Our Own Kimberly Jesse Interviews George Tillman Future Director of SWIRLING Movie

May 27th, in Press & Reviews, Swirling, the Book, by Christelyn Karazin

Talk about six degrees of separation!

Author : Christelyn Karazin

Author's Website | Articles from Christelyn Karazin

Sheesh, it’s a small world. My buddy Kimberly Jesse, a mainstay around Hollywood’s elite, interviewed George Tillman Jr., co-founder of State Street Productions during the premiere of Faster, starring my imaginary husband, Dwayne Johnson. To get the connection here, George Tillman’s company approached Janice and I to package SWIRLING for a major motion picture to present to the major studios. George and his creative executive, Stacey Glassgold love SWIRLING (thank you, Jesus and all the saints) and believe they can help us craft the script and cast based on the core message of the book, which is to choose character above color. (And on a personal note, I just really admire George. He’s happily married to a beautiful woman and has three kids. I’m looking forward to his next project, which is a Miles Davis biopic. This should be good!)

George and his wife, Marcia at the "Notorious" premeire

Anyway, he’s Kimberly doing her thing:

Dang! Kimberly knows er’rybody!

Black Women With Other Brothers 1656 pts

I LOVE this & Kimberly I feel very sisterly towards her she's adorable talented and she has a backbone of steel, very inspirational.

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KimberlyJessy1 66 pts

DeeDeeRussell ty sis, I feel the same way about you!! I stand strong for what I believe in! Its easy having sisters like you and the other ladies around!

KimberlyJessy1 Yes ma'am!

Kimberly Jessy 53 pts

just saw this for the first time!! thanks!!!

SwirlQueen 1067 pts

Kimberly JessyYeah girl, we were thrilled to see the piece!

SwirlQueen its my honor to share, I have a lot of pieces I have not put out there yet, but I will!

Betty Boo 259 pts

Yay Christelyn will support the movie!!!

Yay Kimberly!! Whoot Whoot!

DeepWater 2519 pts

Testing.

MZ Elf 2743 pts

Kimberly J is just as gorgeous in person as on this video! I love all the down to earth women that are a part of BB&W's inner circle. What's more, it feels like being part of a big family of people that truly do want you to live the best life possible. She is a natural and soooo goood at interviewing! I love that some black men recognize the value in what you and Janice are doing. Especially this one in particular, lol!

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Leona_LoveQuest 434 pts

Congrats Christelyn! That is really exciting news! You're about to BLOW UP!!!

Morenika 870 pts

Christelyn, I love the fact that you already have the connections. I know how passionate you and Janice are about the subject of Swirling so, I hope that when the movie comes about, the person creating the movie understand that this is not another stupid-fied black girls looking desperate and straight from the hood, finger snapping movie. I know you will make them portray us we are, educated, hard-working, classy women as I believe most of us women you correspond with daily are. We are more than women, seeking any man, rather white, black or other, we are seeking life long partners.... I can't wait until this happens for you.

Christelyn 9255 pts moderator

Morenika "I hope that when the movie comes about, the person creating the movie understand that this is not another stupid-fied black girls looking desperate and straight from the hood, finger snapping movie." >>That was a requisite for our agreement--both Janice and I were firm on that. We review all scripts for approval.

Christelyn Then, I know it will be done right..... I must say that I can feel the excitement as if this were me it was happening to. Well indirectly it is, because finally we will be able to shatter myths and stereo-types.. I pray.... Thank you Chris...

Morenika Christelyn Also, I should say, I wanted the "Stran-ge" link to add however this is, of course, a Paramount Pictures copyright.

Christelyn Morenika Anyways, damn man, went through a bit of Livefyre drama there.....in short, at this point now, what came to mind was the movie Boomerangs' Lady Eloises' executive "ok'd" campaign of, though unseen, "Stran-ge" perfume commercial to give said company a new "facelift" with horrific results. My point being that when folk want "to do X to accomplish Z" pertaining to AA women it either is 1) lost in translation from book to cinema and not what authors intended, 2) we're yet, again, some stereotypical meme/trope, and/or 3) made to look "crazy".

Glad that Ms./Mrs. Littlejohn and yourself are on top of your "game". Good, good.

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Honestly. Christelyn That's we know is going to be a great movie....We will be portrayed correctly.

ElfeV 7359 pts

Really exciting stuff going on! cant wait!

Well done!

My latest conversation: Conversation @ http://happydarkgirls.blogspot.com/b/app-preview?token=oA21njMBAAA.drZJFosVoF-qp-soCyp7sg.UCkY7AolMu9h7GSNYqmpHg

Congrats on the interview. Way to go Kim!

Lejusdecoco 234 pts

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I hope this movie open the minds of Black Women.

Congrats chris!

AnInterestedObserver 1029 pts

I sincerely hope this movie does good things for Black women & girls. It is long overdue!

Brenda55 20978 pts moderator

Honestly. AnInterestedObserver

"black woman and girls need much more than another movie paring them with a white guy."

And what pray tell in your opinion would that be?

