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Category Archives: The Arts

Exclusive Interview with Filmmaker Edwin Walker aka E. Micheaux

19 August 201520 August 2015
Edwin Walker/E.Micheaux
Edwin Walker/E.Micheaux

One of my favorite songs is “Use Me” by Bill Withers.  The lyrics say, “You just keep on using me until you use me up, Until you use me up.”  I want to do as much work on this planet until I can not be used any longer.  So I say, ‘use me,’ to me, ‘to use me up earth!’  I use that as my mantra everyday while putting my best foot forward.

When you go on adventures in life, you never know who you will meet or the people that the universe will place in your path.  I met Edwin Walker (aka E. Micheaux) during the NYC Premiere of the movie “Dope” during the American Black Film Festival.  We ended up sitting next to each other during the film, chatting for some time before the movie started.

I told Edwin a little about myself and he told me his story.  His story is one that is worth sharing with the world because it is a remarkable story of how this young man (he’s only 26 years old) went out and pursued his dream to be a filmmaker at a very young age.  He has done more things and has experienced a lifetime worth of stories in his short life than most people do by the time they are 26 years old.

Edwin continued telling me his story the day after the movie when we caught up with each other again at a special ABFF dinner.  His story was so remarkable that an old gospel/jazz singer I met at the dinner was so amazed by the story, she pulled him over to remark on how inspiring he was to her!  A 65-year-old woman saying a 26-year-old was inspiring her!

Edwin and I carried our conversation on over to the HBO “Ballers” party after the dinner and talked well into the late night hours about life, business, and social media.  One thing I know for sure is that meeting Edwin was like meeting a new friend I know I will have for the rest of my life.

Edwin is a remarkable and amazing person that is very passionate about life and film.  He’s sharing his story today in order to help inspire others to live their dreams.

1. Please tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

I am Edwin Walker and I am a Creative Activist of Art & Storytelling.  I am from Chicago, IL.  I’m 26 years old, yet on some days I feel like I’m 66.  I’m such an old soul.  I am working day in and day out to bring fresh and authentic stories to audiences.  My ultimate goal is to have my own distribution company, a digital media network and entity.  With that, I want to target Generation X and Millennials audiences, giving them content that they want.  Innovative, yet fun and refreshing.  In today’s media, many companies are owned by conglomerates that are feeding audiences the same content.  I want to be at the forefront of giving audiences the content and projects that they want through a Direct to Fan strategy, cutting the middle man out, and letting the content curators and audiences do all the decision making.  So that is my quest, it’s a big part of who I am at this point in my life and career.

2. How did you end up in LA?

How did I end up in Los Angeles aka LaLa Land?  Well…the ambition and passion that I had for the Arts & Entertainment, I knew that it would take me to LA or NYC, and this was at a young age.  My Grandmother always tells me, when I was five I would call NBC and ABC in my hometown and want to speak to the person who could get me on TV, on shows like The Cosby Show and Family Matters.  This was at five.  So I knew this would be something that I loved, and I felt the passion growing quickly, watching TV shows and movies wanting to be in their world.   So when I was 12, I moved to Pasadena, CA, a city outside of Los Angeles to live with my Grandfather, and I began acting.  I started doing commercials and got the opportunity to be on the Disney Channel Show, “The Famous Jett Jackson.”  Other opportunities were starting to build when I got homesick.

I was miles away from all of my family in Chicago.  Living with just my grandfather and no other family was tough.  I was away from my Mother and Grandmother, living with this man who was strict and everything was so different from the life I knew in Chicago.  So I moved back to Chicago after only a year and a half.  I felt like I was failure at 13, like I started something that I couldn’t finish.  So that caused me to give up on my visions and myself.

For about 3 years, I wanted to do nothing associated with entertainment.  I tried Football, Science club, the debate team…anything to try to ignore my true passions.  I just couldn’t escape it.  I then started writing more at 16.  I wrote songs, which led to me joining a singing group.  That didn’t last for long.  That soon turned into me writing scripts and short stories.  My passion was reborn.

I got an agent in Chicago and started back acting.  I took media classes and fell in love with directing and the camera.  Soon after that I got a role in the movie “The Promotion,” starring John C. Reilly and Sean William Scott, written and directed by Steven Conrad (this is the man who wrote the script for the amazing film “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith).

This experience was the game changer for me.  At 17, I was working with A-list actors and top producers and directors.  The week that I worked with everyone on set, I was a sponge soaking up as much information as I possibly could. They all gave me such great advice on what I should do in my career.  John gave me a list of agents, Sean gave me a list of managers in LA, and Steven took all my scripts I had written and read them and told me about screenwriting programs in LA.

So I prayed hard about whether I should forego college and leave for LA.  All signs pointed to this move.  So at 18, with $1,700 to my name and knowing a handful of people in LA, four suitcases in hand, I did my homework.  I found a few studio apartments to check out to move into.  I packed up and moved there.  I didn’t even finish High School.  I enrolled in a program where I would get my last credits through mail.  The program was called “American School.”  It was like a home school program.

I can still remember getting on the plane at 18, literally a few months as an adult.  I just turned 18 in November and I was sitting on this plane to LA on January 26th, 2007.  Fear did not come over me at all.  I was rather anxious and excited for the unknown.  Once I got off that plane and returned back to LA, I was ready for the struggle, disappointment, “No’s,” doubt.  Everything that could possibly happen to me in my 8 years living in LA has happened to me.  From evictions, car repossessions, car accidents, bad managers stealing your money, being robbed, having to pawn camera equipment to pay rent, losing friends, losing money and losing things in fires.

Everything has happened to me, and I have had my days where I want to quit.  I can’t lie, but I revert back to that 18 year old that was on that plane who had no fear.  I could of turned around then, but I knew I was ready for the challenge ahead.  That has kept me going thus far…along with a lot of prayer and trust in God.

3. Why did you choose being a filmmaker as a career?  Were there certain influences that made you realize this is who you are?

I don’t think I chose being a filmmaker, it chose me.  I’m an only child, and I always had to entertain myself.  I was also a latch key kid.  My Mother worked two jobs at one point in time.  I’m a child of a single parent, so I would escape into different worlds.  Creating scenarios of what my life could be, or how other lives were, how would it be if something was this way, or imagining life in space or life in the ocean.  Creating stories and using my imagination was always thrilling to me.

I always got into trouble in school, because I felt like the teachers wouldn’t let me use my imagination and create more.  I felt stifled.  Once I started acting and studying my craft, I saw how much of a responsibility it is as an actor to make people believe you are another person rather than yourself.

Through studying filmmaking, I realized that the responsibility is now greater than the actor, because as a filmmaker you have to create a world and living things that people have to interpret.  Growing up – I truly believe was my film school.  I didn’t go to NYU or USC’s prestigious film programs.  I went to 7 different schools in my life from Kindergarten till 11th Grade.  In my entire life, I have lived in five different states.  I’ve had all of these experiences with different people in my life that made me view people and places from a broader scope.  Those experiences made me want to tell real slice of life stories, and start writing those stories. Filmmaking honestly chose me.

I think other filmmakers would agree that it’s bigger than passion when you have to spend a large amount of your time in your day giving brain power to stories that are sticking with you.  You have to make that come alive through words and fonts that could take months, through scripts– sometimes even years.  Then you have to find the money and the team to bring the vision to life and that could take years.  Being a filmmaker is an emotional, yet invigorating, journey.  You have to really be in it, knowing that it’s your calling.  It called me and kept calling me and I couldn’t get away from being a filmmaker.  It chose me.

4. What projects is your company Edclusive Entertainment creating now?  

I have to keep myself productive, so in between gearing up for my feature film directorial debut, I have created mini pieces that are under 5 mins that are conversation pieces.  My first one up is Lyfe + Def: A Reckless Love Story.  It’s the tale of two young lost hearts.  I’m really excited about this project because we live in a society that so many young people want to be loved, but they don’t know how to love.  This project will explore that in a unique way.

The project that I will make my feature film directorial debut on is “Hometown Hero.”  We are in the early stages of development.  This story is one that I have to tell.  It’s …

The gripping story of the demise of a young promising professional football player’s struggles with mental illness resulting from untreated trauma.  Mental Illness advocacy is something that I am involved with by getting more narratives out there about cases in order to create awareness.

5. Can you talk a little about the social impact of the films you are creating?

The social impact that I intend to create is awareness and displaying slice of life stories that audiences don’t normally get to see.  I want to do it from a new approach that the audience can understand and relate to.  We are accustomed to seeing movies that are violent, but we don’t see many films that explore what makes a person violent.  Through creating those images, I hope to create conversations that will translate into change, or new ideals of how we view one another, our communities, industries and the world we live in.

6. What is your favorite film and why?  Were there any films that influenced you to become a filmmaker?

My favorite film is tough to say because I have so many, but if I could choose two that equally influenced me to be a filmmaker, I would have to say “Bicycle Thieves” directed by Vittorio De Sica (an amazing Italian film), and “The Defiant Ones” directed by Stanley Krammer.  Both of these films show humanity among men and their quest for a better life.  They are both authentic and intriguing.  After seeing these two films, it made me make the conscious decision to be a filmmaker that makes films that tells stories with social issues from real people in real life that leaves a residue with audiences.

I want to tell stories about people who are real and have purpose in what they are seeking or know that they have.  In those two films, not only are the characters memorable, but they are people who we all know, no matter if you’re black,white, green or blue.  They are depictions of what we face in the world we live in.  I could watch those two films everyday.

Once a week for 6 months, I actually did before.  It was reassurance that I’m doing the right thing with the films I intend to make.

7. What’s upcoming for you and Edclusive Entertainment?

lyfe and defI mentioned a little bit above, Lyfe +Def: A Reckless Love Story, the short mini piece [Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram].

I have a short film that we produced titled “Perfect Love” directed by Simon Slavoj, which we associate produced.  It’s the story of a woman seeking an answer that she’s not ready to really know.

I am also in production of directing and producing a documentary titled, “A Refugee’s Heart” where we follow the journey of a 47-year-old Cuban woman retracing her journey to Cuba for the first time since she left the country at the age of two.  She returns back to Cuba to help other young women who are in need.

The-Psychiatrist-Poster-ds-692x1024I am also producing “The Psychiatrist” directed by Bahiyjaui Allen.  It’s a suspense thriller short about a twisted relationship between a patient and their psychiatrist.

We’re still developing and raising capital for the “Hometown Hero” movie.  It moves slow on some days and fast on others, but meetings and interests are happening.

Extra:  Why E. Micheaux?  What is that name from?

When I direct, I use the moniker E. Micheaux.  It’s homage to Oscar Micheaux who was the first black man to produce, write, direct and distribute his films and books in the 1920’s.  I stand on his shoulders, and he is one of my greatest inspirations.

