Breakout star Brave Williams stars alongside Reginald Vel Johnson, Asia’h Epperson and a stellar cast in “The Christmas Lottery”. The film is a newcomer to a Christmas movie lineup of black families, stories and actors dominating screen time, this year. While the Bethlehem Star will be visible tonight for the first time in nearly a millennium, Baltimore’s newest star will be on the small screen in a new Christmas classic about a lost lottery ticket. Amid the family’s quest to find the ticket, they find much more than new wealth. There’s beauty inside each family, even if all you can see is its ugliness. See what and who they find in “The Christmas Lottery”.
About The Christmas Lottery
Gerald Davenport has requested that his three estranged daughters, Diedre, Nicole, and Tammy, come together for Christmas for a big announcement. He has won a $10 million dollar lottery! To get their share, the sisters must repair their broken relationship. But when their dementia-stricken mother, Diane, forgets where she hid the ticket, the Davenports are now in a race to find the ticket and fix their family all before Christmas Day.
The love shoots out from the screen…
Brave Williams
Also Starring: Reginald Vel Johnson, Asia’h Epperson, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Lorenzo “Renny” Cromwell, Terayle Hill, Kay-Megan Washington, Phylicia Morgan and includes cameos from Traci Braxton, Allison Seymour and Rob Gordon.
On “Talking Points”, Williams recounted the time spent filming with one of Black America’s favorite dads, Reginald Vel Johnson. She also shared the deep personal connection this film has to her. She stars as the middle child of three sisters and is the middle child in real life.
“It was very surreal to be fussed out by Asai’h in a scene then go to my wardrobe trailer and be fussed out by my real sister…it was a great experience!”
In perhaps the most rewarding experience of filming “The Christmas Lottery”, Williams’ older sister, Marie served as lead stylist for the film. Unlike many films, the set was surreal for many reasons. During filming, Williams shared fond memories of her father who suffered from and succumbed to dementia. A major plot development hinges on the mother’s struggle with the onset of dementia as the family must rise to the challenge and bond together in a time of crisis…finding the missing lottery ticket!
The film carries many themes but you will see the Davenports battle through life’s challenges, face family issues and ultimately re-discover the best gifts of Christmas, family.
“The Christmas Lottery” will re-air on:
Monday, December 21st at 7:00pm (est) on BET on Demand
Friday, December 25th at 9:00pm (est) on BETher
Check your local listings for additional airdates.
But Wait…There’s More!
“Her voice has always captured me. The first time I heard her sing Santa Baby I was mesmerized by simplicity of how she delivered each line, yet it was so magical. It’s been one of my favorite songs during the holiday.”
Brave Williams
Williams is heating up the big and small screen with impactful roles, but last Friday, she set the screen ablaze with visuals for her new single, “Santa Baby”, a cover of Eartha Kitt’s iconic Christmas groove. Williams is a gifted singer whose talents reach far beyond film. Williams has inked a deal between her imprint Brave New World, SRG ILS Group and Universal Music Group. Her two singles, “Don’t Tell Me No” and “Options” are also available for streaming and download.
When you’re the living and breathing synonym for the word “brave” – in fact, indomitable – you move on, following your creativity and passion where fate takes you. In the case of BRAVE WILLIAMS, that meant persistently pursuing her dreams, adeptly learning from her experiences and exposure and seizing opportunities presented until that eventual “right place, right time” scenario.
2R’s Entertainment & Media PR
Be sure to listen to our interview with Brave Williams and hear more about her amazing journey to this point in her career and why her future is so bright!
“A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” Premieres on Wednesday, December 5 AT 9PM ET
“Q85:A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FOR QUINCY JONES” Premieres on Sunday, December 9 AT 8PM ET
BET Networks is set to premiere two powerful specials in December, embracing the holiday spirit that uplifts and celebrates black excellence. “A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” premieres on Wednesday, December 5 at 9PM ET and “Q85:A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FOR QUINCY JONES” will air on Sunday, December 9 at 8PM ET.
“A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” is an empowering new one-hour special featuring former First LadyMichelle Obama in candid conversation with former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett at the Leading Women Defined symposium at the St. Regis hotel in Miami, FL. The women discuss a range of topics as Michelle Obama shares words of uplift, stories of sisterhood, the importance of self-care and her marked growth through her husband’s eight years in office.
Tune in to the captivating conversation with the Former First Lady as she shares anecdotes and salient advice from her worldwide bestselling autobiography, Becoming. “A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” premieres Wednesday, December 5 at 9 PM ET/PT on BET.
