Entertainment
Malcolm Washington and the cast of “The Piano Lesson” about family and the creation of historic black cinema – Essence
(Photo: Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Netflix)
Filmmaker Malcolm Washington and the cast of the Netflix series – Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler and John David Washington – discuss the importance of family, healing together and letting go of generational fears.
August Wilson’s historic film adaptation of Washington, D.C. has turn into a family-friendly cinematic endeavor. A theatrical release on November 8 and on Netflix on November 22 signifies that filmmaking is outwardly an inherent gene in the Washington family’s DNA. Denzel Washington, two-time Oscar winner and Malcolm’s father, produced the film and starred his other son, John David. “My mom is a pianist,” says first-time director Malcolm Washington. “She couldn’t play the piano for a long time. She had a strange relationship with the piano and that became very powerful in the story.”
In 1990, Wilson’s play won the Pulitzer Prize for its dramatized narrative presenting a realistically complex portrait of family life for Black Americans in Mississippi and Pittsburgh from 1911 to 1936 during the Jim Crow era. The successful 2022 Broadway version of Wilson’s work starred Jackson as “Doaker” and John David as “Boy Willie.”
“He was so generous” – John David talks about working with Jackson, who played many of the roles of August Wilson. “He has 40 years of experience with this text alone.”
Jackson’s repertoire of characters in cinema tends to convey a palpable sense of armed masculinity and toughness. Doaker could be very much the latter, which adds depth to Jackson’s varied game. From taking over the role of “Boy Willie” at Yale Theater School in 1987 to playing the quiet “Doaker” on Broadway in 2022, Jackson’s return gave him an entire recent perspective on these harrowing characters. “When you adapt, you have to lose a lot of things because you’re going beyond the original material and expanding the scope of the script itself,” Jackson states. “People and places will come together, and Willie is the engine that drives this story, while Doaker is the unwavering spirit.”
Next to him, Jackson was the headstrong Deadwyler, who took on the role of consciously protective mother and daughter, Berniece. Her character makes it her life’s work to take care of the most precious family heirloom, the piano that stood of their front room day by day. This piano was stolen from the Charles family by their ancestors’ slave owners, the Sutters. The instrument is a manifested vessel of blood, cultural and generational heritage, and knowledge that has outlined a family’s lineage; despite living in times that attempted to erase their each day existence. “When we were shooting the movie, my mom came on set and I saw her play the piano for the first time in years,” Washington recalled. “I haven’t heard this since I was young, it touched everyone and got everyone emotional.”
Black music and spirituality have been intertwined for hundreds of years, and Wilson’s raw play shows how collective trauma and the refusal to face fear can hinder a family’s healing. John David’s fiery portrayal of Willie shows that the pursuit of opportunity doesn’t all the time equate to true manhood and a fruitful legacy. His siblings’ conflicts with Berniece cause tension to mount in the family home, causing unexpected, terrifying ghosts to linger and resurface. “I think about stories and how important they are in keeping us connected across generations,” Deadwyler says, sitting next to John David. “I have a set of earrings from my grandmother and it speaks to how possessions can contribute to folklore in creating a family.”
When it involves collaborating with esteemed Black performers who’ve had illustrious careers on stage and screen, Deadwyler goes back to pure basics. “It’s an education,” Deadwyler describes his craft. “Art is a spiritual endeavor. It’s a political and personal endeavor, and doing it with serious people makes it all seem real. Filmmaking is meant to change who you are, and in turn, possibly change others, as well as create a rich conversation within the larger community.”
Growing up in Los Angeles, Malcolm Washington credits movies like these with giving him the artistic dimension to tackle his first film project. His directorial debut is all about sparking conversations and letting emotions run high. uses dialogue as a dynamic tool while moving the audience without clear directives or resolutions for the Charles family. It focuses on character relationships that leave audiences reeling – “the material found me when I needed it most, and I’m grateful it did,” Malcolm explains to me.
“Malcolm has a very clear vision,” says John David of witnessing his brother’s first directorial appearance. “He has always been a director I am a fan of. He was an artist I admire and someone I was ready to spread my wings with… and he took off.”
