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    Hip-Hop Media Training

    Whitney Houston’s Last Movie Project ‘Sparkle’ Was 10-Plus Years In The Making

    By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Tue, Feb 14, 2012 3:57 PM EST

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    Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston in "Sparkle."

    Whitney Houston's final movie role was one that was close to her heart.

    Houston, who died Saturday, first attempted to executive produce a remake of the 1976 film "Sparkle" more than 10 years ago, but the project was put on hold in 2001 when pop singer and actress Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash. She was set to play the title character.

    Losing Aaliyah left the movie in limbo and eventually without a distributor. The production was dormant until TriStar Pictures offered Houston a distribution deal. Houston was ecstatic.

    Monica distraught over Houston's death, says husband Phoenix Suns guard Shannon Brown

    The movie wrapped filming in November. Loosely based on The Supremes, "Sparkle" is set in Detroit during the Motown era and tells story of three sisters and their gritty pursuit of a career in the music business. The eldest sister (Carmen Ejogo), who is the lead singer of their group, ends up on drugs and eventually dies.

    Houston portrays their mother Emma and "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks plays the lead character "Sparkle," who is one of the sisters.

    Houston said she was heartbroken when Aaliyah died, but praised Sparks for her work in her first major acting role.

    "She's very quick. She's very good. She knows her cues. She knows how to look. Her voice is like an angel's," Houston said when describing Sparks to "Entertainment Tonight."

    Houston accepted the opportunity to take on an acting role in the movie because she could relate to the character.

    "I have an 18 year old daughter," she told "Access Hollywood." "I felt love that a woman has for her children in the late 60s, trying to keep a family together. Single mother. Hi. I just felt that passion for it. When it was suggested that I play the mother I said OK, 'I think I can do this. I've had a lot of practice.'"

    The film, due out in August, also stars Derek Luke, Mike Epps and Cee Lo. R. Kelly is set to produce music for the soundtrack.

    PHOTOS Whitney Houston's movie roles

    Original "Sparkle" cast members Lonette McKee, Irene Cara and Dwan Smith.The original stars Irene Cara and Philip Michael Thomas, and the soundtrack was produced by Curtis Mayfield. The film's song "Something He Can Feel" was recorded by Aretha Franklin and reached No. 1 on Billboard's R&B singles chart as did En  Vogue's 1992 cover, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel."

    Houston also appeared in films, "The Bodyguard," "Waiting To Exhale," "The Preacher's Wife," and television movie "Cinderella."

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    • Irene Nicole
      Irene Nicole  •  New York, New York  •  1 month 22 days ago
      OMG I am soooo about to cry right now….

      I still can’t believe that she is gone, I just can’t!

      I Love Whitney Houston soooo much!!!! I don’t even go to movies, haven’t been inside of a Cinema in years but I will definitely be there to see Whitney Houston’s last on screen performance. She is such an amazing person, I can’t wait to see her act and sing.

