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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 19
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Lisa Lopes’ mother reluctantly attends film premiere
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wanda Lopes-Colemon reacted like any mother Thursday night when asked her thoughts about the final minutes of “Last Days of Left Eye,” the thought-provoking documentary that opened the 31st annual Atlanta Film Festival at Atlantic Station.
The film chronicles the final weeks of TLC member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ life as she sought to cleanse and spiritually center herself in Honduras. As most Atlantans recall, the controversial and always outspoken performer was killed in a car crash there. Her subsequent funeral drew international media to Georgia.
In “Last Days,” footage from that fateful final ride (obtained from a documentary crew filming Left Eye on the trip) provides the film’s most chilling moments.
Trying to contain her emotions, Lopes-Colemon told us softly: “I never wanted to see it. No mother would want to see that.”
Sensing her discomfort, her co-producers on the project, son Ronald and daughter Reindrop Lopes, added that the decision to use the footage had been a family decision. But Wanda planned to exit the theater Thursday night prior to the film’s conclusion.
As expected, there was a wide range of emotions mixed with the glitz and glamour at the premiere.
Blaque member Shamari DeVoe, a girl group Left Eye was mentoring at the time of her death, was also emotional on the red carpet. “I haven’t really prepared myself for tonight,” she conceded, her eyes filling with tears. “I was supposed to be down there in Honduras with her but we were recording. I realize though that I’m a part of her legacy. She helped me fulfill my dreams.”
New Edition member and Sharmari’s husband Ronnie DeVoe clutched her hand throughout.
The film’s director Lauren Lazin told us that she had one conversation with Lopes a month before her death.
“She was never afraid of death,” Lazin said. “She considered it a transformation. In a way, the film is very inspiring.”
Other notables in attendance: Pop singer Monica, Outkast member Big Boi, Atlanta Falcon Ovie Mughelli, “American Idol” contestant and actress Tamyra Gray and former San Antonio Spurs player Terry Cummings.
A wide smile crossed singer-songwriter India Arie’s face when she recalled how TLC had impacted her as a high schooler, homesick for Georgia while watching MTV in Denver.
“I felt connected to home,” Arie said. “I knew girls who dressed like that, spoke like that and carried themselves the way TLC did. It was a little bit of home reaching out to me.”
One notable no-show on the red carpet: former Atlanta Falcon and Lopes’ ex-boyfriend Andre Rison. Lopes famously burned down Rison’s mansion following an argument between the couple in 1994.
In the doc, Lopes discusses the pair’s often stormy relationship, why she set the fire and Rison’s alleged physical abuse.
Reporters were told that Rison had missed a flight out of Detroit Thursday.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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An ATL bookstore bash for ‘Trainspotting’ author
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fans of “Trainspotting” author Irvine Welsh will want to circle May 12 on their calendars (or make note in their BlackBerries, if the infernal vibrating contraptions happen to be working today).
Famed Little Five Points indie shop A Cappella Books is partnering with the Chattahoochee Review literary journal to throw a private bash for the Scottish author as he celebrates the paperback release of “The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs” here. The reception will take place in the freshly refurbished ballroom at the Highland Inn in Poncey-Highland, starting at 8 p.m.
And the ticket price? A measly $15, which includes admission, an autographed copy of the book and a free copy of the latest Chattahoochee Review.
Naturally, we rang up A Cappella owner Frank Reiss to ask the obvious: Isn’t he taking a financial bath on this?
“We probably could have asked for a little more,” Reiss reasoned Wednesday. “But this is the first time for us doing an event of this nature, and we just wanted to have a great event for Irvine Welsh.” Tickets can be purchased in advance at A Cappella Books or at the door, if any remain. The ballroom holds between 100 and 150.
Tonight, meanwhile, our former AJC colleague Steve Dollar returns to his former city for a 7 p.m. signing and discussion at A Cappella to mark the release of the second edition of “Jazz Guide, NYC,” written and researched by the author in his current hometown. Local jazz combo New South Subterraneans will provide the tunes.
