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Tyler Perry & Issa Rae Took Different Paths but Have a Similar Message on Turning Fed-Up into Step-Up

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There’s a kind of hazy cloud hanging over people and places these days. In some parts of the country there’s the cloud of forest fires. With millions of acres burning during this ongoing dry season, we see news reports of damage and destruction. In some parts, the whole town has been wiped out.

Then there’s the cloud hanging over people trying to take next steps. For some who’ve lost everything due to the fires it’s about figuring out where to lay their heads. For others who’ve lost their job due to the economic calamity caused by Covid-19, it’s a case of wishing and praying that things turn around.

While Tyler Perry and Issa Rae haven’t seen this kind of devastation in their lives, they have a similar message on turning despair into emergence and fed-up into step-up. Perry who was once homeless when he first started on his dreams, was the recent recipient of the Governor’s Award at the Emmys.

For Rae, it’s been a tug-of-war in emotions as she creates a path in her Hollywood career. She remembers having a meeting with an industry exec who liked what she was doing but missed the point of her work. The rub was in the exec not seeing her work for its worth but for his exerting power and control.

They know the feeling of having a hazy cloud over their heads. But they’ve also seen what can happen when things clear with peaks of sunshine. It’s those glimmers of light that have helped them build their showbiz following and business acumen as actors. They used that time of clearing to build on the:

1. Moment

Perry spoke in his acceptance speech about his grandmother’s quilt and how he realized he took it for granted. He visited an antique store and saw a similar quilt for sale. It was then he got the power of the message in grandma’s quilt. There’re moments in life when we realize the power to work our magic.  

2. Motivation

In the meeting Rae had with the exec she realized that it was a moment for motivation and change. She chuckles about how “someone got fired” in that meeting, but she turned the moment into motivation to build her brand cred. Now she’s known for her own HBO series and select roles in big screen movies.

3. Journey

Perry says he looks back from time to time to appreciate from whence he came. The advice he once got from Oprah to start a journal has now been turned into a journey. Fast-forward to where he is now in receiving the Governor’s award and you’ll find stage plays, movies and TV shows in his portfolio. 

4. Story

The magic and magnetic attraction Perry and Rae bring comes from the stories they tell. Sometimes it’s a fictional story made for TV sitcoms and acting stage. Sometimes it’s a real-life story adapted to a movie role. And sometimes it’s their own story of momentary digest, passion quest and dream conquest.      

As the fall season of TV shows take shape, there’ll be retuning favorites and newbie projects. Things might be a little different where shows won’t have an audience or have to comply with social distancing. But when the haze clears there’s always a bright light or spot for those who make hay while the shines.   

Tip: Good times come when life’s moments get turned into motivation that leads to a journey for your comeback story.

Talkback: Was Schitt’s Creek really waiting in the wings over the years for this many Emmys?

Tracks: Hill St Soul – One Life – https://youtu.be/9TL3rOzxU5g

Angie Stone – No More Rain (In This Cloud) – https://youtu.be/UgG0Hu_FeiA

Lebron James and Serena Williams Give Us a Preview of 2019, Using a Review of 2018

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The College Football National Championship was a shocker! Well, maybe not to Clemson players and fans, but to Alabama coach Nick Saban and the roll-tide squad who fell short at the end. The sports world will re-watch the game highlights and see that they’re some budding stars in the making.

Lebron James and Serena Williams are already big-time stars with lots of winning moments too. They were recently named AP Male/Female Athletes of the Year. James for the third time, Williams for the fifth. So, if you’re wondering what’s next for them, they give us a preview of 2019, using a review of 2018.

James has been recovering from a groin injury suffered during the Christmas Day game. He doesn’t want to return too soon, making sure that he’s fully mended. In 2018 he got no NBA Championship parade or MVP awards. But his ‘game stats’ were just as impressive in social advocacy and community impact.

The same kinda holds true for Serena who didn’t get to win that coveted 24th grand slam championship. But she did something that few have accomplished by returning to the game after a dicey child birth less than a year earlier. The AP selection group says she got the award for showing perseverance.

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Serena recently played a tune-up match in a mixed-doubles game. She’s hoping to get back to her usual ‘passion & fire’ form. For James during his absence, the Lakers coach is hoping that the team can find its mojo while he’s out. James and Williams on and off the court help preview 2019 for how to:

  1. Flex your stuff

During her pre-game warm-up and stretch, Serena was seen holding her child close. It seemed her baby was a little fearful and needed some lovin’. So, in the new year we can break the fear. Just take time to warm-up to how you’ll flex your stuff, bring some hustle-love to your game and stretch yourself in 2019.

  1. Up your game

James is probably spending a lot of time with the team trainers doing things to strengthen the injured muscle. How he plays the game might be about shots and rebounds. But how he ups his game might be about hustle and flow. It’s about getting mind, body and soul to work together and put you on a roll.

