Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business!

by Monica Peters

Industry veteran Thembisa S. Mshaka’s new book Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business is a MUST READ for anyone in the entertainment business, especially women. Mshaka gives sound, concrete and specific advice on how to handle your business whether you are a publicist, in the music business, celebrity stylist, producer, or in the radio and film industries. Her tone in the book is straightforward and leaves no stone unturned. What makes this book a gem is that women working in all segments of the business reveal their triumphs, setbacks, horror stories and how they survived after being laid off. Some of the women are everyday Janes who broke into the industry in unconventional ways--none of which included exploiting themselves. Many of the women in HYEB are those that some of us in the business may already know personally. HYEB is very much an eye opener for women going into the entertainment business looking through rose colored glasses or even worse thinking that sleeping their way to the top is the key to their success. The author even delves into pay inequities for women. After reading this book you will definitely be able to make a true assessment as to if the entertainment field is for you and learn the importance of reinventing yourself.

*Even if you are not in the entertainment business, this book is a must read. The sound and valuable advice in this book extends way beyond the entertainment world. Pick it up today.

Movie Review: "Traitor" starring Don Cheadle

By Monica Peters Medina

“Traitor” starring Don Cheadle is a film that is worth the money and your time although the story line leaves many questions unanswered. What makes "Traitor" exciting is the constant revelation of the true identity of various characters. As the plot unravels you really never know who is a double agent.

However, the most intriguing aspect of the film is the insight it gives into the psychology of Muslim terrorists and the grassroots but yes sophisticated orchestration to execute terrorist attacks. The film takes place in many locations around the world including Nice, France, Yemin.

Samir, played by Don Cheadle, is a highly skilled Muslim terrorist from Sudan whose international cell unit has anointed him the designated man to carry out high profile terrorist attacks. Although this is not an Oscar winning performance for Cheadle, (through no fault of his own but because the role he plays does not require deep theatrics), he does an excellent job of displaying his daily internal conflict with being a terrorist. Cheadle carries out a high profile attack in Nice, France but is disappointed at the low casualty of eight persons killed. He wished there had been more so he can be pleasing in the eyes of Allah. Next he is chosen to orchestrate a massive terrorist attack in the US that succeeds….well sort of. Cheadle had to choose between the lesser of two evils. Throughout this film don’t assume that you thoroughly understand Cheadle’s character, Samir. Traitor leaves the moviegoer with the question of does the end really justify the means, especially when innocent lives must be lost in the process.

One disturbing aspect of Traitor is the ease with which anyone can orchestrate a massive well planned terrorist attack. The film gives out information that would show an inspiring terrorist how to do it from A-Z. I hope no disgruntled citizen or terrorist cell will orchestrate a terrorist attack of this nature now that Traitor shows how easy 1-2-3 it is to accomplish something so horrifying. As an honorary New Yorker who travels to Manhattan often, traitor left me feeling uncomfortable.

Traitor- a must see film.

*Photo Credit AP/Overture Films

Rapper Master P Brings BETTER BLACK TELEVISION (BBTV)

“Better Black Television has been a vision of mine for some years,” said Miller, BBTV’s Chairman & CEO. “I’ve done a lot to promote and change the way messages are relayed to our children and our families over the last few years. Promoting positive content and positive messages is so important to educate and preserve the next generation. Being exposed to positive content is what changed my life. I believe that there is a market in our community for a new diverse network that provides a new brand of superior programming that caters to all aspects of television from reality to original programming. In addition, I’m excited to be able to expose the urban community to a vast array of jobs in the entertainment community that they might not otherwise be privy to. I have a great relationship with BET and MTV and my son and I will continue to do work with them and support their networks. With BBTV, we’re spearheading the initiative to meet consumer demand for family friendly hip-hop content.”

The BBTV Advisory Board members consist of some of the most significant entertainers in Hollywood, professional athletes as well as movers and shakers in the community such as Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Denzel Washington; Vault Load Films President, entrepreneur and senior level business executive, Jim Finkl; NAACP Executive Director Vicangelo Bullock; Professional basketball player and businessman Derek Anderson (Charlotte Bobcats); an award winning, 20-year veteran of the cable television and film industry, Professor Sal Martino; businessman, community activist and founding father of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc; entrepreneur, businessman and animation specialist, Olatokunbo Betiku and community activist, Board President of Nailah House Foster Family Agency, speaker and teacher at Trump University, real estate mogul Curtis Oakes.

Will Master P's new television network make BET and TV One step up their game?