Biopic

Announcement, Appearance, Interview, News, Television

Andre Rison Biopic Featuring TLC Portrayal Finally Released Worldwide

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Andre Rison, the ex-fiancé of the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, kept his word to complete the production on his biopic, ‘Wide Open: The Andre Rison Story‘, and after an exclusive Red Carpet premiere last August in Atlanta, the movie was finally released independently on December 23, 2022 on Rison’s website to rent for a limited time.

As we revealed last year, the actresses that were hired to play the roles of TLC in the Andre Rison biopic are Ashanti Harris as Chilli, Tetisheri Moniz as T-Boz, and Chaz Ridgeway aka Pink B as Left Eye. 

Pink B initially played a cameo role as one of Lisa’s friends in the 2013 VH1 biopic, ‘CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story‘, after losing the role of Left Eye to Lil’ Mama. She was honored to finally get the opportunity to play the role of Lisa in this movie, attributing it to ‘God timing’, now that she is more prepared and took on acting lessons to perfect her craft.

‘Wide Open’ is the story behind NFL Hall of Fame nominated superstar Andre “Bad Moon” Rison’s ambition and determination to make it to the NFL while facing a racially charged environment. It details Rison’s tumultuous relationship with “Left Eye” Lopes, his friendship with Atlanta Falcons teammate Deion “Primetime” Sanders, and other personal and professional milestones.

“Lisa and I eventually discovered most of our arguments and fights came from our childhood trauma, including her burning down my house,” said Andre Rison. “We both experienced our parent’s abusive relationships which are detailed in the movie.”

The film stars Jermel Howard who plays Andre Rison and features a notable cast including Brely Evans, Towanda Braxton, Paris Bennett, Tamika Scott, Dexter Tucker, Kendrick Smith, Althea Heart, Chaz “Pink” Ridgeway, DJ Hershey, Kim Lovette, Lisa Rayam, Roderick D. Barber, Brian “B High” Hightower, Brittany “Diamond ATL”, Mz Shyneka, Mickey “MempHiTz” Wright, Special K, and Uncle Vido.

‘Wide Open’ is directed by Jerry D. May and written and executive produced by best-selling author Derrick Handspike and Andre Rison.

Watch ‘Wide Open’ available to rent for a limited time at AndreRisonMovie.com

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Left Eye Biopic In The Works and Plans to Release Lisa’s Unheard Music

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On the 20th anniversary of the passing of the legendary Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, her sister Reigndrop Lopes took some time out to speak with Essence about her memories of Lisa and forthcoming plans the Lopes family have in store to keep Lisa’s memory alive.

Reigndrop informs the publication that she is still in the process of producing a biopic based on the life of her superstar sister, but she wants to place emphasis on the positive side of Lisa, who was a fun-loving sister-friend with a heart of gold.

Although Lisa was featured in the VH1 biopic, ‘CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story‘ in 2013, Reigndrop wants to go deeper into Lisa’s character with the individual biopic. “I just want to tell the real story,” Reigndrop says. “The story of how she grew up, how she became who she was and then her journey to change from who she was as to who she wanted to be.”

Reigndrop, Lisa & Ronald Lopes

The production team behind the Lisa Lopes biopic includes Elizabeth Hubbard, an executive producer for the Grammy and Oscar-winning ‘Summer of Soul’ documentary. No release date has been set as of yet for the work-in-progress project.

As for some new Left Eye music, Reigndrop assures fans that the Lopes family will indeed release some new music for the world to hear. “We do have some unreleased music. We will release it. I’m not sure if it’s going to be with an album, but we’ll definitely get it out for sure.”

Reigndrop posted a heartfelt tribute to her sister on the 20th anniversary of her passing, where she also teased that there was more Left Eye material to come. “20 Years ago you transcended & Left me The Legacy 2 B Continued… Eye Am My Sisters Keeper! There’s More 2 come!!! Eye Hope Eye Make You Proud! ENERGY NEVER DIES…”

Fans are still eagerly waiting for the Lopes family to release Lisa’s debut solo album, ‘Supernova‘ from 2001 which still remains globally unreleased and has no digital presence on streaming platforms. Reigndrop has previously stated that she wants to release the album at the right time and revealed that the family indeed own the masters to the album. “Timing is everything, it’s going to come out when it’s supposed to come out”, she told fans last year.

So, how does Reigndrop want Lisa to be remembered? “[What] I want the world to remember most is Lisa’s spirit. She was a giver,” Reigndrop says. “She loved to help the underdog. It’s like, if people weren’t drawn to you, she would be drawn to you just because of the fact that she just always saw something in you that other people didn’t.”

Reigndrop accepted a Lifetime Achievement award on behalf of Lisa earlier this year and we will hopefully look forward to seeing more Lisa Lopes attributed honors throughout the year on the 20th anniversary since she transcended.

Read more from Reigndrop’s Essence interview here.

Shop Reigndrop’s accessories dedicated to Lisa here.

Partial proceeds will go to the Lisa Lopes Foundation, which benefits families in need.

