Akeelah & The DRB

It's a favorite past time of writers to ask and answer the question: So, who would you like to see play your MC in a movie?

Some refuse to answer, claiming they haven't really thought about it. coughcoughlie.
Others have a clear picture which of today's hot young actors can bring their MCs to life. And others still (me) honestly don't have a clue.

There aren't a great many movies or TV shows revolved around young African American actors. I know, shocker considering the vast number of contemporary books featuring them.

Oh wait...vast is a tad bit stretching it.

But you get my point. Unless you're really in tune to every young face that's played a supporting or bit role on TV, it's easy to be ignorant to the young black talent out there.

Right now, the "faces" are Raven - a really good comedic actress, but a bit long in the tooth to play my fourteen year old MC - and Kyla Pratt (Proud Family and One-on-One), also now too old.

So I've always answered the question by saying - So Not The Drama is ripe for some new unknown to make their own.

Then, I watched Akeelah & The Bee, last night. You know I rarely catch a movie in the theatre and we haven't been Hollywood Videoing lately. So I've been a Molly come lately to a lot of films.

Anyway, Akeelah & The Bee was sweet (syrupy even in a few spots). But honestly, how wrong can a movie go when you pair Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne? Not very!

Needless to say, there's a list involved here.

Five Reasons KeKe Palmer is Mina Mooney

1) She's got the look

KeKe's adorable. And she's the same brown sugar complexion, about the right height and build of Mina. Weird! I know what Mina looks like in my head. And she'll look different to everyone who reads So Not The Drama. But I can totally see KeKe rocking Mina's cheer pony in a cheerleading uniform and all the other girly things Mina loves to wear. She's really quite the typical cute, blossoming teen girl (KeKe, that is).

2) Her fragile strength

As Akeelah, KeKe had to walk a fine line. She was in middle school, after all, a period of great identity hunting. She easily morphed from nonplussed around her best friend, respectful around her mom and intelligently defiant to her teacher.

Mina is nothing if not an amalgam of emotions. Some spilling over constantly, others tightly bottled until she loses control. This is a character who musters the bollocks to stand up to the book's antagonist, Jessica, yet shamelessly runs to the comfort of her friends afterward for reassurance. Mina has a quiet courage that sometimes comes off bossy and others as bravado.

KeKe could pull that off.

3) Can we say "franchise" project?

KeKe and Mina can do for each other what Raven had with the Cheetah Girls. What the Proud Family did for Kyla. And of course, what HP is doing for Daniel Radcliffe. Yes, the ever elusive franchise product that supplies a young actor with steady work and ahem, brings the books a little attention to boot.

4) Hurry, Disney, the Cheetah Girls are becoming Cheetah Women!

The girls are outgrowing their cheetah skins and I'm sure mulling life after Disney, as we speak. That means the Mouse should be looking for a new t(w)een friendly movie project that fits into their magic formula.

Well, here it is:
A young star who rocked her debut (KeKe) + A multi-culti YA series that's fun and hip in its earnestness (uh, So No The Drama).

Smells like a small screen success waiting to happen.

5) She's still "new" enough

We know how quickly Hollywood moves on. Akeelah came out in 2006. That means KeKe Palmer is walking the line between trying to cash in on her debut and finding that "break out" role. No doubt, a toughie, especially with those pesky HSM kids lapping up all the spotlight. I swear Zac Efron's eyes are hypnotizing!

But with books like So Not The Drama waiting for Hollywood to adapt it, KeKe could soon be a very busy young lady.

Note: The multi-culti teen ensemble movie audience has been officially, OHfficially tapped by HSM, marking it hot, now.

So KeKe, have your people call my people. Let's do lunch.