By: Condido Verona

Established director/content producer Condido Verona, has impacted the careers of some of music and media’s biggest stars. His unique formula for storytelling and capturing the raw essence of a person, has afforded him the opportunity to work with the likes of P. Diddy, Chris Brown, Kevin Hart, Netflix and Sony Music Entertainment to name a few. Growing up in a poverty stricken community, Verona refused to let his environment determine his future. As a result he is the proud founder of Cornerstone Multimedia Group, in which he is able to change lives on his own terms everyday.

I caught up with Condido for a candid interview to discuss his journey toward success. As he openly discusses escaping poverty, finding his calling and being apart of K. Michelle’s creative process as of lately, it is easy to determine that his raw talent is undeniable.

Check it out below!

Condido Verona Interview 

RESPECT: Who is Condido Verona?

Condido: I am really a fan of art, creativity, entrepreneurship and authentic growth amongst other things. I guess as a man I am a product of those interests.

RESPECT: What sparked your interest to pursue a career in production/creative directing?

Condido: My interest in production was revealed to me over time. It kept showing up in my life in different ways and I payed attention to that. I remember being about 7 and watching a show on TV, and something in my young mind wouldn’t let me enjoy it. Something said “this is fake” these people are acting and I lost interest. When I was in high school I created PowerPoint presentations with transitions, sound and video elements to support my assignments.

The first time I did it my teacher bought it for $5 to use as an example in other classes. I just felt like writing a paper was boring. Years later I picked up a camera and started recording my friends with musical talent. That decision lead me down the rabbit whole of learning about the process of digital media. I spent hours in bookstores getting information about how it is done then I would go practice it. After much trial and error, I created a product of all of the raw moments I had captured and that was the start of me making a business of the art.

RESPECT: When did you catch your big break?

Condido: My perspective is a bit different, I see every opportunity as big. I feel success is cumulative so the “big things” are a result of consistently doing the small things well. I have had many milestone moments like.. starting a business and getting a label check in that business name and creating content for fun that ends up going viral and leading to a deal with Kevin Hart and Lionsgate. Both significant and provided more insight and access but I never hit the lottery so my wins are justified by me really putting the work in and always striving to deliver at my highest level.

RESPECT: How important is it to you to be living out your dream while owning your own business?

Condido: I grew up with little access to resources in a really depressed and impoverished place. I could not ask anyone for anything because no one had anything to spare. You know the ghetto drug abuse, mental illness, alcoholism etc. This is what I seen as a kid and I couldn’t get comfortable with that. I looked at who was doing well in my community and seen mostly drug dealers. I wasn’t comfortable with that either but I had to make money somehow.

So I sold candy and got a paper route. I saved and bought school clothes and bike. I used to go to this store that sold music and clothes it was a lot of dope shit in there and it was owned by a black man. That sparked something in me that I couldn’t shake. I had a lot of questions after that and I’ve been on a journey finding the answers. In the process I’ve become that black man business owner that didn’t compromise.

RESPECT: Who are some of the people and brands that your work has afforded you the opportunity to work with?

Condido: I have worked with Kevin Hart, Jillian Michaels, Sean Combs, Chris Brown, Timbaland, Marsha Ambrosius, Jidenna, Sony Music Entertainment, RCA Records, AmericanHeartAssociation, Epic Records, Netflix, Lionsgate Entertainment, RevoltTV, HeartBeatProductions, L.L. Bean, LaughOutLoud, AquaHydrate, Studio71, Essentia, Essence, UniversalMusicGroup, DefJam Recordings, AllDefDigital and many others.

RESPECT: How do you use your gift to overcome adversity that may occur in your life?

Condido: Well the fact that I can get paid from it helps a lot lol being broke is a huge adversity. Seriously, my biggest adversity is becoming successful without compromising authenticity or integrity. I admire the Dave Chapelle(s) and Ermias Asghedom(s) of the world. In short, I strive to only commit to projects that are right for me. You know.. working on things you believe in.. This ensures I’m able to share my authentic perspective in my work and move the needle through the influence of my clients.

RESPECT: Can you elaborate on the importance of getting credited for your work as a creative in the entertainment business?

Condido: I think it’s important to be recognized and highlighted for your creative contributions. It’s social currency and adds value to your brand in various ways. However, I’m often indifferent about it because I’m not looking for followers or anything like that. I’ve been more interested in doing my best work, the people you want to find you will in my opinion.

RESPECT: What has it been like documenting K. Michelle’s creative process as she is preparing for her fifth studio album?

