BGN had the pleasure of speaking with Celia Rose Gooding, the rising star of the new Paramount+ series: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In this series, she picks up the torch left by Nichelle Nichols to play the iconic Nyota Uhura.
I’m so excited to be connecting with the beautiful and talented Celia Rose Gooding! Thank you for taking the time to interview with BGN. How are you?
As a black girl nerd myself, I am very excited to have an opportunity to speak to you. I’m a huge fan of your platform.
Ahhh! That’s so exciting to hear and we are just as big fans of yours! Fans may recognize you from your role as Mary Frances Healy in the rock musical Jagged Little Pill. You’re so multi-talented, which is meaningful for fellow Blerds because we’re not one-dimensional. This is an aspect we’ve seen you bring to your depiction of the legendary Nyota Uhura. Watching you blossom in your career is exciting to witness!
Thank you! I am a huge fan of my multiplicity [laughs]. I’m so honored because it does mean a lot to me. I remember young Celia was scared of her multiplicity and that there wasn’t space for her. But, I have an opportunity to stay true to her and to be celebrated for that.
Our culture understands better now that it’s okay to evolve as your passions lead you in another direction. That’s why the historic character you play has always resonated so well with young girls. We are not a monolith. Nyota Uhura was a trailblazing depiction of roles that Black women could bring to life. I’m so excited to hear about what that experience has been like for you.
I mean, it’s been incredible. I firmly believe that if it were not for Nichelle Nichols and her decision to stay in this franchise, I, of course, wouldn’t have a character to play in the show. I also don’t think I would have an opportunity to be my full, well-rounded self on stage and on screen.
As you said, Nichelle Nichols was a trailblazer for Black women in entertainment and Black women in science and starting NASA programs. She and the character really opened the door for Black women to be themselves on all different platforms in all spaces professionally. So, passing that torch blows my mind and makes my heart swell.
As time continues, we’re opening more doors for Black women. We can be themselves and really feel comfortable, just showing up as themselves and not feeling the need to adopt other unnatural things just to fit in. My inner child is singing, dancing, and running around — she’s excited [laughs].
That is truly amazing to hear! We have gotten to see where this character ends up. What’s unique about your depiction is that we catch her at an earlier stage of her life! How has that impacted your approach to the character?
Exactly, we know that Nichelle Nichols was a lieutenant and that she was the commanding officer. Having the opportunity to show her as a young cadet gives viewers a chance to see and accept her. The fact that we, Black women, grow, and there will be messy moments! Those moments are just as deserving of the spotlight — and we know her future. We know that she’ll continue with the Enterprise. She’ll eventually take a role as a captain in the future, but to show her as someone who’s still a little insecure is very humanizing, and that’s important right now.
Do you feel like there are some parallels that you found between yourself and Uhura as you’ve grown into this role and continue to rise to prominence?
Oh, absolutely! I often go to the writers, and I’m like, who’s speaking to my therapist?! Who is in my journal, reading my personal notes and putting them on screen? [laughs]
As someone who is incredibly young in this industry, having an opportunity to show that vulnerability and feeling of, ‘I know I’m very good at this, but is this what I want to do with my life and to have that parallel with Nyota […] blows my mind. I’m incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to showcase, for myself and other Black women, as people and human beings, not just pillars and icons.
Something that I found adorable and came across recently was the Spotify playlist you created in honor of Nyota Uhura. First off, I love the songs that are on there! Classic hits — people LOVE it! What was the intention behind that and how did you come to create such a beautiful playlist in dedication to the Nyota?
This character is so loved, popular, and idolized in the sci-fi and entertainment communities. So, I wanted to have something that felt personal and that I could use to connect with this character and the side of myself that I think was integral in portraying this character. It’s also a way to connect with my roots as a Black American, so I found all these songs that made me feel like I was home on a Sunday morning flipping pancakes with my mom and my sister.
It became an ode to my inner child because that is who I’m connecting to for this character. So, all these songs make me feel like I’m being hugged and held and uplifted. I wasn’t expecting that many people to love it [laughs]. Now it has become a way to continue humanizing and empathizing with this character. She is Nyota: someone who does so much for other people, and as Black women, we are constantly giving ourselves.
