Lets All Watch Love & Basketball, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/movies/love-basketball-sanaa-lathan-omar-epps.html. It was a situation where Gina [Prince-Bythewood], the director, did not want an actress who could play basketball. Tamani: [laughs] That is exactly how I felt. She was recognized off-Broadway and on the Los Angeles stage. Terrell Owens, an American Football wide receiver (2006), Steve Rifkind, an American music entrepreneur (2009-2010), French Montana, an American rapper (2013), Do Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps have a child together? Then a bright star came into view. The two dated in the year 2006. (My partner-in-cinema, A.O. She was hugely inspirational in that way, to see such a strong woman, a strong girl. The movie tells the story of Monica Wright, played by Sanaa Lathan, and Quincy McCall, Omar Epps, two neighbors who grow up next to each other, first as friends, sometimes as enemies and competitors on the basketball court, who over time start to see each other in new ways. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. So it is very important to me that my daughter not have that fear. Percy: One of the reasons why its so sincere. It took me there. They were giving the basketball players acting coaches.. The whole song theyre very, very intentional with the music, and it was a beautiful thing to experience, for sure. You have reached your limit of free articles. What is Sanaa Lathans net worth? Didnt curse, drink or smoke. Ive worked really hard, Percy: Is it like, Do we all have this, as women? Percy: It is, and when its also coupled and I dont know if this was your experience, but for me it was also coupled with how to be a woman. I love that. Epps, now 41, and Lathan, now 43, led the romantic drama as childhood sweethearts Quincy McCall and Monica Wright, respectively. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Tamani: No, its very unrealistic. I didnt know what I wanted my future to look like. Tamani: But its hard when it gets embedded in you, in a sense, when your early self is constructed around it. Its about figuring out who you are and who you want to be at the core. And she does this through the character of Monica. Percy: So Im curious, as we end our conversation Im sure youve seen this movie many more times since that first time. They dated from 1985 till 1996. New Line Cinema/Everett Collection. The decision made last Friday by four-star center Lathan Sommerville is significant for Rutgers in that it solidifies the best recruiting class in program history. Check out this article to know more about her age, height, net worth, children, marriage and career. She also runs her own foundation The actress Tamani: I would say, now that Im a writer, I have an appreciation for Gina Prince-Bythewood as an artist, as a storyteller. HEAD BACK TO THE BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM HOMEPAGE, 'Snowfall' Withdrawal: See The Original Actors That John Singleton Casted, Prom Rundown: Erica Dixon And Tammy Riveras Daughters Nailed Their Prom Looks, The Fall Of Franklin: 'Snowfall' Finale Told Its Best Life Lesson With Lead Star's Demise, North Carolina Police Investigating Viral Fight Between Student and Substitute Teacher, Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who Weve Lost In 2023, Janet Jackson & Jermaine Dupri Get Touchy Backstage of ATL Concert [Video], Simone Biles Marries Houston Texans Jonathan Owens, Bitter Twitter Arrives With Hate, Protect Our Recipes: Black Twitter Forms Like Voltron To Keep Oxtail Out of Colonizers Freezers. Percy: Liara Tamani is a writer and proud Harvard Law School dropout. OK. It was like she was showing me parts of myself Id forgotten about, ignored or maybe never knew were there. Is this just our lot? Shes living a life of her own, one she created. Truth always rings. Her typical diet plan is as follows . I just took the movie in, the first time I saw it. And along the way, the things that I tried on, I still incorporate them in my life. But even with that, the overall message of the movie is that she falls in love, and she is loved, just for who she is, not because of this kind of way of showcasing femininity. Gabrielle Union and Sanaa Lathan Reunite 15 Years After Love & Basketball and Haven't Aged a DaySee the Pics! But her vision of herself as a ball player holds strong. She gets to the point where she makes this decision with me, but I felt like the default.. Yes. The "Love and Basketball" star. Were Sanaa Lathan and Regina Hall in a relationship? She has her career, and she has her family, and she has her man supporting her. Now I write books for young adults. Finally I demanded that if you want me to continue, youll have to get me a basketball coach. Im gonna be the first girl in the NBA, she says. All Rights Reserved. The comedy-drama The Best Man became one of the top ten highest-grossing African Americans with Sanaa in the film, together with Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau Jr., and Morris Chestnut films in history. They start to fall in love with each other. Its just like you ended your essay, because you said in your essay, Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. The songs you heard in this episode were Love and Happiness by Al Green, courtesy of Hi Records, Candy Girl by New Edition, courtesy of Warlock Records, and Soul Sista by Bilal, courtesy of Interscope Records. Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. Well, Im very excited, as I told you, to be here talking about a movie that I love, Love & Basketball. Prince-Bythewood: We'd go back and forth on the lot. And Sanaa looked great in the movie and she could do things really well, like dribbling [two] basketballs at the same time. Lathan: That two-ball scene that I'm in -- one of my bones to pick with Gina is that she put it in a silhouette. And because of that people don't think it's really me. And I was just at that point where this motivated me to start doing that. No, she concentrated on building her career first and creating a future for other young black actors. I went on a winding path through the sports and entertainment industries and the interior design field. Some of her notable film credit includes the box-office hit The Best Man and its 2013 sequel, Alien vs. What was the trajectory in your mind, and the steps that led you to ultimately embracing your identity as a writer? And I love what you say here. Warning, Ladies: If You Give These to Omar Epps, Hell Throw Them Out, Who Is Bubba Watson's Wife? It might have crossed my mind to yank my head away from my mother as a child, but I wouldnt have dared. Tamani: You cannot. But youve also become so many other things as part of your identity, including a writer. Co-stars have been best friends for a long time That song played, and I was like, ooh. Co-starring Omar Epps and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the story centers on a young Black couple navigating the challenging worlds of romance and athletics. Id been trying to become a lawyer for so long that I had no idea what I wanted for my future. I was living in Cambridge, in my first year at Harvard Law School, but I did not want to be a lawyer. But then, who is gonna drop out of law school? It was her baby, and it was her first time directing. Anyone can read what you share. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan in 'Love & Basketball'. Percy: Oh, I so relate to that. But at the end of the movie, Monicas running onto the court in a Los Angeles Sparks uniform with Quincy cheering her on from the sidelines. Its drama; its the movie. We bonded quickly thereafter. I dont know!, Tamani: But I think its part of the human condition. #doubleornothing., Years later, the Shots Fired star says there was a powerful lesson throughout all of this, stating, Even at this stage of my career, I know at every level, you know, some of the most famous people in the world youre dealing with, not only having to prove yourself over and over again, but you are dealing with being rejected, but I dont see it as rejection anymore., She added, I see these opportunities as experiences to see if its something that fits me. It Changed My Whole Life very appropriate title. And my first year of law school, its like youre out of college, and youre at that point where youre like, OK, this is not playtime anymore, [laughs] I felt like. And its one of the reasons why, no matter what the dialogue is, she just brings such depth to it. Though most people who watchLove and Basketballsee it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the 47-year-old actress said shooting the project was a miserable experience. Though most people who watch Love and Basketball see it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the This site uses cookies to serve you better. But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. But then I also taught yoga. The story of April Bowlby, PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Kenyas #1 news app. You always feel it. And I had a mentor, a female mentor, a Black woman who really helped me back then with my kind of transition as an actress into the business. The team behind This Movie Changed Me is: Gautam Srikishan, Chris Heagle, Eddie Gonzalez, Lilian Vo, Christiane Wartell, Tony Liu, and Kristin Lin. Its important to be able to stand in the truth of yourself and to be able to fight for that, even when its unpopular or other people disagree with you. Its like: Me, or basketball, which is what he was asking her at the time. When have we seen that since? The free parts. Thats the thing, because Monica has to stand alone in herself many a time, when people dont believe in her. She is best pals with actressRegina Hall. I went to church. Released in 2000, it stars Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as childhood friends turned young adults bound by feelings for each other and a shared passion for basketball. Tamani: Some of my favorite scenes I definitely love the first-kiss scene when theyre kids, [laughs] when Quincy decides to ask Monica to be his girlfriend, and then they count to five well, he counts to five on his hand while they kiss. Text RICKEY to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. No, in life, in real life for most of us, its just putting one foot in front of the other and taking one step and then another toward the things you love, in the direction of the things you love. She tries to take regular breaks from social media. As one of my prophets, Roger Ebert, famously said, Ill see you at the movies., [music: Love and Happiness by Al green]. Through my novels, I hope to pass on the same message that Love & Basketball gifted me with 20 years ago: feel free to be yourself and create the life you want. I worked for an interior design company. Tamani: Exactly. Im still working to be free, still learning how to live outside of fear as I shape my professional space as an author. Its just going in