John Legend & Movie Director Davis Guggenheim Collaborate On 'Waiting For Superman' Documentary

via the Associated Press

PARK CITY, Utah – A convenient truth greeted John Legend when the singer contacted documentary director Davis Guggenheim about collaborating on a film to examine the nation's public-school system.

Legend had been working with the hip-hop group the Roots on an album exploring 1960s and '70s music, which led to a discussion about the civil-rights movement and then education, which he considers the civil-rights issue of our time.

The Grammy winner whose albums include "Evolver" and "Get Lifted" thought Guggenheim, an Academy Award winner for his global-warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," was just the man to look at what's wrong with America's public schools.

"We were going to meet with Davis to see if he wanted to direct it," Legend said. "When my manager met with him, he was like, `Uh, I'm already making this film. This film you're talking about, I'm already making it, and it'll be done in three months.'"

Legend, 31, eagerly agreed to sign on with Guggenheim's "Waiting for Superman," writing the song "Shine" for the closing credits of the documentary, which premiered over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival.

"The first time I heard it, I was like 'It's perfect,'" Guggenheim said. "When you hear the song, it just says everything about what we have to do for every kid in America. Give them a great potential and let them shine."

The film chronicles efforts by innovative educators to turn around failing systems in Washington, D.C., Harlem, Los Angeles and other places where many schools have come to be known as "dropout factories." Guggenheim studies the hindrances of conflicting state and federal regulations on schools and how tenure tracks and teachers unions affect administrators' power to get rid of bad instructors.

At the heart of the film are segments following a handful of promising students whose best hopes for a decent future rest in longshot lotteries to determine which children will get to attend a choice alternative school.

"Shine" "was completely inspired from seeing the film and seeing the stories of the children in the film, because it follows these kids who have potential, have a certain desire to do well," Legend said. "They are in circumstances where they are surrounded by failing public schools, and they see the light, they see a few schools in their area that are succeeding. But you have to win a lottery to get into these schools. ...

"When you think about someone's fate being decided by a lottery, the choice is usually ... `Am I going to end up at a school with a super-high dropout rate and end up like a lot of those kids who drop out, in the criminal-justice system, working a low-wage job, or am I going to get a good education and go to college and make something of myself?'"

"Waiting for Superman" has been picked up by Paramount Vantage for theatrical release. Legend hopes the film will be a call to action for public schools the way an "Inconvenient Truth" was for global warming.

The film also has the support of Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, who is interviewed in the documentary and came to Sundance to promote it.

Even with marquee names behind it, the film will take some nurturing to bring in audiences, Legend said.

"It's always challenging selling a documentary. I'm sure when people can go to see lighter fare, it's not always their first choice," Legend said. "But I feel that this film is really inspiring, it's really moving. It has all the things you want out of a good film. The drama and the suspense and the interesting characters that you want to follow. It also teaches you something important about what's going on in our country."

Yung L.A. 'I Am Leland Austin' Trailer

Leland Austin aka Yung L.A. documentary coming soon Crush Da Block Mixtape coming soon, Its about to be crazy. See never seen before footage of Yung L.A. directed by Brandon B.I. Robinson.

VH1 To Air 'Soul Train' 40th Anniversary Documentry In February

via the press release

History With 'Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America' Premiering on Friday, February 5 at 9pm on VH1.

90 Minute Documentary Narrated by Academy Award Nominee Terrence Howard With Original Score by Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of The Roots

NEW YORK, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Few television series were as innovative and influential to pop culture as "Soul Train." Set first in Chicago, "Soul Train" launched on WCIU-TV with local radio and television personality, Don Cornelius on August 17, 1970. After moving the dance show to Los Angeles, "Soul Train" skyrocketed nationally and firmly secured its place in television by becoming the longest running, first-run syndicated series in history. To commemorate the show's 40th anniversary, VH1 Rock Docs and Soul Train present "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America," a monumental 90-minute documentary celebrating the show's impact on pop culture, music, dance and fashion. The film will also feature a rare interview with Don Cornelius in which he reveals exclusive details regarding the launch and early days of the legendary series.

From 1970-2006, "Soul Train" offered a window into African American music and culture, and its charismatic host, Don Cornelius, was the man responsible for a new era in African American expression. A trained journalist, Don created a media empire that provided an outlet for record labels and advertisers to reach a new generation of music fans. He was and still is one of the first African Americans to own his own show. As the epitome of cool, many of his expressions entered the popular American lexicon: "A groove that will make you move real smooth," and "Wishing you Love, Peace, and Soul!"

"Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America" is narrated by Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard and features an original score by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots. The documentary includes memorable performances and moments from the show, as well as behind-the-scene stories from the people who lived the "Soul Train" movement, including the cast, crew, and dancers. In addition, popular musicians (Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, Snoop Dogg, Aretha Franklin), Sly Stone's first exclusive documentary interview in years, comics (Cedric "The Entertainer," Nick Cannon), music industry executives (L.A. Reid, Clive Davis, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff) and actors of yesterday and today will comment on growing up with the show and will share their stories of how "Soul Train" affected their own lives.

"Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America" is the newest documentary in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are feature-length documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives. For more information on VH1 Rock Docs, visit RockDocs.VH1.com.

Dame Grease 'Respect The Producer' Documentary Trailer

(from description caption)

A Film By: John Darko
A Speed of Life Studios Production in association with
Luxury Life Global Media (A BMG Company)

Dame Grease - Respect The Producer
Coming Soon

It’s all about the hustle. This film will paint an intimate portrait of famed hip-hop producer Dame Grease.

Fully submersed in the day-to-day of a successful producer, viewers will have the opportunity to observe the hustle one takes to empower themselves to a higher platform. By featuring interviews with some of Grease’s most prominent collaborators, we will learn first hand; struggle is just a small part of the game.

FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF DAME'S MOST FAMED ARTIST'S, FRIENDS AND COLLABORATORS!

All new music, soundtrack releasing soon.

Ice Cube: 'Straight Outta L.A.' Raider Documentary L.A. Times Article

(photo courtesy of Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The title of (Ice) Cube's project, "Straight Outta L.A." is a play on the title of the landmark album he and gangsta rap group N.W.A. recorded just over 20 years ago, "Straight Outta Compton."

"Straight Outta L.A.," which does not yet have an air date, chronicles how the Raiders between 1982 and the team's announced departure in 1995 were embraced by gangsta rappers as hip-hop exploded on the music scene. In one of the first instances of merchandising synergy between sports teams and cultural cliques, rappers started wearing Raiders gear -- black and silver jackets, hats and hoodies emblazoned with the team's logo of an eye-patch-wearing pirate. They showed up at games, and their rowdy behavior was an integral element of the ambience that intimidated calmer fans.

Said Cube, "I thought I had died and gone to heaven when they moved here." He and others responded to the team's outsider persona. "It was like the way it was with rap. We got tired of trying to play the mainstream game. So we decided we would just do records for the 'hood."

With the success of the group and his own solo work, Cube was able to buy Raiders season tickets. He pointed to a far-off section of the Coliseum: "There they are, around the 20-yard line, about 13 rows up. We'd come with the family, and with all the homies in their gear. The crowd was everything, from rowdy to tame. If you had the courage to be here, you belonged in Raider Nation."

Read the full article here:
Los Angeles Times - Ice Cube documents Raider love in 'Straight Outta L.A.'

In addition, Ice Cube vs Rod Woodson on ESPN in a quiz about the L.A. Raiders - Silver and Black Showdown.

Lupe Fiasco Aligns With Hollywood Stars For Social Change Documentary

via the Chicago Tribune

Rapper Lupe Fiasco feels like he was rebelling by taking part in the documentary "The People Speak," which shines a light on people who spoke for social change throughout U.S. history.

In the film, Fiasco and other celebrities -- including Josh Brolin, Don Cheadle and Marisa Tomei -- read speeches and documents from voices of protest movements, including Muhammad Ali and Susan B. Anthony, among others.

"You feel like you're doing something that you're not supposed to be doing," Fiasco said Wednesday while promoting the film -- which airs Dec. 13 on the History Channel -- at Northwestern University's Donald P. Jacobs Center. "Because it didn't come from a traditional textbook, you feel like you're doing something secretive.

"That adds to the cool factor. To get that history, and get it delivered like 'Oh my God, that was Viggo Mortensen' -- it inspires you."

Actor Michael Ealy ("Barbershop"), who also attended the event at Northwestern, feels the film will connect with younger viewers.

"There's a kid out there that likes Lupe's music but doesn't know anything about the '60s," said Ealy, who reads a document by Malcolm X in the film. "He'll watch Lupe in this project and perhaps educate himself on what Lupe is talking about. That's one of the greatest things about this project."
(source)

Jam Master Jay Documentary '2 Turntables And A Microphone' Trailer

Two Turntables and a Microphone DVD- The Live And Death of Jam Master Jay on Image Entertainment in-stores December 1.

Also available as part of 50 Cent's new release combo CD/DVD package 'Before I Self Destruct' in stores November 16.