The Protocol Son returns, but is female in Rhonda Baraka’s Pastor Brown starring Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Salli Richardson-Whitfield is Jesse Brown in Pastor Brown to air on Lifetime February 16, 2013.
*“He (Rockmond Dunbar) was looking for something to direct,” said screenwriter/producer Rhonda Freeman-Baraka of her film Pastor Brown starring Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Emmy Award winning Keith David, Ernie Hudson, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Nicole Ari Parker, Tisha Smith and Michael B. Jordan – which airs on Lifetime February 16, 2013. “So I sent him the script. He called in 2007…said he wanted to do it. Roc had a clear idea of what he wanted (cast). Once you give it to the director it’s his…but everyone he considered he called me.”
According to Rhonda she was pleasantly surprised by the performance of Salli Richard-Whitfield (“Eureka”) in her role as Jessica “Jesse” Brown the wayward preacher’s daughter who returns home for the first time in decades after her father, Pastor Brown (David), falls terminally ill.
“He had a lot of faith in her (Salli).” Baraka said about her concern to Dunbar of whether she could carry the role. “I started paying attention to her and he was right. She put so much into the role, I was so impressed.”
Upon her return home her father, head of Mount Olive Church, asked her to take over his ministry, which has her family members taking sides.
“I use to want to be a preacher,” said Keith about his role as the pastor. “I played a preacher in the theater and in Death at a Funeral. It’s the story of how you can turn your life around.”
The request of her father has Jesse in constant battle with her sister (Parker) and leadership members of the church who are aware of her “sordid” past. In her journey after accept her father’s request she reconnects with her family and estranged teenage son (Jordan), and she finds self-love. Dunbar also stars in the dramatic film as Amir Rahim; Tisha plays Amanda Carlton; Ernie plays Deacon Harold Todd; Tasha is Angelique Todd, and Michael Beach is Rev. Avery Callaghan.
“A preacher is just a man,” points out David. “…A man with a calling. There is diffidently an emotional pull to the movie.”
Pastor Brown is produced by Rock Capital Films with Shaun Livington (Next Day Air), Dunbar and Carol Ann Shine (Jumping the Broom). The Rhonda Baraka scripted film will premiere Saturday, February 16, 2013 on Lifetime Television Network at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
‘Young and the Restless’ actor Max Ehrich turning heads in tinsel-town
Max Ehrich of CBS’ “Young and the Restless.”
*Heads in Hollywood are turning because of multi-talent Max Ehrich (High School Musical 3) who stars in CBS’ “Young and the Restless” as Fenmore Baldwin. The Emmy Award winning soap opera series airs weekdays at 11:30 a.m. PT/2:30 p.m. ET.
“It’s an intense character, very emotional,” said Max about playing the angst-driven teenage son of Lauren and Michael Baldwin (Tracey Bergman and Christian Leblanc). “Never really played an evil character before. You have no idea what happens week to week.”
Aside from being an actor Ehrich is a singer in a band called Social Networkk. A Pop/R&B/Soul five member group, Social Networkk band members are from five different ‘walks’ of life and they met – as per their name – on the social network.
On “Young and the Restless” it’s the first time in its history that it has focused on teens and their obstacles that come with arriving at adulthood. It tackles love, parent relations and cyber bullying.
Max first recurring acting role was in ABC’s “Ugly Betty” as Randy a homophobic bully. He was also in the Disney stage play “Newsies,” made television appearances on “iCarly,” “No Ordinary Family,” “Shake It Up!”, “Parenthood” and “Working Class.” Ehrich also starred in the Lifetime movie “The Pregnancy Pact” and High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
The 44th NAACP Image Awards offered an amazing night of talent on NBC
Cast of Scandal after NAACP Image Award win. (Photo credit: Eunice Moseley)
*What a night the 44th NAACP Image Awards offered when it aired live on NBC recently with Steve Harvey as host. Honoring the achievements of actors in television and film the two-hour special, at the Los Angeles historic Shrine Auditorium, has certainly become the Oscars for actors of color.
Jamie Foxx received the Entertainer of the Year award and there were performances by Gladys Knight, Common and Wyclef. It was certainly Kerry Washington’s night as the “Scandal” actress walked away with three honors (Scandal and DJango Unchained) – one being an NAACP Image Awards Special Honor. Harry Belafonte and Vice Admiral Michelle Howard received Special Honors as well.
Presenters included Keke Palmer, Tyler James-Williams, Terrence Jenkins, Samuel L. Jackson, Wanda Sykes, Wayne Brady, Niecy Nash, LL Cool J, Meagon Good, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Common, Cedric the Entertainer, Archie Panjabi, Tony Goldwyn, and Laz Alonso. Other participants included David Oyelowo, Dwight Henry, Eddie Cibrian, Garcelle Beauvais, Quvenzhane’ Willis and James Remar. Dennis Haysbert was the in-show announcer.
For the complete list of winners log onto www.NAACPImageAwards.net.
(Columnist: Eunice Moseley is a PR/media & promotions consultant, and as well as a syndicated entertainment columnist for over 20 years – www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com.)