This writer, with a deep appreciation for the books, decided to explain a few things about the world that Robert Jordan’s books have created to better understand the characters and the show.  

After the breaking of the world, the women channelers who survived (those who could wield the magical One Power) created the White Tower to serve as a beacon against the chaos of the world’s breaking. The White Tower created seven factions within itself, known as Ajahs, with different purposes. 

Going forward, when a woman was discovered who could channel, she would be brought into the tower at the rank of novice. Upon completing sufficient training, novices would be raised to the rank of Accepted. Upon even further and more rigorous training, the Accepted would have to face their final trials and, if successful, would be raised to the full rank of Aes Sedai. 

At this point, the new Aes Sedai finally would have to choose a faction color aligned with her personal goals and ambitions that she wants to be a part of for the rest of her life. There are seven Ajahs that are recognized by the White Tower.

So, here are the Ajahs, explained. 

Blue Ajah

The Blue Ajah is one of the most recognizable ones in the series. The Blues are involved in causes of social and political world affairs, often referred to as the seekers of justice by some. While many of the other Ajahs are content to remain in the White Tower and focus on inward goals, the Blue Ajah seek to be actively involved in the affairs of the world. If there are wars brewing or trollocs are attacking a city, the Blue network of eyes and ears are quick to let any sister know of the trouble that is occurring and where. Think of them as spies. Their Ajah is ruled as an autocratic system of sisters.

Brown Ajah

The Brown Ajah’s concentrations lie in the acquisition and maintenance of knowledge for the world, sometimes referred to as keepers of the past. They might be better understood as librarians, historians, and natural historians. They don’t deal in the physical sciences or even take on any engineering aspects of knowledge. These sisters are ruled by a council of sisters. There is no one method of system that they follow, so all sisters in this Ajah govern themselves.

Gray Ajah

The Gray Ajah deal with mediation, diplomacy, and negotiation. They are skilled in these areas and make for helpful sisters between the White Tower and other kingdoms. The idea behind this Ajah is to train sisters to be focused on negotiation and on becoming law-focused diplomats.

Green Ajah

The Green Ajah is known by many as the battle warriors. These Aes Sedai train extensively in the use of the One Power as a weapon to change the course of battles and even entire wars. It comes as no surprise that this group of women have a military hierarchy, with a head Captain General. The focus of these sisters is to prepare for Tarmon Gai’don, commonly known as the last battle, the prophesied battle that will decide the fate of the world. These sisters must be ready and trained.

Red Ajah

The Red Ajah have been given a mighty task. They are charged with preventing those who would wrongfully use the One Power. This of course means stopping and, at times, killing the men who can channel, who have been doomed to a fate of eventual madness in order to prevent the world from breaking again. However, this responsibility also allows them to prevent women from abusing the One Power, if it becomes necessary. The head of the Red Ajah is considered by most Reds to be equal to the Amyrlin Seat.

White Ajah

The White Ajah are known as the pursuers of truth and reason. They stay away from dealings with the world and worldly knowledge and instead focus on philosophy. The head of the White Ajah is known as the First Reasoner, and there is no internal structure that guides the sisters.

Yellow Ajah

The Yellow Ajah are known as seekers and studiers of healing. Many who are sick and injured go to these sisters for help to obtain cures that often would be impossible without the help of the One Power. They are among the most skilled when it comes to healing illness.

Amyrlin Seat (The Amyrlin)

While this is not an Ajah, the Amyrlin is selected by the tower of sisters. The Amyrlin is the leader of the Aes Sedai. The Amyrlin Seat is of no Ajah and belongs to all Ajahs. Her main purpose is to protect the sisters and the world from harm and govern them as wisely as possible.

Keeper of the Chronicles (The Keeper)

While not an Ajah itself, the Keeper does come from an established Ajah. She is often known as the second in command in the absence of the Amyrlin Seat.

… Another Ajah

The Black Ajah are not an officially recognized Ajah in the White Tower. Rumors have come out to say that the so-called “Black Ajah” are dark friends and have sisters of all colors of the Ajahs. There is no evidence of this, and the Amyrlin Seat has announced no sister is known to have turned to the dark side. There is no reason to believe these rumors.

The post ‘The Wheel of Time’: All the Ajahs Explained, Even the Unofficial One appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Director Matt Waldeck (director of I See You) along with co-writer/co-producer Ricky Jackson have come together to reveal the grim realities of the system. The documentary Lovely Jackson, coming in at an hour and forty-four minutes, is an exemplary illustration of how the U.S. criminal justice system has failed so many people, but perhaps mostly people of color. Thankfully, Rickey Jackson was finally exonerated after serving 39 years for a murder he did not commit.

Reenacting essential moments in the film from Jackson’s life are younger actors to help audiences get into the headspace of what it was like for him in these moments. Mario Beverly, who plays Young Rickey Jackson, brings an outstanding performance. While no reenactment is without its flaws, this one comes pretty close to making audiences feel a sense of real fear in the prison scenes.

In May 1975, a money order collector Harold J. Franks was shot and killed during a robbery at a local convenience store in Cleveland, Ohio. Jackson’s sentencing was 39 years, and it is said to be one of the longest prison sentences anyone who has been wrongfully accused and convicted has ever served. The prosecution’s witness was Edward Vernon, and they wanted the case wrapped up, so they needed Jackson to be the shooter. The prosecution used evidence of a .38 caliber gun that was used. They were never able to connect it to Jackson but still insisted he did the crime. Jackson was sentenced to death in December 1975. For many of the years since then, Jackson pleaded his innocence but had accepted the harsh reality that he would probably be executed before he was freed. His original sentence was suspended, and he spent 39 years in prison.

