Viola Davis and husband Julius Tennon are getting into book publishing by launching Jvl Media.
The new venture, which includes author and publisher Lavaille Lavette at the helm, will look to champion under-represented voices in the book world. The debut titles from Jvl Media, from among a planned slate of non-fiction and fiction books, include Had to Lose to Win: The Tiki Davis Story, by popular motivational speaker Tiki Davis, and The Inclusion Leader Genius, by Dr. Johné Battle.
Davis and her JuVee Productions banner, run as well by producing partner Tennon, have already made deep inroads in film and TV production with titles like The Woman King and ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder that have highlighted underrepresented voices.
“This endeavor embodies our collective aspiration — to champion and elevate voices that resonate with authenticity and are often overlooked. Our mission is to interlace a rich mosaic of...
The new venture, which includes author and publisher Lavaille Lavette at the helm, will look to champion under-represented voices in the book world. The debut titles from Jvl Media, from among a planned slate of non-fiction and fiction books, include Had to Lose to Win: The Tiki Davis Story, by popular motivational speaker Tiki Davis, and The Inclusion Leader Genius, by Dr. Johné Battle.
Davis and her JuVee Productions banner, run as well by producing partner Tennon, have already made deep inroads in film and TV production with titles like The Woman King and ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder that have highlighted underrepresented voices.
“This endeavor embodies our collective aspiration — to champion and elevate voices that resonate with authenticity and are often overlooked. Our mission is to interlace a rich mosaic of...
- 4/18/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions, which recently wrapped the action-thriller “G20” for Amazon Studios and MRC Film in Cape Town, is planning to return to South Africa to film the true story of a young African refugee’s improbable journey to the U.S., the company’s head of film production and development, Melanie Clark, revealed this week at the Joburg Film Festival.
Developing the film with a working title of “The Refugee,” Clark said Davis and Tennon’s production banner is “actively working on [it] with some local partners and are in the process of figuring out how to shoot it” in South Africa, adding that “we do plan to shoot that here.”
The veteran production executive described the project as “the true story of a young Sierra Leonean boy who lost his mother in [the country’s civil war] and found himself alone, because no family would take him in any refugee camp.
Developing the film with a working title of “The Refugee,” Clark said Davis and Tennon’s production banner is “actively working on [it] with some local partners and are in the process of figuring out how to shoot it” in South Africa, adding that “we do plan to shoot that here.”
The veteran production executive described the project as “the true story of a young Sierra Leonean boy who lost his mother in [the country’s civil war] and found himself alone, because no family would take him in any refugee camp.
- 3/2/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
JuVee Productions, the banner headed by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, is branching into animation with a partnership that will see the Woman King shingle produce a slate of afro-anime films. JuVee is partnering with N Lite, a Black and Japanese-led media company and anime studio, on animated films that will focus on Black and afro-indigenous stories.
The first film under the deal will be an epic fantasy inspired by Congolese folklore, Mfinda, created by Congolese-American artist Patience Leiken and N Lite founder Christiano Terry. Donald H. Hewitt, Terry, and Lekien penned the scrrenplay, with D’Art Shtajio’s Arthell Isom set to co-direct, and Japanese screenwriter Mika Abe (Forest of Piano) attached for the Japanese screenplay.
Mfinda, which was announced at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, will be produced alongside producer-distributor powerhouse Gkids, most recently in theaters with The Boy and the Heron, as well as Studio M...
The first film under the deal will be an epic fantasy inspired by Congolese folklore, Mfinda, created by Congolese-American artist Patience Leiken and N Lite founder Christiano Terry. Donald H. Hewitt, Terry, and Lekien penned the scrrenplay, with D’Art Shtajio’s Arthell Isom set to co-direct, and Japanese screenwriter Mika Abe (Forest of Piano) attached for the Japanese screenplay.
Mfinda, which was announced at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, will be produced alongside producer-distributor powerhouse Gkids, most recently in theaters with The Boy and the Heron, as well as Studio M...
- 2/1/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ben Affleck’s Air employs a large ensemble cast to tell the story of how Nike landed Michael Jordan and created the iconic Air Jordan line of shoes, with Deloris Jordan brokering a revolutionary deal for her son.
Affleck — who pulls triple duty as director, producer (via his newly formed Artists Equity with Matt Damon, who stars in the film as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro) and actor, playing Nike CEO Phil Knight — joined his stars Viola Davis (Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon (Michael’s father, James Jordan; also Davis’ husband), Marlon Wayans (Olympic basketball coach George Raveling) and Jason Bateman (Nike marketing vp Rob Strasser) to discuss acting opposite a phone receiver and fighting for what you are worth, onscreen and off.
