Hello Beautiful » Abiola Abrams

VIDEO: How To Be Kim From RHOA

Abiola Abrams — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:30:50 +0000

On a recent episode of Style Network’s show The Dish, Kim Zolciak presented the Kim Zolciak Real Housewives of Atlanta Halloween Costume Kit — complete with wigs and wine. I know that I’m tardy for the party in sharing this now, but check it out!

AND if you still need a laugh afterward, check out my very own Abiola Abrams Real Housewives of Atlanta Red Riding in the Hood Halloween Costume YouTube video diary. “Thank you, Big Poppa!” Let me know what you think on my home site or twitter. Fun!

VIDEO: Film Takes on Marriage, Girlfriends & Lesbian Sex!

Abiola Abrams — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Some dirty little secrets are about to come out in this fun, sexy, new movie! Cheating men, cheating women, friendship and love…

Indie film Truth Hall is the winner of multiple well-deserved awards including the International Black Film Festival’s Audience Choice Award, The International Black Film Festival’s Best Feature Award and San Diego Black Film Festival’s Best Comedy Award.

Check out my conversation with the award-winning filmmaker and lead actress Jade Jenise Dixon, of Stepping Stone Productions.

Abiola: Jade — it’s so exciting to see a smart, funny, upscale romantic comedy film featuring people of color. Congrats on getting your film made. When I was hosting The Best Short Films on BET, part of the show’s excitement was watching diverse, creative stories. What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

Jade: I wanted to tell stories that were important and depicted an upscale African American lifestyle. These stories are not often told so I wanted to present us in a different light. My latest project Truth Hall is smart, funny and upscale. I remember walking into a major Hollywood executive’s office with my script and he told me “I love the script but it might be too smart.” He didn’t think Black people could appreciate anything smart. That was a little disheartening for me because I felt like I wrote the best script I possibly could. I believe my film gave not only African American people a good voice but also African American filmmakers. There are so few of us in the industry, especially black female directors so it was important that I created something with a voice.

Abiola: Sadly, that is a common issue that I have run into numerous times from gatekeepers. When I was shooting my documentary Knives in My Throat dealing with bipolar disorder and mental illness, I was told the same thing, probably by the same executive! But thankfully, Jade, you persisted. Please tell our readers about your story. Summarize “Truth Hall.”

Jade: Truth Hall is about 5 women who reunite several years after college graduation for a wedding. As the story unfolds, the audience learns that there are a lot of skeletons in the closet and each one gets exposed in a dramatic yet sometimes comical banner. Truth Hall was the name of the dormitory they stayed in.

Abiola: Now, you also co-star in the movie. I was in awe of that fact! Was it difficult to balance so many hats?

Jade: It was really about the team. My team makes my job easy. Directing and producing is in my blood because I’ve been doing it for so many years. In high school, I directed For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. There’s an energy that comes over me once I’m sitting in the director’s chair. I go in and get the job done.

Abiola: Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls changed my life. Anybody who mentions that work is immediately someone whose work I’ll appreciate. I have a Safe Sex Awareness Initiative, so I was pleased as a viewer and an activist to see you introduce taboo topics. Did you find any resistance to tackling the stigmatized subject of HIV and AIDS?

Jade: No, as a matter of fact I feel it helped fill a void. This is a story that needs to be told. There’s a line in the movie that says, “I had to take back the power it had on me.” There are no set of people who are exempt from this disease. HIV and AIDS affects so many people across the world.

Abiola: You also take on the sexuality taboos of lesbian love and homosexuality- in a romantic comedy. Tell us about that choice.

Jade: I wanted to show all sides of us. We can be mothers, wives, lawyers, doctors, etc. African American women can be anything. Homosexuality is heavily condemned in the African American community and it’s seen as an abomination by Christians. Although I’m a Christian, I feel like the idea of “belief” creates barriers as opposed to a sense of unity. Belief should never come before loving your children. Belief should never come before respecting other people.

Abiola: My girl Nicole Prescott is one of your stars. I love Nicole! She is extremely talented and known for a strong body of work. Let’s talk about your casting process and the talent you chose.

Jade: Everyone knows Nicole! I didn’t hire a casting director, my company hired a few acting associates to find people. The difference between a casting director and an acting associate is that I get to see every person’s audition. It’s common practice for casting director’s to edit people’s auditions. I had the opportunity to see each person’s video so by the time we had table reads I had technically already seen everyone. We had a few table reads and then the final table read. At the final table read we selected a few cast members and the others came later.

