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https://www.blackenterprise.com/candis-grace-ubs-honor-black-cultural-powerhouses-toast-new-york/
Earlier this month, creatives, tastemakers, and industry leaders gathered at “The Toast, New York,” an exclusive, intimate dinner experience presented by Candis Grace celebrating culture, excellence, and legacy.
Held at The Chica & Don in downtown Manhattan on Nov. 6, guests were treated to modern Latin American cuisine paired with drinks provided by Black-owned spirit brands like Sean “Jay-Z” Carter’s D’usse, Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino, and Ja Rule’s Amber & Opal.
Presented by entrepreneur Candis Grace in partnership with UBS, “The Toast, New York” honored three trailblazers making significant strides in their respective industries: Carlos King, the CEO of Kingdom Reign Entertainment and an acclaimed reality TV show producer, sports broadcast journalist Cari Champion, and Santi Miller, Head of Diverse Wealth Initiatives at UBS.
“I was at ESPN for 10 years, and now I’m at CNN, and I am unapologetic in the fact that my agenda is for Black and brown people [and] for women,” said Champion, a former anchor on ESPN’s First Take, while accepting The Champion of Women in Sports Award. “It’s costly and sometimes scary, but I know that when it is all said and done, if you look in the history books, I’m doing it for the right reasons.”
“It is not every day that I get celebrated because, being behind the scenes, it’s our job to celebrate others, said King, while receiving the Cultural Storyteller Award.
Former NFL player Wale Ogunleye, who currently serves as Executive Director, Head of Sports and Entertainment at UBS, presented Miller with The Legacy Builder Award.
“With the current state of politics that we’re in, it’s super interesting to say words like ‘diversity’ and all these other things. But, that being said, UBS decided in January to continue to forge ahead with our diversity initiatives led by Santi,” said the former Miami Dolphins MVP. “I’ve had the honor of working with Santi this year, as she’s been a great partner to me in the sports entertainment business. Her work focuses on expanding the firm’s presence in diverse markets and ensuring that UBS shows up in ways that are authentic, relevant, and deeply connected to communities it serves.”
During her acceptance speech, Miller shared how her upbringing and feeling ostracized at times influenced her commitment to empowering diverse communities.
“I was born in Vietnam, and I was always the other,” she said. “I thought about it, I was like, why is this so important? Why am I so passionate about diversity? Why do I care about it? And it really is about taking this sense of being an other. And every single person in this room has been an other. I know you have it. The higher you climb, the lonelier it gets. And, guess what? The dots get smaller and the target gets bigger,” she continued.
In addition to recognizing these cultural pioneers, “The Toast, New York” brought together a collective of notable activists, authors, and reality stars in an atmosphere that embraced community, collaboration, and Black excellence. Noted attendees included Roc Nation veteran and music business executive Lenny S. Santiago, Real Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira, media personality Bevy Smith, former VIBE Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, and social justice advocate Tamika D. Mallory.
“This event was an idea to celebrate my friends that probably were really behind the scenes, but really making the moves, because that’s how I was always in my career,” said Grace, the founder and CEO of The Brand Group, a marketing, brand partnerships, and public relations agency based in Los Angeles.
“I was an [event] promoter –- the only woman promoter in Hollywood for a long time in my career. So, I don’t like anything stuffy,” she told guests. “I like it to feel really unorthodox, beautiful, sexy, and vibey, so everybody can have fun. So, that’s why [this] is not a stuffy awards.”
Jeffrey Morneau, the founder of Jeffrey Morneau Atelier, a luxury brand specializing in event planning, bespoke design, and elevated catering experiences, said partnering with Grace to produce an event that celebrates Black excellence was a joy.
“[Candis’] vision and commitment to uplifting our community made this collaboration especially meaningful, he said in a statement. “Together, we’re creating an experience that celebrates excellence, and I couldn’t be more proud,” he said.
Candis launched The Brand Group nearly two decades ago and has worked with the likes of the National Basketball Players Association, United Nations, Kevin Hart, Netflix, Doritos, and UBS, which she praised for supporting her annual events.
“UBS has been an invaluable partner throughout this incredible journey from ‘Toast to Black Hollywood‘ and now to ‘The Toast, New York.” Their continued commitment and belief in our vision have been instrumental, and we deeply value the partnership we’ve built together,” she said in a statement.
Grace also acknowledged the support of BLACK ENTERPRISE, which served as a media partner at the event and honored her with the 2024 Business Disruptor Award.
“Black Enterprise has been an integral part of my journey from the very beginning. They’ve not only championed ‘The Toast, New York,’ but they’ve been there to celebrate every milestone and event throughout my career,” she said. “Their support and commitment to uplifting our community means everything to me, and I’m incredibly grateful to have them as partners in this work.”
RELATED CONTENT: Black Women Honored As ‘Powerhouses’ In Their Industry At Inaugural NYFW Event
Earlier this month, creatives, tastemakers, and industry leaders gathered at “The Toast, New York,” an exclusive, intimate dinner experience presented by Candis Grace celebrating culture, excellence, and legacy.
