Connect with us

275,000 STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE TICKETS TO ACADEMY AWARD®-NOMINATED “SELMA”

Published

on

An additional 12 locations have joined the growing movement lead by African-American business leaders to raise funds for students across the country to see the Academy Award®-nominated film “SELMA,” expanding the first-of-its-kind campaign to 25 locations nationwide.

Due to the generous contributions by so many of the country’s most prominent African-American business leaders, more than 275,000 middle and high school students across the U.S. will experience the critically acclaimed film for free at participating theaters while supplies last.

The new locations joining the movement are Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Central Florida/Orlando, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and St. Louis.

“Paramount Pictures is extremely proud of this film, which is so clearly resonating with audiences young and old,” said Megan Colligan, President, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing, Paramount Pictures. “It’s a testament to the extraordinary talents of Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and the entire cast and crew that ‘SELMA’ is being celebrated by communities all over the country.”

The business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new locations are:

• Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Superintendents, Atlanta Public Schools; Dr. Michael Lomax, President & CEO, United Negro College Fund; Hala Moddelmog, President & CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, President, Morehouse College, in Atlanta

“This movie is an educational moment for more than 10,000 Atlanta Public Schools students who we are inviting to see this film. I am proud and humbled by the immediate outpouring of support from our Atlanta community who has joined this growing national movement,” said Meria J. Carstarphen, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools and Selma, Alabama native. “Our Atlanta education partners believe in our students, and I am grateful for the opportunity they are providing our students to see one of the most pivotal moments in American history.”

“‘SELMA’ is such an important film for young people to see now in the wake of Ferguson, Cleveland and New York. The struggle for justice is a long one, and Selma is history that a new generation needs to know more fully,” said Lomax. “So, I felt it was imperative to join with others around the country who were raising funds so middle and high school students can see the film, learn their history and be inspired to make the civil rights and justice lifelong pursuits.”

• Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, in Austin

“It is of the utmost importance to expose our young people to the courage, compassion and integrity that is brought to life in the film ‘SELMA.’ It illuminates a period of American history that is very relevant today,” said Smith. “Dr. King has been a source of inspiration for me and for many people of all races and ethnicities. I consider this not just an opportunity, but a responsibility, to bring his message and his dream to the students of Austin.”

• Sylvia Brown, Board Member, John Hopkins Healthcare Advisory Board, in Baltimore

“Baltimore is proud to be a part of this wonderful effort. We hope that young audiences find inspiration and encouragement in the film and in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s story,” said Brown.

• Grant Hill, former NBA player; Harold Mills, Chief Executive Officer, ZeroChaos; Clarence Otis, retired Chairman & CEO, Darden Restaurants; and Ron Williams, former Chairman & CEO of Aetna in Central Florida/Orlando

“The story of Dr. King’s historic journey in Alabama is one that students all over the country should know intimately,” said Otis. “It’s an honor to provide the opportunity for students in Central Florida to see Ava DuVernay’s beautiful film.”

• Dr. Laurence C. Morse, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Fairview Capital Partners, Inc., in Connecticut

“I am privileged to have been able to join with an extraordinary group of concerned, civic- minded individuals in the State of Connecticut to provide an opportunity for a number of young people who might not otherwise have been able to do so, to see and experience this deeply moving, engaging film about a critically important period in our nation’s recent history, and in the continuing evolution of our democracy,” said Morse.

• Faye Alexander Nelson, President, DTE Energy Foundation; Tonya Allen, President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation; Lisa Dancsok, Vice President, Quicken Loans; Mariam C. Noland, President, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan; Vivian R. Pickard, President, General Motors Foundation; Laura Trudeau, Managing Director, Detroit, Kresge Foundation; and Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation in Detroit

“Detroit students will have the opportunity to join with students across the country to view ‘SELMA’ thanks to the generosity of a group of national and local foundations and corporations. We are pleased to help coordinate the generous commitments of the DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Kresge Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and Quicken Loans,” said Noland.