This is a large ensemble cast. What role were you most anticipatory of casting?
Ben Affleck Part of the genesis [of casting] was a conversation one afternoon with Michael Jordan. The...
Affleck — who pulls triple duty as director, producer (via his newly formed Artists Equity with Matt Damon, who stars in the film as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro) and actor, playing Nike CEO Phil Knight — joined his stars Viola Davis (Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon (Michael’s father, James Jordan; also Davis’ husband), Marlon Wayans (Olympic basketball coach George Raveling) and Jason Bateman (Nike marketing vp Rob Strasser) to discuss acting opposite a phone receiver and fighting for what you are worth, onscreen and off.
This is a large ensemble cast. What role were you most anticipatory of casting?
Ben Affleck Part of the genesis [of casting] was a conversation one afternoon with Michael Jordan. The...
- 12/27/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Michael Jordan's life story may not have been the sole focus of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's movie "Air," now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, but it makes a lot of familial connections to his mom, Deloris Jordan (played by Viola Davis), and dad, James Jordan Sr.. The movie recalls the true story behind Nike's epic landmark deal with Michael and how the Air Jordan sneaker came about. However, it also depicts the all-star athlete's close relationship with his parents, as well as his mother's major influence on his legendary career.
Tennon as Michael's father makes many appearances throughout "Air," mainly alongside Davis's character. And though the film covers a pivotal point in Michael's life, it doesn't include one of his most life-changing moments from 1993: the murder of his father, which, at the time, sparked a national media spectacle.
For those who may be wondering what...
Tennon as Michael's father makes many appearances throughout "Air," mainly alongside Davis's character. And though the film covers a pivotal point in Michael's life, it doesn't include one of his most life-changing moments from 1993: the murder of his father, which, at the time, sparked a national media spectacle.
For those who may be wondering what...
- 10/16/2023
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon did their thing at the Cannes Film Festival. Davis stunned at the premiere of "Monster" on May 17 in a feathery Valentino gown while her husband, also an actor, looked on in admiration. Photos from the event captured Tennon's sweet behind-the-scenes support, until he eventually joined Davis and posed on the red carpet. "Felt like a Queen with her King!" Davis wrote on Instagram, sharing more photos from the event.
Davis and Tennon first met in 1999 while filming "City of Angels," although Davis said it took her over a month to actually call Tennon back. "I had bad credit at the time. I had anxiety attacks from driving. I had to work out some personal issues first," she told "The Jess Cagle Interview" show in 2016.
Once Davis worked up the courage, however, the two got together. They would date for four years before tying the...
Davis and Tennon first met in 1999 while filming "City of Angels," although Davis said it took her over a month to actually call Tennon back. "I had bad credit at the time. I had anxiety attacks from driving. I had to work out some personal issues first," she told "The Jess Cagle Interview" show in 2016.
Once Davis worked up the courage, however, the two got together. They would date for four years before tying the...
- 5/18/2023
- by Chandler Plante
- Popsugar.com
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon are happily in love 20 years into marriage.
The actress revealed she’s fallen in love with her husband a number of times since they tied the knot, including as recently as last year.
“Oh man, it must have been Thanksgiving,” Davis told People ahead of her Chaplin Award honour at New York City’s Lincoln Center.
Read More: Viola Davis Shares Her Meet-Cute With Husband Julius Tennon: She ‘Called Me A Month later’
“There was only one turkey, though, [and] a big pot of stuffing,” she continued as Tennon smiled at her. “And three days of eating it all.”
She added, “And three bottles of wine. We just laughed.”
The Oscar winner wasn’t the only one to gush over their partner as Tennon was equally full of praise.
“I think she’s a goddess,” the 69-year-old said. “I really do. From the moment I met her.
The actress revealed she’s fallen in love with her husband a number of times since they tied the knot, including as recently as last year.
“Oh man, it must have been Thanksgiving,” Davis told People ahead of her Chaplin Award honour at New York City’s Lincoln Center.
Read More: Viola Davis Shares Her Meet-Cute With Husband Julius Tennon: She ‘Called Me A Month later’
“There was only one turkey, though, [and] a big pot of stuffing,” she continued as Tennon smiled at her. “And three days of eating it all.”
She added, “And three bottles of wine. We just laughed.”
The Oscar winner wasn’t the only one to gush over their partner as Tennon was equally full of praise.
