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Andrew Stanton on the Legacy of ‘Wall-E’ and Joining the Criterion Collection

November 22, 2022November 24, 2022 Michael Lee

The purpose of the Criterion Collection is to restore and distribute classic and contemporary films. In essence, it preserves films of cultural impact and importance. And while cinephiles can find an assortment of gems, there is almost no animation titles in its collection. That is until they announced that Wall•E would be a part of their November 2022 release slate.

Movies, Streaming

Five Fun Facts from the ‘Samaritan’ Press Conference

August 23, 2022August 23, 2022 Mike Manalo

Stallone is a legend! There’s simply no question about that. As an actor, a humanitarian, a multiple Academy Award nominee, and now as a superhero! This week marks the release of Sly’s new film, Samaritan. And to celebrate, The Nerds of Color was given the opportunity to attend the press conference for the subversive take on the superhero genre, where we had the opportunity to learn more about the film from Stallone himself, along with co-stars Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones), Dascha Polanco (In The Heights), and Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton (The Umbrella Academy).

Interview, Streaming

Gavin Casalegno on ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ and Why You Should Be Team Jeremiah

July 13, 2022July 13, 2022 Sophia Soto

Gavin Casalegno portrays Jeremiah in The Summer I Turned Pretty. The show, which is based on the book series by Jenny Han, has already been renewed for a second season. All episodes of season one are now streaming on Prime Video.

Movies, Streaming

Check Out John Cho’s Father-Daughter Dramedy ‘Don’t Make Me Go’

June 7, 2022June 7, 2022 Laura Sirikul

We all love John Cho.

This site is a John Cho-love fest. He’s broken barriers and pushes for change in the industry for Asians in the diaspora. Not only that, he’s a pretty damn good actor too.

Interview, Movies, Streaming

Janina Gavankar Talks About Her New Film, ‘Encounter’

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 Keith Chow

After four years since the last time she stopped by, Janina Gavankar returns to the NOC to catch up on the last few years. She and I discuss the projects she’s completed in that time, including the new film starring Riz Ahmed, Encounter, now available to stream on Prime Video.

Movies, Reviews, Streaming

Steve McQueen Highlights Necessary Histories with New Documentaries

September 25, 2021September 25, 2021 Jamal Michel

Director Steve McQueen’s newest Prime Video documentaries on West Indian and Caribbean life in 20^th century London are necessary viewing. In a style similar to Ava DuVernay’s 13^th, the Academy Award-winning director stitches together archival footage and thoughtful interviews that spotlight the violent history of some of London’s most vulnerable communities. Subnormal: A British Scandal, Black Power: A British Story of Resistance, and Uprising document the racially motivated atrocities that plagued black and brown neighborhoods across London in the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, and captures the delicate maneuverings of McQueen’s cinematic eye.

Fantasy, Movies, Streaming

Watch the Official Trailer for Prime Video’s ‘Cinderella’

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021 Sophia Soto

Cinderella stars Camila Cabello as the title role, along with Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter, and Pierce Brosnan. James Corden, Leo Pearlman, Jonathan Kadin, and Shannon McIntosh serve as the film’s producers and executive producers include Louise Rosner and Josephine Rose. Cinderella was written for the screen and directed by Kay Cannon. The official trailer and poster for the new Prime Video movie has just been released!

Streaming, Television

Teaser for Jon Stewart’s New AppleTV+ Series Parodies Billionaire Space Race

July 20, 2021July 22, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Jon Stewart is coming back to television for his own AppleTV+ series, The Problem With Jon Stewart. The new one-hour, single-issue series is set to discuss today’s current events, including Stewart’s advocacy work. Basically, Stewart is back to talk about the issues in a humorous way, similar to how he did on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.

Streaming, Television

Official Trailer Debuts for the Second Season of Amazon’s ‘Modern Love’

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 Mike Manalo

Last year, Amazon debuted its groundbreaking anthology series, Modern Love to solid reviews and an enthusiastic fanbase. I’m happy to report that the acclaimed series is coming back for another season, and this time it’s bringing some heavy acting talent with players like Dominique Fishback and Gbenga Akinnagbe, along with Zoe Chao, Kit Harrington, Anna Paquin, and a host of others!

Interview, Streaming, Television

‘Timewasters’ Creator Daniel Lawrence Taylor on His New Series and Time-Traveling While Black

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Laura Sirikul

When you think of time-traveling films or television series, the first ones you think of mainly consist of white casts. If someone asked you to name a predominantly black, indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) led time-traveling series, it may take a little bit to come up with one, if any. Thankfully, that’s where IMDbTV’s Timewasters comes in to change the game

Conventions, Video Games

Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest is a Bright Spot in Tumultuous Times

June 10, 2021June 17, 2021 Jamal Michel

I first saw Geoff Keighley on G4TV back in my early teens and after noting his passion for games, his quirky presentation, and his overall excitement to share some good news, I knew I had finally found some long lost brother who became infinitely more successful than me, and rightly so. Geoff’s been an icon in the entertainment and gaming industry for the last two decades and while his reputation precedes him, there still never seems to be a shortage of excitement when he hits the stage to share a famous WORLD PREMIERE.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Literature, Streaming, Television

Barry Jenkins and the Cast of ‘The Underground Railroad’ Discuss the Powerful Limited Series

May 13, 2021November 5, 2021 Jamal Michel

Colson Whitehead’s novel The Underground Railroad is a necessary reading for the ways it transcends a violent history and navigates the magic of self determination and Black personhood. The novel, published in 2016 and winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book awards for fiction, follows the life of Cora and Caesar, two slaves in 19th century Georgia who take on the treacherous journey that is their freedom. The novel is bold, loving, and powerful, and with its serving as the basis for director Barry Jenkins’ (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk) Amazon series by the same name, it has become necessary viewing.

