(Image: Twitter/CourtneyBVance)

 

Though he’s been acting for more than 30 years, Courtney B. Vance credits his award-winning performance as Johnnie Cochran for the FX series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story with pushing his already successful career to the next level. Now, Vance will be co-starring with Tom Cruise on the big screen in the upcoming summer blockbuster reboot of The Mummy.

In his role as Army Colonel Greenway in The Mummy, Vance is charged and challenged with keeping Cruise’s character, Nick Morton, in line. Shot in various locations, including Oxford, Surrey, and London in the United Kingdom, the film wrapped production in Africa.

 

(Image: Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

 

On Working With Tom Cruise

 

Vance says working with Cruise and the cast of The Mummy has been one of his greatest experiences on set.

“Tom Cruise is one of the most wonderful, kind, and generous men that I’ve ever met,” he says. “He took care of us on the set in London. Everybody had organic food, coffees, and teas—on the set, we didn’t do the traditional lunch and dinner breaks. During the production, there was continuous shooting, but you’re [also] continuously on a break. So, you can go and get an organic pizza slice or organic juice; healthy and organic food is brought on the set all the time. When we went to Namibia to finish the final month of shooting, [Tom] brought that whole [organic food] team out there for the entire time. When your tummy is full—even while shooting for long hours—you feel good.”

 

On His Role in the HBO Film ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’ 

 

(Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO)

 

In Oprah Winfrey’s critically acclaimed HBO movie, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Vance portrays Sir Lord Kennan Kester Cofield, a slick Southern con artist, who perpetrates as a lawyer representing the Lacks family in various legal matters. The film also stars Winfrey, who plays Deborah Lacks, the youngest daughter of Henrietta, and Rose Byrne, who plays Rebecca Skloot, a journalist and author.

Vance says he was grateful that he had the opportunity to be included in this project, and that, after receiving the call from George Wolfe, he made himself available immediately. Wolfe and Vance had previously worked together, when Wolfe directed him in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy. A Broadway play, Vance played the role of James “Hap” Hairston alongside Tom Hanks, who played Mike McAlary. In 2013, Vance earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor because of his portrayal of this character.

“When that man calls me, I jump,” Vance says of Wolfe. “I said, ‘George, I’m so jammed right now, but when do you need me? Tell me where I’m going.’ I had a day or two to get my stuff together and go down there.”

The story of Henrietta Lacks had a profound effect on Vance. “The movie is devastating, because—once again—this is another situation where black folks were experimented on,” he says.“We’ve heard about it time and time again, the most famous being that Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, which was well-documented, but there are others that people don’t know about.”

“The whole world was operating under the fallacy that people of color were inferior,” Vance continues. “It’s interesting that they were getting the blood from black folks, and found out that these cells—these strong, amazing, immortal cells—were from a poor black woman with five kids. Why weren’t they doing it for white people? If we were so inferior, why take blood from us?”

Vance recalls a particular scene with Winfrey, as Deborah Lacks, becomes distraught after discovering what they did to her mother. “I was destroyed. That scene, on the screen, devastated me,” Vance says. “The abuse that our people have taken for so many years [is devestating]. And when the credits roll, and [the audience] realizes that still—to this day—the family has not been compensated in any way, it’s a double tragedy.”

 

Life With Wife Angela Bassett

 

A devoted husband and father, Vance and his wife, actress Angela Bassett, are both experiencing a well-deserved upswing in their careers. However, nothing comes before family. The couple’s twins are now 11-years-old. Together, Vance and Bassett work closely together as a team to coordinate their work schedules in a way that ensures someone is always home to care for their children.

They also take care of Vance’s mother, who is battling Amyotrophic Laterals Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. “It’s a horrific disease where you have no control over your muscles, the main muscle being your diaphragm,” he says.

“However, we’re blessed to have our mother is with us. She can spend her remaining days with us, surrounded by family, and not in a nursing home. We can see her on a daily basis, and the children can see her and see the cycle of life. She has a ventilator that breathes for her, but she’s still got joy. We all have our rhythm with her. Friends come by and spend time, too. So, we’re just grateful.”

 

Last night was the series premiere of Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta. However, I was given a sneak peek of the program, when WE tv invited me to the exclusive screening of the highly anticipated reality show, which took place Tuesday, May 16 at the iPIC Theater in New York City. Let’s just say, I’ve found my new favorite reality TV binge show.

 

A Recap of the Private Screening Event for Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta

 

As described in the press release, the series “chronicle[s] the perks and perils of being born into hip hop royalty, in the city that the New York Times called ‘hip hop’s center of gravity.’”

The statement continues:

 

“The rich history of the Atlanta hip hop scene has fostered a unique sense of pride and closeness among the artists that resembles a family. But like any family, Atlanta’s next generation of hip hop stars do not always get along. Growing up together in the shadow of their legendary parents has established tight bonds and bitter rivalries, as everybody fights for their chance to push their way into the spotlight.”

 

Shad “Bow Wow” Moss, the celebrated child hip-hop phenomena, not only stars in the series, but he is also executive producer of the Atlanta branch of the franchise. In addition to following the life of Moss, the program also showcases Shaniah Mauldin, daughter of Jermaine Dupri; Zonnique Pullins, daughter of Tameka “Tiny” Harris and T.I.; Reginae Carter, daughter of Lil Wayne and author Toya Wright; Ayana Fite, daughter of DJ Hurricane; and Brandon Barnes, the younger brother of Waka Flocka Flame and son of infamous hip hop manager Ms. Deb Antney.

