One of the most exciting parts of being a kid is going to see the newest action packed film at the cinema.
Having an hour or so to become truly engrossed in a thrilling storyline can capture and inspire a young imagination for many years to come.
The smell of warmed popcorn and the hush as the cinema lights dim still gives me a buzz of nostalgia, as I’m sure is the case with many people.
Sadly, there are many children who don’t get to experience this simple pleasure, with the price of cinema tickets being out of their family’s budget.
Luckily, there are some genuinely wonderful people in the world who also still remember the magic, transportive power of those early movies. Particularly ones which are as culturally significant as Blank Panther.
Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) CEO Anthony Tiffith and socially conscious rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar will be hosting five shows at three theatres on February 17 for a very, very good reason.
According to The Fader, these 1,000 seats will be for children living in the Watts housing project to watch a screening of the groundbreaking superhero film, completely free of charge.
Children living within the Nickerson Gardens, Jordan Downs, and Imperial Courts Projects will be able to attend the screening by contacting their housing development offices.
Lamar was the creative mastermind behind the hotly anticipated – and well received – Black Panther soundtrack.
The film – which is already being hailed as one of the greatest superhero movies of all time – is clearly a project close to Lamar’s heart.
According to Hot New Whip Hip Hop, Lamar has stated:
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is amazing, from its cast to its director,
The magnitude of this film showcases a great marriage of art and culture.
I’m truly honored to contribute my knowledge of producing sound and writing music alongside Ryan and Marvel’s vision.
Check out the trailer for the critically acclaimed film below:
[ooyala player_id=”5df2ff5a35d24237905833bd032cd5d8" auto=”true” width=”1280" height=”720" pcode=”twa2oyOnjiGwU8-cvdRQbrVTiR2l” code=”B4NW45ZTE6o_Ix63iNModARRDA0qFgEe”]
Lamar has also praised those involved with the creation of the soundtrack, which has stormed the charts at number one on the Billboard 200:
Respect to all the artist/producers that allowed me to execute a sound for the soundtrack,
The concept of producing and composing a project other than my own has always been ideal. I appreciate the experience love ones. Continue to be great.
Available to listen to right now, the soundtrack includes singles such as All the Stars and King’s Dead.
Based on Jack Kirby’s 1966 comic book series, Black Panther celebrates African culture, heritage and heroes with a depth and respect rarely seen in big budget Hollywood films.
Featuring Marvel’s first ever predominantly black cast, this has also become the top-grossing film by a black director; writer and director of both Rocky reboot Creed and the critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station, Ryan Coogler.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Coogler has described Black Panther as being ‘the most personal that I’ve ever made:’
A big thing for me is the question of ‘What does it mean to be African?
As a result of this thing that you are and have no control over, you’re gonna have to deal with certain situations in a certain way — and sometimes those situations can cost you your life.
When I found myself asking that question, I hadn’t even been to the place.
Coogler added:
To be African is to be artistic, we wear our art on our clothes. We paint on the walls.
We bang it out in our music. We use our voice. We wear it on our skin. When we find an African, you’re gonna find flyness, by any means necessary, whether they use Mother Earth to create the paint on their faces or make their own clothes.
This is an absolute must see.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.