Loretta Devine exemplifies the new era of opportunity for blacks in Hollywood. The star of NBC’s The Carmichael Show won an Emmy in 2011 for Outstanding Guest Actress in Grey’s Anatomy and has appeared in blockbuster films that include Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher’s Wife and For Colored Girls.
Devine has the title role in a new film, Grandma’s House, the faith-based true story written by Kimberley Zulkowski about growing up in the care of her grandmother. Critics have embraced the indie film for its thoughtful and tender approach. Days after its April 2016 release, Devine told Reel Urban News, “I’m excited to hear that it got four stars, that’s so unusual when you produce an independent film.”
Loretta Devine exemplifies the new era of opportunity for blacks in Hollywood. The star of NBC’s The Carmichael Show won an Emmy in 2011 for Outstanding Guest Actress in Grey’s Anatomy and has appeared in blockbuster films that include Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher’s Wife and For Colored Girls.
Devine shared her thoughts about working with the film’s young and talented cast during a time of great progress in Black Hollywood. The veteran actor maintains that new technology will have a positive impact on African Americans’ influence in the media. “It seems that we’re moving into a new day with the internet. People are able to Twitter, Instagram and Periscope and make their own films, put them up on the net – people are trying new things.”
Triple-threat pop star Coco Jones plays opposite Devine as her granddaughter. The young singer-songwriter-actor burst on the scene in the Disney Channel film Let It Shine. “Most of my scenes were with her,” says Devine. “She’s a very young new artist.”
Screenwriter Zulkowski is also the film’s executive producer. Though Grandma’s House was widely released by AMC Theatres, the film did not have national distribution. “When you don’t get total distribution,” says Devine, “I can’t say to my family in Houston, you can go see my film, which makes it hard. However, it opens the door for it to go to Redbox, Netflix and you can recoup all of your finances. And that’s what you want to do – building a well house, you’re able to make a number of movies.”
Devine is resolute that African Americans must create entertainment vehicles that reflect the reality of black lives. “We have to start doing that again.”