Sometimes, we have a difficult time receiving the same energy that we give. Since I’m so musically connected, music is my love language. So, having something that is for her, it’s like my super hug to Nyota. I make playlists for all my characters that I end up playing because that’s how I connect. I will keep editing and updating it because music is how I truly connect. The fact fans are excited about this playlist means a lot to me. I’m glad people enjoy it.
I immediately saved it to my library because I couldn’t stop jamming! You can always count on the musical theater kids to come through [laughs]. Thank you so much for carrying the torch, Celia! We’re so excited to see what else you bring to this role (and that playlist)!
[Laughs] Thank you so much! Absolutely!
Fans can catch Celia Rose Gooding as Cadet Nyota Uhura on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Thursdays on Paramount+. Episodes 101, 102, and 103 are currently available to stream on Paramount+ now.
BGN had the pleasure of speaking with Celia Rose Gooding, the rising star of the new Paramount+ series: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In this series, she picks up the torch left by Nichelle Nichols to play the iconic Nyota Uhura.
I’m so excited to be connecting with the beautiful and talented Celia Rose Gooding! Thank you for taking the time to interview with BGN. How are you?
As a black girl nerd myself, I am very excited to have an opportunity to speak to you. I’m a huge fan of your platform.
Ahhh! That’s so exciting to hear and we are just as big fans of yours! Fans may recognize you from your role as Mary Frances Healy in the rock musical Jagged Little Pill. You’re so multi-talented, which is meaningful for fellow Blerds because we’re not one-dimensional. This is an aspect we’ve seen you bring to your depiction of the legendary Nyota Uhura. Watching you blossom in your career is exciting to witness!
Thank you! I am a huge fan of my multiplicity [laughs]. I’m so honored because it does mean a lot to me. I remember young Celia was scared of her multiplicity and that there wasn’t space for her. But, I have an opportunity to stay true to her and to be celebrated for that.
Our culture understands better now that it’s okay to evolve as your passions lead you in another direction. That’s why the historic character you play has always resonated so well with young girls. We are not a monolith. Nyota Uhura was a trailblazing depiction of roles that Black women could bring to life. I’m so excited to hear about what that experience has been like for you.
I mean, it’s been incredible. I firmly believe that if it were not for Nichelle Nichols and her decision to stay in this franchise, I, of course, wouldn’t have a character to play in the show. I also don’t think I would have an opportunity to be my full, well-rounded self on stage and on screen.
As you said, Nichelle Nichols was a trailblazer for Black women in entertainment and Black women in science and starting NASA programs. She and the character really opened the door for Black women to be themselves on all different platforms in all spaces professionally. So, passing that torch blows my mind and makes my heart swell.
As time continues, we’re opening more doors for Black women. We can be themselves and really feel comfortable, just showing up as themselves and not feeling the need to adopt other unnatural things just to fit in. My inner child is singing, dancing, and running around — she’s excited [laughs].
That is truly amazing to hear! We have gotten to see where this character ends up. What’s unique about your depiction is that we catch her at an earlier stage of her life! How has that impacted your approach to the character?
Exactly, we know that Nichelle Nichols was a lieutenant and that she was the commanding officer. Having the opportunity to show her as a young cadet gives viewers a chance to see and accept her. The fact that we, Black women, grow, and there will be messy moments! Those moments are just as deserving of the spotlight — and we know her future. We know that she’ll continue with the Enterprise. She’ll eventually take a role as a captain in the future, but to show her as someone who’s still a little insecure is very humanizing, and that’s important right now.
Do you feel like there are some parallels that you found between yourself and Uhura as you’ve grown into this role and continue to rise to prominence?
Oh, absolutely! I often go to the writers, and I’m like, who’s speaking to my therapist?! Who is in my journal, reading my personal notes and putting them on screen? [laughs]
As someone who is incredibly young in this industry, having an opportunity to show that vulnerability and feeling of, ‘I know I’m very good at this, but is this what I want to do with my life and to have that parallel with Nyota […] blows my mind. I’m incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to showcase, for myself and other Black women, as people and human beings, not just pillars and icons.
