A Snowy Day in Oakland is heading into theaters this week. The magical-realism comedy starring Nicole Ari Parker is gearing up to be introduced to the world on Friday, March 17. Hollywood Melanin sat down with the leading star to explore some of the critical issues addressed in the film.
At the center of the story is LaTrice (Parker), the successful psychologist from San Francisco who longs for a more purposeful life. Leaving her unfaithful, high-profile psychiatrist boyfriend and business partner behind, she establishes her practice in a vacant office space on a small commercial block across the bay in Oakland. Surrounded by minority-owned businesses, LaTrice is determined to provide support and gently guide the residents of this predominantly Black neighborhood to embrace the importance of communicating one’s feelings through therapy.
Nicole Ari Parker as LaTrice/ ‘A Snowy Day In Oakland’
“I think there is an issue of trust in the Black community where we just keep our problems close to our chest,” Parker expressed while discussing mental healthcare in minority groups. “It’s also an expense. It’s an investment. So, when you are trying to make ends meet and prioritize your income, it feels like a luxury. But I think that that’s an expense worth taking.”
Helmed by Sister, Sister creator Kim Bass, the film was initially shot six years ago. Parker says she attributes her involvement in this project not just to the powerful and relevant script but also to “Kim’s vision, his magical realism, his playing with time, and his saturation of color,” she added, “We don’t really get to have that kind of whimsy in most independent Black films.”
‘A Snowy Day in Oakland’ cast
Produced by Planet 9 Productions and distributed by People of Culture Studios, this dramatic comedy also explores other meaningful themes like navigating complex relationships and struggles of entrepreneurship. Those conversations are explored through the town’s biggest personalities, Davis (Deon Cole), Jeanette (Loretta Devine), Theona (Kimberly Elise), and Rodney (Evan Ross). The star-studded cast also includes Keith David, Marla Gibbs, Michael Jai White, Tony Plana, Arden Myrin, and others.
Kimberly Elise as Theona, Deon Cole as Davis, Loretta Devine as Jeanette / ‘A Snowy Day In Oakland’
Watch A Snowy Day in Oakland in selected theaters on Friday, March 17. Watch the trailer below.
Tracee Ellis Ross reunited with her Girlfriends cast members Jill Marie Jones, Golden Brooks, and Persia White for the first commercial from her Pattern Beauty hair and body care line, available Friday, June 27, 2025. So this campaign, which champions black hair and immortal friendship, has fans of the cult 00s show absolutely giddy.
Tracee Ellis Ross-founded brand made when it came out with its first commercial to celebrate six years in the haircare space and the 25th anniversary of Girlfriends (2000–2008). The ad, which features the fan-favorite cast—Tracee Ellis Ross (Joan), Jill Marie Jones (Toni), Golden Brooks (Maya), and Persia White (Lynn)—is a colorful love-fest for Black hair care and sisterly love. In a stylish setting of a “Pattern Lounge,” the ad displays the winning chemistry of the cast as they slip into their iconic characters, raving about Pattern’s curl-centric products. The campaign is centered on elite “hair cocktailing,” a term used in the Black community to describe the layering of things like gels, creams, or oils to create bespoke haircare regimens. Ross plays the “Chief Curltender,” guiding her co-stars to their product matches made in heaven for their specific curl types, from flake-free definition to touchable hold and shine.
Girlfriends, which ran on UPN and, later, the CW from 2000 to 2008, followed four Black women in love, career, and friendship. A pioneering series created by Mara Brock Akil, it was revolutionary in the honest way it depicted Black sisterhood, far removed from contemporaries like Sex and the City. “Sex and the City was about dating with a friend group, but Girlfriends was about the ‘chosen family of sisterhood,’” Akil said, adding that Joan and Toni’s relationship was “the emotional core.” The series has stood the test of time, remaining a cultural obsession available to stream on Netflix even though die-hard fans are still mourning a cancellation that didn’t even get them a proper farewell.
The initiative sees the cast of Girlfriends reunite on screen for the first time since the stars appeared on Black-ish in 2019, which also starred Ross. The commercial cashes in on the series’ continued relevance and features the cast’s infectious camaraderie that you missed – and Maya’s melodrama, Toni’s shade, and Lynn’s ditsy sweetness! The campaign also aligns with Pattern Beauty’s commitment to championing and empowering curly, coily, and tightly textured hair. So Ross, who spent her Girlfriends days shopping in the kids’ section for haircare products, created Pattern to fill that void. The ad showcases the brand’s diverse product collection, which includes shampoos, conditioners, stylers, hot tools, and tools specifically designed for individuals with type 3B to 4C curl patterns.
Ross, the CEO and founder of Pattern Beauty, has been on the ground floor with the brand since its inception. The concept for Pattern was nurtured during her Girlfriends days, when she noticed the dearth of products suited for Black hair.
Launching in 2019 after 10 years of pitching and developing, Pattern was born, and Ross worked with chemists to develop formulas that actually worked. The spot takes place in a colorful production setting and features the cast’s natural chemistry but not Ross, who teased the reunion on Instagram: “Back together like we never left.” The result is a love letter to friends and fans, where laughs, heart, and hair care come together.
Ryan Coogler, the acclaimed director of Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has confirmed that Hollywood legend Denzel Washington will join the cast of Black Panther 3. This announcement came during Coogler’s appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthonypodcast, where he revealed that he has written a role specifically for the two-time Oscar winner, whom he regards as “the greatest living actor.”
Washington first hinted at his involvement in the Marvel project during a November 2024 interview on the Today show in Australia, generating excitement among fans. Coogler, who has long admired Washington, expressed his enthusiasm about their upcoming collaboration, noting their close relationship and Washington’s cultural significance. “Denzel is family at this point,” he said in the interview.
Ryan Coogler and Chadwick Boseman/ Black Panther
Although Marvel Studios has not officially announced Black Panther 3, the franchise’s success, having grossed over $2 billion globally from its first two films, makes a third installment a logical step. The film is still in early development, and while there is no confirmed release date, Coogler hinted that it’s “not long” away, potentially targeting a 2028 release following Avengers: Secret Wars.
Speculation about Washington’s role is abundant, with fans suggesting he could portray a new Wakandan character, a historical figure like Bashenga, or even a multiverse variant of T’Challa or T’Chaka. The emotional connection to the late Chadwick Boseman, who credited Washington’s mentorship for his career, adds significant weight to this casting choice.
Halle Berry and Van Hunt went public with their relationship in September 2020. After five years of dating, Hunt, a Grammy-winning musician, proposed to the Oscar-winning actress, but Berry has not yet accepted.
Berry’s decision to decline Hunt’s proposal, at least for now, stems primarily from her history with marriage. The actress has been married three times previously—to former MLB player David Justice (1993–1997), singer Eric Benét (2001–2005), and actor Olivier Martinez (2013–2016). She also shares a daughter, Nahla, 17, with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, and a son, Maceo, 11, with Martinez. Hunt has been married once and has a teenage son, Drake.
Halle Berry and Van Hunt at 2023 Oscars
During the Today interview, Berry explained, “Well, I’ve been married three times. Van has been married once, and so no, we don’t feel like we have to get married to validate our love in any way. We don’t.”
While Berry has not accepted Hunt’s proposal, she has not ruled out marriage entirely. In the same interview, she expressed that she believes Hunt is the right partner for her, stating, “I think we will get married just because, out of the people I’ve been married to, this is the person I should have married.” She added that any future marriage would be a choice made out of desire for expression, not obligation, and hinted at a potential wedding “soon.”