder, weaving through the crowd. “Where you going?” Lee asked. Andrew smiled, and pointed to his seat near the front of the bar. Lee’s presence was felt at FancyFree that day, but there were no selfie-seekers. He was a VIP among the masses.

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    Tom Kludt

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  • DC go-go legend and EU frontman Sugar Bear celebrating 50th birthday with shows in Tysons, Bethesda – WTOP News

    DC go-go legend and EU frontman Sugar Bear celebrating 50th birthday with shows in Tysons, Bethesda – WTOP News

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    The EU frontman celebrates at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia this Friday, July 12, before a big “Birthday Bash” at Bethesda Theater in Bethesda, Maryland on July 26 and 27.

    WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews Sugar Bear in Virginia and Maryland (Part 1)

    To paraphrase Experience Unlimited’s biggest go-go hit, “Sugar Bear’s got a big old birthday, oh yeah!”

    DC Go Go legend Sugar Bear performs at Bladensburg Waterfront Park Thursday for PG County residents at a free concert to address gun violence and remember victims. (Gigi Barnett/WTOP)

    The EU frontman celebrates at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia this Friday, July 12, before a big “Birthday Bash” at Bethesda Theater in Bethesda, Maryland on July 26 and 27.

    “This is my great 50,” Sugar Bear told WTOP. “Let’s have a party, reminisce, bring your cell phones, we’ll take pictures after the show, we’re selling EU gear, some shirts, so come on. … It’s a little rock ‘n roll, of course a majority go-go music, we always throw in a couple (covers), but mainly it’s all EU from the beginning to now.”

    Born in North Carolina in 1974, Gregory Elliott moved with his parents to D.C. when he was just 2 years old, settling on Dix Street in Northeast D.C. before moving to Valley Green Public Housing in Congress Heights.

    “That’s where Sugar Bear was born,” Sugar Bear said. “I came up with R&B, The Temptations, Earth Wind & Fire, James Brown, Mandrill, but when I got to Ballou High School, I was a rock head with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath. It was a whole new era of Grand Funk Railroad, Aerosmith, you name it. … I just love rock ‘n roll.”

    In 1975, he formed Experience Unlimited with his classmates at Ballou High School in Southeast D.C.

    “We won the talent show and got to open up for Chuck Brown,” Sugar Bear said. “Every band wanted to play The Panorama Room. … We got in but didn’t do too good; we were playing rock music and they wanted to hear party music. … Chuck pulled me aside and said, ‘Son, you’ve got talent, but you’ve gotta play what people want to hear.’ That’s all I needed, that was my light switch. That was a Friday night and the next Monday we were playing go-go.”

    In 1988, EU blew up on the soundtrack of Spike Lee’s sophomore film “School Daze” (1988) as the Grammy-nominated single “Da Butt” topped the R&B charts and reached No. 35 on the overall Billboard Hot 100.

    “That came from Spike Lee’s vision and Marcus Miller, one of the greatest bass players I’ve ever seen in my life,” Sugar Bear said. “I sung my little hooks like, ‘Shirley got a big old butt, Irene got a big old butt,’ stuff like that, and I even played a little bass on it. … Ever since ‘Bustin’ Loose,’ there was nothing people knew about go-go music, so when ‘Da Butt’ came out it was like, ‘Wow, this stuff is hot!’ It opened up the floodgates for our culture.”

    After “Da Butt,” EU signed with Virgin Records for the album “Livin’ Large” (1989), featuring a pair of Top 10 hits on the R&B charts with “Buck Wild” and “Taste of Your Love.” They also recorded a hit collab with Salt-N-Pepa on “Shake Your Thang,” sampling both The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing” and James Brown’s “Funky President.”

    “We were blessed with that and it kept EU’s name getting bigger and bigger around the globe,” Sugar Bear said.

    In 2021, “Da Butt” gained new life when actress Glenn Close danced to it live on the Oscars telecast.

    “I was watching the Lakers (and) my phone started ringing back to back, all these texts: ‘Turn to Channel 7, the Oscars, Glenn Close is performing ‘Da Butt!’ I said, ‘What?’ So I did and caught it in time, amazing,” Sugar Bear said. “We were coming out of the corona pandemic. … Everybody was going through mental breakdowns, all the deaths. I think (‘Da Butt’ at the Oscars) was a bright moment in our history because it made everybody feel good again.”

    WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews Sugar Bear in Virginia and Maryland (Part 2)

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  • Terence Blanchard, composer of Spike Lee movie masterpieces, brings opera concert to Strathmore – WTOP News

    Terence Blanchard, composer of Spike Lee movie masterpieces, brings opera concert to Strathmore – WTOP News

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    Terence Blanchard visits North Bethesda on Friday to perform selections from “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” which made him the first Black composer to stage an opera at New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

    WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews Terence Blanchard at Strathmore (Part 1)

    He composed the music for some of Spike Lee’s greatest movie masterpieces.

    Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmon’s adaptation of “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” at the Metropolitan Opera House became the first opera composed by a Black composer to be staged by the company in its entire history.(The Washington Post via Getty Im/The Washington Post)

    Friday, Terence Blanchard visits Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, to perform selections from his Grammy-winning opera “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” which made him the first Black composer to stage an opera at New York’s Metropolitan Opera back in 2021.

    “We have a concert version of it,” Blanchard told WTOP. “We won’t have the production sets and wardrobe, but it’s a very beautiful concert. To hear the arias done in that setting is a totally different type of experience. … when you experience this concert, you get a broad sense musically of what you would experience if you saw the opera live.”

    Based on the best-selling 2014 memoir of New York Times journalist Charles M. Blow, the opera explores Blow’s struggles to overcome a cycle of violence. It features a libretto by filmmaker Kasi Lemmons, who worked with Blanchard on the coming-of-age thriller “Eve’s Bayou” (1997) and the Harriet Tubman biopic “Harriet” (2019).

    “I called her in to do this libretto and she did a fantastic and amazing job,” Blanchard said.

    Born in New Orleans in 1962, Blanchard grew up with Wynton and Branford Marsalis before studying at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and later Rutgers University. He began touring with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers before forming the Terence Blanchard / Donald Harrison Quintet and eventually going solo in 1990. The collective result was a whopping 16 Grammy nominations and six wins.

    “Whenever you’re acknowledged in that way, it’s a blessing and an honor. And I don’t take it lightly because there’s a lot of great musicians out there doing great work,” Blanchard said.

    While his music career flourished, he also began working on movies with Spike Lee, playing as a session musician on “Do the Right Thing” (1989), which featured an original score by Lee’s late father, composer Bill Lee.

    “It was hard to tell back then because Spike had such a unique cinematic style, we were learning it just as much as anyone else,” Blanchard said. “We knew it was really compelling because we were seeing ourselves and our culture on screen, but to see what it’s meant to people over the years is still something that you couldn’t have foreseen.”

    Blanchard began composing original pieces of music for “Mo’ Better Blues” (1990) before getting his own first sole composer credit on “Jungle Fever” (1991). Arguably their greatest collaboration remains the biopic “Malcolm X” (1992), starring Denzel Washington. Blanchard even made a cameo as a trumpet player in Billie Holiday’s band.

    “When you hear the opening of ‘Malcolm X,’ that’s my experience of hearing [Malcolm’s X’s ‘revolution is bloody’] speech for the first time,” Blanchard said. “That big crash at the beginning is like a shock of what I was hearing, the heartbeat is the bass drum that you hear, the melody of the trumpet is kind of like Malcolm himself, then the cello as a reaction to it is kind of like me, then it just kind of builds and builds and builds until the end.”

    Their collaboration continued on “Crooklyn” (1994), “Clockers” (1995), “4 Little Girls” (1997), “Summer of Sam” (1999), “Bamboozled” (2000), “25th Hour” (2002), “Inside Man” (2006), “When the Levees Broke” (2006), “Miracle at St. Anna” (2008) and “Chi-Raq” (2015) before Blanchard finally received a pair of overdue Oscar nominations for Best Original Score for “BlackKKlansman” (2018) and “Da 5 Bloods” (2020).

    “Each project had its own signature sound,” Blanchard said. “That was the beautiful thing about working with Spike because he would always challenge me in that regard, he would always say things like, ‘So what haven’t you done yet in a score?’ That would cause me to think about new ideas, so when we got to ‘BlackKKlansman,’ we wound up using my electronic band as the foundation for the score and featured the guitarist in my band, Charles Altura.”

