The Film Adaptation Of The Book Of Negroes Debuts On CBC Television On Wednesday

January 7, 2015 by Masterclass Lady 3 Comments


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Here in Canada, the highly anticipated film adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s award-winning novel, “The Book Of Negroes“, will premiere on Wednesday, January 7th on CBC Television at 8:00 PM.

The Official CBC Press Release states:

“The internationally co-produced, six-part miniseries follows the story of an African woman named Aminata Diallo, played by Aunjanue Ellis, who is kidnapped from Africa and sold into slavery in the southern U.S.

Stars from the six-part miniseries include Academy Award-winning actors Lou Gossett Jr. and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Lou Gossett Jr., who plays Daddy Moses, an African American slave who helped lead a band of runaway slaves to freedom, says The Book of Negroes is a fresh take on the theme.

“Slavery is very much involved in this lady’s life,” Gossett told CBC News before November’s North American premiere in Toronto at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox. “But it’s really a triumphant story about this woman who can tell the story. In that way, it’s better than Roots, and 12 Years a Slave because it’s a portrait.”

2007 novel, which was published in some countries under the title Someone Knows My Name, earned widespread praise.

It sold nearly a million copies worldwide and also won a host of honours, including the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for best overall book and the 2009 edition of CBC’s Canada Reads. It was also set to music by the Nathaniel Dett Chorale in 2012.”

I am personally proud of this film for many reasons, the most important being that my nephew, Justin Giallonardo, was Associate Producer for this film. It is an extremely exciting time for our family. Congratulations Big J!

If you are unable to watch it on HDTV, then you can purchase the full season of The Book of Negroes or catch a Sneak Peek of The Book of Negroes on iTunes.

The making of this film was a long process and I can assure you that no stone will be left unturned and no emotion left untouched. I can envision more awards for the producers, actors and all film personnel associated with this project.

Will you be watching? Have you read the novel?

Books, Film, Television, TV Series
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About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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3 Responses to “The Film Adaptation Of The Book Of Negroes Debuts On CBC Television On Wednesday”

  1. awestruck January 7, 2015 at 7:40 pm

    Thanks for the heads up MCL. I just set to record!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Masterclass Lady January 7, 2015 at 7:45 pm

    Thank you Awestruck. I hope you enjoy it. I can’t wait of course. 🙂

    Like

  3. kitty January 12, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    Thanks for the information. This sounds very interesting. I do hope they show it in the US. If not, I’ll get the DVDs. I’ll look up the novel as well.

    Like

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