Michelle Obama on confidence and identity, “I always laugh when people ask, ‘how did you figure out how to be the First Lady?’”:
…On sisterhood, “When I meet good women, hold on to them and don’t compete with them”:
…On “sharing your shine”
…On self-care, “You’re worthy of a quality of life…why do you think you deserve to live a grind…to only leave yourself the crumbs of your day?”:
“Q85: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FOR QUINCY JONES” is a star-studded evening that celebrates the life and legacy of the icon. Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Brian McKnight, John Legend, Gloria Estefan, Emily Estefan,Fantasia, Charlie Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Meghan Trainor, Patti Austin, Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Cynthia Erivo, and Gregory Porter all hit the stage to pay tribute to Mr. Jones performing his classic works in this nostalgic musical special. Additionally, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Danny Glover, Usher Raymond, Dave Chappelle, LL Cool J, Rashida Jones, Ludacris, and Aloe Blacc share their personal stories of how Quincy has impacted them throughout the years.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS: BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
Tensions run high in the season three return of “FROM THE BOTTOM UP” returning Saturday, March 3 at 10 PMEST on BET HER. After a fall from grace, five high profile women begin the long road to redemption while navigating family, friendship, careers and love. “FROM THE BOTTOM UP” is an eight-episode docu-series following the journey of these women striving to change their lives, rebuild their families and live their dreams.
MEET THE CAST:
ANGELA STANTON Angela is basking in the recent success of her book, “Lies of a Real Housewife,” exposing a popular reality show star. She may see the light at the end of the tunnel now, but her story is flooded with sacrifice and betrayal. She has served jail time on multiple occasions, including 17 counts of conspiracy, racketeering, fraud and more. She wants to provide publishing deals for women who are currently incarcerated and teach them how to use their pain for prosperity. Now, her story has a fresh start, but where does she go from here?
TAMIKA WRIGHT Tamikais a brutally honest former teacher who always had entrepreneurial aspirations. She dabbled in investments, including a clothing boutique, but her eye was caught by a lucrative business to which a love interest attracted her. When she saw how her husband’s WIC accepting storefront businesses’ potential to bring in millions of dollars, she risked everything to capitalize on it and make opportunities within it for her family and friends. Her good intentions cost her everything, after being caught for the illegal business practices. Now that she and her husband have lost everything, she is trying to redeem her skillset and direct it towards legal entrepreneurship that will put her family in a comfortable place again.
DANIELLE JONES Danielle and her Boston banter encountered a popular Atlanta model, actor, and football player Stevie Baggs. Assuming that they had something rare and special she dove into a promising partnership. When she became pregnant, everything changed and what once bonded them wasn’t enough to doctor the damage. She moved back to Boston until their daughter was two years old while watching Stevie date and flaunt his lifestyle on social media. Heartbreak doesn’t land soft at any age, and she is determined to regain her focus and put her priorities on her passion regardless of her problems.
IESHA JENG Ieshahas had an elixir of experiences, good, bad, and pivotal fall into her lap over the years. Becoming a mother at the age of 16 launched her into adulthood sooner than she expected and, when her mother died, it seemed that nothing could make the toxic hand life had dealt her worse. When looking for a job, focused on taking care of herself and her children, she had a chance encounter that led to receiving her own wardrobe department while applying for a job at Mizay Entertainment.
BRANDI DAVIS As Brandi spent years as a dedicated girlfriend, she was led down dark road teaching her lessons about love and loyalty. While tangling herself in the thread of drug dealing, she was involved in a sting with a conspiracy charge to distribute cocaine. She served seven and a half out of ten years, leaving behind a three-year-old son and coming home to an 11-year-old was hard. She is trying to make something of her life after losing everything.
FROM THE BOTTOM UP comes from Flavor Unit Entertainment and executive producers Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Nicci Gilbert-Daniels, Luchia Ashe and Yaneley Arty. Series created by Gilbert-Daniels.
For video sneak peeks and first looks from season three of “FROM THE BOTTOM UP,” visit the official page at BET.com/fromthebottomup. Also, join the conversation about the show on Twitter by using hashtag: #FromTheBottomUp; follow the show for all updates & special surprises @BETHERTV and @BET.
About BET Networks BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA)(NASDAQ:VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in nearly 85 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, France and South Korea. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER (formerly CENTRIC), a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET Networks around the globe.
About Flavor Unit Flavor Unit is an entertainment company owned by Queen Latifah and long time partner Shakim Compere. Most recently, Flavor Unit won an Emmy for Outstanding TV Movie for their original film Bessie which they co-produced with HBO. The film also garnered 12 Emmy nominations, SAG and Golden Globe nominations. Flavor Unit began by executive producing Disney’s box office # 1 hit Bringing Down the House and then continued with Beauty Shop for MGM and The Perfect Holiday for Paramount. They have produced The Cookout with Lionsgate, as well as the film Just Wright with Fox Searchlight. Also on the small screen, they executive produced HBO’s critically acclaimed film Life Support which garnered a number of awards including an Emmy nomination and Golden Globe win for Queen Latifah, as well as Lifetime’s Original Movie Steel Magnolias which garnered an Emmy, SAG, and Critics Choice nomination for Alfre Woodard.
