The Double Scoop

Interludes

Revelations turn to revolution..but sh*t somebody gotta start the f*ucking movement…….

Author: Ashley E.

South Carolina native and artist Bowtye dropped his 14 track EP Interludes at the end of last year. I finally got a chance to hear the album in full a few days ago and it gave me eargasms for lack of a better word. Bowtye who is also a song writer and producer created the perfect blend of music genres on this EP; elements of hip hop and rhythm & blues collide with intergalactic and futuristic sounds. Interludes is definitely a smooth listen, I didn’t skip a track.

I love an artist that can take you on a journey and isn’t afraid to explore diverse topics. He touches on the subject of love in tracks like Time and Dreaming and in the same instance he subliminally drops knowledge in tracks like Hello and Black Creative that makes you tap into your consciousness.

“I don’t wear chains…it’s sad enough that n#ggas that do don’t even share names”

If you like the sounds of Pharell, Ryan Leslie and Kid Cudi then you can definitely vibe to Bowtye. Interludes will elevate and stimulate your mind.

Listen to more sounds by the artist here.

Taraji P. Henson Sends Subliminal Message To Hollywood About Black Roles In Film & Television

Author: Amy Nicole

The Golden Globe Awards aired on Sunday night and everyone is still discussing Taraji P. Henson’s acceptance speech. Henson won an award for best actress in a tv series drama for her role in Empire. Although her speech was humorous, it also revealed a subliminal message behind the types of roles that black actors are recognized for in Hollywood.

In her speech she said, “Who knew that playing an ex-convict would take me all around the globe, I thought I would have won for Queenie (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) or my character in Karate Kid but it’s for Cookie, who spent 17 years in prison for selling crack. Okay so the world loves real!”

Many speculate that the actress was referring to film industry executives who have been accused of primarily awarding black actors for stereotypical roles like criminals or domestic roles.

This same discussion was brought up several years ago when Halle Berry and Denzel Washington both won Oscars for their roles in the movies Monster’s Ball and Training Day. In Monster’s Ball, Berry portrayed a single, poor mom who became a widow after her husband was executed in prison. Denzel Washington received an award for his character in the movie Training Day in which he portrayed a corrupt cop and drug dealer. Both Washington and Berry have a plethora of amazing films which left many people wondering why they awarded for the portrayal of characters depicted in a negative light.

Not sure if the awarding to black actors for stereotypical roles is intentional or not but there is definitely a correlation between how black people are perceived in society and how we are portrayed in films.

SEXLESS

When I tell guys that I’m abstinent the most common response that I receive is, “How do you do it!?” No, I’m not a virgin but believe it or not sex is something that I really don’t have a strong desire for. To be quite honest a large part of it is due to the fact that I’ve never just had great sex! When I talk to other women about my lack of good sex they look at me in pity. The most common response that I receive is, “Girl I feel so bad for you! I love sex!” Men on the other hand take my predicament as a challenge in hopes of being the guy that will make me change my mind.

I’ve gone months, even years without having sex and when I finally give in to the temptation the experience just isn’t worth it and the moment isn’t very memorable. One issue that I might be having is that most of my sexual experiences have been more on the casual side. Not that I’m going around having one night stands, but I haven’t been in a relationship in a while so most of the guys that I end up having sex with are just guys that I’m randomly dating. The older that I get I’m definitely realizing that I’m not a casual sex type of person. I know most guys can have sex with a woman and forget about her the next day, but with me I feel like if I’m having sex with you I’m giving you a part of me and that’s not something I want to share so freely.

I spoke with a lot of guys regarding the subject of sex and the consensus of most men under the age of 40 is that sex is definitely a deal breaker in a relationship. When I asked guys if they would date a female who was choosing to be abstinent most either said no or that they would date her but would definitely be getting sex from someone else on the side.

When I asked women how important sex is in a relationship most of them said it was important but that they were willing to compromise having great sex in exchange for a great guy with a good personality. Most women who are in a good relationship said that they have faked having an orgasm to stroke their man’s ego.

I’m not saying that I’m going to wait until I get married to have sex again but I do want to have a deep connection with the next person. Some people might call it old fashioned but to me it simplifies things so much. Sex in a way complicates relationships because it makes you feel like you are so attached to this person but in reality you are really not. From a biblical perspective when you have sex with someone it causes a soul tie which makes it hard to break away from them. A perfect example of this are couples who fight all the time but they stay together because the sex is good.

