IN THE PRESS
2024
VARIETY
American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup Includes Vivica A. Fox and Jussie Smollett-Starring Drama (EXCLUSIVE)
DEADLINE
BET+ Sets Premiere for Original Thriller ‘The Deadly Getaway’.
DEADLINE
‘Wicked City’ Renewed For Third Season At AllBlk
VARIETY
NAACP Image Award Nominations 2024
THE NARRATIVE MATTERS
DISCPlus: “First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story” Scores Two NAACP Image Awards’ Nominations for Vivica A. Fox’s Film Directorial Debut
SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE
Vivica A. Fox Scores Two NAACP Image Awards’ Nominations for Feature Film Directorial Debut
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
“First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story” Scores Two NAACP Image Awards’ Nominations For Vivica A. Fox’s Film Directorial Debut
2023
THE BLACK AMERICAN WEB
Vivica A. Fox Shares What Inspired Her Directorial Debut Film ‘First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’ On ‘Tamron Hall’
KINORIUM
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story
URBAN BRIDGEZ
‘First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’ Trailer
TVMUSIC NETWORK
Watch: ‘First Lady of BMF’ Trailer directed by Vivica A. Fox
HIGH ON FILMS
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story – Cast & Characters Explained, Plot, Release Date & Time, Where to Watch, Trailer & Other Details
SPORTSKEEDA
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch story on BET+- Release date, synopsis, and more
THE GRAPE JUICE
Movie Trailer: Michelle Mitchenor, Jess Hilarious, & Leon Star in BET+ Original Film ‘First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’ [Directed by Vivica A. Fox]
BLAVITY
‘FIRST LADY OF BMF: THE TONESA WELCH STORY’ EXCLUSIVE TRAILER: VIVICA A. FOX DIRECTS UPCOMING BET+ FILM
KINGS MEN MEDIA
FIRST LADY OF BMF
YAHOO NEWS
‘First Lady Of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’: Vivica A. Fox Emotionally Recalls The Journey To Her Directorial Debut
MOVIEFONE
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (2023) Stream and Watch Online
THECINEMAHOLIC
First Lady of BMF: Tonesa Welch’s Story from Infamy to Reform
BET/SIRIUS XM
Vivica A. Fox Talks Directorial Debut, Her Most Challenging Role, And Which Of Her Classic Films She Wished She Directed
GLOBAL GRIND
Watch: BET+ Debuts ‘First Lady of BMF: Tonesa Welch Story’ Trailer & First Look Photos
ICE CREAM CONVOS
Tonesa Welch & Vivica A. Fox Talk ‘First Lady Of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’
DETRIOT METRO TIMES
‘First Lady of BMF’ Tonesa Welch biopic to debut on BET+ in October.
ATTACK THE CULTURE
BET+: The much-needed ‘First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’ film arrives this week
EURWEB
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story – A Tale of Transformation, Redemption, and Resilience | WATCH
POP CULTURE
‘First Lady of BMF: Tonesa Welch Story’ Subject, Executive Producer Talk Development of Biopic (Exclusive)
THE OFFICIAL BLACK MAGAZINE
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story- Interview
GMA3
Vivica A. Fox makes directorial debut in new BET+ series
PAFF
PAFF Announces Centerpiece Films: STRANGE LOVE
NARRATIVE MATTERS
Tressa Azarel Smallwood’s Megamind Media collaborates with Dewayne “Kountry Wayne” Colley and Kountry Wayne Entertainment to establish the exciting joint venture, Laughing to the Bank Entertainment Group.
