Night Catches Us

In 1976, after years of mysterious absence, Marcus (Anthony Mackie, “The Hurt Locker”) returns to the Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age in the midst of the Black Power movement. While his arrival raises suspicion among his family and former neighbors, he finds acceptance from his old friend Patricia (Kerry Washington, “Ray,” “Lift”) and her daughter. However, Marcus quickly finds himself at odds with the organization he once embraced, whose members suspect he orchestrated the slaying of their former comrade-in-arms. In a startling sequence of events, Marcus must protect a secret that could shatter everyone's beliefs as he rediscovers his forbidden passion for Patricia.

Director:
Tanya Hamilton

Cast:
Anthony Mackie
Kerry Washington
Jamie Hector
Wendell Pierce
Amari Cheatom

Writer:
Tanya Hamilton

Producers:
Ron Simons
Sean Costello
Jason Orans

What Do They Call Me?

Four "Women", Black "Girls" Rock - watch more funny videos

Mary J. Blige to Star in Nina Simone Biopic

Thanks to the movie For Colored Girls and the countless TV commercials and Films using her music, Nina Simone fever has been building over the past few years. So when is her story coming to the silver screen? That’s right folks in 2012. The moody, forceful soul diva Mary J. Blige has signed on play the moody, forceful soul diva Nina Simone, in Nina, the latter's inevitable biopic.

Blige becomes perhaps the highest-profile musician to star in another musician's biopic since Babs played Fanny Brice, though there have been a number of recent crossovers: club R&B star Jamie Foxx won an Oscar for playing Ray Charles, of course, and Joaquin Phoenix was nominated for one for Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. Beyonce played Etta James in Cadillac Records and who can forget Jennifer Lopez lip-syncing so movingly, Selena in Selena?

R&B songstress Mary J. Blige will tune up her jazz vocals after signing to star in Cynthia Mort's "Nina," a movie about legendary singer Nina Simone. Mort's script focuses on Simone's relationship with her assistant Clifton Henderson, who will be played by David Oyelowo, backers said.

William Morris Endeavor's Global Finance & Distribution Group brought the film to U.K. production, finance and studio facility operator Ealing Studios. Ealing is financing, producing and selling internationally the $10 million movie scheduled to shoot in the fall this year. WME Global is handling North American rights.

Mort's resume includes a stint as a writer-producer on TV's "Rosanne" and "Will & Grace" and as creator of "Tell Me You Love Me." Simone was a singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist.

FEELING GOOD by Nina Simone

FOUR WOMEN by Nina Simone

SINNERMAN by Nina Simone

HTC “You” TV Campaign - simpled SINNERMAN by DJ Felix Da Housecat

The Thomas Crown - SINNERMAN by Nina Simone

Ruby Dee Honored at BET's "Black Girls Rock!" Ceremony

By Joyce Lee

Ruby Dee, the actress who co-starred in the 1961 film adaption of "A Raisin in the Sun," was one of the many women honored at the 5th Annual "Black Girls Rock!" event, which aired Sunday on BET.

Dee, who is also known for being a political activist, journalist and poet, as well as an award-winning actress, was the receipt of this year's Living Legend Award.

"It's times like these that I come to understand and appreciate profoundly the empowerment and promise, the responsibility in being deemed a legend," Dee said in her acceptance speech, according to the press release.

The award show, which celebrated the power and influence of black women, also honored producer and rap artist Missy Elliot, who was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Teresa Clarke, the founder of Africa.com, who was given the Trailblazer Award.

Sunday's event, hosted by actress Nia Long, also featured musical performances by Keri Hilson, Ciara and Shontelle, but the show stopper was from Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott & Ledisi.

For Colored Girls Movie Poster - November 5, 2010

Click here to watch them ALL

For Colored Girls Posters

Nina Simone, Leona Lewis, Ledisi, and Janelle Monae Featured on 'For Colored Girls' Soundtrack

Here's a look at the soundtrack cover for Tyler Perry's 'For Colored Girls,' which will be released by Atlantic Records on Nov. 2.

The soundtrack features all new and unreleased music from artists such as Nina Simone, Gladys Knight, Leona Lewis, Estelle, Laura Izibor, Macy Gray, Janelle Monae and Lalah Hathaway.

The soundtrack sets the many stories of struggle told within the film's chore poem to music that reflects women's ongoing battle with love, abandonment and self-awareness.

Official track listing

1 Main Title – By Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington with Joshua Bell, Aaron Zigman & The Hollywood Studio

2 Longer & Stronger – By Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

3 All Day Long (Blue Skies) – By Estelle

4 What More Can They Do – By Laura Izibor

5 Sun – By Lalah Hathaway

6 Ansomnia – By Zaki Ibrahim

7 Settle – By Gladys Knight

8 La Donna In Viola – By Karen Slack, Andrea Jones-Sojola & The Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra

9 Sechita (A Senhora em Amarelo) – By Anika Noni Rose & Carondelet Percussion Ensemble

10 Stand Up – By Macy Gray

11 Without A Fight – By Janelle Monàe

12 Four Women – By Nina Simone, Simone, Laura Izibor & Ledisi

13 I Know Who I Am – By Leona Lewis

Directed by Tyler Perry, the film is based on Ntozake Shange's 1975 Tony Award-winning play and stars Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Michael Ealy, Kimberly Elise, Omari Hardwick, Hill Harper, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington, Whoopi Goldberg, Macy Gray, Khalil Kain and Richard Lawson.

'For Colored Girls' hits theaters on Nov. 5.

Tyler Perry takes on "For Colored Girls..." Film Version!

We at The FUTURE are super excited to see what Tyler Perry has up sleeves for the film version of Ntozake Shange's groundbreaking and Tony nominated play For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.

That's right, Tyler Perry, who has already collaborated on 9 projects with LionsGate Entertainment (including the upcoming Tyler Perry film I Can Do Bad All By Myself; opening September 11), has been slated to adapt, direct, and produce a film adaption of Shange's groundbreaking play in collaboration with LionsGate Entertainment, according to Variety.

If you read our August 7, 2009 post you would know that a

recent stage version directed by Jasmine Guy starring Nicole Ari Parker and Robin Givens, had a successful summer run in Atlanta, GA.

So will any of these fine and talented actresses be a part of the movie? Or will India.Arie, who was slated to star in the 2009 cancelled Broadway Production, finally get a nab at her acting role? We can only wait and see.

In any event congratulations Tyler Perry and thank you LionsGate Entertainment for bringing more stories on the African-American experience in America to the big screen.

For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf is a series of 20 poems, referred collectively as a "choreopoem", performed through a cast of nameless women, each known only by a color: "Lady in Yellow", "Lady in Purple", etc.. The poems deal with love, abandonment, rape and abortion.

According to the industry paper, filming will begin in November in Atlanta, GA, with a 2010 released planned.

Follow us on the futureforward.net as we keep you updated and informed.