The following is a press release from the American Film Institute:
The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the honorees of AFI AWARDS 2018, celebrating the year’s most outstanding achievements in the art of the moving image — with 10 films and 10 television programs deemed culturally and artistically significant.
In addition to the 20 honorees, AFI also recognizes ROMA with an AFI Special Award, designated for a work of excellence outside the Institute’s criteria for American film.
AFI AWARDS honorees are selected based on works that advance the art of the moving image, enhance the rich cultural heritage of America’s art form, inspire audiences and artists alike and make a mark on American society.
AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR
BLACKKKLANSMAN
BLACK PANTHER
EIGHTH GRADE
THE FAVOURITE
FIRST REFORMED
GREEN BOOK
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
A QUIET PLACE
A STAR IS BORN
AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR
THE AMERICANS
THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY
ATLANTA
BARRY
BETTER CALL SAUL
THE KOMINSKY METHOD
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
POSE
SUCCESSION
THIS IS US
AFI SPECIAL AWARD
ROMA
Marking the 19th chapter in the American Film Institute’s ongoing almanac of the moving image, the 2018 entries join a notable group of previous AFI AWARDS honorees — works of significance that contribute to the rich cultural legacy and define the state of the art form. View all past AFI AWARDS honorees here.
AFI AWARDS selections are made through a jury process where AFI Trustees, scholars, artists and critics determine the year’s most outstanding achievements and provide contextual rationales for each selection.
This year’s juries — one for film and one for television — were chaired by AFI Board of Trustees Vice Chairs Tom Pollock (former Vice Chairman of MCA, Chairman of Universal Pictures) for film and Richard Frank (former Chairman of Walt Disney Television, President of Walt Disney Studios, President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) for television. The juries featured acclaimed artists such as David Benioff, Joan Chen, Courtney B. Vance and Alfre Woodard; renowned authors and scholars representing prestigious universities with recognized motion picture arts and television programs; film historian Leonard Maltin; the AFI Board of Trustees; and film and television critics from media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, Variety and The Washington Post.
Honorees will gather on January 4, 2019, for recognition at the annual AFI AWARDS private luncheon in Los Angeles, CA — an event favored by the entertainment community for its informal intimacy and its inclusive acknowledgement of excellence. At the luncheon, AFI will present jury rationales providing artistic and cultural context for the selection of each honoree.
The AFI AWARDS luncheon will be sponsored by Audi, a supporter of AFI and its programs for the past 15 years. The AFI AWARDS luncheon is also sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of AFI.
About the American Film Institute The American Film Institute was established by presidential proclamation in the White House Rose Garden, and launched its national mandate on June 5, 1967 — to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI’s founding Trustees included Chairman Gregory Peck, Vice Chairman Sidney Poitier, Francis Ford Coppola, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Jack Valenti and George Stevens, Jr., as Director.
About Audi Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands, delivering about 1.878 million vehicles globally in 2017. In the U.S., Audi of America sold nearly 227,000 vehicles in 2017 and broke all-time company sales records for the eighth straight year. Visit audiusa.com or media.audiusa.com for more information regarding Audi vehicles and business topics.
The following is a press release from ONE Musicfest:
ONE Musicfest, the Southeast’s premier urban progressive music and arts festival – has announced the lineup for its 2018 festival. Now a two-day experience taking place Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9 at Central Park in Atlanta, GA, ONE Musicfest will feature Nas, Cardi B, Miguel, T.I., Jeezy, Big Sean, Kelis, Brandy, August Greene, Big KRIT, George Clinton & Parliament and more.
Hailed as one of the nation’s “Can’t Miss Festivals,” ONE Musicfest returns for its ninth year with an unforgettable weekend of high-energy performances and unique cultural experiences. Over 20,000 attended last year, generating over 1.8 billion impressions and rave reviews from USA Today, Associated Press, Huffington Post and VIBE.
This year, ONE Musicfest has curated a diverse lineup of music powerhouses, radio chart-toppers and icons. From the rap god Nas to hip-hop it-girl Cardi B to the legendary George Clinton & Parliament, the festival offers something for music lovers of all kinds.
“We are all super excited about OMF2018,” says founder Jason “J” Carter. “Growing into a two-day festival allows us to expand our roster, highlight more of the music that we love and give our audience an experience unlike any!”
