Whitney’s last movie, ‘Sparkle’, berths

Inspired by ‘The Supremes’, ‘Sparkle’ is a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, which centered on three singing teenage sisters from Harlem who form a girl group in the late 1950s. The remake takes place in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s during the Motown era. Debra Martin Chase,   producer of the film, […]

Inspired by ‘The Supremes’, ‘Sparkle’ is a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, which centered on three singing teenage sisters from Harlem who form a girl group in the late 1950s. The remake takes place in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s during the Motown era.

Debra Martin Chase,   producer of the film, said to CBS news that Houston had worked to get ‘Sparkle’ to the screen for 12 years and play an integral part of the movie. “But she’s not one of the girls. She plays an important role, she’s throughout the movie, but she’s not one of the main characters.”

The movie was seen as a comeback vehicle for the star, whose career had waned over the years due to battles with drugs and alcohol. There is no mention made of drugs in the trailer, and Chase declined to say whether it would be a focal part of the movie as it was in the original, saying she didn’t want to talk specifically about the plotlines until closer to the movie’s release date.

According to Chase, “She was healthy, happy, on time every day, hung out on set when she wasn’t working because she loved the cast. She had fun, her spirit buoyed everybody every day.”

The production focuses on musical prodigy, ‘Sparkle’ played by Jordin Sparks who struggles to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart.

Raised in an affluent Detroit area by her single mother played by Whitney Houston, she tries to balance a new romance with music manager, Stix (Derek Luke). In all this she deals with the unexpected challenges her new life will bring as she and her two sisters, Sister (Carmen Ejogo) and Dolores (Tika Sumpter) strive to become a dynamic singing group during the Motown era.

‘Sparkle’ is a debut as actress for ‘American Idol’ winner and R & B artiste, Jordin Sparks and is dedicated to Houston’s memory.

Though an official trailer has been released by Stage 6 films, the movie originally set for release on August 10, 2012 will now be released on August 17, 2012 by TriStar Pictures.

Meanwhile, the coroner’s report on Houston’s death has been released. It gives a detailed description of the Beverly Hilton hotel room where Whitney Houston died on 11 February and the findings there.

It states that there was a “spoon with a white crystal-like substance on it” in the room and a “white powdery substance”. It is reported that this substance was later tested and found to be cocaine.

Other items found by officials on the scene included a “rolled up piece of white paper” and white powder on the base of a “portable mirror”.

The autopsy report adds that, “Whitney Houston was found face down in the bath with a “bloody purge coming from her nose.” It also notes the late singer had a “perforation of posterior nasal septum.”

It notes that Whitney Houston: “possibly overdosed on a narcotic substance, prescription medications, over the counter medications and alcohol.”

The coroner’s report also states she was wearing a brown wig at the time of her death.

Two weeks ago, the LA County Coroner ruled that Whitney Houston’s death was due to accidental drowning, with the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine also listed as factors.

The coroner’s statement added that marijuana, an anti-anxiety drug, a muscle relaxant and an anti-histamine were found in her blood, but were not factors in her death.