My advice to any single person practicing abstinence is to set your boundaries. If you tell a person you’re abstinent and they still try to pursue you sexually you should cut that relationship off immediately because they obviously don’t respect you. You can tell when a person is genuinely interested in you because they will actually take the time to get to know you without rushing things. Also don’t let people intimidate you. I’ve been told by other women that the right man may not wait around for me but I believe if a person is right for you, you won’t have to compromise your morals or standards to be with them.

Photo Credit: HuffPost

RYAN COOGLER TO DIRECT MARVEL’S BLACK PANTHER

Ryan Coogler has officially been confirmed as the director for Marvel’s Black Panther! Although Coogler is still fairly new to directing he has two dynamic feature films behind his belt. He directed the 2013 award winning film Fruitvale Station, based on the true story of Oscar Grant, and most recently the movie Creed which is a spinoff from the Rocky franchise.

The Black Panther movie will be historic for Marvel because the character is the first black superhero in mainstream American comics. According to Marvel Studios, viewers can expect an African ambiance which will give fans an inside look into the nation of Wakanda, the fictional African nation that Black Panther rules over. Actor Chadwick Boseman is currently cast to play the lead role of Black Panther.

Due to the cultural background of the film Marvel felt it was important to give the movie authenticity by seeking out a black director. Because Coogler is young and a diverse filmmaker he will definitely bring a unique spin to the film.

Black Panther is set to hit theaters in 2018!

Source: INQUISITR

Photo Credit: MovieWeb

Qulanda Moore

The chances of making a good living as a filmmaker or director are very slim since the entertainment industry is already over saturated with so many. This can be very discouraging for aspiring screenwriters or directors struggling to make it in the industry. My sister and I would eventually like to expand our writing careers to include film but we often times question whether or not we would be successful being that the industry is already overpopulated and because we don’t have any prior film experience. I recently came across a web documentary series called “The Indie Girls Project” which follows six female indie filmmakers in Atlanta, Georgia. After watching some of the documentary I discovered the profile of Qulanda Moore, a young writer, director and producer.

At only 28 years old Qulanda has quite an impressive resume. She has directed a feature film, started her own media production company, produced a web series, and served as a technical director for a Broadway play in New York. This year she and two business partners launched the YouTube channel MOQtv, which is an online distribution network that features original content from independent Film/TV/Web producers.

Because of my interest in film I decided to reach out to Qulanda to get some advice about entering the film industry. Check out her interview below.

Amy Nicole: What inspired you to pursue a career in film?

Qulanda: My love for reading started it all. Growing up, I ALWAYS had my nose in a book. I also always loved watching movies. So at some point I combined the two, and began writing poetry and short stories which soon grew into scriptwriting. There’s something on the inside of me that genuinely loves being able to see words on paper come to life on the screen.

Amy Nicole: You mentioned in your bio that after finishing school you had difficulty finding employment in the media/entertainment industry due to the competitiveness of the field. What advice would you give to aspiring film makers/writers who are facing similar challenges?

Qulanda: I would say find a way to surround yourself around people who are doing what you want to be doing. If you are an aspiring filmmaker, connect with other filmmakers who are working on projects. Volunteer to do PA (production assistant) work. You have to start somewhere, and a lot of times in this industry, that means starting from the bottom. I would also say use any downtime you may have to do what you love. If you are a writer, then write! Nobody can stop you from doing that. Eventually, opportunities will come, which are typically based on linking up with the right person/people at the right time. You just have to make sure that you have already been busy and not just sitting around waiting for someone to give you a job.

Amy Nicole: You recently rebranded your production company ChelleStar Production to QRMedia Productions LLC which focuses more on creative media. What are some of the benefits to having your own production company and what are some of the challenges if any.

Qulanda: Benefits would be having creative control of what you put out. There is a lot of content out there, and when you have your own production company, you ultimately have the say-so in what your brand produces. So if I want to tell certain stories, or inspire people, I can do that in my own way (which is always right! LOL) One of the main challenges is finance. When you do video SERVICE work, it’s easier to get a steady paycheck in for your work. However, when creating original content for entertainment, it can sometimes be challenging to actually profit from that.

Amy Nicole: Your web series “The Single Life” which is the first project under the new brand is very popular among fans. I recently watched the first season and I love the show! What inspired you to write the series?