Complete List of Currently Announced Performers for ONE Musicfest 2018 (in alphabetical order):
August Greene featuring Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins
Big KRIT
Big Sean
Brandy
Cardi B
Davido
DJ Nabs’ ATL Crunk Set featuring YoungBloodz, Ying Yang Twins, Eastside Boyz, Trillville, Kilo Ali and DJ Taz
DVSN
George Clinton & Parliament
Goldlink
Jeezy
Jessie Reyez
Kelis
Miguel
Nas
Rapsody
St Beauty
T.I.
Teedra Moses
About ONE Musicfest ONE Musicfest is the Southeast’s largest annual urban progressive music festival, featuring a diverse range of music, including classic and next generation hip-hop, soulful R&B, alternative, and rock. Started in 2010, ONE Musicfest is now recognized as one of the most highly-anticipated celebrations of the arts in the Southeast, with this year’s festival expecting an attendance of 20,000 music lovers from throughout the country.
Oprah Winfrey and “The Handmaid’s Tale” Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Veep,” “Big Little Lies,” “Atlanta,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Black Mirror: San Junipero” and “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” were among the shows that won multiple awards in major categories at the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles September 17, 2017. “The Handmaid’s Tale” won five awards, including Outstanding Drama Series. “Big Little Lies” won five awards, including Outstanding Limited Series or Movie. “Saturday Night Live” won four prizes, including Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. “Atlanta” won two prizes, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for show creator/star Donald Glover. “Veep” received two Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It was her sixth consecutive win of this award, making her the record for the most wins by an actor or actress for the same TV show. Meanwhile, “Black Mirror: San Junipero” won two Emmys, including Outstanding Television Movie.
“Westworld” and “Saturday Night Live” went into the ceremony with the most nominations (22 each), but “Westworld” was ultimately snubbed and did not win in the major categories. However, “Westworld” was one of the top winners (taking five awards) at the 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which were presented on September 9 and September 10.
CBS had the live U.S. telecast of the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, which was hosted by Stephen Colbert who spent much of his on-stage time making jokes about President Donald Trump. Eligible shows were those that had first-run prime-time or late-night (8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Eastern Time) airings on U.S. television or U.S. streaming services from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017.
Highlights of the show included former White House press secretary Sean Spicer making a surprise appearance on stage to poke fun at his widely mocked claim that Trump’s inauguration was the most-attended presidential inauguration in U.S. history. Colbert later addressed Spice as Melissa McCarthy, who won an Emmy for the first time she her parody of Spicer on “Saturday Night Live.” Other highlights included the reunion of “9 to 5” stars Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda, as well as TV comedy legends Norman Lear and Carol Burnett presenting an award together.
The following are the winners and nominees for the 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards:
*=winner
Drama Series
“Better Call Saul” (AMC)
“The Crown” (Netflix) “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)*
“House of Cards” (Netflix)
“Stranger Things” (Netflix)
“This Is Us” (NBC)
“Westworld” (HBO)
Drama Actress
Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”)
Claire Foy (“The Crown”) Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)*
Keri Russell (“The Americans”)
Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”)
Robin Wright (“House of Cards”)
Drama Actor Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)*
Anthony Hopkins (“Westworld”)
Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”)
Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”)
Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”)
Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”)
Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”)
Comedy Actor
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
Aziz Ansari (“Master of None”)
Zach Galifianakis (“Baskets”) Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)*
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”)
Comedy Actress
Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”)
Tracee Ellis-Ross (“black-ish”)
Jane Fonda (“Grace and Frankie”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”)*
Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”)
Limited Series “Big Little Lies” (HBO)*
“Fargo” (FX)
“Feud: Bette and Joan” (FX)
“The Night Of” (HBO)
“Genius” (National Geographic)
Limited Series Actor Riz Ahmed (“The Night Of”)*
Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock: The Lying Detective”)
Robert De Niro (“The Wizard of Lies”)
Ewan McGregor (“Fargo”)
Geoffrey Rush (“Genius”)
John Turturro (“The Night Of”)
Limited Series Actress Carrie Coon (“Fargo”)
Felicity Huffman (“American Crime”) Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”)*
Jessica Lange (“Feud”)
Susan Sarandon (“Feud”)
Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies”)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”)
David Harbour (“Stranger Things”)
Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”)
Michael Kelly (“House of Cards”) John Lithgow (“The Crown”)*
Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”)
Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”)
Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)*
Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”)
Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Louie Anderson (“Baskets”) Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”)*
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”)
Tony Hale (“Veep”)
Matt Walsh (“Veep”)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Vanessa Bayer (“Saturday Night Live”)
Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”)
Kathryn Hahn (“Transparent”)
Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”)
Judith Light (“Transparent”) Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)*
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Bill Camp (“The Night Of”)
Alfred Molina (“Feud: Bette and Joan”) Alexander Skarsgård (“Big Little Lies”)*
Stanley Tucci (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)
David Thewlis (“Fargo”)
Michael K. Williams (“The Night Of”)
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Judy Davis (“Feud: Bette and Joan”) Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”)*
Jackie Hoffman (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)
Regina King (“American Crime”)
Michelle Pfeiffer (The Wizard of Lies”)
Shailene Woodley (“Big Little Lies”)
Variety Talk Series
“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC) “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (HBO)*
“Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS)
“Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO)
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
Television Movie “Black Mirror: San Junipero”*
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love”
“The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks”
“Sherlock: The Lying Detective (Masterpiece)”
“The Wizard Of Lies”
Variety Sketch Series
“Billy On The Street” (truTV)
“Documentary Now!” (IFC)
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central)
“Portlandia” (IFC) “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)*
“Tracey Ullman’s Show” (HBO)
Directing for a Comedy Series Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)*
Jamie Babbit (“Silicon Valley”)
Morgan Sackett (“Veep”)
David Mandel (“Veep”)
Dale Stern (“Veep”)
Directing for a Drama Series
Vince Gilligan (“Better Call Saul”)
Stephen Daldry (“The Crown”) Reed Morano (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)*
Kate Dennis (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Lesli Linka Glatter (“Homeland”)
The Duffer Brothers (“Stranger Things”)
Jonathan Nolan (“Westworld”)
Directing for a Variety Series
Derek Waters & Jeremy Konner (“Drunk History”)
Andy Fisher (Jimmy Kimmel Live”)
Paul Pennolino (“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”)
Jim Hoskinson (“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”) Don Roy King (“Saturday Night Live”)*
Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Ron Howard (“Genius”)
James Marsh (“The Night Of”) Jean-Marc Vallée (“Big Little Lies”)*
Ryan Murphy (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)
Steve Zaillian (“The Night Of”)
Writing for a Comedy Series Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe (“Master of None”)*
Alec Berg (“Silicon Valley”)
Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)
Stephen Glover (“Atlanta”)
Billy Kimball (“Veep”)
David Mandel (“Veep”)
Writing for a Drama Series
The Duffer Brothers (“Stranger Things”)
Lisa Joy & Jonathan Nolan (“Westworld”)
Peter Morgan (“The Crown”) Bruce Miller (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)*
Gordon Smith (“Better Call Saul”)
Joe Weisberg & Joel Fields (“The Americans”)
Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama
David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies”) Charlie Brooker (“Black Mirror: San Junipero”)*
Noah Hawley (“Fargo”)
Ryan Murphy (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)
Jaffe Cohen, Michael, Michael Zam & Ryan Murphy (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)
Richard Price & Steven Zaillian (“The Night Of”)
Writing for a Variety Series
Jo Miller, Samantha Bee, Ashley Nicole Black, Pat Cassels, Eric Drysdae, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free, Joe Grossman, Miles Kahn, Melinda Taub & Jason Reich (“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”) Kevin Avery, Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss & Juli Weiner (“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”)*
Jermaine Affonso, Alex Baze, Bryan Donaldson, Sal Gentile, Matt Goldich, Dina Gusovky, Jenny Hagel, Allison Hord, Mike Karnell, John Lutz, Seth Meyers, Ian Morgan, Seth Reiss, Amber Ruffin, Mike Scollins, Mike Shoemaker & Ben Warheit (“Late Night with Seth Meyers”)
Barry Julien, Jay Katsir, Opus Moreschi, Stephen Colbert, Tom Purcell, Matt Lappin, Michael Brumm, Nate Charny, Aaron Cohen, Cullen Crawford, Paul Dinello, Ariel Dumas, Glenn Eichler, Django Gold, Gabe Gronli, Daniel Kibblesmith, Michael Pielocik, Kate Sidley, Jen Spyra, Brian Stack & John Thibodeaux (“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”)
Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, Kent Sublette, Bryan Tucker, Pete Schultz, James Anderson, Kristen Bartlett, Jeremy Beiler, Zach Bornstein, Joanna Bradley, Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Anna Drezen, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Nick Kocher, Dave McCary, Brian McElhaney, Dennis McNicholas, Drew Michael, Lorne Michaels, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Streeter Seidell, Will Stephen & Julio Torres (“Saturday Night Live”)
