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Jaime Andrews Photographer: Stacey Bode

We’re very excited to be speaking today with acclaimed author, actress and producer Jaime Andrews; greetings and salutations, Jaime! Before we meander down the Q&A pathway, how is the freshly-minted 2023 holiday season treating you?

I’m so excited for the holidays! I recently got to see my family in New York for Thanksgiving. Then, I’ll be with my husband’s family in Atlanta for Christmas...it’s just a cozy time, isn’t it? It feels like the one time of year that everything just calms down for a while. But maybe that’s because we don’t have kids.

Major congratulations on your recently released memoir The Brink: A Memoir. Can you explain to our ever-inquisitive readers what set you off on the path which ultimately led to your writing of this heartfelt and deeply personal look at your early years?

Thanks so much! It’s such a strange story. I moved to LA in 2005. I was broke and didn’t have many friends yet, so with nothing else to do, I just sat down one day and it all came pouring out. It was like I was channeling it; I wrote it in about three months. I had intended to write my whole story, but by the time I got to college, I already had almost 300 pages. So I figured this would be more than one book. It was my reaction to the lack of veracity that was discovered in the book Million Little Pieces by James Frey. I knew I had a crazy and totally TRUE story to tell, and telling it was akin to an exorcism.

You use humor effectively in The Brink: a Memoir when writing about some pretty heady things such as depression. Is being able to step back from the fray and comment on tough subjects with a little tongue-incheek essential for good mental health? Does it at least help things go down slightly easier?

Humor is absolutely a defense mechanism. Look at comedians, they’re often acknowledged to be some of the most miserable people. And I think that’s because sometimes things get so bad, you just have to laugh at the ridiculousness of it. The ability to do that has definitely gotten me through tough times. Laughs that come through tears are often the heartiest ones.

Has it become easier to have conversations about so-called touchy subjects such as depression and drugs since the time you first landed in Los Angeles? Have people become more empathetic and willing to have substantive conversations on these and other matters over the ensuing years?

Well, when I was struggling in Los Angeles, I actually found very little solace. It’s true I was “successful” so I think people, perhaps rightly, had very little patience for my self-pity. I have learned that you can only share these kinds of feelings with your really close friends. Or that, by doing so, you learn who your really close friends are. A lot of people turned their backs on me when I needed them. Thankfully, I’ve healed since then, and I don’t really blame them. I must’ve been pretty annoying.

In 2022 you wrote, produced and acted in the award-winning film Division - Belated kudos and accolades! The talented Jason Winn directed this gem, but was there ever a moment when you thought of helming it yourself?

Thanks so much! I’m so proud of this film. In theory, I would’ve loved to direct it. I definitely had a picture of it in my mind, but I thought I lacked the technical acumen to actually pull it off as director. Things like lighting, lenses and angles, are things I just don’t know enough about. But I was so lucky to partner with Jason, who really brought it to life even better than I could have imagined it. I would love to learn that stuff though, because I have more movies in me!

Segway time! You founded your own production company Jaimation, which allows you the opportunity to bring your passion projects to life.

What inspired you to set up the Jaimation production shingle? Was it as simple as wanting to have a hand in projects which most production houses aren’t doing at the moment?

Can I say I was inspired for tax reasons? Ha! Well, I set up Jaimation primarily for my own projects, but I would love to have a hand in helping to create other people’s work at some point. Until then, it serves as an umbrella corporation for all my endeavors.

You’re a co-host of The Daniel Baldwin Show Podcast with fellow actor Daniel Baldwin. What can a first-time listener tuning in to the show expect as far as content goes?

In a life full of weirdness, the fact that I’m doing this ranks amongst the weirdest. I like to think of myself as the Robin to Daniel’s Howard Stern, just reacting to his varied rants. And he has many! You’ll hear our takes on the news, our lives and varied controversial topics. We’ve also had really interesting guests every week. Daniel and I met because of World’s Dumbest and actually grew up in adjacent towns, so we have a really good rapport and it’s been a lot of fun. Deeply weird fun.

You appeared on World’s Dumbest for five years. What was the most enjoyable part of that experience?

I really relished getting to write and perform jokes every week, it was a great gig. By year five, it got hard to think of any more jokes about drunk guys falling off tables, but for the most part, it was a blast. Plus, I always hear from people who loved that show and it can be very touching.

Strangely, especially given what Division is about, a viewer of World’s Dumbest actually invested in the film, so I’m forever grateful to that show for many reasons.

Who inspires you acting-wise?

Right now, I’m most inspired by Margot Robbie, not just for her acting, but for the fact that she really makes things happen as a producer. I love so many actors, male and female, but it’s the ones who are also creating their own work that are really lighting my fire right now.

Can you give readers a hint or three as to what you have coming up in 2024?

I’m most excited about my new screenplay, Hardcore. It’s the true crime story about a kid I went to highschool with, and it’s really shocking. I’m not sure why it hasn’t been a podcast or Dateline episode, but it’s going to be a hell of a movie. I’m also currently working on the follow-up to The Brink, but I suppose people will have to buy the first one to make the second one worthwhile. It’s called Further, and, if you can imagine, things got even worse for me before they got better.

Final - SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies Living In Oblivion, The Player, Barton Fink, The Big Picture or Ed Wood?

Oh wow, I loved Living In Oblivion but I haven’t seen it in YEARS! Thanks for the reminder, I really must revisit it. Catherine Keener was my favorite, and Steve Buscemi is always great. If I had to pick my favorite movie about the artistic process though (and maybe my favorite of all time), I’d have to go with Frank, starring Michael Fassbender. It has so much to say about group dynamics, performance anxiety, artistic purity and mental illness...and it’s funny! I just love it. Now I have to rewatch that too.

Samantha Neyland Trumbo

We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed actress, cover model, and respected ICF-recognized Life Coach Samantha Neyland Trumbo; greetings and salutations, Samantha! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A pathway, how is the freshly minted holiday season of 2023 treating you?

I’m loving it! This year, I decided to hand-make all of my holiday gifts which has already proven to be way more time-consuming than I originally expected, but I’m so thankful to be doing it. It’s so easy to get caught in the commercialized element of this season and I’m refusing to fall into the trap this year. Hand-making everything is forcing me to be more thoughtful and create something meaningful for the people in my life who deserve everything. I just wish I was as talented at crafts as I assumed I’d be.

Major congratulations on your wonderful new movie Christmas Rescue which is set to premiere this December 14 on BET+! Can you tell our ever-inquisitive readers what Christmas Rescue is about and how your character of Chelsea figures into the proceedings?

Christmas Rescue is so cute! It’s the perfect feel-good Christmas movie that will make you laugh, cry, and smile, in that order!

When the movie opens, my character, Chelsea, is about to marry the perfect dream guy when the ex-love of her life abducts her from her wedding and tries to win her back. We then get to see both guys fight for her in a messy, heartfelt, hilarious way.

Christmas Rescue was directed by the very talented William ‘Billy’ Givens Jensen. What was your collaboration process like with Billy while shooting the film? Is he what some actors might call “an actor’s director”?

Billy has become one of my favorite people, let alone favorite directors to work with. His signature is asking “How can we _______?” whenever something in a scene isn’t working. It opens up the floor for him to hear your thoughts and you to hear his thoughts so you’re both crafting the scene and character together. He gives great direction, but he always first creates a collaborative environment that fuels creativity on both sides. As an actor, it’s such a gift to work with a director who values your creative input.

Coming into Christmas Rescue, were you a card-carrying fan of past Christmas movies?

I love Christmas movies! I watch the same Christmas RomComs every year and cry at the same scenes every time! There’s something magical about Christmas and there’s always something magical about love so putting the two together is always so sweet and will forever tug at my heartstrings.

You work with such a talented ensemble of thespians in Christmas Rescue such as Robin Givens, Raven Goodwin, Donny Carrington, Catfish Jean, Mario Van Peebles, and Cameron Bailey. What was it like exercising your own considerable acting chops alongside this talented lot?

The entire cast was so wonderful. It’s always a huge blessing when everyone gets along and can laugh together during lunch breaks. I spent the most time with Catfish and Cameron. The three of us had great chemistry and played really well off each other. The laughs you’ll see on screen we’re all real!

We didn’t have any scenes together, but I definitely learned and was inspired the most by Robin. She was also our executive producer and co-wrote the script so she was on set every day. When we met, prior to filming, she told me to trust her, which is exactly what I did every day as she pushed and challenged me in so many ways.

Mario and I have a beautiful father-daughter scene together at the beginning of the movie. Just running lines with him for that scene was amazing. He’s such a seasoned pro that it never feels like acting with him.

It just felt like he was my dad in that moment. Honestly, there were days I felt like I was at an acting boot camp, surrounded by so many talented people, it was amazing and I was obsessed. Donnie is such a sweetheart. I will forever follow his career and root for him! Also, Raven! That woman is as phenomenal in real life as she is on screen. She’s so much fun, I loved that we got to play best friends.

You also have another intriguing-sounding motion picture in the pipeline entitled Marshmallow which is from the capable hand of director Daniel DelPurgatorio. Can you give readers a hint or three as to what they can expect from this sci-fi horror mystery film?

Wow. Marshmallow is such a sweet treat—pun intended. It’s about a group of kids who go to a summer camp in the woods and some weird creepy things start happening pretty quickly. I play Laurie, one of the camp counselors. It’s a great ensemble cast with a script that I cannot brag enough about. It’s really clever!

Who inspires you acting-wise?

I love Julia Roberts and Kerry Washington. Julia Roberts is my romcom icon and Kerry Washington is amazing because she brings strength to even the most vulnerable scenes/characters, it’s incredible to watch. I mean, have you seen Season 3 of Scandal?! I think about it at least once a month.

In a previous life you were the rightly lauded print and runway model and were even crowned the 2020 Miss Hawaii USA - Kudos on all of those achievements! How did all of that inform your life as an actress?

I started modeling when I was in high school and it’s originally what brought me to LA, where I then started taking acting more seriously. I don’t pursue it quite like I used to but I’ll always be grateful it’s what introduced me to my career in acting. Plus learning how to recognize camera angles through modeling has definitely come in handy as an actress!

When I won Miss Hawaii USA, I had already been acting for six years.

I really think of the two as completely separate things. To me, the only crossovers are the confidence that comes from competing in pageantry and the resilience that is grown from being a working actor in an industry of constant rejection. My pageant career and my acting career did not directly influence one another but indirectly, they both allowed me to further develop skills that helped me succeed in the other.

In 2019 you founded the program Time to Talk Hawaii. How did that gem of an idea come about?

When I was competing for Miss Hawaii USA, I wanted to become a leader and role model rather than wait for a crown to do it for me. I’m a firm believer that you can talk about what you’re going to do or you can actually make a plan and start doing it. So that’s what I did. I was obsessed with Toastmasters, a nonprofit public speaking organization, and loved working with teens so I combined the two to make Time to Talk Hawaii - a program dedicated to helping teens learn how to communicate effectively and grow into confident young adults. I led multiple workshops teaching teens how to communicate to themselves, and to others and how to communicate in a public setting.

You successfully led Hawaii into passing SB 939. Can you explain to anyone not in the know what SB 939 is and why you are so passionate about it?

Yes! This was my Juneteenth bill. I co-founded Hawaii for Juneteenth with my now husband, Ty Trumbo, in the summer of 2020. I was the first Black woman to win Miss Hawaii USA. George Floyd had just been killed and I felt this calling to do something of significance in my community. Building upon my previous dedication of helping teens learn how to better communicate I thought “How can I help people better understand the racial unrest in our country so they can talk about it, learn about it, and work to change it.”

Believing that understanding our past can help us improve our future, my goal was to establish Juneteenth as a holiday in Hawaii so that more people would know about the historical significance of the day. Our coalition grew rapidly to include elected officials, State Universities, local businesses, the NAACP, the ACLU, the Anti-Defamation League and so many more.

It was more than I ever could’ve imagined! But we did it. Within one year of launching the campaign, we successfully passed a law establishing Juneteenth as a holiday in Hawaii. Then literally two days later, Biden signed the federal bill, making it a federal holiday. I always joke that the President stole my thunder that day!

At the end of the day, what do you hope viewers walk away with after tuning in on December 14 on BET+ to check out your heartfelt and holiday-filled movie Christmas Rescue I hope they feel the love! This movie is filled with so much love in so many ways. Family. Romance. Friends. There’s love all around and it’s a good reminder of what the holiday season is really about.

Nicholas Mihm We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed and Emmynominated director, editor, and producer, Nicholas Mihm; greetings and salutations, Nicholas! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A celluloid pathway, how is the freshly-minted holiday season of 2023 treating you?

and learn a bit about Iran’s mythology, specifically from a historic epic poem called The Shahnameh or The Book of Kings. This is a beautiful piece of text that guided Parwiz as a young idealistic man in government, and it continues to guide him as a displaced elder living amongst the Iranian diaspora.

Thank you so much for chatting with me! The holiday season has been much needed. It’s been a productive and busy year so far. One that has also gone by extremely fast. My wife and I have been really grateful for a little quiet time.

Why this incredible film and why now? What makes 2023 the perfect landing spot to release Bubjan?

Major congratulations on your powerful new short film Bubjan which is available for interested online viewers from November 8-26 on DOC NYC’s website! Starting at the very tip-top, can you tell our everinquisitive readers what Bubjan is about?

Thank you! Yes, we were extremely honored to be an official selection at DOC NYC this year.

Our short documentary was inspired by hours of in-depth interviews

by Humans of New York creator, Brandon Stanton. The film chronicles the journey of Parwiz Zafari, aka Bubjan - an Iranian man who has been living in exile in the United States since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Parwiz was at one time a member of the Iranian parliament, where he dedicated his life to cultivating a progressive, modern, and free society in Iran. But the rise of the Islamic Republic eclipsed those aspirations, and he was forced to leave behind everything he knew.

We tell the story through the eyes of Parwiz and his eldest son, Maziar,

I was honored to be asked by Parwiz’s grandson, Rostam Zafari, to be a part of this project in mid-2022. At the time, I think the movement against the Islamic Republic was sort of sputtering. It wasn’t that people didn’t care, but it had definitely lost momentum when it came to public attention, especially compared to recent years. So initially, I think we wanted the film to reenergize the movement. Inspire people inside and outside of Iran and use Bubjan’s story to remind people of the progressive direction Iran was headed towards in the late 70s. Iran of course wasn’t without its flaws. But we wanted to remind the public of the country’s limitless potential.

