Viola Davis

Book Vs. Movie: Ma Rainey’s Black BottomThe August Wilson Play Vs. the 2021 Movie Pittsburgh native August Wilson (1945-2005) is one of the most successful playwrights of the 20th Century; with a collection of works that came to be known as The Pittsburgh Cycle, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice in his career and was inducted into American Theater Hall of Fame in 2006. His 1984 work Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the subject of today’s episode. Gertrude Pridgett (Ma Rainey’s birth name) was dubbed the “Mother of the Blues” for her outrageous stage presence and ability to hold audiences in her trance. The Blues being one of America’s native art forms, the combination of the gospel with jazz music enticed the world with the earliest recordings featuring African American culture and is revered to this day. Rainey learned the ropes of show business through her husband “Pa Rainey” and was a mentor to a young Bessie Smith. Wilson’s 1984 play is a fictional account of Rainey attending a recording of her work at a Chicago studio in 1927. By this time in her career, her known toughness and business acumen were legendary, and when she takes center stage in the story--it's hard to take your eyes off her. The studio musicians (Levee, Toledo, Cutler, and Slow Drag) watch her handle recording executives getting rich from her talent. The older group members want to warn young Levee of the harsh realities of the early 20th-century world. The 2021 film is the final film for Chadwick Boseman, who plays Levee Green, and the Netflix production is dedicated to his memory. Viola Davis plays the role of Ma Rainey with a fierceness that emanates throughout the movie. Between the original play and the adaptation, which did we prefer? In this ep the Margos discuss:August Wilson’s careerThe significance of “The Pittsburgh Cycle.”Denzel Washington taking the work of August Wilson to HBOThe cast: Viola Davis (Ma Rainey,) Maxayn Lewis (Ma Rainey singing voice,) Chadwick Boseman (Levee Green,) Glynn Turman (Toledo,) Colman Domingo (Cutler,) Michael Potts (Slow Drag,) Johnny Coyne (Mel Sturdyvant,) Taylour Paige (Dussie Mae,) Jeremy Shamos (Irvin,) and Dusan Brown as Sylvester.Clips used:Ma needs her CokeMa Rainey’s Black Bottom trailerMa Rainey sings Black BottomLevee confronts the band“He stepped on my shoe!”Music by Ma Rainey Moonshine Blues (1923) Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.comEmail us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. @BrooklynMargo www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.comMargo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/ Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine

Book Review of the week - February 15, 2023 • • • Finding Me x Viola Davis • • • Genre: Autobiography  Published: 26 April 2022 Length: 291 pages; 9 hours  • • • Synopsis Finding Me: A Memoir (2022) is a New York Times bestselling memoir by actor Viola Davis, encapsulating her journey of growing up in poverty in Rhode Island and overcoming the trauma of her circumstances to find global success and fame. Davis is a celebrated actor with numerous awards and accolades to her name. At the time her memoir was published, she was the only African American to have won the Triple Crown of Acting: a Tony, an Emmy, and an Oscar. Through the retelling of her own experiences and the insights she has drawn from them, Davis touches upon themes of the interrelation between poverty, race, and trauma; the long and arduous process of coming to terms with one’s identity in the face of marginalization and discrimination; and the heavy hand that luck, chance, and privilege play in the glitzy world of Hollywood. • • • Please head over to Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify or Podvine, or wherever you get your podcast to hear this wonderful conversation!  • Subscribe: Podcast (Mr. BigHead Reads) YouTube (Mr. Big Head) | Black Business of the week: IG thekrlagency or visit www.krlagency.com • • • #podcast #youtuber #blackauthorsmatter #blackwomen #blackhistorymonth #blackreads #allaboutlove #bellhooks #podcaster #youtube #podcastlife

Marilyn and Ashley Ross, founding principal of Muse Noire Interiors, exchange design opinionsof Viola & Julius’ home, which is Architectural Digest’s cover feature of the February 2023 issue.Listen in on their talk, there’s practical advice for you!

On the new episode of 'The Awardist,' we give our hot take on Jimmy Kimmel returning to host the Oscars, and then we turn our attention to 'The Woman King' cast including Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega, and director Gina Prince-Bythewood, breaking down the movie's critical and box office success and whether that could translate into Oscar nominations. And we hear from the cast and director about their journey with the characters and story, their intense training regimen, the practical stunts and fight scenes, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Marina Hyde on the plight of a constantly aggrieved, and very particular, subsection of male “celebrity” (1m28s); Zoe Williams asks, why has Britain fallen in love with Botox? (8m38s); Gaby Hinsliff explores the big British Burnout (24m42s); and Ellen E Jones meets Oscar-winning actor Violas Davis to talk about her new film, The Woman King (40m12s).

This week's backstage features the London Film Festival, chats with award winners and reviews of the latest spooky films.This week, Claire Gregory was joined by regular pundit Stevie Wong and Sky News' arts and entertainment reporter Chris Robertson as they delve into this week's biggest film and TV news and all the newest releases.The team talk London Film Festival, with Claire grabbing a candid chat with Matilda The Musical's Emma Thompson and Stephen Graham as they hit the red carpet for gala night.They also discuss the new Billy Eichner film Bros and if big screen romcoms have had their day, as well as Apple TV+'s controversial future Will Smith release.Oscar-winner Viola Davis talks all about her new film The Woman King in this week's big interview - you can listen to the full chat at the end of the podcast.The start of October means a tranche of new Halloween films and shows (much to Stevie's delight) so the team reviews the new Mike Flanagan horror The Midnight Club, Marvel's surprise release Werewolf By Night, and vampire remake Let The Right One In.

Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk This week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk THE WOMAN KING. As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review. PLOT SUMMARY: The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Some things are worth fighting for. @TheWatchAndTalk (Twitter/Instagram) Facebook.com/TheWatchAndTalk www.TheWatchAndTalk.com TheWatchAndTalk@gmail.com

Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu & Gina Prince-Bythewood Talk 'The Woman King', Redefining Femininity + MoreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thee legendary Viola Davis joins us to talk her new memoir, family and playing Michelle ObamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glory speaks with actor and author Viola Davis about her new memoir, Finding Me. In the final episode of this season, Viola gets candid about books as a means of escape during her difficult childhood and how she and her sisters found salvation in literature while living in poverty in Rhode Island. Glory and Viola also talk about the author’s writing process and how this book became her legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.