“Big Little Lies” Emmy winners Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“This Is Us” Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“Veep” Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
Norman Lear and Carol Burnett at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
Viola Davis at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
Emmy Awards host Stephen Colbert at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” Emmy winner Ann Dowd at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“9 to 5” stars Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“Big Little Lies” Emmy winner Alexander Skarsgård at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“Mom” stars Anna Faris and Allison Janney at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“Atlanta” Emmy winner Donald Glover at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“Saturday Night Live” Emmy winners Dave Chappelle and Melissa McCarthy at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“Saturday Night Live” Emmy winner Kate McKinnon at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“The Crown” Emmy winner John Lithgow at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
“Big Little Lies” Emmy winner Laura Dern at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017 (Photo by Trae Patton/CBS)
The following is a press release from the Music Midtown Festival:
Bruno Mars, Mumford & Sons, Future and Blink-182 will headline this year’s Music Midtown Festival at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17. The annual festival, which began in 1994, will also feature chart toppers including Wiz Khalifa, Weezer, Big Sean, HAIM, Young the Giant, Bastille, Two Door Cinema Club, Tove Lo, Russ, Milky Chance, Collective Soul, The Strumbellas, Oh Wonder, Judah & The Lion, The Naked and Famous, Zara Larson, Dua Lipa, Broods, PVRIS, Vintage Trouble, Lizzo, Joywave, Bibi Bourelly, COIN, AJR, Circa Waves, Missio, Hiss Golden Messenger, Daye Jack and Midnight Larks
Fans who sign up for the Music Midtown E-List will have special access to the presale beginning Tuesday, June 20 from 10AM ET through Thursday, June 22 at 10PM ET. To Join the Music Midtown E-List visit MusicMidtown.com. Tickets will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, June 23 at 10AM ET at MusicMidtown.com.
“I’m so proud of our line-up this year. We have an incredibly diverse group of artists and some of the biggest names in music,” says Live Nation Atlanta President, Peter Conlon. “We received such great feedback from the fans after expanding Music Midtown to two full days in 2016, so we are keeping with that model to give people the most time to enjoy the music, food, and beautiful Piedmont Park on Saturday and Sunday.”
TICKET PACKAGES
2-Day General Admission Ticket: $135.00
VIP packages will be available for an enhanced festival experience and include:
VIP: $600.00 Weekend Ticket
Admission to Festival
Dedicated VIP Entrances
Complimentary food, beer and wine
Preferred Stage Viewing Areas
Centrally located lounge area
Private Air-Conditioned Restrooms
Super VIP Presented by Salesforce: $1,750.00 Weekend Ticket
Admission to Festival
Preferred Parking and Shuttle Service
Air-Conditioned Luxury Lounge located at the Electric Ballroom Stage
Exclusive Viewing Areas at Honda and Roxy Stages
Gourmet catered fare and full open bar
Golf Cart transportation between Electric Ballroom and Honda Stages
Private Air-Conditioned Restrooms
$1 for the benefit of Piedmont Park plus applicable service charges will be added to each ticket purchase. Acts, event time and dates are subject to change. For more information, visit www.musicmidtown.com.
New for 2017, fans will have the opportunity to purchase a limited amount of “Early Entry” passes. Early Entry pass-holders will be able to enter the Festival beginning at 11:30AM ET on Saturday and Sunday, a full 30 minutes before the gates are scheduled to open.
The performance schedule, along with other exciting details, will be released leading up to the event.
Music Midtown 2017 is sponsored by Salesforce, Honda, Twix, Coca-Cola, Stella Artois, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, el Jimador Tequila, SVEDKA Vodka, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Alternative Apparel, W Midtown Hotel and Uber. Produced by Live Nation.
The dual-branded AC and Moxy Hotel in Atlanta (Rendering courtesy of Noble Investment Group)
Marriott International and Noble Investment Group have done a groundbreaking of what will be Marriott’s first-ever combination of an AC and Moxy under one roof. According to a press release, the $70 million, five-story hotel project will rise on a full city block in Midtown Atlanta, and is expected to open in the middle of 2018.
The following is an excerpt from a Noble Investment Group press release:
With an entrance on 14th Street, the 133-room AC Hotel Atlanta Midtown will feature guestrooms and suites with modern and sophisticated design elements, plush seating and multifunctional workspaces. The 155-room Moxy Atlanta Midtown, which guests will enter on 13th Street, will feature stylish, tech-enabled bedrooms with optional mobile check-in and check-out; keyless entry; motion sensor lighting; internet TV in-room; USB outlets; and furiously fast and free Wi-Fi for ultimate connectivity.
