Bringing Noir Back at the World Premiere of ‘Hollywood Grit’

August 31, 2025 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

The stars came out for the red carpet premiere of director Ryan Curtis’ latest action noir offering, Hollywood Grit. Starring Max Martini as the titular Grit Thorn, alongside Linda Purl, Patrick Duffy, Nikki Howard, Linc Hand, David B. Meadows, Caylee Cowan, Benito Martinez, Ysabela Espinosa, the film centers around a fallen detective who must confront his past demons and navigate a treacherous path of corruption and deceit to find his missing, estranged singer daughter, unearthing a conspiracy that shakes him to his core.

Poetry, Theatre

‘If I Awaken In Los Angeles’ Offers Cultural Pride, Influence, and a Love Letter to the City

August 12, 2025September 18, 2025 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Hollywood Boulevard on a Friday Night is, perhaps, most famous for its proximity to performance art: from the TCL and El Capitan Theaters to open air venues like the iconic Hollywood Bowl and The Ford — the latter of which came alive under the stars and against the applause of the concert crowd across the street, thanks to Get Lit – Words Ignite’s latest live presentation, If I Awaken In Los Angeles.

Interview, Marvel, Television

The Devil’s in the Details: Composing ‘Ironheart’ with Dara Taylor

July 2, 2025June 26, 2025 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

We had the opportunity to have a sit-down with Ironheart composer Dara Taylor to discuss her musical influences, merging her sound with the existing template of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and creating the villainous theme for that character.

Interview, Marvel, Television

Meeting the Minds Behind the Metal with Ryan Coogler and the ‘Ironheart’ Creative Team

June 26, 2025June 26, 2025 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

We had the opportunity to talk with the minds behind Ironheart‘s writing and production, Executive Producers Ryan Coogler, Zoie Nagelhout, Sev Ohanian, and showrunner Chinaka Hodge, to discuss the cultural relevance of Riri Williams’ connection to the STEM fields, how fleshing out the characters was an act of self development and what viewers can expect in the way of handling Tony Stark’s legacy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Interview, Marvel, Streaming1 Comment

Getting Technical with Marvel’s ‘Ironheart’ Star, Dominique Thorne

June 16, 2025 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Hotly anticipated and following the massive success of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel brings back Dominique Thorne with her own solo series, Ironheart. We had the opportunity to have a sit-down with Thorne on her return to the character, what fans can expect, and how jumping into the MCU has affected her career as an actress.

Interview, Movies

Talking Trauma, Black History, and Inspiration with RaMell Ross and the Cast of ‘Nickel Boys’

November 26, 2024 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills set the stage for what was to be a fun and insightful afternoon of dialogue and inspirations between myself and the cast of RaMell Ross’ newest cinematic offering, Nickel Boys. We took up the space of the 12th floor, which had a stunning view of the 90210 zip code; several rooms were reserved for the junket specifically — rooms that hosted my four interviews of the day, RaMell Ross, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and a joint meeting with Ethan Heriss and Brandon Wilson.

Literature, Movies, Reviews

RaMell Ross’ Heartbreaking ‘Nickel Boys’ is a New Classic Slice of Black Americana

November 19, 2024November 20, 2024 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

The world of cinema is a place of institutions: from mainstay studios, long-revered directors and infamous producers, there are certain people and systems that both uphold the standards of film but also restrict the possibility of what could expand the artistic palette of the space.

Interview, Movies

Talking Passion, Pride, and Promise with the Nominees of the 2024 Micheaux Film Festival

October 28, 2024October 28, 2024 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

The Micheaux Film Festival, named after revolutionary African American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, geared up for its sixth annual celebration from Monday, October 21 to Sunday, October 27, 2024.

Reviews, Theatre

‘A Good Guy’ is David Rambo’s Examination of Gun Violence and Morality

September 29, 2024October 3, 2024 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

It was quiet enough to hear your own heartbeat as the room darkened to a pitch black inside the small room with its angled roof, inside Matrix Theater on Melrose.

Art, Poetry

Get Lit Celebrates Poetry Month and its 13th Annual Classic Slam

April 28, 2024April 29, 2024 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

With the pre-Golden Hour sun higher up and a touch brighter than usual for 4:00 PM, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre was rolling out the literal red carpet for some of art’s unsung and most prolific offspring: Get Lit’s Words Ignite Annual Classic Poetry Slam in its 13th incarnation, continuing to raise the next and support the current generation of young poets, writers and thinkers.

Interview, Streaming

One-on-One with T.J. Stukes, aka Player 182 on ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

The time was just touching midnight at CBS Studios in Television City, Los Angeles, where a bevy of journalists, invited contenders, influencers, and celebrities had just gathered in celebration of Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge. We previously shared my conversations with the series’ most popular and remaining contestants, including mother/son duo LeAnn and Trey Plutnicki, Roland Hannigan, Spencer Hawkins, Bianca Sarafian, and many others. I also got to talk to my friend, T.J. Stukes.