When adapting from stage to film, the creative collaboration of Malcolm and his family knew they’d to succinctly tackle confronting scenes related to grief, acceptance of loss and familial uncertainty. “My approach to the house, where most of the film was shot, was to chase dynamism,” Malcolm details his directing techniques. “I really wanted a camera that was moving, wandering and dynamic, speaking to the subtext of the scenes, able to communicate what was between the lines and sometimes working in opposition to the lines, something that would represent the subjective experience of the film and reach inside the characters.”
Although the dialogue Wilson had originally created was of great value to the filmmaking, Malcolm focused on allowing his multi-talented cast to take a relaxed approach to bring the organic performances to life. “I wanted the cast to find a rhythm that felt good for us as a whole, so we would break through the kind of stiffness that can sometimes come with a sacred work when we are so afraid.”
In this case, viewers can follow the events in the Charles family home as tensions rise when Berniece touches the piano keys. She and the piano are a tethered source and conduit for a lot of of her family’s invisible guardian angels – their ancestors. Earth, wind, fire and water are seasonal because despite the fact that family and community dynamics may change, nature will all the time remain, but the most significant thing is when everyone comes together.
When Willie’s dad shows him the land and notes that it’s the land that may take more,” Washington continues. “His father puts his hand on his back and I remember my dad doing the same thing and putting his giant hand on my little back.” This idyllic, easy scene is the quintessence of the essential story that Malcom creates, which goals to firmly root and ground Black people in the family despite confusion and troubles. The full gathering of the Charles family in the final minutes is conflict, climax and resolution – together they only archive their presence through memory. “I will never take for granted the love that goes into a project. Sacrifice required from everyone, from top to bottom,” Washington says.
Jordan Brand officially signed the 4-time WnBA All-Star Nafiesa Collier, today announced the company. This announcement coincides with the Tipoff of the WNBA 2025 season.
Collier, the prevailing defensive player of the 12 months, and second place in the MVP race last season, still strengthens his place as one in all the most talented league stars. In addition to W can also be a co -founder of unparalleled, the latest 3 × 3 basketball league, which goals to lift the rim of girls.
“Attaching to the Jordan family, I am now part of the legacy, which consistently defined what is possible in basketball,” said Collier in a press release. “This partnership seems particularly significant since it combines my results on the pitch with influence that goes far beyond the game itself.
“When young girls see this cult figure, I want them to inspire them to aim higher than they think. It is an honor to help achieve a tradition that smoothly combines the athletic size with cultural importance.”
Jordan Brand
Jordan Brand
Collier earlier signed a contract with Nike in 2020, which included each footwear and clothing. During her stick with Nike, she wore several models and debuted Exclusive colours for a lot of KD15 players in 2022
Her signing of Jordan appears when the brand refreshes its women’s basketball composition amongst the popularity of WNBA. Current athletes from Jordan are comparable to Rhyne Howard, Kia Nurse and Jordin Canada.
“Jordan Brand believes that the current monumental transition in women’s basketball can change the world in a similar way that Michael Jordan did in 1984 and later,” said the company in a press release. “By investing in trailblazers such as Collier, Jordan Brand confirms his commitment to shaping the future of basketball, while crossing cultural borders around the world.”
In the first round in 2019, Collier comes out of the best season with Minnesota Lynx. She obtained a mean of 20.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 thefts per match, leading the team to the WNBA finals.
Glorilla on the Coachella Valley 2025 music and art festival on April 18, 2025 in Indio, California. (Photo of Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
Bet Awards 2025 is preparing for an unforgettable celebration of black musical perfection and culture with the primary wave of performers announced. The hip-hop legend Lil Wayne, Multihyfenate Powerhouse and Black Women in Hollywood Honree Teyana Taylor, Breakout Star Glorilla, Playboi Carti and winner of the Grammy Award Singer and the creator of the lyrics, Leon Thomas, are prepared for the stage on the twenty fifth anniversary night of culture. The event, led by comedian and Kevin Hart’s global sensation, can be broadcast live with Los Angeles on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 20:00 et/
“Let’s pretend to be the tone of the night, which celebrates 25 years of influence, creativity and black culture,” shared by Connie Orlando, vice chairman of special affairs, musical programming and music strategy in Bet. “Thanks to the electrifying performances of one of the greatest musical names and the iconic comedy host” Bet Awards “2025 will be the holiday of everything that culture represents.”
