Jaden Michael is wonderful in Todd Haynes new film, “Wonderstruck”

Actor Jaden Michael plays Jamie, a young boy helping Ben (Oakes Fegley) find his father in
New York City circa 1977 in director Todd Haynes’s terrific new film “Wonderstruck”.
The film made its New York debut at NYFF55 and will open—in select theaters—on October 20.

Already the Oscar buzz is swirling around this charming film and Haynes is back with his past muse Julianne Moore. This film is based on Brian Selznick’s trailblazing debut novel, The
Invention of Hugo Cabret.

“Wonderstruck” it is about a young boy named Ben who longs for the father he has never
known. Set in two different time periods, the film It is also about a girl named Rose, who dreams
of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a
puzzling clue in his mother's room, and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Ben's story is set in 1977 and is told entirely in words, while Rose's story, set fifty years earlier, is told entirely with pictures. The two stories weave back and forth before ultimately coming together. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful–with over 460 pages of original
artwork–Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.
Actor Jaden Michael plays Jamie, an Afro-Latino New York City kid who helps Ben (Oakes
Fegley) navigate the city after he runs away from home. He’s scared, alone, penniless and deaf
a recent event that occurred during a freak thunderstorm.

Young Michael has been acting since he was three years old, appearing in several programs
produced by Nick Jr. and Sesame Street. He’s also lent his unique voice playing
Baby Jaguar in “Dora the Explorer.” He has also appeared in the role of David Diaz in the
feature film "Custody" with Viola Davis and Ellen Burstyn. He also took audiences and critics by surprise playing the role of the young gangster Rafe in "The Get Down”.

Here’s what Jaden Michael has to share about his role in Todd Haynes’s “Wonderstruck”.

Q: Tell me a little bit about your character. He’s an Afro-Latino kid, right?
Jaden Michael: Correct, I play Jamie. His parents are divorced. He lives with his father, in NEw
York City, in the summers. His dad works at the Museum of Natural History and that’s where he
meets Ben (Oakes Fegley) and helps him out with his journey.

Q: Any challenges working on the set?
A: It was easy going. Everyone on set was so close, it was easy going. We bonded so well. It
was like family.

Q: How did you prepare to play a kid of the late ’70’s? The “Get Down” in which you also
played a significant character was
A: I understood what was happening in that time period. You also had a significant role in
“The Get Down” and that musical drama was also set in the 1970s.
(laughing)
Well playing a gangster is much different than my role as Jamie but I actually did my research
on this film [Wonderstruck] as well and I decided to find out more about the culture. I’ve always
thought that if you listen to music it’s easier to find a character. I like listening to music because
it defines who I am. It makes me special….not that kind of special..(jokingly). And so in order for
me to get into my character, I like to listen to music from that time period, if the story is set in
another era. Or if I think this is something the character might listen to. While I was getting my
hair and makeup done, I liked to listen to a lot of 70’s rock and some David Bowie, and other
people like Fleetwood Mac and Denise Williams’s “Free would always kind of click with me
(snapping his fingers).

Wonderstruck - Trailer - Based on Brian Selznick's critically acclaimed novel Ben and Rose are children from two different eras who secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known, while Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook.

“Wonderstruck” directed by Todd Haynes. The screenplay was written by Brian Selznick, based
on his book. Stars Oakes Fegley, Millicent Simmonds, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams and
Jaden Michael.

Array’s “Teach Us All” by director Sonia Lowman - Bradley Poindexter: In his own words

In his own words.  The young man looking at you is Bradley Poindexter.  His story is part of the remarkable documentary by first-time director Sonia Lowman “Teach Us All” which is now available on Netflix. 

This powerful documentary was acquired by Ava Duvernay’s distribution company —  ARRAY RELEASING which is a film collective that the  “A Wrinkle In Time” director started several years ago.

“Teach Us All” is about the social justice movement on educational inequality set against the backdrop of the 1957 Little Rock school desegregation crisis. Timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of that event, “Teach Us All” seeks to build the capacity of students and educators to take leadership in carrying forth the legacy of the Little Rock Nine while activating broader community engagement in today’s urgent movement for educational equity.

Lowman is an educated woman with a heart for service. Her background is impressive and it’s important to highlight that she’s only in her very early 30’s.  As the director of Director of Communications for the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, she’s worked in myriad international contexts that included: managing communications for International Medical Corps, a humanitarian relief organization with operations in 30-plus countries; running an International Monetary Fund youth outreach initiative in the Middle East for Arab university students; and contributing to policy papers on international women’s rights for several NGOs, including the United Nations. Plus she holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

So, it’s little wonder that Ava Duvernay connected with this particular film because amongst the cold hard facts that make “Teach Us All” important viewing there are several sound solutions offered by well-versed educators that should be very seriously reviewed. 

Another exciting aspect that arose from the film was watching how the youth—in schools across the country—are educating themselves individually and as a group, and challenging the system.  There is more than hope—there is a movement.  

One of the students that left a mark was an African American youth, Bradley Poindexter, who grew up in one of the poorest sections of Little Rock, Arkansas. In painting a picture of his young life, he noted that he knew more people who “died” tragically than was in his High School class. 

At the time of posting this story Bradley Poindexter now a former student from Little Rock, Arkansas, joined the military and he is currently serving as a Security Forces Member of the U.S. Air Force.  It’s also interesting to note that prior to joining the armed forces, Bradley was an advocate for Educational Equity, working with education initiative Noble Impact in Little Rock.

“Teach Us All” is more than just a documentary to entertain you on Netflix— it’s a window into what can be done; must be done to make a positive change in the United States Public Educational system. In short, it’s movement.