• T. Warren Jackson, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer, DIRECTV, and Debra Martin Chase, CEO, Martin Chase Productions, in Los Angeles

“It’s important that the civil rights struggle depicted in ‘SELMA’ reach as many young people as possible so that the enduring lessons of the civil rights movement can be harnessed to inspire them to transform their lives and communities. We appreciate the support of the California Endowment, and have enlisted the Constitutional Rights Foundation to work with the schools in creating a broader educational program to insure just that,” said Jackson.

“As a filmmaker, I recognize the transformative power of film; that’s why the overwhelming response to the ‘SELMA’ initiative here in Los Angeles and across the nation is so heartening. It’s a reminder of the importance of voting and civics engagement and demonstrates how anything can be accomplished through creativity and collective effort,” said Martin Chase.

• Gayle S. Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Electronic Vaulting Services, in Memphis

“On behalf of former Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr., we are thrilled to provide 10,000 7th, 8th and 9th grade Memphis students the gift of this film and what history has to teach us,” said Rose. “We thank Paramount Pictures, Malco Theaters, and many generous donors who made this happen in a matter of days. This is a testament to the charitable nature of our people.”

• Ira D. Hall, resident of Miami Beach, FL, and Dr. Sherrlyn Scott, Supervisor, Department of Social Sciences Miami-Dade County Public Schools, in Miami

“Over 5,500 Miami Dade and Ft. Lauderdale students can now see for free ‘SELMA,’ the movie that so powerfully portrays the courage, tenacity, humanity and moral strength of Alabama citizens, combined with the extraordinary brilliance and moral conviction of key civil rights and national leaders. That unstoppable coalition jointly fought for and won the rights of African Americans to vote! It is wonderful that students today can feel and sense this history so strikingly brought to life in ‘SELMA,’” said Hall.
“We are thankful to our contributors in Miami who quickly organized to support such a worthy endeavor,” said Scott. “Their generosity will make a lasting impact on the students in our community.”

• Alden McDonald, President, Liberty Bank, and Neill Wright, First Tuskegee Bank President, in Montgomery

“This effort is an integral part of our corporate philosophy of linking our heritage to our vision of true equality for all the people we serve,” said McDonald.

“In as much as Montgomery is part of the journey we took as a people to gain voting rights in the 1960s, we have joined with other business leaders and concerned citizens to provide free access to the ‘SELMA’ film for local students. We believe that we continue to make the historical connections for this generation to ‘keep the dream’ of true equality alive and well,” said Wright.

• Dr. Eugene Flood, Jr., EVP and President of Diversified Financial Services, TIAA-CREF, in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill

“We are pleased to support this unprecedented program for North Carolina students to be able to see this remarkable film,” said Flood.

• Rev. Starsky Wilson, President & CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, in St. Louis

“It is important that students are aware of this moment in history and make connections between the struggles of earlier generations and the challenges facing today’s youth,” said Rev. Starsky. “We are grateful to the Ford Foundation and other funders for joining us in this effort. We hope that this film will encourage civic engagement among young people and demonstrate to them that systemic change is possible through cooperative, intentional, and well-planned efforts.”

These African-American business leaders are following the lead of those in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, Washington D.C. and Westchester.

“This was an important opportunity to educate our children about the heroes of the civil rights movement and keep an important legacy intact. I am proud that our community seized the moment,” said Fletcher “Flash” Wiley, Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, who helped to organize the efforts in Boston.

The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.

Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets

The students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last.

To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.

Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.

“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”

“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide.

Continue Reading

Streaming

Top-five list of romantic Japanese anime

Published

on

1. Your Lie in April (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)

Director: Kyohei Ishiguro

Writer: Takao Yoshioka (screenplay), Naoshi Arakawa (manga)

Animation Studio: A-1 Pictures

Genre: Romance, Drama, Music

Runtime: Approx. 22 minutes per episode

Number of Episodes: 22

Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu

Synopsis: A talented young pianist, Kosei Arima, loses his ability to hear the piano after his mother’s death. His world changes when he meets the spirited violinist Kaori Miyazono, who teaches him to embrace music and life again.