ST. LOUIS ARGUS
Tressa Azarel Smallwood’s Megamind Media Partners with DeWayne “Country Wayne” Colley and Country Wayne Entertainment to launch epic Joint-Venture
VARIETY
Awards Coverage Inclusion
BFTV
Tobias Truvillion, Leon, Jessica “Jess Hilarious” Moore, & More Join BET+ Biopic ‘First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’
DEADLINE
Tobias Truvillion, Leon & Jessica “Jess Hilarious” Moore Join Michelle Mitchenor In BET+ Biopic ‘First Lady Of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’ From Director Vivica A. Fox
DEADLINE
BET Her Greenlights Film ‘Black Girl, Erupted’ From Vanessa Bell Calloway & Tressa Azarel Smallwood
DEADLINE
BET+ Greenlights Biopic ‘The First Lady Of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’
SHADOW AND ACT
BET Sets ‘The First Lady Of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story’; Vivica A. Fox To Direct, Greg Mathis And Tressa Azarel Smallwood To EP
BFTV
MegaMind Media And Kountry Wayne Entertainment Launch Joint Venture Laughing to the Bank Entertainment Group
EURWEB
Kountry Wayne and Tressa Azarel Smallwood Secure PAFF Centerpiece for ‘Strange Love’ LA Premiere | VIDEO
2022
DIGITAL JOURNAL
Shaquita Smith talks about ‘Wicked City’ and the digital age
EIN PRESSWIRE
Shaquita Smith gives SUPERIOR performance and TRANSFORMATION in ALLBLK, AMC Networks “Wicked City”
FOX5 ATL
Tressa Smallwood and Vanessa Bell Calloway cast bewitching spell in ‘Wicked City’
YAHOO!
Exclusive Wicked City Clip Shows Vanessa Bell Calloway’s Power
NEWSONE
Vanessa Bell Calloway On Her New Series ‘Wicked City’ And Building Black Sisterhood
WSJM
Vanessa Bell Calloway dishes on new supernatural drama ‘Wicked City’
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Your guide to the 2022 TV premiere dates – Everything you want to watch before the end of the year.
TV INSIDER
WICKED CITY (2022) – A group of urban witches push their powers to new heights and uncover dark secrets that attract dangerous enemies their way.
PARLE MAGAZINE
[FIRST LOOK] Supernatural Drama, ‘Wicked City’ Coming To ALLBLK This December
PREMIER DATE
Wicked City follows five urban witches who push their supernatural powers to new heights after uncovering dark secrets and accidentally entering the world of the forbidden
BROADWAY WORLD
AMC Allblk Supernatural Drama WICKED CITY Adds Shaquita Smith- The ensemble cast includes Vanessa Bell Calloway, Taylor Polidore, Shaquita Smith, Mercedez McDowell, Chantal Maurice, and more.
BLACK FILM AND TV
ALLBLK Greenlights Supernatural Drama ‘Wicked City’
COLLIDER
Modern-Day Witches Try to Resurrect Their BFF in The ‘Wicked City’ Trailer [Exclusive] – ‘Wicked City’ lands on the ALLBLK streaming service on December 1
THE FUTON CRITICZ
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer for New Supernatural Drama, “Wicked City,” Premiering Thursday, December 1 on ALLBLK
URBAN BRIDGEZ
ALLBLK, from AMC Networks has released the trailer for the new supernatural drama, “Wicked City.’
BLACK FILM AND TV
Ne-Yo, Serayah To Star In BET Plus Holiday Movie ‘Sound Of Christmas’
‘Sound Of Christmas’: Ne-Yo To Topline BET+ Holiday Movie From Tressa Azarel Smallwood’s MegaMind Media
THE MUSIC UNIVERSE
Ne-Yo toplines BET+ ‘Sound of Christmas’
WASHINGTON POST
With film festival, Prince George’s makes a bid for the silver screen
VARIETY
BET+ Sets 2022 Original Holiday Movie Slate Featuring Ne-Yo, Serayah, Romeo Miller and More Across 10 Titles (EXCLUSIVE)
AMC NETWORKS
SUPERNATURAL DRAMA WICKED CITY TO DEBUT WINTER 2022 ON AMC NETWORKS STREAMER ALLBLK
BLACK FILM
Tichina Arnold Makes Directorial Debut With ‘Oh Baby Baby’ (INTERVIEW)
IMDB NEWS
AllBlk Greenlights Supernatural Drama ‘Wicked City’ Starring Vanessa Bell Calloway, Taylor Polidore, More
BROADWAY WORLD
AMC Allblk Supernatural Drama WICKED CITY Adds Shaquita Smith
EURWEB
Meagan Good, Naturi Naughton, Tichina Arnold and LisaRaye Mcoy to Direct Short Films for BET HER
HERAGENDA
Watch: Actress Tichina Arnold Talks Directorial Debut For Breast Cancer Awareness Film
SHAWDOW AND ACT
Naturi Naughton On Dispelling Myths Surrounding Vitiligo with Her Directorial Debut for New BET Film
DEADLINE
‘The Sound of Christmas’: Ne-Yo to Topline BET+ Holiday Movie from Tressa Azarel Smallwood’s MegaMind Media
SB AMERICAN
From Producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood Directed by Meagan Good & Naturi Naughton Announces July 9th Premiere During Mental Health Awareness Month
BLACK MAGAZINE
A Teacher at Heart but a Boss in Mind, Body, and Spirit, Tressa “Azarel”Smallwood
2021
FOX11-LA
BET HER Initiative brings powerful, vital stories to life, directed, and produced by Black women, for Black women.