    Beyond his work with Lee, Blanchard also composed the scores for Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” (2009), Regina King’s “One Night in Miami” (2020) and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “Love & Basketball” (2000) and “The Woman King” (2022).

    “When Gina brought me in to just view a cut of [‘The Woman King’], she left me in a room by myself and I was an emotional wreck watching it,” Blanchard said. “I was literally honored to be a part of it and when we got a chance to do the music, man, I brought in some of the opera singers from my opera career, then I asked a good friend of mine, Dianne Reeves, to sing on top of it. Dianne and myself, we both said that it felt like everything we experienced in our musical careers led to us to that moment to make that film.”

    WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews Terence Blanchard at Strathmore (Part 2)

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  • Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Are Reuniting for a Remake

    Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Are Reuniting for a Remake

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    Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

    Ah yes, the four Rs of the film industry: reduce, reuse, recycle, and remake. Per Variety, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington are reuniting to give us an English-language version of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller High and Low (which was itself a loose adaptation of Ed McBain’s 1959 pulp novel King’s Ransom). Kurosawa’s take followed a Japanese businessman who is targeted by a ransom-hungry kidnapper. It’s not too surprising that Lee is doing this project; he’s been a longtime fan of Kurosawa, previously telling Vulture that She’s Gotta Have It was inspired by Rashomon. Lee wrote the script with playwright Alan Fox, and production is scheduled to begin in March. This will mark Lee and Washington’s first movie together since 2006’s Inside Man, and fifth collab overall. Their version of High and Low will be released in theaters by A24 before launching on Apple TV+. We’ll have to wait and see if the film will end up being a career high or low (sorry, had to do it).

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  • Spike Lee and Pedro Almodóvar to Be Honored at a Topsy-Turvy TIFF

    Spike Lee and Pedro Almodóvar to Be Honored at a Topsy-Turvy TIFF

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    The Toronto International Film Festival has announced its first round of Tribute Award winners, with Oscar-winning filmmakers Spike Lee and Pedro Almodóvar confirmed to be fêted up in Canada next month with the Ebert Director Award and the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media, respectively.

    Of immediate note here is that, as of now, neither director has a film slated to screen at the festival. Since the TIFF Tribute Awards began in 2019, every person selected for the director prize also had a movie in play—and an Oscar push to get off the ground. The showcase marked pivotal early moments on the campaign trail for Taika Waititi, Chloé Zhao, and Denis Villeneuve, whose movies all went on to win Oscars; last year, Sam Mendes was named the recipient in a promising early sign before his new film, Empire of Light, flatlined with critics and audiences.

    Lee’s selection, by contrast, reorients the presentation as a standalone celebration of a Hollywood legend, outside the noisy confines of awards season. It’s not immediately clear whether the move was necessitated by the dual SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which will greatly limit attendance in Toronto next month compared to a typical year for the festival, but it does offer a clear indication of just how different this year’s event will feel—if still represented by heavy-hitting talent.

    “The TIFF Ebert Director Award recognizes filmmakers who have exemplified greatness in their career,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a statement. “A foremost storyteller of our era, Spike’s body of work from She’s Gotta Have it, to Do the Right Thing to Mo’ Better Blues, to his most recent film at TIFF 2021, American Utopia, Spike has inspired audiences and made a lasting impact on the art of filmmaking.”

    Notable directors with movies at TIFF 2023 include Alexander Payne (The Holdovers), Richard Linklater (Hit Man), and Craig Gillespie (Dumb Money). While some aren’t credited as writers on their films, each is a member of the WGA, which can impact how they participate in the festival. Several actors turned directors are also featured on the program and seeking acquisition of their titles, with some like Ethan Hawke’s Wildcat already securing interim agreements. But sources tell Vanity Fair that both the optics and logistics of exactly how they will be executed for promotion remain fluid and case-by-case.

