google-site-verification=cXrcMGa94PjI5BEhkIFIyc9eZiIwZzNJc4mTXSXtGRM “Madu,” the story of a young ballet dancer from Nigeria, is a film we can all learn something from - 360WISE MEDIA
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“Madu,” the story of a young ballet dancer from Nigeria, is a film we can all learn something from

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Madu, Anthony Madu, ballet, Black in ballet, Black dance, Black dancers, Nigeria, Nigerian films, African films, Kachi Benson, Disney, Disney films, Elmhurst Ballet School, theGrio.com

Debuting on Disney+ “Honey” is a gripping film inspired by a latest type of young hero. Delving into the story of then 12-year-old Anthony Madu, a Nigerian boy from a disadvantaged background, the film follows his difficult journey to check ballet at a prestigious school in London.

In 2020, Madu took the world by storm when a video of him dancing ballet in the rain went viral. Inspiring photos reached such stars as Wiola Davis, who stated that the film recalled “the beauty of our people…”, adding that “despite the brutal obstacles placed before us! Our people can fly.”

“Coming from a part of town that’s struggling very economically… I see a lot of myself in it,” Benson said. “(A)s a documentarian based in Lagos, some of my friends thought I was crazy for trying to do it, but I decided to do it anyway and that is what attracted me to Anthony’s story,” he added.

In the film, Madu briefly struggles to keep up concentration as he is haunted by demons from his past. The film strikes a perfect balance in following Madu’s development Elmhurst Ballet School and fascinated with the bullies who teased him in Lagos for being a boy who liked ballet. According to Benson, the film is about “(Madu’s) search for acceptance and belonging while chasing her dreams and pursuing her passion.”

While inspired by Madu’s talent, Benson explained that it was equally vital to portray the rawness of Madu’s struggles because, ultimately, humans are innately motivated to want to search out their “tribe” and feel connected to others.

The award-winning filmmaker further discussed his creative direction and why the team selected to shoot in specific filming locations to capture the “raw states” of the teen’s journey.

“It’s not just a 12-year-old going abroad; this family’s hopes and dreams rest on their shoulders,” he explained. “(The family) prayed for him, saying, ‘Your success is our success; Your success means you can open doors for us, open doors for your siblings.’”

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Benson emphasized that it was integral to indicate how much the Madu family relied on him, noting that “It wouldn’t be a complete story if we didn’t include that part.”

“During the filming, we kept going back to Lagos even though (Madu) was there in the UK. We would go back and show you his mom, his siblings, and how they always connected with him,” Benson added.

The film also chronicles Madu’s increasing vision problems during ballet classes and regular academic courses. After partially failing his eyesight tests by not with the ability to accurately count the fingers held in front of him, he must face one other fear of not realizing his dreams. The handicap becomes a possibility to debate the challenges she or he faces.

Anthony Madu practices for the Elmhurst Ballet School of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s summer dance performance. (Photo: Disney)

When asked about his experience working with one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, Benson admitted: “I never expected it. I used to be stunned when we received the news that Disney can be making this movie with us; I assumed, “This can’t be real.” But it is.”

He went on to praise those that helped make his journey possible from the first day he picked up a camera.

When viewers witness Madu proudly dancing in his village in Lagos, one can only hope that someday he’ll tell a similar story. According to Benson, it is still in Elmhurst, thriving and shining.


Eden Harris is an award-winning DC journalist who enjoys writing about Africa and its many cultures. She has served as a domestic policy producer at Spectrum News and is an emerging leader in foreign affairs and the National Press Club.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

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Winston Duke talks about ‘The Fall Guy’, overcoming fear

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Winston Duke’s newest character delivers thrills.

In “The Fall Guy,” Duke plays Dan Tucker, a talented stunt coordinator who knows easy methods to make even essentially the most demanding movie stunts seem easy and fun. When his best friend, stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), comes into conflict with several shady characters on and off set, Tucker is tasked with helping his buddy get answers and complete their sci-fi film.

“I was at a point in my life where I said I wanted to do something cool,” Duke explains. “I didn’t want to do something super hard. From the very beginning, the biggest advantage of videos is that they can be layered. So even though the top layer may be very fun and enjoyable, sometimes the depth and seriousness can lie in the three layers below. I wanted something that would start out as a lot of fun and then find meaning.”

While Duke’s character in his recent film could also be fearless, it is a trait he needed to develop in real life. The Tobagonian-Rwandan actor says he’s a “very fearful person” but often challenges himself to look fear in the attention and overcome it.

Winston Duke stars as Dan Tucker in “The Fall Guy,” directed by David Leitch. (Source: Eric Laciste/Universal Pictures)

“I believe fear is a great thing. I all the time see fear as something that tells me I’m taking this seriously,” Duke shares. “Every time I do not feel fear, I ponder why I’m so free. I believe I’m a really fearful person. That’s what I believe builds my integrity because I’m like – I realize that is essential.

“I realize there are consequences. I understand all these items and I’ll do it anyway. Normal? I’ll do it anyway, and I’ll come out higher on the opposite side. I’m afraid of each project I tackle. I’m afraid of each stunt I do. I’m afraid of each recent relationship I start, all these items, but , you continue to do it.