Condido: As you know, K is a powerful woman with many layers. She’s pure energy and I love that. My role on the visual side is fairly simple as a result. When doing documentary style content with her I don’t capture every moment, but I allow the energy to dictate. K is very entertaining overall, often times it’s something provocative or controversial.

However, I’m not interested in that. I’m looking for the moments that clearly express truth and add value to her brand. The moments I can see her passion, intention and pain. Those are what I appreciate the most and I think she gets that I get that. The music is phenomenal, her energy is great and I’m excited to be a part of this process.

RESPECT: What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the year?

Condido: I just want to grow.

As he continues to leave his influence on the world, Condido Verona will be a name that will carry on for centuries. To learn more about his journey, creative process and who he has his lens on next, follow him on instagram @condidoverona.

The post Condido Verona: Seeing The Invisible Through An Authentic Lens appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Check out the Scott Lazer-directed clip above.

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Hosted by Joel McHale at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the 43rd Annual People’s Choice Awards turned out to be an epic night of sorts for some of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars. Ellen Degeneres made history Wednesday night when she was nominated for three awards including favorite talk-show host, favorite animated voice for Finding Dory and favorite comedic collaboration with Britney Spears for their “Mall Mischief” segment and won in all three categories. To date, Degeneres has accepted a total of 20 People Choice Awards; the most of any celebrity. She later took to twitter to tweet her gratitude of thanks.

The reason I get to do what I do is because you watch it, like it, vote for it, and retweet it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. #PCAs

— The Ellen Show (@EllenDeGeneres) January 19, 2017

Other winner of the night included: Kevin Hart for favorite comedic actor, Johnny Depp who accepted an award for favorite movie icon, Tyler Perry whom accepted an award for favorite humanitarian, in which he reminded the audience of the importance of helping others. Fifth Harmony may be one girl down but that didn’t slow the group down from putting on a show stopping performance on Wednesday night, the group performed their single “Work from Home” and also nabbed the favorite group award again for the second year in a row. You can check out their performance and your other favorite celebrities and musicians whom took home awards.

Fifth Harmony – Work from Home (Live at People's Choice Awards – 2017 PCAs) https://t.co/8cbAGUY5pi

— Fifth Harmony Now (@5HNow) January 19, 2017

Listed below are just a few of the categories and big winners of the night – You can visit the official People Choice Awards site here to see the full list:

MOVIES

FAVORITE MOVIE
Captain America: Civil War
Deadpool
Finding Dory (WINNER)
Suicide Squad
Zootopia

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTOR
Kevin Hart
Robert Downey Jr.
Ryan Reynolds (WINNER)
Tom Hanks
Will Smith

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS
Anna Kendrick
Jennifer Lawrence (WINNER)
Margot Robbie
Melissa McCarthy
Scarlett Johansson

FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Captain America: Civil War
Deadpool (WINNER)
Suicide Squad
X-Men: Apocalypse

FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE ACTOR
Chris Evans
Liam Hemsworth
Robert Downey Jr. (WINNER)
Ryan Reynolds
Will Smith

FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence
Margot Robbie (WINNER)
Scarlett Johansson
Shailene Woodley
Zoe Saldana

FAVORITE ANIMATED MOVIE VOICE
Bill Murray in The Jungle Book
Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Dory (WINNER)
Ginnifer Goodwin in Zootopia
Jason Bateman in Zootopia
Kevin Hart in The Secret Life of Pets

FAVORITE COMEDIC MOVIE
Bad Moms (WINNER)
Central Intelligence
Ghostbusters
How to Be Single
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

FAVORITE COMEDIC MOVIE ACTOR
Chris Hemsworth
Dwayne Johnson
Kevin Hart (WINNER)
Ryan Gosling
Zac Efron

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The post ICYMI: Here’s the 2017 People’s Choice Award Winners appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Kevin Hart has been named the “Hardest Working Man” in Hollywood. From sold out comedy tours to movies to guest hosting on daytime television, to commercials and to producing his own show The Real Husbands of Hollywood, Hart has really taken it to the next level. You have to ask yourself, “Is there anything Kevin Hart can’t do?” And with all of his success, will he ever take break? And my answer to you would be “No time soon.”

From a recent interview with Variety, Hart has confirmed his intentions to keep going higher:

“The sky’s the limit for me,” he states earnestly. “I really believe that, and at this point I feel I’m basically competing with myself. By that, I mean that no one can push me harder than I push myself. I set my own bar and I constantly raise that bar to be higher and higher.”