Abiola: Proud of you, sis! Where can people find the movie Truth Hall and learn more about your work?

Jade: You can find the film Truth Hall at Target, Wal-Mart, Netflix and Amazon.com. You can also find it through the film distribution company Image Entertainment. To learn more about me and my film visit the film’s official site. There is also a facebook fan page.

Abiola: Everyone check it out. Films with black characters are not just for black people, and I was pleased to see something that was different than the shucking, jiving and buffoonery that commonly gets a voice. Brava! Well done.

What do you think?

Follow me on Twitter @AbiolaTV and www.AbiolaTV.com. And of course buy my novel Dare by Abiola Abrams wherever you buy books.
xo,
Abiola

VIDEO: Feel Up Your Boobies With Me!

Abiola Abrams — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:34:34 +0000

Hey Cupcakes,

Did you know that women of color are most likely to die from a Cancer diagnosis?

BEHOLD! The Official Abiola Feel Your Boobies Song. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you know that there is nothing that I wouldn’t do to save your breasts… and mine! I made this video for you last year and it’s still always relevant!! VISIT www.feelyourboobies.org for more information on staying healthy and for a Breast Center near you visit NBCAM.org or Breast Thermography Care.

Let’s Do It!

Did you do it?

FRIEND ME UP @abiolatv on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, blackplanet, or PlanetAbiola.com. Buy my novel DARE by Abiola Abrams wherever you buy books.

Have a great day being you~ be bold, be unusual, be over the top~ despite the haters!

xo,

Abiola

P.S. NEW SITE FRONT PAGE ALERT!!!

VIDEO: Girl, Leave Her Man Alone!

Abiola Abrams — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:31:03 +0000

Hey Loves,

Do single women prey on married men?

A new documentary trailer edited by filmmaker Kristal Mosley for upcoming book Girl, Leave Her Man Alone by author Dionne Mahaffey claims that single women would rather be with a married man than a single man. I personally disagree with that statement, but the thoughtful book trailer does have other really poignant thoughts on sisterhood. What do you think?

Watch.

What do you think?

FRIEND ME UP @abiolatv on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, blackplanet, or PlanetAbiola.com. Buy my novel DARE by Abiola Abrams wherever you buy books.

Have a great day being you~ be bold, be unusual, be weird, be over the top~ despite the haters!

xo,

Abiola

P.S. NEW SITE FRONT PAGE ALERT!!

EROTICA: The Perfect Nightlife

Abiola Abrams — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:54:14 +0000

Hey Cupcakes,

As an author, it’s my duty and pleasure to introduce you to other authors as well. There’s a new erotica book out called The Perfect Nightlife, and while I’ve been hard at work on the follow up to my debut novel Dare, The Planet Abiola Show, and other exciting projects, I have not yet read The Perfect Nightlife, but I made it a point to interview the author “Ms. Monroe” just for you.

Check it out!

ABIOLA: Ms. Monroe! Hello dahling. (laughs) It’s been fun hanging with you on Facebook and Twitter. Congrats on your new urban erotica. Who are the main characters of The Perfect Nightlife and where does the story take place?

MS. MONROE: The main characters are Leona, Pepper, Buster, Sheila, and Sal. The book starts off in New Orleans, Louisiana, and goes into New York. New York is where most of the story takes place.

ABIOLA: As a bonafide New Yorker and lover of N’awlins, that definitely peaks my interest. Give my Hello Beautiful readers a detailed summary.

MS. MONROE: The beginning of the story goes into the family history of Leona the main character. Her mother Sheila is the daughter of a wealthy doctor. Sheila made some wrong choices in her young life 20 years earlier and Leona is following in her footsteps. Leona is promised half of 30 million dollars on her 19th birthday from her grandfather but learns that she will not be getting the money until she finishes college.

ABIOLA: OK, we have money issues and family. Great beginnings for the perfect soap opera. How does the story become erotic?

