Malcolm Washington’s feature debut is a story about Black ambition and “an important window into the Black experience that is as relevant today as ever”, says Kevin Bourne in his The Piano Lesson film review. There are a number of legendary Hollywood families who have been entertaining audiences for generations―the Barrymores, the Fondas, the Copollas, the Wayans, and the Arquettes to name a few. Now, there’s a new entrant into the list of famed Hollywood families―the Washingtons. For decades, Denzel Washington has been among Hollywood’s most talented actors, reaching heights most Black actors can only dream of. Shoot, heights that…
Author: Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne is the co-founder and editor of SHIFTER magazine. Born and raised in Toronto, Kevin currently resides in Ottawa with his wife Koliah and their three children. He's a big fan of hip-hop, pop culture, and urbanism and spends most of his time keeping up with the Kardashians.
Penelope and Jordan confront Andi, and Sabrina and Danni are having relationship problems. Here’s our Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 6 recap. Andi’s cheek is sore Jordan has to keep Andi and Penelope, who voluntarily left protective custody, apart as she accuses Andi of trying to break up her and Gary so Andi could have him for himself. We learn that Jordan was forced to drop out of his race for councilman because of his relationship with Andi making matters worse. Jordan is upset that Andi didn’t call him since Gary’s stabbing, but she let him know that her…
The UK has always been one of the countries leading the way in fashion. Here are 15 British clothing brands you should know. British music and fashion have always left their fingerprints on the world, with acts like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones rising to global dominance for decades. Meanwhile, designers and fashion houses like Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, and Burberry having been doing the same from magazine covers to the runway. The UK continues grow its influence, but it’s a lot more diverse, both in style and culture. There’s the popularity of shows like Top Boy and artists…
Andi and Danni are spiraling and Karen’s in hot water at the salon. Here’s our recap of Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 5. It’s that time again—another episode of Tyler Perry’s Sistas. Although the show is loved by many, looking at social media, fans are conflicted about this season so far. Some fans are complaining about the writing and direction of the show. Some are noting the lack of character development in Danni and Andi. For me, this season already feels like an improvement over last season when it comes to the storytelling. I agree there are characters who…
Andi visits Gary, Fatima gets a new position, and Maurice returns. Here’s our recap of Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 4. After sitting out the first three episodes, Maurice finally returns. Although he usually extra, he provides a sentimental but still overly dramatic moment. Meanwhile, Gary is still recovering from the stabbing and Andi is looking to pay him a visit. So without delay, let’s get into what went down on Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 4. Andi vs. Hudson The episode opens with Hudson questioning why Andi is at the hospital. She says she wants to see…
From Amos ‘n’ Andy and The Cosby Show, to Abbott Elementary, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne takes a look at Black sitcoms from the 1950’s to 2020’s. Black sitcoms have given us some of the most iconic characters in the history of television, including TV moms and dads. They’ve also produced a number of stars who went on to become household names. These shows reflected the everyday lives of Black people, sometimes even playing into cliches and stereotypes, and in some cases, represented our aspirations for a better life. Airing in 1951, Amos ‘n’ Andy is credited with being the first Black…
Robin returns and Andi finally comes clean with her sisters. Here’s our recap of Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 3. The “Who stabbed Gary?” story is heating up with everyone being a suspect. Again, there’s still no sign of Maurice, which is a good thing. He adds very little value to the show. Maybe he stabbed Gary (no, I’m not serious). So without delay, let’s get into what went down on Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 3. Robin has left the building The sistas come over to Andi’s apartment to find Robin, aka “the Ghost of Negroes Past”…
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches at an exclusive event by Xbox at the size? sneaker shop and SHIFTER was there. Here’s a closer look. Last night, Xbox and size? hosted an exclusive Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 launch party in downtown Toronto. ahead of its October 25th release. Hosted at the size? sneaker shop on Queen Street West, the event saw passionate gamers gather to get an early peak at the latest installment in the military first person shooter game franchise. The night also featured drinks, including the event sponsor, Modelo, and a draw for some Call…
From music to film & TV, Canada’s Black talent drain shows no signs of stopping says SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne. In recent years, Canada has seen an increase in the number of Black filmmakers and producers bringing films and TV shows to screen. The 2024 edition of TIFF screened 40 Acres and Village Keeper by RT Thorne and Karen Chapman who showed the kind of brilliant storytelling Black Canadian filmmakers are capable of. Directors like Dawn Wilkinson, Sharon Lewis and Sudz Sutherland have been directing episodes of major American TV series. Amanda Parris also created a Canadian Screen Awards-winning series for…
The investigation into Gary’s stabbing continues and Zatima are on the case. Here’s our recap of Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 2. The “Who stabbed Gary?” storyline continues, and if previous seasons are any indication, we may not find out until well after the mid-season break. This episode was a bit predictable, simply building on the stories from the premiere without introducing anything new. But it’s still early in the season. Fortunately, there’s still no sign of Maurice, which is a good thing. He’s too extra and went from being one of the more popular characters to the most…
The FBI are investigating Gary’s murder as the whole crew are questioned. Here’s our recap of Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 8 Episode 1. After a somewhat brief hiatus, Tyler Perry’s Sistas is back with a whole new season of over-the-top drama. Season seven ended with Gary lying in his own blood as the victim of a stabbing as his own wedding, setting us up for a season of “Who killed Gary?” The season also ended with Rich storming into the sperm donor clinic after changing his mind about being Sabrina’s sperm donor. So without delay, let’s get into the drama…
In this Village Keeper film review, Kevin Bourne says Karen Chapman’s dramatic feature debut is “a celebration of and journey towards Black healing”. It’s both the best of times and the worst of times for Black film and television in Canada. Award-winning Black TV shows are being cancelled, but at the same time, there’s a growing crop of independent Black producers and filmmakers sprouting up across the country who are doing great work. This year’s Toronto International Film Festival featured two filmmakers who should give you optimism about Black filmmaking in Canada. There’s R.T. Thorne with 40 Acres which has generated…