    The actor tribute, should TIFF still feature that award as part of its program, will almost certainly not be able to play the same role as it has in years past, when Brendan Fraser, Jessica Chastain, and Joaquin Phoenix were honored before going on to win the Oscar. (TIFF has confirmed for Vanity Fair that the festival will still present actor awards this year.) Despite having Oscar hopes this season, Annette Bening (Nyad), Michael Fassbender (Next Goal Wins), and Colman Domingo (Rustin) will not be able to attend TIFF, since the likes of Netflix and Disney’s Searchlight are backing their contenders. Meanwhile, Oscar winners Chastain and Kate Winslet are among the A-listers top-lining TIFF movies without a studio attached, rendering their situation murkier.

    Almodóvar follows in the footsteps of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Alanis Obomsawin, and Mira Nair with the Award in Impact Media, which recognizes forces behind socially impactful cinema. The Spanish auteur has hit the festival circuit this year with his short film, Strange Way of Life, starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke. (It premiered in Cannes, and Sony Pictures Classics has acquired it for release.) The Western is not currently on the TIFF program, though the lineup has yet to be fully revealed.

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  • “A Big Homecoming”: Inside the 2023 BAM Gala With Spike Lee, David Byrne, and More

    “A Big Homecoming”: Inside the 2023 BAM Gala With Spike Lee, David Byrne, and More

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    “I’m glad to be honored, but I didn’t know it was going to be during Game 5!” Spike Lee told Vanity Fair shortly before taking the stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music 2023 Gala. That the renowned filmmaker and ultimate Knicks fan found himself inside BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House Wednesday night, as opposed to courtside at Madison Square Garden as his team took on the Miami Heat, speaks volumes of the institution’s importance within the creative community as well as the significance of the recognition. (In a nod to the Knicks, Lee wore a blue suit with an orange tie and fedora; Air Jordan 1 Mid Knicks completed the look.) 

    A guest list that included Wyatt Cenac, Ezra Edelman, Gina Gershon, Ilana Glazer, Ethan Hawke, Woody McClain, and Patina Miller descended on Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood to toast Lee and his fellow honorees—musician David Byrne and longtime board member, lawyer and real estate broker Claire Wood. 

    Spike Lee, Claire Wood and David Byrne

    From Noam Galai/Getty Images

    “I really wanted to have a gala that felt like a big homecoming,” said BAM president Gina Duncan, who served as the arts and culture destination’s associate vice president of film from 2017–2020 and returned to take the helm following a post as producing director at the Sundance Institute. “When I was thinking about that, I was thinking about the artists that I have looked up to over time [who] really inspired my own path into the arts, and that was Spike Lee; that’s David Byrne. [They] make incredible work, but also do a lot for the community.” Acknowledging Wood was also a clear priority. “Claire Wood has been an amazing board member at BAM for the past 20 years…and as soon as I came in the door to run the film program in 2017 she was like, ‘I’m going to take care of you; I’m going to make sure that you can succeed in this space.’ So it was really important for me to shine a light on her and her contribution to the institution—I think it often goes unseen.” 

    Were it not for the special recognition, this could have easily been a typical Wednesday night for Byrne, who lives in New York, has performed at BAM numerous times, and is a frequent guest. “It’s part of my world,” he said backstage before dinner. “I’m going to see some Belgium dance thing on Friday night.” Of all the performances Byrne has seen at BAM, one in particular, he shared, stands out. “I have a memory that I think a lot of people won’t believe,” he said. “I came here to see the revival of Einstein on the Beach, [the] Robert Wilson and Philip Glass opera. Tom Waits was sitting in front of me, and he was singing along with Phil Glass’s music. I don’t think people would believe that. This was like 20 years ago.” 

    Rosie Perez

    From Noam Galai/Getty Images

    Similar nostalgia for the role BAM has played in the lives of New Yorkers emerged as a theme of the night. 

    “The last time I was here I was with André Leon Talley when I moderated a conversation for the release of his memoir, so for me this is always a very special place,” Tamron Hall said from the event’s purple carpet. “But it’s also one of the very first places, when I moved to New York, where I experienced the true beauty of the artistry that is Brooklyn. It’s a very sentimental place for me.” It is for Fisher Stevens and his wife and filmmaking partner, Alexis Bloom, too. “We saw Endgame with John Turturro at one of the theaters, and it was one of our first dates,” he shared, adding that the couple has lived in Brooklyn for 19 years. Another reason the pair was eager to celebrate? “We actually rent our film office from Claire Wood,” he shared. 

