I recently had a fascinating conversation with writer Maggie Smith, whose poem "Good Bones" went viral last year.
Like me, Maggie is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and I interviewed her for ThisWeek News about her Oct. 2 appearance at Gramercy Books, 2424 E. Main St. in Bexley. (Click here to read my article.)
Maggie shared that before "Good Bones" was published, it was initially rejected by a couple of literary journals. Well, the poem went on to be read around the world, translated into numerous languagues and recited by Oscar winner Meryl Streep.
Maggie's amazing story just goes to show that the so-called gatekeepers aren't the ultimate judge of whether a creative work will find an audience. She's an inspiration to all of us writers.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
'Lady Wrestler' Is A Real 'Girls Trip'!
Fall has officially started, and it's hard to believe summer is over! Looking back on the summer movie season of 2017, one of the biggest hits was "Girls Trip," which has raked in more than $133 million at the box office.
"Girls Trip" tells the story of four college friends played by Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish, who embark on a fun-filed reunion during the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Well, if you want a real "girls trip," see the forthcoming documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring."
There are some similarities between "Girls Trip" and "Lady "Wrestler," which I directed. Like "Girls Trip," "Lady Wrestler" has four strong African-American women at the center of the story: Ramona Isbell and sisters Ethel Johnson, Babs Wingo and Marva Scott.
These courageous women were professional wrestlers back in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. In the documentary, they talk about the Herculean task of succeeding in a white- and male-dominated industry.
Like "Girls Trip," "Lady Wrestler" shows women supporting each other, overcoming challenges and being empowered personally and professionally.
And like "Girls Trip, "Lady Wrestler" is a wild ride that will take you on a journey. Both movies ‒ one fictional, one real-life ‒ shine a spotlight on women of color who are often underrepresented on the big screen.
For more information about "Lady Wrestler" and updates about the official release, visit Ladywrestlermovie.com.
"Girls Trip" tells the story of four college friends played by Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish, who embark on a fun-filed reunion during the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Well, if you want a real "girls trip," see the forthcoming documentary "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring."
There are some similarities between "Girls Trip" and "Lady "Wrestler," which I directed. Like "Girls Trip," "Lady Wrestler" has four strong African-American women at the center of the story: Ramona Isbell and sisters Ethel Johnson, Babs Wingo and Marva Scott.
These courageous women were professional wrestlers back in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. In the documentary, they talk about the Herculean task of succeeding in a white- and male-dominated industry.
Like "Girls Trip," "Lady Wrestler" shows women supporting each other, overcoming challenges and being empowered personally and professionally.
And like "Girls Trip, "Lady Wrestler" is a wild ride that will take you on a journey. Both movies ‒ one fictional, one real-life ‒ shine a spotlight on women of color who are often underrepresented on the big screen.
For more information about "Lady Wrestler" and updates about the official release, visit Ladywrestlermovie.com.
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