4TH Annual Merge Summit - Event

4Th Annual Merge Summit - Event

Posted by Rych McCain, International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

THE MERGE SUMMIT RETURNS FOR 

FOURTH YEAR  

AUGUST 23-25, 2012

Integrating Faith and Entertainment

At The Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles

Weekend-long Program Features Top Entertainers and Industry Executives including Suzanne de Passe, Clint Culpepper, Will Packer, Donnie McClurkin, DeVon Franklin, Kirk Franklin, Essence Atkins, Hezekiah Walker, Debra Langford, Stephen A. Smith, and Rushion McDonald, among others

   Relevé Entertainment has announced that THE MERGE SUMMIT 2012 will be held August 23-25, 2012 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles. 

ALL Photos are from last year's 2011 Merge Summit taken by Maury Phillips, GQ Media & PR/Front Page Firm

L-R: Kevin Frazier, Wendy R. Robinson Deitrick Haddon

 
   The event, presented in association with partners EMI Music Publishing, Verity Gospel Music Group, and UPSCALE magazine, integrates faith and entertainment and provides a platform for men and women of faith to interface with, learn from and partner with leading executives and talent in the entertainment industry.

L-R: Kenny Lattimore & Lamman Rucker

  "We are so excited to announce that we will return for the fourth year", said SUMMIT Founder and Chair Holly Carter. "Each year, THE MERGE SUMMIT has grown and changed to represent the evolution of the entertainment business, while always remaining true to our original purpose: to give a voice and opportunity for the gifts and talent of creative men and women of faith who have stories to tell".

   Added SUMMIT Co-Founder & Co-Chair Robi Reed: "Each year, I grow more excited with anticipation of the Merge. It has proven to be an invaluable source of information for all who attend. I have no doubt this time around will be even greater."

L-R: Kimberly Elise & Robi Reed

    Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin said, "I'm excited about the Merge Summit ... by partnering faith with media... we are able to cast a wider net, impact culture in unimaginable ways."  

 The multifaceted program, one of the largest entertainment industry events for people of faith, is a complete weekend of education, inspiration and entertainment. Nearly 100 of the industry's top entertainers and executives will lead more than 20 interactive panel discussions, workshops and Master Class sessions, covering the spectrum of music, television, film, radio, creative development, branding, management and new media.

 Confirmed presenters (in alphabetical order), as of July 3, 2012:

 Austyn Biggers, Sr. Director of Development, BET Networks 

Charlie Jordan Brookins, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, BET Networks 

Clint Culpepper, President, Screen Gems 

Debra Langford, Entertainment Industry Veteran 

Detavio Samuels, Executive Vice President/Director of Client Services, GlobalHue 

DeVon Franklin, Vice President of Production, Columbia Pictures 

Endyia Kinney Sterns, Executive Director, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) 

Essence Atkins, Actress (Are We There Yet?, Half & Half, The Smart Guy) 

Harry Lennix, Actor (Man of Steel, A Beautiful Soul, The Matrix, The Five Heartbeats) 

Holly Carter, President/Producer, Relevé Entertainment (A Beautiful Soul, The Gospel) 

Jazzy Jordan, Executive Vice President/General Manager, Verity Gospel Music Group 

Jeff Clanagan, CEO, Code Black Entertainment

Jon Platt, President, North America Creative, EMI Music Publishing 

Kary McHoul, President, Nigel Lythgoe Entertainment

Kelly Griffin, Sr. Director, Music Programming, BET Networks 

Kirk Franklin, Author/Host/Recording Artist 

Mali Music, Recording Artist 

Michael Elliot, Screenwriter (Like Mike, Brown Sugar, Just Wright) 

Myesha Chaney, Kingdomanity Recording Artist 

Niija Kuykendall, Director of Development, Warner Bros. Pictures 

Rob Gibbs, Music Talent Agent, ICM Partners 

Robi Reed, Vice President, Talent and Casting, Original Programming, BET Networks 

Rose Catherine Pinkney, VP, Development and Original Programming, TV Land 

Rushion McDonald, CEO/Executive Producer, NuOpp, Inc. 