 

You can find Edwin and his company Edclusive Entertainment at the following places:

Instagram
Twitter
Google+

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Everyone Has Their Own U2 Story

5 August 20156 August 2015
(c) 2015 Michelle Kenneth.
(c) 2015 Michelle Kenneth.

Everyone has their own U2 story…that story when they first fell in love with the music.

For me, it was just one of those bucket list moments.  I was living in Washington, DC, trying to find some direction in my 20-something life.  Fresh out of college.  Maybe I was working in politics or law during that time.  I can’t remember.  U2 came to town and I said to myself, “I have to see this band at least once in my lifetime.”

I wasn’t a huge die hard fan. I knew a few of their songs.  I mean…who doesn’t?  I still remember “Where the Streets Have No Name” being among the first music videos I had ever seen on MTV during those days when I would sneak out and go over to my neighbor’s house to watch the forbidden MTV with my friend.

20150731_010932When I went to see them play at MCI Center in DC, I had no idea what U2 would do to me that night.  I went in expecting nothing, and U2 changed my entire existence.

It was like they were making love to their music.  I could feel each note in every single cell of my body.  The energy of each note vibrated within my very being.  I became intoxicated with the rhythm and flow of the music.  It was like I was riding the waves that they bring.  [“Even Better Than The Real Thing” reference.]  They literally blew my mind.

I walked away from that concert a changed person.  It began a new adventure into discovering who I was.

From wanting to change the world, working with non-profit groups, to learning more about the issues around the world, I began to see who I was in the grander scheme of the universe.  The music opened my mind to who I am and who I could be.

I was sitting in traffic on the way to work one day and “Stuck in a Moment (You Can’t Get Out of)” came on the radio.  Bono was singing, “You’ve got to get yourself together, you got stuck in a moment and you can’t get out of it.”  I listened to that over and over again and then said, “NO.  I’m not stuck.  Not anymore.”  And that’s when I decided to leave DC and pursue a different path in life.

20150731_005336I was young, not dumb
Just wishing to be blinded by you
Brand new
We were pilgrims on our way

“The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)”

 

Behind the Lens

In due time, I would end up in New York City.  I never understood why I ended up here, all I knew was that this is where my path led.  It was while I was here that I discovered who I am and the person I will become.  I’m a writer first and foremost.  When I first started out writing for Orato.com back in 2007, they asked that I start submitting my own photos with my work.

20150730_232042My editor pushed me in that direction, because she was also a photographer herself.  That push ended up opening me up to understanding how I see the world.  Photography is one of the best ways for me to visually see how I am improving spiritually in life.  It’s not the quality of the camera that determines if the picture is a better picture.  It’s the person behind the camera.

I read this story the other day:

A photographer went to a socialite party in New York.  As he entered the front door, the host said ‘I love your pictures – they’re wonderful; you must have a fantastic camera.’  He said nothing until dinner was finished, then: ‘That was a wonderful dinner; you must have a terrific stove.’ – Sam Haskins

In other words, it’s the person using the device that creates wonder, not the device itself.

20150730_235451A friend once told me that I have the ability to capture the beauty in the moment.  It’s how I look at the world.  I look for the beauty in the moment.  It’s in that moment that helps me to remember and connect to the things I’ve forgotten and will forget.  To capture the beauty of that moment, I have a visual aid as I take the steps to remembering what happened in that exact moment.

I mention the importance of remembering things forgotten because after the last tumor, I lost a lot of my memories.  I spent the next year trying to piece things back together again.  I created a 4’x4′ collage of photos of the places I had been from all over the world.  It was a collection of beautiful moments.

Each day, I would stand in front of that collage and focus on one photo trying to remember where I was, who was there with me, what I ate while I was there, the smells, and how I felt.  Who was I in that moment?  A simple photo is a beautiful memory to me and a key piece in remembering who I was.  It became a training tool to help me focus.  It was like playing a game of Memory, but matching the photo to the actual life event that had become lost in the river of forgetting.

Bono made a comment during the show about ‘photographs.’  He said we were missing the moment.  We were missing the concert because we were glued to our devices.  I beg to differ, Bono.  The person behind the lens of my camera is documenting a moment that is going to be relived again and again and again.  More importantly, any person who knows me can tell you, what you see in the final product is not just the subject. You’re seeing how I see you.  I’m able to pull out the beauty of that moment so that I can share it with the world.  Some people will see it, others won’t.

20150731_010156I can find a simple moment that may mean nothing at the moment to anyone and create a moment that means everything to everyone who sees the photo.  It creates a symbolic gesture that will take your breath away every single time you see it.  Yet, in that actual moment, it means nothing to the person being photographed.

The joy isn’t just in the music and seeing U2 on stage.  For me, the joy is being able to finally photograph them and share just what I see.  While some of these photos look distorted due to the lighting, etc., that’s not what I see.  I see the energy.  I see the soul.  I see the life force.  I see the beauty in the art.  It’s how I see them.

The Music

20150730_233111U2 was formed the year I was born.  It’s a bit synchronistic how their music would follow me throughout my journey in life.  Joshua Tree.  Achtung Baby.  Rattle and Hum.  Zooropa.  All That You Can’t Leave Behind.  How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.  Invisible.  Big Girls Are the Best.  What’s Going On?

There was even a time a musician was trying to get me to forgive him and come back to him.  When he saw me walk into the club one night, he stopped right in the middle of a song he was playing, pointed to me and said, “This one is for you,” and started strumming out the chords to the song.  He knew how much I loved U2.  When I realized what he was doing, I walked right out of the club.  I wouldn’t let him bastardize U2 or equate some memory of him to a U2 song.

I won’t let anyone I have come across in this lifetime connect themselves to a U2 song.  To me, “One” is not about two lovers fighting.  To me, “One” is about my relationship with God when I’m mad at him for breaking my heart.  Some rockstar wants to make it about us?  No.  I can’t ever let him do that, because then I’d never listen to the song again.

To me, “One” is God asking me: “Is it getting better?  Or do you feel the same?  Will it make it easier on you now?  You got someone to blame.”  When I was really mad, that song would come on and it would make me really reflect deep within my soul about the relationship I have with God, the father.  I would probably not have forgiven God for breaking me if it weren’t for that song.

20150731_004603Since that concert in DC, U2’s music has become my spiritual soundtrack in life.  It’s not always just the lyrics to the songs.  A lot of times it’s just the music.  Desire is one of my favorite songs.  I have no idea what it’s about.  It’s one of the first (and only) songs I learned to play on the guitar.  Who knew that what The Edge makes sound so complicated is actually just a few chords mixed in with his genius?!  That’s what I call art.  Or how about Larry Mullen, Jr. on the drums in “Sunday Bloody Sunday?”  Or Adam Clayton on the bass in “Bullet the Blue Sky?”

If there was any song that explained my entire spiritual existence, it is “Running to Stand Still.”  What the song is really about is not what it means to me.  The song is my spiritual journey in life.  “She said, I’ve gotta do something about where we’re going…”  “I see seven towers, but I only see one way out.”  “You got to cry without weeping, Talk without speaking, Scream without raising your voice,” “She’s running to stand still.”

20150730_235405This song probably has some of the most powerful words in it.  To the band, it’s a song about a heroin-addict couple in Dublin.  To me, it represents the internal spiritual journey filled with conflicts and choices that come along when deciding what to do.  The feeling that you’re running through life only to be able to stand still…that’s the power in words.  It explains who I am.

Words mean something different to everyone when they relate to what is being said.  What one person says can mean something powerful in different ways to those who hear it.  The author of the words may mean one thing, but how the audience relates to the words is something incredible in and of itself.  They are the words that provide spiritual growth in a multitude of ways.  That is how God speaks.  He says a million things all at once.  Our simple minds can’t register it all in one swoop, but the masses together can understand every single word, because we each understand the message in our own way.

U2 is the soundtrack of my life.  When I’m writing spiritually and want to get to the core of how I feel and the message I’m trying to relate, only U2 plays in my ears.  They provide the music to every soulful piece I write.  Their music has been so much a part of my journey in life.

20150730_235834When I was in Fes, Morocco, my guide asked me if I knew who U2 was.  I laughed and said, “Of course.  They’re my favorite band.”  He then told me that they spent a lot of time here working on their music.  Who knew that the days that followed, I would end up connecting to Morocco in Mysterious Ways.  It’s a very spiritual place, and a country I hold very dear to my heart.

As I started writing about my journey after the riad doors closed and I was locked in at sunset, I turned on my computer, put my earphones on and listened to U2 as I went through my photos and wrote about my journey through this desert land that made me feel God everywhere.  He was in the broken smiles of the nomads, the sands that blew in the wind, and the mountains that called out my name.  God was everywhere.  I could feel him everywhere.  That is why Morocco is so important to me.  It changed my soul.  It is one of the most magical places on the planet.

20150730_232007If there’s any album I’m closest to, it’s “Achtung Baby.”  The song “Mysterious Ways” makes my soul dance.  “Love is Blindness” is the song that explains the love of my life.  The dark, eerie emotion you truly feel when you are still in love with someone who is six feet under and your heart refuses to move on.  Some say the song is about committing the violent act of suicide.  The love of my life put a bullet in his heart.  Loving him has been like my “Love is drowning in a deep well.”  Part of me knows that is how he felt as well.

This album defined those teenage years of my life.

Seeing U2 in concert in 2015 comes at the right moment.  Post-op, I have felt lost and empty.  Who I was prior to that surgery has been gone for some time now.  Trying to figure out who I am after the surgery…that is the journey I am on.  Just who is that person looking back at me in the mirror?  What is she supposed to do with the rest of her life?

Every dream I had before the surgery died that day.  I don’t dream anymore about being anyone or having a certain life.  The things I wanted more than anything, I look at with disgust now.  The question these last two years have been, “Just who are you now?”

20150731_005318That’s where filling that empty cup comes in.  Seeing U2 in concert is like refilling that cup that had long gone dry.  They’re not reminding me of who I was.  They’re reminding me of who I am and who I can be.  I am not my past.  I am only my present.  Who I choose to be in this moment is a writer and a photographer sharing a part of my life with you and what U2 means to me.

Using Fame to Better Humanity

One of the greatest lessons I ever learned from watching Bono was how he was using his fame to better humanity.  Using his work as a model, when I’ve interviewed hockey players over these last seven years, I am always curious to hear what they are doing to give back to the world.  How are they using their fame to better humanity?

20150731_012929
Bruce Springsteen joined U2 on stage during Show #8 of the NYC run at Madison Square Garden. July 31, 2015.

