Celebrating Diversity In The Entertainment Industry
DIRECTOR OF DREAMS
CALVIN 'CYLK' COZART THE MARVELOUS
MELBA MOORE HW SPOTLIGHT
JERRY BOYD
WANDA RAY WILLIS SHINES AGAIN
Dress by Wanda Ray Willis Photo by Kevin Boot
Letter From The Editor PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Prather Jackson VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris Michael D. Coxson BOOK EDITORS Jane Ubell-Meyer Meryl Moss ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Hailey Ashley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alex A. Kecskes Carmelita Pittman LIFE & STYLE EDITOR Niki Shadrow Snyder niki@projectpopdrop.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rouland Medina
The amazing Wanda Ray Willis! Our cover story is about a multi-faceted Bermuda-born woman who arrived in U.S. with nothing more than a suitcase and $300. Her parent's guidance gave her the foundation of her success initially took her to watch "The Sound of Music" as a youngster. Together with determination, it gave her inspiration to what Wanda became today, an accomplished international actress, pianist, singer, recording artist, composer, dancer and executive musical producer.
She earned recognitions, elevated her career and won multiple awards in music and stage performances. Read more of her amazing story on page 12. Enjoy!
Prather Jackson Publisher
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Denise Chavez
CALL TODAY!
AFRICA OPERATIONS Egor Efiok Egorefiok@gmail.com
818.471.0564
BRAZIL OPERATIONS Fabio Glingani Rico@lapenda.net (310) 567-3333
W W W. B E S T Y S K I N . C O M
INDIA OPERATION Ike Sinha Mobile +919599068592
MENTION HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY FOR A SPECAL DISCOUNT
LATIN AMERICA Karla Silva Karla@monarks.Biz 818.254.5505 Jose Beltran wpsevents@gmail.com 562.546.2840 DISTRIBUTORS CoMag MADER NEWS Call: (424) 371-9900 Email: HollywoodWeekly@gmail.com Instagram: @ hollywoodweekly Twitter: @ hollywoodweekly
12 16
Wanda Ray Willis Shines Again
Melba Moore Singer
20 28
HW Spotlight Jerry Boyd
Calvin 'Cylk' Cozart Director of Dreams
Hollywood Weekly Black Culture is a publication wholly owned by Prather Jackson HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY MAGAZINE LLC. © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permisssion of the publisher is expressly prohibited. Letters to the editor may be sent to: PRATHER@HOLLYWOODWEEKLYMAGAZINE.COM. 8345 Reseda Blvd #117, Northridge, CA 91324. For advertising inquiries call: (424) 371-9900
GREENWICH ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
WE ARE AS GODS
ABOUT THE FILM WE ARE AS GODS offers a deep dive into the many sides of Stewart Brand— the Zelig-like creator of The Whole Earth Catalog, an influential member of Ken Kesey’s “The Merry Pranksters,” and an early activist in the modern environmental movement. Brand, in his guise as cyberutopian, coined the phrase “personal computer” and influenced many in Silicon Valley, including Steve Jobs, who have gone on to shape our modern world. Now in his 80s, Brand looks to leave a legacy for the long-term future with his efforts to rewild ecosystems by resurrecting extinct species. But his former allies believe he’s gone too far. COMMENTS FROM GREENWICH ENTERTAINMENT Greenwich co-president Ed Arentz said: “David and Jason have created a vastly entertaining bio-doc of a true American original. For those who remember his counter-culture bible "The Whole Earth Catalog" to those who were inspired by his ideas about the emerging world of computing and technology and to those excited by his latest species de-extinction crusade, we know audiences will be entranced by the long, strange trip of Stewart Brand.” COMMENTS FROM THE FILMMAKERS Directors David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg said: "With our partners at Greenwich Entertainment, we’re thrilled to bring Stewart Brand’s extraordinary story into movie theaters and homes across America. Stewart is an amazing subject for a documentary—a showman whose grand projects are responsible for shifting humanity’s perspective on Earth, time, and now life itself. Stewart gave us filmmakers unfettered access to his life for the last 3+ years, and access to 50+ years of neverseen-before archival material. The result is a cinematic experience of the amazing life of this towering figure."
4 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 5
Fine Quality Handcrafted Porch Swings, Bed Swings, & Patio Swings (404) 994-4997 | www.georgiaswings.com
When we at Georgia Swings began building porch and patio swings 9 years ago, we had no idea that the demand for our products would be so great. It soon became apparent that Georgia Swings was a cut above the porch/patio swings and bed swings being sold at the typical box stores and swing companies. When customers began to come from neighboring states to purchase Georgia Swings and Bed Swings, we knew we had succeeded in creating a product that was by far superior to other porch and patio swing-products being sold. Porch, patio and bed swings are no longer considered a luxury to be enjoyed by a few; they can be a Zen way of relaxation for anyone with a living space, or with the ability to imagine and create an elegant and peaceful place to read, meditate or just relax in luxury.
SAVANNAH DAYBED SWING Call for pricing. The Savannah Daybed Swing has an excellent design with a beautiful showroom finish making it ideal for indoor or outdoor living spaces. There are four solid wooden posts on each corner that attach directly to the hanging material, such as rope or chains. The design of the bed allows a bed swing cushion or mattress to sit into the frame about 1-1/2” to stabilize it while giving it a sleek contemporary look. Beautiful hand-cut wooden balusters run along the two sides and backrest. Adequate height and strength of the balusters comfortably support anyone who prefers to sit up instead of lying down.