In “The Fall Guy”, Duke decided to perform a lot of his own stunts, no matter fear. The actor hopes the film will introduce audiences to the customarily underappreciated work of stuntmen, including his stunt double, JoJo, who worked with Duke on “The Fall Guy” and “Black Panther.”

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“I always do a lot of stunts,” Duke says. “But I always have the care and cooperation of a really great team. JoJo was on that stunt team. He had a really great relationship with me. He knew my body and how I worked. When he was preparing everything for me, even before I showed up, he had an idea of ​​how to tell the story with certain moves that I knew very well.”

“My relationship with the entire (stunt) team was very helpful,” Duke adds. “I also played a stunt coordinator on this film. So I needed to shadow stunt coordinator Chris O’Hara and the remaining of the stunt team only for my very own learning.

“The Fall Guy” can now be seen in cinemas across Poland.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Beyoncé ‘was a mom first’ as she and Blue Ivy collaborated on the upcoming ‘Lion King’ prequel

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Who is Blue Ivy in Mufasa?, Beyoncé Blue Ivy Lion King, Beyonce Blue Ivy Mufasa, Who is Blue Ivy in Mufasa?  theGrio.com

After winning the hearts of fans around the world on her “Renaissance World Tour,” Blue Ivy joins her mother on her latest project. On April 29, Disney released the trailer for the latest installment of the “Lion King” cinematic universe, “Mufasa: The Lion King.”

The latest prequel to the classic film will star Beyoncé as Queen Nala, a role she played in Disney’s 2019 remake of the 1994 film. And 12-year-old Blue Ivy will make her acting debut, playing the voices of Kiara, Queen Nala and daughter of King Simba.

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter backstage at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, Sunday, February 4 (8:00-11:30 p.m., live ET/5:00 p.m.- ) 20:30, live PT) on the CBS television network. (Photo by Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images)

While performing in “Good morning America” – the film’s director, Barry Jenkins, shared his experience working with the mother-daughter duo.

“Beyoncé is an extraordinary figure, but when she’s working with her daughter, when she’s in the room with her, she’s first and foremost a mom,” Jenkins told GMA. “So much of that energy poured into the film.”

Even as they stood side by side on the Renaissance stage, it was clear that Beyoncé’s role as “mother” trumped every little thing else. In the “Renaissance World Tour” video, fans got a behind-the-scenes take a look at the making of the show, including the moments when the “Cowboy Carter” singer needed to punish a teenager for speaking out of turn.

“Blue told me she was ready to perform and I told her, ‘No,'” Beyoncé said in the video, in line with Washington Post.. “I didn’t think it was an appropriate place on the stadium stage for an 11-year-old.”

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Fans quickly became a highlight of the world tour and watched the star-born teenager’s confidence grow on stage as she performed in front of hundreds of individuals.

“It was magical,” Beyoncé added. “Her confidence kept growing. It was a beautiful thing for her.”

Premiering on December 20, 2024, “Mufasa: The Lion King” will present the bond between Beyoncé and her eldest daughter in a latest way.

“I was so happy that both Beyoncé and Blue Ivy decided to do this, and seeing them work together was really special…” Jenkins added. “I think they also just approached it (like) they both wanted to perform and give it their all. And yet they didn’t have to pretend too much, because they were actually mother and daughter.”



This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Naomi Osaka and LeBron James chair the 2024 Uninterrupted Film Festival selection committee

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As announced by the festival’s directors on Monday, Naomi Osaka, LeBron James and Joel Embiid will head the selection committee of the Uninterrupted Film Festival 2024.

According to reports, the tennis phenom and NBA superstars will select short movies to premiere at the Los Angeles festival, which focuses on the “intersection of sports culture and cinematography.” Deadline. The movies can be chosen through an open call for proposals and will develop into “the inaugural class of Uninterrupted Film Festival winners,” the website reported.

The Uninterrupted Film Festival, which kicked off in 2023, is supported by film producer Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Enterprises. Uninterrupted, a brand owned by James and entrepreneur Maverick Carter The SpringHill Company, is hosting the two-day event.

SpringHill was founded by James and Carter in 2020.

Los Angeles Lakers star and kid’s book writer LeBron James warms up before Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets in May at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

“Collaborating with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company in the heart of Los Angeles for the film festival is not only a celebration of storytelling, it is also breaking new ground,” said Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Rosenthal.

“This partnership is an exciting opportunity for Tribeca to further expand its presence beyond New York and establish itself as a platform for award-winning sports filmmaking and programming. In its second 12 months, Uninterrupted Festival, powered by Tribeca Festival, will mix the passion of sports with the art of filmmaking to offer fans with a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

Ricardo Viramontes, CEO of Uninterrupted, added that the brand “has partnered with Tribeca and the industry’s top athletes, all of whom define excellence both on and off the field.”

“These individuals are ideally suited to help us discover the next generation of storytellers, and they stand united in improving storytelling in the athlete and sports community,” he said in a press release.

The submission portal starts on Monday, April 29 and ends on Friday, May 31. According to the selection committee, short movies have to be “gripping stories from athletes” which can be “unique, innovative and inspiring.” Submissions must even be a maximum of 40 minutes in length, produced after January 2022 and could also be a narrative or documentary film.

The Uninterrupted Film Festival will happen on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9-10 in Los Angeles and can be open to the general public.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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