    Ethan and Ryan Hawke

    From Noam Galai/Getty Images

    Following remarks from Duncan, a reading by poet Hanif Abdurraqib, and an introduction from Ashley Clark—curatorial director at the Criterion Collection and BAM’s former director of film programming—Lee took the stage, commanding the mic to discuss the influence of his family and Brooklyn upbringing on his career. “We grew up in an artistic household, and we were always encouraged to be in the arts,” he said of his family. “Whereas many young people are asked, ‘How are you going to make money being a poet? A dancer? A singer? A filmmaker?’ We never got that hate from our parents,” he shared. “I’m blessed because my parents and grandparents never committed the sin of telling us you can’t do what you want to do.” Though Lee didn’t aspire to a career in film as a child—”I wanted to play second base for the New York Mets but genetics conspired,” he shared with a crowd that erupted in laughter—he traces his love of movies back to his Brooklyn childhood, when his cinephile mother “was dragging [him] to films all the time.” Lee spoke for nearly 15 minutes before slipping away to watch the rest of the game on TV. (He was spied viewing it on his phone earlier in the evening.) His parting words: “Excuse me if you see me run out, but you know where I’m going.”  

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  • Venus Williams, Spike Lee set for Black Entrepreneurs Day

    Venus Williams, Spike Lee set for Black Entrepreneurs Day

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    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Venus Williams, Spike Lee, Tracee Ellis Ross, Shaquille O’Neal and Killer Mike are among those set to participate in a celebration of African American business success and opportunity.

    Black Entrepreneurs Day, founded and organized by “Shark Tank” panelist and FUBU chief executive Daymond John, will be held Oct. 27 at New York City’s Apollo Theater and streamed live on Johnson’s Facebook page and BlackEntrepreneursDay.com.

    In a statement, John said his goal for the third annual gathering remains to “inspire, educate, learn from and celebrate those that are hustling, pushing forward, pursuing their dreams and, in many cases, thriving.”

    Beginning at 7 p.m. EDT, the night will include John’s one-on-one discussions with celebrity and business guests; panels on topics including building generational wealth and elevating creativity and access, and a “pitch competition” for nascent entrepreneurs. Rapper Big Sean will close the Chase-presented event with a live performance.

    Black business owners and entrepreneurs can apply for $25,000 grants from the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant program created by John, with the event website open for applications through 11:59 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Oct. 12. More than $500,000 in grants has been given, according to organizers.

    “Black Entrepreneurs Day provides an invaluable resource to a community that is historically overlooked when it comes to resources and funding. It is truly economic inclusion for us, by us,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement.

    John, one of the original stars of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” founded the global lifestyle brand FUBU and is a motivational speaker and author.

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  • Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase: A Celebration of Black Business Curated by Daymond John Streaming Live From the Apollo Theater, Thursday, Oct. 27

    Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase: A Celebration of Black Business Curated by Daymond John Streaming Live From the Apollo Theater, Thursday, Oct. 27

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    Spike Lee, Venus Williams, Tracee Ellis Ross, Shaquille O’Neal, Killer Mike, Big Sean, and More to Headline; ‘NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant’ Submissions Are Now Open — Awarding $150,000+ in Black Business Grants


    NEW CITY, N.Y., October 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Daymond John, the founder and CEO of FUBU and co-star of ABC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning show Shark Tank has announced the third annual Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase. In conjunction with Medium Rare and The Shark Group, Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase is an annual celebration of Black business, aiming to empower and celebrate entrepreneurs everywhere. Focused at the intersection of Business & Entertainment, Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase has quickly become one of the largest and most awarded Diversity & Inclusion events in America. Last year’s event attracted over 6.5 million viewers and won its third and fourth Webby Awards as the Best Remote Business & Finance event on the internet. This year’s free global live-stream will air on Thursday, Oct. 27, beginning at 7 p.m. ET across the Black Entrepreneurs Day website, Facebook, and more.

    Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase will feature Game Changer Conversations presented by The General Insurance®. The thoughtfully curated segment includes one-on-one discussions with Black businesses leaders and cultural icons including Shaquille O’Neal, Tracee Ellis Ross, Spike Lee, Venus Williams, and Killer Mike, moderated by Daymond John. Musical superstar Big Sean will cap off the evening with a live performance. All new for 2022, The Build Black with Shopify’s Pitch Competition will be a highlight of the program as budding entrepreneurs pitch their businesses live.

    Since its inception, Black Entrepreneurs Day has provided guidance and inspiration to the next generation of rising entrepreneurs as well as over $500,000 in business grants via the “NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant,” created by Daymond John. Black entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country can apply now for a $25,000 NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant on the event website through Oct. 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

    “Being in year three accomplishes one of my original goals of making Black Entrepreneurs Day one of the most fun D&I events of the year that brings icons of the Black community to participate in important conversations and moments. I want to thank Chase for sharing my vision to make this possible and help bring in an incredible lineup. Black Entrepreneurs Day will once again inspire, educate, learn from, and celebrate those that are hustling, pushing forward, pursuing their dreams and, in many cases, thriving. It is truly my honor to return to Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater and bring BED to a place near and dear to my heart while ensuring audiences throughout the world can stream the show for free,” said Daymond John.

    Black Entrepreneurs Day is excited to welcome its A-list guests and business leaders to the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem in front of a live studio audience. The legendary Apollo Theater plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding in 1934, the Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world.

    “Black Entrepreneurs Day provides an invaluable resource to a community that is historically overlooked when it comes to resources and funding. It is truly economic inclusion for us, by us. As we work to improve every aspect of the Black community — from education and health to building generational wealth — we know Black entrepreneurs and an inclusive, thriving economy are key. The NAACP will continue to ensure economic growth and sustainability for Black people. For the third year, we’re looking forward to seeing the ways that Black businesses are changing the landscape in industries like tech, beauty, travel and retail, and helping them scale through the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP.

    Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase Show Program:

    ●  Game Changer Conversations presented by The General Insurance featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Tracee Ellis Ross, Spike Lee, Venus Williams, and Killer Mike

    ●  Live Musical Performance by Big Sean

    ●  “NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant” Celebration & Showcases

    ●  Build Black with Shopify’s Pitch Competition

    ●  Building Generational Wealth Featuring Tiki Barber presented by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

    ●  Fulfill Your Dreams: A Small Business Roundtable Featuring Metta Sandiford-Artest presented by Alibaba.com

    ●  Elevating Access presented by Lowe’s Featuring Lowe’s Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison

    ●  Historically Better powered by Pepsi Stronger Together

    ●  Empowering Entrepreneurs presented by Chase

    ●  Innovating for Health Equity Roundtable presented by Johnson & Johnson

    ●  Magenta Edge Roundtable presented by T-Mobile for Business

    ●  #FundBlackFounders presented by Google

    ●  The Breakdown presented by The General Insurance

    ● Build Black with Shopify Roundtable

    For the third year in a row, Daymond is honored to partner with JPMorgan Chase to power the Black Entrepreneurs Day broadcast. Through Chase resources, the firm offers financial tools and guidance to support business owners who want to start, run and grow their businesses. Through its Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) initiative, JPMorgan Chase is striving to strengthen the economic foundation of the Black community globally. In 2020, ABP partnered with Chase for Business to launch Advancing Black Entrepreneurs (ABE), an educational program that offers practical advice and resources to help business owners navigate challenges and prepare for long-term success. Brian Lamb, Northeast Segment Head of Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, will discuss ABE during the Black Entrepreneurs Day program and will be joined by Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., President and CEO, Black Enterprise, and Mindelyn Anderson, founder of Mirror Group LLC. Additionally, during Building Generational Wealth presented by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, Tiki Barber and Daymond will speak about how clients can become financially savvy and Barber’s career from a famed athlete to successful entrepreneur. “The journey of Black entrepreneurs can be a mosaic of highs and lows, but that journey can serve as an inspiration to generations. As a firm, we’re committed to helping Black entrepreneurs get access to the critical resources they need to be successful, and we are proud to be a part of Black Entrepreneurs Day, which seeks to support and celebrate this inspiring community,” said Byna Elliott, global head of Advancing Black Pathways at JPMorgan Chase.