TRIO FOR OGLETHORPE
Instead of one speaker, we received word Wednesday that Oglethorpe University officials have booked three notable Atlantans for the school’s May 12 commencement ceremony. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, WSB-TV news anchor Monica Kauf, er, Pearson and real estate developer Tom Cousins will share their combined wisdom with grads on the academic quadrangle beginning at 9 a.m. Lapel flowers and midceremony hair makeovers will be optional.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD
Voters finally decided to send Sanjaya Malakar, the talk of “American Idol” this season, home. Malakar, with his shifting hair styles and modest vocal skills, outlasted five other finalists and there was even talk of him possibly winning. But after his miserable take on Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” Tuesday, he couldn’t rally enough voters to survive.
LaKisha Jones, the vocal powerhouse, stumbled Tuesday attempting Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” and came in second to last. Blake Lewis, following a so-so cover of a Tim McGraw song, was in the bottom three for the first time.
Simon Cowell also cleared up a misunderstanding. He rolled his eyes after finalist Chris Richardson sent out condolences related to the Virginia Tech tragedy, but he explained he did so over a conversation with Paula Abdul, that he didn’t even hear what Richardson had said. “I may not be the nicest person in the world,” he said, “but I would never ever ever disrespect those families and
victims.”
STYLISH MEN HONORED
The 2007 “Men of Style” as selected by The Atlantan magazine for the glossy’s April issue had more than their share of female admirers at a party in their honor Wednesday night at Mason Murer Gallery.
Outside the venue, Jonathan Baker, the frontman of the Atlanta rock band Second Shift and “Style” inductee was trying to take in the ginormous framed black and white photo of himself from the mag’s photo session.
“It was definitely an honor to be selected,” Baker told Buzz. “But encountering an enormous life-sized portrait of yourself is something that takes a minute to get used to!”
Inside, the other honorees, including menswear businessmen Ryan Glover and Kenny Burns, hair and makeup artist Stephen Mancuso, Pecan Pie Couture designer Clint Zeagler, singer/songwriter/producer Sleepy Brown and Epic Records A&R rep Jay Harren had doppelganger male model versions of themselves posing on black boxes.
“We worked really hard to make selections that would best represent the incredibly unique style of Atlanta men,” Atlantan editor Travis Ward said. “Judging by how much the men are being fawned over, I think we did our job.”
Before the evening was over, one honoree whispered to Buzz: “They told me I get to take home the large framed portrait of myself. But I’d rather take the model version of me home.”
SICK BAY
Pop icon Tony Bennett has postponed two concert appearances in Ohio this week because he’s recovering from the flu. Bennett, 80, postponed tonight’s appearance in Columbus and Friday’s show in Cleveland because of congestion and other symptoms, his publicist, Sylvia Weiner, said in a statement Wednesday.
“[He] was advised by his doctor to restrict plane travel and to rest for the next five days. Both concert appearances are in the process of being rescheduled,” Weiner said.
The flu prompted Bennett to cancel a guest performance on Fox network’s “American Idol” this month.
“His condition is improving, and he is expected to return to his full concert schedule.” Bennett is booked to perform at Chastain Park Amphitheater on June 2.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Elinor Donahue (“Father Knows Best”) is 70. Actor Tim Curry is 61. Hip-hop mogul Suge Knight is 42. Actress Ashley Judd is 39. Actor James Franco (“Spider-Man” films) is 29. Actress Kate Hudson is 28. Actor Hayden Christensen (“Star Wars: Episodes II and III”) is 26.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I need money! I love to travel with friends and family. Eight of us recently made a trip to Barbados. To do that, I have to make a lot of money. To do that, I sing.”
— 96-year-old Kitty Carlisle Hart in an e-mail to Buzz in response to why she had booked four performances of her one-woman show at the 14th Street Playhouse in a single weekend. The incomparable dame passed away Wednesday.
Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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