DIGITAL JOURNAL
MegaMind Media & Kountry Wayne Entertainment Team Up for New Comedy/Horror Film Titled “In Love with a Ghost”
DEADLINE
Morris Chestnut To Exec-Produce Movie ‘Greenwood Avenue’ About Tulsa Race Massacre
ABC NEWS
Yvette Nicole Brown takes the director’s chair with BET’s ‘The Waiting Room’
WISHTV
Vivica A. Fox, Mona Scott Young & more direct female-centric films with producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood for BET HER
RESPECT
BET Sets Nov. 4 for Bill Bellamy, Brandee Evans “A Rich Christmas” From Prod. Tressa ‘AzareL’ Smallwood Kicking Off Holiday 2021 Programming
MADAMENOIRE
Mona Scott Young, Tressa Smallwood Team Up For BET Her Special On Mental Health, ‘The Couch’
YAHOO! LIFE – THE WRAP
A Rich Christmas Star Bill Bellamy and Producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood Talk Parenting and Dishing Out Tough Love
POP CULTURALIST
Exclusive Interview: Tressa Azarel Smallwood and Yvette Nicole Brown Chat BET Her Initiative, The Party, and Checking on Your People
BFTV
Exclusive: Producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood and Bill Bellamy talk BET’s holiday film A Rich Christmas
WE ARE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Tressa Azarel Smallwood on Her Movies, Health Initiatives, and The Film Industry
BNC NEWS
Raheem DeVaughn and Tressa Azarel Smallwood Discuss ‘Her Lyfeline’ Film
HYPE MAGAZINE
Live Session With Tressa Azarel Smallwood of MegaMind Media
BLACKFILMANDTV
Producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood and Bill Bellamy talk BET’s holiday film A Rich Christmas
SCOTT D. CLARY
Tressa “Azarel” Smallwood, CEO of Megamind Media Talks Success
PIX11-NEW YORK
Mona Scott-Young, Tressa ‘Azarel’ Smallwood talk Women’s Health Initiative team up
FOX5-DC
Creators discuss ‘BET HER Presents: The Couch’-Season 2
DEADLINE
Morris Chestnut To Exec-Produce Movie ‘Greenwood Avenue’ About Tulsa Race Massacre
DAILY MAIL
Vivica A. Fox, debut film Through Her Eyes
SHEEN MAGAZINE
Media Mogul, Tressa Smallwood on Creating Her Entertainment Empire & Releasing Content That Resonates with The Black Community
2020
OCCHIMAGAZINE
BET Premieres MegaMind Media’s ‘Holiday Heartbreak’
NEKIANICHELLE
LisaRaye Is The Real McCoy!