When the film first opens, there are brief but powerful monologues of ex-inmates speaking about their past experiences, all being wrongly sentenced to prison for crimes they did not commit. Each one talks about how they made it through their sentence by knowing Jackson and mirroring his stoicism in the face of injustice and wrongful sentencing. One of the most creative touches in the film is the dramatized reenactments and reactions. These frames, black and white and with  Jackson himself performing his interior monologues, are used to underscore the emotional impact of each event and each sentence that was passed down to him. While the reactions are silent, it does not lessen the overall weight of the burden he must have endured.  

One of the questions Jackson tackles is, “Why?” Throughout the documentary, this question is better understood and a lot of answers come from those who pegged Jackson as the culprit. Ed Vernon, who claimed he saw Jackson and his two friends (the Bridgeman brothers) commit the murder, offered testimony that was used to lock up Jackson. These claims are said to be invalid and full of contradictions early on in the documentary but are quickly dismissed.

On a hopeful note that the film brings up with such vigor is the Ohio Innocence Project and all those involved in helping Jackson achieve his freedom. This program has helped Jackson and countless others with the services they needed for a more fair and balanced trial. The organization has brought up evidence that was dismissed in the original case. For example, Karen Smith, the only person who actually witnessed the murder, was never called on to contradict Vernon’s testimony. In the documentary, this unfairness was corrected, and the scales of justice were balanced with new evidence.  

If there are concerns about the film, it would be this: the abundance of facts and the nightmare of what occurs in the prison setting are unnerving. The specific and detailed descriptions that are offered as to the precise procedures are hard to watch and hear. Jackson’s story encompasses violent and bloody brawls, understanding how prison hierarchies work among inmates, letting go of his emotional connections, and hardening himself in order to survive the labyrinth of prison life. One notable example that is discussed at some length is what occurs before and after one is placed in the electric chair. This amount of information is disturbing and almost too gruesome to want to continue to listen to the other horrible facts of the case.

Lovely Jackson has a more than positive end message for a seemly bleak and unnerving beginning. The experiences of one man and his message of resilience, forgiveness, and strength in the face of an imaginable burden proves to everyone that no one is lost, even in a world that seems to forget about them.

Lovely Jackson was presented at the Justice Film Festival on March 4, 2023, which marked its New York premiere. It is available for streaming on the Roku Channel. 

The post Review: ‘Lovely Jackson’ Is a View Inside a Wrongful Conviction appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Plaza has played her share of exciting and outrageous roles. Each one is able to capture her range and outstanding abilities in comedies. Take her brief role in 30 Rock as an excited page, or who among us can forget her deadpan comedic performance in Parks and Recreation? Truly, there seemed to be no role she couldn’t convince me of — well, that was until her performance in this film.

In this crime drama, Plaza, in the title role, takes on a character unusual for her. There are aspects that she performs well, while other times she fails to deliver the more obvious response that the scene asks for.

Emily is an art school dropout who can’t seem to catch a break. In the film’s opening scene, Emily is in the middle of a job interview when she clumsily tries to answer her hiring manager’s questions about her criminal record. She speaks in half-concealing truths to try to show the events in a different light, but her attempts fail. The manager informs her that he is holding her background check in his hand and tells her that truthfulness is part of the position. Emily, rightly so, turns it around and asks why he hadn’t simply told her that he had her criminal record in hand instead of allowing her to believe they were uninformed of her past.

Such interview tactics are par for the course in modern society. Where even the most minor of infractions can prevent someone from earning a decent living after paying for their criminal actions. Emily, drowning in a mountain of school debt, works in the food industry and lives with a few roommates. Her life seems to be headed in a direction that she never wanted to go. Faced with a dead-end job, no benefits, and no solution in sight, she continues to search for something better. 

By happenstance, a coworker calls her to cover his shift. In return, he offers her an opportunity to make some extra cash. With no other prospects in sight, she reluctantly accepts the opportunity to learn more about this other job she could do on the side.

This is where Plaza’s acting chops are challenged. While she gives the vibe of someone who is struggling to make ends meet, she fails to deliver that sheer fear and uncertainty that the situation deserves. She instead appears comfortable headed into a building where they photograph her and refuse to answer any questions.

While at the nondescript location, she meets Youcef (Theo Rossi), who informs a group of people, including Emily, of what kind of job they can expect and if they have any reservations to leave now before anything happens. To the film’s credit, this is where the plot suddenly becomes more interesting.

Credit card fraud is the name of the game, and they can earn a bit of money in an hour by doing this. With few options available to her, Emily decides to take control of her life and see where it leads.

The film has an interesting premise: What options are available to someone with a checkered past? The social commentary is at the very least thought-provoking and is only boosted by its rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

While Emily is working on her adventures with credit card fraud, she is also trying to land a well-paying position and move her life forward, if that is even possible. Her glamorous supermodel friend Liz (Megalyn Echikunwoke) tells her that there is an opening for the company that she works for. Emily, excited to leave her life of crime, accepts the interview. It is in this interview for a competitive position that Plaza’s skills really shine.

