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Metro Atlanta’s Will Packer to produce Beyonce’s ‘Obsessed’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Metro Atlanta-based producer Will Packer and his Rainforest Films are preparing to shoot the thriller “Obsessed” with expected stars Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter and Idris Elba for 2009. Filming is expected to begin May 5 in Los Angeles.
Knowles would play the wife of an asset manager (Elba) who finds he’s being stalked by an office temp (Larter).
Packer, like many local filmmakers and others, are watching the progress of a revised Georgia tax incentive bill passed unanimously in the state House last week and under consideration in the state Senate. It basically ups tax credits from 9 percent to 30 percent for productions that spend more than $500,000 in Georgia and include a qualified promotion of the state.
Packer says the revision could allow him to bring his planned production of an urban remake of “The Big Chill” to Georgia this fall.
Meanwhile, Packer and his Rainforest partner Rob Hardy are being featured on Sunday’s “Our World With Black Enterprise” at 1 p.m. on TV ONE.
Are you looking forward to seeing Beyonce in a thriller?
Permalink | Comments (45) | Categories: Bob Longino
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By Ricekakes
March 11, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this
NO, NO and uh, NO!
By Hotlanta
March 11, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
Please stop the madness. I am glad that the advertisement for Dreamgirls had reversed as if we were flocking to the theater to see her when we were going to see Jennifer Hudson sang that song. They could have chosen someone else.
By Tamika
March 11, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
I’m so excited to see Beyonce and her assorted wigs on the bigscreen and hear that lovely backwoods accent of hers in THX.
By Fans 4 Lyfe
March 11, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
This sounds great!
We are looking forward to seeing Beyonce return to the BIG screen.
Congrats Beyonce.
By Voiceofreason
March 11, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
To Beyonce,
You know you doing something right when these people are hating this hard (and this early in the morning!). Go head girl, do it to it.
By MidtownAtlanta
March 11, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah, another Beyonce film. She, Britney Spears and Mariah Carey are such good actresses I can’t believe it. Beyonce was so robbed by not being nominated for any award with her turn in Dreamgirls. She should stick to the one thing she does well… being Jay-Z’s girlfriend. I say it will be a straight-to-rental movie. What happened, was Jessica Simpson too busy?
By jeed
March 11, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
LOL @ Tamika.
By Jodi
March 11, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Honestly - it may be a smart move for Will Packer & Rainforest. Think about it, their first few films didnt make a lot of money (i.e. Motives, Motives 2, Trois, etc)…but as soon as he started casting a few singers in leading roles then it started to be box-office hits (Stomp the Yard, This Christmas)…so adding Beyonce and sexy Idris Elba to the leading roles will probably bring people to the theaters. I just hope the plot is hot.
As for Beyonce, I see she is getting more focused on acting…she is also playing Etta James in that “Cadillac” movie.
By Yolanda
March 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
GO BEYONCE’ GO BEYONCE’ GO BEYONCE’
By A FAN!
March 11, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Congratulations to Beyonce! I think she’s very talented in may areas. It’s really sad that people have so many negative things to say. I’m not her biggest fan,but I am a fan but you can’t deny what all she has accomplised in her young life. Maybe all the haters are just jealous!
By A FAN
March 11, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Congratulations to Beyonce! I think she’s very talented in many areas. It’s really sad that people have so many negative things to say. I’m not her biggest fan, but I am a fan, You can’t deny what all she has accomplised in her young life. Maybe all the haters are just jealous!
By Hotlanta
March 11, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
A Fan ain’t nobody hating on her. Her acting stinks. I hope her mom Tina don’t start bringing out those House of Disaster outfits. Yall I got the Dreamgirls complete set and it shows Lady B. audition tape and she cannot sing. It was horrible. She’s gotta really step up her game to play Etta James. They put her in that Pink Panther with Steve Martin movie thinking that folks was gonna flock to see her. WRONG!!!! It flopped. Folks ain’t paying $9.00 no mo to see a pretty face we gotta see some ACTING.
By Mugglemikki
March 11, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
It absolutely amazes me that people still won’t give Beyonce her props. She’s a triple—heck, a quadruple threat: singer, dancer, songwriter, AND actress…she did a good job in a smaller, quieter role as Deena in Dreamgirls. People are so jealous it’s ridiculous. Go ahead Beyonce, do your thang!
