By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels recently wrapped his latest film 'Tennessee,' which is expected to be the big comeback movie project for top-selling pop diva Mariah Carey.
For his next film, he's going into darker territory, figuratively.
'Push,' based on the seminal 1996 novel of the same name by Sapphire, is a graphic account of a young black woman growing up in a cycle of incest and abuse.
Daniels, who directed last year's edgy Helen Mirren/Cuba Gooding, Jr. drama 'Shadowboxer' and produced Halle Berry's Academy Award winning turn in 'Monster's Ball,' plans to be dead on with the casting of Clareece Precious Jones, the teenage narrator of 'Push.'
According to film producer Lisa Cortes, who works closely with Daniels on his films, the character is "a role that we don't expect to find through conventional channels."
So even though Daniels has a way of attracting some of Tinsel Town's finest, there will be no Hollywood swinging this go round -- at least not for the lead.
"Precious Jones, the protagonist, has been raped by her father since she was seven years old. She's also been abused and battered by her mother, horribly," Sapphire (legally known as Ramona Lofton) explained to 'Interview' magazine in 1996. "In addition, she's slipped through all the cracks in the educational system. So at sixteen, when the novel begins, she's still in junior high, unable to read and write, and pregnant with her father's child. She wants to stay in school just in the hope of someday getting to be a part of something, but they kick her out because she's pregnant. And then she goes to an alternative school, where she's allowed to have her innocence back. And these older women and fellow outcasts who are in the class embrace her. So she goes from being this object of ridicule and abuse to being like the baby."
That's some weighty material.
"This story is like 'The Color Purple' meets 'The Miracle Worker,'" added Cortes, about the project, which first time screenwriter Jeffrey Fletcher has written the script for.
'Publisher's Weekly' heralded the 'New York Times' best-selling novel, saying that "Sapphire has created a remarkable heroine in Precious, whose first-person street talk is by turns blisteringly savvy, rawly lyrical, hilariously pig-headed and wrenchingly vulnerable."
Daniels and his team at the New York City-based Lee Daniels Entertainment were in The Big Apple holding open casting calls at the Harlem Renaissance High School (located at 22 East 128th Street, New York, NY 10035) on July 10. "We're seeking Plus Size African-American Girls between 15-18 years of age," Cortes said, also adding that all interested parties who fit the description can contact her via email at: Push@tribecacasting.com.
Filming for 'Push' is set to begin in New York City this fall.
Comments: (8)
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By: Dumane on 7/13/2007 4:09PM
Maybe-of Lee Daniels stops talking shyte and blamming his films on the actors. I mean I stop being a fan of his when he made nasty comments about Halle Berry and Cuba Gooding jr. Why say something about these talented actors who have cross over appeal and get your films seen on a broad scale? Saying they werent good enough and talked trash but yet Mariah Carrey is some great actress?? He flops his own films with his mouth.
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By: Dumane on 7/13/2007 4:19PM
The only reason why he is even given a chance to make another film is the fact that dumb corporate hollwyood scts like they cant find any other black males. They really think that there only has to be one black guy at a time out there doing anything.
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By: william C. on 7/16/2007 8:40AM
don't know the guy, hope him well
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By: Afordlove on 7/16/2007 11:05AM
Another Sell out Black Man He Sold Halle Berry a Bill Of Goods for that Very degrading Movie.
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By: Yakbar on 7/17/2007 2:34AM
I agree with Afordlove in regards to the movie Monster's Ball "Another Sell out Black Man He Sold Halle Berry a Bill Of Goods for that Very degrading Movie."
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By: Isabelle on 7/16/2007 2:25PM
somebody give me the history on the projects he has worked on. what did he say about Halle Berry? i really don't know...
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By: Isabelle on 7/16/2007 2:38PM
never mind i looked it up..
Daniels tells AOL Black Voices that he was skeptical of Halle's talents because she was "at her worst publicity-wise. She had just run over somebody- backed up, took off and left them there; done the Flintstones [movie] and was being called a Black Barbie doll."Luckily, minus the blip known as "Catwoman", Halle's career has never been healthier.
Daniels latest project is the drama "Shadowboxer." As the director on the film Daniels also expressed concerns over hiring Cuba Gooding Jr. Despite winning an Oscar for his role in "Jerry Maguire", Gooding has seen his once hot career fizzle.
Daniels adds "With Cuba, something wasn't sitting right with me but I remembered him in 'Boyz N the Hood.' That's when I saw the truth and went for him. [With this film], I think he's gangsta. I think he's thug. I think he's honest and good. And I think he's back." Let's hope so because there aren't many people clamoring for sequels to "Snow Dogs" or "Boat Trip!"
to be honest i understand his concern when it came to Halle Berry, she has not had the best body of work. BUT in the movies Losing Isaiah and Alex Haley's Queen she was nothing short of AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tRUE she has not chosen the best work, she should have been more choosey. HoWever she is still such an amazing actress. Cuba is a good actor and to be honest i have not seen much of his work. He doesn't pick the best roles. Snow Dogs was a bad idea. So i agree with those concerns.
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By: sasha on 7/18/2007 6:59PM
IT AMAZES ME HOW PEOPLE GET ON HERE WITH AN OPINION AND DON'T EVEN KNOW OF WHOM THEY SPEAK OF! THIS AOL BLOG JUST MAKES MY BROTHER'S AND SISTER'S LOOK SO DAM IGNORANT! AND THOSE WHO CAN'T DO ANY DAM THING BUT SET BEHIND A COMPUTER AND PLAY KING OR QUEEN OF THE WORLD FOR A SECOND, PUT DOWN THOSE WHO ARE DOING! BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AND YOU NEVER WILL! THE BROTHA IS VERY TALENTED, AND MONSTER'S BALL WAS A WHOLE FILM, NOT JUST THE SEX SCENE! I DID'NT KNOW HALLE HAD THAT KIND OF DEPTH IN HER ACTING BUT SHE SHOWED THE WORLD! OTHER FAMOUS WHITE ACTRESS HAVE DONE SOME VERY NASTY THINGS ON FILM AND GOT PRAISE AND AWARDS FOR IT, AND THE WORLD CHEERED! BUT EVERYTIME AFRICANS GET OUT OF THE BOX AND SHACK THE WORLD UP AND MAKE A PROFIT! ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! WE(BLACK FOLK) ARE THE 1ST ONES WITH THE KNIFE TO STAB AT IT OR SOMEONE! I CRY 4 US! BUT I LOVE US REGARDLESS! LEE DANIELS IS MAKING A HIS MARK ON HOLLYWOOD, AND HE'LL KICK DOWN SOMEMORE DOORS, LIKE DOORS AND WINDOWS WERE BROKEN DOWN FOR HIM! UH LAST YOU FORGET US BLACK FOLK COULD'NT EVEN GO SEE A MOVIE, LET ALONE MAKE ONE! DON'T GET SO KNOW-IT-ALL NOW! LET'S TRY MOVING SOME MOUNTAINS OURSELVES INSTEAD OF KNOCKING THOSE WHO DO!
SASHA
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