Qulanda: Actually living the single life! One of the things that bothered me about a lot of shows and movies that claimed to “represent” what it was like to be a single woman, was that I couldn’t really relate to them. As most women do, I often get together with girlfriends and we share dating (or lack of) stories among each other, and it’s very entertaining! Our stories never really had the fairy tell ending, things didn’t always work out, and the truth is dating is not always cut and dry. So I wanted to create a show that told the ugly truth that a lot of single women face in their mid to late 20s, in 2015. I also wanted to be very careful to make sure that it wasn’t a man-bashing show. As women, we are often at fault for a lot of the negative things we experience in dating as well.

Amy Nicole: Do you have any upcoming projects?

Qulanda: We’ve actually just wrapped Season 2 of “The Single Life” this past summer. Our editor is finishing up the post production work, so the new season is slated to be released early 2016. In addition to that, I am also featured on a pretty cool web series called “The Indie Girls Project” which is a reality/vlog style show that follows 6 of us female filmmakers as we go through our day to day, some of the obstacles we face, how we uplift each other, etc. Our youtube channel, MOQtv will also have some new shows that I’ve worked as a producer on coming out 2016 in addition to the 2nd season of The Single Life.

Amy Nicole: How can people contact you?

Qulanda: I’m on Facebook under my name Qulanda Moore and on Instagram as @qstar7. They can also email me atqrmedia@icloud.com.

It was great getting to know more about Qulanda and I hope her success as a writer and filmmaker inspires others to keep pursuing their dreams!

Tough Love

In case you haven’t noticed, web series seem to be taking over the internet. With many people complaining about the lack of quality content on television, several aspiring writers, directors and producers are taking matters into their own hands by creating content that most viewers want to see. With a small budget and a small team Caleb Davis, Roni Simpson, Brian Scott and Will Rosati came together to create a new web series called Tough Love.

The show premiered on the web last month and it already has a pretty large following of viewers. Tough Love centers around the lives of six young professionals who are all friends living in New York City. The show takes viewers on a journey through each individual’s life as they deal with the challenges that come along with relationships, dating and being in love. It also focuses on the dynamics of real friendships and people just living their everyday lives which makes the show very relatable. Throughout the show the friends secretly agree to visit a therapist named Sydney who interviews them to get their input on the statistics of heterosexual dating and relationships. In exchange for seeing the therapist they get paid for their opinions. They each get very personal with Sydney as they open up about their secrets and experiences with one another.

The main characters of the show are Quincy, Alicia, Jackson, Jordan, Monica and Darius.

Quincy and Alicia are the long term couple that have been together since their college days. They’ve had their ups and downs over the years but the love they have for each other keeps them going strong. They may seem to be perfect from the outside looking in but like most couples they have their fair share of problems and secrets.

Jordan is the epitome of an independent single woman. She doesn’t want a man and lets it be known she doesn’t need a man unless it’s just to have fun. Due to her being hurt in the past she puts a wall up and makes it almost impossible for any man to get close to her.

Monica is the sweet, intelligent and sometimes naïve young woman who falls victim to giving her all to a man who is only giving her half because he is too busy juggling multiple woman and can’t fully commit to her.

Darius is Monica’s weakness. He is the guy that can’t commit because he loves running through women. He unexpectedly falls for Monica but even though his feelings for her are strong, his desire for other women is stronger.

Jackson is the bachelor that has it all: looks, success and charm. He has no desire to settle down because he has so many options of women to choose from. He also doesn’t have a problem letting the women involved with him know they are disposable. He goes through many women until he meets his match and she is more than what he bargained for.

The first episode didn’t completely draw me in but after the second episode I was intrigued and wanted to know more about these characters and how their stories would unfold. The show is very relatable and I think most people can find pieces of themselves within each character. I look forward to what’s to come and the possible drama of what would happen if their shared experiences with the therapist got out to the public or each other. It’s definitely a show worth watching and supporting.

Check out the trailer below and learn more about the team and cast of the show here.

TUPAC BIOPIC “ALL EYEZ ON ME” CURRENTLY FILMING IN ATLANTA GEORGIA

The rumors that have been circulating for years regarding a Tupac movie can finally be put to rest. It has officially been confirmed that production for a Tupac biopic entitled “All Eyez on Me” is currently being filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the films’ producers, L.T. Hutton confirmed the film by recently posting several behind the scenes photos from the set on his Instagram page.