Everything changed in September of 2022 after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini - a 22 year old woman who died while in the regime’s custody after they accused her of improperly wearing her hijab. This tragedy created an uproar across the globe and really awakened the Iranian spirit. Our film - and more importantly, Parwiz’s message had suddenly taken on a new purpose. We are now more than a year removed from Mahsa’s death, and we want to make sure that the spirit, enthusiasm, and anger we saw last year doesn’t dwindle. It’s important that we not forget about the atrocities Iranians continue to face on a daily basis in Iran.

Research-wise, what went into assembling Bubjan? And who was the stalwart figure who conducted all of those hours of interviews in preparation for the film?

So much time and effort went into researching the film. I was fairly unfamiliar with Iran’s history and culture before jumping into this project. So as you can imagine, a lot of time was spent just absorbing as much information as possible. We spent endless hours watching and cataloging a huge library of archival footage and reference material. I thankfully had an amazing team of filmmakers who were on this journey with me, including our amazing editor Azadeh Navai, producer Lisa Rudin, director of Animation Elyse Kelly, and her amazing team of artists spread across the globe!

Considering these highly-charged and politicized times where it feels like no one can agree on anything, were you concerned about receiving any pushback on Bubjan?

It is of course always in the back of your mind for any politically charged project. But, in our case, I don’t think there’s very much disagreement within the Persian diaspora about the need for change in Iran. We understand that there is debate amongst the Persian community of who should be in leadership when the Islamic Republic is finally overthrown, and it’s an important conversation to have, but that can’t slow down any progress that the movement has made. Too many young people in the country are being arrested, tortured, and executed. People must come together, and change must happen now. Too many lives are at stake.

What made DOC NYC the perfect home platform to release Bubjan?

We have been really lucky so far in the festival circuit. We were fortunate enough to premiere in Washington DC during DC/DOX’s inaugural year, and to continue this festival run at DOC NYC is the honor of a lifetime. I think most doc filmmakers would say that. It’s hard to deny the festival’s prestige and reputation as the country’s largest doc festival. That was evident just by the quality of films we saw while we were in New York.

That exposure can do nothing but help the film in the long run.

Bubjan just enjoyed a roundly applauded November 11 in-person premiere at the heralded Village East by Angelika in NYC. What was that experience like?

It was amazing! A packed house in a historic venue - what else could you ask for as a filmmaker? And what an honor it was to be grouped with such amazing films and filmmakers. Many of whom I think will be racking up the accolades during this upcoming award season. It’s definitely inspiring to see other filmmakers doing such personal, and powerful work. Films like The Last Repair Shop and The Silent Witness - a film which we were privileged to screen with in Washington DC as well. These films absolutely make me want to take my game to another level as a filmmaker and a storyteller.

Where can curious viewers check out Bubjan after its viewing window closes on DOC NYC later this month?

The film is going to continue its festival run into next year. We hope to be making some announcements soon! My hope is to then make it available for a wide audience. Audiences can keep up with our progress at www. nimruz.org/bubjan. More importantly, we recently had the great fortune of broadcasting the film to audiences in Iran itself! We were able to partner with Manoto, a broadcasting company who is able to reach millions of people in Iran, despite constant efforts from the Islamic Republic to disrupt their feed. The film was received very well and our EP, Rostam, was able to speak with a number of callers from inside the country who wanted to discuss the film. If there were ever a single goal for the type of audience that we wanted to reach - that was it!

But it all started with Parwiz’s grandson Rostam Zafari and Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton. The two of them had been planning on a HoNY piece chronicling Parwiz’s life, and I was lucky enough to be invited to document the experience. My sister Stefanie had introduced me to HoNY years ago, and I have been a fan and a follower ever since. So what an honor it was to get a small glimpse of Brandon’s artistic process. After several days of interviews, my team and I were able to go through the transcripts and find the story that we wanted to focus on. We then went back and continued interviews with Parwiz and his son Maziar to get the rest of what we needed.

Brandon would continue down his own path and conduct hundreds of additional hours of interviews with Parwiz and produce what I sincerely think is his HoNY masterpiece. I really recommend everyone go read this wonderful piece of literature. It truly is beautiful.

As a filmmaker, were there any surprises during the production of Bubjan that you walked away with regarding Parwiz Zafari?

I think this is true for any project, so I wouldn’t necessarily categorize it as a surprise. But it’s always an eye opening experience discovering how much I DON’T know about any given subject. I have yet to approach a project thinking that I know more than the average person.

I guess that is what makes this job so fun and exciting. Every new subject is more or less a blank slate, so you’re constantly educating yourself and expanding your breadth of knowledge. I think at that point your project can go in any number of different directions, and that forces you to really rely on the team around you. But it’s always an exciting, and of course daunting point in the process.

What is Nimruz all about, what is its purpose?

As I mentioned earlier, I was approached by Parwiz’s grandson, Rostam, to join the project. At the time, he was working with his cousin Sepanta on developing Nimruz, a non-profit organization that focuses on championing Iranian art, activism, education, storytelling, and everything in between. It has been a really amazing partnership.

Both these guys have put themselves on the front lines of the movement against the Islamic Republic, and are doing amazing work celebrating and highlighting so much of what Iranian culture has to offer. They even unveiled a massive statue of Cyrus the Great in Atlanta. A huge undertaking and a symbolic reminder of Persian history.

At the end of the day, what do you hope folks checking out your beautiful new film Bubjan walk away with?

I really hope that audiences everywhere are able to connect with Bubjan’s story - especially in Persian communities around the world.

Here is a man who has sacrificed and lost so much in his life, but his spirit and love for his country remains just as strong today as it was when he was a member of Parliament. And I think that comes from the lessons he has learned from Iran’s history and mythology, specifically The Shahnameh. Lessons that were passed on to his children, to his grandchildren, and now far beyond! Remembering where you came from can be a powerful tool when working towards a better future.

Antonella Rose

We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed young actress Antonella Rose; holiday greetings and salutations, Antonella! Before we dive down the interview Q&A rabbit hole, how is the freshly minted holiday season treating you? Are you looking forward to Christmas?

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to speak with me, I really enjoy your page. We usually celebrate Christmas by going out of the country to visit family; reunite with my cousins, and I get to practice my Portuguese. I love waking up in the morning with my whole family and listening to Christmas carols, opening presents with my family, and having fun. I think Christmas is magical and I always look forward to it.

Speaking of Christmas, major congratulations on your upcoming turn in the feature motion picture A Sudden Case Of Christmas! Starting at the tip-top, can you explain to readers what this new holiday film is all about and how your character figures into the proceedings?

I would love to talk more about it, but it hasn’t been released yet, so I’m not allowed. I can see this movie becoming a Christmas classic. The story is so intriguing and almost spellbinding, the scenario is to die for, with a lot of twists, an incredible plot, and a stellar cast.

Did you know as soon as you were offered your role in A Sudden Case Of Christmas that this was a production you wanted to be a part of?

I was really praying to be able to work on something that I would watch with my friends since my last two jobs were a little bit too heavy. I definitely was jumping on my bed with my mom for a few minutes while celebrating, I wanted to just teleport to Italy instantly so we could start filming haha!

What was it like working with the director of A Sudden Case Of Christmas, Peter Chelsom? Was he what some actors might refer to as “an actor’s director”?

I wish you could see my smile when I talk about him. You know those people you meet that you just know will be in your life forever? Peter Chelsom is a full package director.

He pays attention to every single little detail of the movie.

His vision and talent is definitely “ Marvelous darling “, as he always says. He will be the first to enter and last to leave the location. He definitely matches my energy.

You work with such a brilliant cast in A Sudden Case Of Christmas, including the likes of the super-talented Wilmer Valderrama and the legendary Danny DeVito and Andie MacDowell! What was it like exercising your own considerable acting chops alongside this talented lot?

I’ve learned so much from each of them. Wilmer Valderrama is so humble that he sometimes makes you forget that he’s a Hollywood star. Andie Macdowell and I shared a beautiful scene together and I can’t wait for you

guys to see it, she’s so effortlessly elegant. Danny DeVito is a national treasure, I can say that I had a master class of improv and acting with a living LEGEND. A Sudden Case Of Christmas was shot in the beautiful and scenic Dolomites, Italy! What was it like showing up for work every day in that gorgeous setting?

I cannot express my gratitude for the time I got to spend there. It’s like waking up in paradise. If you love mountain scenery, you want to go to the Dolomites in Italy! There is a lot to see and do while you are there, but if the only thing you end up doing is sitting and looking at these spectacular rugged mountains, that will be time well spent.

Along with your upcoming star turn in A Sudden Case Of Christmas, you also recently concluded a six-episode arc on the hit AMC series Fear The Walking Dead! What was that experience like for you?

Stepping into a show that’s been here for years is quite a bit scary, especially since Tracy, the character I portrayed on Fear The Walking Dead, was introduced quite briefly and I knew it might have been hard for the fans to get to know her as a character, and as a person. But surprisingly, I’m still in shock at all of the love I’m receiving. I still can’t believe that I got to play Tracy Otto. She’s such a cool kid, and I will cherish her forever.

What do you like the most about acting? What do you like the least?

I enjoy figuring out how I want to present my character.

I usually use some pretty weird and different methods, like taking the script and digging into it, and building a blueprint of the character. Figuring out who the person is, and how I can represent them. It’s a really fun process.

The least favorite part is definitely to say goodbye to the people you work with, they always end up being part of your family.

Who inspires you acting-wise?

Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone. I really admire these actresses and I hope to work with them one day.

When not working in television and film, what do you enjoy doing for fun?

In my downtime, I really love to play my ukulele and write songs. I’ve been listening to Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Rodrigo. I treated myself to a purple Victrola from the 80’s where I can listen to all their songs. I also love to crochet and draw clothing, I love fashion! And last but not least, going to the theater with my friends.

Photo Credit: Nicole Mitchem Photography

Kennedy Martin

We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed actress Kennedy Martin; greetings and salutations, Kennedy! Before we meander down the celluloid Q&A pathway, how is the freshly-minted holiday season of 2023 treating you?

It has been really amazing! I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Scottsdale, and we had so much fun catching up and spending quality time together. My mom cooked a really great Thanksgiving meal and I got to see cousins that I hadn’t seen in a while. I’m also looking forward to Christmas. It’s my favorite holliday and I love Christmas shopping - gift giving is my love language!

As everyone knows, the SAG-AFTRA strike recently came to an end. As a working actress, how do you feel about the deal struck between the major studio heads and the leadership of SAG-AFTRA? I’m definitely still in the process of educating myself and forming opinions on the contract that has been proposed. Like everyone, I really want to get back to work, but under the right protections!

You made a stunning turn as an actress with your bravura performance in Healed By Grace II. When you landed that role, did it feel like a watershed moment for you, creatively speaking?

I have so many fond memories of Healed by Grace II, and while I feel like I’ve grown SIGNIFICANTLY as an actor, I’m so grateful for the experience and all that it taught me.

It’s funny, I still get asked about it alot, probably because it’s on my IMDb page. That was the first feature that I acted in, and I learned a lot about the filmmaking process. It also encouraged me to look into film acting programs for university.

You serve as a producer on the upcoming short film Keel. What can you tell our ever-inquisitive readers about Keel and the qualities which attracted you to it as a producer?

Working on Keel was my first time producing a narrative story that was more than just sketch comedy or individual stand alone scenes. I was excited to work on something that was tonally very “slice-of-life,” so when my friend and collaborator, Margaret Seid approached me about it, I was excited to jump on board!

Keel is not your first time at bat as a producer. Is

producing something which you can see yourself doing more of in the future, or will you always have a hand in acting?

While acting is my first love, I would like to be doing both! I really look up to Reece Witherspoon - she has a production company “Hello Sunshine” that makes projects, many of which are acquired film rights from novels. Some of these novels are part of Reece’s Book club, so they come with a built-in audience. It’s incredibly smart!

My goal is to produce great commercially successful content, support diverse voices and stories, and work on projects with my ever so talented friends!

Word ‘round industry campfire has it that you’ve got a high-profile commercial from a certain House of Mouse set to premiere soon; congrats! Can you talk about the Disney commercial and other projects you have in the late 2023/2024 pipeline?

Booking a Walt Disney World commercial was such a special experience because my boyfriend and I’s first date was at Disneyland. I had a season pass because my college was only 5 minutes or so away, and he had never been. Disney is very special to us, and when we got the call that we booked it, it was a “no-brainer” to jump on a last minute flight to Orlando for the shoot!

You’ve done a lot of notable voice-over work in your career. What type of challenges does voiceover performance present to an actor that more traditional screen roles do not?

One of the biggest challenges with voice-over is maintaining vocal health. Auditions come in frequently and at the very last minute, so I have to keep my voice in great shape year round. I do whatever I can to avoid getting sick and have to be extra careful in loud settings like concerts, loud restaurants, theme parks, etc. Mostly, I love how much room there is to play with voice over - I lose track of time playing with the possible voices that could match the characters personality and appearance.

Final - SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies - Living In Oblivion, The Player or Ed Wood?

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood!

Luke Speakman

We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed actor Luke Speakman; greetings and holiday salutations, Luke! Before we dive down the Q&A rabbit hole, how is the freshly-minted holiday season of 2023 treating you?

Hello! Thank you for having me! I love this time of the year. My family is the kind that goes all out when it come to decorations, and I think this year is our best yet! I also enjoy the extra free time to hang out with my best pup pal Waffles, my 3 year old Golden Retriever! He could play fetch nonstop, and I don’t mind!

The only thing that could make this holiday season even better would be a spontaneous snow day here in Atlanta! Rare, but it could happen!

Congratulations on a super-busy 2023! Every time viewers turned on their respective televisions you were seen to amazing effect in such exciting productions as Young Rock and Into the Wild Frontier! Do you enjoy keeping busy, hopping from one project to the next?

It has been busy! I absolutely love it! I love adventures, and each new opportunity is a new adventure! My favorite is when production is in a location that I have never visited before. My mom and I like to research the area and try to learn and see all we can while we are on location. It’s like the ultimate field trip every time we travel! I also enjoy the challenge of a new character - digging down deep to find out what makes each character unique and experimenting with different ways of portraying this uniqueness on camera! I am a kid with A LOT of energy, and very lucky to have such a positive way to channel that energy!

You appeared as a lead in this year’s short film Howl at the Dead which premiered at the 2023 Screamfest LA Film Festival at the Historic TCL Chinese Theatre. Can you talk a little about what the film is about and the character you play in it?

