This podcast is produced by On Being Studios, which is located on Dakota Land. Gina Prince-Bythewood made a modern classic with She went straight to 7th grade after she completed her 5th grade. Get into your joy. The actress said, as soon as I switched to that energy and started having fun in the process, I got the job., In 2019, the Nappily Ever After star spoke about her experience while shooting the beloved film, expressing that she felt miserable and had often believed that she got the job because I think [director] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. She added, Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else. And that was a beautiful and inspiring thing. WebLove & Basketball Sanaa Lathan was: 28 Played: Monica Wright Fri, Apr 21 2000 The Best Man Sanaa Lathan was: 28 Played: Robin Fri, Oct 22 1999 The Wood Sanaa If she wins, he calls off his wedding to his girlfriend (Tyra Banks). But then I also taught yoga. Yeah, I dont even know. The 49-year-old said she thought hard about quitting and even was suggested to by several people in my life, including some of my representation said, Just drop out. Lathan revealed that the stress of chasing her acting dreams was getting to her, but at the advice of a close confidant in her inner circle, the actress realized there were other options. We went on to do Disappearing Acts and Shots Fired and I love her. I was living in Cambridge, Mass., nearing the end of my first year at Harvard Law School, but I had no desire to be a lawyer. She is the daughter of Stan New Line Cinema/Everett Collection. And that says a lot about, I think, where I was, [laughs] just thinking about the love story. And I was on the verge of dropping out of the audition process. While the basketball players were being taught to act in the hopes of filling the role, Sanaa, for some time, was left on her own to learn basketball. Prince-Bythewood, who started out writing for TV, developed the script for Love & Basketball at the Sundance labs. Writer Liara Tamani first saw the movie in 2000 when she was a reluctant student at Harvard Law School. What is Sanaa Lathans ethnicity? An American Football wide receiver, Owens is one of Lathan's boyfriend. During her youth she was fully immersed in the entertainment industry and learned early on that she wanted a career in the Arts. Liara Tamani is the author of the upcoming novel All The Things We Never Knew (Greenwillow/HarperCollins). Sommerville is 6-foot-10 center who is ranked the No. So she goes to Europe, and shes so lonely. Learn how your comment data is processed. And so, for me, becoming a lawyer equaled guaranteed success. But then the song Candy Girl plays, New Editions [sings] Candy Girlwhen shes schooling them like, she schools them. I was lost in ittrapped inside an impossible cloud of other peoples opinions and expectations. Im just curious how youve both grown together, you and Love & Basketball. Gabrielle Union and Sanaa Lathan Reunite 15 Years After Love & Basketball and Haven't Aged a DaySee the Pics! She likes to eat her salty popcorn by mixing it with some Raisinets (chocolate-covered raisins). Tamani: Exactly. Watch on. [laughs]. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. And I soon found out and soon realized that she really wasnt wanting to hire me.. Sometimes its hard to remove that from you, even as an adult. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. No, I love the way that ended, because its like she fought for what she wanted, and she got what she wanted. Ive worked really hard, Percy: Is it like, Do we all have this, as women? Later, she graduated with a mastersdegreeindrama from Yale University. The accolades include: The actress has been in various relationships throughout her life. So its amazing to think about that. Watch on. I just took the movie in, the first time I saw it. 15 Photos That Prove Sanaa Lathan Ages Backwards. I distinctly remember at the end, after seeing that, I felt like, literally when she turned around and looked at Quincy and their child, I almost felt like she was reaching through the screen, asking me, So what you bout to do? [laughs] Like, I got here, so what you bout to do? And I wonder how Prince-Bythewoods filmmaking changed. And when you are so focused or when I was so focused on success, success, achievement, achievement, and worried about what other people would think of me if I dropped out, or if I went down a path that was less traveled and less set up for the type of success that society thinks is successful, there was a great fear in departing from that, because its about setting up a version of success for yourself or defining success for yourself. Pay attention: Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! And I remember, with Love & Basketball, Love and Happiness by Al Green playing even before the first shot was up on the screen. What would be the perfect song to cue up for freedom? Its about figuring out who you are and who you want to be at the core. And she does this through the character of Monica. Sanaa Lathan makes