New funding has been raised to help movie fans benefit from the entertainment industry. MoviePass On May 1, 2025, tech platform MoviePass — with the help of its partner, the C3 Foundation — announced the launch of Mogul, a “daily fantasy entertainment platform” for Hollywood, according to a press release. The platform, which is the first of its kind, allows fans to participate in fantasy-style tournaments, head-to-head matchups, and solo challenges where they can apply their insights to predict audience attendance, critic scores, award winners, and more. “You basically create your own studio by picking real movies, real actors, real directors and the way those projects behave in the real world, and your ability to pick and predict what might happen, impacts your scoring,” explained Stacy Spikes, co-founder and CEO of MoviePass, via an exclusive from Variety. Furthermore, fans can receive incentives such as blockchain -based digital rewards, including new avatar images and artwork,...
New music from the late legendary rapper Eazy-E could be on the way, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). There are mixed reaction from artists regarding the use of AI. However, the technology has been embraced by some, including Timbaland. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the artist is an advocate for the music AI creation tool Suno. “You can put out great songs in minutes,” Timbaland told Rolling Stone. “I always wanted to do what Quincy Jones did with Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ when he was [almost] 50. So my ‘Thriller,’ to me, is this tool. God presented this tool to me.” Tag teaming in the appreciation for AI is Lil Eazy-E, born Eric Darnell Wright Jr. He is the son of Eazy-E, who passed away in 1995. According to TMZ, Lil Eazy-E has expressed interest in creating an AI-packaged biopic film about his father’s life and has teased a potential joint album in the future. “I actually just got a sample of him talking to me. It made my mind go another route with the possibilities...
Katt Williams has purchased land to open a movie studio. During an interview with GQ, the comedian revealed he has acquired a former military base located in Alabama. It has been confirmed by Williams’ publicist, Amy Sisoyev. “I can’t disclose the amount or exact location just yet, but I can confirm that he has purchased a former military base in Alabama,” Sisoyev said via email to AL.com. Williams shared that he aims to follow in the footsteps of other celebrities, such as Tyler Perry. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Perry, a self-made billionaire, opened the world’s largest Black-owned studio. The studio, which Perry self-funded, reached a valuation of $280 million in 2023. Speaking of wanting to be next in line, Williams commented to GQ : “It’s just not fair to put all that pressure on Tyler Perry. He can only do so much.” At the time of this writing, it is unclear when the movie studio will break ground. Williams is part of a growing number of Black figures seeking to disrupt...
Marlon Wayans has announced the return of the “Scary Movie” franchise. This represents a significant change for the series, which was originally rooted in the Wayans family. USA Today reports that the first two films were directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, with Marlon and Shawn Wayans serving as writers and actors for some of them. According to ABC News, the original “Scary Movie” (2000) grossed over $277 million worldwide. Despite “Scary Movie” becoming a pop culture staple, the Wayans family’s involvement in the franchise fizzled out after the second film. According to AFROTECH™, Marlon Wayans claimed that The Weinstein Co. “snatched” the franchise from them after it was initially passed over by other production studios. The Wayans family reportedly learned through a publication that they would no longer be involved. “The second one they rushed us into, and by the third one, they didn’t want to pay the money, so they snatched it. We found out on Christmas that they hired somebody...
Martin Lawrence is an iconic comedian , actor, and entertainer who truly requires no introduction. Best known for his leading roles in films such as “Big Momma’s House,” “Bad Boys,” “Open Season,” and more, Lawrence has created generational wealth through his impeccable comedic timing and hilarious comic delivery. Today, Martin Lawrence has an estimated net worth of over $110 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth . While the legendary actor’s income mostly stems from his career in film and television, he has also taken in large sums through stand-up comedy , as well as a wide array of brand deals and real estate holdings. Without any further preamble, let’s dissect Martin Lawrence’s net worth, and examine each of the main contributing factors to his wealth. Stand-Up Comedy And Early Acting Career (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage) Martin Lawrence was raised primarily by a single mother in the Washington, D.C. area. As a youth, he took up boxing before ultimately embarking upon...
