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Thumper
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 425
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 08:32 am: | 
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Hello All,
Is there no stopping this woman from getting her hands on our books and turning them into TV diasters? Oprah please, please, do a TV adaptation of a Danielle Steele book instead!!
Here's the link to the story: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=638&e=5&u=/nm/20050801/en_nm/televisio n_oprah_dc |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1348
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 11:05 am: |
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Now now Thump. Give Harpo a chance.
If she would just sit back and be executive producer and get somebody creative to handle that side and not put her hands on it she will do okay.
Unfortunately somewhere along the line the woman has decided that she is (Orson Wells, Cecil B. Demille, Spike Lee--pick one or all)and she gots big money and nobody can tell her no.
Use all your powers. All your skills to urge Oprah to sit back and let the real talents do their work--
Fat chance! |
Soul_sister
Regular Poster
Username: Soul_sister
Post Number: 32
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 02:28 pm: |
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Thumper
I have to agree with you - she does mess things up -- I did not finish Paradise - but was told about the depth of story in which Morrison writes - I suppose since it is all about money and edu-tament that she will accomplish her mission - Maybe Morrison will contribute something to the creative aspects??
Funny -- sidebar - I love Burt Williams - his character and persona -- after the movie's Crash and now Hustle and Flow - white men telling colored stories I feel like the spirit of Al Jolson is being reanimated and Terrence Howard is another Burt Williams -- sidebar I know - so who is Oprah and who would be Toni Morrison???? Good question
Peace |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 639
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 10:18 pm: |
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If she would just sit back and be executive producer and get somebody creative to handle that side and not put her hands on it she will do okay.
Agree.
But even then...I just don't see "Paradise" as a television movie--Cinematic film, maybe. Not TV.
But look at it this way: At least a bunch of Black actors will work for a spell... |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2381
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 01:34 pm: |
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Far be it from me to defend Oprah, but has she ever played a "hands on" role on any of her productions? She may have something to do with selecting the casts, but I never got the idea that she was involved in directing or scriptwriting or being anything other than the executive producer. |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 642
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 01:53 pm: |
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Yes, this could be the case. Perhaps she doesn't pick the right creative folks...
I have the coffee table book about the making of "Beloved." The sense I get from this (and also Walker's book about the making of "Color Purple") is that she seems to base many of her creative decisions on "hunches" or intuition--For example, the decision to go with Jonathan Demme ("Silence of the Lambs") to direct. I could be wrong. But the feeling I got from this book is that she saw this as kind of a spiritual quest and made creative and business decisions based on this. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1356
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 01:54 pm: |
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All:
She is firmly in control. No mistake about that. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2382
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 02:01 pm: |
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And while we're on the subject, ahem, of course we all know that Halle has been nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Janie in "Their Eyes Were Watching God." |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3890
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 11:50 am: |
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I think Oprah & Co. did about as good a job as could be done with Beloved given its subject matter, themes and plot. And her film will be more appreciated as time goes by.
But I think if you want to make a film based on a Toni Morrison book that will have broad appeal and acceptance, the screenwriter and director is going to have to be allowed some creative license to alter or delete certain parts of the story that do NOT work on film/TV.
Btw: You all who have been around here awhile know my views about Halle Berry's acting talents. As soon as I heard she was cast as the lead in TEWWG, I knew it was doomed. |
Thumper
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 426
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 12:06 pm: |
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Hello All,
Cynique wrote: "And while we're on the subject, ahem, of course we all know that Halle has been nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Janie in "Their Eyes Were Watching God.""
Yes, this is true, but how did the TV movie do in the Emmy nomination game? If I'm not mistaken, Halle's nomination is the ONLY nomination the movie garnered. *eyebrow raised* I guess the direction and writing didn't merit Emmy consideration, huh? Nor should that movie had gotten any. It sucked!
But you know the interesting thing is, Other Oprah movies have done very well...I mean those movies that have white characters, cast, etc. Oprah's Women with Wings (or whatever the name of that movie was) did well. Oprah's adaptation of Tuesdays with Morrie (yeah Oprah did that one too) did EXTREMELY well at that years Emmys including winning Outstanding TV Movie Emmy for Oprah. But, its only when she does movies based on black novels, she screws UP!? *eyebrow raised* Maybe its me, but there has to be something rotting in the cotton about this fact. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1358
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 12:08 pm: |
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Cynique:
Once again you have demonstrated your mastery of non sequitur. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2383
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 02:56 pm: |
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Thumper, I made my remark about Halle with tongue in cheek. I think the nomination was actually a testament to Oprah's power, and the industry's subtle way of thumbing its nose at those who would pan the performance of their favorite token golden girl. |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 649
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 03:15 pm: |
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See what I just posted over here: http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/179/179.html?1123096494
Seems Oprah really does have some sort of magic powers LOL! |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 650
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 03:19 pm: |
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Sorry, here it is: http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/179/6529.html?1123096494 |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 3895
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 10:47 am: |
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Thumper,
I am not necessarily attempting to defend Oprah. But I think it is more difficult to produce movies/TV based on Black books than White ones. Because when you make media based on the Black experience, you will almost always get caught in the dilemna of stonecold, painful Black reality and sunny, heroic (mostly White) American fantasy that Hollywood can more profitably cater to. |
Renata
Newbie Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 9
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 05:18 pm: |
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Good Point, ABM
I was going to say, we may not agree with how Oprah makes black films, but give her a break, she is making sure that they're MADE. |
Thumper
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 428
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 08:00 pm: |
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Hello All,
Renata: Oprah is making sure that they movies are made into WHAT exactly? Maybe I expect more from Oprah than I do from the white folks that makes black movies because Oprah with all of her intelligence and background SHOULD KNOW BETTER!
And after what she and her company did to Their Eyes Were Watching God, Oprah need not EVER make another movie based on a black novel again! And with all that money and power that Oprah got, SHE needs to give me a break! |
Renata
Newbie Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 24
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 08:59 pm: |
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I stand by what I said before. Her movies may suck, but she's someone with interest in black novels, who does the best she can (she is a better businesswoman than artist) to bring black literature to life. I didn't like "Beloved", but it picqued (sp?) my interest in the novel. My only advice to her would be to be careful in the directors, screenwriters, and editors she chooses. |
Danigur
First Time Poster
Username: Danigur
Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 10:52 pm: |
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I just read that Salma Hayek is going to star in it. Playing who, I don't know. |
Kina_w2e
Newbie Poster
Username: Kina_w2e
Post Number: 2
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 01:54 am: |
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Too Many Hands in the Cookie Jar. Basically, if you fail, try again. If you can't beat them join then. If you have more money, buy them. If you really want to try, do it. Well nobody ever said anything during the right time. Try everything while on this earth. You only live once. |
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