Category Archives: Relationships

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OWN’s ‘Greenleaf’ to RETURN in JUNE, Zora Greenleaf (Really Lovie Simone) Stars in ‘Selah and The Spades’

Lovie Simone stars in SELAH AND THE SPADES
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Hello World,

Y’all, at long last, I saw THIS on Facebook:

The return of our favorite show was announced with one word!!! Yes!!! I mean, we have been waiting since November 2019 to find out what’s going on. If you need to refresh yourself about what happened on the last episode in November, click HERE.

However, members of the cast continue to branch out in other productions so we have something to occupy us until June.  Lovie Simone is starring in a new movie “Selah and The Spades.” The Amazon original movie “Selah and The Spades” is coming to Amazon Prime Video this Friday on April 17.

Selah And The Spades

Below is a synopsis:

In the closed world of an elite Pennsylvania boarding school, Haldwell, the student body is run by five factions. Seventeen-year-old Selah Summers (Lovie Simone) runs the most dominant group, the Spades, with unshakable poise, as they cater to the most classic of vices and supply students with coveted, illegal alcohol and pills.

Tensions between the factions escalate, and when Selah’s best friend/right hand Maxxie (MOONLIGHT’s Jharrel Jerome) becomes distracted by a new love, Selah takes on a protégée, enamored sophomore Paloma (Celeste O’Connor), to whom she imparts her wisdom on ruling the school. But with graduation looming and Paloma proving an impressively quick study, Selah’s fears turn sinister as she grapples with losing the control by which she defines herself.

In her feature debut, writer/director Tayarisha Poe immerses us in a heightened depiction of
teenage politics. This searing character study encapsulates just how intoxicating power can be for a teenage girl who acutely feels the threat of being denied it. Exciting newcomer Lovie Simone’s performance beautifully embodies both Selah’s publicly impeccable command and the internal fears and uncertainty that drive it.

Below is a brief interview with Lovie Simone:

How did you become involved with this project?

I read the script and was interested so I sent a few self-tapes and then met with Tayarisha over a FaceTime call — she had family members who watched my show Greenleaf. We talked about the movie and I wound up auditioning for both Selah and Paloma.

What interested you in the character of Selah?

I wanted to play Selah because you see how power is handled in her hands. Whoever handles power in a story changes the whole story. The fact that she is a young black teenage girl changes the entire game — you see the extremes Selah goes through to hold onto her power, it’s very eye opening.

What interested you in Haldwell in terms of the setting?

With boarding school comes a lot of freedom. We don’t see teenagers who aren’t in college having that much freedom, so I thought it was cool to experience that through these characters. I also liked the fact there were so many black kids in this very prestigious boarding school — it was different from my own high school experience, where I was the only black female in my class. I also really liked that Selah was the top dog of this underdog faction within Haldwell.

Below is a trailer:

Any thoughts?

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2.7 Million Total Viewers Watch Lifetime’s ‘The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel!’

Hello World,

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The Lifetime Original Movie The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel hit a high note on Saturday night, delivering 2.7 million Total Viewers in L+SD, according to Nielsen Media Research, making it Lifetime’s highest-rated movie since 2016 and the strongest original movie on all of television for 2020 across key demos, including both broadcast and cable! Additionally, The Clark Sisters was the best ad-supported cable original movie since 2018 in key demos, with 1.1 million Adults 25-54, 905,000 Adults 18-49 and 813,000 Women 25-54. With the success of The Clark Sisters, Lifetime now claims the top three original movies on ad-supported cable in 2020 in key demos, along with “Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story” and “Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer.”

On social media, #TheClarkSisters ranked #1 across all TV on April 11 with over 700,000 interactions, according to Nielsen Social. #TheClarkSisters was the top social Lifetime movie over the last year.

None of these metrics surprise me because I LOVED the movie! In fact, I loved the character of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark so much, I wrote this Facebook post:

Attention “This Is Us” writers room, I want a Dr. Mattie Moss Clark – like character to be friends with older Rebecca. I need her to wear the same glasses and be just as ornery (although hilarious at the same time) as she was in “The Clark Sisters” movie. Also, I want her to be portrayed by Aunjanue Ellis because clearly her acting skills have been underestimated until now…

Below is one of my favorite scenes from the movie:

Did you have a favorite scene? What was it?