The people I am most disappointed with are the ones who embraced their fame and fortune and gave back so little.  A visit to the hospital or showing up at a kid’s hockey practice is such a huge thing for them.  But they could do so much more.

Then you look at Bono.  This guy worked towards getting AIDS patients the drugs they needed to help them.  He’s working on getting water into homes so kids don’t risk their lives walking miles away to get clean water to bring home.  Those kids risk being killed, kidnapped or raped just to get clean drinking water.  While those of us complain about getting no 4G on their phone, there are people that don’t even have running water in their homes.  When we don’t finish our meals and just throw it out, I’m always reminded of how there are people that would kill to have the scraps from our tables.  There are kids out there that go through the dump just to find rotten food to eat.

20150730_232346There is so much we take for granted.  We don’t know how lucky we are.  That luck all depends upon where we were born on this planet.

If anything, the work Bono does is meant to not only educate the masses, but it is also designed to help inspire each and every single one of us to our own greatness.

When God gives you fame, you have a choice.  Use it for good or use it for evil.  Those who use it for good aim to change and inspire humanity to help them evolve into their own greatness.  Those who use it for evil use it for their own selfish needs and concerns and give little or nothing back.

When I changed this site around, I wanted to focus on the needs of the many.  What could I create that could help benefit humanity?  That’s when I came up with the angle that I would share the stories of people out there who are living their dreams in order to inspire others to live their own dreams.

20150730_233952Choosing that path has led to some very incredible things and incredible moments.  I’ve met people along the way who are not only just like me, but we are also inspiring each other to our own greatness.  There are people I’ve met over these past few months who not only inspire me to work harder and to be wiser with the words I choose, but I am also inspiring them to do the same in their own field.  Those are the people you keep close.  Those are the people you support.  They are part of your journey just as much as you are a part of their journey.

You don’t have to be a mega-rockstar to change the world.  You can change the world by starting in your own world wherever you live.  You can inspire others to their own greatness.  I can tell you right now, there is no better gift you can give to someone than to help them on their journey in life.  I’ve never met U2, but they have helped me in this lifetime in ways I can’t even explain or thank them enough for.  They set the example of what it means to inspire the masses to be greater human beings.  It should also inspire each and every person to do the same.  Go out and inspire the people around you to be amazing.

Change begins within you.  If you want to make this world a better place, you have to be the change you seek. Do what is right in your heart and follow it at all costs.  That’s the journey you were always supposed to be on from the get go.

The Photos

The photos in this post were all taken by me during the July 31, 2015 U2 concert at Madison Square Garden.  These pictures join the Rockstar Collection I’ve been building up for the last few years.  That series also includes photos of Constantine Maroulis and Pete Yorn.  U2 was the final piece that was needed for the collection.

The collection will be released in the upcoming months, as well as the never before seen photos from the Pete Yorn concert.

Certain photographs in the series will be available for sale.  Details will follow.

20150730_233539

 

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DOPE Makes You Think Twice

18 June 201518 June 2015

dopeIt’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie quite like DOPE.  The last time I saw something similar, about the plight of a young black man, was Clockers and Boyz N The Hood.

This story gives you a different perspective on how a group of friends overcome the obstacles of their poor neighborhood in Inglewood, California {Tyra Banks grew up in Inglewood}.  This coming-of-age story about three geeks who are obsessed with 90s Hip Hop, 90s clothing, and the 90s lifestyle, have their own band, are at the top of their class, and are kids that just can’t do any wrong.

Sure, they either lose their shoes or get beat up, but they also work together to defy the odds set against them.

Writer/director Rick Famuyiwa throws every single stereotype of a young black person in the inner city at you.  But it also makes you think twice about the story if you take color out of it.  What if this was just a regular honor roll student defying the odds of his situation?  Would Harvard immediately put his application at the top of the pile if he, a high school senior, managed to make a company $100,000 in three weeks?  Isn’t that what Ivy League schools want?

So what if he made that $100,000 by selling drugs?  He wasn’t out on the street corner dealing.  He was just a kid that got stuck in a very, very bad situation and had to do something about it.  He used his smarts.  He used technology.  He beat each and every system placed before him.  He refused to be another statistic.  He and his friends set out to beat a system that was always working against them.  He used his brains to beat every single thing working against him and his friends.

At the end of the movie you question what would happen if you took this inner city kid out of the neighborhood, stripped him of his skin color, his socio-economic status, his lack of heritage, and take away all of the stereotypes, and made him just human on paper.  Are the things he was able to do with the tools he was given enough to get into a school like Harvard?

There are two ways you can tell the story.  You can tell the story from the perspective of a group of poor black kids from the inner city, or the story about three young human beings that were defying the odds placed against them since day one.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ViVPRWRRmk]

If you want to know who the next big up and coming actors are, watch this film.  Shameik Moore (Malcolm) does a phenomenal job in this role.  [On a side note, after watching this film, I walked out into the hallway of the screening theater and Moore was standing right outside the door.  It was a definite pleasant surprise.]

Zoë Kravitz (daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz) also stars.  Tony Revolori (Jib) and Kiersey Clemons (Diggy) also star in the film.  There are guest appearances by Rick Fox and Chanel Iman (the model, this is her first film).  Forest Whitaker also has his hand in this film as well.

For those who want a modern take to the old classic of Boyz N The Hood, you have to see this.  It’s a movie that will make you think twice about the story.  It will even make you think twice about how you viewed the movie up until the end.

My favorite part of this movie was the choice of songs.  I knew every single song because they were songs that were popular when hip hop first started to gain rise in the 90s.  The way a drug dealer on the street could brilliantly talk about music, it made you realize that Famuyiwa was breaking down another stereotype that all drug dealers are uneducated and unintelligent, that they lack heart or are always trying to pull people down with them.  In other words, he is preaching again and again: never judge a book by its cover.

The film is due out in theaters Friday, June 19, 2015.  This is one of the most important films you need to see this summer.  It will make you think twice…and then still leave you thinking long after you’ve walked away from the film.

Applause all around.

This review from The Verge is spot-on and a must read supplemental.

On Twitter:

Shameik Moore: @meaksworld
Rick Famuyiwa: @RickFamuyiwa
DOPE: @DopeMovie

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Kevin Bacon and Michael Bacon – The Bacon Brothers

10 June 201519 February 2016

New York – It’s not so often that you find out that one of the most popular actors for the last 30+ years is not just an actor but a musician, too.  Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael Bacon (The Bacon Brothers) stopped by the Cornell Club on Monday night for a talk and performance.

bacon11

There was a rather huge attendance for the event at the Cornell Club.  Between Cornell alumni and Hudson Union Society members, you had to get there early if you wanted a good seat.

You can hear the half hour conversation with Michael and Kevin Bacon in the audio clip below.  For those who ever wondered what Kevin Bacon thought of the Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon, he talks about it in the audio clip.  Unfortunately, you will not hear the actual music performance.  I wanted to leave that for the Youtube video (i.e. something that they put out themselves).

Bacon Brothers Audio from Cornell Club

The Bacon Brothers are currently on tour.  You can find their tour schedule HERE.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0hFR2vc85A]

Here are a few photos from the event:


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This photo below is my favorite of the bunch.  It’s also a photo I plan on adding to the Rockstar Collection of photos I’ve been taking over the last few years.

bacon10bb7 bacon8 bacon7 bacon5bb2

This is another favorite (below) that will go into the Rockstar collection.bacon4 bacon3 bacon2

[All photos by Michelle Kenneth]

You can find the Bacon Brothers on their website, Twitter: @baconbros and @kevinbacon, and on Youtube.

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Oscar Watch: Family On Board Heads to TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood

9 June 201512 April 2016
Official poster for Family on Board
Official poster for Family on Board

{Courtesy of George Pogatsia}

After the New York City International Film Festival, the award winning short “Family On Board” made a trip to Cannes, France for the Cannes Film Festival.  Now, the film is heading to Hollywood!  The film short is headlining the HollyShorts Monthly Screening Series on June 25th at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Tickets to the series are currently on sale.  You can purchase them for $15 HERE.  If you share the event with your friends at checkout, you can get $2 off your order.

For those actors in Hollywood looking for work, you may get a chance to be in the upcoming full feature film.  Here’s how you can be considered:

Pogatsia is sticking to his motto that actors and filmmakers should champion each other. All LA actors who come out to support Family On Board at HollyShorts will be given special consideration when casting begins for the feature (in development). Hashtag #FamilyOnBoardmovie to any of Family On Board’s social media accounts with a photo of yourself with your ticket stub at the event. Academy Award-winning director John G. Avildsen (Rocky) is interested in directing.

Here’s the full press release:

Download (PDF, 131KB)

If you’re in LA, I highly recommend going to see this film.  It is a film you will never forget.  If you’re in the business, this is definitely a film you want to be a part of.




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Testament of Youth

4 June 201510 June 2015

testamentWhile I would normally do a general review of a film, “Testament of Youth” will be a little different because this film hit very close to home for me.

Synopsis – This film is based on the memoir written by Vera Brittain (played by Alicia Vikander from “A Royal Affair”).  This young woman’s sole desire was to go to Oxford, just like her brother.  Her father wanted her to remain home.  As a consolation, while they were out swimming with a friend, her father purchased a piano for her.  It was enough money to pay for one year at Oxford.

When she arrived home to discover this, she was angry.  As she’s telling her father that she will never marry, not ever in this lifetime, the man she would fall in love with walked into the house.  Roland Leighton (played by Kit Harington from “Game of Thrones”).

This was right before World War I began.

Her brother managed to talk their father into letting her take the entry exams at Oxford.  SPOILER ALERT: She got in.

As she prepared to go to Oxford with her brother, Roland and friends, the Great War began.  All of the boys decided to sign up.

During the summer before the war, Roland and Vera started to fall deeper and deeper in love with each other.  When Roland broke the news to her that he had enlisted, it was on the day they should have been heading to Oxford to begin school together.

As more time went on, she decided she had to do something, so she took leave from Oxford to work as a nurse.  She started in the hospitals in Britain before later heading to the front.

War changes people.  Roland was no exception.  He tried to put the walls between them, but she refused to allow him to do it.  That was when he proposed to her, promising to marry during his next leave.

SPOILER ALERT: He died.  On the day they were to wed, his mother called the hotel to inform her that he had died.

He wasn’t the only one that died in the war.  Her brother died, as well as their friend, Victor.  She lost all of the people she grew up with and loved to the Great War.

After the war had ended, she became one of the greatest female pacifists in history and a writer.

Close to Home

If I’m going to be honest, I almost got up and left several times.  It wasn’t because the film was bad.  Quite the contrary.  It just hit a little too close to home for me.