CHICAGO NOW
BET’s Holiday Heartbreak Features Chicagoan LisaRaye McCoy
INDY STYLE
Holiday Heartbreak stars chat about Christmas comedy
GOOD DAY ATLANTA
A Christmas curse threatens to ruin the most wonderful time of the year in the BET film, Holiday Heartbreak
GOOD DAY DC
Holiday Heartbreak stars on FOX 5
BLACKAPHILLYATED
Tressa Smallwood’s Christmas film ‘Holiday Heartbreak’ stars LisaRaye McCoy, Kountry Wayne and More
HBCU CONNECT
LisaRaye McCoy & Tressa Smallwood Talk BET’s ‘Holiday Heartbreak’
BLACK WOMEN CONNECT
LisaRaye McCoy & Tressa Smallwood Talk BET’s ‘Holiday Heartbreak’
BLACK IN AMERICA
LisaRaye McCoy & Tressa Smallwood Talk BET’s ‘Holiday Heartbreak’ with Tanisha Laverne Grant
BLACK NEWS CHANNEL
BNC PRIME – HOLIDAY HEARTBREAK TO AIR ON BET
BLACK GIRL NERDS
LisaRaye McCoy ‘That New Christmas Movie’
THE WRAP URBAN HOLLYWOOD 411
BET Announces ‘Holiday Heartbreak’ Starring Michael Colyar and LisaRaye McCoy
THE WRAP
Christmas Curse Threatens to Ruin the Holidays in BET Original Movie
BET PRESSROOM
BET Unveils 2020 Holiday Movies Lineup
GMA 3
Kim Fields, director of “Baby Blue,” sheds light on vital topics for Black families, from breast cancer to mental health.
POP CULTURE
Kim Fields – PopCulture @Home Exclusive Interview ‘Baby Blue’ mental health awareness
YAHOO
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kim Fields & More To Direct Shorts Produced by Tressa Azarel Smallwood For BET Her Initiative
ABC7
Sheryl Lee Ralph talks new film, breast cancer awareness
MSN
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kim Fields, Vanessa Bell, and Victoria Rowell To Direct Shorts Produced by Tressa Azarel Smallwood For BET Her Initiative
DEADLINE
Kim Fields, Sheryl Lee Ralph & More To Direct Shorts Produced by Tressa Azarel Smallwood For BET Her Initiative
FOX 5 – D.C.
BET Her presents The Waiting Room
BLACKAPHILLYATED
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Producer Tressa Smallwood teamed up for Breast Cancer Awareness Month to Deliver “The Waiting Room” on BET Her
THE HYPE MAGAZINE
Bet Her Launches Four Female-Centric Original Films With Producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood Premiering July 25 And October 17
BFTV
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kim Fields, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Victoria Rowell To Direct Short Films For BET HER
FOX 5 – D.C.
Tressa ‘Azarel’ Smallwood named DC filmmaker of the month
SHADOW ACT
The 2020 American Black Film Festival – Goes Virtual – The Available Wife
BGN
Tressa Azarel Smallwood on ‘The Available Wife’ | BGN Interview
DC.GOV
OCTFME RECOGNIZES TRESSA SMALLWOOD AS THE JULY 2020 FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH
NEWSBREAK
Tressa Azarel Smallwood, Producer: 4 BET Her Women-Centered Short Films
LRM
Tressa Azarel Smallwood on Producing Book to Screen With The Available Wife | ABFF 2020
DEADLINE
UMC Acquires ‘The Available Wife’
OCCHIMAGAZINE
BET HER Presents ‘The Waiting Room’
KTLA 5
Sheryl Lee Ralph on her Many Projects From Mask Line to Directing a Short Film & More
2017
SHEEN
“Secrets” Movie Event Recap
CISION PR NEWSWIRE
Secrets World Premieres
AALBC
Secrets MegaMind Media’s first feature film world premieres
EVERYTHING GIRLS LOVE
Award-Winning Publisher Tressa Smallwood Talks Upcoming Film “Secrets”
EUR
Publisher Tressa Smallwood Talks ‘Secrets’ of Building Media Empire [EUR Exclusive]
PARLÉ MAG
Author, Publisher and Educator Tressa Smallwood Talks New Project, Her Film Production Debut, Secrets
THE HYPE MAGAZINE
Red carpet premiere of Secrets the Movie at Midtown Art Cinema
BALTIMORE TIMES
Former teacher finds new niche as film producer, prepares for movie debut
METRO ATLANTA BLACK
Secrets World Premieres on BET
THE SOURCE