    For the third year in a row, The General Insurance will power the event’s “Game Changer Conversations” featuring Daymond in inspirational one-on-one conversations with Black business leaders and cultural icons. Prepare for game-changing conversations featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Tracee Ellis Ross, Spike Lee, Venus Williams, and Killer Mike. In addition to this year’s Game Changer Conversations, The General Insurance will also present a conversation entitled “The Breakdown,” featuring Morgan DeBaun, founder and CEO of Blavity, Inc., Ryan Wilson, CEO and co-founder of The Gathering Spot, and EJ Reed, co-founder of Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, alongside Daymond John, focused on the importance of overcoming adversity and scaling Black-owned businesses.

    PepsiCo is committed to addressing inequity and creating opportunities for Black communities and consumers through its various teams, programs, and initiatives including Historically Better powered by Pepsi Stronger Together. Historically Better is a platform that celebrates HBCU talent and culture, elevates and engages HBCU students, alumni and fans, and inspires the next generation of Black leaders. From highlighting industry trailblazers to awarding scholarships and internships, Historically Better utilizes the power of PepsiCo’s diverse brand portfolio to address inequity and level the playing field for HBCU students with an end-to-end experience celebrating Black excellence in all its forms. This year, Historically Better will host an exclusive conversation between Daymond John and Kenny Thompson, Jr., Vice President of External Affairs for North America at PepsiCo, on the importance of inspiring the next generation of Black leaders, live from Howard University amongst a select group of undergraduate and graduate students. “Historically Better powered by Pepsi Stronger Together celebrates the Black excellence that lives and thrives at our nation’s HBCUs. I’m proud to bring this program to Black Entrepreneurs Day and to highlight PepsiCo’s work to confront inequity and empower Black communities and businesses. By nurturing the next generation of cultural changemakers and supporting Black business owners as they grow and lift up their communities, PepsiCo can help drive change,” said Kenny Thompson, Jr., PepsiCo.

    The future is now with Shopify. Through initiatives such as Build Black and its support of the 1MBB movement, Shopify has continued to reshape the ways in which minorities are supported and businesses, especially Black-owned businesses, are given a platform to be seen. Together with Daymond John and Black Entrepreneurs Day, Shopify will introduce an exciting new component of the show — Build Black with Shopify’s Pitch Competition. A live pitch competition taking place at the Apollo in front of a panel of judges, this year’s Pitch Competition will feature three Shopify merchants from their Build Black Community who are looking to win $25,000 and exclusive mentorship from Daymond John to further their business journey. In addition to the Pitch Competition. Shopify will also present a Build Black Roundtable featuring the three Black women who are actively working towards supporting and amplifying the thousands of Black businesses that come into the Build Black program, custom content and Daymond John’s BED Picks — a hand-selected list of Black-owned Shopify brands from the Build Black Community that we can’t get enough of.

    Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is proud to partner with Black Entrepreneurs Day for the second year, as part of its Our Race to Health Equity initiative, a bold aspiration to help eradicate racial and social injustice within public health by eliminating health inequities for people of color. One of the ways the company is working to change the culture of healthcare is by investing in and supporting care models and solutions that drive healthier outcomes. During the Johnson & Johnson Innovating for Health Equity Roundtable, Daymond will host a dialogue with Vanessa Broadhurst, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Uché Blackstock, founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, and Barbara Rhoden, PhD, Head of Marketing, Primasun and Johnson & Johnson Innovation Board Fellow, to discuss how Black entrepreneurs are aligning business acumen and purpose-driven passion to address racial health inequities. The conversation will also cover some of the tools and resources that the company has put in place through Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures, a fund within the Johnson & Johnson Foundation, to empower early-stage innovators to drive more inclusive healthcare solutions created for the community by the community.

    Lowe’s has remained committed to supporting Black entrepreneurs through various programming and initiatives. Live from the Apollo Theater, Daymond John will sit down with Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s chairman and CEO, to discuss the unique ways Lowe’s has supported diverse communities and minority-owned businesses.

