Music
Trailer Watch: Cannes Film “Whitney” Presents Both Sides of an Incredible Talent
Whitney Houston’s family and friends describe her two sides in a new trailer for “Whitney.” The late singer was an iconic, amazingly gifted artist and performer, but she was also, as one of the...
Gurinder Chadha’s “Blinded By the Light” Begins Filming
Shooting is underway for Gurinder Chadha’s next feature. Deadline reports that hybrid musical “Blinded By the Light” has secured UK and Australian distribution from eOne. Based on Sarfraz...
Trailer Watch: A Pop Icon Takes Risks in “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami”
“The performer takes the risk,” says Grace Jones in a new trailer for “Bloodlight and Bami.” The pop diva explains, “It’s a lonely place — it’s a fascinating, lonely place.”...
Films, Music, News, Television
Queen Latifah and Toni Braxton Ink Production Deals With Lifetime
Lifetime is making it official with two of its frequent collaborators, Queen Latifah and Toni Braxton. Variety confirms that both multi-hyphenates have signed major production deals with the...
Daryl Hannah’s Feature Directorial Debut Scores Distribution Ahead of SXSW Premiere
Daryl Hannah’s feature directorial debut is set to make its world premiere at SXSW in just over a week, and the pic has already found a home. Deadline reports that Netflix has snagged global...
45 Music Festivals Vow 50/50 Gender Parity in Lineups by 2022
Music festivals including Toronto’s North by North East (NXNE) and New York’s Winter Jazzfest and A2IM Indie Week have promised 50/50 gender parity in their lineups by 2022. Pitchfork reports...
Films, Music, News, Television, Trailers
Trailer Watch: A Young Hip Hop Artist Discovers Her Voice in “Roxanne Roxanne”
Shanté, the protagonist of Roxanne Shanté biopic “Roxanne Roxanne,” is used to people speaking for her. When she comes home past curfew, she can’t get a word in while her mother, Peggy (Nia...
National Sawdust Names Winners of First Female & Non-Binary Composer Contest
National Sawdust, the Brooklyn performance venue, has announced the winners of its inaugural Hildegard Competition for Female and Non-Binary Composers: Kayla Cashetta, X. Lee, and Emma O’Halloran....
“Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” Release Date Announced
Sophie Fiennes’ Grace Jones doc has a release date. Described by Fiennes as intimate and experiential, “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” shows a different side of the iconic...
Female Music Execs “Step Up,” Push for Recording Academy Prez Neil Portnow’s Resignation
Women have always stepped up, no matter what Recording Academy president Neil Portnow thinks or says. In fact, women are stepping up once more in an effort to revitalize the Recording Academy’s...
Study: Women Are Being Shut Out of Popular Music
We’re living in the time of Queen Bey, but the music industry has yet to receive the memo. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has released a new study on popular music and found that, while...
“Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” Acquired by Kino Lorber
Kino Lorber has snagged North American rights to “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami,” a press release has announced. If you’re already familiar with the singer-songwriter’s art and persona,...
Trailer Watch: Barbra Streisand Invites Us Behind the Scenes in New Netflix Doc
A new Netflix documentary is giving us an intimate look into what goes into a living legend’s stage show. “I’m feeling the love. It’s wonderful,” Barbra Streisand tells her audience in a...
Renée Zellweger to Play Judy Garland in “Judy”
It’s been over a decade since Renée Zellweger starred as Roxie Hart in “Chicago,” but the actress seems poised to show off her impressive pipes in the near future. The Oscar winner has signed...
Trailer Watch: Alien Elle Fanning Discovers Punk Music in “How to Talk to Girls at Parties”
The trailer for the 1977 London-set “How to Talk to Girls at Parties” begins with Enn (Alex Sharp, Marti Noxon’s “To the Bone”) and his friends attending a concert’s after-party. Hoping...
Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi on Celebrating a “Badass Butch” in “Chavela”
Catherine Gund is an Emmy-nominated producer, director, writer, and activist. Her media work focuses on strategic and sustainable social transformation, arts and culture, HIV/AIDS and reproductive...
Meryl Streep to Narrate Women’s Rights Documentary
Meryl Streep and Alicia Keys are teaming up on a short film chronicling the women’s rights movement. The former will narrate “We Rise,” and the latter’s song “We Are Here” will be...