Held at The Chica & Don in downtown Manhattan on Nov. 6, guests were treated to modern Latin American cuisine paired with drinks provided by Black-owned spirit brands like Sean “Jay-Z” Carter’s D’usse, Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino, and Ja Rule’s Amber & Opal.
Presented by entrepreneur Candis Grace in partnership with UBS, “The Toast, New York” honored three trailblazers making significant strides in their respective industries: Carlos King, the CEO of Kingdom Reign Entertainment and an acclaimed reality TV show producer, sports broadcast journalist Cari Champion, and Santi Miller, Head of Diverse Wealth Initiatives at UBS.
“I was at ESPN for 10 years, and now I’m at CNN, and I am unapologetic in the fact that my agenda is for Black and brown people [and] for women,” said Champion, a former anchor on ESPN’s First Take, while accepting The Champion of Women in Sports Award. “It’s costly and sometimes scary, but I know that when it is all said and done, if you look in the history books, I’m doing it for the right reasons.”
“It is not every day that I get celebrated because, being behind the scenes, it’s our job to celebrate others, said King, while receiving the Cultural Storyteller Award.
Former NFL player Wale Ogunleye, who currently serves as Executive Director, Head of Sports and Entertainment at UBS, presented Miller with The Legacy Builder Award.
“With the current state of politics that we’re in, it’s super interesting to say words like ‘diversity’ and all these other things. But, that being said, UBS decided in January to continue to forge ahead with our diversity initiatives led by Santi,” said the former Miami Dolphins MVP. “I’ve had the honor of working with Santi this year, as she’s been a great partner to me in the sports entertainment business. Her work focuses on expanding the firm’s presence in diverse markets and ensuring that UBS shows up in ways that are authentic, relevant, and deeply connected to communities it serves.”
During her acceptance speech, Miller shared how her upbringing and feeling ostracized at times influenced her commitment to empowering diverse communities.
“I was born in Vietnam, and I was always the other,” she said. “I thought about it, I was like, why is this so important? Why am I so passionate about diversity? Why do I care about it? And it really is about taking this sense of being an other. And every single person in this room has been an other. I know you have it. The higher you climb, the lonelier it gets. And, guess what? The dots get smaller and the target gets bigger,” she continued.
In addition to recognizing these cultural pioneers, “The Toast, New York” brought together a collective of notable activists, authors, and reality stars in an atmosphere that embraced community, collaboration, and Black excellence. Noted attendees included Roc Nation veteran and music business executive Lenny S. Santiago, Real Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira, media personality Bevy Smith, former VIBE Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, and social justice advocate Tamika D. Mallory.
“This event was an idea to celebrate my friends that probably were really behind the scenes, but really making the moves, because that’s how I was always in my career,” said Grace, the founder and CEO of The Brand Group, a marketing, brand partnerships, and public relations agency based in Los Angeles.
“I was an [event] promoter –- the only woman promoter in Hollywood for a long time in my career. So, I don’t like anything stuffy,” she told guests. “I like it to feel really unorthodox, beautiful, sexy, and vibey, so everybody can have fun. So, that’s why [this] is not a stuffy awards.”
Jeffrey Morneau, the founder of Jeffrey Morneau Atelier, a luxury brand specializing in event planning, bespoke design, and elevated catering experiences, said partnering with Grace to produce an event that celebrates Black excellence was a joy.
“[Candis’] vision and commitment to uplifting our community made this collaboration especially meaningful, he said in a statement. “Together, we’re creating an experience that celebrates excellence, and I couldn’t be more proud,” he said.
Candis launched The Brand Group nearly two decades ago and has worked with the likes of the National Basketball Players Association, United Nations, Kevin Hart, Netflix, Doritos, and UBS, which she praised for supporting her annual events.
“UBS has been an invaluable partner throughout this incredible journey from ‘Toast to Black Hollywood‘ and now to ‘The Toast, New York.” Their continued commitment and belief in our vision have been instrumental, and we deeply value the partnership we’ve built together,” she said in a statement.
Grace also acknowledged the support of BLACK ENTERPRISE, which served as a media partner at the event and honored her with the 2024 Business Disruptor Award.
“Black Enterprise has been an integral part of my journey from the very beginning. They’ve not only championed ‘The Toast, New York,’ but they’ve been there to celebrate every milestone and event throughout my career,” she said. “Their support and commitment to uplifting our community means everything to me, and I’m incredibly grateful to have them as partners in this work.”
RELATED CONTENT: Black Women Honored As ‘Powerhouses’ In Their Industry At Inaugural NYFW Event
It’s been a little over a year since The Acolyte premiered on Disney+. And just as swiftly, they canceled it. To say that everything surrounding the Star Wars High Republic show was controversial from the get-go is understating it. Showrunner Leslye Headland faced criticism from a subset and very vocal online Star Wars fandom from the start. Now, a year after Disney+ pulled the plug on the series, Headland is opening up about how the cancellation came as no big surprise, given the toxicity the show dealt with from the jump. She told The Wrap (via IGN) that the writing was on the wall from very early on. But it still bums her out. Here’s some of what she had to say:
I was not surprised by [the cancellation]. I think I was surprised at the swiftness of it and the publicness of it. I was surprised by how it was handled. But once I was getting particular phone calls about the reaction and the criticism and the viewership, I felt like, ‘OK, the writing’s on the wall for sure.’