And indeed, that bar is being pushed to the limit as Hart discovers more and more ways to not only brand himself but help other “less known acts” along the way to his continued success. Kevin has his appointment book filled with new ventures that lead all the way up to 2017. Listed below are a couple of things the comedian has coming our way in the weeks and months to come:

1. While continuing to run his production company, Hartbeat with longtime manager David Becky, the duo will produce a comedy series called Hart of the City which will air on Comedy Central in October. The series will showcase young comedians that haven’t had any national exposure, who are out there working the clubs.. Kevin will be giving them an opportunity to “shine” during the series of this show.
2. Hart also has Hartbeat Digital which is a subscription based digital network that will have Laugh Out Loud (LOL). This will be a joint venture with Lionsgate in which will have Hart’s content produced on his own network. With this network, Hart stated that he will now be in the drivers seat to bring material to others and help new and upcoming comedians.

“I’m trying to become a mogul — a comedy mogul, and the best way to do that is to do things that are comedy-based and where you can help those around you.”

Hart has a group of comedians called the “Plastic Cup Boyz” who have been touring and opening up for him since day one. Since touring with Hart they have gone on to open up comedy shows all over the world on their own; even when Hart is not touring.

The Plastic Cup Boyz & Kevin Hart

“I think when you look at a man and that man’s team, it’s a great way to judge that man’s success. Your team is a representation of you and where you are. So I love the fact that my guys are shining.”

According to Variety, Hart states that the Laugh Out Loud is set to be released late February or March 2017. Things weren’t always looking up for Hart as he’s had his fair share of disappointments but according to his longtime friend and manager, David Becky, Hart never allowed a disappointment to get him down; he stated that the comedian always kept going. Hart on the other hand never thought of the experiences he encountered to be bad ones, as he states they were “Educational moments; not failures.”

“Nothing happens overnight, and if a road has no bumps and rocks, you don’t get a story. So those times when I didn’t get jobs that I felt I should have got, when stuff got canceled and my acting career that I thought was going to blossom and be amazing just didn’t move at all —  it all helped build character, and built stuff for me to talk about as a comedian. You need experiences, good and bad.”

Hart will be starring in the movie/stand-up comedy show What Now which will be in a theater near you on October 14th. He will also be in the remake of Intouchables with Bryan Cranston and another Disney movie entitled Captain Underpants both of which will be coming soon. He is also currently working in Honolulu on a remake of the hit 90’s movie Jumanji in which starred the late Robin Williams.

Hart also received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week, you can see that video above.

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The post Kevin Hart Earned His Star of Fame & Continues to Do BIG Things appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Chris Rock made a joke this past February at the Oscars when he said: “And the last thing I need is to to lose another job to Kevin Hart, okay?” Rock was making a reference to how Kevin Hart was taking all the jobs in Hollywood; he joked that every movie has Kevin Hart in it. “If you look closely he might be the bush in one of them,” he joked. Rock may have been on to something, however, because Hart has definitely not slowed down since his debut of “Laugh At My Pain.”

If you didn’t just see him in the movie Central Intelligence alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, now you’ll get another opportunity to see him doing “stand-up comedy” in his new movie entitled What Now?

Per media site Entertainment Weekly, Hart’s new movie is billed as a stand-up comedy special, in which the comedian will play as a super-spy. You can’t be a good spy without a good partner beside you to help you fight crime, and that’s where Halle Berry comes in- well sort of. She may be his Bond Girl, but she’s not necessarily down for the dirty work. She states: “Kevin, I’m Halle Berry. I don’t get messed up.” Seems like the comedian will be fighting the dirty crime alone. Don Cheadle also makes an appearance in the film as well, making this movie even the more epic to watch.

Per Vibe, fans will follow the superstar as he comes back to Philly to rock his biggest show to date at a sold-out Lincoln Financial Field. This movie will act as the follow-up to his previous 2013 blockbuster film, Let Me Explain. Kevin will also be making history with this film, as it was the first time a comedian has performed at a sold-out football stadium. This one in particular held 50,000 people. Hart’s Let Me Explain grossed 32 million dollars at the box office. Kevin is sure to get that, plus some more, with this new movie/stand-up comedy special.

Seems like everything Kevin Hart touches turns to gold, and something tells me we’re going to be seeing gold for quite some time.

What Now? will be in theaters October 14th. While you’re checking out the trailer above; you can make a rush to the head of the line by getting your tickets now on Fandango.

