Features

The Ru Report #140

Fresh Face: Keke Palmer
"I'm just doing what I do and if I get parts, then I do my best at them. I just work hard at everything I do."

That's KeKe Palmer--young break-out entertainer on the rise. It's 8:43 a.m. Pacific Standard Time and the precocious adolescent is on a roll. She just drank "some pop" (Hawaiian Punch) her father gave her as The Palmers' summer day is just getting underway in their cozy abode situated in Duarte, California--just Northeast of Pasadena.

The 10-year-old Chicago native is taking Hollywood by storm, and piquing the interests of casting agents far and wide. Earlier this year, she made her debut in the CBS investigation series"Cold Case" followed by her big screen breakthrough in the urban comedy box-office hit Barbershop 2: Back In Business. In the flick--co-executive produced by Ice Cube and directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan--Little Miss Palmer stars opposite Queen Latifah and Cedric The Entertainer in one of the movie's more humorous scenes. "I can't believe that I am in that movie with them people," she gushes, after admitting that she watched the DVD version (released last month via MGM Studios) "a whole lot of times."

According to her publicist, KeKe was "practically born on stage." Her parents, Lawrence and Shayla Palmer, are former stage actors. KeKe (real name: Keyana Palmer) spent many nights backstage, in the dressing rooms, orchestra pit and lighting booth of the Black Ensemble Theater, where mom and dad frequently performed during the early 90's. She's the second born of four children. Her mom tells The Ru Report that she's "always upbeat."

"I didn't think this could ever happen to me," KeKe reveals. It all started for her a few years ago when her mom answered a newspaper ad for a casting call for auditions for "The Lion King," when they were back in the Windy City. "We weren't really thinking about acting or anything," KeKe explains. "My mom just knew that I liked to sing. So she just decided to ask me did I want to go, and I said 'Yeah, I would love to go."

With more than a thousand kids up for the various spots, the casting agent reached out to The Palmers after their middle child went on her second callback. She was offered the job to play Young Nala in the show. One problem: the show was opening in San Francisco, not Chicago, as they initially thought. "It probably would've been fun but we weren't ready to travel yet," she adds.

A little later, fate dealt a good hand to The Palmers when the patriarch of the household was offered a job at a polyurethane company in California--an area easily commutable to Hollywood.

After receiving rave reviews from the director, as well as principal cast members while on the set of "Cold Case," blessings continued to flow for KeKe when a family friend introduced her parents to acclaimed producer Ralph Farquhar ("Moesha," "The Proud Family"). At first, Mr. Farquhar wanted KeKe to audition for a show he had already written and was about to pitch to the networks. But after seeing her, he quickly changed his mind saying, "This kid doesn't need to be placed in any show other than her own" and created her own vehicle for Disney. Tentatively titled "KeKe Rules," it is currently in development.

Next up for the youngster is a starring role in the upcoming TNT movie, "The Wool Cap," also featuring William H. Macy, Ned Beatty and acting legend Don Rickles. An updated twist on Jackie Gleason's Gigot, the touching telefilm centers on a mute who befriends a little girl in the building where he is the superintendent, communicating with each other through sign language and developing a special friendship. "We shot the movie in Montreal and it was freezing cold. But everyone was so nice and regular. It was a really good environment," she says.

"The Wool Cap" will air in November.

Down the pike, KeKe is hoping to work with Laurence Fishburne on the movie Akeelah and the Bee and also has designs to go up for the Tatum O'Neal role in the upcoming remake of The Bad News Bears, due to star Billy Bob Thornton. Wouldn't it be genius if the producers of the film brought some color into the cast with this dynamic young woman, who turns the big 1-1 on August 26?

The Los Angeles-based Coast To Coast Talent Agency is currently representing her.

People have started to compare her to a "baby Whitney Houston." Oy vey. Let's hope that turns out for the best. Proving that she has the vocal chops, the ultra-talented tween burst out into song on request, during the interview, bringing a great fervor to the power ballad "Be a Lion" from "The Wiz." But on closer inspection, she fumbles with a few lines, and after some urging from her beloved mom--to "sing something she knows"--KeKe gives Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige a run for the money with her very own rendition of Rose Royce's R&B staple "I'm Going Down."

"Ya know, you just got to do what you do and you have to do your best," she encourages other young folk getting into the entertainment business. "And if you don't get a part, don't be upset. Just keep on going. You always have to stay strong, you always have to stay humble and remember where you came from. You always have to know that you got that gift from God… so always be thankful for what you have. I sure am."

New Movie News
One of my favorite divas is at it again! Sheryl Lee Ralph--star of the Broadway stage, television and silver screen-- will bring her annual black film fest to the sandy shores of Jamaica once again this year. The Sixth Annual Jamerican Film & Music Festival returns to the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort & Country Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica, November 3 through November 7. "The festival is not just about watching movies," says the former "Dreamgirls" and "Moesha" star. "It's where you can also learn the real ins and outs of the entertainment industry, make connections with Hollywood insiders and take steps towards solid success. And you get to have a good time while doing it." Named "One of the Top 10 Film Festivals in the World" by E! Entertainment, the festivities will feature films from some of the top emerging filmmakers from around the world, acting and writing workshops, along with musical performances. At press-time, support from the Jamaican Tourism Board was being ironed out, while a recent announcement for open submission of filmed works to be featured was released. In the past, the event had drawn notables such as Patti LaBelle, Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, Charles Burnett, Anthony Anderson, Tina Andrews, Alfre Woodard, Robbi Reed, Mara Brock Akil, Salim Akil, Victoria Rowell, Hill Harper, Chris Tucker, Robert Townsend, Jeffrey Byrd and Lee Daniels. This year, Ms. Ralph hopes to continue the dream. For more information, log onto: Jamericanfilmfest.com or call Island Girl Productions at 323-936-8951.

