Monthly Archives: August 2013

Miley, Martin, Movies & Labor Day

NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Miley, Martin, Movies & Labor Day
© NaimaLett.com/blog


Miley Cyrus, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., One Direction & Labor Day Lady

What a difference a week makes!

MILEY CYRUS

Last week this time, the mention of 20-year old Miley Cyrus’ name may have brought up the #1 Richest Teen in Hollywood 2011 title ($120 million) where she trumped Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, her most successful Disney show Hannah Montana or famous dad Billy Ray Cyrus (Achy Breaky Heart), her on-again, off-again engagement to Australian actor Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), brother of Chris Hemsworth (Thor), or the infamous plug from Jay Z’s new album (“Twerk Miley Twerk”) which seems to have kicked off a media circus.

But oh, what a difference a week makes! Miley put on a racy show at MTV’s VMA awards on Sunday that many said was shocking, confusing, desperate and borderline P0RN. Even though both Miley and Lady Gaga both stripped down to skimpy bikinis during their performances, Miley twerked her way past Gaga’s fame to become the MOST TALKED ABOUT EVENT of the night.

Honestly, I was embarassed for Miley, but not surprised. With Super Bowl half-time shows like what we got from Beyonce and Janet Jackson, the fame derived by Kim Kardashian after her sex tape, and the Academy Award given to Halle Berry for those scenes in Monster’s Ball, what do we expect?

What other message have we sent to our young women, both Christian and non-Christian, than the BEST way to garner the MOST ATTENTION is to expose one’s body or act like a stripper? That’s what Miley did, right? Miley didn’t invent twerking. She learned it, and according to her, has been practicing in her living room for 2 years to perfect it. Seems like it paid off. Her name is on everybody’s lips. She’s got a new album dropping. Kanye asked her to do a collaboration that night. She did one with Bieber that “leaked” this week. She’s on Cloud 9.

Some are asking about her faith. What happened to Miley’s Nashville Christian roots where she was baptized Southern Baptist in 2005? Can I just say that I know lots of Christian women who expose themselves weekly to get ahead in ‘the game’. I’ve seen more boobs and crotch-shots from women of faith than I care to recount. We’ve gone mad in LaLa Land, Fam!

And why isn’t anyone saying how disturbing it is that 36-year old father Robin Thicke, son of actor Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) and husband of actress Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible 4), thought it was appropriate to have Miley twerked over in front of him onstage while singing a song about blurred lines, ‘you’re an animal’, ‘I know you want it’? People seemed more upset commenting that his black and white suit looked like Beetlejuice. Madness!

I don’t know the parties involved, but I am praying… praying for a different model. Wouldn’t it have been great if nobody said anything and I didn’t just devote valuable space on my blog to talk about it. If there was no hype, nobody would do it publicly. There would just be a lot of twerking in living rooms across America and nobody would care.

MARCH ON WASHINGTON TURNS 50

In saner news, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I HAVE A DREAM” speech and the March on Washington celebrated 50 years this week on August 28th. Not for nothing, but this is still one of the most moving speeches ever delivered. It’s worth it to listen again.

MOVIES THIS WEEKEND

For this being a holiday weekend, movies are kind of sparse.

You’ve got ONE DIRECTION’S “This is Us”, if you’re into teen pop or the thriller “Closed Circuit” about bombings in England. If you haven’t seen The Butler, maybe you’ll see it. Here’s my blog on my thoughts. Sorry, it’s a movie-light weekend.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Not sure who came up with the photo above of the sister with muscles to symbolize a Happy Labor Day, but just so you know, I’ll be doing the opposite. I’m going to sit down somewhere and enjoy family and friends. LOL!

Have a great holiday.
Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Rough Week in Hollywood, The Butler, Beyonce and Baby North

NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Rough Week in Hollywood, The Butler, Beyonce and Baby North
© NaimaLett.com/blog


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Lee Thompson Young, Oprah, David, Forrest, Baby North & Beyonce

Rough week in Hollywood… and America, period.

I feel like LIFE is under attack.

29-year old actor Lee Thomspon Young, of Jett Jackson Disney and TNT Rizzoli & Isles fame, reportedly took his own life this week. Sources speculate depression, but we’re still waiting for some sort of explanation. The memorial was today at Paramount. Truly heart-breaking.

While sorting through that story, I turned on the news and saw children running at an Atlanta area school from a guy with an AK-47 who later said, “I don’t care if I live or die… I’m not on my medication. I should’ve gone to the hospital instead….” Instead of what? Terrorizing elementary kids? What are we doing, Fam?

Why don’t we care if we live or die? Enough is enough!I want folks to declare as the psalmist did, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” Psalm 118:17

I want us to get the help we need when wrestling with depression and mental illness. I’m talking to artists weekly who are ready to give up, and my heart is busted because I keep repeating myself, “LIFE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN BOOKING A GIG!”

Life is such a precious gift. Maybe because we almost lost Kevin’s to cancer; but we get it. We fight to live in LaLa Land. We fight for the lives of the dreamers around us. Our Savior gave His life so that we might have eternal life and that abundantly. Grab hold and don’t let go!

THE BUTLER

I digress. Many of you have asked if we saw Lee Daniel’s The Butler.
Yes. We saw it. Should you see it?
WATCH THE TRAILER

The Butler has a stacked cast of Academy Award winners and nominees:
Produced by Academy Award winners The Weinstein Company
Directed by Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels
Starring Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, Academy Award Honorary Winner Oprah Winfrey, Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr, Academy Award winner Jane Fonda, Academy Award winner Robin Williams, Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard and soon-to-be Academy Award nominee (it’s just a matter of time) my friend and fellow believer, David Oyelowo.