In the duration of the interview, Emily is informed that the position has no benefits, requires workers to work a regular 40-hour work-week for several months without pay, but will later provide the opportunity to apply for a possible paying position. Since I’m someone who has applied for positions and was later informed that one of the benefits of the job was being able to apply for food stamps, this film hit close to home.

Emily, in her well-thought-out way of speaking, justly explains directly how anyone could be comfortable asking someone to work for them for no pay. This scene can only be understood through its clip here.

This is where the film intersects with capitalism and a specific kind of women in positions of power (those who believe in climbing the corporate ladder and pulling it up after them). While perhaps being a well-meaning female CEO, Alice (Gina Gershon) with a highly prestigious position to offer might be unaware that these terms are unrealistic for other women who are struggling to make it. This movie presents a real issue in our society. When power is unchecked, people can take advantage of their workers when they put profits before individuals.   

While this isn’t Plaza’s usual comedic role, it does show that she can deliver an emotionally impactful scene when there is a conflict between her and another character. The energy and skill it takes to make this scene believable could only have been accomplished by someone with the range for such a troubling situation. However, in scenes where she is solely responsible for transporting audiences with her internal struggle, she fails to deliver.

While this isn’t Plaza’s most memorable role, it is one of her more serious and insightful projects. Here, she brings much-needed attention to social problems.  

Emily the Criminal is in theaters now. 

The post Review: ‘Emily the Criminal’ is a Classic Story with Social Problems appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Since the rise of streamable content, the number of detective shows have increased and with it their popularity in pop culture. In this list, many mysteries shows have been excluded for lack of named detectives — we’re emphasizing shows and movies that have a specific investigator actively solving the mystery.

There might be a few on the list that you have already screened, but there might also be a few hidden gems.  Here’s a list of shows and movies that won’t disappoint this July.

9 Detective Shows and Movies to Discover

1. Death Note (Anime Series)

Death Note continues to be an internationally beloved classic detective anime with its celebrated characters Light Yagami (English version, Brad Swaile) and his counterpart who goes by L (English version Alessandro Juliani). This show should not be confused with the Netflix live-action movie Death Note (2017), which was widely disliked by audiences with a whopping 37% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

This anime has suspense, strategy, and a well-crafted narrative. Light, highly intelligent and idealistic, challenges the status quo by finding unconventional methods of solving the crime rate in Japan. He goes too far when his tactics involve taking lives without a justice system. Soon after, this becomes a game of cat and mouse with L attempting to bring Light to justice.

Available on Hulu and Netflix.

2. Sherlock

Sherlock is a modernized retelling of Conan Doyle’s most famous character, detective Sherlock Holmes. Benedict Cumberbatch brings the series and the character to the twenty-first century and plays the titular character in a brasher style in the series. His partner Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) has a more active role than in the short stories. The three-season show has three episodes per season, and each one has a more compelling storyline than the last. A perfect watch to fall in love with a detective.

Available on Prime Video.

3. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010)

While many permutations of the series have been created, with the more recent Scoob! film in 2020, the series continues to give life to this generation’s audience. While more than a decade old, the Mystery Incorporated series has many nuggets of pop culture still relevant today. From references like the gangs’ dislike of Scrappy Doo (Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed) to even the red room (Twin Peaks), this show doesn’t pull its punches. The gang must uncover what is causing their small-town, Crystal Cove to incur so many mysteries. The mystery is more than anyone would have possibly imagined  

Available on Hulu.

4. Elementary

Elementary, an American adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories, is a great detective show to screen in your downtime. Jonny Lee Miller is outstanding as the Sherlock detective who grows on audiences. Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson (a female version of Dr. John Watson) is a perfect change of pace for audiences looking for a different perspective. Set in New York, the series realistically portrays how the cases are solved — with practice, time spent researching, and tedious police work — but every episode is filled with action and a captivating narrative. Sherlock and Watson make the perfect detective duo.

Available on Hulu. 

5.      Danganronpa: The Animation (2013)

While the anime was criticized for being inferior to the game version of Danganronpa for lack of character development, don’t let that stop you from enjoying what the series has to offer. The 13-episode anime portrays what students would do if they were forced into difficult situations. Danganronpa is a fun introduction to the heart-wrenching story of sixteen high school students who all reside in Hope’s Peak Academy. Monokuma — a murderous teddy bear principal — tells the students that they are capable of graduating from high school if they are willing to take the life of their classmates and manage to get away with it in a trial. This show tests your ability to think fast, analyze evidence, and listen closely to the arguments. The students Makato Naegi (Bryce Papenbrook) and Kyoko Kirigiri (Caitlin Glass) have special skills that are worth closely examining.

Available on Hulu.

6.      Murder, She Wrote

A classic and must-watch series for anyone interested in detective shows. Jessica Fletcher (Dame Angela Lansbury) is a local author in Maine, USA, who writes mystery novels in her free time. When she is not hard at work concocting a new best-selling mystery book, she is gallivanting around the world with her influential friends. In every episode, Mrs. Fletcher somehow finds herself in the midst of another murder. With her keen mind of writing murder mysteries, she manages to solve not only who the murderer is and why they did it, but also what time of day they did it and even what they had for breakfast two weeks ago. (Okay, those last two are jokes, but you get it.)

Available on Prime Video. 

7. In/Spectre

In/Spectre is a 9-episode anime with a supernatural twist. When Kotoko Iwanaga (Lizzie Freeman) was young, she was kidnapped by spirits and asked to be the Goddess of Wisdom for them. Acceptance of the request has granted her abilities, and with them comes the bonus of solving disputes, crimes, and mysteries that plague the spirits. Modern problems come with modern solutions, and her wisdom knows no limits. With the help of her newly acquired friends, she is more than up for the task. Watch as she solves a serpent’s inquiries and even tries to take down a murderous apparition.   

