Courtesy of Make Magazine

By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

3D used to be this cheesy effect used in B-grade horror movies. And if the idea of horrible scene design wasn’t bad enough, the garish red and blue 3D glasses only increased the cheese factor. But as Hollywood got better with its magic, utilizing advanced animatronic creations and in this generation computer-generated images, it seemed like 3D was a thing of the past. But 3D is far from dead making a come back in animated movies like Disney’s ‘UP’ and Columbia Pictures and Sony’s upcoming flick  ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’. It’s also making a return to its horror roots in ‘The Final Destination’. Read the rest of this entry »

Historically, Walt Disney Studio has had a less than savory record regarding images of African Americans in its animated works, so it was with great excitement that the Black community received the media giant’s first Black princess – well, after Disney tweaked the role here and there following a healthy dose of Black outrage. Read the rest.

Worked with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin

The man who helped make Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett soul music legends has died at age 91. Wexler, who helped produce hits including Franklin’s “Respect” and many other notable tunes by seminal Black recording artists, passed away last week at his Florida home. Richard Schiff portrays Wexler in the 2004 feature film Ray, starring Jamie Foxx.

Disney wants Spike Lee to shut up

Execs backing a forthcoming Spike Lee flick agree with Clint Eastwood that Lee should “shut his mouth.” Lee recently called out Eastwood for the lack of Black actors in two of Eastwood’s war movies, in an obvious attempt to draw attention to Lee’s forthcoming Miracle at St. Anna, a film about Black soldiers in Europe during World War II. Eastwood dissed Lee in return, before Lee called him “an angry old man.” But Disney’s afraid that Miracle at St. Anna, starring actor Michael Ealy, could possibly lose recognition, Lee tells Entertainment Weekly. “I get the thing, ‘Well Mr. Eastwood is so well-beloved,’ and this may have ramifications at Academy time,’” Lee says. “But it’s over. I said what I had to say. He believes what he believes. And that’s that.”

Diddy drops two new fragrances. After succeeding with Unforgivable – aided by the controversy over a sexually suggestive commercial – Diddy’s back with more in the fragrance department. The I Am King cologne has been announced as Sean John’s next product. I Am Queen will follow as the fragrance for women – or for men who want to smell, well…different. Macy’s will begin selling the new cologne in December, just in time for Christmas. New reality show, new colognes and new money – what a combination.

Hancock star tops list of highest-paid actors.
Will Smith, whose current film Hancock is a box-office success, is reported to have been the highest-paid actor of 2007. Smith earned $80 million, in part from his performance as the star of last year’s I Am Legend. Eddie Murphy placed third among the highest-paid actors last year. Murphy pulled in $55 million.

Disney recreates first Black princess for musical set in New Orleans.
Having remade the main character – its first-ever Black princess – Disney is moving forward on plans for the musical The Princess and the Frog. The first storyline was scrapped after critics argued that it was stereotypical, featuring a girl named Maddy who worked for a White woman and was saved from a voodoo magician with help from her voodoo fairy godmother. The updated story is being kept close to the vests of film execs, but it’s reportedly set in New Orleans and takes place in the Jazz Era. The princess’ new name is Tiana, and Disney says that she and other characters will be presented “with the greatest of respect and sensitivity.”

2 Live Crew leader gets VH1 show
Luther “Luke” Campbell is set to join the rapper reality TV show ranks with his new show “Luke’s Parental Advisory.” The leader of the once-controversial 2 Live Crew, who battled for freedom of speech in his sexually explicit raps, will debut his program on VH1. Among other happenings explored on the show are Campbell ’s planned wedding to a successful lawyer and his confiscation of porn tapes from his 15-year-old son’s bedroom. “Luke’s Parental Advisory” hits the tube Aug. 4.