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Image via Instagram

Dwayne Johnson has confirmed rumors that Jumanji will be a sequel; NOT a remake. For those who don’t know, Jumanji  is an illustrated children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburg (The Polar Express) and published in 1981. It later became adapted to the popular family-friendly film starring the late Robin Williams in 1995. Months ago, it was rumored that the new Jumanji film was to be a reboot.The Rock took to Instagram to announce that the new Jumanji will be a continuation (photo below).

In two weeks, Johnson will team up with Central Intelligence co-star/friend Kevin Hart and Jack Black to introduce the new Jumanji.  Johnson makes sure to state in his IG post that the film will be a sequel and not a reboot. It will be “a continuation of the awesome JUMANJI story.” The key word in that sentence is “continuation,” which  most likely means it won’t be an exact sequel. Fans can guess it’s going to acknowledge the events of the past while also being its own original story. His hashtags on IG prove that with these three stars we can expect some good laughter, a new family, and a new story-line honoring the first film. The film is set to come out sometime next year.

Yo.. Lots of positive ?? chatter now on something I should’ve clarified months ago when we announced we were making JUMANJI. This new movie will NOT be a remake or reboot of the original. It will be a CONTINUATION of the awesome JUMANJI adventure 20 years later. As a producer on this movie and someone who loves the original, you have my word we’ll honor the legend of “Alan Parrish” and properly introduce a whole new generation to the fun and crazy JUMANJI universe that so many of us loved and grew up on. Our director Jake Kasdan and lead producer Matt Tohlmach are focused and ready go. They also have no f*cking idea what they’ve gotten themselves into by hiring Me, Kevin Hart and Jack Black aka “The Cray Cray Triplets” as the stars of this movie.?? Shooting begins in 4 weeks. And on a personal note, it’s such a cool thing for me to bring the production of this movie to Hawaii. The positive ripple effect it has on local businesses and families in terms of creating jobs and additional income makes me very happy. I grew up on the island thru hard times and good times, so it means a lot to this local boy. Hell, I used to steal a Snickers candy bar every day from 7-11 when I walked to the gym as my pre workout meal when I was 14yrs cause I was too broke to buy one. When I return to Hawaii, I will go back to that 7-11 (on Kapiolani Blvd) and finally buy that Snickers bar after all these years. Then I’ll proceed to my psychiatric therapy session cause clearly I’m still messed up over that broke time in my life. #JUMANJI #HAWAII #SonyPictures #SnickersForTheWholeCrew

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Aug 22, 2016 at 9:50am PDT

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Well ladies, there’s a candy shaped Hart that you won’t be able to get anymore. Kevin Hart is officially off the market! The comedian officially tied the knot with long-time girlfriend, Eniko Parrish over the weekend. While his Hart is off the shelves, we still have the comfort of his jokes to ease us through our pain.

According to ET online, the ‘Secret Life of Pets’ star and long time love Eniko, said their “I DO’s” and are now husband and wife. The happy couple tied the knot on Saturday in front of family and close friends in Santa Barbara, CA. Hart was walked down the aisle by his two children: Heaven, 11 and Hendrix, 8– Hendrix also stood in as the 37-year-old’s best man (How sweet is that!).

Following the ceremony, Hart posted pictures such as the one above to his Instagram page for fans to share in on his happy day with the caption:

#Harts what’s understood doesn’t need to be said!!!!”

And by the looks of the pictures, Kevin couldn’t be more correct as they are utterly stunning, beautiful and will leave you speechless; especially Eniko’s gown!

If you think the wedding seemed a bit pricey for your taste, your guess of course would be right. It was a hefty price tag but came at no expense to Hart as he did it all “In the name of Love” for his gorgeous bride:

“I’m looking at numbers — everything she says to me, I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s great. It’s gonna be nice. How much?'” he joked. “We’re in some crazy places right now, but it’s all worth it. You know why? Because this is the woman that I love. And I want my woman to have a perfect day. That’s what any man should want.”

This makes the second marriage for Hart, who was married to ‘Atlanta Exes’ star, Torrei Hart. The couple divorced in 2010. Hart’s first marriage has been talked about in his early comedian years and was re-enacted on his sitcom ‘The Real Husbands of Hollywood.’ Hart stated that he married young and didn’t necessarily understand the concept of marriage at the time:

“When people get married young, you don’t really understand the true definition of marriage,”You have to learn to be partners for real, and in my first relationship, I didn’t understand that definition because I was young, so you do things that you shouldn’t do.

There’s a saying that says “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” And judging by that concept, it looks as if Hart definitely has tried again and succeeded. We see a bright future for Hart and Parrish and wish them the absolute best in their marriage.

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The post Kevin Hart & Eniko Parrish are Officially “ONE” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.