Trailer Watch: The Bellas Embark on a Farewell Tour in “Pitch Perfect 3”
Post-college life can be tricky. Just ask former Barden Bellas Beca, Chloe, Fat Amy, and Aubrey. They show up to an a cappella event expecting to perform with the current Bellas and are humiliated...
Susanna Nicchiarelli’s “Nico, 1988” Acquired by Magnolia Pictures
Susanna Nicchiarelli’s award-winning drama about Christa Päffgen, better known as Nico, has secured distribution. Deadline reports that Magnolia Pictures snagged the U.S. rights to “Nico,...
Maria Callas Documentary Acquired by Sony Pictures
“Maria By Callas: In Her Own Words” has secured distribution. Sony Pictures Classics acquired all rights for the documentary in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, a press release has...
Trailer Watch: A Superstar Seeks Connection in Sophie Fiennes’ “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami”
“I’ve been around the block — too many times,” Grace Jones observes in a trailer for Sophie Fiennes’ new documentary. “Around the globe is more like it.” That’s for sure: Jones...
Women Win Four Categories at Gender-Neutral VMAs
After a much-hyped shift to gender-neutral awards, women won or co-won four of the 15 competitive categories at last night’s 2017 VMAs — approximately 27 percent. Female artists were...
Pink Shares Story About Her Daughter, Celebrates Individuality in Moving VMAs Speech
Pink used her VMAs platform to recount an interaction she’d had recently with her six-year-old daughter. Accepting the Video Vanguard award last night — which recognizes an artist’s career...
Lady Gaga to Perform at TIFF Premiere of Netflix Doc “Gaga: Five Foot Two”
Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga’s Twitter account Lady Gaga is such a larger-than-life figure that at times we forget that there’s a real woman behind the intricate costumes and bring-the-house-down...
Tina Turner Stage Musical in the Works from Director Phyllida Lloyd and Writer Katori Hall
Tina Turner and “Tina” director Phyllida Lloyd: Turner’s Facebook account Tina Turner’s career has been nothing short of legendary. Over the past 60 years, she has dabbled in almost every...
Taylor Swift Wins Sexual Assault Lawsuit
After four long years, Taylor Swift’s sexual assault case has finally come to a close. As reported by Vanity Fair, jurors determined that D.J. David Mueller “assaulted the pop star by grabbing...
“Nashville” Creator Callie Khouri Has a New Music Series in the Works
Callie Khouri is headed to Miami. The “Nashville” creator has a new music-centric series in the works, this one based in the Sunshine State. Khouri hinted at the project during CMT’s #Nashchat...
Drama Series Based on Mariah Carey’s Life Being Developed by Starz
Mariah Carey is best known for two things: her incredible pipes and the fact that she’s an incredible character. Her amazing talent and larger-than-life persona have captivated millions for...
“Wicked” Becomes the Second-Highest-Grossing Broadway Show of All Time
Elphaba and Glinda continue to make magic on Broadway. “Wizard of Oz” prequel “Wicked” crossed the $1 billion benchmark last March in record time, and after raking in just short of $2...
Quote of the Day: Solange Thanks BET for Always Giving Women a Seat at the Table
When Solange won the Centric Award at Sunday’s BET Awards, her acceptance speech seemed fairly run-of-the-mill at first. She thanked her family and friends, her husband and son, and her...
Trailer Watch: The Bellas Are Ready to “Aca-Finish This” in “Pitch Perfect 3”
The Barden Bellas have finally graduated and it turns out the real world isn’t as fun as collegiate a cappella competitions. Beca (Anna Kendrick) just quit her job. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is doing...
Trailer Watch: Isabelle Huppert Tries to Reclaim Her Singing Career in “Souvenir”
Isabelle Huppert has gone from a rising star to a factory worker in “Souvenir.” A trailer for the French-language drama has been released, and it suggests that a comeback may be in store for...
Teaser Watch: The Bellas Are on Tour in Behind-the-Scenes Look at “Pitch Perfect 3”
“Pitch Perfect 3” doesn’t hit theaters for another six months, but the comedy’s new teaser promises it’ll be well worth the wait. The spot features behind-the-scenes footage from the third...
Jane Austen-Centric Musical Lab “Austen’s Pride” to Be Held in NYC
Everyone knows Jane Austen is a master of wit, but as a new musical suggests, she also has serious vocal chops. BroadwayWorld reports that an invitation-only musical lab called “Austen’s...