Interview, Streaming1 Comment

The Game Gets Real with Netflix’s ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Experience

December 5, 2023December 6, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Once the sun went down over CBS Studios, the crown jewel of Television City in Los Angeles, the production house was converted into a massive escape room, in celebration of Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge — a reality spin-off contest based off the smash hit Korean series Squid Game, and featuring many of the games that make an appearance in the drama.

Interview, Poetry

Poetry, Community, and Deliverance: How KeiRock is Impacting Spoken Word

November 27, 2023November 27, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

It was November 19, and LA’s West Side was wrapped in a breeze uncharacteristic of a California night, but was a welcome interruption to the heatwaves the state is known for. The historic Odyssey Theater Ensemble, home of some of the city’s most multi-cultural plays and productions, housed the Sippin’ Poetry Slam Food Drive, hosted by the multi-hyphenated talent, poet, actor, and artist combo, Ahkei “KeiRock” Togun.

Streaming, Television

Music Mastermind Swizz Beatz Takes on Car Culture Across the Globe in Hulu’s ‘Drive’

November 15, 2023November 15, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

On a brisk Thursday night on Wilshire Boulevard, Petersen Automotive Museum’s uppermost floor became center stage as the outdoor, rooftop red carpet (green, in this case) unfolded beneath clear skies in anticipation of Hulu’s upcoming screenings of Drive with Swizz Beatz.

Reviews, Theatre

‘Rise’ is an Inspired Story of Love and Legacy

October 19, 2023October 23, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Theater is a wide and wonderful world; a place of imagination, depth, and hundreds, if not thousands, of years of historical relevancy. It’s given us the gift of Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, August Wilson’s Fences, and Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, among so many other classics that have affected not just audience sensibilities but have helped frame and define stage storytelling and become mainstays of conventional cinema a well.

Interview, Theatre1 Comment

God Built Us Different: A Conversation with the Women of ‘Rise’

October 13, 2023October 16, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Pulled away from the Company of Angels Theater at Hazard Recreation Park as the lights were dimmed and the locks were shut after a lively post-production reception, and into the dark of the studio parking lot, I had the opportunity to discuss the makings of COA’s newest community play — Rise by Kimba Henderson — with the cast and creators themselves.

Interview, Movies, Sports

Ryan Coogler and Erick Payton Explore the Life and Times of Steph Curry in ‘Underrated’

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

In anticipation of the upcoming sports documentary, Stephen Curry: Underrated, I had the chance to have a sit down with the film’s executive producers, Ryan Coogler and Erick Payton, to discuss the intricacies of the year-plus long shoot, what makes this a unique documentary among others in its class, and their views on the legacy of Steph Curry as well as his impact on the game.

Movies, Poetry

Mental Health Awareness Takes Center Stage at Get Lit’s ‘Our Worlds Collide’ Screening

May 28, 2023May 28, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Palm trees wrapped around the streets of Beverly Hills, and gorgeous golden rope lights wrapped around them, on the way to the exclusive William Morris Endeavour Screening Room, located near the heart of one of California’s most famous zip-codes.

Art, Poetry

Get Lit Closes Out Poetry Month with Annual Classic Slam Competition Finals

April 25, 2023April 26, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

After a record breaking cold spell across usually-sunny California, the customary 80-degree weather had begun to pick up again in mid April; as the sun set over South Broadway’s historic Ace Hotel Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, the golden views and massive crowds were a fitting way to welcome in students, poets, writers and songwriters from far and wide to the annual 2023 Classic Slam Competition Finals.

Interview, Movies

Scenes from the ILBE Gala Red Carpet in Beverly Hills

March 11, 2023March 17, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

A bevy of stars descended upon Beverly Hill’s high-end Tatel restaurant for the ILBE Gala on a lively Thursday night: organized by Dynamita Productions in association with Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment, the party celebrated the newly released movies The Ritual Killer, the Oscar-nominated Tell It Like a Woman, and Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend.

Interview, Streaming, Television

The Stars of ‘Bel-Air’ on Black Excellence and Representing for the Culture

January 18, 2023January 19, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

A cloudy evening over The Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena did nothing to hide the high spirits inside The Tap Room — the resort’s cocktail bar and lounge — where the cast of NBC/Peacock’s NAACP award-nominated series Bel-Air came both to cool down and celebrate, post red carpet, after a long day of photos and interviews just an hour earlier.

Fantasy, Interview

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ Cast and Crew on What to Expect from the Upcoming Spin-Off

December 21, 2022December 20, 2022 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Reporting bright and early from sunny California in November, I had the opportunity to sit down with the brilliant cast and crew of Netflix’s upcoming spin-off, The Witcher: Blood Origin — who checked in to the virtual junket live from the UK — to discuss all things new within the world of the hit series and just what it takes to follow up to a show as massive as the original seasons of The Witcher.

Fantasy, Streaming

Disney+’s ‘Willow’ at its Finest with Jonathan Kasdan and Michelle Rejwan

November 21, 2022November 22, 2022 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

On a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in Burbank, on the Walt Disney Studios lot — with the perfect weather for the day’s event: golden sunshine and just enough breeze — I had the very special honor of being invited to a screening of, and a Q&A with, the showrunner of Disney+’s upcoming Willow series, Jonathan Kasdan and executive producer Michelle Rejwan.