Naima Imani Lett Blog

From Naima Imani Lett - August 2008

Hi Fam,

First, sorry it’s taken me this long, but I’m finally connecting with you all via the social networks i.e. MySpace, Facebook, BisonRoundup, etc…

Believe me, it’s not that I haven’t wanted to. It’s a timing thing. I’ve barely had enough time to keep up with my own site (http://NaimaLett.com, shameless plug! :) and my own emails, much less get involved with the other sites; but for those of you who have been persisitent with your emails and invitations: Thanks! It has worked.

We are up & running- woo-hoo!… Now that being said, please be patient with me. I try to respond to your inquiries in a timely fashion, but sometimes, it takes a minute. I ask for your understanding in advance. :)

Overall though, it’s really wonderful hearing from you all and finding out all that’s happening all over the world. I pray God’s best for you. I really do. And for my new friends, what’s up?! Great meeting you. There are so many talented folk out here. I am amazed. Keep doing your thing, really!

So, keep me in the loop! Feel free to add me, comment, pass along the pages and let others know I’m here (finally!). And most of all, let’s stay connected. For some of us, it’s been way too long (you know who you are… but it’s on me too… got to do better :)!

Go forth,
Naima
http://NaimaLett.com

From Naima Imani Lett, July 2008

Hi Fam,

I just got back from filming a couple of weeks on “Living Proof” which stars Harry Connick Jr, Bernadette Peters and Regina King, among many others. It was awesome. I’ll post more info soon. I’m running. But here is my latest video with some of my other film/TV clips. Let me know what you think.

Go forth,
Naima
http://NaimaLett.com

From Naima Imani Lett, Summer 2008

Busy! Busy! There has been a lot going on over here recently, but I’m not complaining. It’s good to be in the mix… especially since we’re on the cusp of the inevitable slow down with the industry preparing for the possible SAG strike. 

We’re all hoping an agreement can be reached without a strike. The recent Writer’s strike shut everything down for three months, and I  don’t know anyone who wants to go that route again, especially so soon after the last one. So, if you think about it, lift SAG and the AMPTP up. Negotiations are not easy and grace will have to be extended on both sides to make this thing work.

That being said, I had a ball recently filming on the feature film CHESS (see picture below).  I’ll write more about it soon, but here’s a quick pic of us hanging out in New Orleans. More info at IMDB.

I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what’s happening on your end of the world.

Go forth,
Naima
http://NaimaLett.com

From Naima Imani Lett- April 2008

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed for the cover story of Chosen Magazine. And a question came up that has been popping up in a lot of interviews that I’ve had lately (especially once people find out that I’ve gone to seminary). And that question has to do with this idea that Young Hollywood might be in a state of crisis.

It seems that more than ever, we’re seeing young entertainers (not to name names) arrested for drugs and/or drinking and driving, frequenting rehab, acting erratically, and tragically some dying.  

During this last interview, when asked about Hollywood’s actresses who seem to be spiraling out of control, this is what I said: “Actors are the most resilient people I know. We are rejected every single day… but still find the courage to keep going and doing this art that we love. My heart goes out when fellow artists may seem to have a hard time with this whirlwind that’s called the industry, and I invite all to walk in each other’s shoes before we judge one another…”

This is not to excuse our behavior- each person has to at some point take responsibility for our own actions, but I really think that we’ve got to look deeper and ask the questions like ’what’s behind the erractic behavior’? What are the deeper issues that lie underneath?

Also, what part does the media play? Is Young Hollywood out of control, or has it always been this way, and it’s just that we as a public know about it now because of instant media, internet, blogs, etc. Isn’t ‘acting out’ seemingly rewarded by our media? The crazier the behavior, the more press, right? You know the old adage: ‘all press is good press’. I’m just posing the questions…

I’d love to hear your point of view. Hit me back and let me know what you think!

Go forth,
Naima
http://naimalett.com

From Naima Imani Lett- March 2008

What happens during a television/film writer’s strike? Lots of us are blessed to have opportunities to go back to the theatre! That’s what’s happened, my friends. I have the wonderful opportunity (I tend to think maybe once-in-a-lifetime opportunity) to portray Laura in The Glass Menagerie. If you know Tennessee Williams’ plays, you’ll know why I say that. 

But African American versions of Mr. Williams’ plays are popping up everywhere right now, most notably on Broadway with “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” which is directed by Debbie Allen and stars Phylicia Rashad, James Earl Jones, Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose (which I’m excited to see next month! Go people! Go!)

