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Brownbeauty123
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Brownbeauty123
Post Number: 378
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 01:36 am: | 
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Sheryl Lee Ralph's opinion on the casting of Beyonce in DreamGirls
http://crunktastical.blogspot.com/2006/06/sheryl-lee-ralph-on-dreamgirls.html
Rocka.Candy: How do you feel about Dreamgirls getting the Hollywood treatment?
Sheryl Lee Ralph: It's hard. Believe or not in the 1980's when Dreamgirls opened we completely changed theater, we changed who came to the theater, and who was interested in theater. And now 25 years later, people find it so easy to act like we didn't do what we did. Loretta Divine and Vondie Curtis Hall were in the original company, there were some great folks who are still working today.
R.C: How do you feel about Beyonce portraying the role you originally bought to life - Deena Jones?
SLR: It's interesting, when Tom Eyen who is the creator, had this idea, he said that the Dreams, have to be three obviously black girls. Why? Because America will always go for that light, bright, long haired black girl because they will feel comfortable building her up, since they see themselves in her.
But for the obviously black girl, if she makes it, she deserves to be right there. Because they aren't trying to push her, that's why the Dreams had to be three obviously black girls.
So when they cast Beyonce in the role of Deena Jones. I said, "Wow, this is exactly what Tom Eyen said would happen." They going to take to that light, bright blackish blonde girl because they feel comfortable with her. That's the reality.
R.C: Who would you have cast as Deena Jones?
SLR: That's hard because the industry isn't pushing her, so you don't have an obvious one to pick from. The closest one I can think of, that's an obvious black girl with that glamour thing to her is Lauryn Hill. Heather Headley is kind of close but she's not Deena. You know Deena is Diana Ross, she's a drama girl, an out right glamour girl.
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Yukio
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 1306
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 09:38 am: |
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honesty w/no ill towards Beyonce! |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 2749
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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Yukio:
How is this different from what Kola says (about Beyonce and others) and why is it "ill" when she or I say it? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4670
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 12:33 pm: |
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Diana Ross has never been hyped as a typical black girl. She was always packaged to be a glamourous diva who would appeal to all races. And ol scrawny, cock-eyed, tone-deaf Lauren Hill could never cut it as any thing other than a rapper singin the blues. LMAO. Her style doesn't lend itself to being a part of a female trio. Also, it's not like people who look like Beyonce don't struggle to gain fame. For the few like her who succeed, there are hundreds of others who don't. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4773
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 01:24 pm: |
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I've always adored Sheryl Lee Ralph.
There's just something absolutely GLORIOUS about her.
Let's hope Beyonce don't fuhk up what Sheryl, Loretta Devine and Vondie Curtis Hall achieved...to badly. |
Abdi85
Veteran Poster
Username: Abdi85
Post Number: 64
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 01:42 pm: |
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Part of it is that thier also looking at it from a financial point of view. Beyonce is pretty big right now, very bankable and known culturally across the board so its pretty obvious that they would try to cast her. Not to mention that she already lived most of this role and has the most expereince with being in a girl group, getting pushed to lead it, then leaving the girls to start your own successful solo career all of it orcestrated by a man very close to her (in her case her father) in Deena's case (her lover) and poof we have a winner. |
Prettybabygirl
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Prettybabygirl
Post Number: 331
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 01:48 pm: |
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I agree with Abdi85.
If anybody remembers, when Whitney Houston was really huge in movies, they kept wanting to have her star in "Dreamgirls".
Then when Lauryn Hill blew up, that's all you heard was that she was going to play Deena in "Dreamgirls".
Beyonce just blew up at the right time. I don't believe this is color.
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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 2755
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 02:08 pm: |
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But she's not "obviously" black.
You think white people would accept an Asian Woman playing Vivien Leigh's character "Scarlett O'Hara" in a remake of Gone With The wind??
No.
So why should we compromise? They're not SUPPOOOSED to see themselves. The role was written for a black girl--and that's who they're supposed to see.
(No other group would put up with such nonsense.)
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4783
Registered: 04-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 02:14 pm: |
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All,
Putting aside the valid point that Beyonce's presense likely will help sell the movie (though, we might want to check with the producers of that recent Pink Panther remake she appear in that thoroughly TANKED at the box office), my issue with Beyonce has much less to do with how White or Black she appears and much MORE to do with my disdain for her woeful acting chops. |
Yukio
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 1308
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 03:03 pm: |
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Tonya:
I haven't read, and if I have don't remember, what Kola has said about Beyonce and others.
Therefore, I can not answer your question, for I too don't recall claiming that what you and Kola have said is "ill."
