Karrueche Tran has signed on for the TNT dramedy “Claws,” the nail salon-set pilot executive-produced by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. Tran will star alongside Niecy Nash, Harold Perrineau and Jenn Lyon. “Claws”, originally developed at HBO as a half-hour comedy, has been redeveloped into an hour-long series. The show follows the rise of five diverse and treacherous manicurists at Florida’s Nail Artisan of Manatee County salon. Perrineau will play Dean, the mentally-ill twin brother of Desna (Nash), the salon owner at the center of the series. They have love for each other and share a shabby apartment, from which Dean dreams of the good life. Lyon plays Desna’s best friend and co-worker, Jennifer, a reformed party girl who is now tenuously sober. Jennifer is a married mother of two young girls who deeply loves her husband and kids, but sometimes feels trapped. Tran will play Virginia, a manicurist with an attitude who has been filling in at the salon and makes no effort to hide her boredom and impatience with the job. Janine Sherman Barrois serves as executive producer and Nicole Kassell will direct the pilot for Warner Horizon Television and TNT Original Productions, reports eurweb.com. Tran’s credits include A Weekend with the Family and the Emmy winning digital drama series The Bay.
The Smollett siblings are well-known for their acting and musical talent, but this summer their top-notch cooking and entertaining skills are front and center in the new six-episode series “Smollett Eats,” premiering Saturday, August 20th at 12:30pm on Food Network. From putting on the perfect kids’ birthday party to throwing a midnight BBQ for their friends, the family’s culinary ace Jake is joined by brothers Jocqui, Jojo and Jussie, and sisters Jazz and Jurnee for a mouth-watering menu of food-centric celebrations. This family cooks together with love, laughs and just a bit of competitive spirit. “Smollett Eats” gives viewers a glimpse into the relationships that make these six siblings so much fun. “It has been long known that the Smollett family is endlessly talented and in “Smollett Eats,” we are excited to offer our audience an unexpected look at this tight-knit family’s passion for food and entertaining,” said Didi O’Hearn, Senior Vice President Programming, Food Network & Cooking Channel. “The laughs are plentiful, the food is delicious and the love is strong – when this family invites you to join their table, you may never want to leave.” Smollett Eats is produced by Triage Entertainment and Smollett Collective Inc.
Krazy Actress Productions, co-founded by Meagan Good and actress-writer Tamara Bass (Baby Boy and All That Matters) has launched an Indiegogo campaign to help finance its next project, “If Not Now, When?” The feature film was written by Bass and will star both women. Sway Calloway (VH1 and “MTV News) has signed on as executive producer. The Indiegogo campaign launches on the heels of the landmark success of Krazy Actress Productions’ web series, “All That Matters” which debuted on World Star Hip Hop and earned over 25 million views. “As young women, we remember watching films that molded and shaped our perspectives on womanhood and friendship,” said Good. “I wanted to be a part of making films that inspire others the way that I was inspired…to make movies that take people on a journey, and tell a story that ultimately makes us love ourselves a little bit more.” “If Not Now, When?” is reminiscent of popular female bonding movies prevalent in the ‘90s. The film tells the story of Suzanne (Good), Patrice (Bass), Tyra and Deidre, friends since the age of 14. Over the course of their lives, fights, disagreements and love have created distance between them, particularly Suzanne and Patrice who haven’t spoken in almost 15 years. When Tyra experiences a crisis, the women reunite and rediscover the importance of sisterhood, as they band together to look after Tyra’s 14-year-old daughter. “I wrote this movie because we are committed to telling stories that showcase diversity, and to doing our part to create more leading roles for women of color,” said Bass. “Leveraging a crowdfunding campaign to raise capital for our film not only allows us to maintain creative control, but also gives the fans a chance to weigh in on what types of movies they want to see and support.” The Indiegogo campaign goal is $750,000. Donors will receive a variety of perks ranging from autographed scripts to producer credits. For more information and to contribute to the campaign, visit www.krazyactressproductions.com or the Indiegogo campaign page.
