Interviews with the women of SPARKLE

A BlackTree Media Production Subscribe to our channel http://goo.gl/lVN14 Log onto our stream at http://goo.gl/74Ama Follow us on twitter @BlackTreeTV When it comes to your dreams, will you know when to make the right move? For 19-year-old Sparkle, an innocent, bubbly young woman growing up in late 1960s Detroit, making that leap has its rewards and its consequences. The girl who grew up admiring her mother and sisters and loving everything about singing would soon discover love, hurt, disappointment, independence and courage through music, and her quest to be a star. SPARKLE is the story of three sisters who love each other fiercely, who each have their own dreams and ambitions, and who form a girl group as a way of capitalizing on the Motown sound sweeping the nation. And it looks like they re going to take the music world by storm. But looming over them is the shadow of a strong mother who isn t necessarily supportive of that dream, and hard realities about the spotlight that threaten to tear at the fabric of their tightly knit family. This new version of SPARKLE is an ode to the genius of the original 1976 movie, modified to the music, fashion, lingo and historical affects of the 1960s, while maintaining the emotional clarity and aspirational spirit of the earlier classic. The city has been changed to Detroit, the home of "Hit Factory" Motown, and the original struggling single parent is now an upper middle class family doing very well. But it retains its enriching focus on the consequences of choices and how they affect those you love, all the while reiterating the importance of family and faith. CARMEN EJOGO (Sister) has established a distinguished career in both feature films and television. Ejogo made her US film debut opposite Eddie Murphy playing Veronica Ronnie Tate in the 1997 comedy Metro. Ejogo went on to star in films such as Kenneth Branagh s adaptation of Shakespeare s Love s Labour s Lost, What s the Worst that Could Happen? opposite Martin Lawrence, Neil Jordan s The Brave One opposite Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster, Gavin O Connor s Pride and Glory opposite Ed Norton, and in Sam Mendes 2009 indie hit Away We Go opposite Maya Rudolph. Ejogo can next be seen starring opposite Tyler Perry in the feature I, Alex Cross, a psychological thriller based on the James Patterson novels about Washington DC detective Alex Cross. The film is set for release in October 2012. Additionally, Ejogo garnered the attention of television critics and audiences alike for her portrayal of Sally Hemmings, the title character in the 2000 CBS miniseries Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal. Later, Ejogo starred as Coretta Scott King in HBO s critically acclaimed film Boycott opposite Jeffrey Wright and Terrence Howard. Her role earned her a 2001 Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a TV film or miniseries. In 2005, Ejogo starred in HBO s Emmy nominated Lackawanna Blues. Her role as Aalen earned her a second Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a TV film or miniseries. Ejogo will next star as FBI agent Baca Sunjata in the highly anticipated ABC television series Zero Hour opposite Anthony Edwards. The show will premiere on ABC in 2013. Born and raised in London, Carmen now resides in New York City. TIKA SUMPTER (Dolores) is an actress, model, and singer best known for her work as Raina Thorpe on "Gossip Girl" and Layla Williamson on the Daytime Emmy-award winning soap opera, "One Life to Live," which garnered her a NAACP Image Award nomination. She was also seen as Jenna on the CBS Series "The Game." Along with her growing television career, Tika is enjoying success on the big screen. She recently wrapped production on Sparkle, opposite Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks, which will be released in the summer of 2012, as well as the films My Man is a Loser and Being Mary Jane opposite Gabrielle Union. Other film credits include What s Your Number opposite Anna Faris and Chris Evans, Salt, with Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber, Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, Whisper Me A Lullaby, and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" In 1998, Tika formed the R&B/Hip Hop group Twise with rapper Marcella "Precise" Brailsford. Their single, Uh-Uhh, was played all over New York radio stations and brought wide acclaim. Their newest track, Paint the World, America s Anthem can currently be heard on One Life, Many Voices, a compilation album made in an effort to aid Hurricane Katrina victims, featuring the voices of One Life to Live cast members. Tika is proud of her involvement in Public Service Announcements, playing a principal role in Truth, a national anti-smoking campaign, and appearing in an AIDS-awareness campaign with acclaimed hip-hop artist Common. Tika currently resides in New York City.