MS. MONROE: Leona’s pride won’t let her work a job to obtain her own financial security so she gets involved with a madam named Julia Lopez aka Pepper. Leona and Pepper becomes romantically involved with one another and Leona later learns that she has made a mistake when Pepper’s true self is exposed. Going into the story, you’ll start to see how some of the other characters such as Sal who is the best friend of Leona’s mother Sheila, and an old aquaintance who is a grimy pimp named Buster, become important to this story. You’ll definitely be shocked when you see how the story unfolds.

ABIOLA: Sounds juicy, Ms. Monroe. Does the main character Leona learn anything from her experiences?

MS. MONROE: Not to tell too much, but she definitely learns that you can never take life for granted and to never trust too easily.

ABIOLA: Do you think that someone who may be going through a similar situation in their life can learn something from reading this book?

MS. MONROE: Absolutely. I see so many young girls who are lost. Some of them are even in my family and are going through some of these things right now. I wanted to reach out to them and show them that these types of things don’t just happen in the hood. There are lots of privileged teens who are dealing with these things also, they just don’t get advertised as much. The question is, how do they get out of these situations and start making better decisions? Hopefully they can relate to Leona and see themselves in her position. I hope that my book can be that outlet for them.

ABIOLA: Thanks Ms. Monroe! Please tell our readers where to buy your book.

MS. MONROE: My publisher is Author House, and The Perfect Nightlife was released February 2009. Readers can buy it at AuthorHouse.com and anywhere online where books are sold. I can be reached at myspace.com/bayougoddess and twitter.com/msmonroe83.

CASTING: Donald Trump Looking For A Few Good Brothers!

Abiola Abrams — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:15:43 +0000

Hey Goddesses & Kings,

Exciting New TV Casting Opportunity!

As my Planet Abiola people know I never really relinquished my duties as “Miss Picky.” In fact — as all women AND men should be– I am more selective than ever.

So, it came as no surprise when the Donald Trump Organization rang me up to help them to find the premiere black men for their new reality TV series The Ultimate Merger, a cross between Celebrity Apprentice and The Bachelorette. I happen to have a few wonderful guys on my personal rolodex that I won’t be sharing BUT — I may be looking for YOU or somebody you know.

After I qualify you to interview for this new and very high end show, The Trump Organization is selecting an elite group of 10 single men to come to the Trump International Hotel in Vegas, and putting them up in the amazing penthouses on a nice little vacation courtesy of “The Donald.” Donald Trump is selecting the final cast and introducing them to a very special woman with his stamp of approval!

Donald Trump is Looking For:

The best of the best African American eligible bachelors – handsome, intelligent, successful, SINGLE & educated. Is this YOU?

Here’s How To Apply:

1) The best way is to hit me up, Abiola Abrams, on FACEBOOK @abiolatv so that I can see your photos, etc. Include a brief note with your FACEBOOK friend request telling me WHY you think that you are the man to date a friend of Donald Trump’s.

2) You can also follow me on TWITTER @abiolatv and contact me that way– tell me WHY you think that you are “the man” to date Donald Trump’s lady friend, in 140 characters or less of course.

3) If you are not on Facebook or Twitter, then what are you doing with your life? Just kidding! You can also EMAIL press (at) planetabiola.com AND include a photo and of course a note explaining WHY you think that you are the man to date Donald Trump’s special female friend.

DEADLINES:

I am giving first preference to those who get in touch ASAP. Of course this is a most exclusive opportunity, and we are interviewing people in NYC on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday — October 12, 13, and 14th. The sooner you apply, the sooner I may qualify you to audition for Mr. Trump. The main deadline to apply is Sunday October 11th at 5pm, but if you are exceptional, I may be open to seeing applications until Tuesday October 13th.

OH — and if you’re new to the Abiola experience and you’re like, who is this chick? Go HERE.

VIDEO: How to Break Your Bad Boy Addiction!

Abiola Abrams — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:00:27 +0000

Hey Goddesses,

Tell the TRUTH.

Do nice guys really finish last in your dating book? Check it out — Why do women LOVE Bad Boys?

WATCH!

What do you think?

Are these tips helpful? Does this work on you?

FRIEND ME UP @abiolatv on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, blackplanet, or PlanetAbiola.com. Buy my novel DARE by Abiola Abrams wherever you buy books.

Have a great day being you~ be bold, be unusual, be weird, be over the top~ despite the haters!

Sending you velvet cupcakes & tiara kisses,

Abiola

P.S. NEW SITE FRONT PAGE ALERT!!!