the direction of things you love, youll discover things about yourself. What is Sanaa Lathans ethnicity? And so seeing Monica, who from the very beginning of the movie, she knows what she wants, and she is strong and aggressive, and she is about going after it no matter what anybody else has to say about it. But what was I supposed to do, drop out and find myself? Its not the only thing. Thats freedom. I did what I was told. Sanaa Lathan (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America) *Sanaa Lathan has revealed that she almost turned down the role of Monica in 2000s [laughs] Its funny now, but it wasnt, then. In order to maintain a calm and level-headed state of mind, she practicesTranscendental Meditation for 20 minutes on a daily basis. Tamani: Shes new to the neighborhood, yeah. I distinctly remember at the end, after seeing that, I felt like, literally when she turned around and looked at Quincy and their child, I almost felt like she was reaching through the screen, asking me, So what you bout to do? [laughs] Like, I got here, so what you bout to do? Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. There wasnt a lot of joy, and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Percy: I know. But 20 years ago, watching this movie, I knew I had to have the guts to find out. But the gray gloominess that hung over New England was becoming hard to distinguish from the gloom I felt in myself. I had a dance background, but I had never picked up a basketball. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What song would we cue up right here for you? The native New Yorker has appeared in several cult classics, but after what seemed to be a difference in creative direction, Lathan revealed that she almost gave up on the role L&B altogether. Sanaa has appeared in numerous films and television series, taking great acting and voicing roles. And that was a beautiful and inspiring thing. The two were co-casts and dated during the filming of Love & Basketball. It feels so right that we end this podcast by talking about a movie that I love dearly, Love & Basketball, with the wonderful writer Liara Tamani. And, depending on how things pan out, it might be the top recruiting class in the nation. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. I was uncomfortable inside hersad, confused and anxious. I was miserable [laughs]. Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps) are sometimes friends, enemies, lovers, and competitors. Producers of the film also wanted a real basketball player to play the female lead. Lathan later dated high-profile men, including: Jessica Tarlov: husband, family, nationality, books, Fox News. She has a bachelors degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley and a drama masters degree from the Yale University School of Drama. Sanaa Lathans age is 50 years old as of todays date 18th January 2022 having been born on 19 September 1971. Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else, so there wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Other things in my life at the time just the misery, too [laughs] was making me feel like that. Growing up, she took part in gymnastics and dance and also indulged in performing arts and athletics. 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks produced Love & Basketball, and the clips you heard in this episode are credited entirely to them. Through her social media, Sanaa has done endorsement work for several brands such as . And I was starting to get this terrifying sense that if I stayed in law school, I could get trapped in her the rest of my life.. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. And then what you experienced was really personal. I got this. And each scene unfolds the movie opens up and the kids are there, and she walks over and wants to play ball with her neighbors. Desperate to stop her, he shoves her into the grass. And theres a line in the movie that I feel like summarizes so much of what weve been talking about, when she says, When youre a kid, you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that its not gonna turn out that way. And again, I dont think anyone else delivering that line wouldve been able to give it the depth that she does; its just so much who Sanaa Lathan is. For me, I cant go any further without just talking about Sanaa Lathan, who I absolutely love. Learn how your comment data is processed. Despite being in many relationships, Lathan is still single. The free parts. When he watches it now, he finds new lessons on parenthood in the relationship between Selena and her father, played by Edward James Olmos. Liara Tamani is the author of the acclaimed Calling My Name, which was a 2018 PEN America Literary Award Finalist and SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist, and All the Things We Never Knew, which was a 2020 Kirkus Best YA Book of the Year. Tamani: Yeah what I was not ready for was the gem hiding inside of that romance. And even seeing this movie, theres the way in which she always knew she wanted to be a basketball player. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. She went straight to 7th grade after she completed her 5th grade. Percy: I love that. The entertainment industry has continued to be among the best paying industries. Co-starring Omar Epps Sitting in the Harvard Square movie theater, between two of my girls from class, I watched Monica Wright roll up on her new neighbor and his friends playing basketball and ask if she could join. Company Credits But its so basic, you know? Tzi Ma Talks, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Sanaa had been exposed to celebrities and entertainment since her childhood years as both her parents are well-known in the entertainment industry. Percy: Yeah, and one of the things that the movie shows, which honestly Im your same age, and so I saw the movie and had this very all I focused on was the love story, at the time. Watch Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan in the famously steamy scene from their 2000 romance film. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. I was uncomfortable inside her sad, confused and anxious. Actress: Alien vs. Pay attention: Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! Thats already stressful enough, without the added pressures that their parents bring. Gina Prince-Bythewood made a modern classic with Love & Basketball (2000) Official Trailer - Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps Basketball Movie HD. WebMonica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have wanted to be professional basketball stars since they were kids. After that, she went on to study acting under the careful guidance of professional acting teacher Earle R. Gister. And thats a part of her recognizing her worth and recognizing the importance of her dreams, part of knowing where she wants to go and how important it is for her to get there a huge part of her character that Gina Prince-Bythewood wrote. And she has to go through it. And I soon found out and soon realized that she really wasnt wanting to hire me. The 49-year-old said she It was a big deal for her, and nobody knows me then, really. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2021. ^ "Succession actress Sanaa Lathans On The Come Up to debut at TIFF". Toronto Star, July 13, 2022. ^ Rowles, Dustin (November 21, 2014). " 'Imagine' Gets the Star-Studded 'We Are The World' Treatment for UNICEF". Pajiba. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021. Awards and nominations On top of that, Quincy will be playing there, too. And I know that the things that I do get were mine, and always mine., Your email address will not be published. Yes, she dated and married Shemar Moore, an American actor and former. And I wonder how Prince-Bythewoods filmmaking changed. It could be a plaything, oh, deciding youre gonna study this or this. The romantic drama starred Omar Epps as hotshot basketball player Quincy McCall and Sanaa Lathan as his feisty girlfriend Monica Wright, who loves the sport as much as he does. Were gonna do what you need, she says, No. Throughout the movie, its song after song.
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Lets All Watch Love & Basketball, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/movies/love-basketball-sanaa-lathan-omar-epps.html. It was a situation where Gina [Prince-Bythewood], the director, did not want an actress who could play basketball. Tamani: [laughs] That is exactly how I felt. She was recognized off-Broadway and on the Los Angeles stage. Terrell Owens, an American Football wide receiver (2006), Steve Rifkind, an American music entrepreneur (2009-2010), French Montana, an American rapper (2013), Do Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps have a child together? Then a bright star came into view. The two dated in the year 2006. (My partner-in-cinema, A.O. She was hugely inspirational in that way, to see such a strong woman, a strong girl. The movie tells the story of Monica Wright, played by Sanaa Lathan, and Quincy McCall, Omar Epps, two neighbors who grow up next to each other, first as friends, sometimes as enemies and competitors on the basketball court, who over time start to see each other in new ways. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. So it is very important to me that my daughter not have that fear. Percy: One of the reasons why its so sincere. It took me there. They were giving the basketball players acting coaches.. The whole song theyre very, very intentional with the music, and it was a beautiful thing to experience, for sure. You have reached your limit of free articles. What is Sanaa Lathans net worth? Didnt curse, drink or smoke. Ive worked really hard, Percy: Is it like, Do we all have this, as women? Percy: It is, and when its also coupled and I dont know if this was your experience, but for me it was also coupled with how to be a woman. I love that. Epps, now 41, and Lathan, now 43, led the romantic drama as childhood sweethearts Quincy McCall and Monica Wright, respectively. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Tamani: No, its very unrealistic. I didnt know what I wanted my future to look like. Tamani: But its hard when it gets embedded in you, in a sense, when your early self is constructed around it. Its about figuring out who you are and who you want to be at the core. And she does this through the character of Monica. Percy: So Im curious, as we end our conversation Im sure youve seen this movie many more times since that first time. They dated from 1985 till 1996. New Line Cinema/Everett Collection. The decision made last Friday by four-star center Lathan Sommerville is significant for Rutgers in that it solidifies the best recruiting class in program history. Check out this article to know more about her age, height, net worth, children, marriage and career. She also runs her own foundation The actress Tamani: I would say, now that Im a