Questlove, Anna Fantastic & More Attend IMAX L.A. Screening Of Prince’s Sign O’ The Times
Questlove, Prince muse Anna Fantastic and Billboard hip-hop editor Gail Mitchell were in the crowd that attended the IMAX screening of Prince’s Sign O’ The Times in Los Angeles Tuesday night. Mitchell opened the event with remarks and Prince’s childhood friend and estate representative Charles Spicer Jr. introduced the film. The attendees had a pre-show celebration in a room decorated in purple and they honored Prince’s contributions to music and pop culture and his lasting influence. The Roots’ co-founder and drummer Questlove, who also got to share the stage with Prince, was snapped with Anna Fantastic, who inspired “Pink Cashmere” and “Lemon Crush.” Prince’s legendary lighting designer LeRoy Bennett; actors Kingston Rumi Southwick (Presumed Innocent), Kelvin Brown, and Anika Poitier (actress/director and daughter of Sidney Poitier); DJ Alix Brown; filmmaker/DJ Michelle Kath Sinclair; content creator Ashamad Heard; influencer Simply SashaAnne and a mix of cultural creatives and industry folk got a first look at the IMAX version of the film. Sign O’ The Times was Prince’s second double album and third movie. The album was the next level of Prince’s innovations in pop music and the movie captured one of his peak moments as a live performer. The IMAX film opens in theaters today for a one-week run and tickets are available through the IMAX site.
Charles Spicer Jr. of the Prince Estate Gail Mitchell and Alexis Simpson
Anita Poitier and Fashion Designer Allison Questlove and Anna Fantastic
Spike Lee, Taye Diggs & More Attend Prince IMAX Screening For Sign O’ The Times
Spike Lee, Don Lemon, and Taye Diggs were amongst the crowd that attended an IMAX screening of Prince’s Sign O’ The Times concert movie in New York Wednesday night. IMAX, Mercury Studios, FilmRise, and Paisley Park Studios hosted the event at the KMC Kips Bay 15 IMAX theatre in New York City. The evening started with attendees walking the purple carpet and standing in front of a floral arrangement and sharing their observations on Prince’s legacy. Luann de Lesseps, Dianne Brill, Amir Arison, and Genevieve Gorder joined artists and musicians, including members of Interpol, Eugene Hutz (Gogo Bordello), Blu DeTiger, and Emmett Skye, along with designers and cultural figures in honoring Prince’s artistry. DJs AKU (Florence & The Machine), The Muses, Rex DeTiger, and a surprise live tribute performance provided the entertainment while guests sipped on purple cocktails.
Sign O’ The Times is one of the most important concert films, as it captured Prince at his height and was the companion film to an equally significant album. It was Prince’s second time directing a film, having done so previously with Under The Cherry Moon. Sign O’ The Times was praised by critics, unlike UTCM and despite it not doing so well at the box office, it has become an essential part of the Prince story and pop music. The IMAX version of the film will be available on streaming platforms and in theaters on August 29th.
Throwback: Isaac Hayes: Do Your Thing
Isaac Hayes wrote “Do Your Thing” for the soundtrack to Gordon Parks’ 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft. Hayes initially wanted to be cast in the movie but Parks sent footage for him to write music for and gave him a cameo. Parks and MGM liked the first few songs Hayes composed for the movie and they eventually hired him to score the whole film. The soundtrack was released in 1971 and was the first double album of original music from a Black artist. It was five years before Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life and four before Earth, Wind & Fire’s Gratitude. Shaft hit number one on the Billboard 100 and R&B Albums chart, went platinum within a month, and won two Grammys for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical, and Best Instrumental Arrangement. Hayes became the first Black person to win an Oscar in a non-acting category for the theme song from Shaft that won for Best Original Song.
Shaft made a way for soul music to feature prominently in movies and it would only be a year later when Gordon Parks Jr. would hire Curtis Mayfield to create the soundtrack to Super Fly. In 2019, a remastered version of Shaft was released with 22 bonus tracks. Hayes recorded 20 solo albums, more than six collaboration albums with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and more, and had appeared in over 50 films and television shows by the time of his passing in 2008. He rose from being a storied songwriter with partner David Porter at Stax Records into a blueprint for the soul star. On August 14th, HUF will release its capsule collection of Hayes’ merchandise.
