TV/Film | Chicago Defender

The TRiiBE’s First Docu-Series “Another Life” Wins Filmmaking Grant

mdatcher - October 18, 2017

New digital media company, The TRiiBE, is one of nine awardees’ of this year’s Chicago Digital Media Production Fund (CDMPF), a project of Voqal...

Lifetime’s New Hit Reality Show "Livin' Large:" You’ve Never Seen Anything Like This

mdatcher - October 6, 2017

Lifetime’s new reality series "Livin' Large" aired Friday, Sept. 22nd at 8 p.m. CST and I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with...

Spotlight: The Stepney’s from Lifetime’s “Livin’ Large”

BJ - September 27, 2017

Marlon Wayans: Real Life Lessons Create Great Stories

mdatcher - September 23, 2017

By Mary L. Datcher Defender Senior Staff Writer | Interviewed by Caryn Lee The Wayans name is a brand associated with big box comedy and has a...

Merle Dandridge: Her Role on OWN’s Hit Drama “Greenleaf” and Love For Theater

mdatcher - September 22, 2017

As the beautiful fresh face of OWN’s television drama “Greenleaf,” Merle Dandridge brings the leading role of Grace Greenleaf to life. As the returning...

Issa Rae first black woman to create and star in a premium cable series

BJ - September 7, 2017

‘I remember seeing a regular black love story and wanting to be a part of that.’ I put up the first episode of The Misadventures...

UIC Graduate Debuts First Narrative Feature Film at Black Harvest Film Festival

mdatcher - August 15, 2017

Nicole Franklin didn’t set out to be a film maker. Originally from St. Louis, when Franklin arrived in Chicago to attend UIC, she had two...

Vh1's "Black Ink Chicago" Stars Ryan Henry and Van Johnson

mdatcher - August 4, 2017

The streets of Chicago are no joke when you are in "survival mode." No one knows this better than South Side natives Ryan Henry...

PROUD MARY: Carefree Black Girls and the Foxy Sistas' Blaxploitation

BJ - July 29, 2017

PROUD MARY: Carefree Black Girls & the Foxy Sistas' Blaxploitation By: KayCee Shakur This week Sony released an extended trailer for their upcoming action film starring Taraji P. Hensen...

A Conversation With the Cast of John Singleton’s “Snowfall”

mdatcher - July 28, 2017

The pool of television dramas is deep and the summer line-up has been steaming up the network competition. The new series that has tongues...