The Lo Zone

I love to see publishers coming up with new and innovative ways to to promote books. Case in point, Harper Collins/Amistad's promotion of Lolita's Files new book, Sex.Lies.Murder.Fame., which I've already added to my mountain high and growing TBR pile. Not only has Amistad created a trailer for the book, but according to Black Voices.com, a promotional soundtrack featuring debut recording artist Silena Murrell, who will even be appearing at some booksigning with Ms. Files.

Personally, I think all books should come with soundtracks. Not only is it a great way to promote new books but think of all the new musical talent it could bring to the limelight. Plus, doing joint signings with recording artists, who could perform a song or two, could add interest to boring booksignings and readings and draw foot traffic. I think it's a win win situation all around.

Katie: You play someone who's not a particularly appealing character in Hustle & Flow...a pimp...




Terrence: Yes...



Katie: ...you're the only person of color nominated in the...acting nominees, and last year five of the twenty acting nominees were African-American or people of color...so, do you have any reaction to that? Are you surprised?

Terrence: ...I feel like right now I have the opportunity to represent the entire black race right now, the black artistic community, and, that's just how it is, you know...we do the best we can...and just being a part of it, being their figurehead right now, and know (sic) the responsibility is there...and to have that whole galvanized support of that community behind me now...I think it...it increases my chances.

The eXile - which longtime PAGE SIX readers will recall was behind a putrid prank that involved hitting New York Times Moscow bureau chief Michael Wines in the face with a pie filled with horse sperm [...]

"A million little pieces" was the phrase that crossed my mind as I watched the vase (early Ming, blue and white dragon motif, would've looked spectacular in my living room) slipped through my gloved fingers and twirled delicately towards the floor. It seemed to take an hour for the vase to complete its suicidal gymnastic routine, time enough for me to think of all the times this hadn't happened and how each time had led me one step closer to the nirvana of home decor. A small Picasso above the fireplace. A tiny Keith Haring in the guest bathroom. Archaeological treasures graced the mantle and various shelves. "Oh, it's a gift shop replica," I would always tell people. But now the truth was that I had smashed a real Ming vase (oh, how cliche!) during a break-in and I could already hear footsteps crashing down the hall towards me to the wail of museum alarms. Ripping myself from bereavement (oh, that color! and with my sofa!) I leapt up and grabbed the rope that came through the air vent. Gucci glove over Gucci glove, I was home free into the vent - until I was grabbed by the Mahnolos and hauled off to jail. And this is why I write to you, Lolita, to try and win the CD. Life in jail is bleak! If I win, please have Mel Jackson kiss it for me. He is one super-hot man.

The most moving, funny, or powerful personal experiences (outrageously fictitious), no more than 200 words (I may be a little flexible on that, but definitely no more than 350), e-mailed to me at thelozone@lolitafiles.com (NOT in the "comments" section on this blog) will receive an autographed copy of the soundtrack signed by both me and the yumtastic actor, Mel Jackson.

…And the microphone came down in front of the camera while our President attempted a somber, yet uplifting live speech. And he said “Do you have your helmets?” And later he said “You’re trying to horde!!!”

Oh wait. This is supposed to be fictitious. Ahem.

I decided to try yoga for the first time to change up my routine and get a jumpstart on shedding the umpteen pounds I had packed on after too many M&M cookies and countless cups of eggnog. I wasn’t looking for the local health club variety. No, I wanted the real deal, the get-your-Buddah-in-gear sort. After being referred by a friend, I found the perfect class. I walked into the large, nondescript building and it exuded an overwhelming, yet somehow fascinating, blend of incense and booty sweat.

There were about twenty students in all, and I followed the assumed veterans into a large studio that strangely resembled what I imagined a champagne room to look like. I took my place in the back and stretched out my mat.

Much to my surprise (and, to be honest, chagrin), the yogi came in doing back handsprings while wearing a silver stripper bikini with Lucite heels and offensive coral lipstick. While I was expecting a taut, slender instructor, the woman had booty for days and implants so big that Pamela Anderson would blush.

“C’mon, you bitchazzzz! Let’s get those fat asses in shape!” she yelled as I tried to quietly slip out before she noticed me.

“You too, lard ass!”

I looked around before painfully realizing she was speaking to me.

“Ummm, I think I have the wrong class.”

“This is yoga for strippers, bitch! This ain’t preschool!” she yelled as she did a split-slash-downward-facing-dog as a Bengali translation of “Tipsy” by T.I. began blaring over the speakers.

Remind me to kill my friend and never to puke in her car again. Especially after drinking eggnog.

The Directors Guild of America has given its top feature film award to Ang Lee for Focus Features' "Brokeback Mountain."

Lee won over George Clooney for Warner Independent's "Good Night, and Good Luck," Paul Haggis for Lionsgate's "Crash," Bennett Miller for United Artists/Sony Classics' "Capote" and Steven Spielberg for Universal's "Munich."

SAG voters put the brakes on the "Brokeback Mountain" awards express Sunday, snubbing the cowboy romance at the 12th Annual SAG Awards and opting instead for an eclectic mix for its five feature trophies.

The cast of Lionsgate's "Crash""Crash" won the ensemble trophy for their portrayal of racial tension in Los Angeles while Philip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour Hoffman took the lead actor award for Sony Classics' "Capote" as novelist Truman Capote. And Reese WitherspoonReese Witherspoon won the lead actress trophy for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in Fox's "Walk the Line."

The SAG shutout for "Brokeback" came a night after the Focus Features release had seemingly cemented its status as awards season front-runner thanks to a DGADGA Award for director Ang LeeAng Lee. "Brokeback" had also won the Producers Guild Award and four Golden Globes -- though none for its actors -- in the past two weeks.

Is your back broke yet?

[click image to enlarge, then click again to make even bigger]

Marvel Comics just concluded a press conference to promote the upcoming wedding of the Black Pather and Storm. Participants in the conference included writers Reginald Hudlin and Eric Jerome Dickey, along with the usual Marvel staffers.

And as the accompanying “invitation” details, the build-up to the Wedding will start in March’s Black Panther #14 by Hudlin and artist Scot Eaton, and the February-debuting Storm six-issue limited series by Dickey and David Yardin.

Also part of the mix is the May Marvel Milestones: Black Panther and Storm collecting Marvel Team-Up #100 and 2000’s Black Panther Vol. 2 #26, and a June Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 by Chris Claremont, billed as an “All-new wedding tie-in focusing on Storm’s past”.

The event then cumulates in July’s Black Panther #18, “The Wedding”.

Standing up for the groom will be Reginald Hudlin & Scott Eaton


Giving away the bride will be Eric Jerome Dickey & David Yardin

[...] two Seattle residents filed suit in federal court against Frey and Random House, charging "breach of contract, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation and violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act," according to the Seattle Times. The plaintiffs, whose main request is to be compensated for the "lost time" in reading the book, are seeking class action for the suit. The newspapers says the suit is "apparently the third of its kind to be filed across the nation, seeks class-action status against Frey and the publisher."