Sheldon Candis, Director (LUV)

Sheilah Belle, Editor in Chief, "The Belle Report"

Stephen A. Smith, Journalist/Commentator/Analyst, ESPN Networks 

Suzanne de Passe, Co-Chairman, de Passe Jones Entertainment 

Tirrell Whittley, Principal/CEO, Liquid Soul Media 

Touré Roberts, Pastor, One Church International 

Tracey Edmonds, Producer (Jumping the Broom, New in Town, Soul Food The Series) 

Traci Lynn Blackwell, Vice President, Current Programming, The CW Network 

Will Packer, Producer (Think Like a Man, Obsessed, Stomp The Yard, Takers, This Christmas) 

Wendy Raquel Robinson, Actress/Philanthropist 

Zola Mashariki, Senior Vice President, Production, FOX Searchlight Pictures 

For more information and to register, please visit  www.themergesummit.com

© 2012 Rych McCain Media/Syndication tm 

(You DID Hear It From Me!)  

E-Mail: feedbackrych@sbcglobal.net 

 

Danielle Campbell - Movie

Danielle Campbell - Movie

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

Danielle Campbell

Challenging Medea Under Protection!

Danielle Campbell (Lionsgate Photo)

     She is a relative newcomer on the Hollywood scene but her acting skills says veteran. Seventeen year-old native Chicagoan Danielle Campbell had what some would consider a role of a life time playing the rebellious, poor little rich girl Cindy Needlelman who challenges the authority of none other than the infamous Madea in Tyler Perry’s latest flick, “Madea’s Witness Protection.” 

    Campbell’s passion for acting blossomed at the tender age of ten. She began doing national commercials in her home town and broke into TV as a guest star on the hit drama series “Prison Break,” appearing on seven episodes. This was followed by her first TV Movie leading role as Jessica Olson in the Disney Channel Original Movie “StarStruck.” This was followed with a Disney feature film “Prom.”

Danielle at Madea Premiere (RMM Photo)

  Campbell not only possesses the cutie-pie looks and bubbly, warm personality that attracts like a mega-ton magnet; she has both feet on the ground in terms of the reality of the business in which she works. She was a hands down favorite on the red carpet at the New York Premiere of “Madea’s Witness Protection.” 

   When asked to break down her experience working with the renown Tyler Perry and the fun associated with it, Campbell lights up, “That was all that we did while we were filming. We were cracking up the entire time. They would call cut and you could hear the entire crew roar in laughter. It was so much fun to film. I had a great time.” Campbell has to explain the bedroom scene where Madea dumps the bucket of water on her when she refuses to get up. Again, Campbell is laughing, “That’s my favorite scene. Before I got the water poured on me, Madea had to scream at me and I screamed back at her because I didn’t want to get out of bed. So were arguing back and forth to get ourselves really ramped up with anger and it got to the point where it was so funny, we started cracking up.”

Danielle Campbell (Disney Photo)

      Rich and spoiled Cindy Needleman was so filled with resentment and anger. Where did Campbell go inside to create that personality on screen? She flashes that sweet innocent “who me” smile and says, “You know, I think it was just kind of like me playing off of Madea’s energy and kind of what I’ve seen in movies and stuff. I hope I would never get that mad at somebody. There’s no reason to.” When she looks back at the entire experience with this project, what did she take away from it? Campbell reflects, “The people that I got to filmed with are going to be life long friends. I had such a blast with all of them. They were veteran actors that I’ve been watching since I was a little girl and I just had a blast filming with everybody. Honestly, I was honored to take this role. I’ve been watching Madea movies since I was so young growing up and I could not believe when I heard that I got the role.” 

Madea - Nuff said! (Lionsgate Photo)

   What was it like for a Chicago girl working in Atlanta? Campbell lights up, “Oh my gosh, it was so fun! There are so many great things out in Atlanta and the people are so nice. Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about Atlanta.” “Madea’s Witness Protection” may be the best Madea movie yet!

© 2012 Rych McCain Media/Syndication tm 

(You DID Hear It From Me!) 

 E-Mail: feedbackrych@sbcglobal.net