Beyoncé and J.K. Rowling Among the World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities
Never underestimate the enthusiasm — or spending power — of the BeyHive. They’ve helped ensure that Queen Bey is the top-placing woman in Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid...
LAFF 2017 Women Directors: Meet Elizabeth Rohrbaugh— “Becks”
Elizabeth Rohrbaugh is writer and director based in NYC. Her documentary, “The Perfect Victim,” was on the PBS series “America Reframed” after premiering at the Hot Springs International...
Regina King Is Adapting Dana Dane Song “Cinderfella” for the Screen
Regina King is bringing rapper Dana Dane’s “Cinderfella” to the big screen. According to Vibe, the Emmy-winning actress is partnering with Dane to adapt his 1987 song — a gender reversal...
Cher Musical to Hit Broadway in 2018
Cher’s next stage appearance will be a little different from her usual Las Vegas performances. As Entertainment Weekly reports, Cher announced earlier this week that a musical about her life is in...
Cyndi Lauper Writing Music and Lyrics for “Working Girl” Stage Musical
Cyndi Lauper is bringing her musical chops to Broadway again. The “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer will write the music and lyrics for the upcoming “Working Girl” stage musical,...
Zoe Lister-Jones on Hiring an All-Female Crew for Her Directorial Debut “Band Aid”
Zoe Lister-Jones is an actress, writer, and producer. And now she’s a director. “Band Aid,” her directorial debut, is a terrific story about a couple who decide to turn their epic fights into...
Idina Menzel to Lead Reading of “Jagged Little Pill” Musical
Idina Menzel is switching from “Let It Go” to “You Oughta Know.” Per The Hollywood Reporter, the Tony and Obie Award-winning actress will lead a reading of “Jagged Little Pill,” Diablo...
Cyndi Lauper to Receive Logo Trailblazer Honors for Her LGBT Activism
Throughout her 30-year-plus career, Cyndi Lauper has been known as an outspoken advocate of LGBT rights, so it comes as no surprise that the Grammy winner will be honored by Logo at its 2017...
Stage Musical Based on Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” to Bow in May 2018
Alanis Morissette’s breakout album “Jagged Little Pill” is set to reach a whole new generation. The 1995 album serves as the basis of an upcoming stage musical of the same name, debuting at...
Trailer Watch: Whitney Houston Struggles with Fame in “Whitney: Can I Be Me”
“Success doesn’t change you — fame does,” says Whitney Houston in a newly released trailer for “Whitney: Can I Be Me.” The documentary follows the icon’s personal and...
Trailer Watch: An Aspiring Rapper Makes a Name for Herself in “Patti Cake$”
A trailer has finally landed for one of Sundance 2017’s biggest hits, “Patti Cake$.” The spot kicks off by giving the drama’s protagonist an amazing introduction: “Bow down, the Queen is...
Trailer Watch: Zoe Lister-Jones and Adam Pally Turn Their Fights into Music in “Band Aid”
“Band Aid” “What if we turned all our fights into songs? Let’s start a band,” says Anna (Zoe Lister-Jones) in a new trailer for “Band Aid.” The comedy centers on a married couple who...
Teaser Watch: Lindsey Stirling Learns to Believe in Herself in “Brave Enough”
“Looking back over my life, I can’t believe everything that has happened to me,” says Lindsey Stirling in a newly released teaser for “Lindsey Stirling: Brave Enough.” The new documentary...
Dionne Warwick Doc in the Works
“I Say a Little Prayer,” “Walk on By,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” — these are the kinds of songs that inspire strangers to sing together, with or without alcohol. And these...
Elyse Hollander’s Madonna Biopic Picked Up by Universal
Get ready to vogue at your local movie theater: a Madonna biopic is coming to the big screen. Universal has picked up “Blond Ambition,” Elyse Hollander’s 2016 Black List-topping script about...
Ingrid Michaelson to Star in Hulu Series from Liz Tigelaar
Singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson is heading to the small screen. The Hollywood Reporter writes that she’ll star in Hulu’s “The Way I Am,” a semi-autobiographical series she co-created...
Tribeca 2017 Women Directors: Meet Ellen Goldfarb— “Dare to be Different”
Ellen Goldfarb has produced and directed many projects. “Dare to Be Different” is her first feature film. “Dare to Be Different” will premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on...