New Movies: Release Calendar for February 19, Plus Where to Watch the Latest Films IndieWire 2/19/2021
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Staying home? Good. Looking for something new to watch while you do it? Even better! As the world continues shifts to accommodate a wide range of in-home viewing options for movie lovers, it’s not just platforms that are expanding, it’s the very type of films they host. There’s more than ever to sift through, and IndieWire is here to help you do just that.
‘If Not Now, When?’ the first feature film co-directed by African American women Meagan Good and Tamara Bass
By Lapacazo Sandoval, Contributing Writer
Published January 14, 2021
(L-R) Meagan Good as Tyra, Mekia Cox as Suzanne, Tamara Bass as Patrice and Meagan Holder as Deidre in the drama, “If Not Now, When?,” a Vertical Entertainment release.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT.
I consider it a privilege that I get to learn, grow, and share, as I discover new projects and talent. The entertainment industry’s track record when it comes to diversity and inclusion is abysmal. So, when I have an opportunity to love-on two African-Amerian women Meagan Good and Tamara Bass who directed the new independent film, “If Not Now, When?”, well, I could not say no.
CinemaBlend
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If Not Now, When? stars Meagan Good, Tamara Bass, Mekia Cox and Meagan Holder as four best friends who are bonded by an event in high school and later navigating various challenges in adulthood with each other to lean on. The dramatic and emotional film feels like a love letter to Black women, although it was not made specifically for Black women. It was a passion project of co-directors Tamara Bass and Meagan Good, and Bass recently shared her biggest motivator as a Black entertainer.
I got to chat with writer/director Tamara Bass and she shared lots of thoughts about colorism in the industry. She did not receive the warmest welcome to Hollywood, but that hasnât stopped her. Despite receiving a bunch of negative feedback when she first began pursuing a career in entertainment, Bass has flourished, and used the criticism as fuel. Hereâs what she told CinemaBlend:
Lexi Underwood, star of Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere and the feature film If Not Now, When? wants others to be aware of the colorism that exists within Black culture in the entertainment industry.
Interview: Tamara Bass, Meagan Holder and Mekia Cox Talk If Not Now, When? (Exclusive)
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(L-R) Tamara Bass as Patrice, Meagan Holder as Deidre and Mekia Cox as Suzanne star in the drama, ‘If Not Now, When?,’ a Vertical Entertainment release. Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
Sometimes the most realistic stories are the most difficult for filmmakers to bring to the screen, as most audiences have become increasingly more intrigued by larger, action-driven blockbuster fare. But smaller, relatable indie movies are proving they’re just as relevant and important in the film landscape recently, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shut down or delayed the productions of many bigger studio features. The new drama, ‘If Not Now, When?,’ is an emotionally engaging indie movie that highlights how close friendships between women shape their emotional trajectories in their everyday lives.