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Tag: Jenji Kohan

  • Laverne Cox of ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Shares Words of Encouragement For ‘Struggling’ Fans

    Laverne Cox of ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Shares Words of Encouragement For ‘Struggling’ Fans

    Laverne Cox of Orange Is the New Black took a moment Sunday to share a few words of encouragement for fans at her first-ever appearance at the Golden Globe Awards.

    While speaking with Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet Sunday night, Laverne paused to offer a heartfelt and inspiring message to fans who are struggling.

    “I want to do a shout-out to everybody out there who’s watching who feel like your lives might … you’re struggling with feeling like you’re enough, like your lives are treated like they don’t matter, ” she said. “Your lives matter, your voices matter, your stories matter.”

    The 31-year-old actress looked lovely in a custom white gown designed by Elizabeth Kennedy and jewels by Lorraine Schwartz for the occassion.

    Cox later tweeted her excitement about the awards show on Saturday, writing, “Landed in Los Angeles today to attend the #GoldenGlobes tomorrow night for the first time. #excited Repping #oitnb #transisbeautiful.”

    The actress told Ryan Seacrest that she was very honored to be a part of her hit Netflix show, which was nominated for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical.

    “I’m so grateful to be a part of this show that’s changed my life and has unprecedented diversity of women on television,” Laverne said.

    Cox hinted that big things are on the horizon for fans of the Netflix original series.

    “Our brilliant creator Jenji Kohan has this amazing vision,” Laverne revealed. “We just finished shooting season four and we’re going deeper into the issues of these women and the criminal justice system and it’s getting even more real if you can believe it.”

  • Mindy Kaling Joins Lena Dunham, Kristen Wiig And Jenji Kohan At Sundance Panel

    On Saturday, the Sundance Film Festival organized a panel called “Power of Story: Serious Ladies”. The panel is comprised of four of the top female creators in the industry today: Mindy Kaling of The Mindy Project, Girls’ Lena Dunham, Orange is the New Black mastermind Jenji Kohan, and Bridesmaids writer Kristen Wiig. The four talked about mastering their craft in an industry dominated mostly by men. The panel was enlightening, and considering their pedigree, also quite entertaining.

    At one point, Mindy Kaling even delivered the perfect response about working in a predominantly male industry. Kaling said, “I have a personality defect where I sort of refuse to see myself as an underdog. It has gotten me into a lot of trouble, but is also the reason for my success.”

    “I often am reminded of it when people ask me why I’m confident… why wouldn’t I be? It’s because my parents raised me with the entitlement of a tall, blonde, white man. That’s the way to do it, picture yourself as Armie Hammer on the outside,” Mindy Kaling quipped, referring to the blond actor known for his roles in The Social Network and The Lone Ranger.

    And it seems, Mindy Kaling has a few more skills up her sleeve aside from writing and being funny. During the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Reese Witherspoon talked to Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson about Kaling’s crafting skills. “Mindy has started this thing, Wreath Witherspoon. It’s hard to say, but she was so sweet,” Witherspoon said. “She sent me one for the Oscars nomination and [it’s] just very creative. It showed her floral abilities. She also writes, directs, acts and she arranges flowers beautifully.”

    Reese Witherspoon posted a photo on her Instagram that shows the wreath hanging on the front door of her home. It looks like Mindy Kaling has another thing to add on her resume.

  • Katie Holmes Originally Wanted For OITNB Lead

    If you are a fan of Netflix’s original raunchy series Orange is the New Black, then it would probably be hard for you to picture anyone else playing the main characters.

    However, Jenji Kohan, OITNB creator, recently revealed that she had a very different idea of who would play the bisexual, drug smuggling Piper.

    Kohan exclusively revealed to E! News that she had originally wanted former Dawson’s Creek star Katie Holmes to play the part of Piper.

    Kohan even admitted that she met with Holmes about the part. “I’m a big fan of hers,” Kohan said during the OITNB event at the DGA. “You know, I met with her.”

    Holmes turned the part down, claiming she had too much other stuff to do, and didn’t really know what the show was going to be at the time. “She [Holmes] had other things to do,” Kohan explained. “And also in the beginning, no one knew what this was.” Unfortunately for Katie, OITNB has been a smashing success and was nominated for multiple Emmy’s. “I don’t know if it’s the subject, the characters, the way it’s consumed or a combination of all those factors, but people’s investment with these women is greater than anything I’ve seen before,” Kohan said.

    We all know that the part ultimately went to the Emmy-nominated Taylor Schilling, who says she is a big fan of Holmes. “I’m a big fan of Katie Holmes,” Schilling said. “She could be friends with Lorna or like Lorna’s Boston sister.” Schilling continued, referring to the possibility of Holmes landing a guest role on the show.

    Do you think Holmes regrets not taking the part? Could you imagine Holmes in Schillings role? Leave your comments below.

  • Orange Is The New Black Releases Teaser Trailer, Reveals Season 2 Premiere Date

    How many people have been going crazy wondering about the second season of Orange Is The New Black, and when it will finally be available to stream?

    The show is one of the first to be streamed exclusively for Netflix, and became an instant hit for its unique subject matter, and the strong acting from its large ensemble cast.

    The show was nominated for a handful of awards after its first season, and Taylor Schilling, who plays Piper Chapman, received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress In A Drama Series.

    Well there is some good news, and some bad news. The good news is that fans of the show are finally aware of when season 2 will be available, but the bad news is that it will not be available until June 6th. The show is created Jenji Kohan, who was also the face behind the popular Showtime drama Weeds.