 

NEW YORK, NY: Zonnique Pullins, Shad Moss, Reginae Carter, Shaniah Mauldin, Ayana Fite, and Brandon Barnes attend the WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta premiere screening event on May 16, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for WE tv)

 

Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, DJ Hurricane, Ms. Deb, Toya Wright, and Kristinia DeBarge, daughter of R&B singer James DeBarge and featured cast member on the original Growing Up Hip Hop, also came out to support the show’s launch. DeBarge even gave attendees a sneak peek of season two of the drama filled inaugural series, which is set to debut later at a later date. After the screening, cast members of Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta answered questions on a Q&A panel moderated by Sway Calloway.

 

Initially Hesitant, but Pleasantly Surprised

 

Although reality TV is among one my favorite guilty pleasures, I was initially unsure about how the series would measure up to my expectations. In my opinion, the current reality TV market has become so oversaturated with stories told from the perspective of attractive, wealthy, and entitled young adults, that the plotlines are just too predictable. Could Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta bring something fresh to the table, breaking ratings records with its authentic capture of sincere moments of vulnerability, or would it be another formulaic “unscripted” show featuring fabricated drama?

This skepticism only further increased in the wake of the highly trending #BowWowChallenge incident.

 

Travel day. NYC press run for Growing Up Hip Hop. Lets gooo. I promise to bring yall the hottest show EVER. May 25th on @wetv

A post shared by Bow wow (@shadmoss) on May 8, 2017 at 6:53am PDT

 

After all, Moss was on his way to New York City for the Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta press tour when he made the rookie mistake of posting an uncredited stock image accompanied by a vague caption on his Instagram that gave followers the wrong impression about his travel accommodations.

 

(Screenshot Source: Twitter/Al_Khee)

 

Was this careless publishing of “alternative facts” karmic foreshadowing of what audiences could expect from the show? Though hesitant, I did my best to keep an open mind and not allow any preconceived judgments cloud my own.

As it turns out, Bow Wow’s lack of fluency on “the gram” wouldn’t be the only thing to surprise me that week; the premiere episode of Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta was a lot more interesting and entertaining than I had originally anticipated. I actually really enjoyed it! Of course, the show had its fair share of classic reality TV plot devices that err on the side of inauthenticity—such as first-person green screen “confessionals,” or frequent “impromptu” visits to practically deserted boutiques and restaurants. However, in the case of Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta, these moments were often overshadowed by a number of unexpected twists and moments of organic sincerity.

So, without giving away too many spoilers, these are three things that surprised me about Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta:

 

1. Yes, They Actually Grew Up Together

 

Although most are aware of past professional and creative collaborations between the celebrity parents of the featured cast, many probably underestimate the extent of how deep these relationships really are. As a result of their parents’ relationships, Pullins, Moss, Carter, Mauldin, Fite, and Barnes have actually known each other for years, with history dating so far back, their friendships are more reflective of familial bonds. There was even a point where Carter and Pullins sang together in the girl group The OMG Girlz. And since everyone has known each other since back in the day, the chemistry between cast members is not only genuine, it’s dynamic.

 

NEW YORK, NY: Sway, Reginae Carter, and Zonnique Pullins speak at the WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta premiere screening event on May 16, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for WE tv)

 

2. Though Born With a Silver Spoon, These Kids Know How to Hustle

 

Although I walked in assuming that, other than Bow Wow, these kids were simply the spoiled beneficiaries of nepotism and extreme privilege. However, I could not have been more wrong. Sure, they may have moments of bratty-seeming soundbites on the show, but in actuality, each one was very humble and down to earth.

Carter, Fite, and Mauldin, in particular, didn’t even appear all that interested in pursuing a career in the music industry. A former member of OMG Girlz and the daughter of rapper Lil Wayne, Cater mentioned that she was currently working with her mother to pen her first novel.

 

NEW YORK, NY: Reginae Carter and her mom, Antonia Wright, attend the WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta premiere screening event on May 16, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for WE tv)

 

Fite, who can be seen discussing how she quit her job as a retail manager within the first few minutes of the episode, clarified during the panel that she didn’t quit her job because she didn’t enjoy working. Rather, at that time, she was also trying to develop her own clothing line, so she took a temporary hiatus from her retail position to focus on her designing aspirations. She also mentioned that, now that her line is complete, she has since returned to the former retail gig.

 

NEW YORK, NY : Ayana Fite, daughter of DJ Hurricane, playfully gives her father style advice, while attending the WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta premiere screening event on May 16, 2017,  in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for WE tv)

 

Meanwhile, Mauldin, whose status as music mogul Jermaine Durpi’s daughter would theoretically allow her to transition into any facet of the music industry with ease whenever she wanted, is in school pursuing a college degree. Perhaps the most reserved of the bunch, it’s clear that, much like her father, Mauldin’s no-nonsense work ethic will lead her down a successful career path of her own making.

 

NEW YORK, NY: Shad “Bow Wow” Moss, Jermaine Dupri, and Shaniah Mauldin attend the WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta premiere screening event on May 16, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for WE tv)

 

3. Is Bow Wow Really Ready to Retire?  Not Without J.D.’s Seal of Approval

 

Contrary to previous reports about Bow Wow’s  “retirement from hip hop,” I don’t think he will ever actually be done with recording music—at least, not until mentor Dupri is finally satisfied with the well-rounded, mature quality of his send-off album. Dupri certainly didn’t seem all that impressed by Bow Wow’s most recent album, Ignorant S***, which he impulsively recorded with Soulja Boy in one night.

 

You can find out how everything unfolds on Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta every Thursday night at 10/9c on WE tv!