The performance of Teyana Taylor is already generating a serious noise, since it guarantees that it’ll be an experience for under one night that opposes expectations. Known for her creativity supporting the border and breathtaking stage presence, Taylor may also manage the creative direction in tribute to the twenty fifth anniversary. The beloved Countdown program will return with the unique hosts AJ Calloway, Free Marie Wright, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz and Terrence J, that the nostalgic celebration of music and culture. In homage, he has explosive results from Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, Ti and others, reviving energy and influences which have change into black entertainment water stone.
The night may also forged the highlight on this yr’s most significant nominees. Kendrick Lamar runs ten nominations, while the Doechi, Drake, Future and Glorilla strictly follow the six nod. Metro Boomin won five nominations, and Shah and Weeknd won 4 pieces. As the expectations are built, fans also can expect further advertisers’ announcements, special distinctions and the return of Bet Experience 2025 (Betx)-a thinner event of engaging fans from June 5 to June 8.
Made by Jesse Collins Entertainment, with Connie Orlando, Jamal Noisette, Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeanae Rouzan-Clay, who’re executive producers, Bet Awards 2025 are able to be a orientation point for black music and culture. After Kevin Hart’s characteristic humor established the scene and a suggestion of unforgettable performances, the most important night of culture is prepared to create history again.
At the start of the deduction by June 9, the twenty fifth anniversary of the BET awards guarantees not only performances, but additionally the feast of the legacy and cultural influence – the moment when the past, present and way forward for black music are connected under one roof.
Entertainment
American basketball player, Jarred Dwayne Shaw, arrested in Indonesia for alleged drug smuggling
The police said that the American basketball player in the Indonesian league was arrested for the alleged try and smuggle illegal drugs to the country, the police said on Thursday.
The country of Southeast Asia has extremely harsh drugs on drugs, and the convicted smugglers are sometimes performed by the shooting unit.
Jarred Dwayne Shaw, 34, from Dallas in Texas, was arrested on May 7, after the police attacked his apartment in Tangerang Regency, just before the capital, Jakarta, and took 132 pieces of hemp candy, said Ronald Sipayung, head of the police in Soekarno-Hatta.
Sipayung said that the arrest took place on the side of the customary airport in which Shaw received a suspicious respiratory tract package from Thailand. Sipayung said that cannabis have been decriminated in Thailand since November 2024. As a part of the anti -drust regulations, Indonesia Shaw has change into a life sentence or death sentence whether it is found guilty.
The film circulating on social media allegedly showed Shaw, dressed in a black T -shirt and shorts, based when he’s pushed out by the police and shouting “Help … help!” When he was to be arrested.
Shaw played in several clubs in the Indonesian basketball league since 2022 and signed a contract with Tangerang Hawk last 12 months. According to Sipayung, he told the police throughout the interrogation that he desired to share marijuana sweets with other basketball players.
He said that the candies contained a complete gross mass of 869 grams (30.6 ounces) of the illegal cannabinoid in the package.
“We are still investigating to discover the international drug network by this matter and stop its distribution,” said Sipayung.
Shaw didn’t terminate any statement when the authorities presented him on Wednesday a press conference in an orange shirt detained and a mask with touched hands.
Tangerang Hawks manager, Tikky Suwantikno, told journalists on Thursday that they regret what was done by Shaw, and the club immediately released him when he violated the contract.
The Indonesian Basketball league banned Shaw to play for life, said its chairman, Budisatrio Djiwandono.
“We do not tolerate players, administrators or anyone in the field of drugs involved. There is no place for drug users in the world of basketball,” said Djiwandonono.
The United Nations Bureau for drugs and crime claims that Indonesia is the primary hub of drug -modified drug, despite having one in all the closest drugs regarding drugs in the world, partly because international drug syndicates targeted their young population.
About 530 persons are in the death cell in Indonesia, mainly for drug -related crimes, including 96 foreigners, shown by the Ministry of immigration and correction. Recent executions of Indonesia, Indonesians and three foreigners were carried out in July 2016.
(Tagstranslat) basketball
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