By cecile haydel
March 11, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
I enjoy beyonce’s singing and dancing. But acting? She is not a good actress. When she sings it’s great but the minute she begins to speak it’s all down hill. She sounds so flat and uninteresting. Do us a favor Beyonce, call your next album “Obsessed”.
By cecile
March 11, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
I enjoy beyonce’s singing and dancing. But acting? She is not a good actress. When she sings it’s great but the minute she begins to speak it’s all down hill. She sounds so flat and uninteresting. Do us a favor Beyonce, call your next album “Obsessed”.
By Tamika
March 11, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Who knew so many Beyatrice apologists know their way around a compruder?
By AW
March 11, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
People do hate on “B”. I will say she IS very talented. I went to her concert and for someone to be able to perform for 2 hours, the way she did, that takes A LOT! & that was just one night. Her acting may not be “THE BEST”, but she is trying…If those who are hating had the same opportunity, whether they could act or not, would capitalize the same way as Beyonce.
By Hotlanta
March 11, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
AW you should have gotten her some Tylenol and a neck wrap for slanging that weave for 2 hours. Janet Jackson dances in the purest form. All B does is slang that weave like a rocker does. I saw the group in New Orleans folks were leaving because all we heard was a lot of hollering and clothes changing for 2 hours. She just has a great marketing team.
By Banks
March 11, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Packer Don’t let this project be an excuse for loosing the pool this year.
By exquisite7
March 11, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
I have a question. Why is it that when you state how you feel about something and its not in favor of someone, we deem it as HATING. We’re all not going to like everything someone does. And I’m not going to force myself to like something that I don’t because you may feel that I am HATING. I am not a fan of BEYONCE’s and its not like she is hurting for my approval either. I think that because she is a good entertainer to some, we feel we that we should accept things that she may not be so good at, but I’m not! I will give her an A for effort but that’s about it! I’m sorry Beyonce fans! Please don’t wish that I choke on my 32oz glass of HATER-ADE!!! :) LOL! LIGHTEN UP!
By Dictator
March 11, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
triple threat? yeah right, she’s lucky she can dance and looks got or everyone would be like b-who? her singing and acting are garbage, give me a break!
By Dictator
March 11, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
triple threat? yeah right, she’s lucky she can dance and looks good or everyone would be like b-who? her singing and acting are garbage, give me a break!
By Kennede
March 11, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Nobody is “hating” on Beyonce… I just feel people are calling a spade a spade. I (like so many) am so tired of being force fed Beyonce 24 -7!!! The most anoying thing about Beyonce is that she is all production, and when I say that everything about her personality, what she says, how she looks has been manufactured for the masses, there is nothing original about Beyonce. Real talent shine through just look at the record sales of Amy Winehouse (train wreck she is), Alicia Keys, and Keshia Cole… The public is tired of all these “pre packaged entertainers” and are hungry for real art. With that said Beyonce is an Entertainer and not an Artist, I do believe she has the potential to be an Artist but she has not reached that level yet. Maybe she will and maybe she won’t. If she keeps on making songs about her booty, and lyrics like “…I can do for you what Martin did for the people…” then she will be just another entertainer and in my mind stay in the category of Britney, P*** Cat Dolls, and all those untalented pop icons that we are force fed daily. However, if she is willing to look inside herself and get to know who Beyonce really is (not who her Dad, Mom and recoerd lables want her to be) then she might be able to transcend the game and become and Artist like Madonna (who also is not a great singer, but was an entertainer… she took some risk and became respected as an Artist).
By Kennede
March 11, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Nobody is “hating” on Beyonce… I just feel people are calling a spade a spade. I (like so many) am so tired of being force fed Beyonce 24 -7!!! The most anoying thing about Beyonce is that she is all production, and when I say that everything about her personality, what she says, how she looks has been manufactured for the masses, there is nothing original about Beyonce. Real talent shine through just look at the record sales of Amy Winehouse (train wreck she is), Alicia Keys, and Keshia Cole… The public is tired of all these “pre packaged entertainers” and are hungry for real art. With that said Beyonce is an Entertainer and not an Artist, I do believe she has the potential to be an Artist but she has not reached that level yet. Maybe she will and maybe she won’t. If she keeps on making songs about her booty, and lyrics like “…I can do for you what Martin did for the people…” then she will be just another entertainer and in my mind stay in the category of Britney, P*** Cat Dolls, and all those untalented pop icons that we are force fed daily. However, if she is willing to look inside herself and get to know who Beyonce really is (not who her Dad, Mom and recoerd lables want her to be) then she might be able to transcend the game and become and Artist like Madonna (who also is not a great singer, but was an entertainer… she took some risk and became respected as an Artist).