The film is being directed by Benny Boom and it will supposedly cover the rappers entire life including his death in 1996. Unknown actor Demetrius Shipp Jr. has been cast to portray Tupac and from looking at his pictures he is definitely a good choice as he bears a striking resemblance to the late rapper.

tupac-shakur-demetrius-shipp-jr — Left (Demetrius Shipp Jr.) Right (Tupac Shakur)

Initially the film was to be directed by John Singelton(Boys In The Hood) but he stepped down from the project in April stating that the late rappers legacy wasn’t being respected and that there were attempts to sue Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur.

L.T. Hutton refuted those claims and stated that Singleton was actually fired from the project. Singleton is reportedly working on a separate Tupac movie which he says will be much better than the film currently in production.

Let’s hope that these claims aren’t true and that the movie will pay homage to the late rapper’s legacy.

What are your thoughts about the forthcoming biopic? Do you plan on watching?

Source: Hip Hop DX

Photo Credit: Black Time Travel; Top.de

THE FALL OF EMPIRE

Although Empire is still the most watched show on Fox there is no denying the drastic drop in ratings. Season one was engaging and suspenseful and kept viewers looking forward to a new episode each week. In season 2 it seems as though the director and writers are folding under pressure to maintain the same level of success. With the excessive use of celebrity appearances and unnecessary, explicit sex scenes it seems as though the show is more focused on shock value rather than quality content.

Despite the criticism of the show I was a fan of season one but I can’t say the same about this season. The music of the show is still dope but there isn’t enough creative content to keep me engaged. At times it even feels like I’m watching a bad urban soap opera. The writers also seem confused about which direction they want to take the characters. One character in particular is Anika. In season one Anika was beautiful, independent and headstrong. This season after cutting ties with Empire she engages in a sexual relationship with Lucious’ youngest son Hakeem which causes her to become overly obsessed with him. The show even reveals that she is pregnant by him. In my opinion this character change just doesn’t quite flow well with the show.

I will say that the winter finale did do a great job with leaving viewers in a state of suspense. When the show ended Andre’s pregnant wife Rhonda is pushed down the stairs and Luscious loses his Empire estate.

Empire resumes March 30 , 2016. Will you be tuning in?

Photo Credit: Vulture

Chadwick Boseman To Portray Thurgood Marshall In Upcoming Film

In the course of only three years actor Chadwick Boseman has starred in 2 biopics. He portrayed James Brown last year in the film Get On Up and in 2013 he portrayed legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson in the movie 42. Soon Boseman will add another biopic to his resume as he has been casted to play Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice. Thurgood Marshall was an active member of the NAACP and he was also a civil rights activist. The film is being directed by Reginald Hudlin and will focus on an early case in Marshalls’ career.

Although I’m excited about Boseman being selected for the film some critics believe that his casting in a third biopic shows the lack of support by Hollywood to seek out and employ qualified black actors. Initially after filming Get On Up, Boseman stated that he had no interest in starring in another biopic. We’re not sure what changed his mind but none the less I’m definitely looking forward to the film.

Source: Atlanta Black Star

THE SINGLE LIFE

Most single women 25 or older can relate to the overwhelming pressure by society to find a husband or settle down. In the web series “The Single Life” written and directed by Atlanta native Qulanda R. Moore, three young women approaching 30 try to navigate the dating scene in Atlanta Georgia.

The series is hilarious and relatable and definitely reveals many of the scenarios that most single women go through. The show centers around three friends; Angela, Tisha and Raven who are all involved in different types of relationships. Raven is involved in a purely sex driven relationship with an ex-boyfriend who she obviously still has feelings for. Tisha is involved in an interracial relationship with her live in boyfriend but struggles with trusting him and believes that he is getting wife privileges with a boyfriend status. Then you have Angela who seems to be a bit on the naïve side and falls too quickly for guys who seem to only want her goods.

Although the show is comedic it also touches on some very serious storylines that many single women can relate to including the tendency to settle for men who we know aren’t good for us due to the need for companionship.

If you haven’t seen the series yet you are definitely missing out on a great show! Season 2 of the “The Single Life” is currently in post production and the cast and crew are now seeking contributions through Indiegogo Crowd Funding to help wrap the project.

Check out season one here.