All-Black STEEL MAGNOLIAS Film In The Works

[Jordan Catalano]

"Sorry, but Julia Roberts can't act"

Was that something you came up with on your own or did Fox news do a piece on that so it's now what you believe?

And if I didn't despise you enough before as the insignificant miniscule maggot puss filled scum feeding off the lowest form of shlt on the planet, I hate you even more now.

[julesboogie]

Im sure black people are just as tired of all white casts of everything as you are of the handful of things that have been done this way. Its so easy to say "Write something new!" Its alot harder to get something new + all black produced. Or have you noticed any all black (majority black or heck even equally black), harry potters or twilights? Please forward the links if you have.

Maybe if we get some good all black casts of something that sells... there will be some new stuff written. How about going along for the ride!

[AC126748]

Maybe if we get some good all black casts of something that sells... there will be some new stuff written.

Well, there's already interest in projects with all/majority black casts if this is being produced. It doesn't seem that far off to question the decision to do an all-black version of an old play rather than commissioning something new. But STEEL MAGNOLIAS is a play where race doesn't matter--it makes no difference whether the characters are all white, all black, or a mixture of both. So it might be good in that way.

[Jordan Catalano]

Jules, I think that's a load of crap, for the most part.

These "all-whatever" productions are based purely on the casts they're able to assemble which, for the most part, would sell if it was a revival of a typically white, asian, black, indian, whatever play as it would as a new work. I'm talking theater here, but I'm sure that the cast Leon will get for this Lifetime Original Movie (three always scary words) will be a big enough draw to get viewers to tune in regardless of what the movie actually is.

"Her Magnolias Were Too Steel: A Mothers Courage" premiering in March, only on Lifetime following an all new "After the Runway".

[julesboogie]

But youre talking about the difference between the black audience tuning in and the black audience plus everyone else. Susan Q Housewife is not tuning in to life time to see Loretta Divine. She'd be tuning in to see Steel Magnolias with a twist. Its a gimmick...but hopefully the gimmick will make way for other projects.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

[Jordan Catalano]

How do you know? That's a fairly racist argument you're making saying that the average person won't tune in to see black actors, only recognizable works. My mother is a white woman in her late 50's who will watch anything Phylicia Rashad, Loretta Devine, Alfre Woodard, Kimberly Elise (after her amazing TV Film THE LORETTA CLAIROBNE STORY), Halle Berry, Angela Bassett and a whole list of other black actresses do, and not because she knows the work, but because she likes the actors. She also watches Lifetime religiously, so that'll help.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Really, Jordan?

Your mother sat through Catwoman?

I call Bull****...for the sake of your mother's good name.

[julesboogie]

the racist card already. Um keep in mind im arguing FOR this movie and everyone watching it.

You can look at the movies, plays, musicals, and any other form of media we have. If all black anythings were as lucrative as the twilights and such. Dont you think we'd see more? And more new things? People will make what sells, what makes the most, and what reaches the masses. While loretta mat be reaching your mom, she aint reaching the masses...as brilliant as she is.

And your mother must be awesome and forward. But she is definitely not the norm.

[julesboogie]

CATWOMAN was a mess.

[Jordan Catalano]

"But youre talking about the difference between the black audience tuning in and the black audience plus everyone else"

Yes, I'm calling that statement racist. And saying "Youre pulling the race card already" doesn't make what you said NOT a racist statement. You're implying that "everyone else" will not watch black actors.

And yes, CATWOMAN was not a great film. But like GIGLI, it's a movie that's become fun to make fun of and call a total waste because the critics hated it (some of which hadn't even seen them), when in reality neither of them weren't half as bad as they're made out to be.

[SonofRobbieJ]

I don't think that statement is in the least racist. I actually think there's a point to it. There are generally two types of genres: black films aimed squarely at the black audience (think much of Tyler Perry's output) and black films aimed at a more diverse audience (think The Help, The Color Purple, etc.) Now, of course, there is overlap. There are white people that enjoy a good Tyler Perry vehicle. But one can't deny that this dichotomy plays out in the marketplace. What I find fascinating is that the black films aimed at black audiences tend to deal with contemporary issues, while black films aimed at white and black audiences deal with historical periods where the tension between whites and blacks was...let's just say 'high.'

