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Actor Louis Gossett Jr. he loved Hollywood even if it didn’t love him back – Andscape

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For informal insiders, the Oscar is the important thing that opens the door to profession opportunities in Hollywood. But not all that glitters is gold in a spot built on creating and maintaining illusions. Take, for instance, Louis Gossett Jr., the Oscar winner who died on March 29 on the age of 87. It is widely believed that after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1982 for , the classically trained actor’s phone rang. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

“After the Oscars, well, I’ve got plenty of time left.” Gossett said in 1989 “I thought I would get a lot of offers, but they didn’t come.”

And why would not he do it? Gossett was the second black man to win an Oscar since Sidney Poitier won best actor in 1963, and only the third black man. Box office success and significant acclaim must have made Gossett a hot commodity. But the phone didn’t ring for a very long time.

Louis Gossett Jr. he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role within the film An officer and a gentleman on the annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on April 11, 1983.

“I didn’t work in films for another year.” Gosset said. “I do not think people were ready for me to win. I believed winning an Oscar meant, “I’m a millionaire!” And it never really meant 1,000,000 dollars for nothing.

When film roles finally got here his way, he was relegated to supporting roles, often filled by black actors. In Gossett’s heyday, there weren’t many opportunities for black artists, so saying “no” wasn’t at all times an option. However, he never allowed the size of production or the form of film to find out the extent of his performance. Whether it was a giant studio movie, a 3rd film, or a low-budget Chuck Norris motion movie (1986), Gossett maintained the identical energy. Even if it meant wearing prosthetics and makeup like he did in .

“Everyone turned down the role because you couldn’t see your face or eyes. “How can you give a performance?” So there’s just a little little bit of Lon Chaney Sr. in me (), you gotta try it” Gosset said. “That’s why I made this decision, because it was a challenge.”

There’s something cool, almost regal, about someone who devotes himself to all the things with the identical dedication, especially when there’s an Oscar hanging on the mantelpiece. Gossett was pleased with his work ethic and understood the racial elements of his career. He lamented the industry’s treatment of the typical black actor in 1989 and Hollywood’s “limited vision of what Negroes are.”

“Wizard storytellers – fool roles, roles in cop movies, roles in blaxploitation movies, trickster types, all the stereotypical Black characters, Black roles with white hats, dark glasses and chains around their necks,” Gossett said. He experienced unequal treatment behind the scenes during a dark period in his life.

Depressed, Gossett became hooked on drugs and alcohol when the bounty didn’t bring him what he wanted. He fought for leading roles and equal pay that did not materialize. He has reached what many consider to be the top of acting, but nothing has modified. “I said to myself, ‘What else can I do? Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? I started to self-destruct.” He noted how narrow the trail was for black actors in comparison with their white counterparts. He wrote about it in his memoirs:

“(They) were in a position to overcome worse problems through drugs, alcohol and self-destructive actions. There was hope for them of redemption and an even more successful profession after treatment, and their drug problem only added to their allure. But for a black man who was alleged to “mind his manners,” drugs were a everlasting stain. For me, the road was too narrow to permit for playing around.

Louis Gossett Jr. on stage during Center Theater Group’s fiftieth Anniversary Celebration on the Ahmanson Theater on May 20, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Rich Polk/Getty Images for Center Theater Group

As Rowan Pope famously said on a TV show, “We have to be twice as good as them to get half of what they have.” It’s the identical now as it was then. It says loads that what he experienced 40 years ago continues to be relevant today. Even after Gossett’s successful stint in rehab, the established order remained for a person who deserved higher. What does it say concerning the entertainment industry when a person who overcame his transgressions, treated every job as if it were his last, won so many accolades along the best way, and who envisioned a world of color-blind casting never had the possibility to attain what several his white co-stars did on film? What does it say about this man that he found himself in a greater place and overcame his bitterness?

Gossett loved Hollywood, even if it never fully loved him. An Academy Award signifies that the complete entertainment community recognizes someone’s talent and says, “We such as you. We really such as you. The same individuals who voted for him in 1983 over Charles Durning, John Lithgow, James Mason and Robert Preston hung him to dry when the ceremony was over and the champagne stopped flowing. Gossett hoped that television would change the situation and that when audiences saw Black people in diverse roles, it might turn the tide for higher film roles.

It finally happened.

Jason Gedrick (left) and Louis Gossett Jr. (right) within the scene with Iron Eagle in 1986

TriStar/Getty Images

Although his film profession never really took off, Gossett blazed a trail in television. Having someone of his height forged in non-stereotypical roles opened doors for those behind him. He showed off his comedy talent in . He voiced Lucius Fox within the animated series and a drill sergeant in . In the series, he played priests, reverends, private detectives, teachers and even a superhero.

This last point stands out because it’s hard to assume a world during which Regina King existed because the principal character if it weren’t for all the things Gossett achieved. It’s even harder to see someone apart from him play Will Reeves/Hooded Justice with righteous outrage at what was taken from him and the methods he selected to take it back. There is a Bible verse about how there may be a time for all the things. Gossett had his way when individuals who grew up watching him in every sequel and casting him of their shows or movies like in 2023.

These props didn’t arrive when he called, but they eventually arrived on time.

Marcus Shorter is a communications specialist and author. When he’s not writing ideas for Consequence, Cageside Seats, or Bloody Disgusting, he gets extremely nerdy about rap lyrics, politics, poetry, and comics.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

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Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

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India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.


Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

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With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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