BILL VAUGHAN'S TASTY CLIPS: Photographer Ernest Cole the Focus of New Raoul Peck Film?

“Ernest Cole: Lost and Found,” the latest work from Raoul Peck, the acclaimed director of “I Am Not Your Negro,” “Lumumba,” and “Exterminate All the Brutes,” will have its Southern California Premiere as the Opening Night Film of the Pembroke Taparelli Arts and Film Festival on Nov. 1.

The documentary chronicles the life and work of one of the first Black freelance photographers in South Africa, whose early pictures, shocking at the time of their first publication, revealed to the world Black life under apartheid.

Cole fled South Africa in 1966 and lived in exile in the U.S., where he photographed extensively in New York City, as well as the American South, fascinated by the ways this country could be at times so vastly different, and at others eerily similar, to the segregated culture of his homeland.

During this period, he published his landmark book of photographs denouncing the apartheid, “House of Bondage” which, while banned in South Africa, cemented Cole’s place as one of the great photographers of his time at the age of 27.

After his death, more than 60,000 of his 35mm film negatives were inexplicably discovered in a bank vault in Stockholm, Sweden. Most considered these forever lost, especially the thousands of pictures Cole shot in the U.S.

Telling his own story through his writings, the recollections of those closest to him, and the lens of his uncompromising work, the film, narrated by Lakeith Stanfield, is a reintroduction of a pivotal Black artist to a new generation.

It opens to wide release in LA on Nov. 29 with additional cities to follow.

LET THE NOMS BEGIN: As a preview of the upcoming awards season, The Gotham Film & Media Institute announced the nominations for the 34th edition of The Gothams, singling out 39 feature films and 25 performances in nine award categories.

The awards give early recognition and media attention for outstanding and groundbreaking storytellers, including writers, directors, producers and actors as selected by committees of film critics, journalists, festival programmers, and film curators.

Separate juries of writers, directors, actors, producers, editors, and other film industry professionals will determine the final recipients of The Gothams.

Among the nominees are RaMell Ross’ “Nickel Boys with Brandon Wilson,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths” with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Mati Diop’s “Dahomey,” Johan Grimonprez’ “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” and Julian Brave NoiseCat’s “Sugarcane.”

Performances singled out include Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin in “Sing Sing,” Demi Moore in “The Substance,” Saoirse Ronan in “Outrun,” Justice Smith in “I Saw the TV Glow,” Kieran Culkin in “A Real Pain,” Danielle Deadwyler in “The Piano Lesson,” and Brian Tyree Henry and Ryan Destiny in the boxing biopic “The Fire Inside.”

The 2024 Gothams will be held live and in person on Dec. 2nd at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

TASTY QUIP: “’Not Like Us’ is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent. Now, if you identify with the man that I represent? ... This man has morals, he has values, he believes in something, he stands on something. He’s not pandering. He’s a man who can recognize his mistakes and not be afraid to share the mistakes and can dig deep down into fear-based ideologies or experiences to be able to express them without feeling like he’s less of a man. If I’m thinking of ‘Not Like Us,’ I’m thinking of me and whoever identifies with that.” – KENDRICK LAMAR to Harper’s Bazaar

CLIPPETTES: On Nov. 1, the Color Compton 2024 Gala with DJ Battlecat, Ryan Porter, and Def Sound will be held at the Ken Miller Recreation Center and Deon Cole is at the Hollywood Improv …

The Pharrell Williams Lego biopic “Piece by Piece” is now available to rent or own on digital platforms …

Kirk Franklin’s The Reunion Tour with Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp, The Clark Sisters, and more hits The Forum on Nov. 3 as LCD Soundsystem is at the Shrine Auditorium, Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal Tour comes to the El Rey Theatre, Cimafunk plays The Roxy, and blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa headlines at the Terrace Theater …

Additionally, the Hollywood Improv hosts Amy Ashton's Celebs Stand Up for Mental Health with Paul Rodriguez, Garrett Morris, and more benefitting Alexandria House, Delancey Street Foundation and Downtown Women’s Center …

Lynn Whitfield, Gary Dourdan, Joe Holt and director Christine Swanson will walk the red carpet for the Hollywood screening of “Albany Road” at the Laemmle Royal on Nov. 4. The heartfelt and humorous exploration of life’s complexities through the lens of a road trip between two women who couldn’t be more different opens in theaters Nov. 15 and co-stars Renee Elise Goldsberry, J Alphonse Nicholson (“P-Valley”), and Lisa Arrindell … ??

The 4th also brings the Chicano Batman Farewell Show to The Mayan, Gunna to the Palladium, and Jessie J to The Bellwether …

The Belasco presents Leslie Jones: Live on Nov. 6 as Vince Staples’ Black In America Tour stops at the Shrine Expo.

Roy Hargrove’s “Crisol: Grand-Terre,” a never-before-heard album by the late trumpeter and his acclaimed band of musicians is out now. Recorded in April 1998, fresh off their Grammy win for Best Latin Jazz Performance for their debut album “Habana,” the new Verve recording showcases their blistering and powerful signature sound.

TASTY QUIP: “I changed the pressure from negative to positive. So, instead of thinking everybody wanted to see me fail, I decided everybody wanted to see me win, since I wanted to see myself win.” – KEKE PALMER

TC ON TV: Nov. 1 – “The Contract” (AllBlk): Gabrielle Dennis (“The Upshaws“) and Lil’ Duval star in this comedy about a married couple thrown into turmoil upon agreeing to a threesome.? With Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Matthew Lawrence, and Eric Roberts.

“The Dead Don’t Hurt” (Paramount+): Streaming premiere of the atmospheric Viggo Mortensen western. “God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust” (GAPF): A faith-based political thriller with David A.R. Wright, Isaiah Washington, and Dean Cain. “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (CW): Grace Byers (“Empire”) guests. ?

Nov. 2 – “Lil’ WeezyAna Fest” (Prime/Twitch): Lil’ Wayne’s hometown New Orleans festival with Juvenile, Birdman, Mannie Fresh, BG., Turk and more is livestreamed from Smoothie King Center.

Nov. 3 – “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” (Food): Eric Ripert “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” (AMC): “The Book of Carol” ends in this engrossing second season finale.

Nov. 4 – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): “The 2024 SNL Election Special” “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Lester Holt

Nov, 5 – Election Day! VOTE!

Nov. 6 – “Meet Me Next Christmas” (Netflix): In this really sweet holiday romance from director Rusty Cundieff (“Chappelle’s Show,” “Sprung”), Christina Milian portrays a woman in pursuit of the hottest ticket in town. With Kofi Siriboe of “Queen Sugar” fame. “Celebrity Crime Files” (TV1): Focuses on the tragic overdose of actor Michael K. Williams, exploring his battle with addiction and the broader opioid crisis in America.

Nov. 7 – “A Christmas Miracle” (BET+): A family rallies to save local community center's Christmas Jubilee from losing funding in this movie with Victoria Rowell, Blue Kimble, and Michelle L. Lamb. “Elspeth” (CBS): Vanessa Williams guest stars as the felon of the week.

END QUOTE: “Every year brings you closer to expressing your whole and healed self. I celebrate that. Honor it. Hold it in reverence. And I'm grateful for every age I'm blessed to become.” – OPRAH WINFREY

As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving more than one million monthly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at [email protected], via X (FKA Twitter) @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.