Monday, April 28, 2014

David Ayer - Film


(C) 2014 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may be reprinted, re-posted or duplicated without written permission from Rych McCain Media/Syndication. Violation is subject to applicable laws.



David Ayer - Film

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment columnist
www.twitter.com/rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)


Photos via Open Road

David Ayer

Film Director On The Cutting Edge

    
David Ayer Director/Writer/Producer
Director/writer/producer David Ayer has been steady carving out a name for himself in Hollywood since he began as a script writer. His spec script “Training Day” was not only picked up and he was a co-producer but it became a mega box office smash and garnered Denzel Washington his second Academy Award® for Best Actor. This began a journey that has seen him write and direct some of Hollywood’s most street realistic films such as “The Fast And The Furious,” S.W.A.T.,” “Dark Blue,” “Street Kings” and “End Of Watch.” Ayer’s latest offering “Sabotage,” is about an elite DEA task force that takes on the world’s deadliest drug cartels. Ayer’s writing and directing reflects his upbringing on the mean streets of LA and he uses those experiences to bring hard core, in-your-face realism to all of his films.
   
   Ayer now has a solid reputation of realism and perfectionism in his films. In regard to his latest “Sabotage,” he had his actors train with the actual LA Sheriff’s  S.W.A.T. team doing the exact drills and exercises that they do. Ayer explains, “I think the watch word in this is reality and for actors, if you teach them the real skills, when they get on set they don’t have to worry about anything but what they are doing, their performance. Any actor will tell you that when they have the training there’s a certain confidence they have in their physical performance. They don’t have to worry about where they are putting their hands or what they are doing. You want it to be second nature.”

 
  In working with the real guys the cast found out that is was very physical, hard and sweat draining. Ayer laughs and said “We put these guys through endless repetitions. The boss said it’s all about reps and that’s what we did but by the end of this thing the guys could go in and were pretty autonomous. They could clear rooms, kick doors, solve
tactical problems and row through the problem in any given way. So by the time they get to the set to do one of these scenes; what you are seeing is not staged per say but a lot of it is there own decisions on how to solve this tactical problem to clear the room. And from that guys turning the wrong way and making mistakes and how harsh they can be with each other. Also the camaraderie develops. There’s a training scene in the film where a lot of what’s said in that scene is pretty honest stuff.”

  Because the film’s lead actor is none other than the action icon himself Arnold Schwarzenegger, was there any pressure from the film’s big bosses to make the project typically Arnold? Ayer chuckles, “For me it was an incredible opportunity to work with this man who is more than a hero. I mean the guy is obviously a symbol legend. The films he starred in that I saw as a teenager,“Terminator” and things like that are the very films that inspired me to direct. So the opportunity to work with somebody like that was the realization of a dream. Then discover that he’s a really good guy on top of it, a hard worker and a great role model for me as somebody who is a bit of and over achiever and has succeeded in every venue.”
 
   Looking at the politics of film making combined with the special effects and green screen versus real action from the actors, are the new films reverting back to the old school way of doing things. Ayer examines this, “Companies like Bill’s (QED International) and other companies are creating these opportunities for film makers to have a lager canvas to tell interesting stories on. So I think there is a bit of a 70’s revolution right now where people are going back to bread and butter film making. For me, no amount of CG, green screen or wire work can bet the visceral, gut wrenching quality of a really well done practical stunt.”



© 2014 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM 
(You DID Hear It From Me!) 
Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)


Sunday, April 27, 2014

Pastor Donnie McClurkin - Music


(C) 2014 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may be reprinted, re-posted or duplicated without written permission from Rych McCain Media/Syndication. Violation is subject to applicable laws.


Pastor Donnie McClurkin - Music

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist
www.twitter.com/rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)


Some Photos STC

Pastor Donnie McClurkin

Debuts New Album “Duets”




       Pastor Donnie McClurkin has been through a life that many weaker people would have fallen through the cracks if they had to deal with what he had to endure. As a youngster things started to unravel when his two year old brother was hit and killed by a car because he was chasing after McClurkin who had run into the street to retrieve a ball with which they were playing. Subsequently the parents blamed him and his mom and dad began to fight with each other. At eight, McClurkin was molested by a great uncle and five years later molested by that same uncle’s son. As a result, several years of sexual orientational confusion resulted and as he described it, cast him in the hell of homosexuality. But with God’s mercy and grace as well as good spiritual guidance from men of faith, he overcame it and a serious health issue.