THE DECATUR PORCH/ PATIO SWING Call for pricing. Traditional-style wooden porch swing with a flat seat and angled backrest. A flat seat allows for cushions to be placed securely between the armrest supports if desired. This swing has the nostalgia and charm that will complement many homes, especially historic and craftsman-style homes. Select from kiln-dried treated pine, western red cedar, or white oak as your solid wood of choice. 6 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
ROUNDUP
2022 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 7
ROUNDUP
MUSIC
ENCUENTROS LA 2022 THE DUDAMEL FOUNDATION AND THE LA PHIL CO-PRESENT ENCUENTROS LA 2022 SUMMER MUSIC EDUCATION AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS UNDER THE leadership of Gustavo Dudamel and María Valverde, the Dudamel Foundation and the LA Phil will co-present Encuentros LA 2022, their first Encuentros (Encounters) in the United States, July 19–August 5, 2022. Encuentros is a global music education program that explores cultural unity and celebrates harmony, equality, dignity, beauty and respect through music, with the goal of inspiring and teaching a new generation of young leaders to work toward building a better world. The young musicians will also participate in community initiatives, mentorship opportunities with the YOLA National Festival and projects throughout Los Angeles, culminating with concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and UC Berkeley. In honor of the Hollywood Bowl’s first 100 seasons, over 100 top-tier young musicians (ages 18–26) from the Americas and around the world—from 34 youth orchestra and El Sistema-inspired programs in 22 countries—will work sideby-side in the Encuentros Orchestra. Capping the two-week orchestral training festival, Gustavo Dudamel, the Encuentros Orchestra including members of YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) are joined by multi-Grammywinning vocalist, bassist and composer esperanza spalding—who recently took home a 2022 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Celebrating the next generation of arts leaders, Musical Encounters with Dudamel and esperanza spalding will include a world premiere LA Phil commission by award-winning composer and El Sistema alum Giancarlo Castro D’Addona, concerts at the Hollywood Bowl on August 2, 2022, and in partnership with Cal Performances at UC Berkeley’s William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre on August 4, 2022. 8 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
LA Phil Chief Executive Officer and David C. Bohnett Chief Executive Officer Chair Chad Smith said, “When Gustavo first joined us more than a decade ago, we never could have predicted that YOLA, the seed he planted at the EXPO Center in South LA with just 80 students, would blossom into this—a completely interconnected and global expression of our shared values of access, inclusion and the sheer power of music to transform the lives of individuals and communities. Every aspect of our organization, from YOLA to YOLA National to our Dudamel Conducting Fellows to our musicians and audiences, is engaged in Encuentros LA
2022, and we couldn’t be more excited to see it all come together on the Hollywood Bowl stage.” During the intensive orchestral global leadership and music training program, workshops and rehearsals will be conducted by Dudamel and LA Phil Dudamel conducting fellows with additional sectionals and masterclasses led by a faculty of musicians from the LA Phil and guest artists from top orchestras from around the globe, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Opéra National de Paris, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta
ROUNDUP
MUSIC Sinfónica Nacional de Chile and SWR Symphonieorchester Stuttgart. LA Phil Music & Artistic Director and Dudamel Foundation Co-Chair Gustavo Dudamel explained, “I have always believed that every child should be given the opportunity to learn at the highest level. And so it is a dream for María and me to be able to create this beautiful Encuentros, where talented young musicians from around the world get the chance to work with some of the most incredible artists in our field. We are trying to build a community together, founded on empathy, discipline, respect and inclusion.” Dudamel Foundation Co-Chair María Valverde added, “This shared experience is not just about making music, it is the cultural, social and spiritual act of creation. Sharing conversations and experiences with these incredible role models will offer all of us a space to experiment and to grow, and together we hope to inspire the leaders of a new generation to build a better world together.” Career training sessions on leadership and social change will explore the power and use of language, how to leverage social and digital media to share stories, and audience education around diversity of experience, and create pathways for a mission-driven career in music. Small group and one-on-one meetings will encourage shared learning and career training for young musicians to delve into a range of important issues: portfolio development, arts management, communications and public relations, and interviewing skills and networking. Focusing on the idea of reciprocal mentorship, each of the Dudamel Foundation artists will be paired with YOLA National students who will serve as mentors, role models and peers. In turn, each of the Dudamel Foundation artists will be mentored by world class teaching artists from the LA Phil and around the world. Cultural exchange and dialogue will be encouraged through a series of public and private talks and discussions hosted by friends and colleagues, with additional details to be announced. The Encuentros Festival is supported by Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen.
Boyz II Men
Ricky Martin
Pentatonix
Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina
TLC
A Summer of Stars at the hollywood bowl
MANY OF the biggest names in entertainment are scheduled to appear at the Hollywood Bowl during its centennial season. The historic line-up will include Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina (July 15-16), Ricky Martin with the LA Phil and Gustavo Dudamel (July 22-23), Boyz II Men and TLC (July 29), John Fogerty (July 30), a-ha with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins (July 31), Sheryl Crow and Keb’ Mo’ (August 3), The Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes (August 19-20), Diana Ross (August 26-27), Duran Duran with fireworks (September 9, 10 and 11), Pink Martini (September 14), Lang Lang (September 15), Grace Jones and CHVRCHES (September 25) and Pentatonix (September 29). HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 9
ROUNDUP
TV & FILM
DC League of Super-Pets SUPER HEROES FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS FIGHTS CRIME IN THE METROPOLIS
DWAYNE JOHNSON stars as the voice of Krypto the Super-Dog in Warner Bros. Pictures’ animated action adventure feature film “DC League of Super-Pets,” from director Jared Stern. The film also stars the voices of Kevin Hart (the “Jumanji” and “Secret Life of Pets” films), Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live,” the “Magic School Bus Rides Again” films, “Ferdinand”), John Krasinski (the “Quiet Place” films, “Free Guy”), Vanessa Bayer (“Saturday Night Live,” “Office Christmas Party,” “Trainwreck”), Natasha Lyonne (“Show Dogs,” “Ballmastrz 9009”), Diego Luna (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Maya and the Three”), Marc Maron (“Joker,” “GLOW”), Thomas Middleditch (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”), Ben Schwartz (“Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Duck Tales”), and Keanu Reeves (the “Matrix” and “John Wick” films). In “DC League of Super-Pets,” Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing 10 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by side. When Superman and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a rag-tag shelter pack—Ace the hound, PB the potbellied pig, Merton the
turtle and Chip the squirrel—to master their own newfound powers and help him rescue the superheroes. Stern, a veteran writer/consultant on the “LEGO®” movies, makes his animated feature film directorial debut, directing from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator John Photo by Giles from Keyte Whittington, based on characters DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film is produced by Patricia Hicks, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Jared Stern. The executive producers are John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, Nicholas Stoller, Allison Abbate, Chris Leahy, Sharon Taylor and Courtenay Valenti. Stern’s creative team includes production designer Kim Taylor (“The LEGO® Ninjago Movie”) and editors David Egan (“Game Night,” “Vacation”) and Jhoanne Reyes (“Teen Titans GO!” “Young Justice”). The music is by Steve Jablonsky (the “Transformers” films). Warner Bros. Pictures Presents A Seven Bucks Production, “DC League of SuperPets.” The film will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures in theaters beginning July 2022.
ROUNDUP
TV & FILM
Easter Sunday STAND-UP COMEDY sensation Jo Koy (Jo Koy: In His Elements, Jo Koy: Comin’ in Hot) stars as a man returning home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family, in this love letter to his Filipino-American community. Easter Sunday features an all-star comedic cast that includes Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley series), Tia Carrere (True Lies, Wayne’s World films), Brandon Wardell (Curb Your Enthusiasm series), Tony nominee Eva Noblezada (Broadway’s Hadestown), Lydia Gaston (Broadway’s The King and I), Asif Ali (WandaVision), Rodney To (Parks and
Recreation series), Eugene Cordero (The Good Place series), Jay Chandrasekhar (I Love You, Man), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) and Lou Diamond Phillips (Courage Under Fire). Easter Sunday, from DreamWorks Pictures, is directed by Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, The Dukes of Hazzard), from a script by Ken Cheng (series Wilfred, Betas). The film is produced by Rideback’s Dan Lin (The Lego Movie franchise, It franchise) and Jonathan Eirich (Aladdin, The Two Popes), and is executive produced by Jo Koy, Jessica Gao, Jimmy O. Yang, Ken Cheng, Joe Meloche,
Nick Reynolds and Seth William Meier. The film will be distributed by Universal Pictures domestically. Amblin Partners and Universal will share international distribution rights. Easter Sunday will be in theaters August 5, 2022.
Season Two Of HBO Drama Series 'INDUSTRY Debuts AugusT THE EIGHT-EPISODE second season of HBO drama series INDUSTRY debuts on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max in August. INDUSTRY gives an insider's view of the blackbox of high finance following a group of young bankers as they forge their identities within the pressure cooker environment and sex and drug fueled blitz of international bank Pierpoint & Co's London office. In Season 2, our grads are no longer allowed to hide behind their graduate status. The market is ripping, and Pierpoint's back to work or else mandate has the trading floor more charged up and paranoid than ever. New U.S. management will be gasoline on the flames - an injection of cross Atlantic energy that lights a fire under each and every employee. Now
Harper (Herrold), Yasmin (Abela) and Robert (Lawtey) must drive new business and make new alliances both in and out of the office as Pierpoint and its junior bankers seek to take every advantage in a post-COVID world. After almost all secured positions at Pierpoint & Co., season two of INDUSTRY picks up a year after the height of the pandemic and stars returning “Graduates” Myha’la Herrold (“Bodies, Bodies, Bodies”) as Harper Stern, Marisa Abela (“Cobra”) as Yasmin Kara-Hanani, Harry Lawtey (“The Pale Blue Eye”) as Robert Spearing, and David Jonsson (“Deep State”) as Gus Sackey; and “Management” Ken Leung (“Old” and HBO’s High Maintenance”) as Eric Tao, and Conor MacNeill (“Artemis Fowl”) as Kenny Kilblane.