Both hotels will have distinct hospitality experiences inside and will share a deck-top amenity level that will contain shared meeting space with outdoor break-out space, health and fitness and a rooftop pool and bar with outdoor fire pits.
As part of this project, Noble will also help establish the missing link in an extensive pedestrian connector. To be called the Arts Walk, the ground-level path will provide direct access for hotel guests and local residents to walk from 14th Street to the lively Crescent Avenue entertainment and dining district, to the more than 20 million square feet of corporate office and the world-renowned Woodruff Arts Center along 15th Street. The connector will eventually stretch from the Woodruff Arts Center to high-speed public transportation at the 10th Street MARTA station.
Here is what this Golden Globe winner said backstage in the Golden Globe Awards press room.
Donald Glover at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 8, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW
Long before it went on the air, “Atlanta” was one of those shows that was predicted to catch on. Did that scare you? Did that encourage you? And then as it became accepted, how did that encourage you?
I always when I heard that kind of stuff, it was just my instinct was to pull back. I guess my instinct is always to under-promise over-deliver. I think the last lens that we have as artist is people’s expectations we’ve done so many things there’s been so many great things already made you know that it’s important to just think about how it’s getting to people, whether it’s through their phones or how they’re hearing about it. My instinct was just kind of pull back. I suppose I was really excited.
I’ve been trying to make the show for a long time. I only cared about what people in Atlanta act like I was like if I can’t walk through a lens like you can name a show “Detroit” and then have Detroit people hate it you know so I really was just only caring about if my parents thought it was cool, my cousins thought it was cool, everybody who lived in Atlanta. If I could go to a Chick-fil-A and have people be like, “Have you seen that Donald Glover show?”
Can you talk about your shout-out to Migos?
I think they’re the Beatles of this generation and they don’t get a lot of respect outside of like Atlanta. Not that they don’t get a lot of respect, but it’s like there’s a generation—sort of like the YouTube generation—there’s a generation of kids that are growing up on something that’s completely separate from a whole group of people. And honestly, that song is just fly—like it there’s no better song to have sex to.
How are you preparing for the role of being the young Lando Calrissian?
Not getting to eat anything enjoyable for the rest of my life. Lando’s a big deal to me. It was just literally the first toy I ever got. It’s interesting when you have something that’s kind of iconic in a range where like people pay attention to it, it’s hard because you want to live up to their expectations but all you really do is live up to your own.
“Star Wars” is really high. I know the directors Chris [Miller] and Phil [Lord] they’re amazing. I love the guy playing Han [Solo]. Like it’s going to be a good time. Emily Clark. It’s going to be fun, so like I’m just getting ready to just have fun with those guys. That’s pretty much it.
You said you’ve been trying to make “Atlanta” for a long time. Did you have a struggle to explain your vision for the show and how you would tackle comedy in a different way than the sitcoms that we have become accustomed to?
I think the best things just can’t be explained … I just kind of Trojan-horsed it. I told FX it was something that it wasn’t, and I then hoped it would be enjoyable when it got there. Thank God like you know John Landgraf and the FX team and everybody was rooting for us and pushed for us.
I went home I guess like two years ago, a year-and-a-half ago after I did Bonnaroo … and my mom was clearing out my room and she handed my brother a box of just stuff. I’m just talking to my mom, and he pulls out this letter, and it was a letter I forgot I wrote that he that I sent to him from college. I was like, “Yo, I had this dream where we write a show together and we do this and we do that.”
So I guess it’s been in my head for a long time. Like I said on the stage before, I truly do believe in magic and dreams. We’ve kind of forgotten that, so I feel like that’s the kind of dreamy part of my show. It’s like you’ve got to believe in kind of human magic a little bit, if that made any sense at all.
What do you think we all can do to make a little bit more magic in the world make it a little bit better?
I think honestly right now we live in a time where things are very divisive. I think Meryl Streep was speaking on this a lot of where it’s like we all have a lot of responsibility. And I remember going to school because I wasn’t allowed to talk about magic and I wasn’t allowed.
I knew Santa Claus was fake, but I was around a lot of kids who didn’t know that, so you have that responsibility to keep that going and understand why you’re doing it because of joy. So I think human joy is super-important. It doesn’t come from computers. It just comes from belief.
Acting, making music all that stuff is believing in something that maybe someone older doesn’t truly believe that like when you see it in a child and makes you kind of believe it again, because we forget how innocent and beautiful we were. So I think it’s our responsibility to make magic again because I think a lot of the shit that’s happening now is bullshit.