Before Roland died, I knew it was coming, because like Vera, those moments of reflection reminded me of having those moments.  You remember their skin jutting out from their shirt sleeves, the way their hair tossed in the wind, the way they looked at you, the way they smelled, or the way their heart beat against their chest.  You remember how it felt when they touched your skin.  You remember that pure, untainted love.

These are the memories that stay with you forever.  These are the memories you create with your soulmate.  Roland and Vera were soulmates.

There were so many elements to what happened in this story that was just like my life story: the need to know exactly what happened when he died, the writings he left for her, being separated due to choices, being taken away at such a young age.  All of these elements to Roland and Vera’s story gave me goosebumps.  It made me remember my own soulmate.  He killed himself just two weeks before my high school graduation.

You have to learn how to live after your soulmate dies.  There was a quote in the movie that stuck with me: “We are all surrounded by ghosts.  We just have to learn how to live with them.”

The director really communicated what that loss felt like.  There were even moments where Kit Harington (with his clean cut) reminded me of those memories I had made with my soulmate.

For those who have felt that great loss of losing your soulmate, you can begin to understand why she took the stand for humanity…to say no to war.  War was what took the people she loved deeply away from her.

Her stand against war was about those who have lost loved ones due to war.  It wasn’t about politics.  It was about humanity.  Each side is sending their fathers, brothers, fiancés and husbands to fight in a war.  Each side is losing those very people.  Each side feels that loss just as deeply as the other side.  Her pacifism was about protecting human lives, not about where those lives came from or whose side they were fighting on.

As each person approaches the end of their life, they’re not talking about killing the enemy.  They’re calling out to the people they loved.

I’ve been in Vera’s shoes.  I’ve been in them for 20 years now…the part where I’m learning how to live with those ghosts.  The end of this movie was very important.  It was about remembering and honoring those men she lost.  When you lose your soulmate and people you were very close to, you can sometimes be on the brink of insanity.  You try to forget them in order to survive another day.  There were times where Vera almost completely lost herself in her grief.

Vera’s choice in the end was not to forget them.  What she did was take that pain and suffering and turn it into something better.  The truth is, the reason why people try so hard to make others happy, or advocate for peace like Vera did, is so that others will not experience the same loss they have gone through.  They know what it feels like to be destroyed by that loss.  They don’t want other people to experience what they’ve experienced.  Even if they put a smile on their face to distract others from seeing their own unhappiness, it’s only in an effort to make sure others never go through what they went through.  Some pain and suffering need not be repeated.  People will do anything to protect others from experiencing that same suffering.  Vera spent her life trying to do just that as a pacifist.

Quotes from Kit Harington (Roland) and James Kent (Director)

Kit Harington speaks to the audience about his new film "Testament of Youth."
Kit Harington speaks to the audience about his new film “Testament of Youth.”

Tribeca – Kit Harington and James Kent stopped by after this special screening to talk about the film on Wednesday night.

Here are a couple of audio clips from the event:

Testament of Youth 1

Testament of Youth 2

Here are a few select quotes from the evening.

James Kent:

“She spoke for a generation, because they were the survivors and they needed that time to have the courage to go, ‘No, no more.’  Hitler was beginning to come to power at that time and there was a real fear that Europe could be sliding into something unsavory.  I think [Vera] does speak for the lost generation.”

The reason why Harington worked on “Testament of Youth” was because he had read about it in school and knew the story well.

Kit Harington:

“I knew this text quite well, actually…I studied it at school, both the history and for English literature, studying the war parts.  I knew the formidable person Vera Brittain was from her books, from her memoirs.  I think that sounds a little bit wishy washy and wanky… Sorry.  What I really learned was through Alicia [Vikander’s] depiction of her, I felt it was so accurate, so beautifully done by her that I thought I was talking to that person.  In the movie, I thought I was talking to that person, the Brittain I knew very well and loved.  That was kind of amazing to experience.”

James Kent:

“I would hope if [Vera Brittain] came back and saw this film, and watched this film in this day and age, in this audience, that she would see a huge difference in who she was.”

Kit Harington:

“One thing that really scares me about my generation is that we are not as active as [Vera] was.  Our discussion is a hard one.  In some ways, you can argue that we, with social media, have a greater voice.  In some ways, it’s completely dumb’ed down.  I think, to me, it’s a very important discussion that has to be had.  To my shame, I have never been in a political march in my life.  I should have done it.”

Kit Harington:

“When I first read [Testament of Youth] in school, it actually triggered a real interest in this period for me.  I had already been taken to the the Northern War graves, the French War graves, by my father, kind of a right of passage.  I think he thought it was important that me and my brother go and see the consequence of war.  There’s no better visual consequence than seeing those graves, those names on the wall.  I read it at school and it kicked off a far greater interest about that period, about the literature surrounding that period.  So when this came through the door, it was important to me that it was done well.  Juliette (Towhidi) actually wrote it.  I instantly knew when it was halfway through, it was doing it great justice.  She had imagined the scenes around the ones that were in the books.  They were written and respectfully done.”

On deciding on Kit to play the role of Roland, James Kent:

“What he has is the X-factor, the extra thing, which is a sort of soulful kind of intelligence, intellectual curiosity…a really soulful practical side.  It was so important to get Roland right.  If you got him wrong, it diminishes Vera as well.  That she chose him and fell in love.  She wore those dried flowers that you see that he sent her from the front, around her neck in a locket for the rest of her life.  She married and she still had these flowers around her neck.”

James Kent:

“It’s very important to me that at the end of the film, she goes out into that pool of water again, because she’s trying to regain the conversation that she had with Roland in the woods where she says she wants to be a writer.  He said that you need some experience first.  She goes back to that lake with all that experience and finally by going into the water, it’s a baptism.  It’s a renewal.  It’s a purging.  She can make that promise to the boys.  I now got what Roland advised me to get.  I can now enshrine your story for generations to come.  And that’s exactly what you’ve experienced [with this film].”

The film is due out in US theaters on Friday, June 5th.

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Exclusive Interview with “Winter” Director Heidi Greensmith

18 May 201526 July 2018
Winter film premiere at NYCIFF. (Picture Courtesy of Heidi Greensmith)
Winter film premiere at NYCIFF. (Picture Courtesy of Heidi Greensmith)

Closing out the New York City International Film Festival was the amazing premiere of the film Winter starring Tommy Flanagan, Tom Payne, Judith Godrèche, Jessica Hynes, Bill Milner and Kate Magowan.  The film was written and directed by Heidi Greensmith.

The film picked up four awards at NYCIFF, including Best Drama Film, Best International Director (Greensmith) and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tommy Flanagan).


Heidi Greensmith was kind enough to do an exclusive interview for PerfectionistWannabe.com on her film “Winter.”

1. First, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up the second youngest of seven children in the south east of England countryside. I have been making films since I was a teenager. I went to the London Film school and studied cinematography. My first job was as an undercover reporter at a documentary production company. I went on to make music videos and commercials at a London production company. I started writing when I had my first baby. I met my husband drummer Dominic Greensmith shooting a music video for the British rock band Reef. We have been together for 15 years and have 4 children. We live in the Somerset countryside.

2. “Winter” is your first feature film, and the writing is absolutely incredible. Can you tell us how you came up with the idea for this story, as well as the characters? Where did you take inspiration from?

Thank you. I was drawn to explore male grief as I believe men process grief in a different way to women. As they find it harder to talk about how they feel it can lead to feelings of depression and anger. I lost my mother when I was quite young and my father coped very badly which had a lasting affect on all us kids. I have three sons and I believe that this generation of boys should be taught and encouraged to be more open with their feelings. They need to learn that it is entirely acceptable to talk and feel and cry and I hope that Winter will help to shine a spotlight on this.

3. Diving into what was happening in the mind of Woods, can you explain how you were able to dive so deeply into a complete mental breakdown and then bring that character out of that darkness?

I have had personal experience to draw upon so I always knew that Woods would be a broken man that would break my heart. Woods comes out of the darkness with the love of his family and his passion for painting which I can relate to also as I think most artists can.

4. Throughout the movie, you break down a lot of stereotypes where people would easily place judgment on someone. For instance, at the beginning, Woods looks like just a regular homeless man. Yet, he’s not homeless. Then we start to believe that Tom is the child of an abusive, alcoholic father. Yet again, that’s not the real story. Then we start to believe that Woods is a neglectful, abusive parent that can’t take care of himself or his children. Yet, once again, that is not what the story is about. Was there a greater lesson you were trying to teach the viewer (as in, don’t judge a book by its cover)?

Yes I suppose so. Every addict, every homeless person they have all been broken in some way. They are trying to avoid life or numb the pain of their memories. People that find themselves in these unfortunate circumstances need help not judgement.

5. Tommy Flanagan did a phenomenal job as Woods. What made you decide that he was the right person to bring Woods to life?

Casting director Des Hamilton suggested Tommy for the role of Woods. I met with Tommy and within five minutes I knew he was Woods. Tommy had already decided he was playing Woods before we met so it was lucky I felt the same.

(Courtesy of Heidi Greensmith)
(Courtesy of Heidi Greensmith)

6. Flanagan’s scene that sticks out most is when he crouches on the stool in front of the canvas. The camera capturing the different expressions going through Woods’s mind was intriguing, frightening, and ultimately beautiful all at the same time. Can you take us through what you were looking for in that moment?

I think I was after that feeling you get as an artist when you are so involved in what you are doing that you step out of reality, like you are in dream. It can be quite scary. Sometimes when I read a script back I can’t remember writing some bits of it.

7. How did you decide which pieces of artwork would be used? What were the meanings behind the different paintings featured? Who was the artist(s) behind each of the paintings? What happened to the paintings afterward?

I went to a Paul Benney exhibition in London by pure chance. I was blown away because I had already written the script and described some of the paintings that I was looking at in that exhibition! I found Paul there and explained to him. He then read the script, called me up and told me he felt a strong affinity with Woods. So, he allowed me to use his Night Paintings exhibition. The art department got all the paintings replicated so that there was no chance of damaging the originals. You can find all the images on Paul’s website.

[Paul Benney’s Website]

8. Tom is the hero of this story. The sacrifices he made to help his father went far above and beyond anything anyone could ask (or not ask) of their child. His understanding of his father’s ‘genius waiting to be unleashed’ and the ‘broken heart’ is something most people would not understand if they were in his shoes, especially at that age. That is what makes his role in this movie so powerful…that love he has for his father. Tom’s story is multi-faceted. Can you describe your development of his character through the writing process? What were the elements you were focused on when you created his part of the story?

I have always found it incredibly heartbreaking, that moment when out of necessity a child becomes the adult in the relationship with his parent. Two of my favourite films are Paris Texas and Paper Moon because of the way the kids have to grow up so fast and develop a whole new relationship dynamic in being the responsible one. I originally wrote Tom and Max much younger but due to our very low budget we couldn’t afford chaperones and reduced working hours minors would require.

