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Friday, February 22, 2008
Jamia Nash’s advice to other kids who want to sing and act
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Los Angeles — Before Jamia Nash’s rehearsal in a church gym on Thursday of the Oscar-nominated song she’ll be singing at Sunday’s 80th annual Academy Awards, the 11-year-old Duluth resident offered up advice to kids who might want to do what she did in the movie “August Rush”: sing and act.
Wannabe kid performers, the Gwinnett County middle school student said, should:
“Be confident. Make sure you have a high self-esteem.”
“Don’t give up on your dream, even if somebody says it’s stupid or they don’t like that dream.”
On the Oscar show, Nash will perform the gospel-infused “Raise It Up” with the choir known as Impact Repertory Theatre of Harlem led by Jamal Joseph. They all performed the song in the movie.
Joseph is one of three individuals nominated for best song for the writing of “Raise It Up.”
“I’ve been sleeping wonderfully,” he says when asked about anxiety about his Oscar nomination. “I’m relaxed because it’s really a dream come true for the people of Impact from Harlem. The Oscars is just a wider chance for a bigger audience to hear them and so we’ve already won. I know we’re going to be great so I’ve been sleeping like a baby.”
Permalink | | Categories: Bob Longino
How a pre-Oscar bash connects to Tyler Perry’s next film in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Los Angeles — I’ve been standing and waiting for two whole hours at Ebony’s pre-Oscar shindig at the posh and aptly named Boulevard on West Sunset Boulevard. Not on the passe red carpet, mind you, but inside the exclusive, tented courtyard where attendees mingle, mix and sip the first booze of the evening.
Where the heck is Taraji P. Henson? I need her talented self and I need it now.
She’ll be flying into Atlanta next week to join a cast of Oscar-connected stars and others for the March 2 start of filming of Tyler Perry’s comedy “The Family That Preys Together” at his Georgia studio.
Henson’s co-stars include Oscar-winner Kathy Bates, Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan, Cole Hauser, Rockmann Dunbar and the man himself, Perry.
At the Ebony soiree I finally run into Henson’s publicist, who says the star won’t be coming to the pre-Oscar party as expected because she “isn’t feeling well.”
I can only imagine that the current downpouring of rain and rush of cold winds have nothing to do with her state of health.
Alas, looks like Ms. Henson and I will have to settle for lunch in the ATL soon. And I can’t wait. After her more-than-fine performances in “Hustle & Flow” and “Talk to Me,” she’s on my A-list.
With Henson a no-show, I thought it best to just amuse myself.
I spotted Ruby Dee, the Oscar-nominated one whom I had visited with the previous night at the Black Enterprise party, and immediately ran up and accused her of stalking me.
She either loved the joke or is the best actress on the planet. No reader comments, please.
I witnessed a steadily moving Quincy Jones telling the celeb-frenzied Hothollywood.com reporter and photographer that he oh so couldn’t do an interview now but would be back momentarily.
Don’t hold your breath, I advised my young dotcommers.
Omarosa came by and, later, so did Star Jones.
I stared right past them.
Permalink | | Categories: Alan Smithee
