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BOBBY BROWN

A 17 minute clip of BET’s upcoming The Bobby Brown Story received rave reviews.  One of the scenes showed Brown insisting on working with Teddy Riley despite his label’s resistance, and another scene showed the fictional Bobby, played by Woody McClain (who also portrayed him in the New Edition movie), telling the fictional Whitney that he had gotten an ex-girlfriend pregnant right at the same time she was pregnant with Bobbi Kristina. Brown was a large presence during ABFF, as he’s also prominently featured in the Whitney doc, although mostly in footage and through the memories of others. He was interviewed for he documentary but doesn’t say much.

(Photo: Mable Ivory)

RYAN COOGLER

The Black Panther director has got to be the most humble person ever to direct a billion dollar film. Among the most touching things he shared in his talk with Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turrner is that he became interested in filmmaking through his close-knit family. Both of his parents were film buffs and his father especially loved the Rocky movies.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 16: ABFF Talks: A Conversation with Ryan Coogler as part of The 2018 American Black Film Festival at The New World Center Miami Beach on Saturday, June 16, 2018, in Miami, FL, USA. (Photo by: Aaron J. / ABFF)

Coogler said that while Sylvester Stallone rejected his first pitch for Creed (before Fruitvale Station came out) he was just happy that Stallone could sign a Rocky DVD for his dad. Coogler also said that his then girlfriend, now wife, Zinzi, believed in him enough to buy him the screenwriting program Final Draft. That has got to be, after Spielberg’s mother buying him a camera, the best investment in film history. Coogler also said his prize money from the ABFF competition helped him get the apartment that he still lives in today.

WHITE PARTY

You know Black folks love a White Party and the one at ABFF never disappoints, as long as DJ DNice is spinning. The venue, Nikki Beach Miami, has multiple levels and bars and seating areas which makes for a combination of ways to enjoy the fun. We spotted Roland Martin, Bobby Brown and his wife Alicia and Miami basketball wife and philanthropist, Tracy Wilson Mourning at the bash. Always a good time.

American Black Film Festival 2018 Recap: ‘Shoot Your Shot’  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

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