INDUSTRY is created, written and executive produced by Mickey Down & Konrad Kay; written and executive produced by Jami O’Brien. The series is a Bad Wolf Production for HBO/BBC and is executive produced by Jane Tranter, David P. Davis, Ryan Rasmussen, and by Ben Irving for BBC; produced by Edo Ferretti. Additional writers include Matthew Barry, Zara Meerza, Joseph Charlton and Charly Evon Simpson. Directors include Birgitte Stærmose, Isabella Eklöf and Caleb Femi. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 11
THE AMAZING
WANDA RAY WILLIS Article by Carmelita Pittman
AS WANDA looked out at the view from her home in Bermuda, she saw pristine blue waters and blue skies. From the harbor looking West there were rows of houses with white roof tops. At an early age her precocious talent showed itself. By the age of 3 she was dancing as the cute flower girl, and singing in church. Her artistic talent also showed itself. She created beautiful paintings on canvas. Her parents , Eldon and Barbara Raynor gave her guidance which was the foundation for her success. As a youngster her mother took her to see The Sound of Music. She became so inspired that she memorized every note. Dress designed by Wanda Ray Willis. Photo by Kevin Boot 12 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
During her time at home as an adult she created “Spunk Bubble”, a TV fun reading readiness program for children. Her parents gave her the genes which produced her beauty which has enabled her to portray her idol, Dorothy Dandridge. The stunning resemblance is uncanny. Her brother, Eldon Raynor Jr., also has carried the music genes and plays guitar. Wanda and Eldon became the Raynors, and teamed with the legendary H.B. Barnum, music conductor and arranger extraordinare whose extensive arranging credits include names such as Aretha Franklyn, Frank Sinatra, Billy & Marilyn McCoo and more. The result was a CD which Wanda produced.
Dorothy Dandridge starred in the "Carmen Jones" film with Harry Belafonte. There is none other than Wanda Ray Willis who has resembled Dorothy Dandridge as closely. Photos by Randall Williams When Wanda arrived on the shores of the U.S.A. she had no more than a suitcase and $300. Her aunt Dora of New York had planted the seed when she encouraged Wanda’s mom to direct her towards Hollywood. However Wanda had other reasons for her arrival, and that was to finalize a divorce. Yet these were new beginnings and Wanda managed to make a living teaching piano in New Jersey. One of the mothers of her young students introduced her to Fred White, an accomplished lighting technician for the film industry. He took one look at her original script and told her to go to Hollywood. She made her way there and became involved with
Continental Cable television where she honed her craft. Already the holder of a degree, her training there enhanced her expertise. Wanda Ray Willis, SAG-AFTRA, has emerged as an award winning and accomplished international actress, pianist, singer, recording artist, composer, dancer and executive musical producer. Her most recognize role has been her tribute to the legendary Dorothy Dandridge. She wrote and produced, “Walking in Dorothy Dandridge’s Shoes, Her Final New Beginning”. Her devoted research has revealed many unknown facts about the life of Dorothy Dandridge, a pioneer in the film industry whose bravery
opened doors for many women of color to follow. Her documentary was accepted by the Las Vegas Premiere Film Festival and submitted to the Cannes Film Festival. A five minute short of this film is being produced to pitch a major movie about Dorothy Dandridge to be portrayed by an A list actress. Wanda has handled challenges along the way with the help of friends such as Lasalle Gabriel, who she met in Bermuda, a noted guitarist with Sounds of Blackness, who gave up his room to Wanda in his mother’s home while he was on the road. Her next stop was her own place in a Spanish styled building in Glendale. Without a car she managed to maneuver film assignments by Central Casting which sent her out from Glendale to Lancaster which she willingly accepted and arrived by bus on time. Although she became in demand as a high profile background actor she had a role in a film,”The Glow of a Warm Aquarium”. At another time as a performer she juggled handling her keyboards, mike stand, speaker, suitcase with costumes venturing to West L.A. and returning to Inglewood via two buses. She became a familiar sight to passengers and the bus drivers who marveled at her. Returning from an engagement she managed to get her gear and head home late at night knowing that she was protected by God. The theatre beckoned her. She wound up in several productions. When she auditioned for North on South Central the director said, “Where have you been?” That production earned an NAACP award for the cast. She eventually performed in a Leroy Richardson production at the Saban theatre to which her supportive parents flew out from Bermuda to see.
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 13
Multi-faceted, her range embodies many aspects of entertainment. It has earned her recognition by her peers and top industry individuals such as Michael Massengale, Michael St John and Sassy Gerhardt who directed her to a production which elevated her career. She is the winner of Motown Maurice Wrap Festival, LANFA’S Triple Threat winner, and this year’s BMA award for best artist Dorothy Dandridge portrayal. After one of her performances Ruta Lee took to the stage and said Wanda was worthy of Broadway and that she deserved support. Other notables such as JaNet DuBois have also recognized her Grammy Award winner and writer, Felton Pilate, Preston Glass, H.B. Barnum, Herman Jackson, and the Life Choir, Jay Blakey’s song “Look Up to God for Love”, all have played a role in her career. Record labels
Specific & PeachtreeRecords, Kuwa Productions (Kurtis Blow), Polygram Records, Clark Jay Productions have all known Wanda. She is also collaborating on music projects with Lincoln Kilpatrick Jr and Larry Ball. Her ambitious plans include releasing 3 original recordings, music videos, being an interviewer with the soon to be released syndicated streamed Las Vegas on Air Live podcast, beginning with the Modesto American Grafitti Car Show and festival and others to follow. She also performs regularly with an 18 piece Big Band at The Barkleys of Pasadena, tutors piano lessons and performs piano/vocals in her trio and duo acts when booked. Upcoming shows include her solo Dorothy Dandridge musical at Barbara Morrison’s Performing Arts Center Aug 27, interviewer Aug 20 (Camarillo), Oct 23, NAEJA'S
19th banquet at the Proud Bird, Oct 29 with Craig Kupka'sBig Band in Bel Air, First Tuesdays at Barkley in Pasadena and July 9 at The Conference Room. She also continues to audition virtually for film and television speaking parts through her agents. Wanda aspires to open doors for upcoming talent via NAEJA (National Association of Equal Justice in America) of which she serves as the Entertainment Industry committee chair which aims to provide opportunities to promote Diversity in the film and television industry. www.wandaraywillisshinesagain.com • IMDb • MJB Talent Agency • LP & Associates • Las Vegas on Air • Live.com • CD Baby
FI
N
• YouTube • Amazon • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • LinkedIn
Dorothy Dandridge starred in the "Carmen Jones" film with Harry Belafonte. There is none other than Wanda Ray Willis who has resembled Dorothy Dandridge as closely. Photos by Randall Williams 14 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
D
O
N
:
Wanda Ray Willis wrote and produced, "Walking in Dorothy Dandridge's Shoes, Her New Beginning". This year she received the BMA award for best Dorothy Dandridge portrayal. Photo by Rasho Golman.