writer, I have an appreciation for Gina Prince-Bythewood as an artist, as a storyteller. HEAD BACK TO THE BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM HOMEPAGE, 'Snowfall' Withdrawal: See The Original Actors That John Singleton Casted, Prom Rundown: Erica Dixon And Tammy Riveras Daughters Nailed Their Prom Looks, The Fall Of Franklin: 'Snowfall' Finale Told Its Best Life Lesson With Lead Star's Demise, North Carolina Police Investigating Viral Fight Between Student and Substitute Teacher, Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who Weve Lost In 2023, Janet Jackson & Jermaine Dupri Get Touchy Backstage of ATL Concert [Video], Simone Biles Marries Houston Texans Jonathan Owens, Bitter Twitter Arrives With Hate, Protect Our Recipes: Black Twitter Forms Like Voltron To Keep Oxtail Out of Colonizers Freezers. Percy: Liara Tamani is a writer and proud Harvard Law School dropout. OK. It was like she was showing me parts of myself Id forgotten about, ignored or maybe never knew were there. Is this just our lot? Shes living a life of her own, one she created. Truth always rings. Her typical diet plan is as follows . I just took the movie in, the first time I saw it. And along the way, the things that I tried on, I still incorporate them in my life. But even with that, the overall message of the movie is that she falls in love, and she is loved, just for who she is, not because of this kind of way of showcasing femininity. Gabrielle Union and Sanaa Lathan Reunite 15 Years After Love & Basketball and Haven't Aged a DaySee the Pics! But her vision of herself as a ball player holds strong. She gets to the point where she makes this decision with me, but I felt like the default.. Yes. The "Love and Basketball" star. Were Sanaa Lathan and Regina Hall in a relationship? She has her career, and she has her family, and she has her man supporting her. Now I write books for young adults. Finally I demanded that if you want me to continue, youll have to get me a basketball coach. Im gonna be the first girl in the NBA, she says. All Rights Reserved. The comedy-drama The Best Man became one of the top ten highest-grossing African Americans with Sanaa in the film, together with Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau Jr., and Morris Chestnut films in history. They start to fall in love with each other. Its just like you ended your essay, because you said in your essay, Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. The songs you heard in this episode were Love and Happiness by Al Green, courtesy of Hi Records, Candy Girl by New Edition, courtesy of Warlock Records, and Soul Sista by Bilal, courtesy of Interscope Records. Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. Well, Im very excited, as I told you, to be here talking about a movie that I love, Love & Basketball. Prince-Bythewood: We'd go back and forth on the lot. And Sanaa looked great in the movie and she could do things really well, like dribbling [two] basketballs at the same time. Lathan: That two-ball scene that I'm in -- one of my bones to pick with Gina is that she put it in a silhouette. And because of that people don't think it's really me. And I was just at that point where this motivated me to start doing that. No, she concentrated on building her career first and creating a future for other young black actors. I went on a winding path through the sports and entertainment industries and the interior design field. Some of her notable film credit includes the box-office hit The Best Man and its 2013 sequel, Alien vs. What was the trajectory in your mind, and the steps that led you to ultimately embracing your identity as a writer? And I love what you say here. Warning, Ladies: If You Give These to Omar Epps, Hell Throw Them Out, Who Is Bubba Watson's Wife? It might have crossed my mind to yank my head away from my mother as a child, but I wouldnt have dared. Tamani: You cannot. But youve also become so many other things as part of your identity, including a writer. Co-stars have been best friends for a long time That song played, and I was like, ooh. Co-starring Omar Epps and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the story centers on a young Black couple navigating the challenging worlds of romance and athletics. Id been trying to become a lawyer for so long that I had no idea what I wanted for my future. I was living in Cambridge, in my first year at Harvard Law School, but I did not want to be a lawyer. But then, who is gonna drop out of law school? It was her baby, and it was her first time directing. Anyone can read what you share. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan in 'Love & Basketball'. Percy: Oh, I so relate to that. But at the end of the movie, Monicas running onto the court in a Los Angeles Sparks uniform with Quincy cheering her on from the sidelines. Its drama; its the movie. We bonded quickly thereafter. I dont know!, Tamani: But I think its part of the human condition. #doubleornothing., Years later, the Shots Fired star says there was a powerful lesson throughout all of this, stating, Even at this stage of my career, I know at every level, you know, some of the most famous people in the world youre dealing with, not only having to prove yourself over and over again, but you are dealing with being rejected, but I dont see it as rejection anymore., She added, I see these opportunities as experiences to see if its something that fits me. It Changed My Whole Life very appropriate title. And my