That’s a lot of Academy power for this not to be a GREAT movie… but it’s well, good, at best. I appreciate the historical aspect and the ‘based on a true story’ though much was added that wasn’t quite true. Forest, Oprah, David, Cuba, Jane, Robin, they’re all good.

Honestly, I just think the story and direction needs to be tighter. I had to remind myself that this is really only Lee Daniel’s 3rd of 4th feature; so the expectations can’t be that high. He’s a master marketer and knows what will sell in Hollywood, so he’s able to create a LOT of buzz. His directing skills have got to catch up with his producing skills. But sure, see the movie.

BEYONCE’S CUT

This was part of the story I was releasing last week. Honestly, I just marveled that it was a story in the first place. LOL! Cute chop though, right?

BABY NORTH WEST

And this morning, Kanye West revealed the first picture publicly of Baby North West on Kim Kardashian’s mom’s new talk show, Kris. That’s one way to try to help boost ratings. Again, folks who know their way around creating buzz. Take notes, Fam. How I wish we could create such buzz around The Gospel. Just saying!

Have a good weekend.
I speak Life! Life and love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Move Mountain

NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Move Mountain
© NaimaLett.com/blog

mountains2

I wrote a “This Week in Hollywood” blog yesterday called “Films, Protests and Haircuts” about Oprah’s new film The Butler, a Twitter mom’s protest over nudity on ABC, and Beyonce’s new pixie haircut. But you didn’t get that blog. Why? Because I ran out of time before I had to leave for our Hope in the Hills Leaders Retreat near the mountains in Canyon Country, California.

It’s beautiful up here, Fam.
[See picture above]

Before our sunrise devotion, I had a moment, just one-on-one with the Lord, where the songs of His Word soared off the pages: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands… In the heavens, He has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a groom coming from the bridal chamber…” Psalm 19:1, 5.

As the sun peeked over God’s mountain peaks this morning, I couldn’t help but catch my breath and declare His glory.

God is.
I AM THAT I AM.

And as I meditated and stared at those mountains, another passage came to mind: “…If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you…” Matthew 17:20

My mind flooded with thoughts of the current mountain we’re facing and I said 2 words:
“Move mountain.”

Now, it hasn’t disappeared immediately. But I sure do have faith at least the size of a mustard seed and I believe this mountain is moving.

What about you? Got a mountain that needs to be moved?
Say it with me, “Move mountain.”
Nothing’s impossible.

Lots of love from above the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Million Dollar Prize for Faith Based Film

NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Million Dollar Prize for Faith Based Film
© NaimaLett.com/blog



168Film



Million Dollar Prize for Faith-Based Film

For the 3rd year, I’ve had the awesome privilege of being invited as a clergy judge for the 168 Film Festival in Los Angeles – a competition where filmmakers from all over the world receive 1 theme, 1 scripture verse and have 168 hours (aka 1 week) to make a fantastic film.

And this year, the final films were highly competitive and the judging was tight!

FIRST TIME

Why so tight?
Because for the first time, the top short film wins $1,000,000 towards making a feature!

The filmmakers pulled out all the stops!

You heard me! A wonderfully creative, faith-based filmmaker will win $1,000,000 from EchoLight Studios to make his/her full-length feature film. Truly exciting.

FIRST YEAR

At the same time, this will be the first year that I’m unable to make the final ceremony to see the top filmmaker. I’m currently in Maryland sharing at “In the Heart of Worship” conference, but I look forward to seeing the footage on YouTube when I get back to LaLa Land.


THE THEME

The festival organizers did not make winning $1,000,000 easy. This year’s theme is Atonement, and many of the scriptures randomly assigned were from Books like Leviticus and Romans. Yeah! It’s hard enough to preach Leviticus, much less make a film out of a verse. LOL! Kudos to the filmmakers for their creativity.

TRUE VISIONARY

John Ware is the true visionary who dreamed up this international film festival in 2003. Over the years, John and his fearless team of faith-filled mavericks have added all kinds of perks: red carpet, celebrity guests, networking events, industry parties, etc.

HOW DID YOU GET $1,000,000?

When I asked John how he secured the million dollar prize for some lucky filmmaker, he simply said, “I asked!”

I was reminded of the words of James 4:2 “You desire and do not have… You have not because you do not ask…”

John “has” because he asked. And some up-and-coming faith-based filmmaker will have because John asked and EchoLight said “Yes”.

This is a cause for a real celebration, Fam!

If you’re in the LaLa, go to the festival. http://www.168film.com/

If you’re around the world, pray that EchoLight and other sponsors come out the woodworks to provide more opportunities for faith-based films to shine.

Lots of love from the LaLa, by way of B’More this week!
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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Gotta Love Va-Ca!

NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Gotta Love Vacations
© NaimaLett.com/blog

kn5
© NaimaLett.com

Gotta Love Vacations

For a hot second, Kevin and I had some down time with family this week… in the sun… by the water… on the East Coast… it was nice. A very special thanks to my dad for calling us all together again and making it all hap with our 20+ family tribe of adults and kids. Mega-fun!

Have you taken your final summer vacations yet?
How did it go?
What’s your favorite spot?

For me, it was the best to just sit down somewhere. Sometimes we have to do that.
Just. Sit. Down.

That “rest” thing is so necessary.
No wonder God instituted a Sabbath for His People.

So, yes, I’m blogging on a Friday night in Dallas now. I’m at ProvenWay’s Leadership Retreat. It’s their 10th anniversary, and I’m so honored that they invited me back to speak. I was at their 1st retreat as a dramatist/dancer. Lots can go down in a decade!

Relationships are so important.
Family, friends, ministry partners.
I’m so very blessed to do life with some amazing folks.
I really do wish for you the same.

Lots of love from the Big D!
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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