“The only natural beauty festival in the world that was created by five Black women for Black women.” ~Simone Mair, co-founder of the Curly Girl Collective and CurlFest
Glistening, pride, power, natural, love. The only words needed to describe the scene at Randall’s Island in NY this past weekend. The throngs of natural hair beauties, at least 100,000, covered the green grass of Icahn Stadium for the sixth annual CurlFest 2019. The music throbbed non stop, as you heard inspirational words at the Empowerment Stage.
Hair, skincare and drink sponsors offered free braiding, entertainment and products to all the attendees. The early birds left with Creme of Nature gift bags filled to the brim and didn’t mind waiting on the long lines for product.
Mack Wilds, Yandy Smith-Harris, Tiffany M. Battle, Jacque Reid were just a few of the celebrities and influencers to grace the CurlFest Empowerment Stage.
The encore to Saturday’s festivities was the RollerFest, sponsored by Target at the LeFrak Skating Rink at Prospect Park. The venue decorated with every primary color in existence and a ball pit, showcased a throw back skate party with Top DJs on stage and in the rink.
There were smiles and laughter at every turn. A successful event indeed! Visit http://www.curlfest.com for information on their next event in Atlanta this fall.
It’s 2019 and we can still say “If Not Now, When?” is the first film ever made with two Black female directors and producers, where it premiered at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach. Tamara Bass and Meagan Good, friends first and directors/producers(Krazy Actress Productions) second, took on several titles and multitasked as actors in the film. The movie, written by Tamara Bass, also stars Mekia Cox and Meagan Holder as childhood friends with a strong “sisterhood” bond that keeps them together through life’s challenges.
Watch the video below, captured at the 23rd ABFF Roundtable where Bass and Good describe wanting to bring back an all Black female ensemble cast(popular in the nineties) and how ‘authenticity ‘ and quality were the most important factors during filming.
Meagan Good and Tamara Bass, directors and producers of “If Not Now, When?” Discuss the screening at ABFF 2019 Roundtable at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
Tamara Bass and Meagan Good at the ABFF 2019 Awards Carpet.
BET Networks will premiere their original comedy production “Fall Girls” on Saturday, January 12, 9PM ET/PT on BET and BET Her. The comedy, executive produced by Footage Films, features Paris Phillips of Love and Hip Hop Hollywood, Amara La Negra(Love and Hip Hop Miami), Tami Roman(Basketball Wives), Erica Hubbard, Erica Peeples and Joely Fisher. The light hearted comedy is set in San Francisco, where Paige Davis(Amara La Negra) is promoted and her boss Simone(Joely Fisher) invites her and friend Tyra(Erica Hubbard) to a weekend getaway. After a night of decadence, the two friends wake up to a dead boss and the comedy begins with the help of Paige’s friends, Tyra and Kiki(Paris Phillips). The hysterical group with very different personalities, try to get through the weekend without being accused of her death and attempt to find the real killer.
As you watch the short trailer, it is quite evident who will carry the “funny” in the movie, Ms. Paris Phillips. The Brooklynite dominates every scene she is in and pulls you further into the story. It’s why we had to find out how she became this confident, Curvy being and her natural flair in front of the camera.
Curvysta: “May I call you Ms. Phillips? “
Paris: “Girl you better call me Paris.”
Curvysta: “Where were you born and raised Ms. Paris?”
Paris: “I was born in Harlem, but I was raised in Brooklyn. I lived in Harlem until I was eight years old but Brooklyn is home.”
Curvysta: “As a child did you have aspirations to be in the entertainment industry? It’s so natural to you. You’re like a beam of light on camera. I love watching you.”
Paris: “ I just knew I always wanted to be on tv. I was that kid that always loved attention. My grandmother said when I was a little kid, I would copy people on the train. I was always the class clown. I’ve always been the kid that everybody loved. I knew I wanted to do something on TV”
Curvysta: “What was your first opportunity getting into the industry? Your foot in the door?”
Paris: “My first opportunity came through Keyshia Cole’s via Twitter. I never really tried to go after. I was going to get a city job but Twitter came around and you have access to real celebrities. Keyshia Cole followed me. She wasn’t following a lot of people. I was a fan but I wasn’t to the extreme. I said something back to her, that I didn’t agree with and she took a liking to me. She let me know she was coming to do Wendy Williams. I remember talking to a lot of her people behind the scenes and they must’ve let her know that “Paris was a cool girl…so she took a liking to me.”