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 15
16 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
The Marvelous
MELBA MOORE! She is timeless... She is unapologetic. She is marvelous.
T
he marvelous Melba Moore who rode the music charts in the 80s now demonstrates that staying power has never gone out of style. After four decades of life on stage, her appeal is timeless with a new album - Imagine - which is climbing the charts. She is singing new songs today with a vocal range that has not dimmed with time. Her voice is powerful with purpose and passion. Her multi-octave vocal range continues to wow all who listen. The new album, “Imagine' --marks a return to her R&B roots. With this album, marvelous Melba Moore continues to leave nothing to the imagination because we hear her passion - clear and direct. Her conversations today reflect the struggles of many generations -- from breaking barriers to transcending the waves of time. So In Love, the first release from IMAGINE, her latest offering to the musical landscape, spent 3 weeks atop
The UK Soul Top 30 Chart in November 2021 and returned Moore to airwaves in the United States and around the globe. The world is ready for MARVELOUS MELBA! Melba Moore brings history to her new project IMAGINE and creates a relevance that we all can feel. Melba’s rich and soulful sound harkens back to her charttopping successes the 1970s and 1980s. However, “I have lots of younger people bringing me new music,” Melba says, but stands soundly on his musical history, noting that “we're the foundation of it.” “Since God has given me my good health and ability to continue to do my work, it's my privilege now to say, ‘This is where it came from, this is how it was, and I'm here to pass it on to you.’ It is not only the foundation of Afrocentric culture, but it's part of America and world history.” And Melba Moore is soundly rooted in that history!
Stepping into life - Now The Marvelous Melba Moore has been making new waves in music for some 50 years. While she set many records over the years, her music continues to win the hearts of new generations. Ms. Moore’s 1978 dance classic "You Stepped Into My Life" continues to ignite audiences. Melba is stepping into the life of new generations with her new music and climbing the charts one step at a time. TRACK LISTING OF IMAGINE 1. So In Love 2. Take Me Away 3. Can't Stop The Rain 4. Imagine 5. Since I Took My Heart Back 6. Take Her Picture Down 7. Free 8. The Highest Star 9. Joy & Pain 10. Forever
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 17
12 LGBTQIA+
CREATIVES TO KNOW
Creatively Curated brings some of the best creatives from across our community to your inbox. As Pride month draws to a close, we’re proud to spotlight the LGBTQIA+ artists in our community whose portfolios feature painting, photography, fashion design, documentaries, and more. From Keenan MacWilliams’s high-impact music videos for HAWA to Johnathan Hayden’s eyecatching original fashion prints, these creatives’ work includes visual art, experiential work, and projects that tap into the cultural zeitgeist. Scroll to connect with—and hire!—these incredibly talented LGBTQIA+ artists on Creatively.
KEENAN MACWILLIAM
Director, Creative Director, Multi-disciplinary Artist, New York, NY
ALBIE ALEXANDER
Experiential Creative Director, Los Angeles, CA
VIN SERVILLON
Visual Artist, New York, NY
18 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
NORMA VLT
Photographer, Creative Director, Texas
ONRAÉ LATEAL
Music Producer & Creative Arts Educator, Washington, D.C.
JORGE "GITOO" WRIGHT
Multi-hyphenate Creative, New York, NY
LAKIESHA HERMAN
Designer, Strategist, Creative Director, NY & LA
JACOB HICKS
Painter, Art Educator, Midland, TX
CRYSTAL ANDERSON
Experiential Producer, Creative Director, NY & LA
ASHLEY OSBORN
Photographer, Los Angeles, CA
JOHNATHAN HAYDEN Fashion Designer, New York, NY
CHARLES NICOLA
Fashion Stylist, New York, NY
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 19
The Story of
JERRY BOYD A Man Who Dared to Dream
By Hailey Ashley
W
hat does success mean to you? Fame? Fortune? Or is there an entirely different meaning, unique to each and every one of us? As we dive into the life of Mr. Jerry Boyd, the definition of success is seen in an entirely new light. His incredible journey opens our mind to one of the truest forms of triumph we’ve ever seen. As we spoke to Jerry, we quickly learned that we were dealing with a man of depth. One who has been on a long, strenuous journey in life. He took us through the ups and downs he’s experienced, and the strength he’s been able to achieve. This is a man who has made something of nothing, and taken the most sour of lemons and created the sweetest lemonade. Coming from humble beginnings, Jerry was born into a family of share croppers in Alabama. From the time he could walk, until the ripe age of 10, Jerry spent his days in the fields. Day in and day out, in the freezing rain, or the beating sun Jerry did what he knew how to do, pick cotton. Living with his mother, and stepfather, he did what he needed to do to contribute. But as the days grew long, Jerry would look to the endless blue sky and dream. He dreamed of a better life for himself, and with the influence of the first television show he ever saw, ‘Cisco Kids’, he dreamed of one day being apart of the magical world of entertainment.
20 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
JERRY BOYD It became evident to Jerry that the universe had a different plan for him. At the age of 12, when the relationship with his step-father became too much to handle, Jerry ran. He was on a mission to find what all young men need, a father. Although he was tough as nails, the streets were tougher, and this boy who was forced to be a man was no match for the long, rugged road ahead. Jerry fought through countless hardships while hitch hiking from Alabama to Dayton Ohio, in search of his biological father, including one no person ever deserves to suffer through. He was molested by a man who offered him a glimpse of hope to reach his destination. At the time, this was a catastrophic experience! Without a doubt, the worst moment of his young life, and although he remained open and honest about the experience, his biggest let down was yet to come. Emotionally stoked, he says softly, after finally reaching Ohio, and coming face to face with the man I had been yearning for. (At this point he broke down), shedding tears as he talked about the parental rejection he faced. Then things took a turn for the worst, as he emotionally explained how door were slammed in his face, and how he was left with no place to turn to. ...he paused momentarily, in a very reflective manner, and cried even harder as he told us that this experience, the rejection by his father was by far the worse than anything he faced while navigating his way to Ohio, to include the molestation.