So, I’m excited to make a little history here in Dallas with this one too. Come out and see it. It’s mad DRAMA!  

“The Glass Menagerie”
Directed by William (Bill) Ray Earl
MARCH 14-30
Fri-Sat 8 PM; Sat-Sun 3 PM
The ArtCentre Theatre
1028 15th Place, Plano, TX (Dallas)

Received Good Reviews:

“Naima Imani Lett is the right age and type for Laura, and she’s striking in the role…” Dallas Morning News, Lawson Taitte

“The beauty of Lett’s performance is the subtle grace with which she brings her character to life…” Dallas Weekly, Janeane Anderson

“Laura, played flawlessly by Naima Imani Lett, is a young woman whose handicap…” North Dallas Gazette, Lon Rogers

“Lett stars in coveted roles, lifts aspiring actresses to new heights…” Dallas Weekly

From Naima Imani Lett (January 2008) -

Happy New Year!

I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited about 2008. Yes, there’s a lot on the plate, but I’m still thrilled to be at the table, so to speak.

2007 was such a blessed year, and truly, by the end of it, your girl had to sit down somewhere. We had the wonderful opportunity to chill with family and rest. R-E-S-T. It’s a beautiful thing.

And that’s one of my resolutions this year (though I have to be honest, I don’t make a lot of resolutions…As a born-planner, I instead make lots of plans!)- but this year, I ‘plan’ to work more ‘planned’ R-E-S-T into the busy schedule. Ask me how I’m doing with that 2 months from now!

Over the holidays, I was reminded to enjoy the simple things, the small blessings along the way that add joy to our lives. As I sat with my father in a movie theatre and beamed while he sang (softly, of course) one of the songs playing on the soundtrack, I thought about how much I truly loved him and enjoyed his company. It was a simple moment, a small blessing that brought me much joy.

Our lives are made up of many jewels that are just like this…if only we slow down long enough and take the time to notice them- the precious gems shining around us from our loved ones, our friends, our co-workers, even those we just meet…

For 2008, I pray that you have and give multitudes of simple moments and small blessings that bring you and those around you much joy… or maybe I can talk my dad into taking you to the movies and singing for you too…

WHAT’S NEXT: STAY TUNED FOR USA Airing of “WIRE IN THE BLOOD”…
UK Airing on Monday Jan 7th…

From Naima Imani Lett (December 2007) -

I have always loved Christmas. That classic song made popular by Andy Williams (or Johnny Mathis, depending on which radio station you listen to) best describes my feelings about it:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year | There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing |  When love ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Are you swaying back and forth yet? There’s just no way to listen to that song and not sway from left to right or snap-snap, snap-snap your fingers to each little diddy. But for me, it’s not just this song. It’s all of them. I find myself dancing my way all through the holiday…in my house, in the stores, in my car.

I put in the Christmas CD Gift Rap by Cross Movement (one of my favorite hip hop groups) the other day and jammed all the way to my destination. I had flashbacks of my entire family grooving to the same CD last Christmas. I laughed as I thought of my nieces and nephews putting it down. Our family room was pure joy.

And I think that’s one of the reasons I love Christmas so much - it was such a beautiful time for my family. When I see the first lights go up, I’m transported back to my childhood and all the wonderful traditions we had: my dad putting on the music, my mom pulling out the decorations, all of my siblings and me gathered around the tree putting on ornaments, lights, garland, while dancing, singing, laughing. Good times.

And as we all grew up and moved out, it didn’t matter where we were all over the world- on Christmas, we were making our way back to that house, putting on the music and putting up the decorations while dancing, singing, laughing. Good times. And now our next generation joins us and it’s a beautiful thing…And we are so very grateful and we acknowledge that we are so very blessed…

So we celebrate! We celebrate our immediate family as well as our extended family and our global spiritual family. As good as it all is on this side of heaven, we also recognize that this hardly compares to the awesome celebration that is taking place simultaneously in the heavenly realm as all of heaven and earth rejoices over the reason that we have Christmas in the first place:

“…Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men…(Philippians 2:5-11)

We celebrate the advent (or coming) of our Lord and that He loved us enough to come as the God-Man and give up his life that if we believed in Him, we could be a part of His family forever.

Can you imagine what it’ll be like when one day we are joined with our heavenly family and our God, our heavenly Father pumps up the music, we pull out our best decorations, and we all gather around dancing, singing, laughing. Good times.