When debating legendary movie dance scenes, the comedy/romance “House Party,” directed and written by Reginald Hudlin, is most likely a part of the discussion. The dance scene from the ’90s classic features the Hip-Hop group Kid’ n Play, comprised of Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin , actress Tisha Campbell, and actress and choreographer A.J. Johnson. This scene focuses on an iconic dance-off that fans replicate to this day. While “House Party” has created a long-lasting impact for over three decades, it’s been revealed that the pay at the time for the cast’s contribution may not have been what one would expect. In an interview with sports journalist Jemele Hill on her YouTube channel “Jemelle Hill Is Unbothered,” Johnson, who choreographed for the “House Party” dance scene, claimed that she was paid $4,000 for her role as Sharane after filming for up to two months. “We all made four grand,” Johnson told Hill. Johnson also shared how she and Play, Christopher Martin, made...
It pays to do the right thing. According to Complex, two former MoviePass executives are facing federal charges for allegedly deceiving investors. The company’s previous CEO Mitchell Lowe, and Theodore Farnsworth, who formerly held the title of CEO of its parent company Helios and Matheson have been charged with securities fraud.
Zoe Saldana has proven to be a force to be reckoned with as she has been featured in three of the highest-earning films of all time. Zoe Saldana: Her Journey to Stardom Begins The actress made her flash splash in the late 1990s when she starred in two episodes of “Law & Order.” Soon after, Saldana found herself on the big screen in her role as a ballet dancer for “Center Stage.” That role paved the way for more appearances including “Crossroads (2002)” and her breakthrough role in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).” Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.
Just in time for the back-to-school season, we’re dropping our favorite HBCU-centric shows and movies to give viewers a peek at life on historically Black college campuses. This curation of TV shows, movies and more offers something for everyone interested in learning about HBCUs, their campus cultures and their contributions to Black culture at large. So grab some snacks, settle in and get into them.
The return of MoviePass is a story for the ages. The site is going from bankruptcy to bringing in thousands of users on its waitlist who are anxiously awaiting its comeback. Although the platform — which has been dubbed as “one of the industry’s most notorious flops” by CNN — is on a mission to rise from the ashes after its quick downfall. When the movie ticketing service was launched in 2017, it became a fan favorite. However, just two years later the company filed for bankruptcy. Then, according to CNN Business, the company’s co-founder successfully purchased MoviePass out of debt.
Back in May 2021, AfroTech sat down with MoviePass founder Stacy Spikes to discuss the concept of his new company, PreShow. At the time, Spikes dismissed any notion of ever returning to the company he helped make famous. Getting his start as a film marketing executive and producer, Spikes first made headlines when he became the co-founder and CEO of MoviePass. In theory, MoviePass’ idea was a simple, and welcoming, one: pay a monthly subscription fee, see as many movies in the theaters as you’d like. In 2012, MoviePass upped the ante by activating proprietary location-based payment technology, which allowed users to pay for their tickets in a safe and secure way — another idea that was, in fact, before its time. So it’s no surprise that PreShow, too, has the same visionary approach to entertainment. “Originally, the idea was to make it movie-based,” he said. “But the pandemic threw a wrench into those plans.” Now, though, it seems like Spikes may have pivoted yet again. According to...
A new report by Variety revealed a very sad truth about the biggest salaries in Hollywood. The outlet reports that the actor who got the biggest payday in Tinsel Town was none other than Daniel Craig. The current James Bond received more than $100 million for the “Knives Out” sequels, which are being directed by Hollywood heavyweight Rian Johnson. And there’s a reason Craig is getting this heavy salary: the “new deal” that’s available to many Hollywood stars. “Netflix compensates movie stars for the projected back-end box office participation they would reap if their movies were released exclusively in theaters. Add to that salary bumps Craig would’ve received for second and third films in the murder mystery series, and the outgoing James Bond is sitting on a nine-figure check,” explains Variety. And there’s more to the biggest salaries in Hollywood, too. In a nutshell, actors who are involved in the business of streaming can expect a bigger payday than those who limit their efforts...