"Teach Us All" an Array Releasing film. Now playing on Netflix.

“Superheroes at the beginning, always break the rules because the rules are not just, that’s why Thurgood Marshall is a superhero”—Director and PGA member, Reginald Hudlin

Thurgood Marshall said it elegantly and honesty, when he said that “sometimes history takes things into its own hands.” The more brutal assessment is that history is told by the victors not the victims so the truth is rarely part of what really happened and therefore history is a flimsy and mostly, false. In the new film “Marshall” director Reginald Hudlin takes the audience back to 1940, long before he sat on the US Supreme Court or claimed victory in Brown v. Board of Education Here, Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) is a young rabble-rousing attorney for the NAACP. The tightly directed film explores one his greatest challenges in those early days: the case of black chauffeur Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), accused by his white employer, Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson), of sexual assault and attempted murder. While most of Marshall's work is in the south, the Spell case lands him in the wealthy white enclaves of Connecticut, where racism is never far from the surface. Angry picketers and tabloid headlines scream for Spell's conviction as black servants are fired by their fearful white employers.

Marshall's attempt to fight for his client is stymied by Judge Colin Foster (James Cromwell), who
allows him to attend the trial, but not speak. This leaves the defense in the shaky hands of Samuel
Friedman (Josh Gad), who has no interest in trying this case. Local prosecutor Lorin Willis (Dan Stevens) senses an easy victory.

Marshall and Friedman struggle against fear and prejudice -- and each other -- as they unravel
the twisted tale to its shocking conclusion, with their client's life hanging in the balance. Largely forgotten by history, The State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell helped lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement to come and informed the legal doctrine of one of America's greatest jurists. 

“Marshall” stars Chadwick Boseman (“42”), Josh Gad ("Book of Mormon"), Kate Hudson (“Deepwater Horizon”), Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot), and James Cromwell ( The Green Mile, LA Confidential). Hudlin also serves as producer with Paula Wagner (“Mission Impossible”) and Jonathan Sanger. Chadwick Boseman is co-producer.

Here is a brief excerpt from an interview with Marshall's; director/producer Reginald Hudlin.

Q: Why do you call Thurgood Marshall a superhero.

Reginald Hudlin: Thurgood Marshall is not just a civil rights activist, he's a freedom fighter. He’s a superhero. All Superheroes at the beginning [always ] break the rules because the rules are not just that’s why Thurgood Marshall is a superhero.

Q: What made you say yes to directing this film?
RH: Well, I was not interested in making a classic cradle to the grave biopic. True Marshall is one of the greatest lawyers in the history of America but “Marshall” is also a legal thriller which gives an insight into who we are today by looking at our history.

Q: Not many people know this case but the subsequent trial of Joseph Spell in Connecticut was
anything but routine.
RH: Exactly. In 1940, Connecticut socialite Eleanor Strubing was found wandering down a road. and she claims she was sexually assaulted and almost murdered by her chauffeur [JOSEPH SPELL] . The case is shocking and sensational and if it happened today, it would be all over TMZ
Newspapers printed every graphic detail of the alleged crime, all of them filtered through race. Joseph Spell was often referred to as "the colored servant" or "the Negro chauffeur's in press coverage, perpetuating a "black v. white" narrative that hinted at an unspoken truth in Connecticut: racism in America was not confined to the southern states.

Q: Legendary songwriter Diane Warren wrote a song especially for this film titled "Stand Up for Something". How did that happen?
RH: I was producing the 88th Annual Academy Awards. Warren had been nominated for 'Til it Happens to You, a song she co-wrote with Lady Gaga for the film “The Hunting Ground.” She heard through the grapevine that I was directing “Marshall” and she wrote Stand Up for Something and she infused the song with the rolling blues rhythm and activist message of a Civil Rights-era anthem. Then she asked R&B singer Andra Day and rapper Common to participate, and they said yes.

Long before he sat on the United States Supreme Court or claimed victory in Brown v. Board of Education, Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) was a young rabble-rousing attorney for the NAACP.

“Marshall” opens October 13.

A chat with Gurinder Chadha, director of Viceroy's House

Gurinder Chadha is one of the UK’s most proven and respected Film Director and Producers. Her award-winning films – Bend It Like Beckham; Bride and Prejudice; Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, and others – have earned over $300 million. Her latest film – Viceroy’s House, Starring Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Huma Qureshi, Manish Dayak and Om Puri – releases worldwide on September 1, 2017.

We had an opportunity to talk with Gurinder, where we discussed about what inspired her to make this film, what were the challenges and lessons of making this film. She shared her thoughts on Indian history, and her own history as a Kenyan-British-Indian. She also talked about diversity and inclusion in Hollywood and her own struggles, even today. And at the end gave some wonderful advice on how to support and promote diversity and inclusion.

Watch the video below for the full interview:

Art Shrian's interview with Gurinder Chadha, where she talks about her new film Viceroy's House, Indian history, and Diversity & Inclusion in Hollywood.

Viceroy's House is British-Indian historical drama film directed by Gurinder Chadha and written by Paul Mayeda Berges, Moira Buffini, and Chadha. The film stars Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Manish Dayal, Huma Qureshi, and Michael Gambon. 

Checkout more at the link below:
http://benditnetworks.com/filmography/viceroy/

And checkout the movie trailer below:

Opening in theaters and cable VOD September 1st Directed by: Gurinder Chadha Starring: Gillian Anderson, Huma Qureshi, Michael Gambon, Hugh Bonneville & Manish Dayal In Gurinder Chadha's lavish, sweeping historical epic, Hugh Bonneville ("Downton Abbey") stars as Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India.