Headland didn’t mince words, saying that the barrage of criticism from Star Wars content creators online is something Disney very much pays attention to. They see these channels as a form of focus group. So if they turn on something, they quickly react to whatever it is they feel “the fans” want. And you can see that unfold big time with every Star Wars project since The Rise of Skywalker. Headland added the following:
I am a Star Wars fan, which means I have always been, since the launch of YouTube, part of the Star Wars recap/criticism/lionization fandom community. These guys I’ve known for years and years. So when I got the information from others about what the weather report was, there was this real concern from friends of mine or co-workers of mine that saddened me. I also was like, ‘I know who these guys are.’ You don’t have to tell me who’s talking about it or how bad it is online, I know exactly who they are. I supported them on Patreon.
Sadly, this means the Star Wars franchise will take fewer and fewer risks going forward. And eventually, the franchise will stagnate. Can Starfighter save it? Possibly, but Stranger Things and Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy is in charge, and it stars Ryan Gosling. It faces fewer challenges than The Acolyte did. Meanwhile, Headland confirmed recently that our theory of Qimir’s connection to the Knights or Ren was correct, and would have unfolded over the course of the series. Too bad it’s all just left now to our collective imaginations.
The post THE ACOLYTE Showrunner Opens Up About Its Abrupt Cancelation appeared first on Nerdist.
This has been a great year for the red cape and the S. Superman is the highest grossing superhero film of the year, was beloved by critics and fans alike, and already has an anticipated sequel in the works. This love for the Last Son of Krypton may have helped bolster a recent auction for a piece of history. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, a copy of 1939’s Superman #1 in incredibly good condition fetched a staggering $9.1 million. That’s not even the character’s first appearance! Superman famously first appeared in Action Comics #1 from 1938, a copy of which sold only last year for $6 million. 
Why would a single copy of a particular old comic fetch such a hefty sum, over $3 million more than last year’s record-setting purchase? Well one reason might be the incredible shape the comic is in. It’s nearly 90 years old but the Certified Guaranty Company, the leading third-party grading service for comic books, graded it a 9.0 out of 10. It also might have something to do with where the book came from. Three brothers found it in their mother’s attic in a box of old newspaper clippings.
According to THR, “their mother bought the comic, along with several others, when she was nine and living in Depression-era San Francisco. Over the years, the mother occasionally insisted to her sons that she had ‘rare comics somewhere.’ But she could never remember where, and the boys assumed it was just a family legend. The mother died just before the pandemic, and the house sat untouched until the brothers were ready to go through it earlier this year.”
Stories like that add to the legend of a particular piece of history. I wonder if the same book would have garnered that high a price had it just been in a private collection for 50 years. So make sure you really sort through your relatives’ boxes, people. You never know what treasures you might find.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.
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Fans of giant anthropomorphic reptiles, martial arts, and round Italian food will soon rejoice (hopefully). The Hollywood Reporter has reported (in Hollywood) that Paramount is in the process of finding a new producer to head up live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles projects. The producer, Neal H. Moritz, is the man behind Universal’s Fast and Furious franchise and more recently Paramount’s own Sonic the Hedgehog is in talks to jump into the sewers for the TMNT franchise. 
The most recent live-action (well, mixed with CGI) Turtles movie was 2016’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, which underperformed at the box office. Since then, the franchise has seen a renaissance of sorts as an animated film and series, Mutant Mayhem, spearheaded by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Moritz’s ties to the Sonic series has me thinking a new live-action version will likely be lighter in tone than the comparatively darker Michael Bay-produced 2010s movies.
This news does come with a bit of disappointment as well. The decision from the Skydance-owned studio to do a full reboot effectively puts the kibosh on the gestating adaptation of grown-up Turtles comic The Last Ronin. That very dark story follows the last remaining member of the turtles brotherhood in a post-apocalypse as he seeks Shredder’s grandson to seek vengeance for the death of the other three turtles. It’s a super rad book, but also definitely not for kids. The movie would have been R-rated.
Nickelodeon has owned the rights to the property since 2009, and Paramount owns Nickelodeon. So all parties clearly see the value of a young audience. While the franchise has always ping-ponged between gritty and family friendly. The original ’80s comic was a violent satire of Marvel Comics but turned to a toy behemoth when Playmates obtained the rights and made the most popular cartoon of the era. Paramount clearly wants a four-quadrant hit rather than a violent adult action movie.
The sequel to Mutant Mayhem, directed by Jeff Rowe, is still set for a Sept. 17, 2027 release.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.
This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!
The post New Live-Action TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Movie in Works appeared first on Nerdist.