Hailing from executive producers Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel recounts the story of the legendary pioneers of contemporary gospel music and their trailblazing mother, Mattie Moss Clark (Aunjanue Ellis). Credited with bringing Gospel music to the mainstream, the five Clark sisters (Christina Bell as “Twinkie,” Kierra Sheard as “Karen,” Raven Goodwin as “Denise,” Sheléa Frazier as “Dorinda,” Angela Birchett as “Jacky”) overcame humble beginnings in Detroit, enduring abuse, loss, rejection, betrayal, and sibling rivalries to achieve international fame as icons of the Gospel music industry.

Grammy-winner, songwriter and gospel record producer and artist Donald Lawrence produced all the re-recorded Clark Sister hits for the movie. Christine Swanson (Chicago P.D.) directed, based on a script written by Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker. In addition to Latifah, Blige, and Elliott, executive producers also include Holly Carter who also executive produces for Relevé Entertainment and Shakim Compere executive produces for Flavor Unit. Loretha Jones also executive produced.

Any thoughts?

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Bible Gateway Online Bible Study ‘The Path to the Cross’ Offers Virtual Travel to Israel for Easter!

Hello World,

Happy Easter! He Is Risen! We Are Saved! As a Bible Gateway blogger grid member, I was offered the opportunity to review The Path to the Cross Online Bible Study with Ray Vander Laan, a web-based video course filmed on location in Qumran, Machaerus, En Gedi, Jerusalem, and Gethsemane!

By witnessing each historical site, the five-video study helps shape a picture of Jesus and His world in the context of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. It examines Jesus’ temptation in the desert where He, like Israel, was tested and prepared for His mission to the world. It considers the events of the Last Supper against the backdrop of the exodus experience. And along with Israel’s history of sacrifice, it explores the atoning act of Jesus on the cross.

I must say as an American, I’m a comfortable Christian. I live in a temperature-controlled home in a reasonably safe suburb off of a street that has at least four churches. However, I choose to drive to my home church which is about a thirty-minute trip. I’m pointing out these parameters to demonstrate that living as a Christian in America doesn’t require that much sacrifice or discomfort. However, when you watch these videos filmed in the locations where Jesus and the disciples and the people of that time period lived, you see that those who followed Jesus Christ at that time had to sacrifice and were uncomfortable.

I need that reminder because although the Bible is very descriptive, the additional aid of seeing the Holy Land provides another perspective. (I so hope to travel there some day!) To be a Christian is and should be costly. It should require sacrifice. And serving God is not always comfortable.

Below is information about each video as well as a way to buy this study which works well individually, for small groups and for churches of varied sizes.

Sessions

Path to the Cross, Session 1, The Way of the Essenes

Duration: 28:11

In Session 1, The Way of the Essenes, you will learn what was most important to the Essenes and how they chose to live, as well as what you can take from their way of life to help you center yourself on God.

Path to the Cross, Session 2, The Way of John the Baptist

Duration: 29:09

In Session 2, The Way of John the Baptist, you will learn how God set apart John the Baptist to strengthen him in spirit to deliver His message and announce Jesus.

Path to the Cross, Session 3, Into the Desert to be Tested

Duration: 30:17

In Session 3, Into the Desert to be Tested, you will learn that just as God tested Jesus in the desert, Jesus tested His disciples, and He will test you.

Path to the Cross, Session 4, The Last Passover

Duration: 31:55

In Session 4, The Last Passover, you will discover the significance of the last supper, the details of the dinner, and what Jesus was revealing to His followers through it.

Path to the Cross, Session 5, The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope

Duration: 28:38

In Session 5, The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope, you will discover the bitter cup of God’s wrath that Jesus took on your behalf and the true sacrifice it was.

Using research of top scholars in the fields of archaeology, history, and biblical study, historian and bestselling author Ray Vander Laan has guided more than 10,000 people on in-depth study tours of the Holy Land. His teaching ministry is focused on understanding the Bible keeping in mind the historical and cultural context in which God placed it.

For more about about The Path to the Cross Online Bible Study with Ray Vander Laan, go to studygateway.com. 

Any thoughts?