Something that I found adorable and came across recently was the Spotify playlist you created in honor of Nyota Uhura. First off, I love the songs that are on there! Classic hits — people LOVE it! What was the intention behind that and how did you come to create such a beautiful playlist in dedication to the Nyota?
This character is so loved, popular, and idolized in the sci-fi and entertainment communities. So, I wanted to have something that felt personal and that I could use to connect with this character and the side of myself that I think was integral in portraying this character. It’s also a way to connect with my roots as a Black American, so I found all these songs that made me feel like I was home on a Sunday morning flipping pancakes with my mom and my sister.
It became an ode to my inner child because that is who I’m connecting to for this character. So, all these songs make me feel like I’m being hugged and held and uplifted. I wasn’t expecting that many people to love it [laughs]. Now it has become a way to continue humanizing and empathizing with this character. She is Nyota: someone who does so much for other people, and as Black women, we are constantly giving ourselves.
Sometimes, we have a difficult time receiving the same energy that we give. Since I’m so musically connected, music is my love language. So, having something that is for her, it’s like my super hug to Nyota. I make playlists for all my characters that I end up playing because that’s how I connect. I will keep editing and updating it because music is how I truly connect. The fact fans are excited about this playlist means a lot to me. I’m glad people enjoy it.
I immediately saved it to my library because I couldn’t stop jamming! You can always count on the musical theater kids to come through [laughs]. Thank you so much for carrying the torch, Celia! We’re so excited to see what else you bring to this role (and that playlist)!
[Laughs] Thank you so much! Absolutely!Fans can catch Celia Rose Gooding as Cadet Nyota Uhura on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Thursdays on Paramount+. Episodes 101, 102, and 103 are currently available to stream on Paramount+ now.
The next batch of live-action Star Wars projects won’t premiere in theaters. They’ll debut on Disney+. The streaming site is adding to its catalog of original shows from the galaxy far, far away. And soon two previously unannounced series will join them. That includes The Acolyte, which will mark a major departure for the franchise. It won’t take place within the Skywalker Saga timeline. The show will explore the era of the High Republic, 100 years before The Phantom Menace. But The Acolyte will do more than show fans a time period they’ve only read about. Series creator Leslye Headland says her time playing old Star Wars RPGs served as an inspiration for the show.
A new interview with Headland in Vanity Fair offers more insights into the surprise show. We already knew it will be the first-ever live-action Star Wars project to take place outside of the Skywalker Saga time period. That means Headland won’t have to deal with legacy characters (which she says she’d never do). She’ll also get to explore how the golden age of the galaxy was anything but. The show, which will blur the lines between good and bad and likely focus on the Sith, will investigate how the Jedi let unknown foes put the pieces in place for Palpatine’s rise a century later.
But the freedom of working in another era will also let Headland pull on her extensive knowledge of the Star Wars Expanded Universe’s Legends. Those consist of stories that are no longer considered canon after Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. And Headland’s E.U. knowledge is extensive, covering countless comics, books, and games she grew up with. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said Headland has “read a gazillion books inside the E.U.” As a result, The Acolyte draws on “little bits and pieces” of the Expanded Universe that “no one has explored yet in the onscreen storytelling.”
The origins for the show go beyond just what Headland read about, though. She also grew up playing Star Wars role-playing games. And creating her own original stories within that world led to the show. Headland said she came at the series as someone who grew up in the ’90s playing those RPGs. Here’s what she said about how those old sessions, which often resulted in her writing the equivalent of fan fiction, influence the show she’s developing:
For someone like myself who was introduced to Star Wars not just through the films, but also through role playing games, I’m also like, ‘You don’t understand what type of escapism this afforded me as a young kid – a kid that did not fit in, that had many, many behavioral problems.’ I was able to escape into that world with my friends, to pretend that I was part of that world. It was not like, ‘And now you have to do a scene from the original movie.’