“I think she’s a goddess,” the 69-year-old said. “I really do. From the moment I met her.
- 4/25/2023
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon have a pretty swoon-worthy love story. The accomplished actors first met in 1999 on set of their show "City of Angels," and sparks flew immediately. They later got married in June 2003, and it may have been fate that the pair got together. In 2022, on "Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event," Davis opened up about how she specifically prayed to find a partner like Tennon.
After taking advice from one of her friends who instructed her to pray for the kind of man she wanted, Davis revealed that she listed off her ideal qualities, which started with asking for "a big Black man from the South." "He said, 'Viola, even the vacuous stuff, just put it all in there. Looks, everything,'" the Egot winner recalled her friend saying. "I said, 'Really? With God? I gotta tell him that?' He's like, 'Yes, you gotta put it all out there.
After taking advice from one of her friends who instructed her to pray for the kind of man she wanted, Davis revealed that she listed off her ideal qualities, which started with asking for "a big Black man from the South." "He said, 'Viola, even the vacuous stuff, just put it all in there. Looks, everything,'" the Egot winner recalled her friend saying. "I said, 'Really? With God? I gotta tell him that?' He's like, 'Yes, you gotta put it all out there.
- 4/5/2023
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
Editors note: This review was originally published March 19 after its world premiere at SXSW.
Did you know that Michael Jordan makes $400 million a year in passive income due to the percentage he gets from the sale of Air Jordans? To understand how this came to be, we must travel back to the 1980s and the campus of famed sneaker label Nike. The story is the subject of Ben Affleck’s newest film Air. Written by Alex Convery, the movie stars Affleck, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman and Julius Tennon.
Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) likes to gamble — i.e. he likes to take risks. He works for Nike CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) as the company’s basketball division expert. He looks for up-and-coming b-ball players and offers them shoe endorsement deals, and currently he has his eye on an 18-year-old Michael Jordan. Sonny thinks Jordan is worth...
Did you know that Michael Jordan makes $400 million a year in passive income due to the percentage he gets from the sale of Air Jordans? To understand how this came to be, we must travel back to the 1980s and the campus of famed sneaker label Nike. The story is the subject of Ben Affleck’s newest film Air. Written by Alex Convery, the movie stars Affleck, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman and Julius Tennon.
Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) likes to gamble — i.e. he likes to take risks. He works for Nike CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) as the company’s basketball division expert. He looks for up-and-coming b-ball players and offers them shoe endorsement deals, and currently he has his eye on an 18-year-old Michael Jordan. Sonny thinks Jordan is worth...
- 4/5/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
While Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were writing “The Last Duel,” their first screenplay together since their 1997 breakthrough, “Good Will Hunting,” they noticed that something in their winding and usually separate careers had been missing.
“I remember my wife said to me one day: ‘I haven’t heard you laugh like that in 15 years,’” says Damon. “We came out of that experience going: Why aren’t we doing this more often? And getting into your 50s you just go: If we don’t make it a priority, it’s just not going to happen.”
Read More: ‘Air’ Trailer: Matt Damon And Ben Affleck Change The Face Of Sports With The Air Jordan
Now, more than 25 years after they set out to make it in Hollywood — so entwined that they once shared a bank account — Affleck and Damon are once again a team. Affleck directs and Damon stars in “Air,” the...
“I remember my wife said to me one day: ‘I haven’t heard you laugh like that in 15 years,’” says Damon. “We came out of that experience going: Why aren’t we doing this more often? And getting into your 50s you just go: If we don’t make it a priority, it’s just not going to happen.”
Read More: ‘Air’ Trailer: Matt Damon And Ben Affleck Change The Face Of Sports With The Air Jordan
Now, more than 25 years after they set out to make it in Hollywood — so entwined that they once shared a bank account — Affleck and Damon are once again a team. Affleck directs and Damon stars in “Air,” the...
- 4/4/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Viola Davis’ meeting with Julius Tennon wasn’t the stuff of great romances.
The Oscar winner recalled their first meeting in 1999 on the set of the television series “City of Angels” when they lined up for breakfast.
“I was dogging a bagel with tuna fish on it, a cinnamon raisin bagel with tunafish, and believe it or not it’s really, really good, but go ahead, Julius,” Davis recalled with a laugh on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Read More: Viola Davis Says It ‘Blew My Mind’ When Michael Jordan Personally Picked Her To Play His Mom In ‘Air’
Instead of asking for her number, however, Tennon gave her his contact information instead.