9. What are your favorite moments in the film? Do you have any favorite characters?

Obviously I love Woods. Tommy and I have become very good friends since we made the film and we talk about that character with such affection. Old Woodsie. But I love all the other characters too. My favourite scenes are the ice skating scene with Tom and Stacy because you feel so much for Tom right then, just wanting him finally to have a nice time, but at the same time knowing that his dad has gone awol again so it’s super charged, and I love the flashback of Woods walking to the park and finding his dead wife, because you finally get to see the exact moment that his heart broke. Both scenes have the most beautiful score by Dominic too.

10. Can you take us through the timeline of developing “Winter” from start to finish (i.e. how long it took to write the script, create the film, bring it to the screen)?

I wrote the film when I had just had my fourth child. I would write while I was breast feeding at night. It’s really hard making an independent film, working all hours for no money and at the same time trying to dodge the sharks and remain focused and true. We shot Winter all on location in 24 days, edited it in 9 weeks but then it all stopped and lost momentum when the post budget ran out. Thankfully Winter was selected to be the closing night gala film of NYCIFF so everything happened very quickly from then.

11. It is never easy being a working mom, but to be a working mom, wife, writer and a director working on making a dream come true, how were you able to balance everything in order to create Winter?

It’s amazing what I can fit into 24 hours. I have a lot of energy, mental and physical. My husband is always telling me to sit down but I find it impossible. I am so passionate about everything I do that I have to do it full time all the time. I know it can drive the people I work with mad. Sometimes I’ll be writing at midnight or recording music for the score with my husband at 3am. I left home at 16 and have had to work since then, even through film school I had two jobs. I hope I am helping to install a good work ethic in my kids. I think they probably think I’m crazy but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Official Winter poster.
Official Winter poster.

12. There are very few women directors in the industry. NYCIFF showcased several women directors during the festival, including yourself. Can you describe what adversity women are going through in this business? What adversity have you faced to bring your film into being?

I think things have just started to change but for a long time it was very difficult to be taken seriously as a female director and funnily enough I don’t think men were entirely to blame. The most important thing is that things have started to change and I hope that the broadcasters, studios and financiers continue to address the imbalance. The cinema has been dominated by the male voice for too long. I hope that Winter also proves that female writer/director’s can tackle any subject not just subjects relating to women.

13. This site is about people that are out there making their dreams come true. In your own words, can you tell us what bringing this incredible story to the screen means to you?

It means everything to me. All I have ever wanted professionally is to be able to tell a story that moves people. The incredible response the film has had so far is overwhelming, and we’ve only just started!

14. What is coming up in the film’s future? Is there a release date, yet? Is it traveling to any more festivals? Any talks of Oscar considerations? Are there any other projects you are working on that you would like to share?

Winter is at the start of it’s festival run. We are looking at a UK release in the autumn. My next film ‘Bloody Mary’ is in development right now and we have just started casting. It’s a totally different film, dark and very funny with two female protagonists. Very exciting.

If you get the opportunity to see “Winter,” it is a must see film.  It is a film that will move your soul.  You’ll walk out in complete amazement of Tommy Flanagan’s acting, and with a new perspective on life.  What Heidi has created here is something phenomenal.  This is the kind of film you will never forget, because of how you grew as a human being during those moments you spent absorbing the film.

You can read our review of Winter HERE.

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Oscar Watch: Winter, The Most Important Film of 2015 You Must See

12 May 20157 April 2016
Official Winter poster.
Official Winter poster.

There are very few films that come into existence that becomes one of the most important films you need to see in your lifetime.  “Winter” from Heidi Greensmith is one of those movies that should be on your list of things to see before you die.

This film premiered as the finale at the New York City International Film Festival.  It was adequately placed at the end of the festival because it would have blown all of the other feature films out of the water.

Tommy Flanagan (“Gladiator” and “Sons of Anarchy”) stars in this heart-wrenching tale of a man who has lost his way.  The film begins with a drunken man that could easily be mistaken as a homeless man.  He’s not homeless, he has a home.  It’s his son, who deferred a fellowship with Columbia University for two years, who tries to bring his father out from underneath this gloom that has consumed him.




At first, you may think this film is about an alcoholic father who is abusing his kids and has lost the rights to see his youngest son (who is in foster care).  No.  That is another mistaken assumption.

This story is about a family who lost a wife and a mother to a very violent crime.  It’s the story of a man who is broken and blaming himself for his wife’s death.  As a result, he falls into an abyss of mental illness.  This artist is trying to get his kid back, and his eldest son is just waiting for his dad to return to normal.  He sacrifices so much trying to help his father get back on his feet again.

Heidi Greensmith and Tommy Flanagan win for "Winter."
Heidi Greensmith and Tommy Flanagan win for “Winter.”

The amazing thing about this story is that it teaches you not to judge a book by its cover.  This man’s mental illness came about because of grief and regret.  His son put it perfectly.  His dad was not crazy.  His heart was just broken.

It is in this man’s healing that he returns to painting again, but in a whole new light.  He’s a different man working out his demons and creates complete and utter genius.  His eldest son saw this from the beginning.  He saw the man his father truly was.  To him, this story is not about an abusive alcoholic father that has fucked everything up for their family.  This story is truly about a man that had a broken heart and lost all sense of himself the day his wife died.  He just needed time (and help) to find a way out of that grief.

I believe this quote from Lisa See’s “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” adequately describes the journey this man takes out of sorrow.

Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you find peace.

This incredible tale makes you re-evaluate how you look at life and at people who are going through a difficult time in their life.  On the surface, we instantly stereotype them as drunks, alcoholics, abusive/neglectful parents, homeless, mentally ill, etc.  All of those labels are incorrect.  This man is an artist who is waiting for his next inspiration.  He’s waiting to discover his own genius that is inside of himself.

Sometimes it takes a life-changing event to discover the genius within.  That is the journey this artist was on.

Tommy Flanagan’s role was phenomenal.  The way his various emotions were captured on his face…it is a moment of beauty and brilliance.  This role opens your eyes to see how incredible of an actor he is.  I would say, one of the best in the business after seeing him in this film.  He brought his A+ game to this film and his performance is Oscarworthy.

In the story, the eldest son tried his best to keep the family together and help his father at the same time.  He is the real hero of the story.  The way he saw who his father was deep down inside, most children are not that perceptive.  They would have cowered in fear, be mortally wounded with each derogatory word yelled at them.  Not this kid.  He was just waiting for the genius he saw within his father to emerge.  What he was willing to sacrifice for his father to discover that, shows just how much he loved him.

Heidi Greensmith, Director of "Winter."
Heidi Greensmith, Director of “Winter.”

Heidi Greensmith has brought this thought-provoking tale to the screen.  Most importantly, you need to note that she is a female director.  There are very few in the business.  She’s also a mother and a wife and despite her other duties, she was able to make something this brilliant.

The film picked up an award for Best Drama Film at NYCIFF.  Tommy Flanagan picked up the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.  Heidi Greensmith picked up the Best International Director award.

Congratulations to everyone from “Winter.”  This film was brilliance.




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NYCIFF 2015 Award Winners

11 May 201511 May 2015

The New York City International Film Festival hosted their Sixth Annual Awards on Thursday night, where they also announced that “Family on Board” and “Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan” would be submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for an Academy Award consideration.

Closing out the festival was the film “Winter” by Heidi Greensmith, featuring Tommy Flanagan.

Here is the list of a few of the winners from NYCIFF’s website.  It is not the complete list.

You will find a special thank you video from William Shatner posted on their site.  Shatner won multiple awards for his film “Chaos on the Bridge.”  Sebastian Roché also picked up the Matthew Cowles Award for acting.

THE NYCIFF 2015 AWARD WINNERS

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

THE SINKING OF SOZOPOL – BULGARIA

*****

Cast and crew of Phantom Halo.
Cast and crew of Phantom Halo.

BEST USA FEATURE FILM

PHANTOM HALO

*****

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

TOMMY FLANAGAN FOR WINTER – UK

*****

BEST DRAMA FILM

Heidi Greensmith and Tommy Flanagan win for "Winter."
Heidi Greensmith and Tommy Flanagan win for “Winter.”

WINTER – UK*****

BEST  INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORHEIDI GREENSMITH

*****

BEST USA DIRECTOR

ANTONIA BOGDANOVICH

******

BEST INTERNATIONAL  NARRATIVE SHORT FILM

IT’S ME – LEBANON

*****

BEST INTERNATIONAL ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ASSIL AND JAD   By  BANE FAKIH –  LEBANON

*****

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM – USA

Gino Cafarelli and George Pogatsia of "Family on Board."
Gino Cafarelli and George Pogatsia of “Family on Board.”

FAMILY ON BOARD

*****

BEST DIRECTOR IN A NARRATIVE SHORT

GEORGE POGATSIA – FAMILY ON BOARD

*****

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT NARRATIVE FILM

GEORGE POGATSIA – FAMILY ON BOARD

Wallis Murphy-Munn wins for Best Actress.
Wallis Murphy-Munn wins for Best International Actress.

*****BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT FILM

WALLIS MURPHY-MUNN – SANDBOY – USA / IRELAND

*****

BEST USA ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT FILM

ELISABETH JAMISON – FALLING TO PIECES – USA

*****

BEST DOCUMENTARY  SHORT

Malan Breton wins for his film "Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan."
Malan Breton wins for his film “Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan.”

A JOURNEY TO TAIWAN – USA/TAIWAN by MALAN BRETON

*****

BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT

MYRIAM OBIN – ÉLOÏSE, LITTLE DREAMER – QUEBEC / CANADA

*****

 BEST USA ANIMATED SHORT

YVONNE GRZENKOWICZ – ARCHAEOLOGY – USA

*****

BEST TV PILOT

TOPSY MCGEE – USA

*****

BEST MUSICAL VIDEO

STELLA – UK

Congratulations to all of the winners.  Many of these films are heading to the Cannes Film Festival.

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Oscar Watch: “Family on Board” Given Oscar Consideration

11 May 201511 May 2015

(Courtesy of George Pogatsia, Director, Writer and Star of “Family On Board”)

Gino Cafarelli and George Pogatsia of "Family on Board."
Gino Cafarelli and George Pogatsia of “Family on Board.”

The big news coming out of the New York City International Film Festival (“NYCIFF”) is that “Family on Board” and “Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan” were submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a 2016 Oscar consideration.

“Family on Board” won in every category the short film was nominated in.  It picked up three NYCIFF awards for Best Narrative Short Film USA, Best Director in a Narrative Short, and Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Short Narrative Film.