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Brenda55 Honestly. AnInterestedObserver Give him some rope, Brenda and Toni. He'll hang himself.

"Better guidance.

More support.

More love.

More people looking out for their interests and protection ESPECIALLY in the early stages of their development."

Looks like the women and men who are and who support BB&W,NWNW AND BWE have got this. Now it is about spreading the message. Movies and books are two of the many ways of doing this.

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SirLoinDeBeef 2660 pts

Brenda55 How about a ravening horde of horny, older white guys, now finally able to get it on with the kind of brown girl/woman they really always wanted ... but, for a variety of reasons, just couldn't get.

SirLoinDeBeef " to get it on"

Dear have you been in the Marvin Gaye CD's again?

Vera12 227 pts

SirLoinDeBeef

Horny, older white guys? WTF

MaryAliceMiller 205 pts

Honestly. Brenda55 AnInterestedObserver Who is going to step forward to provide that "missing" guidance, support, and love? Who?

Honestly. from the post "...the core message of the book, which is to choose character above color."

Honestly. Brenda55

Honesty, it would seem to me that a movie being made about instructing Black women how to improve their lives and get the best for themselves would fall under the "more support" "love" "better guidance" and more people looking out for their interests and protection" examples you give. This is clearly a labor of love on Christelyn's part, so I fail to understand why you made that original comment. Also, how can you decide that just because I applaud this movie that I am not aware that Black women & girls need help in other areas too? if I see ANYTHING being done to help Black women & girls in areas other than entertainment, I will applaud those too. I have done so in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. I also think that movies like this are a big part of the helping process that Black women & girls need. You can disagree with me all you like, but please do not ever doubt my love/support for Black women & girls and my desire to see them happy and live great lives.

Brenda55 Honestly.

I would think that applauding attempts being made by people who care about Black women & girls would be a part of what Honestly is looking for. The color of the man's skin should not be an issue if that man is a good boyfriend/husband to a Black woman and takes care of her the way a man is supposed to.

Brenda55 Honestly. AnInterestedObserver Exactly. Sorry to hear that you all are running into "hateraid" nation. This is why I've moved into a "majority" (sadly - mixed feelings) White area a long, long, long time ago. Knew that I did not want what "Blakistan" had to offer. I only hope that Black women will begin to see the larger picture as I did long ago.

Went to the beach this Memorial Day Holiday, saw, at the minimum, 30 Black male/white-non-Black female "couples" down there. The "Black" men seemed proud that they were not with "one of us", I kid you not. I've known this for many, many years; they don't want "us". We must move on, forward and upward. It's now time to leave the "Black Love" behind. My own Black lineage did not and does not want "me". They gon (not "gone" but gon), time to move on........such as life..........

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That should say "I would think that applauding attempts being made by people who care about Black women & girls to help them would be a part of what Honestly is looking for"

Deepwater Horizon Brenda55 Honestly.

It is their loss. If they are stupid enough to throw Black women away, then I do not want to hear them crying when other men are SMART enough to reconize the great catches that Black women are. They also need to stop leeching off of Black women since they cannot reciprocate in kind and do not want good women whose only crime was being born Black.

AnInterestedObserver Brenda55 Honestly. I HEARD THAT! Not yo' mama, maid or ************ atm, ya heard, bwwwwaahhhhaaaaa! You got it, right on target!

AnInterestedObserver Brenda55 Honestly. That's what I'm talkin' about!

Deepwater Horizon Brenda55 Honestly. AnInterestedObserver @Deepwater, yes BM floss with their nonBlack women, what else is new? BW are now "exploring our options" just as they do. Notice some BM salt they sprinkle on BW IRR. But hey, high fives to Kim and Kanye.

AnInterestedObserver Brenda55 Honestly. I think to say "stupid enough" is a bit rough, however "we" are not "trophies" in certain Black males' minds. Since the horse is dead, I will say this, I was "Black and ugly" for many years under the umbrella of the "Black Male Gaze" and my internal fortitude would not allow this to manifest, it already manifested with the "distaste" of my own sperm donor toward my mother and myself, thus the spiral into poverty. That said, however, I did see such behavior and actions with this immediately among my (Black) school and corporate male "compadres" and wanted no part of their pathology. Traitor? Most definitely yes in some circles. However, I live "freely" with little or no "compunction" to adhere to Black myths of being "Mammy", "the Mule", "Sapphire", or "Jezebel". I live according to "my" rules on my terms, not theirs. This is a difficult "road to hoe" with males in general and Black males in particular. To free one's mind is to discard the garbage that has been fed for many years, particularly to Black women and girls. I've moved on from that paying a somewhat difficult price to be "me". A price worth paying for, my terms, my time, my dime, with whom I want. Fortitude. No school can teach you that, only life itself can teach you this.

DeeDeeRussell Brenda55 Honestly. AnInterestedObserver Yeah, I here ya. Kanye already stated that Kim "is his Beyonce". So what does this mean? He's jealous of JZ in that "homie" got the top woman "in the game" so you now want a fake version of the real thing?

