I’m sure the screening of the movie went off without a hitch, which included T.I., Micheal Ealy and others attached to the film walking the red carpet and participating in interviews. The after event, on the other hand, left a little something to be desired. What should have been a celebration of ATLiens becoming more involved in an industry that would’ve seemed unlikely years ago, turned out to be a showcase of what seemed like posers and wannabes all jockeying to get into VIP.
The semi-formal after “event” was held in a newly renovated building (formerly Macy’s) in the heart of the city and all of the usual industry suspects came out. T.I., Michael Ealy, and Will Packer (Rainforest Films), were on hand to authenticate the occasion. Other supporting celebs that stopped by were Jermaine Dupri, Christina Milian (is she ever with her child?!?!), “Atlanta Housewives'” creator, Princess Banton-Lofters, ex-Housewife Lisa Wu-Hartwell, Toya (of BET’s “Tiny and Toya” show), female rapper Rasheedah, Lil Jeezy, Jazze Pha, Mychael Knight (“Project Runway”), Frankie (of “Frankie and Neffe”, fresh out of celebrity rehab), Nikki (formerly of Brownstone), along with other “ballers and shot callers.”
The list of ATL’s industry elite that were on hand brought out any and everybody thirsty for industry blood and looking to position themselves to get put on. The crowd ignored most of the vast space of the sparsely decorated main atrium to gather around the velvet rope to the upstairs VIP area. There was a lot of name dropping and story concocting going on to get in, but the velvet rope Nazis weren’t having it. And that was just the first layer to get through. They didn’t know that once inside, there was ANOTHER VIP area that separated the famous and infamous from the not-so-much.
Even though a limited selection of liquor was flowing in both sections, there was no dancing (the space wasn’t necessarily acoustically suitable for decibal-defying hip-hop or partying. There was only photo snapping, gawking, and posing and jockeying, which made for a very uneventful and exhausting affair. The main atrium was nothing more than a holding area for all the VIP wannabe’s and there was little for guests to do other than peer up into the exclusive area and deal with feeling small.
The Takers event fell short of being a party, but I know ATL knows how to do it better than that. If the city is going to live up to being called the burgeoning southern Hollywood and reclaim its Motown of the south status, the industry game really has to be stepped up to promote substance.
At least the movie was good. –painfully aware