By Kennede
March 11, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Nobody is “hating” on Beyonce… I just feel people are calling a spade a spade. I (like so many) am so tired of being force fed Beyonce 24 -7!!! The most anoying thing about Beyonce is that she is all production, and when I say that everything about her personality, what she says, how she looks has been manufactured for the masses, there is nothing original about Beyonce. Real talent shine through just look at the record sales of Amy Winehouse (train wreck she is), Alicia Keys, and Keshia Cole… The public is tired of all these “pre packaged entertainers” and are hungry for real art. With that said Beyonce is an Entertainer and not an Artist, I do believe she has the potential to be an Artist but she has not reached that level yet. Maybe she will and maybe she won’t. If she keeps on making songs about her booty, and lyrics like “…I can do for you what Martin did for the people…” then she will be just another entertainer and in my mind stay in the category of Britney, P*** Cat Dolls, and all those untalented pop icons that we are force fed daily. However, if she is willing to look inside herself and get to know who Beyonce really is (not who her Dad, Mom and recoerd lables want her to be) then she might be able to transcend the game and become and Artist like Madonna (who also is not a great singer, but was an entertainer… she took some risk and became respected as an Artist).
By kelly
March 11, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
To wrap it up! I love B and all and I respect her hustle… but there comes a time when you need to take a step back for a minute! Seems like she is suffering from over exposure which at the age of 27 is not good. You want people to look back 10 or 15 years from now and know that your music made an impact! Look at the the Group GUY they were popular 20 years ago. You can still put on anyone of their joints and people will go crazy! Now that’s artistry!
By kelly
March 11, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
To wrap it up! I love B and all and I respect her hustle… but there comes a time when you need to take a step back for a minute! Seems like she is suffering from over exposure which at the age of 27 is not good. You want people to look back 10 or 15 years from now and know that your music made an impact! Look at the the Group GUY they were popular 20 years ago. You can still put on anyone of their joints and people will go crazy! Now that’s artistry!
By kelly
March 11, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
To wrap it up! I love B and all and I respect her hustle… but there comes a time when you need to take a step back for a minute! Seems like she is suffering from over exposure which at the age of 27 is not good. You want people to look back 10 or 15 years from now and know that your music made an impact! Look at the the Group GUY they were popular 20 years ago. You can still put on anyone of their joints and people will go crazy! Now that’s artistry!
By kelly
March 11, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
To wrap it up! I love B and all and I respect her hustle… but there comes a time when you need to take a step back for a minute! Seems like she is suffering from over exposure which at the age of 27 is not good. You want people to look back 10 or 15 years from now and know that your music made an impact! Look at the the Group GUY they were popular 20 years ago. You can still put on anyone of their joints and people will go crazy! Now that’s artistry!
By justhonest
March 11, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
A decent singer,but in my opinion her acting is just so-so,and that is not hatin’ on her ,just being honest…However I think this will be a great boost for Rainforest and something new for her fans…just being honest.
By Hotlanta
March 11, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Yall remember when Whitney Houston was promoted as Ms. All American for everything and everybody. We need to be careful about the over exposure. We see Beyonce doing cable, Beyonce doing cell phones, Beyonce haeking toilet paper,toothbrushes and pet food. ENOUGH!!!!!!
By Blkshepherd
March 11, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
While I can understand why most of you feel the way you do towards Beyonce and I admit its a litte ram down the throat, but in all fairness what else should she be doing at only 25? When Diana Ross was 23-25 back in the day and I lived it (I am in my 50s so I remember like it was yesterday 40yrs ago) the Supremes had their own White Bread! so yall which was a Huge thing back in the 1960s and being Black at that! Ross and her friends mostly Ross was everywhere. Then when she got casted for Billie Holiday the public trashed her like yall are doing Beyonce. Inspite of Dianes later troubles as we all experience at times in our lives..Ross is still here looking and sounding good. Dont hate on Beyonce, she may out last some of you on this board. Hey if I was 25 again and had beauty Talent(which she does have) and rich..I would strike the iron while its hot! REmember in Hollywood..your only HOT for about 5 good yrs..then everyone cools off! Let her enjoy her youth. Go Beyonce. I saw you live twice, yes you certainly can sing and perform.
