INSIDE HOLLYWOOD with Jasmine Simpkins

Let’s Make A Reel

Whew! It has been a fun-filled few weeks. Eagerly trying to complete my new hosting reel, I covered a ton of events (from the premiere of The Karate Kid, to the A Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival to BET Award events) to get as much footage as possible.

The experience has not only allowed me the opportunity to give you more Hollywood news first-hand, but also reinvigorated my love for TV reporting. I’ve always enjoyed interviewing and doing research to create a great story, but the fast-paced rush of being in-front of the camera adds a fun and exciting element that I haven’t had in a while.

Fact is, after years of working in print journalism and writing entertainment news I got the chance to host an interstitial for the Starz network called “In the Cut” in 2007 and fell in love. For me it’s the perfect way to blend my love for acting and journalism in one. Not to mention the fact that I get to bring people closer to the stars they love and admire.
 

On the carpet I’ve met some great folks like Kevin Fraser, CNN anchor Robin Meade, Chris Balish from ABC’s “On The Red Carpet” and Reginald Rutherford from Extra, industry vets who want to work with me and have been nice enough to give me pointers for completing my reel. I pray it won’t be long before I’ve got a new agent and I’m on another network hosting and reporting all the latest in entertainment news.

In the meantime I plan to keep a camera crew with me as I cover events and post some video on the site (www.lafocusnewspaper.com) so stay tuned for that.

For now, be sure to read my interview with mega-producer Pharrell Williams, who is always a joy to talk to, about scoring the very cool film “Despicable Me”.

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Paula Patton Jumping the Broom?
Though she’s already married to singer Robin Thicke, Paula Patton is in negotiations to play the lead in the Sony film "Jumping the Broom”.  The story is about two African American families from completely different socioeconomic backgrounds who come together at Martha's Vineyard for a wedding. Salim Akil (The Game, Girlfriends) is making his feature film directorial debut with the comedy.  Bishop T.D. Jakes, Tracey Edmonds, Glendon Palmer, Curtis Wallace, and Elizabeth Hunter are producing.  Patton was last seen in the Oscar nominated film, "Precious" and "Just Wright" starring Queen Latifah.

F. Gary Gray to Direct Kane & Lynch
Director F. Gary Gray  is in talks to direct Bruce Willis and Jamie Foxx in the Nu Image/Millennium Films' Kane & Lynch. The film, which is an adaptation of the popular Eidos video game, follows Adam "Kane" Marcus (Willis), a mercenary who makes an unlikely alliance with a schizophrenic killer named James Lynch (Foxx). The duo is forced on a mission to retrieve a stolen microchip. Stunt coordinator and second unit director Simon Crane was directing the project but exited in May due to creative differences. The Lionsgate release was written by Kyle Ward, who is penning Hitman 2, also based on an Eidos game.

Vanessa Williams Moves to Wisteria Lane
An ABC rep confirms that Vanessa Williams has joined the cast of Desperate Housewives. Series creator Marc Cherry previously said that he was looking for a new troublemaker to fill the void left by the demise of Nicollette Sheridan’s Edie. Williams, who played the “queen of mean” Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty, will play Renee Filmore-Jones, an old college rival of Lynette (played by Felicity Huffman). Additionally, Renee comes with a longtime husband, who’s most likely an athlete; no children; and of course, a big ol’ secret. Williams who just wrapped a role in the Broadway musical “Sondheim on Sondheim” is also rumored to be penning her memoirs.

Engaged!
Reps for Zoe Saldana have confirmed to CNN that she and her boyfriend of 10 years are engaged. A source close to the actress, 32, had previously reported the news to Us Weekly, stating, “Zoe is thrilled to tie the knot with boyfriend of 10 years, Keith Britton.” The Avatar star has mostly kept quiet about her relationship with the 33-year-old actor and CEO of My Fashion Database. No details yet  on a wedding date although another source told Us Weekly that Saldana isn't stressing about the wedding and “hasn’t stopped working to plan anything."

Natural Women
Former Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice will be joining forces with the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. On July 27, during her  performance at the Philadelphia's Mann Center for Performing Arts, Rice, a classically trained pianist, will accompany Franklin for her staples 'Say a Little Prayer' and 'Natural Woman’ along with selections from Mozart and more.  “She is a consummate classical pianist, and since I sing the arias, I thought that we could do something, a bipartisan effort for our favorite charities,”  said  Franklin.  Since leaving office, Rice has returned to Stanford University, where she is a professor and the Thomas and Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institute.