Howl at the Dead will always be a special project for me. I actually filmed the short back in 2021 when I was barely 8 years old! The character of “boy” was described to be 10 years old, and called for a pretty wide range of emotions. We decided to audition anyways for the experience and to help push me to the next level. Up until then, most of the characters I had played just wanted me to be “cute and happy little boy.” We sent in the tape and got a callback! From there, I was asked to tape another scene and do another callback with the director, Gregg Bishop. I eventually booked it! I had to work for that booking and I loved every minute of the process! Working on this set was a little boy’s dream come true! There were so many animals and my co-star was the an amazing dog - Delilah Jane Sassafras Nativo (Paws). Even though it is a short film, it has so much heart! I don’t want to give away too much, but let’s just say that our animals can see a little more than us humans can and the bond between a boy and his dog can result in some magical and unpredictable things!

What do you like the most about acting? What do you like the least?

What I like the most about acting is being able to meet so many different people that I would have never had the chance to meet in a normal kid life. I make so many friends from literally all around the world! I love to talk to people and learn about their lives and share about mine! Acting has taken me to places that I would have never dreamed of, like Tokyo , Japan, and the friends I make are my friends forever!

What I like least about acting is having to go to set school. I actually have always like my set teachers; I just don’t like having to take some time in the day away from working on set. I don’t mind school and luckily it has always come easy to me, so far, but I would rather be where the action is happening!

Your first credited on-screen work came in the form of a 2020 episode of the revival series from Steven Spielberg, Amazing Stories. Any special memories of that freshman production?

Well to be completely honest, I was barely five years old when I worked on Amazing Stories and this was my very first audition and my very first booking! Since I was so young, I didn’t understand or even care that this was a MAJOR project! My mom told me that we were going to go play some more just like when we auditioned! I will never forget arriving to set. I think at that moment was when I knew that being an actor was what I was born to do. I was obsessed with it all! There were so many new people to meet and so much happening all at the same time. I had my own trailer and could get snacks from crafty whenever I wanted! Not to mention all the equipment and cameras used to make thunder and lightning and movie magic.

Although I was pretty young, there are two memories that stick with me today. One would be when I showed up to the hair and makeup trailer and Victoria Pandretti (who played my mom in the episode) was there. She invited me to sit right beside her and we chatted the entire time. I felt so welcome! Also, while we were filming, I was very interested in the sound equipment. The sound technician noticed and invited me to sit with him, gave me headphones and took a few minutes to show me what happened when you moved the sliders on the sound table. At the time I just thought it was pretty cool but now that I am older, and have experienced many different sets, and I realize that he had to have been busy and had to have had so much to do, but he chose to take the time and inspire a little 5 year old, and because of that, I was hooked and can’t imagine doing anything else!

You’ve got a number of exciting-sounding projects set for release in the coming weeks and months! What can you tell our ever-inquisitive readers about The Exorcists where you play “Corey Carpenter”?

Playing Corey Carpenter has been a new experience for me because it is a horror film. I actually have worked on several horror projects, but never had a role where I was the “scary” character! I love it! I am obsessed with the special make up required to create my character’s “possessed look”. I even wear contacts for the first time to complete the look! (You can watch my reaction to seeing myself for the first time on my instagram: @luke.speakman). We shot the film in an actual mausoleum and ancient graveyard, and I may or may not have been found during the breaks hiding and scaring the cast and crew while done up in character…. Something to note is that I got to work along side and share the screen with the legendary Doug Bradley who stars in the film. I don’t want to give away any spoilers!

Check it out on Amazon Prime Video!

In production right now is another feature which you’re in, Coal River! What’s this one about?

Coal River is a complicated thriller that will definitely keep you guessing until the end! No spoilers here! But I can give you some teasers! My character Wyatt ends up fighting for his life and the local sheriff tries to save him while fighting through some major trauma from his past. Wyatt is a blast to play because it is a very active role full of running, climbing, and even

swimming! I even got to perform some of my own stunts which a wet suit and harness! I train and compete for the American Ninja Warrior League and have been waiting for the day to use these skills on camera! Keep an eye out in the future for Coal River to find out what eventually happens to Wyatt!

Looking ahead, where would you like to see yourself as an actor five years from now?

Well, in five years I will be 15 years old! It is very hard to imagine what life will be like as a teenager! I also know how unpredictable the life of an actor can be! I try not to set hard goals and get too focused on them. But I do like to set what my family calls “growing goals”. So in my case, I decide what ways would I like grow as a person or actor in 5 years.

In five year I hope as an actor I have become more open and connected to emotions or ideas that don’t quite make sense to me now as a 10 year old. I hope I keep growing in a way that makes my acting even more deep and real so that I can tell the character’s story even better. I also hope that I never lose the love and excitement I feel every time I get the opportunity to work on a new set or the challenge of a new character! Call me in 5 years to find out!

How does your family feel about your success as an actor?

To be honest, my 3 siblings really don’t care! Actually they are proud of me, but to them I am just Luke their brother.

They do find it weird when people recognize me in public and then tease me about it when we get home! But I don’t mind the teasing. I guess it has never been a big deal because we look at acting as something I do and not who I am. Our family life does not revolve around what I do as an actor.

It is apart of it but all of us kids have something we are passionalty working towards and with each passion comes some successes. It’s just part of what makes our family our family!

Acting-wise, who do you look up to?

I definitely look up to Chris Pratt as an actor! He has worked on so many different types of projects! His work can be found in different movie genres, tv shows, and voiceovers to name a few! I love that he does it all and does it all very well!

It is something that I hope to accomplish some day in the future!

When you’re not acting, what do you enjoy doing for fun?

When I am not acting you can most likely find me on the little league baseball feild! I love baseball and live right down the road from the Braves Stadium! So, you might find me there cheering on the Braves! I also spend a lot of time riding my bike around our neighborhood and playing basketball with the neighborhood boys on the street. I always find time to hang out with my pup Sir Golden Waffles (Waffles for short) while trying to teach him new tricks! I also love a good game of chess! I try to challenge my family but they can’t ever beat me! If I am not doing one of those, I am probably tracking the weather. I am a bit obsessed with weather and love to follow a good storm on the radar and predict what will happen in the future! I guess you could say that when I am not acting, you can find me being a regular, energetic 10 year old kid!

Berenice Scott

We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed composer, writer, singer, session player and producer Berenice Scott; greetings and salutations, Berenice!

Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, how is the freshlyminted autumn of 2023 treating you?

the longest time not only learning the material theoretically, but then also trying to feel and interpret what the artist might be conveying emotionally. After that it’s all about performing it as best I can with my own feelings and interpretation of every aspect of the work I’ve delved into.

It’s treating me very well thank you! I’m just fresh off a blustery beach walk with the dogs, so that has me feeling minty fresh!

As a respected producer yourself, did you do the producing honors on A Joni Kind Of Mood?

Major congratulations on the November 3 release of your beautiful new album A Joni Kind Of Mood! Can you talk a little about what inspired you to release not only a heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time - Joni Mitchell - but also a corker of an LP in its own right?

Thank you so much, what a lovely intro! There was a period in my life recently where I found myself lost both personally and work wise and I was just drawn to Joni Mitchel’s vast catalogue. I had her as my soundtrack practically exclusively for a year and over time it kind of morphed into this project of re-interpreting some of her songs. It definitely has been one of the biggest undertakings I have put my heart into creatively, and something I have not approached lightly given the magnitude of her artistry.

How easy - or how difficult - was it to transpose Joni’s music to piano?

Well, lets put it this way… I’d be lying if I said it was easy! But I really do enjoy the excavation of learning another artists’ work, I like to dig deep and try and delve into a creative space that either I haven’t been to before or I’m a little scared of.

You tackle perhaps one of Joni Mitchell’s best loved songs Both Sides Now on A Joni Kind Of Mood. When it came time to record this evergreen were there any nerves at all on your part to take on the Mt. Everest of Folk music?

Oh yeah, terrifying actually, particularly when it came round to the recording week I had for the pure piano/vocal tracks on this album. I recorded this and the other piano/vocal tracks in an incredible studio deep in the countryside of Lincolnshire which has a stunning Steinway model B Grand piano. There’s no hiding when its just you and the mics printing every emotional note, so it was very important to me to honour the work as best I could.

Have you received any kind of feedback from Joni Mitchell on A Joni Kind Of Mood?

It has been so wonderful to hear or see reactions to it. I had absolutely no idea or thoughts about how it might be received as I’ve just been inside these songs for quite a while! It’s a journey I hope to continue when I take it live and am able to share it intimately in person.

6) What’s the secret to successfully reinterpreting music from another artist, be they well known or obscure?

I don’t think I know of any secret, I just always try to spend

And, if so, what are the pros to serving as your own producer? It’s been very important to me that I am able to express myself fully production wise, and that is something I’ve worked on in order to do that. At the same time though I’ve grown to really enjoy trusted voices coming through and offering different routes that I would never have thought of.

In the wake of the November 3 release of A Joni Kind Of Mood can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit?

Thank you yes I am really looking forward to playing this live with my first date being at Pizza Express Jazz club Holborn on 12th January 2024.

You were born in Paris, France and grew up in Sussex, France and Portugal. How do those seemingly disparate roots inform you as an artist and as a person?

That’s a great question and something I haven’t really thought about before! I definitely have been influenced first and foremost by the music I heard at a young age growing up; my Dad in particular listened to a lot of flamenco guitar music and Latin Jazz fusion… In Portugal we lived close to the Spanish border and I remember taking regular trips to Seville with him and spending hours in guitar shops! My mother always had music in the car, Rickie Lee Jones was on rotation a lot and of course she had her favourite French artists.

Your father is the nigh iconic Robin Scott of M and Pop Muzik fame. What lessons of being in the music industry has he passed on to you?

There was something he said once when I first started writing songs and composing; he was completely supportive and full of encouragement, yet he stated very clear early on that if you want to do it seriously you have to ‘eat, sleep and breathe music and writing 24/7’. I still can’t shake that creative ethos to this day.

At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to your beautiful new album A Joni Kind Of Mood?

Firstly, thank you so much for those lovely words! I think all I hope to impart is for anyone to have some music which they might want to turn to when the mood desires, to uplift or to take comfort in… her music has been that for me, so to appreciate the incredible songwriting and artistry of Joni Mitchell, well that’s what it’s all about for me.

Salah Bachir

Photo Credit: George Pimentel We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed author, entrepreneur and philanthropist Salah Bachir. Greetings and salutations, Salah! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A pathway, how is the freshly minted autumn of 2023 treating you?

friendships with people such as Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Andy Warhol, Marlon Brando, and Princess Diana. You can also see how little acts of kindness made such a huge difference and made me admire them, while not worshiping or fawning over them.

I am staying active in the peace movement, fundraising and helping where I can with different charities I am involved in — community and cultural centres that help with LGBTQ and trans rights, food security, shelter, refugee programs, and indigenous cultural programs. Every small act of kindness and compassion keeps my mind focused on all the good that can be done and still needs to be done in this world.

Speaking of Jami Bernard, what was it like collaborating on First To Leave The Party with this far-famed former New York Post and Daily News film critic?

Congratulations and major kudos on the release of your beautiful memoir First To Leave The Party: My Life with Ordinary People Who Happen to be Famous! For anyone not in the know, can you talk a little about what inspired you to write this alongside co-author Jami Bernard?

There are stories I wanted to tell of the contributions celebrities had made beyond their fame and what they are known for. I also wanted to make sure the stories and contributions they had made beyond their film career were remembered and celebrated.

It’s a unique memoir told through my interactions with other people.

There is no need to read the book from front to back. You can read any chapter in any order and find out about my encounters and

We have been friends for over 30 years but had lost touch. It was great to reconnect over shared stories. I think we challenged and inspired each other. It was a joyous collaboration, and we became better friends as we shared so much together.

Your interactions with some of Hollywood’s most elite royalty is a thing of envy for anyone who has ever found themselves delightfully lost in the funhouse mirror world of that zany and storied town!

When you met him, what were your impressions of legendary method actor Marlon Brando?

When I first got to know Marlon Brando, he was filming The Freshman in 1989 in Toronto not far from where I grew up. He was still as handsome as ever. Marlon was charming, thoughtful, kind, engaging, and sexy as hell.

He came over for a barbeque at my parents’ house, which was about

five minutes away from where he was filming. He was so down to earth, and even though he was a year older than my parents he referred to them as Mr. and Mrs. Bachir.

Of all of the folks that you write of in First To Leave The Party, who impressed you the most? Conversely, who impressed you the least?

I think they all impressed me and that’s why we included them in the book in one way or another (Ella Fitzgerald, Edward Albee, Keith Haring, Norman Jewison, Marlon Brando, Doris Day). The whole book is written out of love for those featured in it. And everybody we’ve included is based on something they did with their celebrity status to uplift and help others.

Maybe Joan Rivers impressed me the least. She was on this treadmill where she felt she had to continue and amplify her caustic insult humor, which really hurt a lot of people. We had her at a couple of galas. She just recycled old material and was unkind to the other talent. But that happens in life, where people are maybe having a bad day or bad year.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of First To Leave The Party; My Life with Ordinary People Who Happen to be Famous will be donated to the LGBTQ+ rights program at Human Rights Watch. What makes you passionate about the specific charity, and how can other folks reading this become involved in supporting it?

We are involved with and support quite a few queer and AIDS support and prevention organizations, even co-founding a couple of them. There are still more than 70 countries where it is illegal to love who you want to love, look the way you want to look, or just be who you are. There is a rise in torture, murder, and executions around the world.

Human Rights Watch advocates for changes of laws and policies. It also works for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights, with activists worldwide representing a multiplicity of identities and issues based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Though First To Leave The Party has just been recently released, have you had time to give any thoughts to a potential follow-up?

Would love to do a follow-up and a couple of other books. Right now, I am concentrating on getting the word out about this book and its unique qualities — the way it’s told through my interactions with other people, and its being the first book to have pronouns on the cover.

When not writing the best memoir of recent memory, you’re an accomplished entrepreneur who has long hung his dusty fedora on the shingle of the entertainment industry. What is it specifically about this eclectic world that so fascinates you?

I’ve always loved film, stage, and the industry itself. I love everything about the arts and the creative process from going to art galleries, meeting artists, seeing at least a couple of films a week, going to the theatre and being a music enthusiast. What a thrill to put it all together into one magazine and business. It was a challenge I was up for.

It’s also as glamorous as any other job, except that those in the entertainment industry have a dress, hair and makeup budget. And I get to wear my fabulous jewelry.

At one time you ran the very popular and successful Cineplex Magazine. As we’re sure you know, in recent times the world of physical entertainment magazines such as Premiere Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and Movieline have all gone the way of the telephone booth. Do you hold out hopes that one day there might be a market again for intelligent and fun physical film magazines, such as the much-lamented Premiere and the early years of Movieline? Or has that ship sailed?

