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BET’s “The Quad” returns to TV this winter. Set right here in Atlanta, “The Quad” is BET’s breakout TV series, which debuted last year. The show stars Anika Noni Rose, known for her role in several films as well as the voice behind Disney’s first black princess in “The Princess and the Frog”.
The cast also includes veteran actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jasmine Guy, Jazz Raycole, Peyton Alex Smith and more. Rose stars as Dr. Eva Fletcher, the president of Georgia A&M University, a fictional historically black college.
The show will return for Season 2 on Jan. 23, 2018, the network recently announced. This season the plot takes off at Georgia A&M’s spring semester. Fletcher’s focus is keeping the struggling university solvent while external pressures make the demise of the school a likely reality.
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The movie “Mile 22,” starring Mark Wahlberg, is currently casting restaurant patrons for an upcoming scene. If you can’t work multiple days, this isn’t the flick for you.
Scenes will begin filming on January 15th through January 18th in Atlanta, Georgia.
Here is the casting call:
he movie centers around a CIA field officer and an Indonesian police officer who is forced to work together as they confront violent and extreme political corruption. The movie will be directed by Peter Berg and stars Mark Wahlberg.
For more information, check out the casting call breakdown below.
Mile 22 Casting Call
***Mile 22***
Working MULTIPLE DAYS!!
Must be available to work ALL DAYS – Monday 1/15 – Thursday 1/18.
Location: metro Atlanta, GARate: $88/10
Must be registered with Central Casting!!We’re looking for Men and Women, portrayable as Indonesian or Asian, ages 20s-50s to portray restaurant staff and patrons.
Please send an email to mile22@centralcasting.com, include your name, phone number, sizes, and recent photo(s), put “Indonesian” in the subject line. -
The musical lineup of the Shaky Beats Festival has been released, and it’s awesome. This year’s event is slated for May 11-13, 2018 and will feature over 50 top-notch electronic, indie and hip-hop acts across four stages Shaky Beats will have you hooping and dancing the night away.
Doors open at 3:00 PM on Friday, 2PM on Saturday and 1:30 PM on Sunday.The festival ends at 11 PM on Friday and Saturday and 10 PM on Sunday.
Musical acts will include Ludacris, Francis Dillon, Louis the Child, Playboi Carti, San Holo, Kayzo and many more.
The following items are PROHIBITED:
- Aerosol containers, including sunscreen and personal beauty products
- Any and all professional audio recording equipment
- Professional cameras and professional recording (photo, video, audio) equipment (NO large professional detachable zoom lenses, stands, monopods, tripods, attachment sticks (selfie sticks) or other commercial equipment.
- Any and all professional video equipment. No video recording will be allowed
- Drones or any other remote flying device
- Coolers of any kind. (Exceptions may be made for medical use)
- Framed backpacks
- Hammocks
- Glass and metal containers of any kind
The Shaky Beats Music Festival began in 2015 when founder Tim Sweetwood incorporated the brand Shaky Festivals LLC. It is the sister festival of the Shaky Knees Music Festival.
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She may be just 13-year-old, but Marsai Martin is already an entertainment titan, whether you know it or not. Martin, who stars in the ABC hit TV show “Black-ish,” shot a film last yeaer in Atlanta called “Little.”
“Little,” which stars Issa Rae, Justin Hartley and Regina Hall is coming to theaters across the nation later this year.
‘Little’ movie starring Marsai Martin coming out in 2019
Marsai stars in the comedy in her first feature film role and also helped executive produce it. “Little” is about a woman who gets to relive her childhood after she struggles as an adult, according to The AJC.
Marsai came up with the idea for the film after her agent (since fired) told her to “just chill,” the newspaper reports. Issa Rae has also been attached to the project, which has been bought by Universal Pictures.
Based on Marsai’s concept, the original version of “Little” was written by Tracy Oliver, the screenwriter behind Girls Trip.
Many know Marsai from her role on “Black-ish,” which has gotten rave reviews. Marsai’s portrayal of her character Diane Johnson has been lauded for her comedic timing and effortless expressions.
She says she knew she wanted to act when she was a toddler. “At a very young age, when I was a baby, I used to mimic all of these movies, like ‘Dreamgirls’ and ‘Ray,’ the type of movies you wouldn’t think a little kid would know. But my parents thought I was great,” Marsai tells the L.A. Times.
“Little” is in post-production and may see the light of day in U.S. theaters in November 2019.