The thing I find interesting about a black Steel Magnolias is that it may find a crossover appeal that doesn't really have anything to do with 'racial issues.' And, unlike Precious, which was unrelentingly dour and brutal, Steel Magnolias is generally upbeat...even with the dead daughter.

[Jordan Catalano]

Right, but we're talking about a frickin' Lifetime movie here. Not a BET original movie or a film that will only play the small underground black film festivals. This is a movie that will be targeted to every color woman on that channel.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Right. That was kind of my point. Now I'm confused by what you're arguing.

[julesboogie]

Call it what ever you want Jordan. I never once stated that everyone who isnt black wouldn't tune in. I said Susan Q Housewife (the target audience of Lifetime) isnt tuning in BECAUSE its Loretta Divine. Shes tuning in to see Steel magnolias and while she is there she will recognize that Viola Davis is amazing. Oh and hey isnt she in a movie right now. Maybe ill go see that too.

Back to topic. Youre ignoring the point. Why do we not have a blockbusters like Twilight featuring a majority black cast? If that is what people are running to see dont you think greedy people in Hollywood would be tripping over themselves to make it? These all black or all anything casts are gateways to spoon feeding to the masses what the rest of us all ready know.

More all black cast please.

2 and a Half Black men
2 Broke black Girls
The Game of Black Thrones

More asian stuff

Asians in the Outfield
Throw Asian Mama from the train

and so on and so forth.

[Jordan Catalano]

I'm confused too. My mind is a little all over the place right now.

I took the above post as saying that a white audience won't watch a film with all black actors/actresses when I was saying I think that's simply not true. Granted, I find these "all whatever" casts of things a little racist on their own, but that's another story.

My point was that THIS particular film is a Lifetime movie that's going to appeal to pretty much any woman or gay man of any color since that's who it will be targeted to.

[SonofRobbieJ]

I don't have a problem with all-black casts, in general...but for this pieces, I actually think it could add something that I always feel is missing from the text. I don't know what that something is...maybe I'm wrong. But I'm excited to see it.

And yes...my point was that, in general, contemporaneously set black films seems to be aimed squarely at the black demographic. This film (with it's familiar title and the strong emotions stirred up by it) will be a contemporary black film that doesn't deal with racial tensions that is aimed at the broadest demographic possible. And I find that noteworthy...and kinda praiseworthy.

[sarcadam88]

...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388500/

[julesboogie]

"My point was that THIS particular film is a Lifetime movie that's going to appeal to pretty much any woman or gay man of any color since that's who it will be targeted to."


Um yeah. Thats what i was getting at. All for very different and specific reasons. The outcome being (hopefully) that more projects can be greenlit.

[jimmycurry01]

I don't know that I would call the original film iconic. The Wizard of Oz is iconic, The Sound of Music, even A Christmas Story I would call iconic. Steel Magnolias was a good 80's chick flick with bad 80's hair. I love it for what it is, and doubt a TV remake will hurt it.
As for the all black casting, I don't think it is a big deal. We know the source material, we know that the source material can cater to everyone, the race of the actors in this case won't make much of a difference. Being on Lifetime, this is catering to all women (and gay men). I am not expecting this to be a Tyler Perry flick, with comedy that goes over my head because I am in the wrong demographic, its just another decent chick flick.

[Gothampc]

"And if I didn't despise you enough before as the insignificant miniscule maggot puss filled scum feeding off the lowest form of shlt on the planet, I hate you even more now."

I didn't know Julia Roberts read this board. I guess she became interested in Broadway when she did Three Days of Rain and just continued posting here.

Hey Jules, when you get to the level of acting of your contemporaries like Kyra Sedgwick let me know.

[Jordan Catalano]

God, you're stupid.

[Roscoe]

When I saw this announcement, I was afraid that it was being done by Tyler Perry, with Madea as Ouiser Boudreaux.

And I'm sure that Perry is smashing his head against the wall at not having had the idea to do exactly that.

[julesboogie]

"Hey Jules, when you get to the level of acting of your contemporaries like Kyra Sedgwick let me know."

I dont know what else to gleam from that except that you think im a middle aged white woman. Was there anything else?

Jordan was that stupid comment for me?

[Jordan Catalano]

Goth wasn't talking about you, he was referring to me being Julia Roberts and calling me "Jules" instead of Julia. He truly is one of the stupidest people you'd ever come in contact with.

[julesboogie]

ah thx for the clarification