Available on HBO.

8.      Knives Out

There are only a handful of mystery films that work. Knives Out is an exciting whodunit with top star names, what more can you ask for? With actors like Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and Jamie Lee Curtis in the film, it’s hard to think of a better cast for such a film. Only one detective is up for a murder mystery as big as this, and Daniel Craig has done it again, no not the murder, of course, but his performance as the detective on screen slays. When rich Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead in his home, detective Benoit Blanc is on the case and investigates an unconventional and contentious family.

Available on Prime Video. 

9.      Death on the Nile

This is arguably one of Agatha Christies’ most intriguing book-to-film adaptations to date. When a picture-perfect couple Linnet Ridgeway Doyle (Gal Gadot) and Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer) go on a romantic honeymoon in Egypt on an enchanting riverboat down the Nile, death soon follows them. Who in Doyle’s group of friends committed the atrocities? It’s up to steel-jawed Kenneth Branagh who plays the Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot to solve the murder that has occurred. All the clues are set, but will audiences be faster than Poirot in solving the case?

Available on Hulu and HBO Max.

The post 9 Detective Shows and Movies to Investigate for P.I. Day appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

The Queer as Folk reboot is long overdue. But is this what we wanted? If they were going for a slice of life, the series failed miserably. However, if their goal was to tell a disconnected story intriguingly, I can’t wait to see how this season finishes!

The British and American Queer as Folk series were applauded in their time for telling stories that impacted their communities and cultures. The series successor, Stephen Dunn, has decided to remain true to the spirit of the series with his new project.

The reboot features the next generation of viewers who are now stepping into college and experiencing life for the first time after the pandemic. Despite what other writers like Zhang might have to say, I just can’t say this is relatable to me. 

The reboot is set in New Orleans, LA, and has a more diverse cast reflecting what many of us see in the gay community. It begins provocatively with the main protagonist and med school dropout Brodie (Devin Way) in the middle of copulating with a random guy he has just met on an app. This is a scene that many people in the gay community are familiar with, so perhaps it was an artistic choice to begin that way.

Brodie leaves and calls his friend Daddius Miller (Chris Renfro) who is currently in the middle of his own activity with Brodie’s ex-boyfriend/ex-fiancé Noah (Johnny Sibilly).

None of these scenes are surprising for anyone who has lived in a city with a large LGBT+ community. They manage to get the sexual nature of reality right in this case. Just to be clear, the storyline is good. It has great actors, and the event sets the mood quite nicely. It oversees aspects of mental health like trauma, depression, and insecurity, exceptionally well.

The series continues by introducing the wide-ranging characters and their connections to Brodie, even when it feels forced. High school trans student, Mingus (Fin Argus), who is 17 years old, goes to a drag show where he has a sexual encounter with Brodie. Shar (CG, they/them) and Ruthie (Jesse James Keitel, they/them) are together with a baby on the way. Brodie, for some reason, gives them his DNA for their baby as Julian (Ryan O’Connell), Brodie’s brother, is a person with cerebral palsy.

The only character that isn’t already connected to Brodie in a biological/sexual way is Eric Graise (Marvin), a paraplegic who joins the gang. However, the way these characters slowly develop a friendship seems a little unrealistic.

Even my favorite character from Sex and the City, Kim Cattrall, who plays Brodie’s mom Brenda, is not free from scrutiny. I love her, but I am not buying that she is a southern matriarch with a flimsy accent that comes and goes as quickly as she does in these episodes.

The compilation of stories in each episode feels like the writer took the ideals of what they believe the LGBT community is like and put that on-screen instead of reality. This is not to say that this is the only thing they did, but the characters don’t feel like authentic people. They feel more like caricatures, who only express depression and lustfulness and not much else.

The gay bars, nightclubs, lounges, and restaurants I frequent are not like this. These reflect comradery for events like drag night and queer brunch, which is to say all brunch, leather and feather nights, and much more. I do not see this comradery outside of those events. This steered me to ask the same question as Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? 

Where are these locations where all queer people from all walks come together and hang out with everyone else? It certainly isn’t any gay bar that I have ever been to. The ones I’ve gone to all state the same message, “open and welcoming to everyone” but that’s the extent of that welcoming environment. 

What happens inside is people circling around the same people they came in with. Not really socializing with anyone outside of their circle unless they are approached by someone of equal attraction or greater. Unless you are a go-go dancer getting paid to hang out, you don’t see this amazing blend of people coming together and mingling. But this is what the series will have you believe about the community. 

Speaking as a southern gay who grew up in a major city and has partied in NYC gay clubs, I have to say I have yet to see this level of inclusion and acceptance. Remembering one event with family on an outing to a local gay club called “The Eagle” was embarrassing. It had a gorgeous man at the door, so I expected to see all the glitz and glam of nightclubs in the south.

That was not what I saw. I saw a guy giving BJs in the middle of a dance floor to about 50-guys while we all acted like we didn’t notice it. Funny enough, this scene is hinted at in the series with the party orgy fundraiser. 

Oh, did I mention that while at this club, another gay guy told my cousin that “her kind [women] weren’t wanted here?” But to be fair, that was quickly remedied by another gay guy telling her that “she’s fine being here. It’s a space for all, just don’t pay her any mind.” 