“Well, I gave you my card only because my mom told me, my mom said: ‘If you want to meet a girl, don’t ask for her phone number, give her your card. If she’s interested, she’ll call you,...
The Oscar winner recalled their first meeting in 1999 on the set of the television series “City of Angels” when they lined up for breakfast.
“I was dogging a bagel with tuna fish on it, a cinnamon raisin bagel with tunafish, and believe it or not it’s really, really good, but go ahead, Julius,” Davis recalled with a laugh on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Read More: Viola Davis Says It ‘Blew My Mind’ When Michael Jordan Personally Picked Her To Play His Mom In ‘Air’
Instead of asking for her number, however, Tennon gave her his contact information instead.
“Well, I gave you my card only because my mom told me, my mom said: ‘If you want to meet a girl, don’t ask for her phone number, give her your card. If she’s interested, she’ll call you,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel’s ongoing “feud” continues.
Despite Damon not joining his “Air” director and co-star Ben Affleck for his “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” interview on Tuesday, he did call in for a video chat. Not something the host was thrilled about, of course.
Kimmel told Affleck, “You have so many great performances in this, so many, I can’t even pick who I liked the best.
“You were great in it, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker… Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Julius [Tennon], her husband… We had all the great people from the cast on the show.”
Read More: Matt Damon Calls Jimmy Kimmel A ‘Terrible Human Being’ Amid Years-Long Feud (Exclusive)
Affleck responded, noticing Damon’s absence in Kimmel’s list, “You’re leaving someone out. I mean, Matt Damon’s the lead.”
“I said all the great people from the film,” Kimmel smiled.
Affleck insisted, “I understand you have your feuds…...
Despite Damon not joining his “Air” director and co-star Ben Affleck for his “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” interview on Tuesday, he did call in for a video chat. Not something the host was thrilled about, of course.
Kimmel told Affleck, “You have so many great performances in this, so many, I can’t even pick who I liked the best.
“You were great in it, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker… Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Julius [Tennon], her husband… We had all the great people from the cast on the show.”
Read More: Matt Damon Calls Jimmy Kimmel A ‘Terrible Human Being’ Amid Years-Long Feud (Exclusive)
Affleck responded, noticing Damon’s absence in Kimmel’s list, “You’re leaving someone out. I mean, Matt Damon’s the lead.”
“I said all the great people from the film,” Kimmel smiled.
Affleck insisted, “I understand you have your feuds…...
- 3/29/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Nearly three decades after Ben Affleck and Matt Damon burst into Hollywood history with their Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting,” the long-time pals and collaborators are still finding new ways to work together. Next up: “Air,” in which the pair not only share the screen as Nike founder Phil Knight (Affleck) and his “basketball guru” marketing brain Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), but which marks the first time Damon has actually been directed by Affleck.
On Monday evening in New York City, the pair — hot off the film’s very well-received weekend premiere at SXSW — joined co-stars Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Matthew Maher for a special screening and post-showing chat, during which the duo were inevitably asked about this new wrinkle in their partnership.
“Well, it might seem like the first time he’s directed me,” Damon said with a laugh. “I mean, we did high school plays where he was like,...
On Monday evening in New York City, the pair — hot off the film’s very well-received weekend premiere at SXSW — joined co-stars Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Matthew Maher for a special screening and post-showing chat, during which the duo were inevitably asked about this new wrinkle in their partnership.
“Well, it might seem like the first time he’s directed me,” Damon said with a laugh. “I mean, we did high school plays where he was like,...
- 3/21/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Viola Davis and her husband of almost 20 years, Julius Tennon, know how to hustle in Hollywood. Davis is the first Black woman to have won the coveted “triple crown” of acting with two Tonys, an Emmy, and an Oscar. She was also nominated for a Grammy this year for the narration of her 2022 memoir, Finding Me. In February, Davis won the Grammy for that narration, securing the coveted accomplishment of earning an Egot — which only 17 other people have been able to do.
Together Davis and Tennon run their production company, JuVee Productions, which produced The Woman King. It was that film that inspired the couple to undertake a massive renovation project on their home. The pair worked to bring in prints and colors reminiscent of the palettes they loved from their time in South Africa, along with personal touches that represent them and their family.
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon...
Together Davis and Tennon run their production company, JuVee Productions, which produced The Woman King. It was that film that inspired the couple to undertake a massive renovation project on their home. The pair worked to bring in prints and colors reminiscent of the palettes they loved from their time in South Africa, along with personal touches that represent them and their family.
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon...