I think there will always be room for print. I never feel relaxed reading something on the screen. I still love the idea of holding a magazine or a book and reading it in a garden or snuggled up by a fire.

At the end of the day, what do you hope readers walk away with after giving a good read to your delightful and informative memoir First To Leave The Party: My Life with Ordinary People Who Happen to be Famous?

A feeling of compassion, belonging and the need for community.

An awareness that these people are doing a job just like anybody else.

They have the same fears and neuroses as anyone, if not more than others, as their whole lives and every move they make is under a microscope. Some may be living from cheque to cheque as well.

Stars are just ordinary people who happen to be famous. They do the same things as anybody else, and so the real heroes who should be recognized are nurses, doctors, and frontline workers who got us through a pandemic. The people who have dedicated their lives to helping others without the fame and glory that comes with being a “celebrity”.

Final - SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about making movies Living In Oblivion, The Player, The Big Picture or Barton Fink?

The Player. I am a huge Robert Altman fan and love most everything he did — so definitely The Player. I would include The Stuntman on that list. I had a little bit of a crush on Peter O’Toole and a couple of times I thought maybe if we all had one more drink something would have happened. Just one more drink and we are almost there!

Maybe I left that party too early.

Jeremy “J” Wilms

Atlanta and NYC. My website will have all the dates listed www.

We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed singerjeremywilms.com songwriter and uber- talented multi-instrumentalist Jeremy “J” Wilms; greetings and salutations, J.! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A mosh-pit, how is the freshly minted holiday season Who inspires you musically? of 2023 treating you?

I mentioned Tim Foljahn, he’s great friend and huge influence on me musically and otherwise. Torbitt Schwartz aka Little Shalimar Not bad! Getting psyched to brine a turkey (I cook it for the rest of is a huge huge one as well, we’ve made tons of stuff together. Julia the family since I’m a vegetarian, but I’m also a great cook!)

Haltigan, who sings on this record, makes great records of her own and with her band “Moon Radio”. Basically all of my friends make Major congratulations on your beautiful new album The Fighter killer music that I love! which is set to premiere this coming December 8! Starting at the very tip-top, what inspired this incredible new LP? The Fighter is being released on 12” LP vinyl, as a digital download via Bandcamp andthrough streaming platforms on Cart/Horse Thanks so much, Yeah this album started when I relocated back to Atlanta after 25 years in NYC. It was the beginning of the pandemic Records. so I’d take long walks and would write and memorize the lyrics and What makes Bandcamp and Cart/ Horse Records the perfect home melodies in my head. Then I’d sit on the back porch and put chord to them. It was really a lot of reflection and a need for simplicity in a for you and your music? very complicated time…

Cart/Horse is a label I started with Tim. It was created so we can get music out that we love and retain artistic control. Bandcamp is great The first single off of The Fighter was the gem of a ditty Born To Die. What made that song in particular the perfect choice to serve because, at least for the time being, it offers a chance for artists to receive fair compensation for their releases. The album will also be as the opening volley for your third streamable on all the evil mega-corporate platforms though! album as a singer-songwriter?

When I was writing these songs I was looking to speak truth as much as words would allow. Well, I’ve been a practitioner of a school of Zen Buddhism for about three decades, even though I am in the same place I was when I started! Anyway, I guess this is just a basic philosophy of mine, influenced by my practice. On these long walks I was seeing roadkill, dead deer, rot and decay as well as birth and thriving, striving. And on a walk I actually heard the voice of a friend of mine ( the great Tim Foljahn) singing this song. I called him and asked and he said he never wrote it, so I figured it was mine!

You hang your dusty fedora in the beautiful city of Atlanta, Georgia - which is also your hometown. How do those roots inform you not only as an artist, but also as a person?

In or around February/March I plan on doing a small regional tour of the southeast, looking at Knoxville TN, Asheville NC, Athens GA, Atlanta GA, and hopefully Nashville TN. I’ll also do local shows in

Everything born is born to die, and that’s neither good nor bad, it just is. That’s ok. You are all you need, and knowing that allows you to be there for others.

I grew up in the suburbs of ATL in the late 80’s-90’s. It was interesting because there was a huge influx from other places at that time, so the area was having sort of a cultural convulsion. I was exposed to punk rock, early DIY stuff, the whole Athens band thing was blowing up which gave us all an education on folk art and roots music, and there was a real feeling of freedom to make weirdo stuff too (DIY zines were big, smallish clubs like 688 and Metroplex had The highly respected Kyle Spence recorded, mixed and mastered The Fighter and also served as a co-producer alongside you on the amazing bands, etc). There was also this southern culture thing everywhere, and not just the racist “south will rise again” bullshit new LP. What was your collaboration which us artsy punkers were fighting against, but black soul culture process like with Kyle in the studio while working on the new and civil rights culture. All of this really formed me in high school album? and college and led to a pretty expansive palette for music, food, art and other things.

Kyle is a solid dude and a master engineer. He knew exactly how to get the sounds I was looking for. He’s also a killer musician Can you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to some of the (plays drums with Kurt Vile currently) and could help when I had aesthetic questions. We recorded rhythm section stuff live and I did musical Svengalis who contributed their peculiar and beautiful alchemy into making The Fighter a reality? very minimal overdubs, trying to give the record as live of a feel as possible.

Yes! Julia Haltigan is an amazing musician, singer, and songwriter, How is The Fighter similar to your past music? How is it different? as well as visual artist from NYC (born and raised, the real deal!) who sings with me. Dave “Smoota” Smith contributed a beautiful I see The Fighter as being in a line of singer/songwriter records I’ve trombone chorale to the tune “Props” He’s one of my most solid made over the past decade or so. It’sdifferent in the fact that this is friends and an incomparable musician, having played with so many huge names. He also has some amazing projects of his own under the first non-instrumental record I’ve done in a studio. the name “Smoota”. Bo Bedingfield is a champ of a man, a killer drummer, great guitarist (plays on Wolf Song) and a better singer The other two (“No One Dreams Alone” and “Dancer Pants”) were recorded in bedrooms and hotel rooms all over the world, and mixed than should be allowed. Kyle Spence is the perfect engineer and producer for me. You can also catch him at his day job playing and mastered by myself in a studio I co-owned in Brooklyn in the drums with Kurt Vile.

2010’s. And my other output is mostly weird jazz and new music compositions (under my full first and last name, Jeremy Wilms, on At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with streaming platforms). after giving many-a- spin to your brilliant new LP The Fighter?

In the wake of the December 8 release of The Fighter, can fans Life throws punches. You can take it. Prepare to get what you want, look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit in and to have moved on from wanting it by the time you get it. the coming weeks and months?

BEES DELUXE

We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed British-American Acid Blues band extraordinaire, …. Bees Deluxe; greetings and salutations, gang! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A mosh-pit, could you each say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?

Hi Raf! We’re honored to join you. Four of us are the main members of Bees Deluxe. Carol Band plays keyboards, harmonicas and sings, Paul Giovine plays drums & percussion, Jim Gildea plays the bass guitar and sings, and Conrad Warre plays guitars (acoustic & electric), trumpet and sings.

He also plays a kaossilator on his cellphone! We’re based in Boston, Massachusetts and tour from Maine to Miami and as far east as Cleveland, Ohio.

Major congratulations on your brand-spankin’ new -and very incredible - album Hallucinate which officially premiered this November 18! Conrad, starting at the tip-top, what inspired this beautiful new LP? Thank you! The original songs and tunes for Hallucinate were prompted and inspired by jams & improvisations we would play at soundchecks, and in the van while driving between shows. While we love to play songs onstage by some of our heroes – Etta James, Joe Zawinul, Albert Collins, Billie Holiday for example – we also love to write and compose, so we built a library of materials we could work on collectively and individually whenever a studio was available in the past eleven months. For instance Paul recorded

the drums for “Sharkskin Suit” in his bedroom at his house in Framingham, and Conrad recorded kaossilator tunes in his kitchen at Jamaica Plain. We would gather occasionally for more formal recording sessions but essentially we, and our friends, who are listed in the credits, would fly in their parts.

Carol, the rightly celebrated Joe Egan did the producing honors on Hallucinate. What was the collaboration like between Bees Deluxe and Joe while in the studio putting the new album together?

Whenever Joe Egan, our producer, was available, and I could get out, I would drive to his house and sit next to him where he had a bank of electronic keyboards and an upright piano, set up and mic’d & wired straight into the computer. Joe is an excellent piano player and keyboardist in his own right, so he and I would collaborate on parts and harmonies, and the selection of voices and timbres for the keyboard parts. Some crazy sounds would creep in, and some more mellow and typical like Hammond and Wurlitzer sounds – pending the song or the tune. I composed and recorded “How to Play 96 Tears” on my own piano in my living room in Arlington – Conrad put some strings on it – and it’s the simplest arrangements of all the albums tracks!

Poogie, in your humble opinion what differentiates Hallucinate from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 music scene?

Conrad sent me a demo for “Nitro” including just rhythm guitar and his vocals, and I tracked the drums in sync with his demo in my studio in Pennsylvania. He and I have never actually met! But we’re friends and collaborators via the internet! Right now I’m the owner and manager of Yuji Sound Records in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Allyn, in the wake of the November 18 release of the Hallucinate LP, can fans look forward to catching Bees Deluxe on the touring/performing circuit?

Jim and I take turns playing onstage with Bees Deluxe, as the workload is getting pretty intense, bit of us are in heavy demand as bass players in and around the New England area. And we’re going to start adding more songs from Hallucinate to our live repertoire – and see which go down best in front of an audience – should be fun!

Jared, how is Hallucinate similar to some of the past music from Bees Deluxe? How is it different?

I think Sharkskin Suit is the only song where Conrad has ever played and recorded a guitar battle with another guitar player – as he’s the writer and usually plays all the guitar parts. I’m glad it’s the lead track on the album as I think it sounds great. They made me play a little bass on another song too.

A question for all of you: Who inspires you musically?

The list is endless and constantly changing. Here’s what’s in the 6 Disc CD player in the tour van: Bendik, Tony! Toni!

Tone!, Errol Garner, Michael Burks, Gil Scot Heron and Donny Hathaway.

James, what sort of difficulties presented themselves while attempting to record the new LP between tour dates for Bees Deluxe? Or did it all come off pretty seamlessly?

For me, the album went seamlessly, I recorded my parts at the beginning of the year, and during the following months would drop into the sessions only occasionally to drink coffee, and to see how how things were progressing. By the time the album had been mixed I’d forgotton some of the tunes! And there were more tunes that were left on the cutting room floor we may resuscitate later!

Paul, as big fans of Question Mark and The Mysterians, we absolutely LOVED the tune How to Play 96 Tears off of the new album! Need we ask what served as the inspiration behind this little gem?

Well Carol composed, recorded and played this tune, but I know the exact history of its composition. Whenever we toured through New York, on our way south, or on our way back to Boston, we would stay at our friend JR Rost’s house in Brooklyn. JR was a dear friend, a musician in his own right, and a professional photographer and he would often accompany us on sections or legs of the tour. And very often, when we would return to his house late at night to crash, he and Carol would sit at the piano and play duets until two or three in the morning – and he would often ask Carol to teach him how to play 96 Tears. He died unexpectedly this year – so we’ve dedicated the Hallucinate album to his memory. She wrote this tune for him, and we miss his spirit and his company very badly.

Adam, at the end of the day what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to the amazing new Bees Deluxe album Hallucinate?

I’m the stunt bass player, when Jim is unavailable, they fly me in from Boston - I’m exaggerating as it’s only 3 miles to the studio in Hyde Park, to fix tracks Conrad has messed up! I play with Bees Deluxe as much as I can – but I have a steady day-time job teaching music therapy to children in Boston Mass General Hospital, so I can’t really tour with the band – but I love playing with the band whenever they invite me and I can!

Vilma Jackson It has truly been a heart-warming experience to see how ‘The Cycle’ has been received. Yes, it has surprised me in the best possible way. The audience’s absorption and their eagerness to delve deeper into the themes of the film and panel discussions have been incredible. It’s not just about the success of the film, but about starting meaningful conversations. We received so many questions from the audience, especially regarding the protection of Deaf individuals, including those from minority ethnic backgrounds. This has been both enlightening and humbling. Creating a film is one thing, but seeing it become a catalyst for change and understanding is another. This experience has been a remarkable journey, far exceeding my initial expectations.

The very best in any art form can provoke conversation and, if we’re lucky, substantive and lasting change. Seeing as how it deals with many issues which are relevant to our own times, do you have hopes that The Cycle will hit those particular marks?

Yes, I certainly hope that ‘The Cycle’ will achieve those marks. Art has the power to mirror society and instigate reform, and with this film, we’re addressing some very pertinent issues of our era. My aim is for the film to not just be a topic of conversation but a catalyst for reflection and, more importantly, for lasting change. Also, I hope this film will resonate with audiences in a way that goes beyond the screen, leading to a deeper understanding and, ideally, a push towards positive societal shifts. I believe that through this film, we can shed light on underrepresented struggles and, in doing so, motivate a broader discourse and action.

We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed and awardwinning performance artist and filmmaker Vilma Jackson; greetings and salutations, Vilma! Before we dive down the proverbial Q&A rabbit hole, how is the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 treating you?

This autumn has treated me kindly, thank you for checking in! It’s always a special time of year, but this one feel even more significant with the release of ‘The Cycle’. The cooler weather and the vibrant colors of the leaves have been a refreshing change, providing a serene backdrop to the hustle and bustle of my film’s launch. I’m really looking forward to what the rest of the season brings.

Major kudos and accolades on your new short film The Cycle which is set for an eagerly anticipated November 25 screening at The Theatre Deli, London! This is a personal production for you as you not only are the featured player in it, but you also wrote, directed and served as a producer on the film! Can you explain to our ever-inquisitive readers what The Cycle is all about?

Thank you so much for the kind words! ‘The Cycle’ is a project very close to my heart. It tells the story of a Black Deaf woman navigating the trauma of domestic violence. It’s a psychological drama that uncovers the layers of challenges she faces, not only from her trauma but also from the communication barriers with law enforcement due to her deafness. It highlights the triple oppression faced by Deaf individuals who are also Black or Asian, a reality often unseen. By weaving together true stories and fictional elements, I aimed to create a compelling drama that not only entertains but also educates and inspires empathy.

Cycle had its premiere screening(s) on October 25 at Rich Mix and was a resounding smash with critics and audiences. Have you been surprised by how embraced The Cycle has been during its short time on the screening circuit?