The show does start with a powerful depiction of a tragedy that brings a community together in solidarity. The first episode ends melancholy with a shooting at the local gay bar Babylon not too dissimilar to the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Florida. It feels like it is saying, why would gay people join if not for a Pride event or even a charity event?

The other aspect they got right was how gay people betray, steal, and hurt each other. Shockingly, none of their bickerings have been geared towards each other’s queerness. As a gay, I have been attacked for being too feminine, too girly, having too high a voice, not muscular enough, and too gay. Unfortunately, others have also felt this way. 

It’s simply hard to wrap my head around the idea that queer individuals would get together and stay together. Otherwise, I hate to break it to non-queer people, but we do not all hang out or enjoy each other’s company just because we are part of the same community. We are truly diverse in many ways. 

This reboot might just be the thing that is needed to speak to this next generation. The series does an outstanding job of showing things as they could be, not as they are. So, maybe that’s what this generation needs, an escape from reality where things look prettier from the outside.

In a way, I can see that the show attempts to create a world where families are forged with outside friends. It proves to be a more loving environment than perhaps a lot of us came from. But this sense of community is just that, a beautiful picture behind the screen. Where is the real community?

Queer as Folk is available for streaming on Peacock.

The post ‘Queer as Folk’ Continues to Deliver Romanticized Expectations appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Welcome to Flatch has it all, comic dialogue, beautiful landscapes, and even a dance fight. It comes as no surprise that with these elements all together a character like Mandy Matthews or as she is lovingly referred to as “Big Mandy”, would come to be an instantly loved character.

BGN had the pleasure of interviewing Krystal Smith over the phone about her new role as Big Mandy in Welcome to Flatch. Smith had so much insight on her character and even a little advice for women.

For our audiences who might not be familiar with the show yet, what can you tell us about your character?

She is very direct. She is a woman of many talents, but the kind you discover during the series. I would also like to say that she is a strong and independent woman who is very decisive. There is a softness to her also that I think is overlooked. She is seen as intimidating, which she is, but she is also very loving and kind in so many ways. She is just an amazing character.

Can you tell us what you most admire about Big Mandy?

If there is just one thing about her that I can say that I admire, it would have to be that she is unapologetically herself. I admire everything about her, from her directness to her ability to be a badass who can fight.

[Laughs] Can I say you two might have a lot in common then?

Yes, absolutely!

I know that you have a lot in common with Big Mandy, but can you tell us how you two are different?

Well, she is definitely more masculine than I am. She dresses outdoorsy, and I like to dress in a way that shows a little more skin. Oh, I also don’t have Mandy’s talents for tattoos. I have no idea how to do tattoos, but she is somehow worse at them [laughs]. She attempts things that I would never dare to.

I love that your character has an air of confidence. Would you consider yourself to be a confident person? Also, how do you project that onto the screen?

She is noticeably confident. The funny thing is that I don’t think that I am where she is in terms of confidence. I do, however, practice confidence every day. To quote Queen Rhianna, on days I don’t feel like that bitch, I still project, work, and practice and do what I need to do to feel like I am. So, I fake it until I make it.

How do you tackle portraying a character that dislikes another character?

The best thing about this is that we all know it’s just playing pretend. So even if I have to yell at someone and make it seem like we are not on good terms, once it’s done, we know that it’s all just to make it seem believable. The great thing about this is that we have an environment where we can do this and everyone understands that this is just for fun, so no one takes anything said personally.

Is there anything about playing Big Mandy that is challenging?

I don’t think there is anything challenging about playing her. I love her a lot, and I am a big fan of hers. She is so fun, and it’s so easy to slip into the character.

We all want to know this, what made you want to be a part of this project?

From the moment I read the character, I immediately thought, “wow, this is me”. I couldn’t imagine not playing her. This is the type of show that I wanted to be a part of since I saw Parks and Recreation. I was in love with the show when it came out, how it was shot, and it was so funny! 

I just knew I had to be a part of something like that. I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to play such an amazing character for a show like this. I love that this is set in a small town, there is so much that happens in small towns that people are not aware of.

I really like that Big Mandy has been featured more in the show. What can we expect from her going forward?

We are going to see more of her hidden talents going forward. We will find out she is kind and softer than anyone would have expected her to be. Oh, but of course, we will expect more funny moments with her talents being revealed.

I would love to talk about your character’s sexuality and how expressive she is when it comes to that. What is it like to play a role like this?

I actually didn’t know anything about her sexuality until I read the script for the dance scene. When I read that, I just approached it like I would with any project. I ask a lot of questions. That’s just who I am; I am a curious person. So, I just have fun with it. I enjoy the facets of her, and I like playing them.

Is there a piece of advice you would like to offer our readers?

I do, actually. This advice is specific to women. I think women should not be afraid of being selfish or a villain. I think it’s okay to be selfish and be the villain, and women shouldn’t be afraid to be one or another.

I love a good villain!

Welcome to Flatch is available on Fox and can be streamed on Hulu.

The post ‘Welcome to Flatch’: Getting to Know the Real Krystal Smith Behind “Big Mandy” appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Can you tell me a little about your new project, Indemnity?