NYCIFF Family on Board Announcement: http://t.co/dqOzSFN5jT via @YouTube

— George Pogatsia (@PoGotcha) May 8, 2015

Here is the official press release…
IMG_9576 (1)

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOCOjkLUqos]

You can read more about the short film Here and Here.

Congratulations to everyone that was a part of “Family on Board.”  If you get an opportunity to see it, it is a must see.  This short is the type of production that sticks with you long after you have seen it.  You will constantly be wondering about the fate of Mike Petito.  It will leave you with questions on whether a hero trying to save someone deserves to be thrown in prison.  It will also teach you a life lesson about staying true to yourself no matter what the circumstances are.

Kudos to George Pogatsia.  He created a masterpiece which (hopefully) is the beginning of a much bigger masterpiece down the line.

We’ll keep you updated on the film’s journey to Oscar night.

 

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M. Night Shyamalan Talks “Wayward Pines”

8 May 20159 May 2015

(Courtesy of Russ Cohen)

Philadelphia – M. Night Shyamalan is at Wizard World Comic Con talking about his upcoming TV series “Wayward Pines.”  My good friend, Russ Cohen, is covering the event for Culture Burst.  Video from the event can be found here: M Night Shyamalan at Wizard World Philadelphia.

Here’s an audio clip from the event:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/204435529″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The series begins on May 14th on Fox.

You can follow Russ on Twitter: @sportsology.

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NYCIFF Short: Family On Board

4 May 20159 May 2015
Official poster for Family on Board
Official poster for Family on Board

Opening up the NYCIFF gala on Thursday night was a heartbreaking film short from George Pogatsia called “Family on Board,” a story of a man who attempts to help save his neighbor who is being abducted after a burglary in their home.  What could be seen as being a heroic moment, he gets the book thrown at him by the justice system as he is portrayed as a violent vigilante and is sentenced to five years in prison.

Being a family man, he is forced to leave his wife and two children.  Because of the honorable circumstances surrounding the events of that night, the judge allows him to have a month with his family to get his affairs in order before he is ordered to report to prison.

The events that follow on that morning he reports to prison are the few short minutes that will leave you heartbroken.

Here is the official trailer for the film:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOCOjkLUqos]

Mr. Pogatsia was kind enough to do a short email interview for PerfectionistWannabe.com.

1. What was the inspiration behind the story? Was it based on a true story?

I read a story a while back about a man in Texas who called 911 about 2 guys burglarizing his neighbor’s home. He ended up shooting and killing both. He never recieved any jail time. It made me think, what if this happened in New York City? Also, I was living in downtown Manhattan on 9/11. The towers falling actually woke me from bed and I had a friend who was scheduled to report to prison downtown on 9/11 … I threw those stories into a pot, I sprinkled in my imagination and mixed it up. I came out with Family on Board.

2. While we take a look at the conflict between hero vs. vigilante, the main part of this story is about a man who has to leave his family. We see an outstanding citizen who was trying to do the right thing, but the court has decided differently and he has to leave his family. The irony of this story is that even though he was turning himself in, you have to wonder just what would have happened if he was asked to turn himself in on 9/12/2001 rather than 9/11/2001. He wasn’t just leaving his family for 5 years. He was saying goodbye to them forever. He was able to get those last moments with them that morning, something not too many people were able to do. Why did you choose to write the story this way?

On 9/12 Mike Petito would have reported to prison to serve out his jail sentence. I chose to tell the story this way because I enjoy having the audience participate. I like developing characters they can relate to and care about. I try get them invested in their lives then have them theorize on what happened in the end. Did he leave forever? I hope to provoke thought and discussion. Almost like thinking about an old love and what may have become of them.

3. Will this eventually be turned into a full feature film?

I’m developing a feature version of Family on Board. Tony Sirico (“The Sopranos”) is a big supporter of the project, his role will be considerably larger in the feature. Oscar winner John Avildsen (“Rocky”) wants to direct.

If you get a chance to see this film, I highly suggest seeing it. I contemplated leaving when I realized the day…9/11/01. I didn’t know how far he would take the actual events occurring in that moment.  9/11/01 was a real nightmare that many of us had to live through and haven’t quite healed from.  But luckily, the story quickly changed to post-9/11 and I was glued to my seat in those next couple of minutes.  It left you questioning just what happened to Mike Petito that day.

I would love to see this as a full feature film, especially with the same cast of characters.  It’s a story that will keep you wondering long after you’ve stepped out of the theater.

NYCIFF will host their Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 7, 2015.

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Highlights from NYCIFF

4 May 20159 May 2015

NYCIFFNew York – The New York City International Film Festival is in New York until May 7, 2015.

During its opening night gala, with actors and directors out on the red carpet for the launch of the festival, the two main features were a film short called “Family on Board” directed by George Pogatsia and the feature film “Phantom Halo” directed by Antonia Bogdanovich.

On the second night of the festival, William Shatner graced himself on the red carpet to showcase his new documentary “Chaos on the Bridge,” the chaotic tale of what it took to bring “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to a television screen.

Fashion designer Malan Breton was also in attendance both nights.  He’s at NYCIFF to present his new film “A Journey to Taiwan.”

Family On Board

Tony Sirico (“Sopranos”) stars in “Family on Board.”  He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Matthew Cowles, who also stars, received the award posthumously.

George Pogatsia not only directed, but also starred in this sad tale about a misjudged hero. He was in attendance at the gala on Thursday night.

Here is a clip from the film:

[youtube=https://youtu.be/xOCOjkLUqos]

The film leaves you with a lot of questions about more than just what happened.  It makes you question whether it’s right for a hero the court has deemed as a vigilante to end up in prison just for saving someone’s life.  It’s also about a hero staying true to who he is no matter what the circumstances are.

This short film is a must see.

Phantom Halo

Cast and crew of Phantom Halo.
Cast and crew of Phantom Halo.

Phantom Halo stars Sebastian Roché (“The Originals,” “Supernatural,” “Once Upon a Time”), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (“Love Actually,” “The Maze Runner”) and Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men”).

Sebastian attended the gala with his wife Alicia Hannah.  Clare Grant (who also stars), Antonia Bogdanovich (co-writer, director) and Anne Heffron (co-writer) also attended.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/XHRFzHJiEsw]

Here are a few takes from the Q&A:

  • The story is very reflective of the co-writers childhoods and upbringing.
  • There is a reference to a ‘pound of flesh,’ but don’t mistake it for a “Merchant of Venice” reference, even though Shakespeare quotes appear throughout the movie, it is purely Anne Heffron’s take on people calling her Asian daughter ‘Chinese,’ when she’s actually Korean.
  • Heffron is a master of writing male lines.
  • At the end, Roché and the panel discussed what acting means in an independent film.  You’re not doing it for the money in an indie film.  You are doing it for the pure passion of what you love, so you bring your A-game to every scene.  It’s about the passion of the art.
  • Gbenga Akinnagbe is not African (like his name would suggest).  He is an American, born in Washington, DC. He spent some time living in Mexico.  He was not originally cast in the role of Roman.  There was another actor cast, but he did not work out.
  • Roman uses an English accent (like Roché does), but this was a fluke.  Roman was not originally a British character.  It came about after they were messing around on set.
  • Even though Thomas Brodie-Sangster speaks in an American accent, it was very important to Bogdanovich that they cast a British actor.

Chaos On The Bridge

William Shatner arrives on the red carpet.
William Shatner arrives on the red carpet.

William Shatner’s newest documentary is “Chaos on the Bridge.”  A movie about the chaos that went into bringing “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to life and into the homes of every American.

If you are a Star Trek fan or even a TNG fan, this is a must see.  It will give you a whole brand new perspective of what it meant to create TNG…the chaos that went into it is just unbelievable.  Not only is it visually stimulating, but it is absolutely hilarious as well.

Shatner was in attendance both on the red carpet and after the feature to do a Q&A.

Here’s a glimpse at his new film:

[youtube=https://youtu.be/t4UAInrMiT4]

Shatner’s next project includes taking a little road trip on his new motorcycle and filming it.  NOTE: This isn’t just any kind of motorcycle.  You really need to see it.

 

Malan Breton

Fashion Designer Malan Breton.
Fashion Designer Malan Breton.

Fashion designer Malan Breton was in attendance for both the opening night gala and Shatner’s film on Friday night.  The designer was at NYCIFF to showcase his new film “Malan Breton a Journey to Taiwan.”

He showcased many of his beautiful designs prior to the film, which was shown prior to the gala on Thursday night.

As you can see in the pictures here (from William Shatner’s night), he wears one of his designs.

Here’s a glimpse of his moment at NYCIFF:

[youtube=https://youtu.be/3TfMFw63IEQ]

Other glimpses from NYCIFF

Here are a few pictures from the first two days at NYCIFF.

Alicia Hannah
Alicia Hannah
Fashion Designer Malan Breton.
Fashion Designer Malan Breton.
Sebastian Roche and Alicia Hannah.
Sebastian Roche and Alicia Hannah.
Sebastian Roche and Michelle Kenneth (Diary of a Perfectionist Wannabe).
Sebastian Roche and Michelle Kenneth (Perfectionist Wannabe “PW”).
William Shatner presented his film "Chaos on the Bridge" at NYCIFF.
William Shatner presented his film “Chaos on the Bridge” at NYCIFF.
Sebastian Roche with his wife Alicia Hannah.
Sebastian Roche with his wife Alicia Hannah.
PW dress by Ralph Lauren, J Crew cardigan, Blue by Betsey Johnson shoes.
PW dress by Ralph Lauren, J Crew cardigan, Blue by Betsey Johnson shoes.
PW on the red carpet.
PW on the red carpet.
Tony Sirico receives a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tony Sirico receives a Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Far From the Madding Crowd

4 May 20159 May 2015

Madding 1New York – Director Thomas Vinterberg (“The Hunt”) stopped by the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center to speak to the Lincoln Center Film Society members about his new film “Far from the Madding Crowd.”

Based on the book by Thomas Hardy, Carey Mulligan (“The Great Gatsby”) and Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts (“The Loft”) star in this tale of a young, independent and headstrong woman who attracts three very different suitors (a farmer, a soldier and a landowner).

Along with Vinterberg, Schoenaerts stopped by as well to discuss the film.

Here are a few pictures from the evening.