By David
March 11, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
I want to see all the Beyonce’ I can! Cain’t git enuff!
By Pretty87
March 12, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
Hello? Is everybody forgetting about Idris Elba here? He is so fine, and that accent, YES!
By Tonia
March 12, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
It’s strange no one said this about Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, etc. can we please stop hating on other women. Insecurity is a awful expression.
Oh and Idris, he is fine, bless be the man.
By Kevin (Pee-Wee) Williams
March 12, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
It is good to see Packer and Hardy (Rainforest) doing it again. As I tell both you guys all the time you both are the Outkast of Film industry in the ATL. As much as we can give The Dungeon Family- (Outkast, Goodie Mob, Witchdoctor, Cool Breeze etc….) the credit for putting the ATL on the map for music, we owe that same credit to you guys for doing it for us in the movie industry. It is refreshing that the Georgia general assembly is recognizing our growing film industry and are willing to act proactively with policy making action. By the way shout out to The UnderBridge Tailgate Grew, FAMU Rattlers, and the Packer and Hardy Family. Put your picks in this year Packer.
Kevin (Pee-Wee) Williams AKA Weetheresearcher
By April Ige
March 12, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
You go Beyonce’!!!
And Will and Rob, ya’ll better “do it, do it, do it”!!! FAMU in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am too proud of you two!!!!!
By Miriam
March 12, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
I am so proud of your success. Representing the FAMU Rattlers !!!
By MissSteward
March 12, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
FAMU!!!! FAMU!!!! FAM WE LOVE YOU!!!! LOL
I don’t believe that we are hating on Beyonce. I think as humanity we get tired of overexposure. We were tired and are tired of J Lo and her offspring. Whitney got on everybody’s nerves. “Crack is wack, Whitney.” And Madonna is not even American anymore she got an English accent. So we are tired of Beyonce like Britney, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, aand whoever else got drama.
By Vee Stuart
March 12, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Hating!!! NO!!!!…Beyonce is just another well packaged entertainer. I give her credit for having a great marketing team behind. Do your thing girl.
By Vee Stuart
March 12, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
Hating!!! NO!!!!…Beyonce is just another well packaged entertainer. I give her credit for having a great marketing team behind her. Do your thing girl.
By Vee Stuart
March 12, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Hating!!! NO!!!!…Beyonce is just another well packaged entertainer. I give her credit for having a great marketing team behind her. Do your thing girl.
By k.r.
March 12, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
Nope. Sorry. “Underwhelmed” to say the least.
By Mario
March 19, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
From reading all this I just had to say something, I understand that everyone cant be a beyonce fan. I UNDERSTAND THAT. but I am a beyonce fan and no I don’t know anything about her other than what I hear in the media so I have no right to defend her. I just want people to at least acknowledge her accomplishments. weather you think she is a “packaged entertainer” or not. she can sing. you may not like her music but you can not say she cant sing because she can. I love her dancing some may not but when you put high energy dancing along with high energy vocals, you get a awesome performance and everyone knows that what you get from beyonce. as far as films, I may be beyonces biggest fan but I can also say as a big fan that she does need some work with her acting. I have faith in her and I know she can do it. I just wish she had better roles to show people that she has it in her. but the has only done a few movies so give her a chance she will get there. to be 26 and to accomplish all she has I commend her on that and if I was her I wouldn’t stop either.
By Mario
March 19, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
From reading all this I just had to say something, I understand that everyone cant be a beyonce fan. I UNDERSTAND THAT. but I am a beyonce fan and no I don’t know anything about her other than what I hear in the media so I have no right to defend her. I just want people to at least acknowledge her accomplishments. weather you think she is a “packaged entertainer” or not. she can sing. you may not like her music but you can not say she cant sing because she can. I love her dancing some may not but when you put high energy dancing along with high energy vocals, you get a awesome performance and everyone knows that what you get from beyonce. as far as films, I may be beyonces biggest fan but I can also say as a big fan that she does need some work with her acting. I have faith in her and I know she can do it. I just wish she had better roles to show people that she has it in her. but the has only done a few movies so give her a chance she will get there. to be 26 and to accomplish all she has I commend her on that and if I was her I wouldn’t stop either.