Looking for a love that could fill the void in his heart, he followed a girlfriend after high school to her sister’s home in Ohio, and after a couple of weeks, he ultimately ended up homeless, hungry, and without hope. As he continued on his quest to find his purpose, Jerry was put on a bus home, by a waitress after not being able to pay for his meal. Confused, and in need of a life with substance, he looked up and saw a sign that read ‘Join the Navy and see the world’. At that moment, his decision was made, and he didn’t look back. Young, naive, and terrified, Jerry was off to fight for his country. He soon realized he was in for much more than he could have ever imagined. Hearing shots that sounded like fireworks, he tells us, “That’s the day I grew up. I didn’t know where I was, everyone was yelling. I was just hurting”. Although the military took Jerry on a whirlwind, that produced over a decade of unimaginable war stories, it turned out to be exactly where his journey was always taking him, and placed him right where he needed to be. On a night out, Jerry was approached by a man who would fulfill the dreams he had while looking up at the sky as a child. With a great afro, he was offered an audition to play a role in the series ‘Hawaii Five-O’, where he ultimately would get a recurring part on the show. Although he was only a few years away from military retirement, he couldn’t help but believe that the dream he manifested, and subconsciously held onto as a child was finally coming true. And in
true Jerry fashion, he began his journey to Hollywood, and never looked back. Through Jerry’s story, we can all learn an important lesson - never give up on your destiny. He tells us “Always be true to who you are, and eliminate all the noise and negativity around you.” With words of wisdom we can all live by, Jerry’s success shows us that we truly can create our own dreams, regardless of what the harsh world can throw at you. So, what does success mean to you? As Jerry says “If you’re only in it for the fame, it will never work”. His is a tale of always getting back up when you’re knocked down. If we can all find a way to push through the rough patches in our lives, look up at the endless blue sky, and keep dreaming, we will end up exactly where we need to be. Instagram @jrry_boyd | Facebook Jerry Boyd
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 21
TRAY CHANEY
On the acting life and his role as Tango Unchained in We Need to Talk By Alex A. Kecskes
22 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
Best known as "Poot" on HBO's original hit series The Wire, Tray Chaney began his career as a performer at the early age of four. After graduating from high school, Tray caught the acting bug and landed the role of "Poot." He then made his first movie appearance in Head of State with Chris Rock and Bernie Mac. Next came a role in The Salon starring Vivica A. Fox. Tray was also featured on The District. He later starred in Bow Wow's chart-topping video My Baby, featuring the multiplatinum group Jagged Edge. He then released his inspirational autobiography THE TRUTH YOU CAN'T BeTRAY. Tray's newest venture includes stepping into the world of music as a writer, producer, and rapper. This year, Tray stars in the film STREETS with Ving Rhames, James Woods, and Mary Louise Parker, which features Tray's original song Self Made Star. Most recently, Tray starred in and produced the love story 6Hearts 1Beat. In the comedy-drama, We Need to Talk, Tray is Tango Unchained, a gamer who advises Great Scott ( James Maslow), a self-absorbed online video-game influencer. Scott speaks to millions of fans every day, but simply can't seem to communicate with those he loves.
Thank you for taking the time for this interview. What attracted you to this film? Tray: When a friend sent me the script, I said wow, this is a story that really dives into the world of video gamers. I’ve never portrayed a character like Tango Unchained. And then you have James, Emily, my brother Jonathan Fernandez, and the other amazing actors who were attached to this film. I love the script because it’s about balance. The character Great Scott, played by James, can't separate himself from gaming and real-life—his friends and family. I wanted to be a part of this beautiful story. I think people can learn from it, how to maintain a life balance. Did you audition for the role of Tango? If so, what was that like? Tray: Todd actually wrote the role of Tango for me. My lines in the film are like the things I’d say naturally. I’m very close to Tango in the way we speak and act. But unlike Tango, I’m not living in the house with my mom. I’m also close to my wife, like Tango is to the character of Lady Fingers. Are you a gamer? Tray: After We Need to Talk wrapped, I became a part-time gamer. I don't know everything about gaming but my son does. I play Call of Duty now and then whenever I have time. What I know about gaming, I learned from (Director) Todd Wolfe. Tango plays a kind of relationship counselor. What did you draw from in real life to bring life to that role? Did you mediate some relationships? Tray: Speaking of relationships, that’s something I have done. I’m going on 18 years of marriage. A lot of my friends ask for pointers on how to stay in a loving relationship. I tell him communication is everything.
“I represent actors and you lack stage fright. Performing in front of thousands of people appears to be second nature to you.” I told her acting was something that I’ve always wanted to try. I took drama in high school and I always knew I wanted to be an actor. Linda said, “I’m going to start submitting you for TV and film roles.” And the first project she submitted me for was The Wire, which was my first acting job. What have you learned about the entertainment business that surprised you? Tray: For one, it’s very tough. You have to stay relevant, even if you're not on TV or film. To stay relevant, you need to read up on acting and take classes. You have to understand that it's a business and a process. If you can stay consistent and committed to the process without getting emotionally attached to a result, you can win. For me, that was one of the hardest things to learn at first. I used my experience in The Wire as a stepping stone and went the independent route, going to indie producers. And now, 20 years later, I’m working with the same people from The Wire. I play Gordon Hawk, a police officer on the TV miniseries, We Own this City. Any Advice for young actors just starting out? Tray: My advice, just stay the course. And don’t get so wrapped up in the business end of it to where you forget about everything else going on in your personal life. You still have to have a life outside the business. I still spend time with my family. I like to go to the malls, go bowling, and have fun. You just need to have a life because this thing can wrap you up so bad. But at the same time, stay ready. Because a casting director or producer can call anytime.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in this film? Tray: It wasn’t really a challenge but more like me becoming familiar with the video gaming world. So I had to become Tango. What was your favorite scene? Tray: I love James Maslow when everything comes crashing down on him. I also like the scene outside when James and Christel (Khalil) get their feelings out but by that time it was too late. It was a serious moment that gave the film some real drama. It’s something people can relate to if they take this thing called life seriously. It’s what I’ve learned to do. When I come home after a day of shooting on the set, I have to be a father to my kids. When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor? Were you inspired by a film or other actor? Tray: I started as a hip-hop artist and I still am. I remember going back and forth to showtime at the Apollo, performing and winning first place like five times. At that time, I was about 19 years old and discovered by an agent--Linda Townsend in Washington DC. She saw me at the Lincoln Theater and said,
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 23
The Szanto ICON Roland Sands Signature Series The Szanto ICON Roland Sands Signature Series from Time Concepts is a namesake collection meant to reflect his zeal for racing and love for the motorcycling community. Szanto has added a new chronograph series featuring upgrades including thick Swiss superluminova lume (for all-night glow) and a more durable, K1 crystal to resist scratching. Check out timeconcepts.net to purchase for $350 - With the code ‘Avalon’, readers receive 25% off.
24 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
Time Concept’s Hawaiian Lifeguard Association Watches
Time Concept’s Hawaiian Lifeguard Association watches are rugged, high-quality watches designed to take a beating and remain unscathed and watertight, even through the pounding of the massive Hawaiian surf - the inspiration behind the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association watch collection. HLA watches feature a 316L stainless-steel case, case back and 120-click bezel, with screw crowns and case backs to ensure water resistance up to 200 meters (656 feet), with a highly scratch resistant K1 crystal, thick Swiss Superluminova lume on hands and indices for easy reading all night long and powered by a dependable Japanese quartz three-hand and datemovement. Purchase at https://timeconcepts.net/collections/hla/dive-watch for $250 - With the code ‘Avalon’, readers receive 25% off. A percentage of the proceeds of every watch sale is given back to the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 25
HOLLY EARL On her acting career and starring in SHARK BAIT By Alex A. Kecskes Known by her fans as Lily Arwell in Doctor Who, as Agnes in the sci-fi drama, Humans, and as La Mousme in the animated crime biopic, Loving Vincent, London-born Holly Earl has proven to be a versatile talent in both TV and film. Her earlier credits include playing Nita Clements in the drama series Casualty. She also appeared as Kela in the action-drama Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, and as Zoe in the Comedy series Cuckoo. In the thriller, Shark Bait, Holly is Nat, a demure spring breaker struggling to survive a man-eating shark. After a night of partying on the beach, Nat reluctantly joins her friends as they steal jet skis and head out to sea. But the fun quickly turns to horror after a head-on collision leaves them injured, bleeding, and stranded in shark-infested waters fighting for survival.
Q&A Thank you for taking the time for this interview. There are so many shark movies out there. What attracted you to this one? Holly Earl: I read the script and loved it. I liked how Nat was so sweet, sensible, and honest at the start of the film. She didn’t want to get into trouble. But then she goes on this journey and turns into a completely different person. I thought that was interesting from an acting perspective.