I’m convinced that’s what my mother is doing there right now… along with our many loved ones who have gone on home. So, what are we waiting on? Let’s hold it down on this end while they celebrate on that end. Let’s join the party! It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Go forth,
Naima

From Naima Imani Lett (Nov 2007):

Thanks so much for all your inquiries re: the new Lifetime movie “Queen Sized” (Director Peter Levin). Just to clear some things up: Yes, I was offered the role of Lucy Phillips, the passionate reporter who befriends and breaks the story about a plus-sized high school senior (Nikki Blonsky, Hair Spray) who’s running for homecoming queen and the discrimination she faces. Love the piece. Very encouraging.

Had accepted the role and was looking forward to filming, BUT then had to decline because Production shifted my starting shoot date a couple of times and it conflicted with one of my presentations of “Shattered”. The interesting thing is that my host for “Shattered” (FCA) initially moved my performance date to accomodate the first “Queen Sized” shooting schedule that was released; however, when Lifetime shifted the dates again, we just couldn’t work it out….such is the biz! So that’s da truth, da real deal, da update. You heard it from me.

Thanks for the shout outs though (you all are always so supportive and I appreciate it), and you should watch the movie when it airs, especially all my junior high - highschool fam. The positive side is that the “Shattered” presentation was also for my middle/high school fam; so you all are really just getting a lot of love these days! Do your thing!

Go forth, Naima

If you can’t wait for the NEW LIFETIME joint & you’re in the mood for ‘vintage Jackie O’ (Jackie Ormond, that is), check out our “Inspector Mom” Rake Your Thieves episode short video clip where my Jackie finally comes clean to Danica McKellar’s Inspector Mom…

From Naima Imani Lett (Oct 2007):

To all my DC/MD fam, we are on the way! So excited! On Saturday, October 13th, I’ve been invited to open for Kirk Whalum, awesome world renowned jazz saxophonist, for his “Gospel According to Jazz, Part III” Concert and DVD recording. With George Duke and Lalah Hathaway as guests, it’s going to be LIVE!

For information and tickets, go to KirkWhalum.com. And hit me through our message box on the CONTACTS page and let me know if you plan on coming. Kevin and I are going to hang out at the end to meet and greet.

On a different note, is it me or is anyone else wondering where the year went?! I looked up and saw the calendar and was like, ‘It’s October?! Like a month from Thanksgiving…and two months from Christmas’. Wow!

I mean, we’ve already been planning for 2008 and all, but it just dawned on me that’s three months away. What’cha gonna do?!

Well, regardless of what’s happening in life at the moment (whether you’re on a mountaintop of in a valley), I hope that you can find a moment of peace and joy during these last three months of the year as opposed to the hectic race that we sometimes decide to run.

Find a moment and enjoy the Fall state fairs, caramel candy apples, football, “The Transformers” movie in IMAX, the leaves turning colors (if you’re in a part of the world where that happens) and that last gallon of Blue Bell Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream…or rather sharing that last gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream!

If nothing else, celebrate cooler days and yet another chance to reach out and extend a helping hand to someone who might need it. All the best!

Go forth!
Naima

I originally wrote the following blog back in September after we’d finished filming “Wire in the Blood” episode Prayer of the Bone. It’s airing now in April in the US. Enjoy the blog and let me know what you think in the comments below. Naima 

From Naima Imani Lett (Sept 2007):

We recently finished shooting the BBC crime series “Wire in the Blood: Prayer of the Bone” down in Austin. Pictures can be seen on soon on the Internet Movie Database. Check ‘em out and let me know what you think.

Your Girl was holding it down! We had a lot of excitement especially when I got stung…yeah you heard me- STUNG!

It was so funny. I thought I had accidentally gotten hit the wrong way in one of our shoot ‘em up sequences…My ear was on fire, and I was like, ‘I think I’m hit…My ear, my neck, I’m burning!”

But before I could get the words out, the medic was already on it!She was rubbing me down with a solution and explaining that a bee stung me at the exact moment I was being shot at. Go figure!

But everything was cool. All we could do at that point was laugh it off- more at my reaction than anything else. So dramatic! “Oh, I’m hit! I’m burning!” Swoon, Swoon- Scarlet O’Hara!

I think you all will really get into the series when it comes out. It’ll play on the BBC and on BBC America. If you want to get an update, make sure you get on our email list. We’ll send out a notification when our episode airs.

We have a movie premiere at a theatre here in town for “The Last Tomorrow” at the end of this month. I’ll let you know how it goes. Go forth!
Naima