Can you introduce readers to some of the very talented thespians who grace the screen alongside yourself in The Cycle?

The cast of ‘The Cycle’ comprises a dynamic ensemble brimming with incredible talent. Among them are DamyanCholakov, Craig O’Hara, JuditPasti, Elliot Fradkin, Jacqui Beckford, Samuel Adedeji, Sean Patrick, and Maria Alejandra Alexandra. Additionally, I cast fantastic Deaf extras like Dik Maya Pun, George Ndirangu, and Malachi Oram. Some of these extras had never acted before, but I was committed to giving them an opportunity to shine on screen.

Showcasing diverse backgrounds is crucial to me, as it enriches the film’s authenticity and depth.

As a director, it’s vital to work closely with individuals, explaining the depth and concept of their characters so they can fully understand and embody them. Patience, understanding, and collaboration are key, and as an actress myself, I empathise and understand this deeply. We are a team, and that’s what drives success.

Each cast member’s portrayal of their character is a study in resilience and strength. Their subtle yet impactful performances add layers of richness to the film. Every member of the cast has contributed immensely, not just with their acting skills, but also by embracing and portraying the film’s deeper themes. This collaboration has made ‘The Cycle’ a truly transformative project.

Who inspires your own craft in the world of moviemaking?

When I was young, my parents bought me a small, cute TV for my room so that I could watch movies anytime without having to fight for turns with anyone. They knew of my love for movies, especially those featuring Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers.

Back then, subtitles were not available, so I relied on the Marx Brothers and other programs where they conveyed humor through

facial expressions and body language, which was enough for me to understand. Additionally, there were some movies with clear storylines that didn’t require subtitles, depending on what they brought to the table. As a Deaf person, I’ve come to value the power of visual storytelling. Those artists inspired me, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be like them as an actress.

Do you have a preference between acting and directing, or is it an apples and oranges situation?

However, I never anticipated becoming a director, producer, or writing for a film, let alone starting my own company. My life’s journey has been full of surprises. The lockdown pandemic has unlocked potential skills and talents in me that I’d never recognised before. I took a leap, explored my vision and work, and have been pursuing it ever since.

For me, choosing between acting and directing is like choosing between two sides of the same coin. Each role, whether it’s acting, directing, writing, producing, or translating songs into British Sign Language, offers a unique perspective and a chance to grow creatively. I thrive on the diversity of experiences these roles provide, learning from other talented individuals and enhancing my own skills. Being static in one role doesn’t suit my dynamic nature, I’m always eager to explore different aspects of filmmaking and storytelling. It’s this variety that keeps my work exciting and allows me to constantly evolve as an artist and a professional.

You were born in Mozambique. How do those roots inform you as an artist and as a person?

At the end of the day, what do you hope viewers walk away with after checking out The Cycle?

The influence of my Mozambican roots is evident in every aspect of my art and life. The country’s rich history, combined with its struggles and triumphs, has given me a unique lens through which I view the world. Artistically, this translates into a deep empathy for characters and a vivid portrayal of human experiences. Personally, it has instilled in me resilience, a strong sense of identity, and a profound connection to my community, all of which fuel my creative process.

My aspiration for ‘The Cycle’ is that it becomes more than just a film for those who watch it. I hope it sparks conversations, raises awareness, and opens minds to the realities of living as a Deaf individual, particularly those in minority communities and in the context of the challenges depicted in the film.

Moreover, the support and encouragement from my parents have shaped me into the person I am today. My little sister, who is 12 years old, offers her love and support, making me an even better person. I’ve always sought her honest feedback since she was little, and I continue to do so today. You know, children don’t filter their words and tell you the truth, but in a good way that enhances your skills. I am immensely grateful for my parents and little sister.

Your first credited work came in the form of the 2012 short film The Silent Killer. Any special memories of that freshman production?

My debut in ‘The Silent Killer’ in 2012 holds a very special place in my heart. The experience with Borrow Steal Productions for ‘The Silent Killer’ was unforgettable and truly opened doors for me. I am deeply thankful to the director, Kelly Furgson, and the writer, Stuart Elms, for recognising my artistic skills rather than focusing on my deafness. This project was special not just for the opportunity it provided, but also for the memories we created.

This film isn’t just a story, it’s a window into experiences that many might not be familiar with. I want viewers to walk away with a sense of connection to the characters, and an understanding that the struggles they face are multifaceted and real. If this film can inspire even a small change in perspective or a desire to learn more, then I believe we’ve achieved something truly meaningful.

Final - SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies - Ed Wood, Living In Oblivion, The Player or The Big Picture?

To be honest, I haven’t watched the movies you mentioned, but I have briefly looked into them and read about their themes. I find that I can somewhat relate to their stories. This reminds me of a film I watched about three years ago, ‘Dolemite Is My Name’ (starring Eddie Murphy).

As a filmmaker, I empathise deeply with these narratives because I have faced struggle and similar challenges. When it comes to budget constraints, my experience with ‘The Cycle’ was particularly taxing due to its limited funds.

At the time, we didn’t have BSL interpreters on the set, yet Kelly and Stuart ensured seamless communication, proving that creativity can overcome any barrier and fostering an environment of mutual respect. This experience showed that working with Deaf actors and artists is not difficult, as long as you are open-minded. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work with them on another film called ‘Falling for Vilma’ in 2013. I worked with most of the original crew and cast, along with a few new faces, and we all got along well. I will never forget that experience, it was an awesome production.

An incident that stands out involved a team member who, at the last minute, informed me he had contracted COVID. With no replacement available, I was forced to cancel and reschedule the entire shoot.

This process was daunting as it involved coordinating with the studio, property managers, the equipment rental company, and the canteen. The rescheduling led to conflicts with the availability of our original cast and crew, necessitating new auditions and crew recruitment. Moreover, there were unforeseen expenses, such as wasted food preparations and additional charges for relocating cameras and lighting equipment from St. Albans.

You have another film which is forthcoming, Red Begonia. What can you tell us about this intriguing-sounding short film?

Juggling multiple roles such as producer, director, and actress, this period was one of the most exhausting and challenging in my career.

However, it also taught me the essence of adaptability and the importance of thorough financial planning. It highlighted the beauty of overcoming unexpected challenges in our industry. I am grateful that, despite knowing the budget was limited and the work unpaid, the team and cast still displayed immense passion and support for the project.

In ‘Red Begonia’, I had the privilege of working under the direction of Tirza Saenz and Carmen Duarte, alongside an incredible cast that included Paul Low-Hang and DamyanCholakov back in 2019. The story focuses on the grim realities of trafficking and illegal organ donation, shedding light on some of the darker aspects of our world.

This short film, which has made its way through the festival circuit.

What’s particularly special about this project is the rare opportunity it provided me, as a Deaf actor, to portray a character with such depth and complexity—a departure from the usual vulnerable roles often offered to Deaf actors. I am deeply thankful to the directors for entrusting me with this role and for acknowledging my skills as an artist.

The outcome was rewarding, I managed to reassemble most of my original team and completed filming over one and a half days. This experience was not only a testament to our team’s resilience and creativity but also taught me a lesson in viewing each challenge as an opportunity for growth.

Host e h t f o th Mon

Ashlee Keating

We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed pop artist and singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Ashlee Keating; greetings and salutations Ashlee! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A mosh-pit, how goes your 2023?

It’s been epic. It’s been amazing. I’ve honestly done so many things I didn’t expect this year and conquering all goals I had on my goal list has happened and I’ve attended so many incredible shows already that I’ve dreamed of going to. I heard my song on multiple radio stations, “Saucy,” which has made me cry every single time. It’s just such an unreal feeling.

Even on an FM station, that’s just insane. So yeah, it’s been a whirlwind and just so incredible at the same time. So blessed and grateful.

Congratulations on your new single & music video for In The Air! What inspired you to write this song and what do you hope your fans take away from it?

I LOVE the holidays and I was inspired to create my own original holiday song that spreads cheer all around. I hope this song makes fans feel happy, uplifted and excited for the holiday season. It’s about spreading positivity, joy, peace, and love! The holiday feeling is in the air!

Congratulations on your pop hit single Saucy! What was the genesis of this quirky and catchy tune?

Well, thank you. So, it really revolves around my birthday and going out with my girls. This is the first time we can go out and really get together. This was during the pandemic when everything was outside. We were in Malibu and we just had a good time. It felt so good to get dressed up and feel saucy and that’s how “Saucy” kind of came to fruition, us throwing the term around. “Saucy” came to life and it was the very first writing session I had with my team on the project. It was so organic and easy. It’s meant to be a self-empowerment, fun record.

Who was your producer on Saucy and what did the collaboration between artist and producer look like in the studio?

It was really dope because it was all based around the pandemic, so I did a lot of zoom meetings, zoom writing sessions. It was really cool. I loved the whole team. I worked with Tommy Brown, and the Champagne Therapy Group. We found a good vibe and we and slayed it through hard work and collaboration. We did everything on Zoom and then I got into the studio when I was ready to cut vocals. When I finished vocals, they were ready to do some of the production stuff to put the final touches and mixing and mastering. Love it!

Saucy has become not only an anthem for female empowerment but also a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community. How does that make you feel?

It was so amazing. My first performance was actually at youth pride in NYC and it was the most amazing experience seeing the reaction from fans and people in the audience loving the vibe of “Saucy.” It literally had just dropped and it was my first festival performance and also the debut of performing “Saucy” and it was just the best feeling. I feel like

I made the audience feel saucy and it was so amazing to see everyone’s reaction to loving “Saucy” so far.

On the heels of the release of Saucy, can we look forward to an EP or LP release from you in 2023?

The EP is there. Let’s just say that. So, don’t worry, there’s more music, and it just gets better. So, stay ready! I love my Keaters.

Shortly after Saucy dropped, you performed a rousing rendition of the holiday classic Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. What’s the secret to performing a successful reinterpretation of a beloved classic?

That’s such an interesting question. I think just putting your own spin on any classic really makes it unique and makes it YOU. I would always love listening to Mariah Carey or Kelly Clarkson; I love when Kelly Clarkson does her holiday mixes.

Also Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. Artists who are really great singers, I always love to listen to their holiday classics and It’s inspiring. There are so many people that have done renditions but they have their own twists. That was what I was trying to do with “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

Can fans look forward to catching you on the performing/ touring circuit in the coming weeks and months?

100%! Stay tuned. I’ve been working in the dance studio and working hard, so don’t worry.

Who inspires you musically?

So many people. I grew up listening to it while I was working on my new music, I went back to New Jersey and listened to my old CDs I loved as a kid and I grew up to a ton of pop like, the boy bands and girl bands, Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, Justin Timberlake, Nsync, Backstreet Boys and a lot of old, soul music. I love Donna Summer, Tina Turner, and I am upset she passed away. Madonna obviously. I was always so inspired by Madonna and what she stands for and her artistry and music.

I also love Aretha Franklin and Beyonce, and Rihanna. I’m a fan of R&B and hip hop: Mary J Blige, Missy Elliot and Janet Jackson.

Word ‘round campfire has it that you’re a tremendous fan of Carol Burnett. Have you always been a fan, or have you just recently discovered her comedic brilliance?

Oh wow, that’s so interesting. Yes, I knew about her and I watched her special for her birthday recently on TV and it was incredible. I fell so in love with her, and I’m such a huge fan of hers now. I was familiar but not as familiar as I am now.

Honestly, I’m so inspired by her. I love how she was also a singer, and that was in a lot of the shows she did back in the day. Her comedic timing is just so natural, and she’s so funny.

You were born and raised in New Jersey. How do those roots inform you as an artist and as a person?

Yeah, being from Jersey can be my swag for sure. I’m from South Jersey, which is close to Philly. There is a lot of culture in South Jersey as well. I’m from a small town but there are a lot of cool, different spots in South Jersey. It really brought me up in the type of music I like. I’ve always loved hip-hop and pop.

Frank Monteleone

We’re very excited to be speaking today with acclaimed actor, producer, and entrepreneur Frank Monteleone; greetings and salutations, Frank! Before we dive down the proverbial celluloid Q&A rabbit hole, how has the freshlyminted autumn of 2023 been treating you?

It’s been good so far! I’m currently down in New Orleans enjoying the change of weather, especially after an abnormally hot summer (even by New Orleans’ standards). Truly, right now is probably the best time to be down here.

Major congratulations on all of your work through your production company Full Armor Films! Can you talk with our ever-inquisitive readers about how Full Armor Films came about?

Full Armor Films’ origin story is really more of a story about needing a job. Back in 2005, I was in Manhattan and fresh out of college with a BFA in Theatre. I had met Kathleen, my soon-to-be wife, but at the time that was just a hope and a prayer.

I was unemployed and desperately needed a job.

I wrote to every production company in New York at the time, as well as every production office filming, just in the hopes to get a P.A. position. I would’ve taken anything but I completely struck out. Zero responses. So, I did what I thought was the next best thing, and started my own production company— printed business cards, letterhead, the works. Eventually I met the owner of a P.R. agency and she gave me my first account with one of her clients, and that’s how I started in commercial work: by being a one-man wrecking crew in production and never stopping, even when I couldn’t get someone to take the time just to tell me “No.” The rest, as they say, is history.

What sort of projects does Full Armor Films gravitate towards?

My wife, Kathleen, and I are now the principals at Full Armor Films and we work with a group of in-house producers to realize our projects. Our first point of emphasis is the artist: the writer, the director, or the actor who is coming to us with a project. From there we tend to gravitate towards unique voices. We are also people driven - it’s why our mantra is “We tell stories that unlock the human heart.” Ultimately the stories we tell come from the lives and experiences of those around us, and our goal is to ensure that anything we end up working on adds some sort of value to the world.

You’ve made a tremendous impression in the entertainment industry as a producer, even as you maintained a prolific career in acting. Do you have a preference between these two creative endeavors, or is it a case of apples and oranges in that they both equally scratch a creative itch?

I think I can best sum up my love for these two different things with a sports metaphor. There are team sports and individual sports, and if you’ve ever played both, you’d understand acting is like the ultimate individual sport. You have cast members you’re working with, but the bulk of your work is done in isolation; when the game is played it’s all on what you bring to the field.

Producing, on the other hand, is a team sport because it’s such a collaborative process. I’d say being the lead producer is like being the head coach of the team. You have all the strategies laid out, you know the way you have to go about it, and your job is to make sure you have the right people and you’re all oriented towards the same goal, which is to make the best final product possible. They both scratch the creative itch in their own unique way.

What is your take on the SAG-AFTRA strike and how much longer do you think it might continue?

