Entertainment Wire Online

Time To "Shut Up" By ETWire Editor
Not many would consider the words shut up to be the bridge in bringing two people closer but “Shut Up And Listen” may make it possible. Written by author Michael Stoney and actress Tichnia Arnold, the book chronicles their research on struggling couples to seeking singles. Entertainment Wire caught up with Stoney and this is what he had to say about the project. ETWire: Who came up with the title “Shut Up & Listen” and why? Michael Stoney: We [Michael Stoney, Tichnia Arnold, Marlon Cole and Robert Crawford] collectively decided on the title understanding that one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is your undivided attention. It also was in tune with the way we gathered questions and allowed each sex to speak without interruption from the opposite sex asking the questions. ET: How long did it take to complete research for this book? MS: A little over five years. We intended it to be much less but it continued to evolve so much we couldn’t stop researching, interviewing and learning. ET: What’s the nationality/race of the subjects of this research? MS: We interviewed people from all walks of life throughout the US . The recordings that we are sharing in this book included only Black and Hispanic participants from different age and income brackets. We decided to share these particular recordings in this book, not only because of the celebrity involvement and entertaining value but because of the way the participants gelled during and after the project. ET: Did you notice any differences in responses between nationalities/races? MS: Not really. People’s “life story” impacted their opinion more than their race or nationality. ET: Were you surprised by any of the results? MS: I was surprised at how people were so eager to share their intimate challenges and engage in conversations with total strangers. I was also intrigued at how the participants grew after each session. ET: Did more women participate in the research than men? MS: No, not at all. We heard over and over that men don’t get the opportunity to discuss these important matters the way women do on talk shows, magazines, etc. They were used to the “barber shop” based conversations that fed their own egos without an opportunity for women to be a “fly on the wall” during a man’s intimate, honest, venting session. ET: What were the biggest concerns for people about their relationships? MS: For women, it was infidelity and selfishness. For men, it was living up to their mate’s unrealistic expectations and finding their “comfort” zones within the relationship (without being viewed as selfish) all while remaining “king” of his castle. ET: What was the funniest thing that happened during your research? MS: During one of the recorded sessions, I personally found the male gay participant’s view on women hilarious and interesting. Actually, we were all amazed how many people ended up on an emotional rollercoaster. ET: A recent census says 51% of women are unmarried. While conducting your research, did you see any clues as to why? MS: One was the continuous evolution of the role women play in today’s society. More women are looking to secure their finances on their own-a lot of times before considering marriage. Another is the ratio of available women to available “straight” men. Men also expressed reluctance towards marriage due to the high divorce rate, information about marriage shared by their peers, and a fear of the legal commitment. ET: What seemed to be the most common mistake women make in relationships? MS: Expectations (if I have to pick one). ET: What is a person likely to get from your book? MS: Besides being entertained by all the “drama,” I would hope they understand that everyone has a story and that it is all of our individual responsibility to do our part in contributing to a successful relationship, regardless of how we feel.

Time To "Shut Up"
By ETWire Editor

Not many would consider the words shut up to be the bridge in bringing two people closer but “Shut Up And Listen” may make it possible. Written by author Michael Stoney and actress Tichnia Arnold, the book chronicles their research on struggling couples to seeking singles. Entertainment Wire caught up with Stoney and this is what he had to say about the project.

ETWire: Who came up with the title “Shut Up & Listen” and why?
Michael Stoney: We [Michael Stoney, Tichnia Arnold, Marlon Cole and Robert Crawford] collectively decided on the title understanding that one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is your undivided attention. It also was in tune with the way we gathered questions and allowed each sex to speak without interruption from the opposite sex asking the questions.

ET: How long did it take to complete research for this book?
MS: A little over five years. We intended it to be much less but it continued to evolve so much we couldn’t stop researching, interviewing and learning.

ET: What’s the nationality/race of the subjects of this research?
MS: We interviewed people from all walks of life throughout the US . The recordings that we are sharing in this book included only Black and Hispanic participants from different age and income brackets. We decided to share these particular recordings in this book, not only because of the celebrity involvement and entertaining value but because of the way the participants gelled during and after the project.

ET: Did you notice any differences in responses between nationalities/races?
MS: Not really. People’s “life story” impacted their opinion more than their race or nationality.

ET: Were you surprised by any of the results?
MS: I was surprised at how people were so eager to share their intimate challenges and engage in conversations with total strangers. I was also intrigued at how the participants grew after each session.

