BOTH LISA CORTES AND MO’NIQUE ARE FEATURED IN PUT YOUR DREAMS FIRST!
CONGRATULATIONS, LISA CORTES AND MO’NIQUE! What an inspiration you both are!
These ladies swept the Sundance Film Festival as Executive Producer and outstanding actor respectively in PUSH. The film adaptation of Sapphire’s searing novel captured The Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Prize in addition to the Special Jury Prize for Acting, awarded to Mo’Nique for her nightmarish portrayal of Mary, the lead character Clareece’s abusive mother.
http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/films/
push_based_on_the_novel_by_sapphire
Both Lisa and Mo’Nique were generous enough to share their trials, triumphs and secrets to career fulfillment in my soon-to-be-released career guide for those who want to know what the entertainment biz is REALLY like, entitled Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business.
PUSH Executive Producer and music industry icon Lisa Cortes.
Lisa talks about making a clean break after a strenuous lawsuit against PolyGram Records and changing lanes into film, where she joined forces with anti-establishment producer-director Lee Daniels (the only African American to win an Oscar as a producer for Monster’s Ball).
Mshaka (right) With Mo’Nique and Woody Victor at BET Awards ’07 Host Promo Shoot
Mo’Nique breaks it down as only she can about hiring the right entourage and breaking the silence of racism and sexism in television production as the executive producer and creator of not one but TWO hit reality shows.
Mo’Nique (left) and Gabourey Sibide (right), who plays Clareece
Available now for pre-orders wherever you buy books, in stores April 23
Thembisa TV
Thembisa S. Mshaka 
LISA CORTES AND MO’NIQUE “PUSH” AND SWEEP SUNDANCE!
January 27, 2009These ladies swept the Sundance Film Festival as Executive Producer and outstanding actor respectively in PUSH. The film adaptation of Sapphire’s searing novel captured The Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Prize in addition to the Special Jury Prize for Acting, awarded to Mo’Nique for her nightmarish portrayal of Mary, the lead character Clareece’s abusive mother.
http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/films/
push_based_on_the_novel_by_sapphire
Both Lisa and Mo’Nique were generous enough to share their trials, triumphs and secrets to career fulfillment in my soon-to-be-released career guide for those who want to know what the entertainment biz is REALLY like, entitled Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business.
Honorable Mention: Also featured in the book is makeup legend of music, TV and film, Nzingha, who did a masterful job on Push.
See Lee Daniels talk about the film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5NvQPjyWzU
Pre-order Put Your Dreams First now and save over 30%. Trust me, these wormen’s stories are worth the wait while you get the savings!
http://www.amazon.com/Put-Your-Dreams-First-entertainment/dp/0446409464
Sisters storming Hollywood. That’s what happens when you Put Your Dreams First!
Tags:Audience Prize, BET Awards, Essence, Gabourey Sibide, Grand Jury Prize, Hollywood, Lee Daniels, Lisa Cortes, Mo'Nique, Monster's Ball, Nzingha, Oscar, Polygram Records, Push, Sapphire, Special Jury Prize for Acting, Sundance Film Festival, Thembisa Mshaka, Variety, Women
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