2. Fruits Basket (2019 Reboot)

Director: Yoshihide Ibata

Writer: Taku Kishimoto (screenplay), Natsuki Takaya (manga)

Animation Studio: TMS Entertainment

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Slice of Life

Runtime: Approx. 23 minutes per episode

Number of Episodes: 63 (3 seasons)

Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu

Synopsis: Orphaned Tohru Honda moves in with the mysterious Soma family, who harbor a magical curse: members transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Amid unraveling secrets, she finds love and healing.

3. Toradora!

Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai

Writer: Mari Okada (screenplay), Yuyuko Takemiya (light novel)

Animation Studio: J.C. Staff

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Slice of Life

Runtime: Approx. 25 minutes per episode

Number of Episodes: 25

Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Netflix, HIDIVE

Synopsis: Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka strike an unlikely alliance to help each other win over their crushes, only to discover their feelings for each other along the way.

4. Violet Evergarden

Director: Taichi Ishidate

Writer: Reiko Yoshida (screenplay), Kana Akatsuki (light novel)

Animation Studio: Kyoto Animation

Genre: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life

Runtime: Approx. 25 minutes per episode

Number of Episodes: 13 + Special + Movies

Streaming Platform: Netflix

Synopsis: Violet, a former child soldier, seeks purpose as a ghostwriter and learns about love and human emotion through her clients’ stories.

5. Snow White with the Red Hair (Akagami no Shirayuki-hime)

Director: Masahiro Ando

Writer: Deko Akao (screenplay), Sorata Akizuki (manga)

Animation Studio: Bones

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama

Runtime: Approx. 24 minutes per episode

Number of Episodes: 24 (2 seasons)

Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation

Synopsis: Shirayuki, a herbalist with red hair, flees her kingdom after catching the attention of a lecherous prince. She finds a new home and love with Prince Zen of the neighboring kingdom.

Continue Reading

Streaming

Baahubali: The Beginning

Published

on

Rating

Storyline: 9/10

Performances: 9/10

Direction: 10/10

Visuals and VFX: 10/10

Music: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 9.5/10


S.S. Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning is a magnum opus that redefined the landscape of Indian cinema. Released in 2015, this epic historical drama captivated audiences worldwide with its grandeur, compelling storytelling, and unforgettable characters. With a mix of mythological inspiration and cinematic spectacle, Baahubali: The Beginning sets the stage for an extraordinary tale of power, betrayal, love, and legacy.

The film tells the story of Shivudu (Prabhas), a young man raised in a tranquil village who is drawn to the mysterious and towering waterfall near his home. His curiosity and courage lead him to the kingdom of Mahishmati, where he uncovers his royal lineage and his connection to the legendary warrior, Amarendra Baahubali (also played by Prabhas).

The narrative is skillfully interwoven with flashbacks revealing a tale of palace intrigue, betrayal by Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati), and the valor of Baahubali. The first installment ends on a cliffhanger that leaves viewers yearning for answers about the fate of Baahubali and the sinister conspiracy surrounding his death.

Prabhas as Shivudu/Amarendra Baahubali: Prabhas delivers a dual performance that is both regal and relatable. His commanding presence as Baahubali is balanced by the playful and curious nature of Shivudu. Rana Daggubati as Bhallaladeva: Rana embodies menace and ambition, portraying a formidable antagonist. His physicality and intense expressions add depth to his character. Anushka Shetty as Devasena: Though her role is limited in this installment, her fiery spirit and tragic undertones leave a lasting impression. Tamannaah Bhatia as Avantika: Tamannaah brings grace and strength to Avantika, a rebel fighting for Mahishmati’s freedom. Ramya Krishnan as Sivagami: Arguably one of the film’s standout performances, Ramya Krishnan’s portrayal of the steely and noble queen is unforgettable.Sathyaraj as Kattappa: Sathyaraj adds emotional weight and intrigue to the story as the loyal yet enigmatic warrior.