Indemnity is a South African action thriller about a fireman (Theo) suffering from PTSD. His trauma is from an incident in which he was inadvertently responsible for the death of his comrades on a rescue mission gone horribly wrong. As a consequence, his life is falling apart. His relationship with his wife and son deteriorates, and Theo has taken to the bottle to numb his pain. Then, one morning, he wakes up and finds his wife dead next to him. Although considered the prime suspect in her murder, Theo believes that he was not responsible, despite having no recollection of what happened. He decides to go on the run to figure out who did it. In the process, he comes to grips with his trauma.

The fighting and action scenes were marvelous. What can you tell us about these scenes?

Thanks so much! It was incredibly important to keep the action grounded and reflective of reality. I was blessed to work with an amazing stunt team in Vernon Willemse and Grant Powell with whom I worked closely in developing the fight choreography. Jarrid [Geduld, who played lead Theo] was always keen to do his own stunts, which I was grateful for because it allowed us to be in on the action with him. We never needed to rely on any stunt doubles for any sequence, which gives it an emotional edge. But the choreography was vitally important to nail because each fight reflects Theo’s current emotional and psychological state. It was important for us to track exactly where he is at any point throughout the film.

Theo Abrams is an amazingly sensitive character. What stood out to you about Jarrid?

Theo is suffering from an immense amount of trauma. His coping mechanism is to avoid confronting his emotional and psychological scars. What I loved about Jarrid from the get-go was his empathetic nature. He brought something incredibly vulnerable to the character. Theo does and says some things that could easily make him not so likable, even though you understand why he is the way he is. But what Jarrid nailed so brilliantly was the ability to allow us to see through Theo’s bravado and recognize his pain underneath. The action and stunt work were second to having a character the audience could empathize with, and in that sense, Jarrid was the only choice.

Are you at all like the characters you created? 

If I am, that’s a scary thought! But I would have to say no. The characters in Indemnity all have an unhealthy relationship to trauma. Through my own life experiences, I’ve learned to deal with emotional scars in a far healthier way due to the support structures I was fortunate enough to have. But most people don’t have that luxury, which formed part of my motivation for tackling this issue. It’s the stigma attached to the way people deal with mental health in general that I wanted to shed light on, in hopes that it may challenge and change perceptions and attitudes.

What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?

The most challenging elements of translating the script to screen were the various action sequences. Action is notoriously expensive to produce, and we don’t have the kinds of budgets used in Hollywood films. So, for us, it was about deciding which set pieces were going to be the ones we would spend the most time and money on. But in saying that, the various sequences were all important to the overall story as they provided context to Theo’s emotional state. So, our challenge was to achieve an ambitious amount of action with extremely limited resources, which meant we had to be clever in designing certain set pieces. We tried to contain a lot of the fight sequences to confined spaces and limit their scope, which enabled us to spend a little more time on the more challenging sequences that involved practical fires on set.

The film has such an emotional component to it. Was it a conscious choice to make the film end on a hopeful note?

Action in any film can quickly become a meaningless spectacle. So, it was important for me that the audience is able to resonate with Theo and hopefully recognize a part of themselves in him. It’s always the emotion at the core that attracts me to any story, and I wanted Theo’s journey, despite the intense number of obstacles he faces, to be redemptive and end with an element of hope. Human beings are resilient, and I wanted that to be the ultimate takeaway — that with just a little bit of help along the way, we can overcome almost anything.

This film has such an incredible story. What do you think is the best aspect of it?

We aimed to differentiate this film by having a purposefully diverse cast, staying true to a particular subculture in South Africa, and telling the story from this perspective. We tried to be authentic in our representation of Theo (a man of color), who represents what is often the worst affected community of PTSD in South Africa. The same can be said about how we’ve represented the police and the political landscape. Where it stands out is in the various sub-genres at play within the context of this action film. We move between a paranoid psychological thriller, to a political conspiracy story, a family drama, and even border on sci-fi (when one thinks of the Indemnity program itself), and I love that we bounce between these different sub-genres.

Indemnity is currently in theaters and on-demand.

The post Director Travis Taute on Mental Health in His Film ‘Indemnity’ appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

This romantic comedy has it all: a relatable storyline, sensitive dialogue, and an absorbing performance from an outstanding cast. I Want You Back perfectly captures a feeling many of us have had at least once in our life, which makes this truly a film worth watching.   

Director Jason Orley and writers Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker take us into the lives of two less-than-perfect couples. Peter (Charlie Day, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) is the VP of a retirement home corporation. Anne (Gina Rodriguez, Scoob!) is Peter’s longtime girlfriend of six years, who is an English teacher. They are both celebrating Anne’s nephew’s birthday, and it is here that Anne decides to break up with Peter. Anne affirms what makes their life so dull: “We are boring, we make salmon, we watch Dancing with the Stars.” 

At the same time, Emma (Jenny Slate, Parks and Recreation) is an orthodontist’s receptionist and an adorable, clueless 30-something adult. She is just drifting through life, while still staying in the same place she rented as a teen in college. Her boyfriend Noah (Scott Eastwood) is a health enthusiast who works at a local gym. They decide to have lunch at a restaurant and have a terribly similar discussion about the status of their relationship. In both courtships, one member was completely oblivious to the emotional state of the other and the other was already planning to be with someone else.

In the first few moments of the film, the relationships between Peter and Anne and Noah and Emma are revealed through an adorable compilation of videos. In each video clip, a piece of their respective relationships is given nuance and depth. This visual recollection allows the viewer to feel the breakup on an emotional level without having to experience it themselves. 

