A revelation from revered director Mira Nair, that one of the stars of McQueens Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave Lupita Nyongo will star in Nairs next film, which will be based on the book Queen of Katwe, by Tim Crothers.
Nairs interest in the books adaptation was first reported a year ago, when, in an interview with Newsweek Pakistan, she revealed that she was working on a film on Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi.
Nair shared that the project was set up at Disney, although she didnt give any further information on it - like how far along in the production process she was, or when the film can be expected.
Also known as The Queen of Katwe, which is what the film is currently titled, Mutesis story was the inspiration for a book by Tim Crothers, titled, The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girls Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster. Shes also been the subject of short documentaries and news reports, capturing her inspiring story. I embedded one of them at the bottom of this post.
In case youre wondering about Mira Nairs Uganda connection, she founded Maisha Film Labs - a Uganda-based film training initiative (not-so unlike the Sundance Institutes filmmaker labs, or the IFPs filmmaker labs).
The goal of the Maisha Film Labs is to give aspiring filmmakers in the East African country the tools & knowledge to tell their own stories through film, which would then help foster a self-sustaining film industry in Uganda and vicinity, that will support and represent the interests of local audiences.
Mira Nairs award-winning 1991 film, Mississipi Masala (which starred Denzel Washington, by the way, and probably my favorite of all her films), was shot, on location, in Kampala, Uganda. And, its also in Uganda, in 1988, where she met her husband, scholar, Mahmood Mamdani, while she was doing research for the film.
She also lives there.
Nair recounts her mission in starting the film labs: One so rarely sees any images from the African continent that even vaguely resemble what it is like to live here, or to struggle here -- the dignity and the power and the beauty of it... The enormous validation and entertainment one gets from seeing your own situation, and your own language, and your own struggle onscreen is a very powerful thing... If we dont tell our own stories, no one else will.
Familiar words to all of you Im sure, given ongoing discussions we have on this site about doing just that - taking control of *our* images and stories, and countering those rather limited depictions of *us* created by others.
Nair hopes to produce what she calls a top-flight local cinema culture, in a region with a vibrant oral storytelling tradition, but with few opportunities to translate those stories into film, and with few institutions offering formal technical training. You can say the same thing about a number of other African countries.
But we can only assume that its with that same motivation and passion that Nair will tackle Phiona Mutesis story on film, with Lupita Nyongo now attached to star as the teenage prodigy.
No ETA on the project yet, but Im definitely anxious to see what Ms Nair and Nyongo are cooking up here. I smell what could be another potential Oscar nomination (and maybe even win) for the actress. It reads like that kind of project. And with Disneys backing, Im assuming it wont go unnoticed.
With a lucrative, long-term Lanc me contract inked, Lupita is very likely not struggling for cash right now, and so, can probably afford to be picky about the projects she decides to take on. And so far, one could say she has. She certainly couldve parlayed her Oscar win into a myriad of roles, in a million movies (Id like to believe shes been offered quite a few roles since 12 Years a Slave); but shes been selective in terms of projects and filmmakers she works with. As of right now, we know she has a role in the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII, although what character she plays is being kept a secret, despite all the rumors and speculation. Its a super high-profile movie, based on the super high-profile and almost universally-known and loved franchise, directed by a high-profile director in J.J. Abrams, that will only expose her to an even broader audience. Shes also developing an adaptation of another novel, by a celebrate, quite popular author and speaker in Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, titled Americanah, which shell also star in, with Brad Pitts backing, via his production company; and now theres this project with an acclaimed, veteran filmmaker with international recognition, in Mira Nair.
http://blogs.indiewire.com
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
23/04/2024
Entitled Our Creative Future, the manifesto calls for radical new action' t...
23/04/2024
The company has secured investment from private equity firm PAI Partners, which also holds a stake in outside broadcasting company EMG
By Jenny Priestley
Pub...
23/04/2024
Cameron also said he recognised Marlow as a potential UK and European base for his new company, LIGHTSTORM 3D
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024 ...
23/04/2024
The five categories cover Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere, Social Impact and Environment & Sustainability
By Matthew Corrigan
Publ...
23/04/2024
He played a central role in securing key broadcast rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024
He pla...
23/04/2024
IBC is preparing to honour the highest achievements in technological innovation and social impact with the launch of its prestigious IBC2024 Innovation Awards, ...
23/04/2024
BREA, Calif. Bolin Technology is integrating Network Device Interface (NDI) across its product line, bringing support for the latest NDI technologies to its PTZ...
23/04/2024
WYOMISSING, Pa. PENN Entertainment has announced that longtime Disney and ESPN executive Aaron LaBerge has been named chief technology officer effective July 1,...
23/04/2024
In response to an FCC ruling in March proposing a $1.2 million fine against Nexstar and a ruling that Mission Broadcasting sell WPIX, Nexstar has filled a respo...
23/04/2024
Sony has announced new details about how the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is using Sony's Ci Media Cloud platform to streamline its workflows and spe...
23/04/2024
Esports' rapid rise to popularity can be attributed to many factors, from technological advancements that have enhanced the quality of modern gaming experie...
