Mishon (profile) recently did an interview with JimmyJazz where he talked about peer pressure, falling in love too quickly and his own personal relationship mistakes. In the interview, Mishon had this message for his young fans:

Word From YBStar:

“I think nowadays in our world it’s a lot of peer pressure. People see stuff and sometimes they feel forced to do stuff. I’m just reminding them that if you really like somebody then you don’t have to go all the way. You should really get to know somebody better,”

– Mishon Ratliff, Quote from www.jimmyjazz.com

Read the whole interview now at www.jimmyjazz.com.
Click here if you want to purchase Mishon’s latest single “Rock My Chain” on iTunes. It’s just $0.99!

The movie Mississippi Damned, starring Malcolm David Kelley (profile) and Kylee Russell (profile), is still receiving much acclaim! Peep the latest review for the movie done by The Hollywood Reporter. The film has won 3 additional awards at the Chicago Film Festival as well!

Malcolm recently spoke with Morgan’s Mark Productions about his experience from the film as well as his upcoming projects; he revealed that he has a television show in the works! Malcolm has just finished taping for a supporting role in the upcoming feature film The Kings of Appletown. Read the interview below for more…

Q: What was your experience like working on Mississippi Damned?
A: My experience on Mississippi Damned was a great learning opportunity for me. I learned a lot acting and just being around good and talented people brought out the best in me. My fellow cast members watched after me and I felt like I grew as an actor working with them. When you mix great people, great actors, wonderful director and producers, you get an outstanding movie. I was glad to have been a part of it.

What was the most fun you had on set? What was the most challenging day on set?
A: The most fun I had on set was the day we did the basketball scene. I love basketball and really enjoyed just bonding with the people who were on my team. I don’t know why but I liked that a lot. For me the most challenging thing on set was the first day of shooting; we were welcomed by a tornado. The fear I felt that day stayed with me for the rest of the shoot. I don’t think anybody else knew that but I was really scared

What drew you to the character of Sammy?
A: Sammy’s character showed me struggle. He showed me hope. I felt like I had to tell his story as sincerely and as truthfully as possible. What also drew me to him was the vulnerability he showed and how he felt he was going to do whatever it took to get ahead.

Q: You had to tackle some pretty heavy material during the course of the film. What was this like for you? How did you work with the director, Tina Mabry, to develop your character?
A: It was pretty challenging. This was the most intense movie I have ever done, in terms of developing my character. It was definitely challenging, but I look for and like a good challenge. It was training me to be a better actor, so I just embraced the situation and gave my all. Tina was by my side, giving me constructive criticism and guidance. With her there I knew I could get through it.

Q: What’s next for you?
A: Well, I have a new TV show. Unfortunately, I can’t give you any details about it yet. But I am definitely still acting. I just did Saving Grace and I have a few commercials running. I’m writing music and scripts and finishing school. So, I’m keeping pretty busy.

SOURCE/CREDIT: Morgan’s Mark Productions/Mrs. Tavares-Russell

He was discovered in a toy store when he was just 10 months old and won over the producers of his latest project, Tyler Perry’s ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’ and landed the role after just the table read! With some great stories and cuteness you want to just eat up, Kwesi Boakye is well and truly on the road to stardom! Kwesi gave YBS an exclusive interview where he talks about riding on segways, his Ghanaian Heritage and why Tyler Perry is just a really cool guy!

You can read just the questions and Kwesi’s answers below, or listen to the audio for some added extras, added conversation, added laughs and added info; like how to properly pronounce Kwesi’s name!

 

YBS – You’ve been acting for a long time and worked with a lot of people so was working with Tyler Perry for ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’ a big deal for you?
Kwesi – Yeah it’s a big deal for me because I’m one of Tyler Perry’s biggest fans and I’ve watched all of his movies and plays so it was like a dream come true for me to be working with him so I was just really excited when I found out that I got the job.

YBS – What was it that you loved about your role in the film?
K – The thing I loved about my role in the film – ‘Manny’, I liked the way he’s a smart mouth a little bit and I liked that cause I’m really the total opposite of him so it’s a bit of a challenge for me to do the role so I just had to get into the zone and like focus. And I liked that cause I like challenges, so I think that’s the most things I like about my character.

YBS – So you’re definitely not a smart mouth then? Your mom doesn’t take that?
K – No, my mom taught me better than that!

YBS – That’s good to hear! So what was it like working with Tyler while he was directing as well?
K – It was weird and cool in the same way seeing him switch from director mode to an actor, Madea and Joe. It’s just so weird to see him change his personality that fast. Like go to his house and Tyler Perry’s just a regular funny guy and go to Madea who’s some crazy big old woman who looks mad.