The Acolyte will still draw on classic martial arts films, same as George Lucas’s films. It will still feature Jedi and the Dark Side. But getting to play around in the galaxy far, far away how you want, when you want, with whomever you want, is a dream many fans have had for a long time. Now they’ll finally get to see that dream come to life. Lucasfilm is letting someone turn their role-playing adventures into something we can all watch.
The post Old STAR WARS RPGs Will Inspire THE ACOLYTE appeared first on Nerdist.
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
It's that time, once AGAIN! let's get into it, people. Welcome to a new episode of Afronerd Radio's The Grindhouse live-stream, airing each and every Sunday at 6 p.m. eastern on the BTalk 100 cyber-broadcasting platform. Join your favored AFROnerdist hosts as they elucidate upon the following issues: noted British actor, Idris Elba (Thor, Avengers: Endgame) joins his MCU alum, Tilda Swinton in a psychedelic trailer entitled, Three Thousand Years of Longing....is this another "magical negro" vehicle? Let's discuss:
And then there are additional interesting trailers (The Boys and Umbrella Academy, both S3) to imbibe in and analyze:
News sources have formally announced the return of Netflix's Daredevil (S4) but this time on Disney plus; the CW network appears to still be producing DC-themed television, hence Gotham Knights; popular social media influencer, B. Simone had some pretty controversial thoughts about Civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King:
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify, and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!
During the cold winter of 2021, we had the humble sea shanty to keep us warm. TikTok saw a surge of creators recording renditions of sea shanties, making the tradition that dates back to the 1800s mainstream. And what a blessing it was to anyone who enjoys shanties (hi, it’s me). Earlier this year we saw a Doctor Who spin on “Wellerman,” and today, we have another sea shanty pop culture moment: Star Shanties. It’s Star Wars meets sea shanties and it’s every bit as delightful as it sounds.
Star Shanties: Songs From a Galaxy Far, Far Away is currently playing at the Orlando Fringe Festival. The music tells tales about Star Wars legends and characters such as Thrawn and Hondo Ohnaka (my personal favorite shanty). For producer, director, and writer Arthur Rowan, Star Wars sea shanties began as a passion project during the pandemic. He first shared “Old Man Thrawn” online in early February 2021.
Rowan told Nerdist that “Geek Folk” is his favorite style of song to write. He added, “I love how the [Star Wars] galaxy is so rich with possibility when it comes to storytelling, even in areas that are unexplored in the films. I was an avid reader of the Extended Universe growing up, and I’ve been loving a lot of the additional material that’s been in the new canon.”
For Star Shanties, Rowan tries to take an authentic approach. He considers if the Star Wars galaxy had shanties, what and who would they be about? For most of the pieces he’s written so far, he said, “I start with an actual shanty or old traditional song, and then imagine where something like that would fit in universe. For example, some old shanties are about how bad-ass a ship or a captain is, and Thrawn seemed likely to have a devoted crew sing something along those lines. Some shanties are about boasts and tall tales; Hondo Ohnaka struck me as a great subject for that genre. And I love traditional Irish tunes, which frequently deal with defying an oppressor or with mourning the loss of home… both subjects that feel very Alderaanian.”
The long-term goal for Rowan’s Star Wars sea shanties has been to continue to evolve them and grow them. Hence, Star Shanties. The production stars Taylor Harrell as Barrett, Ryan J. Lynch as Jander, Mark Miller as Captain Vale, Jandrea Novak as Mynoc, and Charles Stevens as Rafe. Ashley Willsey designed the costumes and is handling the marketing. And Star Shanties has scenic design by Jake Lockwood and photography by McKenzie Lakey.
If you’d like to see Star Shanties at the Orlando Fringe Festival, you have four more opportunities to do so. The production has shows on May 21, May 25, May 27, and May 29. You can get venue information and tickets here. And if you can’t make it to one of these showings, dive into Rowan’s YouTube account to hear some excellent Star Wars sea shanties.
Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of several Star Wars books and A Kid’s Guide to Fandom. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
The post STAR WARS and Sea Shanties Come Together with STAR SHANTIES and We Can’t Get Enough appeared first on Nerdist.