   
Pastor Donnie McClurkin
  McClurkin also had the burden of not fitting in as a child because he had no social or athletic skills and couldn’t do simple things like dribble a basketball but one common denominator he had in his favor was music. As a child McClurkin began to rely on church and the choir in particular as his haven and outlet. A chance meeting with gospel superstar Andre Crouch got him moving in the right direction. Also joining forces with another gospel superstar Pastor Marvin Winans literally let his career take off. McClurkin left his home in Amityville, NY. relocating to Detroit and served for ten years as assistant Pastor at Winans’ Perfecting Faith Church. Winans then sent him back to New York to start a Perfecting Faith church there. 

    
    
    Soon after McClurkin signed with several record labels releasing hit after hit that resulted in two gold and two platinum albums, a string of hit singles and numerous industry awards.



        
  On his newly released album “Duets,” McClurkin explains how two of this interviewer’s favorite cuts evolved. We’re talking “I Am Amazed” and “My Past.” On I am amazed, McClurkin explains, “I’m Amazed” came about from Bishop I.V. Hilliard down in Houston, Texas. He wrote that song and when I heard it at his birthday celebration about three years ago I was amazed. I was really touched by it and I don’t usually solicit other people’s songs but I went to him and said I got to have that song. His daughter Preshea sang it with Erica Campbell from Mary, Mary and when I heard it I really wanted that song. It just spoke to me and he said I could do it but I didn’t want to do it without his daughter because she is the one that made it come alive. I’m glad that it impacted people like it impacted me because it is a wonderful testimony of how I am in awe of God.” 
  
   
McClurkin continues, “Now ‘My Past,’ that’s a song that I wrote and I wrote it with Tramine (Hawkins) in mind because I’ve always been close to Tramaine and her husband Bishop Walter Hawkins. Since Walter’s passing three years ago, there’s nobody who could write for Tramaine like Walter Hawkins and when I wrote that song I wrote it with that kind of signature. The Lord gave the essence of what the song was going to say about the past has got to be gone in order for us to move into our future.” Is it tough being a pastor and having a music career at the same time? Than has got to be a plate full. McClurkin chuckles, “No not really because you have good people. You have good people on the road and in church with you who are geared to do what they are supposed to do.”

  
The old folks used to call secular music the so-called devil’s music and would ostracize anyone who sang outside of the church. Does McClurkin see a battle between secular and sacred music in light that the two seem to be merging closer together? He comes to life on this one saying “There is no battle between it at all. The secular is just that. It doesn’t deal with God or godliness. Sacred music deals with God and godliness. The secular musician and singer most likely comes out of the church so there is a link. I don’t believe those that are Christians should indulge in the secular music that doesn’t represent our lifestyle. But I do believe that those who are singing secular music can sing the music of the kingdom that represents the Christian lifestyle and value.”

© 2014 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM 
(You DID Hear It From Me!) 
Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)




Monday, April 21, 2014

Erica Hubbard - TV


(C) 2014 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may be reprinted, re-posted or duplicated without written permission from Rych McCain Media/Syndication. Violation is subject to applicable laws.


Erica Hubbard - TV

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist
www.twitter.com and Facebook (Like Me)




Erica Hubbard

Charms The Little Screen With Class!

Photos Courtesy of BET


       
Erica Hubbard
  Staying busy with work as an actor is a lofty chore in tensile town. So when one is blessed enough to land two series back to back that have lasted four seasons each, this is really something to tell the captain. Erica Hubbard has had roles come and go but the two series thing is rare especially for actors of color. Fans will fondly remember Hubbard as Cassie Sutton on The ABC-Family Network’s hit drama series “Lincoln Heights,” that ran for four seasons. Now she is the mainstay younger sister Kita Whitmore on the hit BET series “Let’s Stay Together,” which has entered its fourth season. It is very rare for a series to last four seasons these days considering that the average pilot is lucky to get picked up then only see five episodes air before being cancelled. What factors does Hubbard attribute to her show’s longevity? She reflects, “I’m so happy to say that I have been on two series that have been on for four years or more because there is a formula. Most definitely it starts with the writing. When you have brilliant writers and a talented cast and crew, it all works. When you do these productions you just can’t put this stuff together. You can’t just hire this friend and that friend; you really have to pick people who are talented.”
   