I Want You Back is a relatable story. It provides a lens through which unhealthy vices like drinking a lot, scheming to get someone back, and even obsessing over their social media page can be understood at a distance. I mean, who among us hasn’t wanted an ex back? This film captures those moments but grants us some time to think about it further beyond the initial shock of it all.

After their breakups, Peter and Emma find each other. They both work in the same office building, just one floor apart. Having shared moments of discomfort for their current situations, they decided to hang out and commiserate together. In an instance of drunken clarity, they decided to concoct what can only be classified as terrible schemes to get their partners back. They decide to sabotage their ex-lovers’ entanglements by injecting themselves into each other’s ex’s relationships. Peter becomes Noah’s friend and Emma joins Anne’s new relationship. Not only is their pain and planning felt on a deeper level, but we also get to experience it again when we are introduced to Noah’s new girlfriend Ginny (Clark Backo) and Anne’s new boyfriend Logan (Manny Jacinto, The Good Place).  

Both the carefully constructed writing and the performances of these actors are perfectly balanced between realistic breakups and awkward new beginnings. What makes Peter so believable is that he is where many of us find ourselves: in a comfortable part of our relationship. Peter is at an impasse: too old to change but too young to be prudent. He wants to change but is unable to make the first step. Similarly, Emma is unable to move past her college mindset, though she technically isn’t in college anymore. These two people want to better themselves but are unable or unwilling to make the necessary changes.

After the ridiculous, half-baked schemes they hatch up together, there is an underpinning of humor that brings out the more playful side of these characters. Peter and Emma get locked in a trunk, get involved in uncomfortable ménage à trois, and even jump off a roof and into a hot tub, all to help move the plan along. These characters are flawed in so many ways, but it’s this quality that makes them hard to not fall in love with — well, except for their exes who didn’t.

Even though this is a fictional work, it feels real; Peter and Emma stalk their past lovers on social media, they want to call them, and they even meet the people they are now with — all ideas many of us have at one point or another. While watching this, there is a strange pulling that will remind you of that one person who left. But, as the film reminds us, they left for a reason, and it’s important to remember why that is. It’s crucial to remember not to romanticize the past, which can be hard since this is a romantic comedy. Relatability is what makes this film a must-watch.

I Want You Back is available to stream on Prime Video February 11, 2022.

The post ‘I Want You Back’: Finally, a Relatable Romantic Comedy appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

The Legend of Vox Machina is composed of seven friends who somehow manage to stumble their way into a variety of unsavory situations. Together these friends fight for what they want in a land filled with magic and dragons. Can this ragtag team of misfit friends save the day? The first six episodes of the twelve-episode season, which are shared in advance to selected writers for Prime Video, show just how vulgar and blunt the series is, yet this somehow manages to be appealing and endearing. The characters’ sharp wit and hilarious antics grant audiences a look into their world without feeling out of place or wondering too much about how their world functions. The series has a level of accessibility for those who are curious about the game but haven’t yet had an opportunity to play. It is a great starting point to dip one’s toes in.

The stars of Critical Role, an American web series that started in 2015, have had a meteoric rise in recent history. Now with this series The Legend of Vox Machina being launched, their popularity can only grow. The group wasn’t always as popular as they are now. It started as a group of friends who were also accomplished voice actors getting together to play a game of D&D on a weekly basis. They couldn’t have foreseen how big they would get by doing what they enjoyed. If anyone is unfamiliar with their platform, don’t worry, it’s not a requirement to understand the series.

In the first season and the first campaign, we are introduced to the heroes of the series (if the term hero applies here). They are for the most part doing heroic actions to gain favor, money, and anything else they want. Despite this lack of selflessness that the characters exude, what is perhaps most impressive about this series is how easy it is to connect with one or all of the characters. The first character that hits her mark is Vex’ahlia (Laura Bailey), the half-elf archer and a crafty one at that. Her twin brother is Vax’ildan (Liam O’Brien), who proves to be a charming rogue character, and as stereotypical as that might sound, he makes it work.

To round out the ragtag friends, there is the brute muscle known as Grog Strongjaw (Travis Willingham), a barbarian character who is a little slow on the uptake of any situation, but he also proves to be a big old cuddly softy throughout the series. The gnome cleric is known as Pike Trickfoot (Ashley Johnson). The cleric class is the one that follows a specific god and promotes their ideals. In return, the followers are imbued with magical powers to help with their mission. Often this character is seen as the healer in the group. Keyleth (Marisha Ray) is a half-elf and a druid character that uses nature-based magic; her abilities seem to keep developing as the series continues. Scanlan (Sam Reigel) plays what most would consider to be a typical cocky and horny bard. Most evident is his trusty lute and humorous and, at times, overly sexualized songs. And the last and perhaps most interesting character is Percy (Taliesin Jaffe), who can shoot like no other. Percy’s past and his abilities are both a mystery in the series; however, with each episode, the layers are slowly peeled back, and a new piece of the puzzle is revealed.

The Legend of Vox is unique in the way that it is able to showcase the characters as meaning well, especially when they manage to muck up situations. Part of this could be attributed to the amount of character development in the show. Outside of the fantastic voice actors, the characters that they have selected to play, and the rich story lure they are using, it really comes down to the character development of both Percy and Pike. Percy’s unexplained family past is one that will hook its audience, but Pike’s journey of self-discovery is really what stands out from the series. What her journey will reveal is up in the air, but audiences can rest assured it will be one worth taking.

