Dee Rees, director and writer of the awesome film,
Pariah is bringingthe story of Bessie Smith (also known as the "Empress of the Blues") to HBO. Queen Latifah will star in the main role.
HBO, The Zanuck Company, Shelby Stone Productions and Queen's Flavor Unit Entertainment are backers of the project and production starts this summer.
Shadow and Act gives a bit of history on Bessie:
Bessie Smith began her professional career in 1912 by singing in the same show as Ma Rainey, and subsequently performed in various touring minstrel shows and cabarets. By the 1920s, she was a leading artist in black shows. After further tours she was sought out by Clarence Williams to record in New York. Her first recording, Down-Hearted Blues, established her as the most successful black performing artist of her time. She recorded regularly until 1928 with important early jazz instrumentalists such as Williams, James P. Johnson, and various members of Fletcher Henderson's band, including Louis Armstrong, Charlie Green, Joe Smith, and Tommy Ladnier.
In 1929, she appeared in the film St. Louis Blues. By then, however, alcoholism is said to have ruined her career, as did the Great Depression, which affected the recording and entertainment industries as a whole.
By 1936, Smith was again performing in shows and clubs, but she died, following an automobile accident, before her next recording session had been arranged.
She made almost 200 recordings, including remarkable duets with Armstrong. She also recorded vigorous versions of jazz standards.
Dee's work in Pariah was phenomenal, I'm sure this film will be amazing.