My take is that it was inevitable that we’d arrive at this point, particularly as someone who has seen streaming change the entire industry and residuals shrink in that time. I think the union has to stick with it until we get it right, because we can’t afford not to at this point.

One thing that isn’t always apparent to people are the ripple effects; it hurts to see fellow actors out of work, but it hurts just as much to see crew members and associated businesses being furloughed. It’s a bigger issue than most people know, and to be going through this on the heels of Covid’s impact is really hard to watch.

From my vantage point SAG-AFTRA’s position and reasoning seem clear and forward looking, so it’s difficult to see people lose their jobs in the short term over something that seems so obvious.

As far as timing? I do think we’re close but I’m nervous about how long it will take to hammer out the final details and come to an agreement.

I assumed it would take a while, but now that we’ve gone over 100 days and contracts can start to be voided, I think the stakes have gotten very high for everyone in the industry and not just union members.

Speaking of the SAG-AFTRA strike, your latest production Average Joe obtained a SAGAFTRA interim agreement to go forward with shooting. Can you give readers a hint or three as to what they can expect with this new film?

On this film we have the privilege of being hired to execute production services, which is atypical from most of Full Armor’s projects.

What that means in this case is that we basically help deliver a film for a production company or executive producing team here in Louisiana. With the network of relationships we’ve built over time, we have access to the best crew members and producers, and can recruit a phenomenal team to work on a movie locally. I think Average Joe is extra special for all of us here as it’s currently the only movie in production in the state due to the strike. It’s been so satisfying and meaningful to get some of our team down here and back to work!

You’re also a talented writer, having penned the 2014 short film The Swap and the 2016 short film The Lost Flowers. Can we look forward to more writing from you in the future? Is that something you continue to pursue?

Yes, I’m currently writing a feature film that I plan to direct, Conversion Van, and like Full Armor’s best work, it’s inspired by real life. It’s based on the true story of a son taking his father to rehab and it forces you to ask yourself the question: “Who is saving who?”

No less of a legendary luminary as Martin Scorsese has criticized much of the material coming out of the Hollywood movie system in recent years. That being said, what’s your hot take on studio fare versus the world of independent cinema?

It is hard to argue with one of the greatest of all time. I understand what Scorsese meant about cinemas being invaded by “theme park” films, but my (superfluous) two cents are that they’re two different art forms that largely attract two different audiences. Studio films are not independent cinema and vice versa. They’re not meant to be.

So-called “theme park” movies are not new; look at blockbusters like E.T., Back to the Future, and Terminator 2— these movies were so popular and beloved they literally became rides at theme parks. But the art of filmmaking and independent cinema will always be there, too, and those who are able to garner enough interest will continue to pave the way for others to attempt the same. Point being: stories will always be a cornerstone to how we relate as humans, no matter the scale on which they’re produced. In that regard, I think there’s more than enough room for everyone.

You’re executive producing the feature films Barron’s Cove and Fog of War. What appealed professionally and personally to you about these two particular films?

It’s been great seeing these projects come together, and what I’m most excited by are the people I’ve gotten to partner with. It’s the beginning of a great relationship with SSS Entertainment and Yale Productions, and I believe these two films will be the first of many we produce together. With Barron’s Cove, I was drawn in by the father/son dynamic in the script, particularly as the father of four small children myself. Even Mandalay Pictures has said we have a special one on our hands in Barron’s Cove, and I couldn’t agree more. When I first read the script I knew this was one I wanted to help bring to life. As for Fog of War, it has a twisty, gripping script that really keeps you invested. I have always enjoyed a good spy thriller so this project really filled the bill.

You’re a family member and partial co-owner of the legendary luxury Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Do you bring the same passion to this endeavor as you do your storied film work?

My great-great-grandfather, Antonio, built a lasting legacy with the Hotel Monteleone, not only for his own family but also for the city of New Orleans and all the guests who frequent it. Growing up in a family that has held this legendary property for five generations really helps you focus on your own goals; it’s hard to deny the influence it has over you, and it makes you set a high bar for yourself. So, simply put, yes, I take both seriously because my goal is to ensure the longevity of the hospitality and entertainment industries in New Orleans.

I am most excited when I get the chance to intersect the two, as is the case with Average Joe. Our out-of-state cast are staying at the Hotel Monteleone and it’s been such a pleasure to be able to fill them in here and there on the history of the hotel or the French Quarter (plus all of our favorite local restaurants). To me, the fact that we’re now making movies in my backyard and putting our talent up at the hotel is beyond gratifying, and to see those worlds collide is a sign we’re on the right path.

Final - SILLY! Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies - Living In Oblivion, The Player, Swimming With Sharks or Barton Fink?

What about Last Action Hero? (Kidding, not kidding.) Or what about Adaptation for these ultra strange times? But, seriously, if I have to pick…

Steve Buscemi is a national treasure and one of my favorite actors of all time, but I think I have to go with fellow New Orleanian John Goodman and pick Barton Fink.

Mirta Miler

We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed beauty content creator extraordinaire, Mirta Miler; greetings and salutations, Mirta!

Before we dive into the Q&A makeup and beauty rabbit hole, how has the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 been treating you?

The autumn of 2023 has been absolutely eventful, as a whole 2023 has been very challenging in the best way. I think that it’s just the vibe of this year and it’s the finishing blow of 2023 but I’m really looking forward to 2024.

What are some of your favorite beauty products which are currently on the market?

Some of my favorite beauty products right now are skin tint blush and blush stains. Moisturizing foundation tints are definitely a big thing for me.

Also, at-home lash kits are something that I really enjoy using.

When discussing beauty and what it means to different people, is it important to keep in mind that the concept of beauty is subjective and in the eye of the beholder?

Major congratulations on all of your various and sundry activities in the world of beauty! Starting from the top, could you talk a little about what specifically fascinates you and makes you passionate about helping other people look and feel their best?

Everyone views beauty as something different.

Someone finds beauty in simplicity while someone finds beauty in more creative expression. I think that everyone should have their own definition of beauty and pursue the look they really feel is the most unique for them.

It has always been a pleasure for me to recommend things to people or give people advice. So I connected the two in my beauty content. What brings me the most passion is when people tell me ‘I’ve been using the advice that you gave me, and it really changed my everyday routine.’ I am honored to have even a small, micro-impact on someone’s life to make them feel better about themselves. That really means a lot to me.

Going forward, have you given thought on how to grow your brand even wider than it is now? Can fans expect to see a book on beauty from you in the near future, or perhaps even a line of your own beauty products?

TikTok has become a huge platform for your masterful take on the world of beauty in the 21st Century. How has TikTok sort of opened you and your services up to a wide audience in ways which other social media platforms have not (or cannot)?

I think that TikTok is unique because you can really reach people from all around the world. On other social media platforms, you may be limited to your location. With TikTok people from all around the world with the same interest are able to connect over one unifying subject. Nothing is quite like TikTok. Can you talk to our ever-inquisitive readers about some of the current beauty trends which you’re into and which you advocate?

Some of the beauty trends that I really love are the no-makeup makeup or very minimal make up. I think that it’s so beautiful to see everyone showing their skin and imperfections or something that makes them unique. I like that we are wearing less complexion make up, but I do miss the old make up days when we had the big smokey eyes and more creative looks as well. Another thing I like is adding moles or freckles to the make up just to make it stand out. Also, the blushy-strawberrytomato make up looks are so cute. I definitely love them.

I have definitely been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my brand and future career in this field. I definitely enjoy beauty, hair, and makeup a lot. So, in the upcoming years I do plan on doing some kind of brand launch. I would probably do something hair-related because it is also a big passion of mine.

You interject a welcome dose of humor into your beauty content via editing techniques. Is this your way of putting some of the fun back into what can otherwise be a pretty serious industry?

Within my content I do integrate a lot of humor, because that’s the way I want people to perceive beauty. It’s something that you’re having fun with and something that makes you relax. That’s what it is for me, it’s like meditation. I really want to give that experience to people who are watching my content and bring some positivity into their day.

Beauty content is something you consume every day. We should use every opportunity to make people feel more positive.

Beauty-wise, who inspires you?

I have a specific creator that is super inspiring for me that I have been watching every day. She is an absolute iconic artist and it’s beyond makeup. @ Meicrosoft.

Where can followers find you on social media?

TikTok: @mimiermakeup IG: @mimiermakeup

Aggie Armstrong

We’re excited to be speaking today with multidisciplinary artist Aggie Armstrong!

Before we begin, how has the Fall of 2023 been treating you?

In our introduction to you at the top, we described your style of art as being “multidisciplinary.” What does that term entail, precisely?

First off, thank you so much for having me.

Fall 2023 has been incredible! I’ve been busier than ever, I’m currently making some watercolour pieces, exclusively for my popup at The Royal. The poster has been well received and I’m really happy with it.

It means my use of diverse materials, and integration of different fields of art and research

Major congratulations on your commission to create the official poster for the 2023 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair! For anyone not in the know, can you explain what the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is?

I usually do some studies whether on sketchbook or smaller paper, then I move on to either canvas or larger watercolour paper for the main piece. Painting is usually done before embroidery or collage, but i can go back and add more paint whether by brush or pen if i feel it necessary.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair which celebrates the best in agriculture,local food, and equestrian competitions from across Canada. It is the biggest agricultural fair of this kind in the world. It takes place this year from November 3rd – 12 th at the Exhibition Place in Toronto What does it mean for you as an artist to have been tapped to create the official poster for the 2023 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (which, for interested readers, runs from November 3 - 12 in Toronto)?

I was so excited and needless to say, I am so honoured to be asked to do it. The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has been a longstanding tradition in Canada and I get to be a part of its rich history. Little girl me is beside herself from this great honour, and the immigrant artist of Filipino descent me is over the moon to be asked.

Was creating the poster for the Winter Fair left completely in your capable hands, or was there some collaboration between you and the Fair itself?

It was a great collaboration between me and The Royal. They had given me some parameters of what needs to be included in the poster, but they made a point to let me know that my artistic style is what drew them to me which made me so inspired - it was such a delight and fun commission for me.

How and when do you generally begin the creation process for a new piece of art?

You hail from Ontario, Canada. How do those roots inform you as an artist and as a person?

As an ex-urbanite who moved to rural Ontario, i find that both the city and countryside inform my art simultaneously and even, consecutively. Right now, I am working on studies of cityscapes of Toronto - right after making pieces exclusively for The Royal.

What do you have coming up after your creation of the official poster for the 2023 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair?

I will be an exhibitor at the One of a Kind Winter Show from November 23-Dec 3, and then at The Artist Project in the Spring of 2024. Both events will also be held at the Exhibition Place.

At the end of the day, what would you like people to walk away with after viewing a piece of your artwork?

I would like people to see past the vivid and bold colours I use and see more meaning in the pieces I make. I’d also like people, especially women who look like me, feel like their stories are reflected in my pieces, and that they are seen.

Comateens

We’re super-excited to be speaking today with a veritable living legend on the NYC synth-punk scene via the iconic band Comateens, Ramona Jan; greetings and salutations, Ramona! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, how is the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 treating you?

Autumn has always been my favorite season because you get to wear cool hats and coats, and yet not be overburdened by the heavy winter wear. Also, I live in Upstate, NY, where the trees are now awash in spectacular color.

Major congratulations on the brand-spankin’ new reissue of the classic Comateens gems Danger Zone and Elizabeth’s Lover! Starting at the tip-top, what made 2023 the perfect time to reissue Danger Zone along with this rare alternate version of Elizabeth’s Lover?

We were approached by two record companies at the same time, Left for Dead Records here in the US and Cherry Red from the UK. We actually don’t know why the sudden interest but doesn’t that happen with all genres of music, a resurgence of the style after decades? It certainly did in the 80’s when everyone was enamored by the music of the 50’s, except me. Anyway, we decided to first release on Left for Dead and possibly Cherry Red a year or so from now if both parties are still interested.

Did you have any inkling when Danger Zone and Elizabeth’s Lover were recorded at Mediasound in 1979 that they would become such indelible staples in the lives of so many music aficionados?

No inkling at all and if I had had such a thought, I would have re-recorded my vocal as I think the vocal on Elizabeth’s Lover may have been the only take since we decided at the time not to release that song.

Speaking of Mediasound, what made this particular studio such a hub which attracted so many talented musicians?

State-of-the-art, built by John Roberts and Joel Rosenman the men behind Woodstock, lots of connections and the best young engineers. I was one of them having helped record Talking Heads, Ramones and working extensively with Brian Eno. I even played on Music for Films although I got no credit, which was par for the course back then. My only witnesses are Eno and Ed Stasium who well remembers the fight Eno and I had just before I played the Hammond B-3 on the song, Alternative 3. I initially refused to play on his record because I had little clue on how to play the Hammond organ. But he said that’s what he wanted. “Hit any note except the F#” Now I’m glad I did. Harvey Jay Goldberg, the engineer behind this Comateens record in ’79, currently does sound for The Late Show with Steven Colbert.

The label which is reissuing Danger Zone and Elizabeth’s Lover is Left for Dead, a record company that has a long and storied history with The Comateens! What makes Left for Dead the only and best choice to do the re-release honors on these songs?

First of all we call ourselves Comateens, not The Comateens.

We know and trust Jim Reynolds, have a long standing friendship with him, appreciate his honesty, dedication and love for music, plus he makes the greatest swag; T-shirts, posters and a collector’s item orange disc. What could be better?

Can you introduce and say a few words about the original producer from Mediasound who captured the fiery heart and soul of NYC punk rock on Danger Zone and Elizabeth’s Lover?

You’ll note on the single’s credits that Comateens produced these two records. All I can say about them is they were a gangly sort of emotional wrecks that managed to eke out some good songs without killing each other.

Though your time was ultimately cut short in the band which you co-founded with Nic North, how do you like to remember The Comateens all these years later?

The best and worst of times. The best because I was living my dream of becoming a rock star and I believed in it wholeheartedly. I was free to create and express myself in song in front of live audiences. The worst because back then there was no real help for people with emotional troubles and poor communication skills. And we all had them.

How do you explain the continuing and enduring popularity and legacy of The Comateens?

What is it about this scrappy and energetic band that has endeared themselves to millions of music lovers?We were innovators in the music scene. One of the first bands, along with Suicide, who played with a drum machine. Also, we wrote pop music and performed it in an edgy unschooled manner.

The effort of amateur musicians striving for something greater is evident in our music. Also, there was Nick O’Teen (who changed his name often), one of the greatest rock vocalists of all time.

With the re-issue of Danger Zone and Elizabeth’s Lover, does Left for Dead have any more Comateen surprises in store for fans in the future?

Hopefully, some great swag! And I believe there will be rereleases of Dizzy and the Romilars post this record.