Did you audition for the role of Nat? If so, what was that like? Holly: I auditioned for the role in front of director James Nunn and pretended to be in the presence of a shark. He wanted to see if I could be believable that way. I was also in a Playstation video game called Erica, which James was involved in, so there was that connection. What did you draw from emotionally to get into Nat, who confronts her fears and overcomes them? Holly: We had an amazing team of divers that were around us all the time. I don’t know, maybe they held some sharks at bay while we were filming. We were off the coast of Argentina and away from the crew boat, so we really had no idea what was in the water. If there were sharks in the water, I’m glad I didn’t know about it at the time (laughs). There were times when we were isolated in the water with the crew boat really far away, so I suppose that helped generate some fear in us. There were moments when I thought, oh, my God, I’m alone in the ocean. And that was scary, so you’re really not acting at that point. We were always busy doing stunts, swimming, and jumping off moving jet skis. So that helped take my mind off those scary moments. What was the biggest challenge you faced in this film? Holly: I’d never done such a physical role. I was in the water 12 hours a day. In one scene, I’m trying to save a guy but I’m
26 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
a tiny human being. I’m five feet tall and my co-star was six feet tall. I was battling a massive wave and trying to swim with him attached to me. The weather had changed and it caused the jet ski to move away from me, so I had to swim some distance to reach it. Then the wind would pick up and I’d get really cold in the water. But you use that to show you’re really cold and tired. And it comes across in your performance as convincing in that you’re out of your comfort zone. But at the end of the day, with the beautiful sunset behind you, you feel like you’ve been working out for 12 hours. When it was all over, I was in the best shape of my life with all of the swimming and diving (laughs).
I was enamored by her performance. And I remember thinking, I could do that, I want to do that. So I emailed my agent and, well, here I am. I’ve been very lucky in that I started when I was young. Many fail in this business and give up. What keeps you going? Holly: I love it. It’s the adrenalin and thrill I get from acting. I’ve had some amazing roles in my career, like playing a hostile synthetic robot in Humans or being in a Playstation game. Since I started as a child, I don’t know if I could do anything else.
When you go to the beach, do you now fear going into the deep end of the ocean? Holly: No, I don’t worry about sharks. Actually, I feel I'm a more confident swimmer. I've never done that kind of diving before, so I feel I've learned a few things.
So, had you not pursued acting, what career path would you have taken? Holly: When I was a teen, I thought about going to art school and becoming an artist. I applied to art school and got in. But the day I was accepted, I got my first adult acting job. It lasted for some months, then I got another acting job and I just kept going.
When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor? Were you inspired by a film or actor? Holly: I started acting when I was just three years old. My sister was an actress when she was younger. Seeing my sister, I thought, that looks like fun. Then I stopped acting for a bit when I was a teen. But then I started watching a lot of classic movies like Street Car Named Desire and watching Vivien Leigh.
What have you learned about the entertainment business that surprised you? Holly: My various experiences and how they changed my life. I can only see the industry through my perspective and how it impacted me. It made me so much more confident as a person. I used to be quite a shy kid. Acting has allowed me to become more extroverted and be a confident person.
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 27
Director of Dreams:
Calvin 'Cylk' Cozart His newest directing venture ‘Inheriting The Land - Jim Crowe Meets Miss Maggie’s Will’, is a documentary based on the book written by Gene Stowe
W
e all strive to reach our full potential. To maximize ourselves on a personal, professional, and human level. These days. the American dream seems to be the ability to take what you love, turn it into a successful career, and in turn give back to the communities that lifted us up. For some this may seem like an impossible feat, but award winning director, actor, producer, writer and basketball player Calvin ‘Cylk’ Cozart has managed to do just that. Cylk took what he loved, and used it to change the direction of his life. With this success, and his undeniable passion for life, he chooses to relay messages that inspire change, give back to communities all around the world, and be an advocate for those who need it most. Coming from humble beginnings in the small town of Knoxville, TN, Cylk became a volunteer fire fighter at age 14, and played football and basketball in high school, where he was nothing less than a star. Through basketball, a scholarship sent him to Montreal-Anderson College in North Carolina for his first year. Shortly after, he was recruited by Coach Nida, and transferred to King University where he continued his love for the game of basketball, and with that continued his legacy. After his early success, Cylk’s talent took him on an adventure playing for the National Basketball Association Entertainment League, for the Utah Jazz. During this time, an injury would occur that would change Cylk’s journey. He went through months of rehabilitation, and ultimately realized the injury was
28 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
not healing properly. At that point, a player that won the Larry Smith Award, was inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame & was a 3 time 3 point shooting champion for the NBA entertainment league became a professional model. Cylk, who’s nick name means ‘Running Water’ in Cherokee, comes from a Cherokee mother, and a black father. With his edgy looks, and undeniable charm, it seemed to be a perfect fit. As we could have guessed, this venture also became a successful career for the ever talented young man, and he would go on to be seen in GQ, Sports Illustrated and major billboards all over America. He has ultimately continued his growth, and has become the founder of Cylk Enterprises, which encompasses multiple successful, and charitable endeavors he has created throughout the years. Cylk has acted in over 20 TV shows, such as, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Saved By The Bell and Walker, Texas Ranger. As well as over 40 films, most famously known for his role as Robert in ‘White Men Can’t Jump’, with his combined
films grossing over $1 billion. Incredibly, this year on his birthday, February 1st, respected congress member Tim Burchett had the American flag flown over the United States Capitol in Cylk’s honor. Tim Burchett is the former mayor of Knox County, TN, and the current U.S representative for Tennessee’s 2nd congressional district, based in Knoxville. He requested the flag be flown in honor of Cylk’s birthday to recognize his impact professionally, as well as how much he has given back to the community as a whole. To Cylk, this was such an incredible and unbelievable honor. Additionally, this year, Cylk was the recipient of the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award directly from President Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 29
With all of his success, Cylk remains humble, friendly, energized & focused. Amongst his greatest achievements is his annual scholarship at King University, named after his mother, Betty Ruth Cozart. As well as his major involvement with many charities such as The Boys & Girls Club of America, the National Turrets Association, and the National Lupus Association, to name a few. With a passion for educating our youth, he also teaches acting in hopes to help uplift young, aspiring men & women that may not think they were capable of living out their dreams. His spark seems to rub off on everyone he encounters, and he is happy to share his magnetic personality with any of his students that are lucky enough to be able to learn from him. With a list of accomplishments that seems endless, Cylk is also the cofounder of Cures4Humanity, a cause on a mission to provide renewable energy, sustainable housing, clean water and nutritious food, ultimately with the hope to end world hunger. Through his humanitarian efforts, this educational philanthropist received the Urban League’s lifetime achievement award in 2012, which was presented to him by Martin Luther King III. Needless to say, this spirited man has molded his life into one that many of us can be inspired by. Cylk has decided to change direction once again and explore his talents in 30 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
directing. With his first film, ‘Ball of Confusion’ gaining a lot of attention, and holding two sold out shows at the Regal Theatre in his home town, only one day after the Corona Virus hit, it seems he has found another avenue to express himself in a way that can enlighten all those around him. Being the first film he directed, ‘Ball of Confusion’, which got it’s name because according to Cylk, “The world is a ball of confusion”, is a documentary that takes us on a journey through the history of basketball, and showcases it’s global impact.Working with Keith Zimmerman, Cylk provides viewers with a version of the game basketball like no one has ever seen before. Starting at the beginning of the game, and weaving in and out of the culture all the way up to present day. Cylk states “Basketball is a parody of life. You learn how to play basketball, you learn how to socialize with people. You learn that people have different perspectives that might not be like yours, and you might even learn about business. I’m in love with basketball and what it did for me”. The film will be shown at the Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN, a major ESPN bowl week which is a 4-day celebration, and the screening will be paired with his beer ‘Country Roads Beer’ & his line of Cylk Tennessee Belnded Whiskey, which Cylk is extremely proud of. This pairing will be the first diversity owned brand to be a part of the sponsorship package With his humble spirit, Cylk clearly shows joy, love and compassion through his products, he tells us “I look for sparks in everyone, I search for like energies. I look for passion and kindness in people”.