- 2/8/2023
- by Nikelle Murphy
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Viola Davis is living about as much of a success story as it gets. She rose above poverty to make it big on Broadway, and then in Hollywood. She was the first Black woman to win the “triple crown” of acting by winning two Tony awards, an Oscar, and an Emmy. In February 2023, she won a Grammy for the audio version of her 2022 memoir, Finding Me. That win elevated her to the coveted Egot status; an accomplishment that only 17 other people (including Whoopi Goldberg and John Legend) have achieved.
Despite her outrageous success and busy filming schedule, Davis also has her share of typical life experiences. She raises a 12-year-old daughter, Genesis, with her husband of 19 years, Julius Tennon. They run a business together, and maybe try to keep a clean home, too. On a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Davis let the world in on her all-too-relatable secret:...
Despite her outrageous success and busy filming schedule, Davis also has her share of typical life experiences. She raises a 12-year-old daughter, Genesis, with her husband of 19 years, Julius Tennon. They run a business together, and maybe try to keep a clean home, too. On a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Davis let the world in on her all-too-relatable secret:...
- 2/7/2023
- by Nikelle Murphy
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Viola Davis is moving her TV home.
The Woman King star and producer and her JuVee Productions banner has signed a first-look TV and new-media deal with Entertainment One. The pact comes after JuVee, which Davis runs alongside her husband and producing partner Julius Tennon, previously collaborated with eOne on The Woman King.
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative and character-driven stories was clear to me when we met and after the success of our collaboration for The Woman King, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with Viola, Julius and the team at JuVee Productions,” said Michael Lombardo, eOne president of global television.
Before moving to eOne, JuVee had been based at Amazon with a TV pact. Before that, the company had a long deal with ABC Signature that stemmed from Davis’ role in...
The Woman King star and producer and her JuVee Productions banner has signed a first-look TV and new-media deal with Entertainment One. The pact comes after JuVee, which Davis runs alongside her husband and producing partner Julius Tennon, previously collaborated with eOne on The Woman King.
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative and character-driven stories was clear to me when we met and after the success of our collaboration for The Woman King, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with Viola, Julius and the team at JuVee Productions,” said Michael Lombardo, eOne president of global television.
Before moving to eOne, JuVee had been based at Amazon with a TV pact. Before that, the company had a long deal with ABC Signature that stemmed from Davis’ role in...
- 1/23/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions have signed off on a two-year first-look television and media deal with eOne Entertainment. The arrangement comes off the major box office success of “The Woman King,” which eOne co-financed and distributed in the United Kingdom.
In its opening weekend, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” earned 19 million at the box office, growing to 66 million domestically and nabbing 22 million internationally. In total, the film — which told the story of the Agojie women of the Dahomey nation of West Africa — earned 92 million. The movie was co-produced by eOne Entertainment, and Davis and Tennon’s JuVee Productions, which is part of the couple’s new first-look TV and media deal.
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative, and character driven stories was clear to me when we met...
In its opening weekend, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” earned 19 million at the box office, growing to 66 million domestically and nabbing 22 million internationally. In total, the film — which told the story of the Agojie women of the Dahomey nation of West Africa — earned 92 million. The movie was co-produced by eOne Entertainment, and Davis and Tennon’s JuVee Productions, which is part of the couple’s new first-look TV and media deal.
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative, and character driven stories was clear to me when we met...
- 1/23/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
JuVee Productions, the production company owned by Viola Davis and film producer Julius Tennon, has signed a two-year, exclusive first-look television and new media deal with Entertainment One.
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative, and character driven stories was clear to me when we met and after the success of our collaboration for The Woman King, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with Viola, Julius, and the team at Juvee Productions,” said Michael Lombardo, eOne’s President of Global Television.
“We are excited to partner with eOne in continuing to bring both entertaining and important stories to audiences globally,” Davis and Tennon said. “This is our legacy – to create deeply and authentically while opening the door wider for the next generation. Our collaboration is one of a shared, bold vision. From the moment we met Michael Lombardo,...
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative, and character driven stories was clear to me when we met and after the success of our collaboration for The Woman King, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with Viola, Julius, and the team at Juvee Productions,” said Michael Lombardo, eOne’s President of Global Television.
“We are excited to partner with eOne in continuing to bring both entertaining and important stories to audiences globally,” Davis and Tennon said. “This is our legacy – to create deeply and authentically while opening the door wider for the next generation. Our collaboration is one of a shared, bold vision. From the moment we met Michael Lombardo,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Entertainment One (eOne) has entered into a 2-year first look TV and media deal with Viola Davis and producer Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions.