What is Ramona Jan up to now in 2023 and what can we look forward to from you in the future?

I’ve beenthe Director of a storytelling group, Yarnslingers, from Upstate, NY for the past eleven years. Like The Moth, we tell true stories about our lives in front of a live audience.

Some of mine are, of course, about playing in Comateens and other bands.You can find those stories on youtube/@ yarnslingers. Look for ‘The Kiss’ for a story about Comateens, me, Bowie and Eno and ‘Rings’ for a story about Venus Fly Trap, a group that followed Comateens that featured me, Lisa Lowell and Soozie Tyrell (E Street Band). And please subscribe!

For my best songs, check out youtube/janturanband where punk music becomes folk music. In JANTURAN we were featured on NPR Tiny Desk Contest as well as finalists in the North East Regional Folk Alliance.

I am currently a soloist on the Handpan drum performing regularly in and around the Catskills NY and PA. Video at https://youtu.be/Shs_9lf4cn4.

Rafaela DeOliveira

We’re very happy to have some time today with acclaimed model and actress Rafaela DeOliveira; greetings and salutations, Rafaela! Before we dive down the proverbial Q&A rabbit hole, how is the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 treating you?Hello! First off, thank you for having me! I have to say, this autumn has been wonderful. Nothing is better than restarting in a different city, surrounded by a fresh environment and countless opportunities!

Major congratulations on all of your success in the dual industries of acting and modeling! Starting at the tip-top, what inspired you to pursue modeling?Thank you! When I was younger, I used to watch Shake-it-up all the time. I vividly remember watching Zendaya and telling myself that I wanted to do that too. I remember seeing the cover of magazines and thinking how rewarding it would be to see myself on that cover. It has been a dream thats always been in my heart.

Was acting a natural extension of modeling? Did one sort of follow the other?

Since the beginning, I wanted to do both! I just wanted to be in front of the camera, on tv, billboards, magazines, etc. I visioned myself on everything. I have always wanted to be influential.

You attended the prestigious halls of Pace University in New York City. Can you talk a little bit about how that experience set you off on the twin-career paths you’re on right now?

I am actually currently still a student at Pace University studying finance. Attending this university in New York is such an advantage. Being in such great area with so many opportunities and connections is something I am so grateful for.

What was your experience like in modeling in Coco Rocha’s model camp and at the vaunted Boston Casting?

Amazing! From both Coco Rocha’s model camp and Boston Castings acting class, I learned so many valuable skills and grew out of my comfort zone.

Coco Rocha’s model camp taught me so much about the modeling and entertainment industry and was a perfect stepping stone for me. I met so many amazing people and had an unforgettable experience.

Looking ahead, can you give our ever-inquisitive readers a hint or three as to what you have coming up?

Absolutely! For the next months I will be participating in shoots towards building my portfolio, attending casting calls, submitting auditions and studying.

Everyday is busy but fulfilling because I know all the work will pay off.

Acting-wise, who inspires you?

Zendaya! Her versatility in acting is so inspiring and beautiful. She has played roles where I could feel the emotion, and she has played roles where I couldn’t stop laughing. She has a unique style, she is real and relatable, and she is natural.

When you’re not modeling or acting, you’re a fierce advocate for animals, volunteering for the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (APCSM). Can you talk about this cause and why it is so important for others to become involved with it?

Yes! Animals are so important and deserve recognition too. Because they can’t speak, people assume they don’t have emotions or can’t feel and are not important. Though people don’t like to accept or realize the inhumane reality of what happens to so many animals everyday. Animals can’t help or speak for themselves, and I believe it is our job to be a voice for them and help them.

Being a model and an actress, do you come from a creative family?

And, if so, how do they feel about all of your success thus far in these industries?- No I do not! My family is from Brazil, and I am a first generation immigrant child. My family started with nothing growing up, and we has worked to get to where we are now. They are extremely proud of me and how far I have come.

Final - SILLY! - Question: When finding yourself with a day off entirely just for yourself, what do you enjoy doing for fun?

I love to go out and just walk around and explore. Or if I’m feeling tired that day, I’ll light a candle, put soft lighting in my room and listen to music while on my computer. Even on a day off, I will still find things I need to do!

Celestina “Celly” Harris

We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed actress Celestina “Celly” Harris; greetings and salutations, Celly!

Before we get the Q&A ball rolling, how is the freshly-minted holiday season treating you?

I’m in TX so the cooler weather is welcomed. I’m very excited for Christmas because this is our giving year. Every other year we choose to not get personal Christmas gifts and instead each of us adopts a family. Last year, I was away working in NYC filming and missed out on fun activities at school, church and with family but this year I’ve been able to go to a lot of fun holiday events so far.

Major congratulations on all of your exciting new work in season 2 of Peacock’s Dr. Death which is set to premiere on December 21! For anyone not in the know, can you explain what the second season of Dr. Death is about and how your character of Lizzi figures into the proceedings?

Lizzi is the daughter of Benita Alexander, (Mandy Moore) who is a journalist that falls in love with Paolo Macchiarini, (Edgar Ramirez). As my mom goes through changes in her relationship with Paolo, Lizzi learns to go with the flow.

Did you know as soon as you were approached about the possibility of playing Lizzi in season 2 of Dr. Death that this was a production you wanted to be a part of?

Of course!!! After my mom told me she (Mandy Moore) was Rupunzel, I was so excited! I was also excited about going to NY for a couple months.

What was it like for you to exercise your own considerable acting chops alongside such acting heavyweights as Mandy Moore, Edgar Ramirez and Luke Kirby in Dr. Death?

Working with them was AMAZING! They were so sweet and I loved the experience of getting to hang out with them. I enjoyed seeing Mandy’s facial expressions on set with me, it’s almost like we weren’t acting sometimes because the feelings felt so real.

How are you similar to your character of Lizzi in Dr. Death?

How are you different?

We both like fashion and I loved every outfit Lizzi wore for her scenes. Lizzi is an only child and I’m one of four so we’re definitely different in that way. I couldn’t imagine life without my brothers and sister.

You’ve also made a big splash in your role of Charlie in Taylor Sheridan’s new Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness. What was your experience like in shooting this much buzzed about series?

ABSOLUTELY the BEST experience. There are no words to describe being on set with Zoe! She is incredible and so so so nice! I enjoyed watching her act so much. There’s an episode where we were preparing for our family scene,

and we were just chatting away about life and joking around and then Zoe went into character and I was like oh my goodness she did that flawlessly! I was so impressed. My older set sister, Hannah, was my bestie! We hung out after workdays and built a bond that really helped us when we were filming. My set dad, Dave, is such a girl dad and was so kind and quite the comedian.

I loved my Lioness set family and hope for a Season 2!

What do you love the most about acting?

I have 3 main reasons why I love acting; 1. I love going to different places. Acting and modeling has taken me to NY, Chicago, LA, North Carolina, Maryland, and to various cities in my home state of Texas.

2. Meeting new awesome people and I love when there are other kids on set.

3. I enjoy becoming different characters.

Your first credited work as an actress on-screen came in the form of the short film The Picnic. Any special memories of that freshman production?

This was my first experience with a “set family” and they were just so amazing to work with! This is when I was introduced to crafty and the endless snacks they offered!! I was so amazed that this was a thing and it worked, it kept me happy all day on set for three days! This was my first time with “lines” and it was pretty cool. This was my intro to TV/Film acting as I had only done commercials before this and I LOVED It! Months after this short film, I landed with my LA/Chi/NY agency! Things moved so fast after this and I’m just excited to see where my acting career goes.

You have a number of upcoming projects in the pipeline. What can you tell our everinquisitive readers about Yuletide the Knot and I’ll Be There?

Yuletide the Knot was my first Christmas movie and filming in Springboat Spring, CO was so beautiful. I also got to sing and play the piano briefly in this movie which was so excited. I’ll Be There just premiered at the Austin Film Festival and is a beautiful story about family, forgiveness, and a love for Michael Jackson.

It is currently making its way through the Film Festival circuit but will be out for the world to see soon!

When you’re not acting, what do you enjoy doing for fun?

I love art like sketching and watercolors. I’m interested in drawing people and the things around me because everything is so unique. Since the strike, I have been attending school and I love it because I’ve been able to see my friends a lot more. When I work, I miss school quite a bit while on location so I’ve been getting very involved in Choir, National Elementary Honor Society, Soccer, and Volleyball. I also enjoy volunteering with my family!

Joe Kwaczala

We’re very excited to be speaking today with acclaimed comedian and all-around funny guy, Joe Kwaczala; greetings and salutations, Joe! Before we dive into the laughfilled Q&A mosh-pit, how has the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 been treating you?

I’m good, but I’m definitely eating too much Halloween candy. I don’t have kids, and we don’t get trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood, but I still bought so much candy for some reason. So I’m doing the noble thing and eating it all by myself. Anything else would be wasteful obviously. And yes, it’s taking a long time and making my body feel weird, but again, it’s the right thing to do.

Major congratulations on your newly-released - and very funny! - sketch album Funny Songs & Sketches! What was the genesis of the hilariously insightful material on the new LP? How did this new album spring forth into reality?

Thank you for the compliments! So I’ve made a lot of video sketches over the years, and my strategy usually has been to release a bunch all in one day. And that has been a successful approach for me, but for the next thing, I wanted to switch it up a bit. And it occurred to me that releasing an album is the same idea: you put out a bunch of stuff at the same time. Only with an album, it’s got a little more polish and gravitas to it. And audio sketch was something I had never done before, so that was a fun new frontier. Also I wanted to make an album so I could be nude on the cover, but ultimately nobody would let me do that.

Can you talk with our ever-inquisitive readers about some of the very special guests who pop up on Funny Songs & Sketches? And was it pretty easy to secure such an all-star lineup of comedic talent?

So that was another advantage of doing audio sketches instead of video. When you’re shooting a video, it can take a long time, and your cast might be there for hours and hours. And it’s hard to ask that of famous people with busy schedules! But when it’s just recording audio, it’s a breeze by comparison. With David Cross, we did a quick session over Zoom. Patton Oswalt recorded at his home studio while I directed him over the phone. With Nick Kroll, I met up with him in the studio right as he was wrapping up a recording session for “Big Mouth.” With Sarah Sherman from SNL, we were just hanging out in New York and then I recorded her on my phone. None of these things took longer than ten minutes. And then some actors like Ayo Edebiri or Andy Richter or Rachel True were available and nice enough to join me in the studio. We had probably 50 guest voices on the album, and I’m grateful that every single one made time for me. As for every celebrity who’s NOT on the album... they will pay...

Along with the newly released LP, you’re also poised to launch your new single Low Stakes Dreams along with a

companion video - kudos and accolades! Nighttime and dreaming is stereotypically the time when we dream our biggest. What inspired you to sort of flip that premise with Low Stakes Dreams?

Thank you! This is all based on my reality, sadly. I really did dream that I lost a receipt once. It became a running joke with some of my friends where we’d text each other if we had a particularly uneventful dream. And when I was thinking of ideas for songs, I liked the idea of juxtaposing this banality with something upbeat like a pop song. And thus “Low Stakes Dreams” was born. And now it’s the most successful song of all time!

800 Pound Gorilla released Funny Songs & Sketches.

What makes this label the best home for you and your comedy and music?

800 Pound Gorilla is one of the top comedy labels around, so I’m very fortunate that they were willing to take a risk on an album of songs and sketches. Typically, they do stand-up releases, so this was out of their comfort zone.

Their roster is full of legitimate legends as well as close friends of mine, so I’m happy to be in such great company.

I haven’t met the titular gorilla yet, but hopefully I can visit headquarters soon and pay my respects to the big man.

In your humble opinion, what differentiates Funny Songs & Sketches from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 comedy and music circuit?

Maybe I haven’t done enough thorough research, but I think I’m the only person this year who put out an album of funny songs and sketches. I think the number of sketch albums alone is probably very, very low. Albums with funny songs?

Probably a little higher than that. But both?? I may be the only one in the category this year. Oh actually, I just looked it up, and it looks like someone did release an album this year called “Funny Songs and Sketches” ... oh wait, that’s me!

The video for Low Stakes Dreams is a true bellyacher of a hoot! Did you have as much fun working on the video as we did in watching it?

Thank you! It’s weird; we keep getting that same compliment from everyone: “bellyacher of a hoot.” Anyway, since this song is about me dreaming, we did a lot of shots of me asleep in a bed. And let me tell you, I fell asleep for real a few times. Sooooo yeah, you tell ME if I had a bunch of fun on set!

Who in the world of comedy makes you laugh and inspires you?

There’s a ton of people out there who really make me laugh, and I was lucky to feature a lot of them on the album. I’ll namecheck a few but know there’s many more. There’s Carl Tart, who makes me laugh any time he’s doing any-

thing, whether it’s on stage or appearing on a podcast or whatever. He makes an appearance on the album’s second track, “Attention All Rideshare Drivers.” The last time I saw the sketch group BUTT (Joe McAdam & Chris Stephens) do a live show, I was laughing so hard I was in tears. They have a bit about Steven Spielberg calling 911 that will make me cackle no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Joe is on a track called “Professor Island” and Chris is on one called “Director Q&A.” If we lived in a just world, we’d all be enjoying the eighth season of a hit sitcom starring Beth Stelling, who’s just the sharpest and the funniest. She pops in towards the end of the album’s last track, “What’s That Again Podcast - Episode 203 - Finding Cassie Banfield” These times that we’re in have proven to be pretty oddball and quite sensitive. As a comedian whose job it is to push at the envelope, how do you navigate through all of the noise?

I don’t know that it is necessarily a comedian’s job to push the envelope. I think a comedian just has to be funny and true to their sensibilities. And that’s all I try to do. I try to work hard to make stuff that’s both funny and feels like some care was put into it. And if people don’t like that, then I’ll scream!

In the wake of the release of the new LP Funny Songs & Sketches and the single and video for Low Stakes

Dreams, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit?

Yeah, I’m always doing live shows around Los Angeles. I usually post those on my website and my social media-- @joekwa on Instagram and TikTok, @joekjoek on Twitter. I’ve also got a bit of a “homecoming” show around the holidays in my hometown of Pittsburgh on December 27 at the Club Cafe. And if you’d like me to come to your town to perform, please reach out to your... alderman? I’m not sure whose jurisdiction that is.

At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners of Funny Songs & Sketches walk away with after giving the new album copious spins on their respective turntables?