More on Ralph's comments:
I would disagree with her assessment of what is "obviously black." Beyonce, imo, is obviously black. Nevertheless, I agree with her point: light skinned people have it easier than dark skinned people in American society. And that part of the impetus of choosing dark skinned women in the major roles in Dream Girls was to demonstrate how these women triumph this colorism.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4686
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 11:22 am: |
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First of all, Dream Girls is not a "re-make". It's a screen version of a broadway musical. Beyonce is playing a sympathetic character seeking to make it big in show biz and in the context of the plot it can be deduced that this character is not white especially since Beyonce does not look white and doesn't try to act white. And I always found Beyonce's acting to at least be natural. She doesn't sound like she's reading her lines by rote. I liked her in her Austin Powers movie. BTW, in spite of being panned by the critics, The Pink Panther brought in respectible numbers at the box office to the tune of 82 million which was more than it cost to make. You folks are just so unduly uptight about Beyonce who certainly acts as well as Queen LaTifa who never plays anybody but herself. But Queen Latifa is big and brown so this makes a difference. And I have come to realize that many people's idea of good acting is a lot of emoting and projecting rather than the embracing of a character and making it one's own. And actually I guess these are both examples of the different schools of acting. Whatever. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4831
Registered: 04-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 11:50 am: |
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Cynique,
There is ONE part of your last post that I concur with: "Whatever". |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4687
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 12:07 pm: |
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Expressing an opinion, not seeking agreement. I know better. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4835
Registered: 04-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 12:10 pm: |
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Cynique,
Okay. And I'll concede this: I actually HOPE Beyonce proves to be a better actress than I expect her to be. 'Cause, hell. Considering how much of Bey' we are being forcefed, it would be nice if her shyt could prove to be actually WORTH all the extra attention. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4694
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 07:56 pm: |
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Her co-star Jamie Foxx just said that Beyonce held her own when it came acting in Dream Girls. And Beyonce is not forcing herself on the public. In fact, she tries to keep a low proifle as far as her private life is concerned. Her fans are who made her. Millions of people like her style, her music and her looks. |
Prettybabygirl
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Prettybabygirl
Post Number: 349
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 08:34 pm: |
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TONYA,
Email from Kola:
Tell Tonya (and all) that the New York Post is doing a feature article about me in this Sunday's paper and we did a photo shoot in my boss's office today.
He has this wayyyy long boardroom table and they sat me up looking all important with a big screen t.v. behind me showing "Days of Our Lives" as I peered through scripts.
Tell her (you can just copy/paste this email Lydia if you want) that I hear they also have some movie stills from one of my old movies "Laylat al-Zafif" (The Wedding Night) in the article, so I guess my stupid old Arab movies are about to come back to HAUNT me.
I've already posted pics of my bare ass to go with my tits, though, so I'm not worried. I refuse, and besides--thanks to Blockbuster Video and how HOT I was back then, I'll finally be popular with black men in a big way.
Today was kind of a bummer because I was asked about the STAR JONES thing in front of a large group of people and I told my honest opinion about the situation. Nobody agreed with me and I insisted that Barbara Walters is a typical two-faced white bitch and Rosie O'Donnell needs my foot up her ass--bloated fucking COW. Girl it was gett'n too deep.
One guy accused me of supporting STAR mainly because she's black, and you know me--I admitted it. If I don't have her back when she's been fucked over by caucasoids, who will?
My "new people" turned white as a ghost. Just floored. What did they expect me to say?
I told them: From now on, I'll tell the truth in Arabic and speak English the rest of the time.
I'll try to post if I can tomorrow.
Kola
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4851
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 01:45 pm: |
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Cynique,
I agree Beyonce appear to conduct her private affairs with a very wise degree of discretion. It isn't Beyonce the person I lament witnessing as much as it is Beyonce the (GROSSLY) overhyped/produced PERSONALITY. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4852
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 01:47 pm: |
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Cynique,
And come on now. What the hell you THINK Jamie Foxx is going to say about Beyonce's acting BEFORE the movie's even released?
"She stunk?" |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4703
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 04:48 pm: |
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Well, he could've refrained from saying anything at all. And how hard can it be to convincingly play a character whose story is similar to your own life experience? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4704
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 04:51 pm: |
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There's a reason for Beyonce being so visible. She's hot and she's in demand. She was really a sight to behold as the opening act on BET awards show. Fabulous! |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 275
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 01, 2006 - 03:28 pm: |
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"There's a reason for Beyonce being so visible. She's hot and she's in demand. She was really a sight to behold as the opening act on BET awards show. Fabulous!"
This is true. Anyone disagree..? |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 2868
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 06:45 pm: |
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What's any of that got to do with being obviously black??
Am I missing something? Or am I on the wrong thread?? |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2086
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 06:51 pm: |
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Ntfs is not OBVIOUSLY black.
He's a majority white looking "part black" person who HATES black people who value their authenticity and especially despises Black women for not wanting to be nigger-fied as his father wished to be.
Hence his own birth.
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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 2869
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 07:01 pm: |
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And forgive me for being totally confused here. Is this play about COLORISM? Can somebody briefly sum up the gist of this play? Because if it's about colorism as I - a dark skinned black woman - know it...
then HELL FUCKING NO; Beyonce shouldn't be nowhere near this play.
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