The Secret Life of Bees

FemaleFirst has interviewed 'The Secret Life of Bees' screenplay writer Gina Price Bythewood. Bythewood talks a little bit about her new movie, and what exactly it was about Sue Monk Kidd's 2002 novel that made her think it would be a good feature film. She also talks about how difficult it was to adapt the novel and immersing herself in the character's period in 1964. 'The Secret Life of Bee's' is out in theaters now.

"...it is so incredibly rare to have a film populated by so many female characters, usually we are the girlfriends of the sidekick and then all of a sudden there’s four or five really strong parts, which his one of the main reasons that I wanted to do it. Then to be on set and have these women look to me to guide them it really was a gift everyday..."

Read the full interview here.

Cinema Blend has caught up with 'Secret Life of Bees' actress Sophie Okonedo. Okonedo shares her first time meeting Aliciah Keys and Queen Latifah, establishing a relationship with the cast and what drew her to the character of May. Okonedo also talks about her interest in the civil rights movement, something she has been aware of since a very young age. 'Secret Life of Bees' is out in theaters.

"...Queen is so warm, so vivacious, and instantly you want to be her friend when you meet her. She has that kind of warmth. I always kind of want to be where Queen is, because I know I can have a bit of fun. So it was easy, you know, to have that dynamic between us..."

Read the full interview here.

Premiere.com has posted an interview with 'Secret Life of Bees' star Queen Latifah. Latifah takes some time out to talk about her role in the new movie, as well as the racial aspects and historical references of the film. Latifah also tells premiere.com about 'bee school', being a role model and what's next for the actress. 'Secret Life of Bees' is out in theaters.

"...We sort of went to bee school. It was really about getting comfortable with having bees in your face and landing right in front of your eyes and getting rid of that inclination to swat at tem or flick 'em off — and if you did, there was a certain way to do it — and understanding what bees are about. They've very protective; it's all about the queen and the babies..."

Read the full interview here.

The Chicago Sun has posted an interview with 'Secret Life of Bees' star Alicia Keys. Co-starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, and Jennifer Hudson, Keys takes on the role as June Boatwright- one of the three sisters who take in a homeless child in the 60's. Keys talks about the strength and values her character in 'Secret Life of Bees' brings and why she can relate to it.

"...think my mother is a big part of it. I was raised by her, so I lived a certain life and can understand a certain message. That message is you can't take one day of your life for granted. And you have to work really hard for anything..."

Read the full interview here.

The Scotland on Sunday has posted an interview 'Secret Life of Bees' star Queen Latifah. Latifah talks about how her mother inspired her acting career and how similar she is to her new role in 'Secret Life of Bees'. Queen Latifah plays August Boatwright, a beekeeper and the eldest of three sisters who run a honey business in South Carolina in the early 1960s. 'Secret Life of Bees' is out in theaters October 17th.

"...The way August deals with situations, it's from a confident place...she's educated, she's a property owner and a business owner and practically a mother to her sisters. So much of her reminded me of my mother because she was a teacher and also a private person. Our home was always a safe haven for my mom..."

Read the full interview here.

The Telegraph Journal reports the cast of 'The Secret Life of Bees' couldn't help but be inspired by U.S. democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. The film shines light on the hard-fought determination it took to champion equality in the '60s which largely relates to the latest U.S. presidential run, where for the first time in history, a black man is in the running to become president.

Queen Latifah, who portrays a caring beekeeper that takes a neglected white child (Dakota Fanning) under her wing, noted that Obama was campaigning in North Carolina while they were shooting the movie.

"...I don't know if I thought, 'Hey, we're going to change the world while we're doing this movie,' but the world was changing while we were doing this movie...

Read the full interview here. 

Variety has posted a review of 'The Secret Life of Bees.' Gina Prince-Bythewood directs the feature film adaptation of the novel by Sue Monk Kidd. Dakota Fanning stars alongside Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys as a young girl who escapes her troubled relationship with her father.

"...Pop star Keyes is a revelation in her third bigscreen role (after "Smokin' Aces" and "The Nanny Diaries"), and Okonedo, always first-rate, shows enormous sensitivity playing the simple-minded May..."

Read the full review here.

The Associated Press has posted an article on 'The Secret Life of Bees'. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Queen Latifah was there to promote the film, and singer Alicia Keys spoke about her experience working on the film.

"...It was different. Certain things and certain songs are surrounded by magic, and this is one of those things. I felt it. There's a certain chill about it, and so I just felt really good about being part of something where you could feel the magic..."

Read the full article here.