SOHH.com is reporting that while on New York radio station Hot 97 recently, N.E.R.D. front man Pharrell Williams revealed to host Angie Martinez that the band is gearing for the release of their first film, directed by legendary hip-hop video director and filmmaker, Hype Williams. The movie, which is not yet titled, will depict the trio’s musical journey from the recording process to tours.
“[The movie] is going to be like The Beatles’ Hard Day’s Night,” Pharrell revealed. “[It's a] full length film. It’s for our fans.”
This can be a boost to there music if done well. Not a lot of people who are familiar with the Neptunes sound are even aware that they have a group called N.E.R.D. (that makes some dope music too). I have a feeling that this won’t be as huge as similar film like Jay-Z’s Fade to Black, just because of artist recognition. But hopefully it will be interesting enough to garner some interest.
Also be on the lookout for N.E.R.D.’s new disc, Seeing Sounds, which is slated for release on June 10.
Well, it looks like their has been a recent Will Smith sighting in New York City’s Time Square. This is because the filmmakers of this summers blockbuster Hancockneeded to re-shoot scenes to tone down the subject matter for the film.
…Peter Berg had mentioned that the film “remained surprisingly sexual, violent and true in spirit to an original script,” which had caused it to receive an R-rating twice from the MPAA.
This film will be released on July 2 and the trailer looks great. I’m not sure whether i really care if it’s rated R or PG-13, but if I had to pick one I’d go with PG-13. Mostly because I know that the film will do better number$ if it is not limited to an R-rated audience.
Plus sometime R-ratings aren’t that necessary. Reportedly, they re-shot a scene that originally had Hancock drinking with a 13 year old kid. The MPAA didn’t like that, for obvious reasons, and that was one of the reasons they gave the film the R-rating. Personally, i don’t need to see an adult drinking with a teenager to get the understanding that this dude has a drinking problem. So I say cut it or re-shoot the scene with someone that’s at least 18 years old, and move on, get the PG-13 rating and make some big bucks.
Rapper/actor Common has been casted in the upcoming Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins(#4 in the series). He will play a fellow freedom fighter and member of John Connor’s inner circle. Terminator 4 is slated to released on May 22, 2009.
Common is definitely trying to stay invincible this summer. He’ll be appearing in the upcoming June release Wanted starring Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy. He’s also set to drop his next CD, Invincible Summer, in June or July.
While I haven’t been terribly impressed by Common’s previous outings on film (American Gangster, Smokin’ Aces, Street Kings–>does this even count?), he has been keeping busy and I’m sure that is giving him an opportunity to improve his acting craft. Hopefully by the time Terminator is released he will be at the top of his acting game.
Mark Wahlberg will play a mob kingpin in an untiltled filmed based on the life of international drug dealer Jon Roberts. The story will show how Roberts returned from Vietnam as a decorated war hero and became a cocaine distributor for the Medellin cartel.
This film is a ways out, being that The Lovely Bones, The Fighter, and The Brazilian Job are all due in 2009. So don’t expect to see Mark in this film until 2010.
Allhiphop.com is reporting that rapper/actor 50 Cent is planning to make an entry into the business side of the film world with his own new production company.
50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, made the announcement during a conference at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The unnamed company was formed with movie producer Randell Emmett and Chris Lighty. Emmett is known for producing a variety of movies, including “Shottas,” “The Amityville Horror (2005)” and “Home of the Brave,” while Lighty manages a list of superstar clients like Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, Sean “Diddy” Combs and 50 Cent.
I ain’t mad at 50. I’m not a fan of his music, but I have to admit, he’s been making some big business moves that will take his career far beyond the mic.
According to EURweb.com the actor says Steven Spielberg has approached him to play. Black Panther Bobby Seale.
Will Smith says nothing is set in stone yet, but he has been contacted by director Steven Spielberg to star in his upcoming film “Chicago 7,” which will chronicle the 1969-70 trial of seven radicals accused of conspiring to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. According to he Brazillian Web site Omelete,
Will Smith has confirmed his association with the project and said that Spielberg asked him to leave some free space in his schedule for the shoot.”When Steve is ready he will send it. I don’t know specifics, story, anything, but he told me the filming dates, so I can be free to do it,”Smith told the Web site. “It’s not a 100% sure thing yet, but I’m confident.”Smith is up for the part of Black Panther Bobby Seale, who was tried on federal conspiracy charges for the anti-war riots
Rapper David Banner is set to star in The Comeback, a film produced by Ice Cube’s Cube Vision film company.
Banner, who has previously starred in Black Snake Moan and This Christmas, has reportedly been taking acting classes to sharpen his acting chops. That’s a good thing. It’s always good to see rappers taking acting seriously and not just taking it lightly.
The Comeback also stars Keke Palmer and will be directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and is the true story of Jasmine Plummer who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history. The release date is set for July 25, 2008.
Congratulations go to Queen Latifah who won a Golden Globe for Best Perfomance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for her starring rolein HBO’s Life Support.
Latifah can also be seen in her new comedy Mad Money which opens January 18.
The year 2008 looks to be a big year for hip hop in film. There are a number of films slated to come out and a slew of rappers with a lot of acting work. So we at filming hip hop have compiled a short list of our most anticipated films for 2008. The list includes films with either hip hop themes or hip hop actors/actresses with major roles in the film. Check out the list and tell us what you think.
Ice Cube’s new movie First Sunday (starring Tracy Morgan and Katt Williams, directed by David E. Talbert) had a strong second place opening this past Friday with $6.2 million from 2,213 screens. The Sony-Screen Gems’ film had the studio’s sub genre label’s third best opening behind 2006’s Underworld: Evolution ($10.2 million) and 2007’s Stomp the Yard ($7.2 million).
Friday’s #1 film was The Bucket List, at $6.4 million (2,911 screens), slightly edging out First Sunday.The full weekend’s box office results will be out later today.
Update: First Sunday finished in second place this past weekend at $19 million, to The Bucket List which totaled with $19.5 million