23/04/2024
OpenDrives, Inc., the global provider of software-defined media workflow solutions and data management capabilities, has been selected as a winner in the 2024 N...
23/04/2024
BCNEXXT is pleased to announce that Vpe has won the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year Award in the Asset Management, Automation and Playout category. The offici...
23/04/2024
Gravity Media, a world leading global provider of complex live creative production and media services, today outlined the broadcast technology and television pr...
23/04/2024
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage for the AI era, today announced the appointment of Peter Brennan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Scality...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K and ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K switchers, two new Ultra HD models of the ATEM Constellation famil...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 12G, the newest model in the Videohub 12G router family. The massive Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 1...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced new lower prices for Blackmagic Video Assist 3G and 12G models. Customers can save US$200 on all models. These lower prices ma...
23/04/2024
Adder Technology continues to shine brightly, with its groundbreaking product, the ADDERLink INFINITY 3000 (ALIF3000), once again taking center stage. Hot on t...
23/04/2024
Pliant Technologies' CRP-C12 Compact Radio Pack is an Audio Production, Processing and Networking category winner in the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year A...
23/04/2024
SipRadius, the specialists in live media transport and transcoding, will showcase their world-leading implementation of AV1 and JPEG-XS over transport streams a...
23/04/2024
Composer Rafael Krux has added a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 modular conversion system to his production studio where he creates music for commercials, trailers, ...
23/04/2024
PMC proudly provides the ultimate large-scale Dolby Atmos audio system for the legendary musician Steven Wilson at the High End, Munich. He will share his exten...
23/04/2024
Particles emitting from a 3D rotating shape's edge
Graham Quince April 22, 2024
0 Comments
In Fixin' FX, people send me their problematic proj...
23/04/2024
Hollyland Technology Announces a New Line of Video Transmitters: Introducing the...
23/04/2024
Charlotte Deleste, anchor at WISC Madison, Wisconsin, is leaving the station. Her final day on the air is April 24. Deleste has spent 18 years there....
23/04/2024
Top WNBA draft choice Caitlin Clark will appear on local broadcast for 17 games next season in a deal between Tegna and the Indiana Fever....
23/04/2024
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
We thank TK for his leadership and dedication to our customers' success. We wish him well on his retirement, said Yannick ...
23/04/2024
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
On April 23rd 2024, Thales, the German Navy and German military procurement agency, BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipm...
22/04/2024
22 April 2024 - Award-winning broadcaster UKTV has today announced it has invested in the award-winning online care marketplace, Elder, using its multi-million ...
22/04/2024
It's a beautiful day to be a Swiftie. On April 19, Taylor Swift dropped her ...
22/04/2024
SBS marks Earth Day with Australian TV milestone as The Cook Up with Adam Liaw b...
22/04/2024
In this video, LEE Filters ambassador Jordan Banks ventures into Snowdonia National Park in Wales. Faced with less-than-ideal weather conditions, he adapts his ...
22/04/2024
The Nexstar Media Group has decided not to renew affiliation agreements for The CW broadcast network with stations owned by Scripps in seven markets....
22/04/2024
INDIANAPOLIS and Tysons, Va. In the wake of record viewing levels for the NCAA Women's Championship games, Tegna has announced that it has signed an agreeme...
22/04/2024
Digital Domain Unveils Masquerade3 : Revolutionary Markerless Facial Motion Cap...
22/04/2024
Pixotope brings the power of Unreal Engine to automated and news broadcast graph...
22/04/2024
Brand New Color Slice tool in DaVinci Resolve 19!
Kasia Jarco April 22, 2024
0 Comments
In this video i would like to show you the newest Color Slice ...
22/04/2024
Apple Motion's Best-Kept Secret
Simon Ubsdell April 22, 2024
0 Comments
A seriously useful technique that I have employed in many of my tutorials ...
22/04/2024
After Thursday night's sneak peek, the National Academy of Television Arts a...
22/04/2024
Nexstar Media Group said it does not intend to renew the affiliations of The CW stations owned by the E.W. Scripps Co. in seven markets....
22/04/2024
The Chameleon solution provides access to real-time data from a range of sources, enabling users to construct tickers, L-bars, snipes, web widgets and full fram...
22/04/2024
TVBEuropes editor Jenny Priestley highlights some of the main talking points at this years NAB Show
By Jenny Priestley
Published: April 22, 2024
TVBEurope...
22/04/2024
WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Brian Shrader made a big announcement on Friday, April 19, 2024. After 16 years as morning traffic anchor, Shrader will be moving to ...
22/04/2024
Prime Video has ordered a second season of Fallout. The show, based on a videogame and set 200 years after the apocalypse, comes from Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Jo...
22/04/2024
CBS News and Stations debuts a multi-part investigation called Anything For Love: Inside the Romance Scam Epidemic Sunday, April 21. Airing across CBS News and ...
A revelation from revered director Mira Nair, that one of the stars of McQueens Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave Lupita Nyongo will star in Nairs next film, which will be based on the book Queen of Katwe, by Tim Crothers.
