ASHANTI - ASHANTI HOPES TO INSPIRE WITH FILM DEBUT

R+B star ASHANTI hopes her new film COACH CARTER will inspire parents and their teenage children to improve their communication skills.

The singer plays young KYRA opposite SAMUEL L JACKSON in the basketball movie and believes the film brings up many issues the audience will be able to relate to.

Ashanti explains, "I think people need to understand that. It's life. The movie has a lot of powerful messages.

"The biggest one is that teenagers deal with the same problems that adults do. Hopefully it will inspire teens to talk to their parents and parents to talk to their teens."