{"id":73190,"date":"2015-09-07T15:51:59","date_gmt":"2015-09-07T15:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2015\/09\/07\/recognizing-the-new-crop-of-black-talent-from-summer-15\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:39:15","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:39:15","slug":"recognizing-the-new-crop-of-black-talent-from-summer-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/recognizing-the-new-crop-of-black-talent-from-summer-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Recognizing The New Crop Of Black Talent From Summer ’15"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recognizing\u00a0The New Crop Of Black Talent From Summer ’15<\/strong>by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

September 7, 2015<\/p>\n

\"Straight<\/a><\/p>\n

As Labor Day\u00a0weekend closes out the summer, and major film festivals (Venice, Telluride and Toronto) jumpstart the Oscar season, I\u00a0thought it would be nice to recognize the fresh faces that graced the big screen this summer.<\/p>\n

\"Me<\/a><\/p>\n

Can anyone\u00a0recall a summer where so many new Black faces had shown up in theaters in the span of a few months, when summer runs from May through Labor Day weekend? Whether\u00a0a film showcased a individual’s performance or an ensemble, all made their mark in\u00a0one scene or another.<\/p>\n

From blockbusters like Straight Outta Compton to critical favorites like Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Dope and War Room, here’s a look at the crop of fresh Black talent that either\u00a0made their debut in theaters or expanded their visual profile.<\/p>\n

RJ Cyler<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Me and Earl and the Dying Girl<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"RJ<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the critically acclaimed films that came out this summer was director Alphonso Gomez-Rejon\u2019s feature debut, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which featured breakout performances from its cast (Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke). Earlier in the year, the film played at Sundance, where it won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Audience Award for U.S. Drama.<\/p>\n

As Earl, Jacksonville, Florida, native Ronald Cyler II (nicknamed RJ), is the youngest of three boys but Cyler had always entertained in one way or another.<\/p>\n

\"Me<\/a><\/p>\n

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl tells the story of Greg (Thomas Mann), a high school senior who is trying to blend in anonymously, avoiding deeper relationships as a survival strategy for navigating the social minefield that is teenage life. He even describes his constant companion Earl (RJ Cyler), with whom he makes short film parodies of classic movies, as more of a \u2018co-worker\u2019 than a best friend. But when Greg\u2019s mom (Connie Britton) insists he spend time with Rachel (Olivia Cooke) \u2013 a girl in his class who has just been diagnosed with cancer \u2013 he slowly discovers how worthwhile the true bonds of friendship can be.<\/p>\n