YBS – So we’ve got a question from a fan from Young Black Starz, and her name is Aduma. She says, how was the audition process to land such a big role?
K – I actually didn’t have to audition or go to a call back or anything. The casting director, she offered me the part in the table read. So I did the table read and they just liked me so they gave me the part.

YBS – What was a funny story from the set? Did anybody have a funny blooper that they did or something really silly that happened?
K – It was actually about Tyler Perry himself, cause he was just flying his plane and stuff and 5 minutes into when he was flying his little aeroplane, he crashed into the window and it was funny cause he was all bragging about it and like ‘Oh, I’m not rusty, I’m so good at it’ and 5 minutes into his flying of it, he crashed it!

The soon-to-be teen actress Kylee Russell (profile) recently did a brief interview to talk about her work on the independent film “Mississippi Damned” as well as future projects. Read the interview below. “Mississippi Damned“, (also starring actor Malcolm David Kelley (profile)), is doing really well and has already won 7 awards at 9 film festivals! Visit http://www.mississippidamned.com for a list of the awards and more.

Q: What drew you to work on this project and the role of Young Kari?
A: At first I didn’t want to do it because Kari had to deal with sad things and I didn’t want to cry. But my mom encouraged me to try it and I loved it! It was an honor to work with Tina Mabry and ALL the GREAT ACTORS of Mississippi Damned. They helped me to become a more emotional actor. I grew to understand and like Kari. She was smart, strong and understanding. After all she went through she made it out and followed her dreams. I learned I was strong too because I did cry and I was okay afterwards!

Q: What was your experience like working on the set of Mississippi Damned?
A: It was a good experience! Everybody was like family. We laughed a lot! Malcom David Kelly really acted like a big brother! Charles Parnell always had funny jokes for us! Every single person we worked with showed a lot of love and respect for each other. Tina Mabry was a great director. She always made me comfortable on set.

Being in Ahoskie was different. I got to experience nature. I even saw a mother deer and her baby cross the street and go into the woods while I was outside my trailer!

Q: What was it like being one of the youngest people on set? Was there a difference between working with the adults and the children?
A: Well, it was nice being one of the youngest because everybody gave me lots of attention and hugs. I learned a lot from the adult actors because they were so good at acting! I watched them and learned different ways to get into character. In one of the scenes Aunt Anna was hurt and I really cried. When we wrapped, they (the adult actors) all clapped for me as I got into the van and said I did a good job. Adam Clark, who played my dad, went over lines with me so I could get a better understanding of our scene together and make it sound more natural. They helped me to really feel and not to be afraid. They respected me. And that felt good.

I guess the only big difference between working with kids and adults on set are that you can learn more from the adults. But the adults on the set of Mississippi Damned knew how to have fun like kids! Even though there were a lot of sad scenes in the movie, we laughed a lot after.

Q: Which character, besides your own, do you relate to the most?
A: I relate to Aunt Anna the most because she was safe and had a soothing voice. Aunt Anna was quiet but she was strong and smart. She had a lot of love to give. Like Kari, she kept peace in the family. They went through a lot, but they never complained.

Q: What projects are you currently working on?
A: I recently did a National HSBC (Bank) commercial. I had auditions for movies and a TV series and got the call backs. I am waiting for that great role God has just for me! I love doing movies, but I really want my own TV show.

SOURCE/CREDIT: Morgan’s Mark Productions/Mrs. Tavares-Russell

Keke Palmer (profile) has been on the super-go lately to promote her upcoming movies, Shrink, which will be in select theaters TOMORROW, July 24th and the first ever True Jackson, VP movie, “Testing True” (guest-starring Willow Smith). She’s also been talking about her recent deal with Interscope Records, her latest single “Super Jerkin“, and her upcoming clothing line called Mad Styles by True Jackson. The clothes will be available at Walmart stores just in time for Back to School shopping.

Listen to an interview with Keke on The Wendy Williams Experience just a few days ago after the break. The two of them dished about everything from Keke’s career to dating, and her upcoming Sweet 16.

Don’t Miss Keke tonight on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. The show airs at NBC at 11:35pm ET/10:35 C. Tune in to watch our girl!

“Testing True” airs this Saturday, July 25th, at 8pm EST and on Sunday July 26th, Keke will be doing a LIVE MODE Chat with fans answering their questions about the movie. If you want to get in on the action, it’s simple and FREE. Just call her SayNow line to get connected at 818-748-9095, then on Sunday when she goes LIVE you will be notified to call in, that’s it!