(Wed. July 7, 2010) News From Shadow Play Entertainment

* Conversations Book Club's July 2010 "Book of the Month" is DIARY OF A STALKER by bestselling author Electa Rome Parks. Find out more about her at www.electaromeparks.com.

* As Shadow Play Entertainment celebrated the 7th year anniversary of Conversations LIVE Radio on Sunday, June 27, 2010, it also debuted a new program to the family. "Inspirational Conversations" airs live on www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive each Sunday at 10:30a.m. EST (9:30a.m. CST/7:30a.m.PT) with hosts Cyrus Webb and Mary E. Gilder, author of A MISREPRESENTATION OF MYSELF. The 15 minute broadcast includes a motivational song for the upcoming week, a message of inspiration from Gilder and examples of those who inspire each day. To be a guest on the program contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

* Inked Magazine recently featured Shadow Play Entertainment client rapper/author Jacki-o in its "Inked For A Cause" series. Read the interview here: http://www.inkedmag.com/inked-for-a-cause/jacki-o/

* Beginning Sunday,July 18, 2010, DirecTV's 101 Network will air the 60 episode series The Wire. This is the second time in 2010 that the highly acclaimed series has been back in the news and given new life. Earlier this year it was announced that colleges like Harvard, Duke and others were offering courses built around the show. Shadow Play Entertainment client actor/author/recording artist Tray Chaney is excited about the news. His five year stint on the show as character Poot Carr has definitely opened up a fanbase for him worldwide and looks forward to the repeats reintroducing him and allowing some to see his acting skills for the first time. Find out more about what Tray has been up to at www.traychaneyblog.tumblr.com.

* Larry Wilson,Jr. aka DaPharoah69 has joined the Conference Call Conversations Tour through September 1, 2010. Look for the details to be added at www.conversationstour.com.

* Shadow Play Entertainment is pleased to announce that California-based BRITE MIC ENTERTAINMENT has joined the family. Find out more about them here: http://shadowplayent.blogspot.com/2010/07/profile-brite-mic-ent-using-music-to.html

* Shadow Play Entertainment is pleased to announce that Bigg Marv of HAMMERTIME fame on A&E and the cousin of rapper M. C. Hammer has joined the family. Catch up with what he has been doing, and what he looks forward to in the future: http://shadowplayent.blogspot.com/2010/07/bigg-marv-making-serious-moves-as-his.html

* Cyrus Webb recently interviewed supermodel Miguel Perdomo about his career and his advice for those looking to break into the business. Read the interview here: http://cawebbonline.blogspot.com/2010/06/driven-conversation-with-supermodel.html

* MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Shadow Play Entertainment's 2nd Annual National Day of Reading is slated for Sat. November 20, 2010. In 2009 over 30 states participated in the historic event, taking out time throughout the day to share the gift of reading. It is founder Cyrus Webb's goal to have all 50 states represented this year. To set up your own reading party in your state, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

(PROFILE) BRITE MIC ENT.: Using Music To Light Their Way To Success

Over the past five years, the Hip Hop genre of music has gone through its own transformation with artists emerging and leaving the scene almost as soon as they appeared. For Joey Calendar, CEO of Brite Mic Entertainment, though, that period of time has given him the opportunity to find his own voice, create the music he loves as well as what the people will respect and enjoy.

Orginially from the Bay Area of California, Joey Calendar, 33, and his artists Mike Hunter, Joseph Pryce and Prince the Pistol, are committed to staying in the game for the long haul. Calendar's interest in music began at a young age. His family owned a neighborhood bar with a jukebox, and it was just the catalyst he needed to make music a focal pont in his life.


Though there was enough to sway him into the wrong choices, Calendar saw music as a way of staying positive and doing something productive. Brite Mic began a way for him to get his own sound out. Even as a independent having to finance each part of his venture alone, he understoo the importance of marketing and promoting, getting t-shirts made and creating a buzz around the movement he hoped to create.