ET: Did more women participate in the research than men?
MS: No, not at all. We heard over and over that men don’t get the opportunity to discuss these important matters the way women do on talk shows, magazines, etc. They were used to the “barber shop” based conversations that fed their own egos without an opportunity for women to be a “fly on the wall” during a man’s intimate, honest, venting session.

ET: What were the biggest concerns for people about their relationships?

MS: For women, it was infidelity and selfishness. For men, it was living up to their mate’s unrealistic expectations and finding their “comfort” zones within the relationship (without being viewed as selfish) all while remaining “king” of his castle.

ET: What was the funniest thing that happened during your research?
MS: During one of the recorded sessions, I personally found the male gay participant’s view on women hilarious and interesting. Actually, we were all amazed how many people ended up on an emotional rollercoaster.

ET: A recent census says 51% of women are unmarried. While conducting your research, did you see any clues as to why?
MS: One was the continuous evolution of the role women play in today’s society. More women are looking to secure their finances on their own-a lot of times before considering marriage. Another is the ratio of available women to available “straight” men. Men also expressed reluctance towards marriage due to the high divorce rate, information about marriage shared by their peers, and a fear of the legal commitment.

ET: What seemed to be the most common mistake women make in relationships?
MS: Expectations (if I have to pick one).

ET: What is a person likely to get from your book?
MS: Besides being entertained by all the “drama,” I would hope they understand that everyone has a story and that it is all of our individual responsibility to do our part in contributing to a successful relationship, regardless of how we feel.

The Matrix Saga…6 Years Later By ETWire Editor
After the 1999 groundbreaking release of The Matrix, many were shocked to learn of a copyright infringement lawsuit over the movie. They were even more shocked to learn that the accusations were coming from Sophia Stewart, a self-proclaimed “genius” and “gifted seer” who happens to be a black woman. On January 17, 2007, the woman who filed suit against Warner Brothers and the Wachowski Brothers released “The Third Eye.” The book, which started The Matrix and The Terminator controversy, can be purchased on Amazon.com and includes court documents and the FBI investigations. Among the documents is the 1981 copyrighted 6-page work that Sophia says she submitted to the brothers and Fox Studios. According to the author, the studio held on to her manuscript from 1981-1985, insisting that she get an agent before they work with her. “They were giving me the run around,” said Stewart to Entertainment Wire. During this time, The Terminator, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was filmed and became a major hit movie. Even after a long court battle that seemed destined to be dropped, the author would not accept a settlement, preferring to hold on to her copyrights and her freedom to discuss the matter. She says she preferred to get her credit, instead of allowing people to think that these major hit movies could not be written by a black woman. “It’s racist. It’s involving economics but it’s really racist,” said “The Third Eye” author. She believes this is the main reason few people could believe that she had written the stories. Currently, Sophia Stewart is planning to release the book “Soul-less” and begin a digital record label. As for the lawsuit, (surprisingly) Stewart may not be finished with that just yet. “We’re getting ready to expose the hoax,” said the author.

The Matrix Saga…6 Years Later By ETWire Editor

actor Lawrence Fisburne and Sophia Stewart

After the 1999 groundbreaking release of The Matrix, many were shocked to learn of a copyright infringement lawsuit over the movie. They were even more shocked to learn that the accusations were coming from Sophia Stewart, a self-proclaimed “genius” and “gifted seer” who happens to be a black woman. On January 17, 2007, the woman who filed suit against Warner Brothers and the Wachowski Brothers released “The Third Eye.” The book, which started The Matrix and The Terminator controversy, can be purchased on Amazon.com and includes court documents and the FBI investigations.

Among the documents is the 1981 copyrighted 6-page work that Sophia says she submitted to the brothers and Fox Studios. According to the author, the studio held on to her manuscript from 1981-1985, insisting that she get an agent before they work with her. “They were giving me the run around,” said Stewart to Entertainment Wire. During this time, The Terminator, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was filmed and became a major hit movie.

Even after a long court battle that seemed destined to be dropped, the author would not accept a settlement, preferring to hold on to her copyrights and her freedom to discuss the matter. She says she preferred to get her credit, instead of allowing people to think that these major hit movies could not be written by a black woman. “It’s racist. It’s involving economics but it’s really racist,” said “The Third Eye” author. She believes this is the main reason few people could believe that she had written the stories.

Currently, Sophia Stewart is planning to release the book “Soul-less” and begin a digital record label. As for the lawsuit, (surprisingly) Stewart may not be finished with that just yet. “We’re getting ready to expose the hoax,” said the author.