BV Buzz 01.17.05
By Jawn Murray, AOL BlackVoices columnist
Foxy Matters
Ask Vivica A. Fox how she feels about life right now and she sounds like the McDonald's theme song. "I'm loving it," says Fox, who happens to be one of Hollywood's busiest actresses.
Fox's new film 'Getting Played' has found a home at New Line Cinema. Fox, who both stars in and executive produces the movie, shot the feature in Santa Monica, Calif., early last year. The film follows three beautiful women (Fox, Carmen Electra and Stacey Dash) who have had their share of trouble with men. The trio has some fun by trying to seduce a random target and record the act on video. Problems arise when the target (Bill Bellamy) is in on the joke. Tichina Arnold, Joe Torry, Kathy Najimy, Michael Jai White and comics Earthquake and Sheryl Underwood round out the cast.
Additionally, Fox's version of the 'Beauty Shop' concept is now called 'The Salon,' and the feature will be showcased at this year's Sundance Film Festival. 'The Salon' also stars Kym E. Whitley, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Monica Calhoun, Dondre Whitfield and Garrett Morris.
If that wasn't enough, Fox has a reality series called 'The Starlet' coming to The WB in March. The show features the 'Kill Bill' actress alongside Faye Dunaway and a casting director named Joseph searching for Hollywood's next best actress.
Her Lifetime series 'Missing,' which she also the executive produces, has just been moved to Sunday nights following the network's highest rated drama, 'Strong Medicine.'
Eva The Actress?
'American's Next Top Model' Eva "The Diva" Pigford was apparently an actress before auditioning and winning Tyra Banks' hit UPN reality series. Pigford starred in the Pyramid Pictures release 'The Walk,' a Christian-themed film about a girl who turned her back on her faith and all things associated with it. After getting in trouble with the law, she is forced to do community service, which leads her back to the church.
Pigford stars in the film with former 'Real World: Hawaii' housemate turned actor Teck Holmes and GRAMMY-winning R&B diva Regina Belle.
BV Buzz caught up with Holmes recently, who was ecstatic about Pigford winning the top prize in 'Top Model.' "I'm so glad she won," he exclaimed.
Holmes says that Eva has definitely always been a diva, but in the good sense of the word. "She's the same way now that she was while working on the film," he continued. "Actually, while we were shooting 'The Walk,' my group The Firemen tried to get her to be in our music video for the single, 'Smoke with Me.' She was like, 'How much money y'all got?' "
Having gone from reality television to being a multi-dimensional talent in Hollywood -- he's guest-starred on 'Friends, Half & Half' and in the film 'First Daughter,' and is also a deejay and member of the hip-hip group The Firemen -- has Holmes offered any advice to Pigford?
"I told her to get that paper while she's hot right now. I told her to get some white people, uh, I mean the right people behind her and make it happen," he said.
Dancing Diva
While the media campaign roles out for this year's 'America's Next Top Model' winner Eva, most still can't forget last season's reigning diva Camille McDonald.
The 5-foot-91/2-inch model from Mamaroneck, N.Y., says her portrayal as an emotionless high-strung model on the reality series was not indicative of her true personality.
"The real Camille is an extremely confident, determined young lady who knows what she wants. I think people really bought into the whole story that I was difficult or hard to work with, and I'm not," she told BV Buzz.
McDonald, who is currently featured in print campaigns for Azzure Jeans and Indigo Red, has several new projects on the horizon for 2005.
"I am working on my dancehall exercise video. People always ask me how I keep in shape. Honestly, when I am in my room, I'll put some Elephant Man in when I'm on the treadmill or just dance my way to some fitness. So I decided to put the things I love together -- dancing, reggae music and some exercise," shared McDonald.
She's also contemplating a music career. "I'm not a singer, but I can chant," the model added.
Comeback Kids
R&B veterans Xscape have apparently inked a new deal with Warner Bros. Records and are readying their return to the music scene. The quartet, consisting of original members Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and sisters Tamika and LaTocha Scott, has added a newcomer named Kiesha Miles to the group. XScape's last offering was 1998's 'Traces of My Lipstick.'
Original member Kandi Burruss won't be returning to the group. Burruss has become a successful songwriter and producer -- she's responsible for hits by Destiny's Child ('Bills, Bills, Bills'), TLC ('No Scrubs'), N'Sync ('It Makes Me Ill') -- and even released her own solo album, 'Hey Kandi,' in 2000. The former XScape member has signed a new group to her production company Kandi Koated Entertainment called Eye Candy that she's currently shopping to record labels. Burruss is also working on T-Boz of TLC's solo debut and hip-hoppers Eightball & MJG's upcoming album.
Can't Say Names...
... Sources say that several Hollywood actresses are traveling south of the border to get the bodies they desire. Apparently, the new Tinseltown trend, which has been a favorite of drag queens and transvestites for some time now, is to go get Mexican doctors to illegally inject silicone into the body. Several noted actresses and entertainers now have butts that look like, well, uh, music video queen KiToy Johnson.
Whispers
...Word is out that Q-Tip has signed with Motown Records, but I hear he's not the only one joining the roster of the famed label. Sources say that Tamia, Pras of The Fugees, '106 & Park' host Free and Chauncey Hannibal of Blackstreet have all struck solo deals with the label as well. Both Tamia and Free, if the reports pan out, would have followed Sylvia Rhone over to Motown from their previous stints at the defunct Elektra Records.
...Speaking of signings, rumor has it that Sunshine Anderson, known for her hit single 'Heard It All Before' and for being managed by Macy Gray, may be signing with Matthew Knowles' Sanctuary Records. While a rep for the company wouldn't confirm the report, sources say Anderson will soon become labelmates with Sanctuary artists Ray J., Chaka Khan, Glenn Lewis, Jon B. and The O'Jays. ... Bishop T.D. Jakes' 25-year-old son Jamar suffered two heart attacks last month. Jakes had to cancel a sermon in Nigeria to return home to Dallas to help his son recover. The internationally known preacher told The Washington Post: "Above everything we do in ministry, our first call is to our own family. My only wish was for my son to come home. He was all that I wanted for Christmas."
Jan. 17, 2005