In recent years the tabletop gaming community has made great strides in becoming a more inclusive environment. Though The Legend of Vox does have sexually explicit scenes and handles same-sex interactions solidly, as well as presents it with the same ease and care given to hetero characters, it’s not enough. The show does little more than give lip service to the issue. It needs to have more LGBT representation if it is to compete with other animated series that showcase inclusion and diversity, like the Dragon Prince or to lesser extent Voltron and Blood of Zeus. It needs to level up its characters more.

With epic storytelling skills, stunning animation, and poignant dialogue in the most crucial of scenes, it’s no wonder why this series will draw audiences in from all levels of society. It’s a great way to jump into the magic and mystery that many lovers of the D&D gaming and newcomers alike can enjoy. Why not get lost in the adventure with this group of friends? Let’s just roll the dice and see what adventures await.

The Legend of Vox Machina is available to stream January 28, 2022, on Prime Video. 

The post Review: ‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ is a Solid D-20 (Critical Success) appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

In our online Zoom interview, WriterBoy was dressed warmly for this cold winter season, he wore a black beanie, a deep Aegean blue turtleneck, and, to tie the whole outfit together, a white chain around his neck. All these meticulously selected articles of clothing show how ready for the interview he was.

His enthusiasm was boundless, and his answers seemed endless. Each answer appeared as carefully selected as his wardrobe was.  

Can you tell me a little about this movie, Dream?

Dream is a feature film about this young kid. He ends up getting in a car accident with his mother, and his mother passes away. The story is about him growing up in the foster care system, having nothing and no one but his dream. He dreams of being this amazing writer, and the entire world is telling him that he can’t, that it won’t ever happen. It’s loosely based on my life.

That’s so fascinating. Can you tell us how much of this is based on you?

The film talks about the ins and outs and difficulties of this writer, dreaming, pushing, and fighting to become something more. So, a lot of scenes in the film are actual scenes that happened to me, in my life, growing up and fighting to be someone in this industry.

Did you want to be a writer when you got older?

I’ve always written since a young age. I published my first book at seventeen. Before publishing a book, I had written so many stories. It was an escape from the world that I was in. I wanted to create something different. I wanted to become someone different.

You have created some unique characters in your film. Where do these characters come from?

A lot of the characters in the film come from real people. The best friend in the film, Brian, represents that person in your life who may or may not believe in you. But at the end of the day, you never really know. Everything is everything; nothing is nothing. And something is always something. He represents that idea.

The social worker is Diane. She represents a person who is very grounded in this world. As dreamers, we think that we can, we will, and it shall be done. But she’s the opposite. She is a realist. Just because you believe in your dream doesn’t mean that everyone else is going to believe in it. She’s that person. She shoots down dreams a lot, but it comes from a place of love, and that’s her.

The father represents that dark entity in our life. In the film, he also represents that concept where the grass isn’t greener on the other side. As humans we believe that on the other side of whatever our life is, something amazing is there if we were just someone else. If we were more like that other person over there, life would be so much better.

What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?

The most challenging aspect of bringing this film to life was understanding that what I wrote as a creator was not going to be what the final product is. Because this is an independent project, it wasn’t as structured as the network would have liked me to be. I wanted my production filled with dreamers. From my production to the actors, I wanted dreamers to surround this project. If I have dreamers, even on the outside of it, when you’re watching this film in front of that screen, you’re going to feel it. It’s going to feel like this was made with love and passion. And so that’s what I wanted. With that comes understanding that this artwork is going to take a form of itself. I was trying to contain it to make it something, and then I let it go. And I created something amazing with it. I couldn’t have made it better.

Why this script?

It’s about a moment in time. Right now, it’s time. You don’t have to settle or accept what the world has given to you; you can create something new. There are so many things that have changed since I wrote the film two or three years ago. This is our moment; this is my moment as a dreamer to let everyone that is dreaming right now know that it is achievable. You can do it, and let me give you the steps to do it. Let me show you how.

What will the audience be thinking after they watch the movie?

I want them to be spewing the messages that I talked about in the film, like forgiving those who do not know, pushing forward even when you’re hurt, when you’re down, getting up even when you don’t feel like it. Even when you hit that ground hard, you still get up. I want them to be thinking about these messages.

How does your film stand out from the vast majority of inspiration films out there?

Dream is very modern and is for us. It’’s for my generation; it’s for my people. That’s why I wanted it to be fun. The difference is that this is for us, the new generation that is coming, to let them know that it is achievable. This is for this time.

What would you say will surprise audiences about your story?

My story in general, or my film story? Which one? Because I’m going to be honest.

I would like to know it all.

I’ll say this about Dream. The main actor, his name is Terrell Brown, didn’t understand what he was getting himself into. He became that character. I don’t think people will understand, even when it comes down to the mental components of crafting the film, how heavy it was for him to play that role. We shot for almost a year and a half. There was one scene where he was crying on set. And when I yell cut, he’s still crying. Then he falls to the ground and production has to come and pick him up. It was another scene where he was running away from something. When he packed his bags and he ran out of the room, he ran past the camera, he ran off the set, and production had to go get him. He really became that character.

When they see WriterBoy, they expect to see “WriterBoy” and I am him. But I’m human just like you. They were expecting me to win 24/7. As if I win every goal, every goal that I accomplished and every fight that I fight, I just knock them out there. I didn’t get here because I won all my fights. I got here because I never stopped fighting. I wrote Dream to let people know that I’m human also.

Dream will be available on Prime Video March 16, 2022.

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