     Hubbard explains the magic formula further. “When it comes down to writing, people must have stories to tell and brilliant stories so we can act them out and perform them and people can be intrigued by our performances. And also the chemistry. I know this year people are tweeting me about Kita and Troy, Kita and Troy. So I love working with Christian Keyes who plays my love interest and I think chemistry is the best component you can have when you’re casting and when you are actually working on a production. You have to be able to love and like the person that you’re working opposite with and it brings something to life. When I did “Lincoln Heights,” I really, truly enjoyed working with Robert Adamson who was my love interest Charles on that show. So a well rounded cast will help production last many, many seasons.”


Erica Hubbard as Kita Whitmore
  Of course having one of Al Green’s biggest hits “Let’s Stay Together” was a slick attention getter for the show to kick it off. Hubbard agrees saying, “I absolutely agree with you that titles mean everything. It’s catchy (the show’s title), and basically it speaks for itself let’s stay together. And that’s what we’re trying to send out to the community. Everybody in a relationship work it out and I think people get it.” 
   
    Every individual in Hollywood who made it had their own way of doing it. There are no set a rules, procedures or secrets. What would Hubbard suggest for those Hollywood hopefuls who plan to venture out? She laughs, Hang around people who are already established in the industry. Professional business people; hang around and see if you can get mentored by them. Personally, I did a lot of theater and you had people in there who already had agents and managers and were working professionals. They always referred me saying you should see this person or that person. So I stayed busy doing a lot of stage work with this group called “Town Street” theater and I got a lot of mentors from that organization and ended up working doing a lot of television and film from referrals and people requesting me from seeing me on stage.” 


© 2014 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM 
(You DID Hear It From Me!) 
Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Tamela Mann - Music


(C) 2014 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may be reprinted, re-posted or duplicated without written permission from Rych McCain Media/Syndication. Violation is subject to applicable laws.


 Tamela Mann - Music

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist
www.twitter/rychmccain and Facebook 




Tamela Mann
Winning Big In The Game Of Praise!


Photo by

    
Tamela Mann
As a shy little girl, she started singing in church and like many of her contemporaries who began the same way blossomed into a major gospel superstar. After paying dues while perfecting her craft in church and school choirs, Ft Worth, Texas native Tamela Mann got her big break when she joined platinum recording superstar artist, the Rt. Rev. Kirk Franklin and The Family. Mann sang lead on several of Franklin’s biggest hits. After some time with the group opportunity came knocking in the form of Tyler Perry who cast her as Cora Simmons in his hit stage play “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” Her character was so popular that Perry cast her in a string of plays that followed as the same character. After Perry secured a deal with Lionsgate Films, Mann became a staple as Cora in the successors of the “Madea” film franchise. She even extended the famed role to TV in Perry’s hit sitcom “Meet The Brown’s.”


    
Tamala Mann performing on BET Celebration Of Gospel
Mann is married to actor/singer David Mann and the happy couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year. They are such an exemplary couple that the 2014 “Gospel Goes to Hollywood” gala honored them with their “Equally Yoked Award” for outstanding married couples in show business. The Mann’s also graced the cover of Ebony Magazine’s 10 Hottest Couple issue.  Her hubby is famous in the Tyler Perry stage plays, films and TV for his role as Mr. Brown where Cora is his daughter. Together the Mann’s created their record label in 2005 called Tillymann Music Group. Her first album “Gotta Keep Movin” was released in 2007, the second LP “The Master Plan” dropped in 2009. Both projects met with critical chart and music awards success. Mann’s latest album, 2012”s “Best Days” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Chart and gave us the smash hit “Take Me To The King.” Despite the massive success of this couple they are two of the most down to earth people you want to meet staying very humble and yet very for real.
        
     Mann has had a more that incredible two year run with her latest projects. What is her reaction to it? She explodes, “It’s been wonderful. I’m like wow! But it’s just really been a blessing, the whole journey, it’s been just, I’m in awe! I’m honored and thanking God for the doors he has opened for me and just the opportunity to reach people  and bless them in music and to give inspiration and share our God.” Mann has been on many hits with both gospel and secular artists. How does it feel to now crank out hits of her own? She’s all smiles, “It’s wonderful. I mean I don’t really even have the words to say because you hope things are going to do good and take off but when it happens and you don’t know that it is, I’m just grateful to be in this place.” Will we see the Mann’s soon on the big and little screens? Mann  beams proudly, “We’re working on a reality show ‘Meet The Mann’s’ and also a sitcom where we get to play man and wife so we have a couple of things going on!”

© 2014 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM 
(You DID Hear It From Me!) 
Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)