      I wish she can see how many people are proud of her, but I feel in my heart that she is somewhere looking and listening, and still feeling the love. I Will Always Love You Whitney!!!!
    • Donna Rother
      Donna Rother  •  Blair, Nebraska  •  3 months ago
      I LIKE THE COMMENT ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE. WE LOVED HER MUSICAL TALENT AND IT WILL BE MISSED GREATLY. MAY GOD GIVE THE FAMILY COMFORT AND PEACE AND WONDERFUL MEMORIES.
      • Helen
        Helen 3 months ago
        We saw the fruit. Yes, she will be missed, and it is a tradegy.
      • Clive Sandringham
        Clive Sandringham 3 months ago
        "tradegy" is not a word. That's what smoking crack will do to you.
      • Hoka Hey
        Hoka Hey 3 months ago
        Smoking crack is a tragedy.
    • Barbara S
      Barbara S  •  Richmond, Virginia  •  3 months ago
      I do not believe that statement..".that suicide was used to boost ticket sales."
      Being alive has no price.
      • Terrell
        Terrell 3 months ago
        It wasn't a suicide.Get your facts straight first.She was blame on making a comeback with music and acting.And I think she was looking into a Waiting to exhale 2.She was not trying to kill herself,stop assuming.Everybody assume that all celebs that had/have addiction try to kill themselves.Not even Amy Whinehouse,she also try to get better,but tried without rehab.
      • Allisa
        Allisa 3 months ago
        @Terrell, I don't think that's what Barbara was saying though.
      • David
        David 3 months ago
        thats a load of bull. you sit there and trash a dead woman thats lower then dirt. if u dont want to see the movie then dont but dont sit here and talk aout ticket sales ur #$%$ for that comment. its sad how the world is even after she is dead people still want to trash her. Let her rest in peace its bad enough she had to deal with this while she was alive. if you got comments like that keep them to yourself. Its called respect look it up and apply it to your everyday life. also what if you family member were to die and some1 said they just faking it for the money you would mad and red hot #$%$ so think about what you say before you say it.
    • god is real
      god is real  •  3 months ago
      DRUGS WIN EVERY TIME JUST STAY AWAY FROM THEM AND PEOPLE WHO USE THEM RUN FOR YOUR LIFES-------------------TO SEE ANOTHER DAY
    • Toni
      Toni  •  Topeka, Kansas  •  3 months ago
      Looking at the comments I can see why our country is going to hell. No one has compassion anymore. Whitney could have been anyone you know, and I hate to think how you would treat someone you know who suffers from addiction. Hopefully none of you hateful people suffer any kind of setback in your lives and require compassion from your fellow man, cause from the look of things, you won't get it. So sad. And I'm gonna say this again! If you don't like a story, don't care for the person in the story, then why are you reading it??? Is your life so empty that you have to spread your hate everywhere to feel better?
      • Jan
        Jan 3 months ago
        Your input is well deserved, and most people are removed from tragedy such as this. Our society does not deal with a lot of reality these days, due to our electronic mind control with the internet, we have lost compassion and caring as well as symapthy.
      • MELINDA
        MELINDA 3 months ago
        Toni of Topeka Kansas I totally agree.
      • MELINDA
        MELINDA 3 months ago
        MAY GOD COMFORT WHITNEY'S FAMILY IN THIS TIME OF NEED. WHITNEY IS ONE OF MANY ANGELS NOW. NOW SHE CAN REST IIN PEACE. WE LOVE YOU WHITNEY.
    • Jawda
      Jawda  •  Dallas, Texas  •  3 months ago
      I saw Whitney's news and I cried instantly. I didn't cry because we lost a singer. It isn't all about us, us, and us again! I was hoping that she'll recover and come back to do what makes her happy, sing! I am devastated that she spend some precious years with a man who didn't appreciate her inner beauty.
      • anjegirl
        anjegirl 3 months ago
        Being with bobby were the best years of her life---she said it a million times---he left her---he divorced her
      • Tisha
        Tisha 3 months ago
        You do not know that. We saw all the negative things in their lives but they loved each other and sometimes love is not enough. Bobby is devastated.
      • Jawda
        Jawda 3 months ago
        Tisha, I am glad, you said, sometimes, love isn't enough. Indeed, marriage and having a family aren't all about romance and looking into each others eyes all day long.n Hence, I had wished it was that way. Unfortunately, marriage is an ultimate commitment that demands stable mind and good health. And, when people dedicate time and money to achieve that, then that is A LONG LASTING LOVE, in my opinion.
    • Truth Master Alice
      Truth Master Alice  •  3 months ago
      Here we go again. The media is going to soak every penny from her death by over posting her life now that she is dead. if she were alive they wouldn't give a crap.
      • DC
        DC 3 months ago
        hmmmm kinda like with michael jackson.
      • Laman
        Laman 3 months ago
        Don't complain; same will happen to you when you're gone to some extent.
      • CS
        CS 3 months ago
        It's the show-biz publicity machine at work, already!
    • jja_American
      jja_American  •  3 months ago
      Addiction has no soul.. and for some it is Relentless,, I feel for Ms Houston, her last few days of life, her feelings, her sadness , her perception of herself..
      the addictDevil has... No Color..
    • Sandra
      Sandra  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      The original Sparkle is a remarkable movie and a must see! I am looking forward to seeing this.
    • RiseUP
      RiseUP  •  3 months ago
      She was young and now she's dead! Is that "black enough" for you now? Young, black people listen up. Anyone who tells you you're not "black enough" is bad news, and you need to ignore them and put as much distance between you and them as possible. The clowns who claim to think they know who's black and who isn't are just a bunch of ghetto idiots trying to drag you back into the cesspool you and your hard working ancestors have worked so hard to escape. Don't let it happen. What you owe yourself, your family, and your community is to be responsible and to be there for them, not dead with so much left on the table. Be successful and create wealth for yourself and others. Add to the nation's GDP, don't dilute it. If you work hard, have talent, and are successful at some honest work, stick with your formula of success. Don't change it to appease others who don't know what they are talking about. You are black because god made you black. You don't have to prove your blackness to anyone, just be a good person! RIP, Whitney.
    • Delorianna
      Delorianna  •  Burbank, California  •  3 months ago
      She will be missed.
    • Ben
      Ben  •  Kampala, Uganda  •  3 months ago
      i liked her movie the bodyguard may her soul rest in peace.,
    • LissetG
      LissetG  •  3 months ago
      Rest IN PEACE WHITNEY. YOU WILL BE REMEMBER BY YOUR BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH ALL OF US....
    • Shawnee
      Shawnee  •  3 months ago
      Sandra: Iam hoping that they finish the movie now that Whittney is no longer with them,I have seen the majority of all her movies,and I love the way she acts,she is good at it,I hope to see this movie "Sparkles" to,never seen the Original' but I do want to see the New one.
    • LaikaO
      LaikaO  •  3 months ago
      How long are these vultures going to keep milking this?
    • S
      S  •  Wilmington, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
      What is wrong with people today! Wake up! How many more people have to die to drug and alcohol abuse!!! You have all this money and talent and all you can do is waste your life away on crap like that. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Heath Leger, and the list goes on and on. All died way before their time. This is the example we are setting for our children. The ones who suffer the most is their children and families. They are left with the embarrassment of the parents actions. The reason they are all in debt is because the pay their dealer before their mortgage. When a prescription label says don't mix with alcohol -it's there for a reason. Take notice! Do the world a favor, next time you want to blow millions; blow it on something that will benifit the world and not your nose.
      sheila -north carolina
    • KeKe
      KeKe  •  Raleigh, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
      It breaks my heart to know that one of the ladies I looked up to is no longer here with us.......I will miss her deeply as a fan and admirer of her great talent.....I dont know how she died and if she did die of an overdose I cannot judge because its not my place.....im just focused on the legacy she left behind and the shoes that no one else could fill...right now as a fan im deeply hurt
    • Professional
      Professional  •  3 months ago
      There is no will stronger than that of a dope fiend on a mission to get a fix. I only wish this will could be harnessed in a positive way for more constructive purposes.
    • Deborah
      Deborah  •  Ripley, Mississippi  •  3 months ago
      SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFULL!
    • Atsede
      Atsede  •  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  •  3 months ago
      I always respect and heartfully love Whitney.
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