  1. Earn your keeps

Downtime from the game for Serena allowed her to grow her family. Downtime for James might also be about how he grows his value with pro sports, his Foundation and other biz enterprises. Sometimes the work you do isn’t just about the 9 to 5, but also how you add value personally, professionally and socially.

  1. Rock your best

James recently re-shared a quote from former ESPN Anchor Stuart Scott who once said “Don’t downgrade your dreams just to fit your reality. Upgrade your convictions to match your destiny.” That might be a good way to describe how they approach their game to amaze at work and rock their best.

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The clock is still ticking on James’ return. Fans want to see that magic again. Serena is getting ready for her next grand-slam tournament at the Australian Open. If the review of 2018 serves as a preview of 2019, they’d say you gotta get on up and do what you gotta do to keep it smokin’.  Holla if you with me!

Tip: In order to rock your best and earn your keeps you gotta get on up and do what you gotta do to keep it smokin’.

Talkback: What’s in-store for your new year to make it a “new you, new woo?”

Tracks: Jodeci – Get on Up – https://youtu.be/Sy6gPBix32k

Angie Stone – Do What You Gotta Do – https://youtu.be/4oS-GAy5MUY

F. Gary Gray and Jordan Peele Have folks Coming out to the Box Office in Droves #BigTimeUniversity

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#BigTimeUniversity – “Small Talk, Street Dreams, Next Level”

This production of “Wise-up Weekly” Blogcast by Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham is a presentation in “social media entertainment from the groove-track of life!” #WUWECAST

LOL Tube – Got Funny? (Or Just Fun!)

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Theme:– “The Year of ‘Hotstepping’ – Get Jiggy, Get Woke!”
A Cool Way for Flexing Style, Game & Soul in How We Roll (Old-School Flava)

There are some events that seem to bring out celebs from everywhere. These days it’s probably Coachella and the NBA playoffs. At Coachella, Rihanna and Cam Newton showed-up making fashion statements. But it’s Jordan Peele and F Gary Gray who have folks coming out in droves at the box office.

Gray is Director of the Fate of the Furious, the eighth release in the franchise. In his own words as an emerging Hollywood player he once said “I’d like to direct epic feature films that I won’t have to apologize for years down the line.” He knows secrets for delivering innovation, spotting trends and reaching people.

Peele who recently had breakout success with the movie Get Out might say one secret is having an eye for seeing what others might not readily see. That goes beyond eyesight to include foresight. They’ve honed this by bridging their current reality. It’s taken them to the point of having their vision come to life.

Some of this quality was on display this week from Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg who’s excited about the next tech frontier of what’s being called ‘augmented reality.’ These guys show us how trends + innovation means seeing what people want before they need it or need before they want and gotta have it.

When it comes to their appeal, a key ingredient has been how their work reaches a diverse audience. It’s keeping things simple, plain and with a common touch. It’s not trying to hypnotize or fool the world. But getting people to see themselves in moments of joy, pain and sunshine with no more rain in their clouds.

Groove-Track: Angie Stone – Sunshine – https://youtu.be/V9Zgp1WzwLk

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Hotstepping’ – Get Jiggy, Get Woke!”
A Cool Way for Flexing Style, Game & Soul in How We Roll (New-School Flava)

Some events seem to be. A time and place to spree. With lots of celebs in the spot. Helping to make things hot. Like Coachella, NBA playoffs and more. Rihanna and Cam raised the fashion score. Jordan Peele and F Gary Gray doing their thing. Folks at the box office make it go ka-ching.

Gray as Director on the set. Fate of the Furious ain’t peaked yet? Eighth franchise release now. Where fans watch and go wow. As emerging Hollywood player Gray said. Hoping to land epic movies and feature spread. Years down the line he’d have it made. Innovation, trends, reaching people, getting paid.

Peele made history breaking the bank. With Get Out a reason to thank. Secret in having the eye for gold. Doing more than fitting the mold. Goes beyond simple good eyesight. But also attaching foresight. Honed by bridging current reality station. To do more to affect a nation. Where things come to life from vision.

Some of this on display. From what Mark Zuckerberg had to say. Excited about tech’s new frontier. Being called augmented reality to be clear. When trends + innovation means seeing what people want. Before the need or have it to flaunt. What they need before it’s a hit. Or they get the feeling of ‘gotta have it.’

When it comes to their appeal. They’ve been able to land the deal. Working to reach diverse audience streams. And tapping into real life dreams. By keeping things simple and plain. A common touch all the sane. Not to hypnotize or fool others along the way. But for peeps to see themselves rising another day.

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Tip: When it come to mass appeal, the common touch gets people to see themselves rising another day.

Talkback: What’s the ‘it-factor’ that has made the Fast Franchise such a hit?

Groove-Tracks: Jennifer Hudson – Walk it Out – https://youtu.be/mykXoDnFKlU

Common Kings – Everybody Wants to Fool The World – https://youtu.be/hOXoyx4qVZ0

This production of “Wise-up Weekly” Blogcast by Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham is a presentation in “social media entertainment from the groove-track of life!” #WUWECAST