Tag: ABFF

OWN’S “QUEEN SUGAR” Announces Remaining Directorial Line-Up In All Female Team Helming Season Three Including Nijla Mu’Min, Christina Choe, Ayoka Chenzira And Rachel Raimist “Queen Sugar,” the critically acclaimed OWN drama series from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay (“Wrinkle in Time,” “13th,” “Selma”), executive producer Oprah Winfrey and Warner Horizon Scripted Television, announced today the remaining directors to complete the season three all-female directorial line-up to include first time television directors Nijla Mu’min, Christina Choe, Ayoka Chenzira and Rachel Raimist, along with the return of “Queen Sugar” showrunner Kat Candler. These directors join the previously announced line-up including “Queen Sugar” producing director DeMane Davis, Patricia Cardoso, Shaz Bennett, Maria Govan and Lauren Wolkstein. Continuing the creative initiative established in the show’s first season by series creator and executive producer DuVernay to hire all female directorial teams, the series has employed 26 female directors to date. The series airs Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on OWN. Additionally, the following actors join the cast in recurring roles, with all three characters appearing as part of an upcoming storyline which examines the vibrant Vietnamese community of New Orleans within the ongoing storylines centered on an African-American family in the new south. Vivien Ngo (“Shameless”) has been cast in the role of Trinh Phan. Trinh has recently returned home to work in the office at her parents' seafood plant. Her time in New Orleans takes an unexpected turn when she befriends one of the local residents. Tony Aidan Vo (“Alternatino”) has been cast as Khanh Phan, Trinh’s younger brother. He's been raised by his doting sister in his close-knit Vietnamese family. Elyse Dinh McCrillis (“Spider-Man 2”) has been cast as Mrs Phan, Trinh and Khanh’s good-hearted mother who can surely use her daughter's business skills to get her and Mr Phan's office organized and up-to-date. “Queen Sugar” is produced for OWN by Warner Horizon Scripted Television. The executive producers are Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, Kat Candler and Paul Garnes. The series is based on the book by Natalie Baszile. “Queen Sugar” was named Television Show of the Year from both American Black Film Festival (ABFF Honors) and African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) for the second consecutive year and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Drama Series. In the series’ third season, the contemporary drama returns as the Bordelons find themselves continuing their fight to save their family farm and father’s legacy as they navigate their journeys. They soon find that their fight extends beyond their close-knit family, but also to the community. Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) remains in the thick of the trials and tribulations in both her personal and professional life as she continues to battle the Landry family while also trying to ensure Micah’s (Nicholas Ashe) safety and future. Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) is still reeling from learning from Darla (Bianca Lawson) that he might not be the biological father of his son, Blue (Ethan Hutchison), and attempts to push forward as the new cane season begins. A new and unexpected love in the form of an old friend comes into Nova’s (Rutina Wesley) life and challenges her long-held notions of relationships while also offering her something she didn’t think she could ever have. The expansive cast also includes Tina Lifford as the siblings’ free-spirited Aunt Violet; Omar J. Dorsey as Violet’s much younger fiancé Hollywood Desonier; Dondré T. Whitfield as trusted Bordelon family friend Remy Newell and Henry G. Sanders plays Prosper Denton, a farmer and longtime friend of the late Bordelon family patriarch, Ernest. Additionally, recurring guest star Timon Kyle Durrett portrays Charley’s estranged husband and pro basketball player Davis West. The season three premiere delivered over two million viewers and ranked as Tuesday night’s #1 cable telecast in OWN’s target demographic of women 25-54. The acclaimed drama was also the night’s #1 telecast across all of broadcast and cable for African-American women.

Radio Facts: ASPiRE’S ORIGINAL SERIES “ABFF INDEPENDENT” RETURNS FOR A SECOND SEASON Hosted by Omari Hardwick (Sparkle, “Dark Blue”) ASPiRE’s (@tvASPiRE) acclaimed original series “ABFF Independent”...

Radio Facts: Radio Facts: Codeblack Films, a Lionsgate company, has acquired the U.S. rights to the romantic drama "Things Never Said," it was announced...

Radio Facts: Radio Facts: Quickly establishing himself as the pulse of comedic entertainment, funny man Kevin Hart, will bring his threshold of jokes and...

Radio Facts: Congrats to industry vet Zurek (aka Rick Party) on his latest endeavor. Zurek's "Soiree on the beach" with Actress/Model, Kali. from Zurek on...