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Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery in 1858 in rustic Walton County, Georgia, had a dream while many African-Americans were still living a nightmare. A mulatto born of a white man, Frank Herndon, who never acknowledged him, and black slave named Sophenie, Herndon set out after Emancipation to make something of himself.
Many blacks, happy to be free but befuddled about its ramifications, took to staying on their former masters’ properties as hired help since they didn’t know much about business. Herndon tried his hand as a laborer and peddler before moving to Senoia to learn barbering.
His barbering business grew quickly, making Herndon a small fortune. He would soon move to Atlanta, helming three barbershops and counting among his customers many of the city’s elite.
He then turned his attention to real estate and banking, investing in Atlanta’s black community. AS one of America’s first black millionaires, Herndon founded the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company.
In October 2017, the Georgia Historical Society unveiled a new historical marker as part of the Georgia Civil Rights Trail.
Those on hand for the dedication included ince Dooley, Chairman of the Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators; Dr. Mark Becker, President, Georgia State University; Lonnie C. King, Jr., Atlanta Student Movement veteran; Kwanza Hall, Atlanta City Councilman, District 2; Dr. Sarah Cook, Honors College, Georgia State University; and Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society.
“The epicenter of the civil rights movement was situated in Georgia,” Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society, said, according to a press release. “So it’s appropriate that the Georgia Historical society has created the Georgia Civil Rights Trail as a way to encourage the public to learn more about the vital role that our state and its people played in securing full citizenship for African Americans. It’s a legacy we all share as Georgians. For anytime that one group gains its civil liberties, we all are that much more free.”
“The recognition of this great man is long overdue,” said Lonnie King. “Alonzo Herndon succeeded against all odds and to see him honored by the Georgia Historical Society and the leadership of of Georgia State University is very fitting.”
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The Atlanta-filmed paranormal series “Stranger Things 3” is going to be available for streaming on July 4, 2019, according to Netflix.
The trailer for the Netflix hit “Stranger Things 3” was released in December 2018, giving us the shock and awe we’ve grown accustomed to with the series. Atlanta has been a central filming location for the epic show, now in its third season.
Shots of Gwinnett Place Mall can be seen in the “Stranger Things 3” trailer, and their are other shots that hometown Atlantans might recognize.
Watch ‘Stranger Things 3’ trailer
If you’re new to the “Stranger Things” realm, unorthodox things have been taking place in little Hawkins, Indiana, which is set in 1984.
For the new season, the producers are going to move things along quite a bit, maturing the storylines as the kids get older. The Duffer Brothers told The Hollywood Reporter this tidbit:
“Our kids are aging. We can only write and produce the show so fast. They’re going to be almost a year older by the time we start shooting season three. It provides certain challenges. You can’t start right after season two ended. It forces you to do a time jump. But what I like is that it makes you evolve the show. It forces the show to evolve and change, because the kids are changing.”
Netflix has scheduled its release in the summer of 2019, the better to enamor young and idle minds out from school.
The series stars the following actors:
- Winona Ryder.
- David Harbour.
- Finn Wolfhard.
- Millie Bobby Brown.
- Gaten Matarazzo.
- Caleb McLaughlin.
- Natalia Dyer.
- Charlie Heaton.
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Local news anchor Amanda Davis’ impact was felt far beyond metro Atlanta, where she warmly served court among the region’s viewers for nearly 30 years. On Tuesday, many of her colleagues, many of them whom Davis paved the way for, paid tribute to the CBS 46 broadcaster by donning a red outfit.
Read: Amanda Davis hospitalized after massive stroke
Davis, 62, was at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport last week when she suffered a spontaneous massive stroke while waiting for a flight to go to San Antonio.
Davis was about to board a flight to attend the funeral of her stepfather in San Antonio, according to news accounts.
On social media, especially Twitter, newswomen showed up to work in red to call attention to stroke awareness — and Davis’ legacy.
“Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. About 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year. #RedForAmanda #StrokeAwareness,” one Twitter user posted.
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. About 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year. #RedForAmanda #StrokeAwareness pic.twitter.com/9QnIkn5H45
— Candace S. Coleman (@candacescoleman) January 2, 2018
Wearing #RedforAmanda and #StrokeAwareness in honor of late Atlanta news anchor, Amanda Davis.
*Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
*64% of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. pic.twitter.com/TgLSaq0xq0
— Jazmin Bailey (@JazminMBailey) January 2, 2018
According to CBS46, Davis has been at WAGA-TV for 26 years. “She has received numerous honors and awards during her career, including: RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award, ten Southeast Regional Emmy Awards, Georgia Association of Broadcasters Gabby Award and the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists Pioneer of the Year Award.”
Today is public viewing for @AmandaCBS46 @Cityofatlanta news anchor, who died suddenly of a stroke
Nationwide, black female journalists wearing #RedforAmanda❤&raising #StrokeAwareness
Know @American_Heart signs
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911 pic.twitter.com/SrjcFJHpYl— Beairshelle Edmé (@BeairshelleWNCN) January 2, 2018
A public viewing is set for Tuesday while a funeral will be Wednesday in Cascade.
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Fresh off the success of his first Netflix venture, “Bright,” actor Will Smith is bringing his next movie to the red clay of Georgia. “Gemini Man” will film in Georgia, according to Project Casting.
The film, which will be directed by Ang Lee, has been around Hollywood for more than a decade in various versions. It is about an assassin who finally meets his match, actually a younger clone of himself.
“Previous drafts were penned by a revolving door of scribes that included Brian Helgeland, Andrew Niccol and David Benioff. Previously, Tony Scott considered directing as well as Curtis Hanson,” according to Deadline.com. “Skydance acquired the project in 2016 with Jerry Bruckheimer attached to produce with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger and Don Murphy and Chad Oman executive producing.”
Smith is coming off the success of “Bright,” an alien-mystical-cop movie that has drawn a mixed reaction from critics, but garnered more than 11 million views in its first week.
“Gemini Man,” which is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and executive produced by Don Murphy, is set to hit theaters in October 2019.
Smith is also set to star in Disney’s live-action version of “Aladdin.”
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When Arthur Blank, the local billionaire and sports team owner, committed to building the $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he also took the challenge of uplifting the downtrodden Westside neighborhood it borders.
Vine City, and parts along English Avenue were well known to ATL residents for being a tough neighborhood as well as a crack den. Many of the residents that could flee have fled, while those still there have had to ride out some tough times, but times, as they do, are a-changing.
Some of the city’s most biggest entities are throwing their weight behind an effort to make sure that people in the community profit from the new stadium and the rich ecosystem it will bring.
Atlanta’s YMCA has moved it, relocating its headquarters to the Westside, according to CBS News. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has already spent $37 million in the area and encouraged other local businesses (like Chick-fil-A) to invest in the Westside.
“And they’re going to employ 80 people from the community at this store,” Frank Fernandez, the AMB Foundation’s community liaison for the Westside project, told CBS.”All of our corporate partners, all 13 of them, have committed to working with us in the Westside and have committed nearly $15 million towards revitalization.”
The newly gained traction is building on the groundwork left by Invest Atlanta, which began cultivating relationships with members of the community in 2012 in a plan to increase development. Five years later, those efforts are paying off.
Atlanta’s redevelopment of downtown has also caught the eye of Amazon, who is eyeing the city as a second world headquarters. As attractive as the city is business-wise, it also has to show companies like Amazon that it is made up of a thriving and strident culture, something that can’t be built with brick and mortar.
“We’ve been on a roll with announcements lately. The heart of Atlanta is bigger than just a site,” Georgia Power CEO Paul Bowers told the AJC.
Blank said that the key is that businesses have to believe in the area.
“They have to buy into it,” he told CBS. “The end of the day, the answer can’t be what we’re imposing on them. We want them to say, ‘these two make sense for us. And these two don’t make sense for us.’ So we’ll do the two that makes sense for them.”
Read more: Atlanta leads among cities for Amazon’s HQ2
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IKEA, one of the leading home furnishings retailers in the world, will open a second location in the Atlanta-area, this time in Cobb County, the company said Wednesday. The store has signed on to open a store in Marietta on 28 acres on Franklin Gateway.
The $9 million project is being hauled by Marietta officials as the biggest retail development in the city’s history. It is not known yet when the location will open.
“The city has worked very diligently on the redevelopment of the Franklin corridor and ikea would like to be part of that redevelopment,” Jim Anastos, an IKEA real estate manager, told the AJC.
IKEA opened at Atlantic Station in Midtown in 2005, its first imprint in the Southeast.
The city has some good restaurants in each quadrant of the city: East, West, North, South. All you need to do is think about what you have a taste for. Italian? Soul food? Tex-Mex? Atlanta has it all.
For the latest in metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, stay with Atlantafi.com.