her like "Love & Basketball," "Succession" and "A Raisin In The Sun." I hope you are, too. And so along the way to getting to writing, I also discovered other parts of myself. Her typical diet plan is as follows . An American actor and former fashion model, Shemar is one of Lathan's boyfriend. Awards and nominations Percy: And thats one of the things that even watching this movie now I struggle with, and Im so glad that the message that comes out of it is that you are beautiful, if youre wearing your hair up in a ponytail and youre wearing a basketball uniform you dont have to be made up. I arranged flowers, which I love still, arranging flowers. Definitely, looking back, Im grateful to be able to see her intention. [laughs] And I learned that the consequences of not obeying had severe consequences hell, essentially. Tamani: Yes. Percy: I love that. And I had a mentor, a female mentor, a Black woman who really helped me back then with my kind of transition as an actress into the business. The first time that I saw it, I was in college, and I was so struck by the relationship at the center of the movie the love story. [laughs] But I was starting to awaken to the reality that not being connected to what I loved came at a cost, a huge cost, really happiness. She doesnt get there that dayher team loses the game. Our families are important. Sanaa Lathan, the daughter of Actress Eleanor McCoy and Director Stan Lathan, was raised in both New York City and Los Angeles. WebLove & Basketball (2000) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood Writing Credits ( WGA) Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Terence Blanchard Cinematography by Reynaldo Villalobos Film Editing by Terilyn A. Shropshire Casting By Aisha Coley But for me, Monica Wright will always be a shining example of whats possible when we have the courage to stand alone in the truth of ourselves., Tamani: You make that sound so good. And its funny, because I think that shaped me in so many ways, and so Im the very opposite with my daughter. Predator(2004). Sanaa McCoy Lathan was born on September 19, 1971, in New York City, New York, the U.S. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. Yes, she dated and married Shemar Moore, an American actor and former. Does Sanaa Lathan have kids? They want her! People talk about Harvard like its the pinnacle thing you can achieve. Liara Tamani: That I was completely lost. Percy: Exactly. Its important to be able to stand in the truth of yourself and to be able to fight for that, even when its unpopular or other people disagree with you. Tamani: Yes. In order to maintain a calm and level-headed state of mind, she practicesTranscendental Meditation for 20 minutes on a daily basis. Its a beautiful thing. Were gonna do what you need, she says, No. SANAA LATHAN is a well-established American actress. Percy: It is, and when its also coupled and I dont know if this was your experience, but for me it was also coupled with how to be a woman. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sanaa Lathan's net worth is $5 million as of 2022. It rings that way, yes. And then what you experienced was really personal. Thats the thing, because Monica has to stand alone in herself many a time, when people dont believe in her. She cant play! So there was a lot of crying, a lot of crying behind the scenes for me.. And it was my first time being in that place, a place I didnt know really how to name, but I felt a deep darkness. And he was spot on when he wrote that when it came to its writer-director, the film was the first step, however unsteady, of an intriguing new talent.. Its not the only thing. Shes like a sister to me. Its just going in the direction of things you love, youll discover things about yourself. There wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Bankrolled by New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Brothers (Spike Lee was a guardian angel), it went on to premiere at the 2000 Sundance festival. And theres a line in the movie that I feel like summarizes so much of what weve been talking about, when she says, When youre a kid, you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that its not gonna turn out that way. And again, I dont think anyone else delivering that line wouldve been able to give it the depth that she does; its just so much who Sanaa Lathan is. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College and lives in Houston. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. Tamani: Yeah, because you can certainly lose the connection to yourself, when things get out of whack, for sure. Throughout the movie, its song after song. She was rumored of dating Colin Kaepernick and Denzel Washington. Release Dates Text RICKEY to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. I really learned a big life lesson when I was actually auditioning for Love and basketball, the actress began in the two-minute clip. They dated from 1985 till 1996. She ended up training five hours a day for a while before actually getting the job. And really it wasnt even hiding its at the center of the movie. Who is Kandi on Two and a Half Men? They were giving the basketball player acting coaches. I was uncomfortable inside hersad, confused and anxious. I love that scene. Company Credits He is a football player by profession. Made straight As. Percy: Id love to talk about your favorite things about the movie. How has it changed for you as youve gotten older, as youve become this well, youve become a mother, first of all. All Rights Reserved. Im always encouraging her to do what she loves and to explore herself and to think about what she wants or think about what she enjoys. When the movie was released a few months later, the New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell voiced quibbles but largely admired it and especially Lathan. The whole song theyre very, very intentional with the music, and it was a beautiful thing to experience, for sure. Adults like to tell kids what they expect them to do or what they think is right or what they think is good, instead of encouraging them to look on the inside of themselves or to figure out what they love. All About Angie Watson, The Best Drama Movies on Netflix to Stream Now, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Friendship Timeline, The Cast of 'The Super Mario Bros Movie': All About the Voice Actors, *NSYNC Remembers U.S. Monica wanted to play for the Los Angeles Lakers Some of the richest actresses like Sanaa Lathan have a classy lifestyle. The two dated during the, Did Sanaa Lathan have a baby with Denzel Washington? And at the time, I wouldnt even have articulated it like that; I just knew that I was way more than sad. So it is very important to me that my daughter not have that fear. [laughs] When you say that, its like, its so not true, though. And I had known for years that I did not want to be a lawyer, even before I applied, really. But she holds both confidence and strength alongside vulnerability in a way that just literally leaves me speechless, each time that I watch her, and I just fall further in love with her. No, in life, in real life for most of us, its just putting one foot in front of the other and taking one step and then another toward the things you love, in the direction of the things you love. That scene, to this day, its so groundbreaking and unexpected. She continued, It was really hard to keep kind of investing and trying to prove myself and keep kind of being shot down. Not easybut possible. I want her to be free. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Though most people who watchLove and Basketballsee it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the 47-year-old actress said shooting the project was a miserable experience. Im Lily Percy, and welcome to our last episode together. It was a big deal for her, and nobody knows me then, really. I think everybody will probably have to I dont know, its not gonna be that stark. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. Sitting in the Harvard Square movie theater, between two of my girls from class, I watched Monica Wright roll up on her new neighbor and his friends playing basketball and ask if she could join. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. Percy: Liara Tamani is a writer and proud Harvard Law School dropout. Along the way to becoming a writer, I worked in marketing, which I guess I have to incorporate it for my writing, but I dont enjoy it. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. The comedy-drama The Best Man became one of the top ten highest-grossing African Americans with Sanaa in the film, together with Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau Jr., and Morris Chestnut films in history. Comments will be open until 12 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday so please swing by, we need everyone off the bench. I got this. Gina Prince-Bythewoods Love & Basketball tells the story of two talented athletes who weave in and out of each others lives as they pursue big dreams. She was recognized off-Broadway and on the Los Angeles stage. Ive spent a whole lifetime, really, trying to break free from fear. Here I am, nobody knows me really, and she has to hire me. No way Monica would let that happen to her. Her brother Tendaji Lathan is a well-known DJ. Id been trying to become a lawyer for so long that I had no idea what I wanted for my future. And each scene unfolds the movie opens up and the kids are there, and she walks over and wants to play ball with her neighbors. Parental pressure is something that the writer Liara Tamani knows very well. I cant my future cannot be here. Thats how I felt. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team, key hair stylist (as Brian Andrew Tunstall), assistant director: additional photography / second assistant director, supervising sound designer / supervising sound editor, camera operator: "b" camera / steadicam operator, assistant location manager (as Judy Heinzen), production coordinator: Spain (as Maxine Parker). Scott, is on vacation.) But you cannot be successful if you are absolutely miserable. Terrell Owens, an American Football wide receiver (2006), Steve Rifkind, an American music entrepreneur (2009-2010), French Montana, an American rapper (2013), Do Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps have a child together? Tamani: Its funny; because I grew up in the church, and so I grew up in kind of a strict religious household, I was introduced to fear very early. So you have to start defining that for yourself. They include: Meena Harris: biological father, husband, children, net worth. Sanaa Lathan stars in the iconic indie as Monica Wright, a determined young woman who dreams of playing pro basketball. [laughs] I dont enjoy the marketing aspect. It was her baby, and it was her first time directing. I was miserable. According to her, she has one of the tastiest recipes for macaroni and cheese because that is her grandmothers. Prince-Bythewood: We'd go back and forth on the lot. And Sanaa looked great in the movie and she could do things really well, like dribbling [two] basketballs at the same time. Lathan: That two-ball scene that I'm in -- one of my bones to pick with Gina is that she put it in a silhouette. And because of that people don't think it's really me. When Gina Prince-Bythewoods Love & Basketball was released 20 years ago, it was celebrated as a mainstream romantic film featuring Black characters, but I treasured it for so much more. And the thing that struck me is that both sets of parents we have Monicas parents, and then we have Quincys parents, so Omar Epps, who plays Quincy both parents are trying to put their own insecurities and their own fears and shame in the expectations that they set for their kids. She was sort of like a safety net, and because of that, she had to fight pretty hard to get the role. The same year saw her do back-to-back turns in The Best Man and The Wood films. Unfortunately, no. Sanaa Lathan is an American actress and voice actress who is best known for the characters that she has played in several films such asThe Best Man Holiday (2013),Love & Basketball (2000),Brown Sugar (2002), andAlien vs. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our cookie and, Sanaa Lathan Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Clare McConnell Height, Weight, Age, Boyfriend, Family, Jorma Tommila Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Family, Aksel Hennie Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Lucia Lachkovi Javorekov Height, Weight, Age, Boyfriend, Bio, Veronika Rajek Height, Weight, Age, Net Worth, Boyfriend, Family, A. R. Ameen Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Toby Smiles Height, Weight, Age, Disability, Family. Thank you for subscribing! Exactly. 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Finally, however, she listened to her father's advice, and today she is one of the well-doing black actresses in America. It Changed My Whole Life very appropriate title. But its hard. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. And like you said, when she went on to play overseas, its probably not just Q, Quincy she was missing, its her friends and family from home. (Terms and conditions). Your email address will not be published. She takes her incense wherever she goes to feel at home. And my first year of law school, its like youre out of college, and youre at that point where youre like, OK, this is not playtime anymore, [laughs] I felt like. You can play. But then, when they see shes a girl she takes off her hat and she has long hair theyre like, Oh, girls cant ball, whatever. Even when you recognize it and youre trying to fight against it and say, No, Im gonna be free, its hard. But her vision of herself as a ball player holds strong. That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. | The boys grudgingly let her play, and she schools them. It has been a joy for our team to make this for all of you. It was the basketball.. This is our last episode of This Movie Changed Me, and I want to say thank you. [laughs] Its funny now, but it wasnt, then. She gets to the point where she knows it, she makes this decision with me, but yet, I was like the default. While playing at USC and then overseas, she encounters more haters and difficulties. I got the job and I think Gina [Prince-Bythewood] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. It Changed My Whole Life.. Yoga and dance are a huge part of my life now. Im gonna be the first girl in the NBA, she says. The film followed the two childhood besties through four quarters of their adolescence as they fall in love (and out, and in again) all while warding off naysayers and combating family struggles to chase their shared dreams of going pro. I love that. Thats hard., They also surrounded me in all of the basketball scenes with real ball players, she added. At times, I felt alone and scared. Theres still a chance! she yells, defending her dream. Karim Kharbouch, better known as French Montana is one of Lathan's boyfriend who is an American rapper.
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