The energy he possesses is nothing less than contagious, and he continues to spread his generous heart, and kind soul, with the help of his Keeping Dreams Alive Foundation. A foundation which goes into underprivileged communities, and helps provide scholarships for struggling youth from all ages, races and backgrounds. The only cost to anyone assisted by the Keeping Dreams Alive Foundation is to go back to the community they came from, and help someone else achieve their goals. With his unwavering need to help people, Cylk’s advice to our youth is “Find something you are interested in, and study it. Ask questions, it’s something I wish I did more of. Learn the business while working on your craft”. His goal is always to spread the message of encouragement, uplift our youth and make them believe, as he does, that they are capable of accomplishing anything they want. In true Cylk spirit, he spends part of his summer giving motivational speeches at an Annual Summer Basketball Camp
Find something you are interested in, and study it. Ask questions, it’s something I wish I did more of. Learn the business while working on your craft.
that is hosted by NBA Houston Rockets assistant coach, Elston Turner. His newest directing venture, is a documentary based on the book written by Gene Stowe, ‘Inheriting The Land - Jim Crowe Meets Miss Maggie’s Will’. It is a story that parallels not only what we’re going through in America, but all around the world. This documentary, unlike one we have ever seen, dives into the lives of Maggie and Sally Ross, who lived in the late 1800’s in Marvin, North Carolina during the Jim Crowe era. The Ross sisters owned 800 acres of land, and were said to be the wealthiest family in Union County. Upon their death, they willed their land to the people they considered to be their family, and happened to be African American. In a place where it was unheard of for black and white people to associate with one another, these sisters did the unthinkable. Yet to Maggie and Sally Ross, it was simply the right thing to do. The Ross sisters lived a life with acceptance that was unusual for the 1800’s, and reporters claimed to never have seen anything like it. Their decision would go on to be argued in court, with a court date set for the Spring of 1921. At that time, what should have been a simple task of jury selection took many hours, spilling into the night and ultimately keeping the court in session until after midnight. The selection took so long because the jury members selected had to be okay with white people willing their land to black people, and this was just the first of many hiccups along the bumpy road that was ahead. Many people in the state were outraged, and in shock. They would go on to argue that the Ross sisters were taken advantage of. Yet, there was a faith of the people in court, and many wanted to see the decision of the Ross sisters request be upheld, which may be just as shocking, considering that time in history. For the Ross sisters, it was the way they chose to live, and is a way of life that would prove to be far ahead of it’s time, all starting with sisters that chose to live in love rather than in fear. Cylk stated “Lord knows we need this type of a story, now.”, and we couldn’t agree more. With this film, Cylk hopes to open our eyes, he tells us “I want to create a dialogue. I want to show the reality that if people can be treated as equals back in that era, why can’t we do it now? You can’t just say it,
you need to show it, and with the idea that you can’t unlearn something, my hope is to show that you can’t just say you love everybody, you have to show it”. Unbelievably, all the characters in the reenactments of the film will be having their debut as first time actors, as they are all descendants of the real people being portrayed, some of who still live on the very property Maggie & Sally Ross once owned. With directing being his newly found passion, and focus in life, Cylk hopes to one day take this educational documentary and use it as a platform to create a series that documents incredible moments throughout history that should have been taught in school, but somehow ended up brushed under the rug, much like the story of the Ross Sisters. Cylk tells us that he “appreciates the journey” that has taken him to where he is now, and hopes to spread the message of equality. In the future, he would love to teach a class, or even have a school that teaches the business side of show business. Teaching all the ins and outs of the many positions that need to be filled within the entertainment industry, such as production crew, costume designers and hair stylists. He has a passion for spreading encouragement and allowing his success to translate into the ability to teach and uplift men and women from all walks of life. In a film where “truth transcends color”, it’s our honor to be featuring the Hollywood premier of his new film, ‘Inherit The Land’ at our Hollywood Weekly Film Festival on November 6th at the Rawley Theatre. Although his life is one to look up to, Cylk let’s us know that there is much more to be done, and we believe he is just getting started. If there’s one thing we can learn from this multi-talented entrepreneur it’s that with love, and acceptance, anything is possible and with endless perseverance, we can all reach our full potential, and help our communities do the same. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 31
A NEW WAVE OF HEALING MY IV COCKTAILS
T
his month we had the opportunity to meet Denise Urtarte MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, and we were introduced to the unique experience she offers at her selfmade establishment, My IV Cocktails. Coming from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, NY, Denise has taken her motivation for helping others, her 4 college degrees and her 13 years of nursing experience and created a one-ofa-kind alternative medicine sanctuary.
root cause of your issues to determine the best way she can help you. She often goes the extra mile of offering to order your most recent lab work to truly understand what each client is going through and look for signs that may be easily missed by our primary care physicians.
Piece by piece, this bi-costal entrepreneur built her dream with the help of her business partner, and graphic designer Salvatore Girone. Through her hard work, and drive to change our view of health care, Denise shifted her focus from ICU nursing to business ownership and created both My IV Cocktails & NOW MedClinic.
After Denise gets a better understanding of your health needs, she creates a customized and personalized IV drip, and it’s time to enter the drip room. The energy in the drip room is truly incredible, and something I would highly recommend everyone get to experience. Some common reasons her patients come in for the drip experience are post COVID-19 relief, weight loss, jetlag, hangover, customized vitamin therapy and peptide therapy.
When you first walk into her office, there is an overwhelming sense of calmness. Her beautiful suite in Canoga Park, CA is welcoming, clean and beautiful. The first step in her new-age healing project is a consultation in her NOW MedClinic, where she goes through a few questions to understand your basic health needs and provides you with a full body scan on her In Body Scan machine. During this process, Denise is looking for the
Once you’ve completed the drip, which takes about 30 minutes, you’re immediately feeling the results. But the treatment doesn’t stop there. Rather than sending you on your way feeling incredible, Denise has found a way to allow us to take a piece of the experience home with her customized take home kits. They are user friendly and allows her patients to keep up with their treatments in between sessions. Some of
32 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
the common take home kit packages include Rejuvenation, Pain Relief, Serenity, Vitality, Cognition, Vaginista, and Amora. What truly sets Denise apart from other IV companies is her true desire to provide personalized treatments for each and every one of her patients. Her passion comes from personal experience dealing with her own health issues, as well as her mothers. When Denise realized there was a better way to heal, without copious amounts of medication, she let her determination drive her, and she never looked back. The experience she provides is truly unique and can absolutely change the way the world views medicine and healing. To get your consultation scheduled, you can call Denise directly at (323) 800-8442.