She offered to fly me out to LA on her next album and I’d never been to LA before. She said don’t tell anyone I’m flying you out. I was in LA for ten days while she’s taking me to studios. I became cool with people behind the scenes, writer, engineers and show runners. They went on to become big executives. That’s why I tell people, when you meet people you never know how far they’ll go. They’ve gone on to become successful publicists and Grammy writers and so on. I was still working at Starbucks. I was on tour and I took advantage of being on tour.”
Curvysta: “There is a softness about you. I know you’re from Brooklyn but there is a kindness that comes across.”
Paris: “These celebrities like being around me because I’m real. Sometimes you want that realness around you. It feels like home.”
Curvysta: “How does the reality show differ from being on a movie set?”
Paris: “It’s a big difference. When you walk on set, I know what you’re walking into. When you walk onto Love and Hip Hop, you’re blindsided. You don’t know what you’re walking into. I know when I’m on a movie set, I know I’m going to be with this actress or that actress. It’s a big difference. You don’t know what’s expected on Love & Hip Hop.”
Curvysta: “So is it easier on the movie set, than the reality set?”
Paris: “Any set is easier than the Love & Hip Hop set. When people talk about the other reality show sets, we don’t get anything. A movie set is easy.”
Curvysta: “You’re voice is amazing. I love your tonality. You should be on radio. Your energy is so infectious, it comes across whether they are seeing you, visually or hearing you on the radio.”
Paris: “Yes, yes, yes! I want to do something like DJ Khaled. I want to do something like that. I know the people. I have the voice…Why can’t I be the next DJ Khaled? This is what I’m saying!”
Curvysta: “You’re a great example of a confident Curvy girl. You have this great confidence.”
Paris: “I’m not going to front. It’s hard to find clothes. I can’t be on Love and Hip Hop looking like a raggedy b*&(^. It’s hard.”
Curvysta: “I think you’re absolutely stunning.”
Paris: “I call myself ‘Peyonce”, They see me with the blonde wig and folks call me “Peyonce”. When I have my glam on and my hair laid I know I look beautiful. Some people have negative energy, so it makes you ugly. Once again, my energy is positive so it makes me more beautiful. It’s not about size. Good vibes overpower everything.”
Curvysta: “Sometimes you’re glam and sometimes you wear a grill. What is your style?”
Paris: “My style is TomBoy chic. Shout out to Fashion Nova Curves. They look out for me. You have to know what is flattering to your body. When you’re comfortable, you look comfortable. The reunion show was out of the box for me. That was my first time with blonde hair. I love the feedback from the people. Thanks to my friend, Lazell @zellswag, he styled me up for the reunion. He said “No, we are getting sexy, sexy.” Zell had a vision. I was nervous. Corset, titties up, blonde hair…that was a real 360 for me.”
Curvysta: “How was it working with Amara La Negra, Tami Roman…your reality show sisters?”
Paris: “Tami is my sister. She is my family. Amara, that was my first time meeting her. Amara is cool. She’s really nice but Tami is my sister.”
Curvysta: What do you have planned next?
Paris: “Keep doing auditions. I am going to continue taking acting classes. I want to continue taking my DJ classes. It’s a lot. Five years from now, God willing, call me Dana Jr(Queen Latifah) That is my aspiration.”
Curvysta: Is there anything you want to share about the movie?
Paris: Watch the movie BET 9PM. Watch it because they gave me a chance to be in it. Support it! Show love!
The Urbanworld Film Festival, held at the AMC Empire theater in Times Square, NYC, premiered the midseason of OWN’s Queen Sugar. The red carpet featured cast members, Rutina Wesley, Kofi Siriboe, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Ava DuVernay and director Julie Dash. The screening was followed by a Q&A. moderated by author Michaela Angela Davis.
The cast of OWN Network’s “Queen Sugar” with Director Julie Dash and Ava DuVernay.
AVA DuVERNAY
Urbanworld Film Festival’s Director, Gabrielle Glore and Ava DuVernay
Director of Queen Sugar Julie Dash and Ava DuVernay
Queen Sugar’s Ethan Hutchinson
Michaela Angela Davis, Moderator of Queen Sugar’s midseason Premiere Q&A
More photos of the red carpet for the Urbanworld Film Festival 2017 at the AMC Empire:
Gabby Sidibe, Director of the short film, “The Tale of Four”.
The legendary director and producer Melvin Van Peebles in the center with producer Jerry LaMothe and the cast of BLACKOUT. The indie film by Haitian American filmmaker Jerry LaMothe, celebrated its ten year anniversary.