RISING AS THE #1 MOST SOCIAL CABLE SPECIAL OF FEBRUARY 2018*
THE INAUGURAL AWARDS SHOW IS NOW THE #1 CABLE SPECIAL OF CY18 AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MILLENIALS 18-34**
THE BET IT GIRLS’ PARTICIPATION AT “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” WEEKEND GARNERED A TOTAL 133.4MM IMPRESSION ACROSS TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM***
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 11: BlameItOnKway and LalaSizaHands accept an award onstage during BET’s Social Awards 2018 at Tyler Perry Studio on February 11, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
The live premiere of the “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” on Sunday, February 11 owned social, with over 16 million impressions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Rising as the #1 most social cable special of February 2018, the inaugural awards show had the millennial audience on lock on all screens making it the #1 cable special of CY 18 for African-American millennials 18-34**. Additionally, “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” garnered 2.2MM video views across BET’s social platforms.* Hosted by Michael Blackson “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” delivered a night packed with thrilling performances and unforgettable moments from Erykah Badu, Tony Rock, Justin Combs, Amanda Seales, DC Young Fly, Reginae Carter, YFN Lucci, Symone Sanders, Kash Doll, Blame it on Kway, Lala SizaHands,Amara La Negra, Jess Hilarious and many more. Executive produced by Mike Epps, this first-of-its-kind awards show celebrated all things social media over the past year.
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 11: Actress Amanda Seales performs during BET’s Social Awards 2018 – Show at Tyler Perry Studio on February 11, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
The high-energy social media celebration was a top trending topic for the entirety of the show surging on all social media platforms. The BET It Girls:Jasmine Luv, Leomie Anderson, Sandra Lambeck and Jasmin Brown gave viewers and all-access pass to “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” weekend garnering a total of 133.4MM Impressions across Twitter and Instagram***. The BET It Girls took their followers into ultimate VIP adventures through Atlanta culminating with a full 360 degree Facebook LIVE look at “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS”. Additionally, after Amanda Seale’s #BlackGirlMagic spoken word performance, there was a 257% spike in searches for “Black Girl Magic” on Google and Youtube.com.
On Desktop and Mobile web, “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” gained +179% growth in Video Views vs. same time period last year. Including the BET App and OTT, Video Views experienced a +84% increase vs. same time period last year. (Source: Adobe Analytics, Social Awards, Same Day (Sunday): 2/11/18 vs. 2/12/17).
In case you missed the show or a few seconds during the LIVE telecast due to equipment failure that got quickly resolved, watch all the must see moments now at BET.com/Social and on social platforms by following the hashtag #BETSocialAwards.
For a list of winners, performances and must-see moments visit www.bet.com/Social. Join the conversation on all social media platforms by using the hashtag: #BETSocialAwards.
Produced by BET Networks, “THE BET SOCIAL AWARDS” was executive produced by Mike Epps, Kyra Robinson and Eric Conte.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B ), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in nearly 85 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, France and South Korea. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER (formerly CENTRIC), a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET Networks around the globe.
Six Part Docu-Series Includes Exclusive Account of Tupac’s Murder from an Eyewitness in the Shooter’s Car
BET Networks is bringing audiences the definitive story of the most infamous record label in history: Death Row Records. Death Row Chroniclesdetails the unprecedented rise, fall and redemption of Death Row with compelling interviews featuring Death Row insiders including co-founder, Marion “Suge” Knight. Viewers will also have access to never-before-seen archival footage and a firsthand, eyewitness account of Tupac Shakur’s murder. Part 1 and 2 kick off the six-part, three-night docu-series on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 10:00PM ET.
In 1991, mega producer Dr. Dre, Suge Knight and rapper The D.O.C., with support from convicted criminal Michael “Harry-O” Harris, started a record label that put the rap world on notice that hip-hop would no longer be dominated by the East Coast. Dre released the label’s first multi-platinum project “The Chronic”; Snoop Dogg followed up with his own multi-platinum debut “Doggystyle”; then Tupac’s first record after being released from prison “All Eyez on Me” solidified Death Row’s position as the hottest label in the business. In a short time, Death Row skyrocketed into prominence. But their success story began to garner as much attention for its mayhem as it did for its music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9arrStd5EF8
The climb to the top of the music industry was propelled by Suge Knight’s intimidation tactics, including a battle with politician and activist C. Delores Tucker who vied for federal reform to get their music censored, contractual disputes involving Suge Knight and disgruntled artists and gang ties to the street which would prove fatal for Tupac. In the series, viewers will hear an exclusive account of Tupac’s murder from an eyewitness inside the shooter’s car and previously undisclosed details about the incident discovered during an LAPD-led, joint task force investigation.
With gripping testimony from Suge Knight, artists Kurupt, Michel’le, Danny Boy and others, in addition to unreleased footage and music from the Death Row vault, this series will take audiences deep inside the history of the renowned label and the legacy it left behind.
Death Row Chronicles is produced by Entertainment One (eOne) and Creature Films. eOne’s Tara Long and John Morayniss serve as executive producers with Creature’s Mark Ford, Kevin Lopez as well as showrunner Mario Diaz.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in nearly 85 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER (formerly CENTRIC), a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET Networks around the globe.