Announcement, Appearance, News, Television, Tribute

TLC To Be Portrayed in Andre Rison Biopic ‘Wide Open’

Leon@TLCArmy's avatarLeon@TLCArmy 1 Comment

Andre Rison, the former Atlanta Falcon and previous boyfriend of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, has decided to produce a biopic based on his life, ‘Wide Open: The Andre Rison Story’, after the success of the 2020 Lifetime special, ‘Hopelessly In Love: Lisa Lopes & Andre Rison‘, a documentary that chronicled the ups and downs of their relationship.

Rison announced that the project was in the works last year and subsequently sent out a casting call in August to hire talent in Atlanta to play the various characters in the movie, including Tupac Shakur, Deion Sanders and of course, the members of TLC.

The actresses hired to play TLC are Ashanti Harris as Chilli, Tetisheri Moniz as T-Boz, and Chaz aka Pink B as Left Eye. Pink B has been compared to Left Eye for having very similar looks. She had a small cameo in the VH1 biopic, ‘CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story‘ in 2013, playing a friend of Lil’ Mama, who played Left Eye in that film.

Pink B says that although some people wanted her to get the role of Left Eye in the VH1 biopic, she wasn’t ready at the time. “I’ve experienced a lot and did acting classes and went through a spiritual change so now is better than ever!”, she said on Instagram.

Andre Rison will be directing the film alongside film director Jerry D. May. In a press release, it states that Rison ‘takes off the gloves and gives it to you raw in the real story behind the ESPN, VH1, fluff. Film director Jerry D. May and best-selling author Derrick Handspike teamed up to produce what many are calling one of the most anticipated celebrity biopic films since “The OJ Simpson Story”.’

Rison has an in-depth relationship with TLC. Not only was he the love of Lisa’s life, he was also very supportive of T-Boz and Chilli, helping all three ladies during the infamous lawsuit they went through in 1996 when they filed for bankruptcy.

We look forward to seeing what details he provides for us and how the portrayal of TLC will be in this movie!

Will you be watching ‘Wide Open’?

Announcement, Interview, News, Tribute

Left Eye’s New Headstone to be Laid During 50th Birthday week, Update on ‘Supernova’ Album, Hologram and Biopic TV Series

Leon@TLCArmy's avatarLeon@TLCArmy 1 Comment

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes would have celebrated her 50th birthday this week (May 27). Her sister, Reigndrop Lopes, took a moment to touch base with the fans to celebrate Lisa’s milestone birthday!

Just like she did last year for the first time, Reigndrop again decided to celebrate via simultaneous live streams on Instagram and Facebook, where she both offered Q&A sessions with fans and did some trivia questions for fans to win items with Left Eye on it.

  • Reigndrop Lopes on Facebook Live May 27, 2021

Reigndrop revealed that the new one-of-a-kind, 3D-textured headstone, created by Tim Morris aka Tim Cemetery which was announced in 2019, will finally be installed at Lisa’s gravesite at Hillandale Memorial Gardens in Stonecrest, Georgia on May 29.

“The next time you visit the gravesite you will see the new headstone”, Reigndrop announced to the fans. “We are laying it on the 29th”. Tim Cemetery also posted a cryptic message via Facebook on Lisa’s birthday, stating that he was on his way!

Reigndrop, Wanda and Ron Lopes unveil Left Eye’s updated headstone in 2019
Tim Cemetery on his flight to Atlanta to prepare for the instalment of Lisa’s new headstone

Future Left Eye music plans

“The music that we have left from Lisa, I’m probably going to use it for one of her film and book projects, and I’ll probably release a couple more. But I don’t like messing with and changing Lisa’s music as far as remixing it. I don’t like doing that, because she puts so much of her into the songs on “Supernova”, I kinda just want to leave them alone and use them like that. But, I may do a poetry book with her lyrics.”

Covering a Left Eye rap in a TLC song

“Of course [I would], any time! It would just have to be the right opportunity. I would do that in a heartbeat!”

Book plans

“I’m working on Lisa’s book. I’m actually working on two books. One book is a memory book, with people’s memories of Lisa. And one is her biography.”

Biopic TV series

“I’m working on her film which I actually want to be a series. It’s more fitting, because you can’t really fit someone’s entire life story in a 2-hour movie. It’s just not possible. I’ve always thought that, so I want it to be a series. I do not have a release date for it yet, as I am still working with the writer. When I get to the point where I think it’s ready to come out I will let the fans know first. I think I’ll do a documentary with lots of footage and then a series about her life”.

“Supernova” release on streaming platforms

“My family own Lisa’s masters, so you don’t have to go to anyone else to ask them to put it out on streaming. We’re working on it, we’re working on a lot of other stuff, so just be patient. Timing is everything, it’s going to come out when it’s supposed to come out. Just know that your voices are being heard and we’re working on it. A lot of things are happening at the same time which is overwhelming, so we have to pace it out. But it will be out, I promise”.

First time meeting T-Boz and Chilli

That was so long ago! I don’t really remember because when TLC first came out I wasn’t aware of how big the group was, I just saw them as my sisters friends, until TLC became more established I realised how big they were. But yeah, they were like my big sisters. They will always be family”.

Left Eye Hologram

“I’m okay with it but how do you guys feel about a Left Eye hologram? I think it would be dope! I’m definitely for it.”

Keep up with the latest on Reigndrop Lopes on Instragram.

For more info on the work of Cemetery Tim follow him on Instagram.

Do you want to see a Left Eye hologram?