Madding 7 Madding 6 Madding 5 Madding 4 Madding 3 Madding 2
Some notes on the talk:

  • While shooting the final scene of the movie, Carey Mulligan fell off the horse and concussed herself.
  • Schoenaerts is heading to Cannes Film Festival for another film he starred in called “Maryland.”
  • When Schoenaerts met Vinterberg for the first time, he was waiting for him in the lobby of a hotel.  Based on the past work Vinterberg had done, as well as his long history in film, Matthias thought he would be meeting a much older gentleman.  When Thomas walked up to Matthias, he thought this was Vinterberg’s son.  When he realized it was Thomas himself, he couldn’t believe it.  He did not expect someone so handsome and young, but then it made sense, because Thomas was 28 when he hit the first wave of stardom of his directing career.
  • The most important scene in the entire movie was the kiss at the end.
  • ENDING SPOILER: Originally, Vinterberg wanted Matthias’s character to leave on a ship to America and not turn back.  Instead, he was asked to keep the ending with the kiss and he stays.
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An American in Paris on Broadway

1 May 201512 May 2015
An American in Paris is playing at the Palace Theatre on Broadway.
An American in Paris is playing at the Palace Theatre on Broadway.

The classic show “An American in Paris” is back on Broadway.  Before they had their Opening Night, I was able to see the show during previews and I have to say, it literally blew me away.  It is no surprise at all to see that “An American in Paris” tops the nominees for the Tony Awards, receiving 12 nominations.

Let me explain what was so fabulous about “An American in Paris.”  First, for those who do not know, the show is a musical ballet.  What made this show absolutely breathtaking was the prima ballerina Leanne Cope (Lise Dassin).

In the scene where she is trying out for a role in a ballet company, she is not allowed to rehearse with the other ballerinas after arriving to the rehearsal late.  At one point, she goes ahead and sneaks in and starts dancing with the others before taking off to dance on her own.  It is this moment that is particularly breathtaking because you not only see a phenomenal performance, you see Cope’s passion in her dancing.  It is this passion that set her apart from any other character in the production.  Her awe-inspiring performance throughout as a ballerina was like watching a ballerina in heaven dancing before your eyes.  That was how perfect she was.  You could get lost watching her dance.  Her passion for ballet could be seen in each step she took.  That is what made her so incredible.  That is what makes any actor so incredible…their ability to come up with a spectacular performance because they are doing what they love.

I knew nothing about the background of the musical, so I was surprised that there were a few numbers I grew up with like “I Got Rhythm,” “‘S Wonderful,” and “Shall We Dance” that were in the show.

The costumes throughout were absolutely gorgeous.  I wish I could add all of the dresses into my wardrobe.  They were so beautiful.

The story is about three men who are in love with a young ballerina.  There’s the composer who writes an entire ballet to immortalize her.  There’s the rich man who wants to marry her because that’s what his parents want him to do.  Then there is the soldier who steals her heart, but her obligations to the rich man prevent her from being with him.

These three men…just so happen to be friends and they are all in love with the same girl.

Who does she choose?  Well, you’ll have to see the musical for yourself.  Here’s a sneak peek…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wt8tLjkI4w]

If you’re in NYC looking for deals to shows, use the Today Tix app.  You can scroll through and find the cheapest tickets available and purchase them through the app.  A Today Tix representative will meet you at the theater half an hour prior to the show to give you your tickets.  You just grab the tickets and go.  One of the simplest processes of getting your theater tickets.  It beats waiting in that long TKTS line (plus, it’s cheaper).  You can also take $20 off by using the code: KCZJB.

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Artist Spotlight: Kyle Mosher

14 April 2015
Kyle Mosher
Kyle Mosher with 2 of his paintings: Pharrell & Kanye.

As a first in the artist spotlight series, artist Kyle Mosher takes a moment to do an exclusive interview with Diary of a Perfectionist Wannabe.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Nothing like an ice breaker to get us going here! My name is Kyle Mosher and I am originally from Canada. I moved to the States when I was about 7. My entire family still resides in Canada and I go back and fourth quite frequently. I would spend part of my summer living with my grandparents going to hockey camp at Standstead College in Stanstead, Quebec until I was about 15.

I grew up in New England, but I’m currently residing in Charlotte, NC.

2. How did you get into art?

Being the only child of Canadian parents, art was never seriously encouraged. I always had a natural eye for being able to render though. I would draw a lot as a child, but stopped probably around high school when I made my varsity hockey team. The team was a very competitive Division 1 school. Our sophomore year we were the 7th rank public team in the US and were state champions. So I really had to focus on hockey. Don’t get my wrong, I loved hockey, but it got difficult the older I got and it really stopped being fun in University. I couldn’t stay healthy and my injuries started to take their toll on me, not just physically, but also mentally. I had to stop playing because of injuries. I had a lot of down time and started to read and reflect. I took a serious look at my life and made the decision I have too much of a wild spirit to make it behind a desk and I was too broken to do physical labor so I decided to leave the University I was at and enroll in an extremely traditional Fine Arts institute. My parents had no idea. I took a summer drawing class at a community college on my own dime and told the teacher, “I need you to condense 20 something years of everything I missed into this one class.” I then took my “portfolio” to the NH Institute of Art and somehow managed to get in!  As I look back at it now, it’s pretty crazy. I guess it was just one of those things that was meant to be.

3. Having interviewed hockey players for the last 7 years, I know how hard it is to move your life in a different direction. Was it difficult to focus on an art filled life instead of a hockey life?

I was very resentful of hockey for a long time. Walking away was easy. I was really trying to separate myself from that person and that life. I wanted to be my own person and carve out my own life. I spent a lot of years searching for who I was without hockey. It was very therapeutic and allowed me to exorcise a lot of demons. I really liked the person that I have become. I’m proud of what I was able to do and I did it 100% by myself with no support. No one really gave me a shot doing this art thing, but I used all the negative energy to push me. I am definitely very mediocre in terms of talent with art, but my passion and drive is what has allowed me to become a full-time artist. I would describe myself as a 3rd or 4th round draft pick that just worked my ass off, ha! It’s funny because I have so many great memories from hockey. I traveled all over, won championships, lost championships, and formed a brotherhood with some amazing friends. [They’re] memories I’ll cherish forever, so I really miss it now. Looking back there are a million things I would’ve done different, but I’m comfortable with my life. I’m just grateful and thankful I was able to play hockey for as long as I did. I wish I could’ve done it on my own terms though without the pressures from my family.

Kyle Mosher in his studio.
Kyle Mosher in his studio.

4. What was the first painting you ever sold? How did it feel to sell that first piece?

I think the first painting I ever sold my mom bought, haha! Typical mother! The first painting I ever sold to a client was….not until four of five years after I graduated college. I spent those first few years bouncing around from one shitty job to another (the typical artist story). I actually stopped making art for almost a year. I had another life changing moment and decided I didn’t want to be another statistic, so I kicked my ass into gear and really started focusing more on how to make it as an artist. Life was very humbling after college. I can really appreciate now all the hardships I was dealt. It made me a stronger person, a more humble person, and definitely made me a better artist.

5. Where can people see your work?

Google: Kyle Mosher. Ha! Or you can go to www.KyleMosher.com.

6. How can they buy your work?

People can view the art on my website. If they are interested in purchasing a piece they can shoot me an email: Me@KyleMosher.com, with the piece they are interested in or I can send them the list of available pieces with other details. I also have a “Rent-to-Own” program, which, is an honor based payment plan that allows people to make a down payment, have the painting hang in their home, and they make payments at an agreed upon amount and frequency. Alternatively, I am currently accepting commissions, but there is a 2 month wait list.

6. What are your favorite pieces you’ve created thus far?

Such a difficult question! I hate this question, because I really love them all. The Kanye and Pharrell pieces hold a special place in my heart because they really set it all off for me. They are definitely 2 of the crown jewels in my collection and the pieces most people associate me with. My most recent series, Heist and Showroom, are really rad. I love the direction I went with those and had some major breakthroughs. I really can’t pick a favorite though!

7. What work are you most excited about sharing right now?

I’m working on an epic painting for Andrew Ference (captain of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers). I’m not giving away any other details other than it’s going to be epic! It’ll be finished in a month or so. I also befriended a really well known gallerist and art-critic based in NYC. He’s taken me under his wing and we are working on some really exciting paintings. Probably the most difficult paintings I’ve ever worked on. I say paintings, but we aren’t even really in that phase yet. I’m still in the planning phase of sketching and conceptualizing. I usually have insane amounts of clarity when it comes to my work, but he’s really pushing me, which, I love, and putting me in this uncomfortable space I’m not used to. The idea is create more dialogue, rhythm, and intrigue, and also more sophistication to my work.

You can find Kyle Mosher's works at www.kylemosher.com
You can find Kyle Mosher’s works at www.kylemosher.com

8. Your work focuses on a lot of branding from hip hop artists to commercial items. Can you explain your appeal to these subjects?

I love pop-culture. I’ve always been really into music and I joke a lot about that being my real calling in life. Music really inspires almost more so then visual art does. I’m inspired by the stories I hear of musicians who “make it” so that’s why I like to portray them. I dig the “rags-to-riches” story as I can relate. More so the rags, not yet the riches, ha! Believing in yourself and putting your all into your dreams and overcoming adversity is a beautiful thing. In terms of the logo and branding, I started as a graphic design major when I was at the liberal arts university so graphic imagery also holds a special place in my heart. When I would work contract design jobs, companies always had these brand guidelines, which specifically stated, “DO NOT EDIT OR CHANGE THE LOGO IN ANYWAY.” There are 2 things about that which intrigue me: 1. I’m rebellious so immediately it’s like the forbidden fruit, and 2. I am very much drawn to the idea of taking well-known logos or branding and putting my signature look on them. I am my own biggest fan. 100% I love my work so to create a “mock” marketing campaign or a piece of fine art using my signature style is very much self-indulging, haha. Plus, I think these companies could leverage my signature style and learn a thing or two from this rebellious artist!

9. What do you do when you’re not creating masterpieces? What are some of your other passions in life?

I fumble around with music, but I am far from a musician. That would be an insult to musicians. I like staying active, go to the gym and such. I’m into fashion so I like staying up on that. I aggravated another major injury a couple summers ago playing pick up with my college buddies so I’m still saving to get my second shoulder surgery. I’d love to eventually start playing hockey again. I haven’t played in over a year, probably the longest I’ve ever gone without skating in my life.

10. Any exciting announcements or projects you want to share?

Lots of exciting things in the works! I signed a few NDA’s so I cannot go into anything specific, but I’m in talks with a few major brands to do some cool work with my signature style. The Ference painting is really rad and the new series I’m working on for the NYC gallerist is going to be really different from anything I’ve ever done, but still in line with my brand. I’m constantly working, always pushing myself, and always pushing my art. There is no Plan B so it’s just about finding ways to make it happen as an artist, but never compromising the morals I have as an artist or as a person.

******

You can find Kyle on Instagram and Twitter (@TheKyleMosher) and on his website.