FOR MORE INFORMATION you can find her websites www.nowmedclinics.com or www.myivcocktails.org, or on IG @myiv_cocktails. I would highly recommend getting on board with Denise, and adopt her motto
- Don’t trip, just drip.
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 33
NFTiTs
MARKETPLACE launches with limited Mint Passes, Expands Presence in Multi-Billion Dollar NFT Market
NFTiTs is reimagining the art industry through a unique metaverse based on NFTs, mainly dedicated to support breast disease recovery through the arts, in particular, the NFT marketplace. NFTiTs just launched its Mint Passes with only 2,664 to grab. They are a highly-curated platform for creating, collecting and trading unique Titty-only NFTs. Yes! TittyONLY. This is a place where breasts, titties, tits, tatas, whatever you want to call them are to be embraced! This is a place for your creativity to come to LIFE! Feel beautiful in YOUR skin. All sizes, shapes, and forms of ART are welcomed. Painted, sculpted, sketched, drawn, dazzled, tattooed, taped, pixeled, filtered .... whatever you can imagine, brought it to life.
34 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
NFTiTs Co-Founder Tiffany Hyde, Business Developer, Real Estate Investor, Entrepreneur and Mom of 4 was driven to launch a platform that expresses the beauty of women in a whole new way. Joining art and the natural beauty of the human body to rise against body dysmorphia while learning to celebrate and express ourselves in a positive mindset. She has been working extensively with world class artist in curating the best of the breast in forming this marketplace dedicated to showcasing their talents while providing much
needed help to serving the needs of many women around the world. The mission of NFTiTs is to help restore self-esteem, dignity, and confidence to women with various breast diseases by facilitating and funding, as needed, reconstructive surgery. They are committed to supporting organizations where funds will be used to directly support the surgical care expenses for women having breast reconstruction surgery, particularly for uninsured and underinsured women in underserved communities.
They have partnered with The Genesis Foundation which serves to raise public awareness of all breast diseases providing breast reconstruction options including homeopathic or alternative recovery treatments after surgery that are an oftenoverlooked expenses in recovery. They feature a series of breast art showcasing the work of women, and artists, photographers, graphic designers and personal survivors. They have built a global community of well-known artists, together for a series collection in a digital art gallery that would be sold as original NFT’s dedicated to only breasts where proceeds would benefit closely chosen charities through smart contracts for authenticity.
The mint passes are offered in limited allotments. The marketplace at launch will allow for only 18,888 to be minted. The scarcity and selection will provide for an environment to feature the best of the best artist from around the world. As NFTs become more popular and often grab headlines for the wrong reasons, the best projects are those that have a use, and better still if they can support causes, are inclusive, and affect change. This is the plan behind NFTiTs, which donates to The Genesis Foundation on every transaction through the use of smart contracts written into each transaction. The breast is yet to come……
NFTiTs Advisory Contributor Carlos Siqueira, Founder of Disruptors LLC, was so moved by this mission along with watching his own mother and the women that surrounded his life fight through all challenges that he felt called to help drive awareness to this campaign. Carlos has shared and spoken from some of the largest stages and arenas around the world is now lending his voice and reach to help the communities understand the unique opportunity that is being presented with the early release of NFTiTs Mint Passes.
CODY LEBOUEF is hyper-realistic artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. Traditional medias catapulted his career as a very sought-after realism air brush artist, whose work has graced the walls of many public and private collections across the US. His natural talents in hyper-realism digital art allows him to create artistic masterpieces that the eye and mind perceive as realism. This new passion translates seamlessly into the world of NFT’s where his artistic genius can gain recognition in the digital era. 100% digitally created using Procreate, this neon collection of breast art will drop on the NFTiTs Marketplace as 1 of 1. Blurring the lines between digital and realism, this private gallery will be available to mint pass holders with early access.
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 35
Nisha Varma Makeup Empowering Women One Face at a Time By Hailey Ashley
N
isha Varma has always had a passion for helping people. She moved to the United States from India 7 years ago and has been passionate about using the tools she has, make-up and hair styling, to help uplift and empower women around her. She has loved doing this ever since she was a young girl, and ultimately, that is what has inspired her to create NishVarma Makeup. While she was growing up in India, she was a trained classical dancer, she always loved doing make up on her friends. And eventually, turned it into a career by word of mouth. She got her first job doing bridal makeup 10 years ago, and from there was offered several opportunities to show her talents. When Nisha came to the USA, she followed her dreams and stayed focused on her passion. With hard work and dedication, she received a call from fashion week in 2016, and was thrilled. From this point on, her work spoke for itself, and she was able to get many more opportunities in America.
36 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
Because she was put down most of her life, she found a way, through make up, to feel good and worthy, and she wanted to pass along her newly found self-worth to those around her. With the help of her mother’s endless support of her dreams, she found a way to turn her talents into a tool she now uses to inspire women and help them build confidence within themselves. Now start step in our colorful media family as a Model. And she not stop her self… so welcome to our new girl NANCY on the city. One of Nisha’s best friends, Nancy, who is a single mom and independent woman, has always dreamed of being a model. Due to her upbringing, she was never afforded that opportunity – until now. Nisha has decided to take Nancy’s hand and help make her dreams come true. Nisha believes that God always gifts those who deserve it, and believes that Nancy is one of those people, because of her good soul. Nancy recently completed her MBA, studied IT,
and is now the newest member of Nisha’s colorful media family as a model. New Girls In The City: (Nancy Nancy) Nisha believes that all women are beautiful, inside and out, with or without make up. She wants to send the message that make up is not created to cover up who you are, but to help enhance your beauty to feel more confident, and comfortable in your skin, and to see our pure beauty. Her advice to aspiring, young, entrepreneurs is to find what you love and go for it. She says, “don’t let others negativity, or criticism hold you back, and don’t listen to those who tell you that you cannot succeed because of external factors like looks”. In the future, Nisha hopes to take her skills to the next level, by working in Hollywood on movies, television sets or for runway models. We have no doubt that she will be a huge success and are excited to follow her along her next journey.
Check out her website: www.NishaVarmaMakeup.com find her on Facebook @Nisha Varma Credits Model: @Nancy Nancy Mua: @Nisha Varma Mua
Designer: Nusrat Aysa [ Nusrat Desire Np Collection Photoghraper: Jaiden Torres HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 37
Act of N Kindness An
Photo by Carmelita
ov. 1, 2021 awards were presented to ladies whose acts of kindness were acknowledged by the Global Society of Female Entrepreneurs on behalf of Kindness Day in Newport Beach. Due to the fact that one of the honorees, Carmelita Pittman had suffered a broken foot and unable to attend the celebration, her friend, Rosalyn Kahn represented her at the event and kindly brought awards to her home. Rosalyn is seen seated at the dining table where she enjoyed a home made meal by Carmelita who promoted her wellness knowledge by serving a healthy meal.
The prestigious awards included the trophy from GSFE ( Global Society of Female Executives), a certificate from the Beverly Hills chapter of the GSFE by founder Robbie Motter, a certificate from Janice Hahn of the County Board of Supervisors, and Certificate of Recognition from California Legislature Assembly member Cottie Petrie -Norris
38 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
From the left, Carmelita Pittman, founder of The Rose Breast Cancer Society 501.c3 non-profit org, Rosalyn Kahn, professor at Santa Monica college, TV host of "Living Your Best Life" Photo by Jerry Pittman
Photo by Rosalyn Kahn HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE • 39
Cannes Film Festival
40 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY BLACK CULTURE
DAvos World Economic Forum
monaco formula 1