Actor/rapper Nick Cannon is going the multimedia route. The Jive recording artist and Drumline star is getting into the gaming field--the board game industry. Milton Bradley's classic "Twister" game has morphed into "Twister Moves" for the new millennium. And Mr. Cannon's new song "I Can Do That," is featured in an exclusive remix version on a bonus CD that's included on the latest editions of the game. "Twister" is also the title sponsor of Mr. Cannon's comedy and music tour, which kicked off recently in Boston. Titled "Twister Moves Presents: Nick Cannon's It's All Fun and Game Tour," each show features Mr. Cannon performing the song with Twister Moves dancers. The tour plans to hit 15 cities. On the movie front, he will next star in Shall We Dance? with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez, opening in October.

Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas continues on his crusade to alert the public of the dangers of smoking. The writer of such films as Basic Instinct, Flashdance and Jagged Edge recently released the third installment in his trilogy of public service announcements--the newest titled "One Hundred Year Old Man." The Showgirls director teamed up with The Cleveland Clinic in 2002 after his successful treatment for cancer to form the "Join Joe Campaign," an award-winning, grassroots effort that spreads his anti-smoking message. The web-based campaign can be accessed at Clevelandclinic.org/joinjoe. American History X director Tony Kaye helmed the latest PSA, which shatters the myth that anyone is immune to the dangers of smoking. Mr. Eszterhas, who began using tobacco at age 12, says he once believed he would be "that hundred-year-old man that you read about who stills smokes." As an adult he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He is the first major Hollywood figure to criticize his own role in the glamorization of smoking on screen and to call for a voluntary industry-wide ban of smoking in films.

This summer's biggest box-office draw, Spider Man 2 is getting even bigger. The film--starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst--has already grossed over to $330 million. But now you can see the Super Sized version. The Columbia-Tri Star film is available on IMAX screens worldwide. The critically-acclaimed box-office hit has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. "When you have a movie like Spider-Man 2, it makes sense to offer audiences an opportunity to experience the film in this incredible format," said Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution. Loews Cineplex--clearly one of the leaders in movie theater chains--have three IMAX screens in cities such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The super-sized Spidey can be seen there, among other venues.

Etc
The eight-time Grammy Award winning R&B diva Anita Baker will appear on the cover of the October issue of Essence magazine, which hits stands in September. It's the mag's annual "We've Got The Power Issue"--which Oprah Winfrey graced last year. The Toledo, Ohio native's new album, My Everything--her first in ten years--is due in stores on September 7, via Blue Note Records. The 10-track set features collaborations with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, George Duke and Barry Eastmond. On September 4, the romantic soul singer is scheduled to perform at syndicated radio personality/political activist Tom Joyner's "Family Reunion" in Orlando, Florida.

"The Ru Report"has learned that plus-sized multimedia star Mo'Nique has wrapped a pilot for her very own day-time talker. Produced by Telepictures--the same folks who packaged shows for Rosie O'Donnell, Sharon Osbourne and Ellen DeGeneres--the show is currently being shopped to syndicators, with a proposed airdate for Fall 2005. According to a source close to the production, the show will feature a real mix of celebrity and regular people. For the pilot, actors Tom Arnold, Tisha Campell-Martin, Antonio Sabato, Jr. Vivica A. Fox and Mo'Nique's rumored lover interest, R&B crooner Gerald Levert, have participated in the Los Angeles tapings. Now considered "The Queen of Urban Comedy," Mo'Nique, who recently starred in Soul Plane--due out on home video on September 7 via MGM Studios--is also working on a follow-up to her best-seller Skinny Women Are Evil. The new book, to be published by a Disney imprint--is described as a fiction book for teens. But before then, her new straight-to-video movie Beauty Shop--produced by Magic Johnson--will show up in stores this October, through Urbanworks Entertainment. She just can't stop--won't stop.

My folks at Black 2: Broadway is bringing the heat with a sizzling line-up for the summer season. On August 16, a battle of the diva trios will take place at Show nightclub, starting at 8:00 p.m. In a clever twist on programming--in the works before this year's Tony Awards telecast--the all-girl singing trios of the hit Broadway musicals "Hairspray" (Dynamite), "Caroline, Or Change" (The Radio) and "Little Shop Of Horror" (The Street Urchins) will have a face off--and sing their faces off. Now, I've seen all three of these sensational musicals, and this will be one event not to miss. And for equal opportunity purposes (Broadway isn't all about "the girls and the ladies," ya know) a trio of men, from the show "From My Hometown," will cap off the night. And according to independent power publicist Gwendolyn Quinn, platinum-selling, chart-topping dance diva-cum-new Broadway babe Deborah A. Cox will partake in the festivities. Perhaps the newest star of the hit Broadway musical "Aida" will agree to host the show--or bless the audience with a few songs. I only hope.

"Why, oh why…Why they gotta do me like that?"

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Message Karu F Daniels or email him directly at therureport@aol.com