A Little Newsy News...

From Filmwad:

Sony Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights for Tortured, a thriller starring Laurence Fishburne and Cole Hauser (K-Ville). James Cromwell, James Denton, Jon Cryer and Emmanuelle Chriqui co-star. Nolan Lebovitz wrote and directed the organized crime drama. No release date has been announced yet, but The Hollywood Reporter claims that the film will likely be released in North America, the U.K., Benelux, French-speaking Europe, Portugal, Spain, Scandinavia, Russia, Hungary and Bulgaria.

From IW: I'm glad Laurence Fishburne keeps working. He will also play Thurgood Marshall on Broadway:

Tony Award-winner Laurence Fishburne will return to Broadway to play Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, in "Thurgood," a one-man show written by George Stevens Jr. and directed by Leonard Foglia. "Thurgood" will begin previews at the Booth Theatre on March 30, 2008, open on April 20, and run through July 20. btn

By now probably most of you have heard that one of the finest directors out there, Martin Scorsese, is directing a film about Bob Marley with the blessing of his family and estate.

I ain't mad. At the very least you know it'll be interesting.

Marty circa who knows when

For you Jada Pinkett lovers (which I am not) and you Idris Elba lovers (which I am), good news for you:

Jada Pinkett Smith's directorial debut, "The Human Contract," has been picked up for distribution by Lightning Entertainment. The film is the first investment for the Santa Monica-based sales and distribution company using the company's $20 million acquisitions and production fund announced in November.

"The Human Contract" follows a successful corporate man who is harboring a secret and befriends a free-spirited stranger who encourages him to ditch his stuffy lifestyle and live life freely.

The film, which stars Pinkett Smith alongside Idris Elba, Jason Clarke, Paz Vega, Ted Danson and Joanna Cassidy, recently wrapped production.

From IW: Ted Danson? I saw this on another blog...Jada seems to be stuck in a theme...wasn't "Woo" about the same thing? I'm just sayin.

And finally, I've been getting emails and have been reading about a series on NPR's "News and Notes" last week, of which all week they were discussing black film. One example come from Slaus (who btw did a funny wrap up of the phoney-ass Grammys):

"Invisible , do you listen to the NPR Blog News and Notes? They have been doing an awesome retrospective on Black images in film and Blacks behind the camera all month. Yesterday they had on Bill Duke and another woman ( can’t remember her name) speaking on stereotypes in Black film.

Bill Duke brought up a great point of how Blacks bemoan and deride Blacks for being in such roles as halle in monsters ball and such, but then they dont go SEE actual good black films like: The Great Debaters” I thought of you instantly since you’re my go to on all things black film related. "

From IW: I'm ashamed to say that I did not hear the series, but I will be listening later today. If you would like to check out the shows, you can listen to last week's podcasts HERE.