It wasn't easy, but with trial and error he realized that it was important to know each aspect of the business from producing, engineering and mixing to having to get your product out for others to hear. Another tool that has aided the direction Calendar has been pursuing is the internet. He acknowledges that it levels the playing field between artists with a recording deal as well as independent artists. It's all about reaching the most people with your product, and the worldwide web has made that easier.


Five years in and the hard work is paying off. Calendar is currently promoting his album R.A.M. H.A.M with the remix of the hit single "Goin' In" feat. E-40. Prince the Pistol is promoting his album The Testament. Mike Hunter is working on learning more about the business while at the same time pefecting his craft and finding his sound. Pryce is promoting his album PRYCELESS and is already seeing some national success with his single "Parttime" featuring artist Raw Smoov.

What does success look like for Calendar and Brite Mic? It's all about reaching a level where they can take care of their families, live a comfortable life and be in a position to continue giving the world great music. For them there is no better reward.

For more information about the Joey Calendar and the artists of Brite Mic Ent., visit www.britemic.com.

Brite Mic Entertainment is represented by Shadow Play Entertainment (www.shadowplayent.com). To schedule interviews, bookings for shows and appearances as well as sponsorships, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

BIGG MARV: Hammer's Cousin Making Moves As His Own Man

by Cyrus Webb


He might be known by many as simply M. C. Hammer's cousin, but Marvin Turell Grant known affectionally as Bigg Marv is making his own moves and building his own brand not just in the entertainment industry but in the community as well. The 34 year old has been around the highs and lows that come with success, but he always remembers what is important.

"It's all about family," he says with a smile. "Nothing else really matters. That is what I want people to know about me when they see me on tv or read about me. Without the family, the rest wouldn't mean anything."

The message of family was in the forefront of the successful first season of HAMMERTIME that debuted on A&E in 2009. In it you saw Hammer balancing his career and building a business along with keeping the family life going. With family being such a major part of the show, Bigg Marv was seen right along with them. "I feel thankful for people letting us into their homes the way they have through the show," he says.

Since music is a major part of what Hammer is known for, some might think that the obvious comparison to Hammertime would be Run's House. Bigg Marv says that another famous family of color is mentioned when he is talking with others about the show. "People compare it to the Cosby Show. I think because outside the music, it is a family show and is really about how the family is there regardless of what else is going on. I also like that comparison because of the positive image that is portrayed by the Cosbys. It shows that black families aren't all about the streets and that life. We can be successful and stick together through the good and bad."

Ironically, it was an incident in 2009 that would test the support that Bigg Marv would experience. At the height of the show's airing on television, he found himself in the midst of a real-life drama off screen that threatened to destroy everything he had been working for. Marv was worried not about the case, but about the way the allegations would be perceived. "I was concerned for my family and the impact it would have on them and my fans," he says. Part of what got him through what was his faith and realizing this was just another trial that he had to go through.

Though he doesn't want to get too into the situation that led to charges being filed against him, it should be noted that in June 2010 all charges against him were dropped in the case. In addition to that, Marv's attorney has been emphatic about the fact that no deal was made in the matter and no money was paid to anyone.

With that behind him, he is using his name recognition to continue his work in the community and fighting for the rights of children. Bigg Marv continues to work with Hammer's label Full Blast Music Group which includes artists Pleasure Ellis, J. D. Greer, Stooge Playaz and Dasit. He also consults for companies involved in the music business, including Brite Mic Entertainment.

No matter what he is involved in, though, Bigg Marv hopes to use his life as an example of what is possible for anyone with a dream or a vision as well as the passion to get things done. "You can't give up," he says. "Your life is not about where you are from. It is all about what you do with what you have."

Always communicating with fans through twitter at www.twitter.com/biggmarv and on video chats, Bigg Marv believes he is using his success to make a difference in the lives of other people. In his eyes, that is what it should be about. "All of this can be gone tomorrow," he reflects. "What's going to remain is the impact I've had on other people."

With that in mind, he pledges to use each day to the best of his ability, knowing that to whom much is given, much is required.

Bigg Marv is a part of the Shadow Play Entertainment Marketing and PR Group. For interview requests or appearances, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.