Caveat: Still stunned that "Bey" would choose this individual for her "spouse". Then again, I "thought" this with Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown". He NEVER did deserve her (though talented as hell) - still dbr). Gone now, and were married in 1994, divorced in 2007, then as now, he NEVER did deserve her......I always thought she "deserved and required" much better.........(so beautiful and talented........what a ******* waste) in my opinion. Still burnt about those 2.

Deepwater, sorry if me calling them stupid bothers you, but it has to be said. As a man it makes me absolutely sick to my stomach the way too many Black men abuse Black women & girls. I pull no punches when it comes to expressing my disgust about that. This line in your post, "is to discard the garbage that has been fed to Black women & girls" that right there is what makes me so mad. Why have so many Black males fed garbage to Black women & girls? For all the loyalty and love Black females have show them, this is how they repay it? I am sorry but I cannot endorse that, overlook it, nor mince words about how much it bothers me.

Deepwater Horizon DeeDeeRussell Brenda55 Honestly.

"Fake version of the real thing", I love it! LOL!

I SO agree with you about both Bey & my beloved Whitney (RIP), man she sure could have done much better than him. Considering how badly it ended for her I now worry even more greatly about our younger Black female stars like Rihanna, Fantasia, Bey, etc.

Honestly. AnInterestedObserver Honestly, why are you here? I mean really. Why are you HERE, honestly?

Toni_M 20103 pts moderator

Honestly. Christelyn AnInterestedObserver Is that what you call "back handed compliments"? Respectful? You have pretty much made it clear that you are anti-BW IRR dating. And yet you are on an IRR site.

You've made comments suggesting your "concern" that BW are being forced and coerced into IRR dating, as if that's a major problem, when it's not.

Is it any wonder people are confused as to what it is you are honestly hoping to share with an entire community that is not on the same page.

Toni_M Toni, nobody is confused by (dis)Honestly. I have a very good idea who it is and where it is from. Glad Chris isn't allowing those cretins post using their real names anymore.

TROJAN HORSE.

DeeDeeRussell Toni_M WORD!

I agree that Black women & girls need much more, however, I will not simply dismiss this movie because it is telling Black women to consider being open to romance with a White/non-Black man, nor would I dismiss a movie about a true romance between a Black woman and a Black man. You see, ALL I care about is the well being of Black women & girls. I want Black women and girls to be happy. If a Black woman finds true romance with a White man who will cherish her and treat her like the prize she is, then I am happy. If a Black woman finds true romance with a Black man who will cherish her and treat her like the prize she is, then I am happy. Am I making myself clear? Also, there IS a need for media productions treating Black women like human being worthy of respect and love, telling them how to improve their lives, that they deserve the best, and celebrating their many impressive accomplishments and telling them how wonderful/beautiful/special they are, instead of the crap we get now insulting Black females with racist tired steretypes and spitting on their humanity. So it is MUCH MORE than what you unfairly dismissed it as. And it IS needed.

Good Day, Ms. Karazin.

DITTO Toni_M.

Never did I think in my lifetime, even in my wildest dreams, think that I'd see a Black (bi-racial) President of the United States, leader of the "free" Western world (along with his Black wife and children) in the White House (Inauguration 2009). This was truly, truly a fundamental shift our "modern" American era (and my soul).

Your book "Swirling....How To Date, Mate, Mixing Race, Culture and Creed", and now, soon, an upcoming movie is, yet again, groundbreaking on a whole new set of fronts........having Black American women (and women of the African Diaspora) to explore all of their dating, marriage and family options wholeheartedly beyond the same-old-tired-as-hell-trope and even more tired than Methuselah paradigm of "NBAB will do" (Again, that horse been dead, decayed, and now soon to be buried).

As a Black woman, whom's "left" the BC many, many years ago, finally, someone (that'd be you Ms. Karazin-haha) Black women are beginning to explore their options in larger numbers......won't say "mass scale" yet.

Finally, y'all catchin' up to me - hahaha .

I hope you "vet" the above folk in that they will give Swirling the true and proper treatment that it deserves (if these ain't the "right" cats to do said film, drop 'em and get new set of folk with you and Ms./Mrs. Littlejohns' vision........bwwwwwhhhhaaaaaa!).

Congratulations again, Ms. Karazin

(Good Luck to ya')

Wow, small world indeed. O.O

I'm still kind of in shock that a movie is actually happening. This is all so amazing and exciting!

Law Wanxi 5952 pts

Toni_M

[doing my Rajiv Srinivasan impression...]

You know, Toni, I am veddy much thinking that 'Swirling' could be veddy popular vere it to be made in Mumbai. Adding in of six or seven songs and dances [A R Rahman for the musics and Farah Khan for the dance numbers] could ensure a hit upon the box office. It could be quite profitable, especially should the budget be falling under RS one crore.

Acha, eck moment; va va va, I am thinking this has perhaps already been previously realised as filmi:

http://youtu.be/hIhe-VqMBVI

Kuchni, it vas just a thought.