Movies, Sci Fi

First Look at ‘The Tomorrow War,’ Arriving July 2 on Prime Video

May 4, 2021 Sophia Soto

The Tomorrow War is a new sci-fi actioner that stars Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, and Sam Richardson. This will be Pratt’s first Executive Producer credit on a feature film. Though they wrapped in January 2020, back in April, Pratt announced the official release date of July 2, 2021 as well as the fact that it would be released on Amazon Prime Video.

Sci Fi, Streaming, Television

Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Solos’ Set to Premiere in May

April 19, 2021May 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Amazon Prime Video revealed images from their highly anticipated Amazon Original anthology series Solos today.

Created by David Weil, the series stars Academy Award-winning actors Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway and Helen Mirren, Emmy Award-winning actor Uzo Aduba, Nicole Beharie, Anthony Mackie, Dan Stevens, and Constance Wu.

Interview, Streaming, Television2 Comments

‘Them’ Creator and Cast Talk New Amazon Prime Horror Anthology Series

March 31, 2021May 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

The new terror anthology series, Them, will premiere Friday, April 9 exclusively on Prime Video. From creator Little Marvin and executive producer Lena Waithe, Them is a limited anthology series that explores terror in America. The first season centers on … Continue reading ‘Them’ Creator and Cast Talk New Amazon Prime Horror Anthology Series

Fantasy, Streaming, Television

Wayne Che Yip Joins ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to Direct Four Episodes

March 27, 2021May 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

British Chinese director Wayne Che Yip has joined the creative team of its Amazon Original The Lord of the Rings television series as a director and co-executive producer, per Amazon studios.

Yip joins the international ensemble cast, currently filming in New Zealand, to direct four episodes. He continues the work of Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona, who directed the first two episodes of the series.

Horror, Streaming, Television1 Comment

Official Trailer For New Amazon Original Terror Anthology Series ‘Them’ Available Now

March 22, 2021May 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

The official trailer for season one of the new terror anthology series, Them, is available now. From breakout creator Little Marvin, the ten-episode Amazon Original series premieres exclusively on Amazon Prime Video Friday, April 9, 2021.

Interview, Movies, Streaming

Sharlene Whyte Talks About the Significance of ‘Small Axe’ and Her Role in ‘Education’

December 17, 2020November 5, 2021 Jamal Michel

Amazon Prime Video has released the official trailer for Education, the fifth and final film in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology series. Small Axe premiered with Mangrove starring Letitia Wright and Shaun Parkes on November 20, followed by Lovers Rock on November 27 featuring Micheal Ward and Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn.

Interview, Movies, Streaming

NOC Interview: ‘Small Axe’ Star Kenyah Sandy Talks About His Lead Role

December 17, 2020May 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

Legendary director Steve McQueen’s Small Axe is an anthology series comprised of five original films set from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s that tell personal stories from London’s West Indian community, whose lives have been shaped by their own force of will despite rampant racism and discrimination. The title is derived from the African proverb, “If you are the big tree, we are the small axe.”

Interview, Television

NOC Interview: The Cast of Prime Video’s ‘The Wilds’ Talk About Their Dystopian Survival Drama

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 Jamal Michel

The end of 2020 is in sight and to help usher us into a new year full of more binge-worthy, stream-ready television the Amazon Original, YA survival drama series The Wilds. Part survival drama, part dystopian slumber party, The Wilds follows a group of teen girls from different backgrounds who must fight for survival after a plane crash strands them on a deserted island. The castaways both clash and bond as they learn more about each other, the secrets they keep, and the traumas they’ve all endured. There’s just one twist to this thrilling drama: these girls did not end up on this island by accident.

News, Streaming

The NRW Show: #WTF2020 Edition, Episode 2

October 5, 2020May 15, 2021 Patrick Strange

The NRW Crew of Glenn Lawrence (of Level Up Comedy), Loy Lee AKA “Stand Up Comedian Stand Up Guy” and yours truly, Kuya P AKA Patrick Michael Strange are back with more of The NRW Show: #WTF2020 Edition! Tune in as we discuss The Presidential Debates with Joe Biden & Donald Trump, The Melania Trump Tapes, Shia Labeouf, Rick Moranis, Amazon & Covid-19, John Legend & Chrissy Teigen, Jamie Foxx back as Electro, Megan Thee Stallion’s new music video, Blackpink breaking the internet and the new trailer for Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm!

Fandom, Literature, Sci Fi

AfroGeek Scholarship

May 12, 2017May 12, 2017 Shawn Taylor

Hello All,

I just wanted to let you know about my new e-book (paperback version will drop in a week), Parables, Vampires, and Pregnant Men: The Narrative Resistance of Octavia E. Butler. Adapted from my graduate work, this little volume refutes C.M. Kornbluth’s assertion that science fiction is unable to work as social critique.

Continue reading “AfroGeek Scholarship”

Comics, DC Comics2 Comments

The Pristine Balance: The Role of Wonder Woman in the DC Trinity

March 5, 2015March 30, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

In honor of Women’s History Month…

Musician Janelle Monae has an empowering motto that she shares with other women: “Come in peace, but mean business.”

There couldn’t possibly be a better motto that sums up Wonder Woman, more specifically her role in the DC Trinity. Too often Wonder Woman is conflated for Super Woman, i.e., a female version of Superman and that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The Themysciran Princess has her own agency and a most vital purpose. She’s the pristine balance.

Continue reading “The Pristine Balance: The Role of Wonder Woman in the DC Trinity”