    For those that somehow missed season one of the acclaimed Netflix series, Orange Is The New Black tells the story of a woman whose drug smuggling past catches up with her, and is forced to spend time in a women’s prison.

    The show is also a true story, and is based on the memoir Orange Is The New Black: My Year In A Women’s Prison by Piper Kerman.

    The show has been celebrated for its outstanding ensemble cast, and includes people such as Jason Biggs, known for hit comedies such as American Pie, and Laura Prepon, known mostly for That 70’s Show. Taylor Schilling plays the main character on the show, and is joined in the prison by a variety of colorful characters, while Natasha Lyonne, a co-star of Biggs’ from American Pie, is also an inmate on the show.

    Netflix just announced Orange Is The New Black’s season 2 premiere date along with a teaser trailer that is brief, but filled with everyone’s favorite characters, and will surely get everyone even more excited for season 2.

    House Of Cards, the other hit show that premiered on Netflix last season, was finally made available for streaming yesterday. The new episodes had everyone going crazy, and even President Barack Obama shared his excitement for the show, tweeting that he did not want any spoilers.

    The political drama follows Frank and Claire Underwood (Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright) in their rise to the top, and the obstacles that they face along the way, including reporter Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara). Frank Underwood plays a congressman from South Carolina, and the success of the show has already officially secured a third season that is in the works for next year.

    With the help of shows such as Orange Is The New Black and House Of Cards, Netflix has become a big factor in television awards, and in rankings, just in the past year. In this year’s Golden Globe awards, Netflix was second in nominations to only HBO, and Netflix also has more subscribers in the US than HBO.

    Does season 2 of Orange Is the New Black have the ability to top season 1? How many people plan to binge the show when it is released on June 6th? As with other Netflix shows, all 13 episodes of the second season will be available to watch immediately.

    Image via Youtube

  • ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 2 Reportedly Won’t Focus On Piper As Much

    As Netflix’s Orange is the New Black: Season 2 continues production, cast and crew continue to give interviews and tease fans about what they can expect from the next installment of the popular series.

    We’ve heard that Laura Prepon, who plays Alex, will only be back for one episode, so obviously there has to be a major shift in plot, considering that she was one of the main characters in the first season. Star Taylor Schilling has said that the coming season will be more compelling, because the writing is better.

    TV Guide spoke with creator Jenji Kohan and some of the cast, and got a few more interesting nuggets out of them.

    Kohan wouldn’t say whether or not the season jumps ahead in time or picks up right at the end of the first one, but she did reportedly indicate that the second season won’t focus as much on the Piper character as the first one did, but will rather divide the story more evenly among its many characters.

    Interestingly, she even gave a hint about Season 3, saying that if the show does indeed return for a third season (which seems pretty likely considering Netflix renewed it for a second one even before the first one debuted to tremendous critical acclaim and fan buzz), there will be more focus on the guards and their stories.

    Cast member Kate Mulgrew reportedly said that Season 2 will have more about the histories of Poussé and Black Cindy. They have indeed been popping up in the set photos being posted to Instagram. There will also be more about Red’s backstory. From TV Guide:

    However, she adds that we will be seeing more of Red’s backstory and what exactly landed her in prison. “I just know that they weren’t putting candy bars in my deep freeze, if you know what I mean,” Mulgrew says. She also explains that whatever went down between Red and the Russians has something to do with the reason we haven’t seen her husband at visiting hours yet (but thankfully it’s nothing too dark). “Well, the Russians weren’t happy, but my husband is alive. Don’t worry,” Mulgrew assures.

    Taryn Manning reportedly indicated that there might be hope for Piper and Pennsatucky to reconcile, but that’s still up in the air. She did recently reveal what she said is a “ginormous” plot point of the second season, which is about Healy giving Pennsatucky the green light to kill Piper.

    Take a look at some recent pics from the set of Season 2 here.

    Image: Netflix (YouTube)

  • Orange is the New Black on Netflix

    Orange is the New Black on Netflix

    Netflix has released a new television show, “Orange is the New Black. They released all 13 episodes of the first season on July 11, 2013.

    From the creator of the hit television show “Weeds”, Jenji Kohan, “Orange is the New Black” is about a woman named Piper Chapman who is sent to prison due to her relationship with a drug smuggler.

    Piper, played by Taylor Schilling, was persuaded by the woman she loved, to be a drug mule for her. Her lover Alex, played by Laura Prepon, named Piper as part of a drug ring 10 years later. Piper is sentenced to 15 months in Litchfield correctional facility, the same facility where Alex has been sentenced. “Orange is the New Black” follows Piper’s experience, as she struggles being an inmate.

    Laura Prepon says that her character originally intimidated her, but was excited to take on the challenge.

    When I read it, it was so good but I was like, ‘Wow, Alex scares me a little bit,’ which is exactly why I needed to do it and I’m so glad that I did. I feel like every actress is always looking to push the envelope because the minute you get complacent, hang it up.
    -Prepon

    Prepon discusses the “realness” of the show. Kohan “wanted it to be as raw and real as possible,” she said. “We wear like literally the federal prison-issue wardrobe. We’re not allowed to wear a lot of makeup. … There’s a story line where I actually barter to get black eyeliner, so every inmate has their own kind of thing that individualizes them.”

    “Orange is the New Black” has become an instant Netflix hit, and is already set up for a second season, which fans are anxiously awaiting for.