first year of law school, its like youre out of college, and youre at that point where youre like, OK, this is not playtime anymore, [laughs] I felt like. And its one of the reasons why, no matter what the dialogue is, she just brings such depth to it. Though most people who watchLove and Basketballsee it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the 47-year-old actress said shooting the project was a miserable experience. Though most people who watch Love and Basketball see it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the This site uses cookies to serve you better. But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. But then I also taught yoga. The story of April Bowlby, PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Kenyas #1 news app. You always feel it. And I had a mentor, a female mentor, a Black woman who really helped me back then with my kind of transition as an actress into the business. The team behind This Movie Changed Me is: Gautam Srikishan, Chris Heagle, Eddie Gonzalez, Lilian Vo, Christiane Wartell, Tony Liu, and Kristin Lin. Its important to be able to stand in the truth of yourself and to be able to fight for that, even when its unpopular or other people disagree with you. Its like: Me, or basketball, which is what he was asking her at the time. When have we seen that since? The free parts. Thats the thing, because Monica has to stand alone in herself many a time, when people dont believe in her. She is best pals with actressRegina Hall. I went to church. Released in 2000, it stars Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as childhood friends turned young adults bound by feelings for each other and a shared passion for basketball. Tamani: Some of my favorite scenes I definitely love the first-kiss scene when theyre kids, [laughs] when Quincy decides to ask Monica to be his girlfriend, and then they count to five well, he counts to five on his hand while they kiss. Text RICKEY to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. No, in life, in real life for most of us, its just putting one foot in front of the other and taking one step and then another toward the things you love, in the direction of the things you love. She tries to take regular breaks from social media. As one of my prophets, Roger Ebert, famously said, Ill see you at the movies., [music: Love and Happiness by Al green]. Through my novels, I hope to pass on the same message that Love & Basketball gifted me with 20 years ago: feel free to be yourself and create the life you want. I worked for an interior design company. Tamani: Exactly. Im still working to be free, still learning how to live outside of fear as I shape my professional space as an author. Its just going in the direction of things you love, youll discover things about yourself. What is Sanaa Lathans ethnicity? And so seeing Monica, who from the very beginning of the movie, she knows what she wants, and she is strong and aggressive, and she is about going after it no matter what anybody else has to say about it. But what was I supposed to do, drop out and find myself? Its not the only thing. Thats freedom. I did what I was told. Sanaa Lathan (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America) *Sanaa Lathan has revealed that she almost turned down the role of Monica in 2000s [laughs] Its funny now, but it wasnt, then. In order to maintain a calm and level-headed state of mind, she practicesTranscendental Meditation for 20 minutes on a daily basis. Tamani: Shes new to the neighborhood, yeah. I distinctly remember at the end, after seeing that, I felt like, literally when she turned around and looked at Quincy and their child, I almost felt like she was reaching through the screen, asking me, So what you bout to do? [laughs] Like, I got here, so what you bout to do? Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. There wasnt a lot of joy, and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Percy: I know. But 20 years ago, watching this movie, I knew I had to have the guts to find out. But the gray gloominess that hung over New England was becoming hard to distinguish from the gloom I felt in myself. I had a dance background, but I had never picked up a basketball. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What song would we cue up right here for you? The native New Yorker has appeared in several cult classics, but after what seemed to be a difference in creative direction, Lathan revealed that she almost gave up on the role L&B altogether. Sanaa has appeared in numerous films and television series, taking great acting and voicing roles. And that was a beautiful and inspiring thing. The two were co-casts and dated during the filming of Love & Basketball. It feels so right that we end this podcast by talking about a movie that I love dearly, Love & Basketball, with the wonderful writer Liara Tamani. And, depending on how things pan out, it might be the top recruiting class in the nation. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. I was uncomfortable inside hersad, confused and anxious. I was miserable [laughs]. Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps) are sometimes friends, enemies, lovers, and competitors. Producers of the film also wanted a real basketball player to play the female lead. Lathan later dated high-profile men, including: Jessica Tarlov: husband, family, nationality, books, Fox News. She has a bachelors degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley and a drama masters degree from the Yale University School of Drama. Sanaa Lathans age is 50 years old as of todays date 18th January 2022 having been born on 19 September 1971. Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else, so there wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Other things in my life at the time just the misery, too [laughs] was making me feel like that. Growing up, she took part in gymnastics and dance and also indulged in performing arts and athletics. 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks produced Love & Basketball, and the clips you heard in this episode are credited entirely to them. Through her social media, Sanaa has done endorsement work for several brands such as . And I was starting to get this terrifying sense that if I stayed in law school, I could get trapped in her the rest of my life.. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. And then what you experienced was really personal. I got this. And each scene unfolds the movie opens up and the kids are there, and she walks over and wants to play ball with her neighbors. Desperate to stop her, he shoves her into the grass. And theres a line in the movie that I feel like summarizes so much of what weve been talking about, when she says, When youre a kid, you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that its not gonna turn out that way. And again, I dont think anyone else delivering that line wouldve been able to give it the depth that she does; its just so much who Sanaa Lathan is. For me, I cant go any further without just talking about Sanaa Lathan, who I absolutely love. Learn how your comment data is processed. Despite being in many relationships, Lathan is still single. The free parts. When he watches it now, he finds new lessons on parenthood in the relationship between Selena and her father, played by Edward James Olmos. Liara Tamani is the author of the acclaimed Calling My Name, which was a 2018 PEN America Literary Award Finalist and SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist, and All the Things We Never Knew, which was a 2020 Kirkus Best YA Book of the Year. Tamani: Yeah what I was not ready for was the gem hiding inside of that romance. And even seeing this movie, theres the way in which she always knew she wanted to be a basketball player. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. She went straight to 7th grade after she completed her 5th grade. Percy: I love that. The entertainment industry has continued to be among the best paying industries. Co-starring Omar Epps Sitting in the Harvard Square movie theater, between two of my girls from class, I watched Monica Wright roll up on her new neighbor and his friends playing basketball and ask if she could join. Company Credits But its so basic, you know? Tzi Ma Talks, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Sanaa had been exposed to celebrities and entertainment since her childhood years as both her parents are well-known in the entertainment industry. Percy: Yeah, and one of the things that the movie shows, which honestly Im your same age, and so I saw the movie and had this very all I focused on was the love story, at the time. Watch Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan in the famously steamy scene from their 2000 romance film. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. I was uncomfortable inside her sad, confused and anxious. Actress: Alien vs. Pay attention: Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! Thats already stressful enough, without the added pressures that their parents bring. Gina Prince-Bythewood made a modern classic with Love & Basketball (2000) Official Trailer - Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps Basketball Movie HD. WebMonica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have wanted to be professional basketball stars since they were kids. After that, she went on to study acting under the careful guidance of professional acting teacher Earle R. Gister. And thats a part of her recognizing her worth and recognizing the importance of her dreams, part of knowing where she wants to go and how important it is for her to get there a huge part of her character that Gina Prince-Bythewood wrote. And she has to go through it. And I soon found out and soon realized that she really wasnt wanting to hire me. The 49-year-old said she It was a big deal for her, and nobody knows me then, really. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2021. ^ "Succession actress Sanaa Lathans On The Come Up to debut at TIFF". Toronto Star, July 13, 2022. ^ Rowles, Dustin (November 21, 2014). " 'Imagine' Gets the Star-Studded 'We Are The World' Treatment for UNICEF". Pajiba. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021. Awards and nominations On top of that, Quincy will be playing there, too. And I know that the things that I do get were mine, and always mine., Your email address will not be published. Yes, she dated and married Shemar Moore, an American actor and former. And I wonder how Prince-Bythewoods filmmaking changed. It could be a plaything, oh, deciding youre gonna study this or this. The romantic drama starred Omar Epps as hotshot basketball player Quincy McCall and Sanaa Lathan as his feisty girlfriend Monica Wright, who loves the sport as much as he does. Were gonna do what you need, she says, No. Throughout the movie, its song after song. Inmate Lookup Puerto Rico,
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