S.S. Rajamouli’s vision is unparalleled. His ability to blend mythological grandeur with human emotions ensures the story resonates universally. K.K. Senthil Kumar captures the magnificence of Mahishmati and the breathtaking landscapes with a keen eye for detail. The film’s VFX is groundbreaking for Indian cinema, particularly the waterfall sequences and battle scenes. M.M. Keeravani’s music is a soul-stirring mix of grandeur and emotion, amplifying key moments. The intricate set designs and costumes reflect the film’s epic scale and authenticity.

Baahubali: The Beginning explores themes of heroism, loyalty, family, and the thirst for power. It highlights the cultural richness of Indian storytelling while presenting it in a universally accessible format. The film’s success not only established Telugu cinema on the global stage but also proved that regional Indian films could achieve blockbuster status internationally.

Baahubali: The Beginning is more than a film; it is an experience. Its blend of epic storytelling, jaw-dropping visuals, and powerful performances makes it a landmark in Indian cinema. The movie is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates grand narratives and larger-than-life characters. It leaves you in awe and eagerly anticipating the sequel, Baahubali: The Conclusion.

Whether you’re a fan of historical epics or someone looking for an immersive cinematic experience, Baahubali: The Beginning is a film that transcends boundaries and sets a gold standard for Indian films on the global stage.

Continue Reading

Movie

Love Hurts Delivers High-Octane Action with Heart

Published

on

Rating: 8/10

Genre: Action, Comedy

Runtime: 83 minutes

Director: Jonathan Eusebio

Writers: Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, Luke Passmore

Studio: 87North Productions, Universal Pictures

Stars: Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose, Daniel Wu, Marshawn Lynch, Mustafa Shakir, Lio Tipton, Rhys Darby, André Eriksen, Sean Astin

Marvin Gable (Ke Huy Quan) is a former hitman who has reinvented himself as a successful realtor in suburban Milwaukee. But his peaceful life is shattered when Rose (Ariana DeBose), his former partner and lost love, reappears with a chilling warning. Adding to the chaos, Marvin’s estranged brother, Knuckles Gable (Daniel Wu), a ruthless crime lord, is on a relentless hunt for him. Forced to confront his past, Marvin must fight his way through old enemies and long-buried secrets—all while trying to keep his new life intact.

From the moment Love Hurts begins, it grips the audience with a pulse-pounding blend of action, comedy, and emotional depth. Director Jonathan Eusebio, best known for his stunt work in John Wick and Deadpool 2, makes a stellar transition to the director’s chair, delivering slick, hard-hitting action sequences that showcase his mastery of fight choreography.

Ke Huy Quan, in his first major leading role since his Academy Award win, is an unconventional yet compelling action star. He brings an everyman charm to Marvin, making him both relatable and surprisingly lethal when pushed to the edge. Ariana DeBose shines as Rose, exuding charisma and wit, while Daniel Wu commands the screen as a menacing yet layered villain.

The film moves at a breakneck pace, balancing high-octane action with well-timed humor and emotional weight. The chemistry between Quan and DeBose adds depth to the story, making their characters’ relationship feel authentic. While the plot treads familiar ground, it’s executed with such energy and style that it remains thoroughly engaging.

Love Hurts is a thrilling action-comedy that delivers intense fight sequences, sharp humor, and a heartfelt story. Ke Huy Quan proves that he’s not just a comeback story—he’s a bona fide action star. While the film doesn’t reinvent the genre, it executes its formula with precision and flair, making it a must-watch for action fans.

Final Rating: 8/10—An electrifying mix of action, comedy, and heart that proves love—and revenge—can hurt in all the right ways.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2012 - 2025 That's My Entertainment All Rights Reserved May not be used without permission