For those who would like to purchase a Mosher painting or print, email him, follow him on Instagram and Twitter (sometimes he has flash sales), reach out to him and work a deal using his Rent to Own program, or you can commission a piece with him.  You’ll find that the majority of artists out there are looking for ways to get their artwork out there, and they realize that not everyone can afford art.  You never know what you can afford from the artist unless you ask.  You’ll find a lot of times they’ll work with you to make their work more affordable for you.

You can read more about Buying and Acquiring Art here.

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Dori Hartley Portraits

4 February 2015

I’m always on the lookout for great work by artists. I’ve found that the Hannibal collective has some of the best artists around. Their work is so amazing, I’ve purchased a few items already for my home.

Currently on my radar is Dori Hartley. I follow a lot of Hannibal fans on Twitter, so when I saw this tweet, I knew I had to take a look at what this starving artist has given to our fandom.

Please #help @dori_hartley always gave us wonderful art now she needs urgent help! @BryanFuller @neoprod @NBCHannibal pic.twitter.com/mYSnufod6L

— Mads Mikkelsen Arg (@MikkelsenArg) February 3, 2015

She has been currently using her Twitter to sell her work.  I have to say, I love this platform she has offered to people to purchase her work.  From canvas to prints to pillows to note cards, she offers a variety of ways for an art admirer to purchase her work.  Here are just a few pieces she has to offer:

Sell Art Online

Art Prints

Art Prints

Sell Art Online

Photography Prints

There are various characters she’s painted and posted up at Fine Art America for sale.  If anything, read her biography.  This is someone that has done many, many things in life already…and they were massively awesome things.

I plan on purchasing the purple Mads Mikkelsen to add to my wall next to the Borbay painting.

If anything, please take a look at her work and consider purchasing a piece to help her out.

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Walking Down the Supernatural Lane

16 October 20149 May 2015

As the days of October wind down to the big finale (HALLOWEEN!), many throughout America celebrate the season all month long.  Each of us recognizes the holiday in various ways.  Some throw parties, others get dressed up and take their kids out trick or treating, while others take in as many scary flicks as they can.

dracula untold2For me, I like to take in the classics…like Dracula.  This month, Dracula: Untold featuring Luke Evans hit the big screen.  It was definitely well worth seeing more than once this month.  While it’s not scary at all, the special effects watching Vlad turn into a whirlwind of bats and then back into himself was spectacular.

While the guy next to me was freaking out every time they showed silver (Did he think he was a vampire or something?), it had some of its unbelievable comical points…that is, if you’re watching the movie with someone that laughs at that stuff.  I’m a serious person, so I take things very seriously.  But when I realized that some of the stuff was actually comical because of its predictability, I actually wanted to punch the guy next to me for laughing.  In other words, don’t laugh at Luke Evans when he’s not in a comedy.  It’s ruining the film for me.

For those who enjoy American Horror Story, I’ve been watching each of the seasons in its entirety on DVD.  I can’t decide which is my favorite, but Asylum is the only one that really scared me and left a lasting impression.

The only movies that really scared the hell out of me was Evil Dead and House of a 1000 Corpses.  Some of you may be chuckling over the former.  I was watching the movie alone and had no idea it was supposed to be comical.  All I know is that it scared the hell out of me.  I have yet to watch it a second time.  The later movies that branched from Evil Dead were comical from the get go.

Speaking of Evil Dead…how about Evil Dead: The Musical?  Don’t ask me how I stumbled upon that, but it’s showing in Cleveland, Ohio, which ironically is where Ebola case #3 cropped up.

As for Rob Zombie’s first movie, in the words of the woman who was on the other side of the theater when the credits started rolling, “That was fucked up.”  I remember sitting there in complete and utter shock, unable to move from my seat.  The only thing that brought me out of that freaked out trance was that woman yelling at the screen.

I had nightmares for the next three months after watching that movie.  I had to have cartoons on all night just so I could dream in cartoons instead of dreaming in Rob Zombie’s fucked up world.

The reason why this movie traumatized me…and traumatized is the correct word here…it was because in college, my boyfriend at the time was taking a serial killers class.  I read his text book while I sat in his office (he was a police officer).  Every single case of serial killers were put together in one movie…Rob Zombie’s movie.  It’s one thing to read about these cases, quite another to see it flashed before your very eyes and you know these things really did happen.

Everything from the lampshades being made out of human flesh to sex with corpses…it was in that book.  I felt like Zombie had read the same text book and decided to put every single case of serial killers into this one movie.

Thank God for The Devils Rejects.  I almost didn’t watch the film, but after I saw it, it brought closure to House of a 1000 Corpses and allowed me to sleep peacefully at night.

While there are movies that have scared me to death over the years, there are also the movies I watch every single year because you need to embrace the kid inside of you.  I’ve been watching the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Hocus Pocus every year since I was a teen.  They’re not scary at all.  They’re scary stories geared towards children.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJTFpXCsvfg]

These days, Sleepy Hollow is just a short train ride away for me.  What’s great about this old town is that they celebrate their history made famous by Washington Irving [see previous link].  This month, they are offering so many different ‘scary’ things to do as tourists go down the historical supernatural Sleepy Hollow lane.  If you really like the Fox TV show (like I do), this would be a great day or weekender trip this month (or next October).  They cater to children ages on up to adults.  I’m considering heading over next Saturday to partake in their festivities.

Like Hocus Pocus, catering to the stories that make Halloween what it is today, The Book of Life is a great way to get kids to learn about different cultures and how they celebrate the dead.  That movie comes out tomorrow (October 17, 2014).  If you’re in NYC, you can see it tonight.

What I love about October beyond the weather officially turning into fall weather, being able to wear sweaters again, apple picking and pumpkin carving, the leaves starting to change its colors as some of the most colorful and magnificent sunsets appear on the Western horizon in NYC, this is the month you can dive into culture and have fun with it.  I’m talking about that demonic, scary, supernatural, witchey culture that religions told us to stay away from.

But here in America, those stories of witches and ghosts are a part of our history.  Old towns like Salem, Massachusetts and Sleepy Hollow, NY (formerly Tarrytown, NY) keep the tradition going.  It’s not just about folk tales; it’s also about our history.

So take some time to dive into some culture and learn about our scary history.  It will leave you in wonder.

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Freak Shows are Coming to Broadway

15 October 20149 May 2015

If you’ve become engrossed in this season’s American Horror Story: Freak Show, then you’ll be happy to know that a couple of freak shows are coming to Broadway in New York City.

From Playbill.com. Photo by Joan Marcus.
From Playbill.com. Photo by Joan Marcus.

The first show, Side Show, will begin on October 28, 2014 at the St. James Theatre (246 W. 44th Street).  As you look at the photo, you’ll see it is very reminiscent of AHS:FS.  The show is based on a true story about two sisters joined at the hip and their quest for first love.

If you take a walk through Schubert Alley just a few steps away from St. James, you’ll find another theatre decked out in the old time carnival style.  Here, they are housing the Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper (Silver Lining Playbook, The Hangover I, II, and III) and Patricia Clarkson (The Maze Runner, Simply Irresistible).

elephant man2
From NY Daily News

What is interesting about the Booth Theatre is that they are all decked out and ready for the Elephant Man to hit Broadway on November 7, 2014.  In the last 10 years of walking by this theatre every single day, not once have they ever been so incredibly decked out as they are now.

Even the flyers they mailed out to subscribers were fantastic.  Here’s a glimpse at what they sent out to everyone:

elephant man

How beautifully done is that placard?  I hope that their posters look like this because it’s definitely one that will look amazing up on the wall.

So if you’re in New York City later on this month (and next month), get a peek at these amazing and fantastic creatures as two freak shows grace Broadway.

Fall 2014 is definitely the year of the Freak Show.

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A Night Out on Broadway: Matilda

3 September 20149 May 2015

MatildaI’ve been in NYC for a decade now and one thing I always wanted to do prior to moving here was go and see Broadway shows all of the time.  But that ended up going to the wayside because who wants to drop over a hundred bucks all of the time for 2.5+ hours of your time?

Granted, I joined a Broadway club, which doesn’t meet as frequently as I’d like it to.  Our last outing was back in April.

I’m always looking for deals to shows where I don’t wait in line at TKTS like the tourists do.

Now, there’s an app that puts all of my needs at my fingertips.

I was able to get tickets to Matilda for $27 ($37 ticket + $10 fee – $20 off coupon=$27).

Here’s how it works.

  1. Download the Today Tix app.
  2. Find the show you want at the price range you want to pay (they usually list the lowest price for the show in the corner of each banner).
  3. Look online for a voucher code before submitting payment.
  4. Plug in the voucher code and pay for your ticket through the app.
  5. You’ll get an email confirming your purchase (or letting you know if they were not able to secure a ticket for you), as well as the location where you will meet the concierge (which is usually near the theatre).
  6. 30 minutes prior to the show, find the concierge at the designated location, pick up your ticket(s) and go to the show.

It’s such a simple process.  No lines at TKTS.  Just order the tix through the app, meet the concierge near your theatre, pick up your tix and go.  You don’t even have to spend time in line at the box office to pick up your tickets.

If you’re in NYC looking to see a show, use the Today Tix app, and the code KCZJB to get $20 off your order.  This is a special code they gave to me to share as a thank you for using their app.

As for the show, it was a lot of fun.  Not all of the elements from the movie were in it, which was fine.

I think my favorite part was Matilda’s storytelling.  She came up with the most ridiculous story, but in the end, it wasn’t such a ridiculous tale she was making up to tell the librarian.  Matilda is definitely the master of cliffhangers.

These kids are so talented.  The adults threw in so much character.  They all did an amazing job.  It is worth bringing the family to see.  The show is around 2 hours and 20 minutes (plus a 15-minute intermission).  All of the kids around me really enjoyed the show.

Just make sure to unplug yourself from your devices during the production.  There is nothing ruder than to turn your phone on when the production is going on. Save your texting, tweeting, Instagraming, or whatever the hell else you use your phone for, for the intermission or before/after the show.  If you must text or call someone, excuse yourself from the area and use your phone in the hallway. Do not use it in the theatre.  The screen distracts everyone that can see it, which, at any given moment, is everyone sitting behind you and to your side.  That’s a lot of people you’re pissing off.

If you cannot unplug, you should probably not go to a theatrical production.  It is also a sign that you have a problem.

I also wonder what manners you’re teaching your children when you take out your phone and use it during a theatrical production when you know you are not supposed to have it on.

That’s my mini rant.

At any rate, if you can and know how to unplug yourself from your devices, try out the app if you’re wanting to head to a Broadway show.  No waiting in line, and better prices than TKTS, Playbill or any other discount site is offering (plus they have voucher codes)!

I’ll be using Today Tix more often now, because I have a long list of shows I’ve been wanting to see.  I’m thinking Cinderella or Hedwig & the Angry Itch as my next show.

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