    Alibaba.com, one of the world’s largest B2B e-commerce marketplaces and a business unit of Alibaba Group, is proud to partner with Black Entrepreneurs Day to present a groundbreaking conversation entitled Fulfill Your Dreams: A Small Business Roundtable centered on Alibaba.com’s innovative initiatives to support small businesses. Featuring past Alibaba.com Grants Program winners Eva Jane Bunkley and Matt Jones, as well as Alibaba.com’s Alex Tsai and renowned Metta Sandiford-Artest (formerly Metta World Peace), this conversation will further inspire entrepreneurs globally. Alibaba.com recently launched the Alibaba.com “Manifest” Grants Program, which aims to celebrate the innovativeness of U.S. small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enhance the competitive edge of their products. Entrepreneurs can now apply for the Alibaba.com Manifest Grants Program HERE, which will provide monetary funds and procurement resources to small businesses that have innovative product ideas and go-to-market strategies. In addition, one lucky winner will receive one-on-one mentorship from Daymond John.

    Google‘s dedication to supporting Black communities and entrepreneurs is unmatched through various initiatives such as the Google for Startups for Black Founders Fund and so much more. During this year’s Black Entrepreneurs Day, Daymond John and Melonie Parker, Google’s Chief Diversity Officer, will host a conversation entitled #FundBlackFounders, focused on the Black startup founders who are building great companies yet are locked out of access to the funding that is critical to their success. At its core, Google is on a mission to support diverse startup communities globally — and that’s precisely what Melonie and Daymond will dive into in this impactful discussion.

    As a returning partner, T-Mobile for Business and its small business content destination Magenta Edge have joined forces with Daymond John for year three to present an exclusive Magenta Edge roundtable. Featuring three savvy, successful small business owners, this year’s Magenta Edge Roundtable unpacks how Black entrepreneurs can raise the odds of running a thriving business over the long run. They discuss the value of strong connections, how to better access capital, and the role the community plays in the staying power of a business. Magenta Edge is an initiative created by T-Mobile for Business on a mission to help American small business owners navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. With a foundational focus on minority-owned small businesses, Magenta Edge has a growing library of original content, educational programming, real stories, and insights to help teach and inspire all entrepreneurs.

    An avid supporter of Black-owned businesses and organizations as well as a returning partner of Black Entrepreneurs Day, Facebook will be the preferred streaming partner of this year’s event. Tune in to Daymond John’s Facebook page on Oct. 27 to watch for free.

    The one-of-a-kind historic live-stream will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, at 7 p.m. ET, live from Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater. The studio audience will be made up of NAACP groups, HBCU students, and those lucky enough to get a free ticket to the event taping on BlackEntrepreneursDay.com — Apply Now. For the millions of viewers watching at home, Black Entrepreneurs Day will be completely free and available worldwide beginning at 7 p.m. ET on the Black Entrepreneurs Day website, Facebook via Daymond John’s page and across all other social media channels.

    Final Event Flyer — CLICK HERE

    ABOUT DAYMOND JOHN

    Daymond John is CEO and founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales. John’s marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands has made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. John is also an author of four best-selling books, including his New York Times best-selling books The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018). A Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship under the Obama Administration, John is celebrating his 14th season on ABC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning show Shark Tank where, as one of the original Sharks, he demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.

    ABOUT MEDIUM RARE

    Focused at the intersection of Sports & Entertainment, Medium Rare partners with athletes, celebrities, and brands to build iconic media properties. Medium Rare is the creator and producer of Webby Award-winning brands including Shaq’s Fun House, Daymond John’s Black Entrepreneurs Day, Guy Fieri’s Restaurant Reboot, The Sports Illustrated Awards, Rob Gronkowski’s Gronk Beach, SHAQ vs GRONK, and more. Medium Rare was founded by Joe Silberzweig and Adam Richman, who were recently honored with 4X Webby Awards, Forbes 30 Under 30, and Pollstar’s Next Gen Impact. Learn more at www.Medium-Rare.com.

    ABOUT SHARK GROUP

    The Shark Group’s team of expert communicators, strategic analysts, and creative heavyweights excels in propelling brands into the fabric of pop culture. Founded by award-winning entrepreneur Daymond John, the agency’s culture is deeply rooted in thinking like entrepreneurs to create value for its partners and clients. Some of its clients include Chase, Shopify, T-Mobile, AARP, Daymond John, Carlos Santana, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and many others. Learn more at www.TheSharkGroup.com.

    Source: Black Entrepreneurs Day

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