The agreement comes just on the heels of the success of “The Woman King,” which eOne co-financed and distributed in the UK. For her work as the film’s lead, Davis earned a BAFTA nomination.
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative, and character driven stories was clear to me when we met and after the success of our collaboration for The Woman King, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with Viola, Julius, and the team at Juvee Productions,” said Michael Lombardo, eOne’s president of global television in a statement.
JuVee Productions develops and produces independent film, television, theater, VR, and digital content across all spaces of narrative entertainment.
In...
The agreement comes just on the heels of the success of “The Woman King,” which eOne co-financed and distributed in the UK. For her work as the film’s lead, Davis earned a BAFTA nomination.
“Viola and Julius’ powerhouse partnership has impacted audiences worldwide with their raw and authentic storytelling. Their vision for creating bold, provocative, and character driven stories was clear to me when we met and after the success of our collaboration for The Woman King, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with Viola, Julius, and the team at Juvee Productions,” said Michael Lombardo, eOne’s president of global television in a statement.
JuVee Productions develops and produces independent film, television, theater, VR, and digital content across all spaces of narrative entertainment.
In...
- 1/23/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
The real events on which “The Woman King” is based were rather new to Cathy Schulman, one of the producers behind the historical epic that opened in U.S. theaters on September 16, when she first learned of them in detail. That was thanks to actor/screenwriter Maria Bello, who, after returning home from the West African nation of Benin in 2015, reached out to the then-head of the organization Women in Film, convinced there was a film in a specific part of the country’s history of which she had become aware on her trip.
“What I learned from [Bello], and then from a lot more research, is that there had been this amazing 500-year history in Dahomey, of these female warriors who had not only been uniquely identified as female warriors, but they also were victorious time and time again, against men and without guns,” divulges Schulman during her recent webchat...
“What I learned from [Bello], and then from a lot more research, is that there had been this amazing 500-year history in Dahomey, of these female warriors who had not only been uniquely identified as female warriors, but they also were victorious time and time again, against men and without guns,” divulges Schulman during her recent webchat...
- 10/18/2022
- by Luca Giliberti
- Gold Derby
As the filmmaking team for “The Woman King” travels to Brazil to promote the historical epic, Viola Davis and her husband and producing partner Julius Tennon are celebrating the success of the film’s no. 1 debut at the box office, grossing 19 million domestically.
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 10, followed by opening in theaters one week later. It’s one of the rare films where critics and general audiences given it a similarly positive reception, with a 95 critics score and 99 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It even pulled off an “A+” Cinema Score.
Davis emphasizes that the story of “The Woman King” can connect to all audiences, not only Black women.
“There was a sense that our stories aren’t universal and can’t reach the white man or woman or the Hispanic man or woman,” Davis tells Variety. “I feel human stories are for everyone,...
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 10, followed by opening in theaters one week later. It’s one of the rare films where critics and general audiences given it a similarly positive reception, with a 95 critics score and 99 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It even pulled off an “A+” Cinema Score.
Davis emphasizes that the story of “The Woman King” can connect to all audiences, not only Black women.
“There was a sense that our stories aren’t universal and can’t reach the white man or woman or the Hispanic man or woman,” Davis tells Variety. “I feel human stories are for everyone,...
- 9/19/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
It started with a simple question: Why aren’t there more films about Black superheroes? For director Gina Prince-Bythewood, that query opened her journey into directing “The Woman King” and entering the highly rarefied space of being a Black female filmmaker making a big-budget blockbuster that centered on a Black story with a Black woman as its star. Superheroic to boot.
“I’ve always seen myself here, but the industry has not seen me here,” Prince-Bythewood said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “[My whole family] loves Marvel movies. We go to all of them, and it was maybe two years before ‘Black Panther’ came out, and my older son said to me, ‘Why isn’t there a Black superhero?’ And at that moment I was like, ‘I keep saying I would love to do that for you, so let me stop saying I would love it, and do that.’ So what steps do I need to take?...
“I’ve always seen myself here, but the industry has not seen me here,” Prince-Bythewood said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “[My whole family] loves Marvel movies. We go to all of them, and it was maybe two years before ‘Black Panther’ came out, and my older son said to me, ‘Why isn’t there a Black superhero?’ And at that moment I was like, ‘I keep saying I would love to do that for you, so let me stop saying I would love it, and do that.’ So what steps do I need to take?...
- 9/16/2022
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
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