Copious spins! Someone’s been binging on the thesaurus today! Honesty I just hope that people connect with the work and it puts them in a good mood. That’s all I can ask for. As you yourself said earlier... these times are pretty freakin’ “oddball!” But I think about how much I loved my Weird Al albums as a kid, and maybe I can provide a fraction of that enjoyment for a new kid. And then they can grow up and make their own album called “Oddball Tunes and Goofs for Your Zune” -- this will be dependent on the Zune listening device making a huge comeback, but I’m confident that will happen.

Photo Credit: Katie Schuering

New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival

We’re very happy to be speaking today with the fine folks behind the deservedly lauded New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival; holiday greetings and salutations, gang! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A musical pathway, is November and December all about setting in motion and preparing for the January 18-20 New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival?

Well, yes, the last few months preceding the festival are a busy time, especially for site preparation and promotion, but in actuality an annual event is a 12-month endeavor. In fact, there’s already an active folder of material in preparation for the 2025 festival.

Congratulations on the upcoming January 18-20th 8th Annual New Orleans Cigar Box GuitarFestival! Starting at the tip-top, how did this widely acclaimed Festival begin life? What’s the secret origin story behind this anticipated annual event?

In 2007, we met Richard Johnston, the Memphis street musician who played North Mississippi Hill Country Blues on cigar box guitar. Over the next few years, we became aware of other CBG pickers and learned that there was a rapidly developing movement centered around homemade stringed instruments, and that festivals were being established in the U.S. and Europe.

New Orleans was an obvious place to hold one, given the fact that homemade instruments had played a role in the early years of Jazz and Blues on the streets there. In 2016, we launched the first NOCBGF. Can you give our ever-inquisitive readers a running tally of some of the incredible musical talent that you have lined up thus far at the upcoming New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival?

Sure. We’re excited about our roster! Please allow me to run down the entire list.

By popular demand, Cincinnati guitar phenom Erin Coburn will return for her second appearance. Also returning will be New Orleans’ own Cigar Box Serenaders, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame member Jonathon “Boogie” Long, Belgian Blues chanteuse Ghalia Volt, Australian Ivor S.K., international CBG favorite Steve Arvey,John Nickel, Amzie Adams, Dar Stellabotta, Rumsey Kadar,ElGordeaux and Michael Cain.

Making their first appearance will be French trio La Durance Blues Band, Blues veteran Lil’ Jimmy Reed, Moroccan guitar master Mahmoud Chouki, John Mary Go Round, Memphis Lightning, Skribe, Ed Wills,Del Puckett and Janky.

We think this is one of the best lineups of CBG players ever assembled, and we encourage everyone to visit the website (https:// www.NewOrleansCBG.com) to learn more about the festival. It’s going to be a great mix of types and styles of music, presented In the comfortable, intimate atmosphere of a terrific listening room in the historic French Quarter.

As we noted at the top, this is the 8th Annual New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival. How is this year’s Festival similar to the 7th?

How is it different?

Once again, we’ll be holding all of our proceedings inside the New Orleans Jazz Museum. It’s a perfect location, within easy walking distance of the Frenchmen Street entertainment district, the French Market, and a great many terrific bars and restaurants.

It’s also just steps away from the scenic Riverfront StreetcarLine which provides inexpensive access to much of the rest of the city.

The schedule of activities is also quite similar to the 7th episode, except that we will be squeezing the activities into 3 days rather than 4.

Who is the mastermind behind booking all of the amazing talent that performs at the New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival?

Several of our team members stay on the lookout for new and exciting CBGers throughout the year; and many times, talented individuals who are not on our radarwill reach out to us. We always have a great pool to choose from.

The Festival begins on January 18 and runs through the 20th!

What makes January the best time to put on the Festival?

There are more than 150 festivals per year in New Orleans, but most are in Spring and Fall. From a production standpoint, January is one of the months with the least competition.

From the visitors’ point of view, it offers a great opportunity for roots music lovers to take a musical winter vacation down South.

Plus … hotel rates are reasonable in January.

Looking back at the previous New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festivals, what are you most proud of accomplishing?

In addition to the wonderfully entertaining acts we’ve been able to present, we’re quite proud of the cultural aspects of the festival. We’ve been able to highlight the role of simple, homemade instruments in the history of all aspects of Americana music, from Bluegrass and Country & Western to Jazz and Blues.

An awesome sidebar to the New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival proper is the annual International Cigar Box Guitar Video Playoffs. How did this event come to be and what makes it a fun and solid companion piece to the Annual New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival?

The first CBG Video Playoffs event was created in 2020 as both a grassroots promo campaign for the upcoming 2021 festival and a method of discovering fresh talent. It’s a truly international competition, and has become a wonderful outlet for the cigar box guitar movement. The videos are based on overall appeal, allowing everyone a shot at part of the $1,000 in cash prizes.

A number of past competitors have gone on to play at the NOCBGF and other similar events as a direct result of their involvement.

Erin Coburn is one of them.

What can you reveal to readers about this year’s Thursday Night Symposium which is set to take place as part of the New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival?

The Symposium will feature a live interview with celebrated New Orleans folk artist Charles Gillam, creator of the Algiers Folk Art Zone and Blues Museum, who mixes art and music by building guitars. Mr. Gillam has art work in the Smithsonian.

Also on Thursday Night, the audience will view the Top 10 of the Video Playoffs, and vote to determine the winners.

The program will conclude with a presentation by our special guest speaker, noted musician, actor and author Chris Thomas King, who’ll discuss the cultural topics laid out in his autobiography, The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Life and Culture.

A meet and greet with both guests will follow. It’s going to be a very special night!

At the end of the day, what do you hope attendees of the 8th Annual New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival walk away with?

It is our desire that our attendees will not only be thoroughly entertained by the artists and amazed by the music they create with their unique instruments, but will leave with a greater feeling of closeness to roots music, having sampled it at the source.

Good Time Locomotive

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Musn’t grumble apple crumble. :) What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?

The Dark Within is our darkest and heaviest song of the first EP. It’s a whistle stop tour of all the things that bring out the worst in us and how we must strive in the darkest of times if we are to overcome our inner demons.

How was the recording and writing process?

Stressful, long and painful! We have it down to a fine tuned machine now but boy oh boy did that take some getting to!

Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?

Over 10 years ago I suffered with severe depression and went through a divorce from someone who suffered

from a similar thing. It didn’t intend to start off like that, but sort of ended up a bit about that sub consciously I think.

Will you be hitting the road this year?

Once we complete the live line up, yes. We both need to get back on stage big time! It has been too long ...

What else is happening next in your world?

We release our final single in December, launch our debut EP in January along with merch. Then a one off chilled song and then 6 more of the best for EP 2!

Hopefully that should burn enough time to give us the breathing space to finish to mountain of ideas we haver stacked up on my hard drive and be thinking of the debut album.

To be honest, with all of that to come before then, if we are not in album territory….then something will have gone horribly wrong! ;)

Dean Wallace and the Black Flames

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?

Hi everyone at VENTS, we’re doing pretty well. We have some songwriting going on, also working on the next video, so we’re busy and happy.

The best way for me to write music is to play on an unplugged electric guitar while I’m doing something else, like roaming in my house, or cooking. I try to distract my brain to open the door for inspiration. Why an unplugged electric guitar ? Because it has a crappy and weak sound, so if a riff sounds good and groovy on this, it will sound awesome with distortion, bass and drums. When the main riffs are there, I call back my brain and we can start to work together on structure and arrangement ideas. I’m also a big fan of audio memos on my phone, I got hundreds of them. Once again, ideas would come when my brain is busy shopping or driving...

What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?

Ok, so our latest release is the single NEW WORLD DISORDER. It’s the first song to come out on our next EP, to be released in April 2024.

This song (like the entire album) has been written during the pandemic. I always write the music first, so at the time the song was written, the book “Covid : The Great Reset” by Klaus Schwab came out. I read the book, and was fascinated about the man’s theories, saying that the pandemic was not only a bad thing, it was also the opportunity to rearrange the world and its governance system, hopefully creating a new world order. While everyone was locked down, and the small businesses were suffering, I couldn’t see any order in this, but only chaos and disorder.

How was the recording and writing process?

The recording process has been exciting but exhausting. It’s been an old dream of mine to produce an album entirely on my own, from songwriting to mastering, and the pandemic allowed me to give it a try. Within 2 years, I wrote 13 songs, recorded 10 of them in my home studio, mixed and mastered the album, found 3 band members, sent 300 emails and signed a deal with a record label and a manager. I don’t know how many hours I spent on this, probably close to 1000. Even though the songs have been remixed afterward by a pro engineer, I think I did reach my goal. For the lyrics, I also tried something new. I wrote the lyrics in french first (french being my mother tongue) and then translated them into english, while on my first album I tried to write in english directly. I’m very happy with the result and with the time I saved.

Will you be hitting the road this year?

In 2023 no, but we are currently trying to organise a tour for 2024.

The three members of The Black Flames and myself (Dean Wallace) are professional musicians, we all earn our lives by gigging.

However, we’re all playing in cover bands, or cover solo projects, and the networks and codes to find gigs with our own material are very different. So once again it’s a lot of effort put into making video, live teaser, and a shit load of emails sent to venues and established touring bands. But we stay focused and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna pay off soon.

What else is happening next in your world?

The band was created in 2011, and has been inactive between 2016 and 2023, so it’s a new start for us. We are very excited about 2024 because we’ve been putting the project back on track this year, so next year will be more about connecting and sharing with people.

We are about to release 4 singles up until April, and these 4 singles will be gathered on an EP released with The Animal Farm Music, our label. I keep on writing, I got about 8 songs ready, so an album is likely to come out in 2025.

Novanauts

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Thank you so much for the opportunity! We have been swell! Looking forward to what the new year has in store.

What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?

We released “Distracted” back in September. It’s an ambitious song built around a really syncopated guitar and drum riff. The idea behind the song sonically was to channel big 80s style guitar and drums with some synth. The lyrics and title of the song talk about the importance of being present in life and putting down the masks and distractions that keep us from engaging in reality. It’s a song that cries out a desire to put down the roles that we play for other people and instead try to connect and not be distracted in a world that’s almost, you know, run on distraction these days.

How was the recording and writing process?

This song started with the main guitar riff. Luke was sitting at home during the pandemic noodling on electric guitar and kept building off of the main chord progression. The lead part came from practising arpeggios and wanting to string some legato riffs together. Then when that lead links to the main riff in, it just felt so right to lock the drums into what the guitar was doing. I think we were listening to a lot of Rage Against the Machine and Muse and some prog rock that year and the vibe permeated into the writing. Recording the song was a blast. We worked with our producer Lee Dyess to capture a big 80s sound. It was tempting during the recording process to add more complex rhythms but it felt so much better to be locked in to that simple riff. It’s a fun song to play because of the synchronised riff. It is physically fun to play and we think that came across well in the recording.

Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?

Luke had just started a really busy job and was dealing with procrastination and lying to himself about how things were truly going.

This simple realisation and also experiencing a lot of social isolation and virtual worlds in 2020 breathed inspiration into the song. It is a lament, really. It’s Luke speaking to himself and what he was going through and what he wants his life to be: more authentic, more real, more engaged.

So the lyrics “we play the roles we play, we’re so distracted, no longer for today is what I’m after” is really a cry to correct what he noticed was going on. A desire to put down the superficial and the fake, even when he realised he was directing some of it towards himself. The hope of the song is to encourage others to do this inner work as well and encourage people to choose presence and choose reality… because that is where true progress can occur.

Will you be hitting the road this year?

Absolutely! We have a string of live shows coming up in our region that we are really excited about. We are pumped to share what we have been crafting with the people. That’s the full circle of the creative process we feel: writing, recording, performing, and facilitating these shared experiences with others. We love it.

What else is happening next in your world?

We have several singles on the way in 2024 that we are very excited about.

We are keeping up a cadence of creation, heading back into the studio, and looking forward to meeting new like minded folks out in the world.

Hopefully we can make it to the UK soon!

Bridge The Gap

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?

Thank you! We’ve been good. Better than we deserve.

The inspiration for ‘Revenant’ came from watching a family member struggle with an addiction that he ultimately succumbed to.

The song is dedicated to him (Mark). But it’s a topic that everyone in the band relates to on one level or another. Not everyone has a chemical dependency history, but there are other addictions that can be just as costly and destructive, including our phones, social media, food, porn etc.

What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?

Bridge The Gap released our debut album ‘Secret Kombinations’ back in March of 2023 on People Of Punk Rock Records, and the response we’ve gotten has been tremendously positive. We saved one of the songs from the ‘Secret Kombinations’ sessions we recorded at The Blasting Room and just released it as a single on October 31. ‘Revenant’ is a mid-tempo melodic punk anthem that touches on the theme of how many of the demons that haunt and torment us are of our own making. Basically, ghosts that we invited in. And the tragedy of that realization.

How was the recording and writing process?

The recording process was an amazing experience. Tracking it at The Blasting Room was a dream come true, and working with Bill Stevenson (Rise Against/Descendents/Black Flag) was an exacting crash-course education that paid huge dividends for us as musicians. We learned so much. And working with such a musical dynamo like Bill was priceless. Can’t wait to do it again. The writing process for ‘Secret Kombinations,’ which includes ‘Revenant’ technically, took place over a few years, but it really coalesced in the summer of 2022 as we prepared to go record it. Some of the songs we’ve been sitting on for a while, while others were fresh and the newest thing we’d written before hitting the studio.

Will you be hitting the road this year?

We hope to be announcing some new live dates very soon. We’ve been in between booking representation for a spell, but we’re working on a remedy and hope to be on the road again soon.

What else is happening next in your world?

We’re actually writing another album right now. As dudes with families and mortgages, we have to be really choosy with how we prioritize our time and efforts together as a band. We’ve opted to err on the side of creation, so we’re continuing to write and make more music. We’ve been stunned by the response to ‘Secret Kombinations’ and the thousands of social media followers and listeners who’ve gotten behind Bridge The Gap. We’re focused on giving our fans more music, sooner rather than later.

James Taylor Quartet touring/performing-wise for The James Taylor Quartet! Can you give us a hint or three as to where fans can expect to see you play?

WE ARE JUST FOCUSSING ON A GIG AT THE BARBICAN APRIL 2ND, JTQ PLUS ORCHESTRA THEN WE WILL BE BACK AT THE FORGE IN DECEMBER 2024 Recording-wise, what does The James Taylor Quartet have up their sleeves for 2024?

WE’VE MADE A NEW ALBUM NOT YET MIXED NUT ITS RECORDED SO SHOULD GET THAT OUT NEXT YEAR Who inspires you musically?

ROLLING STONES, BEETHOVEN, CHUCK BERRY, JIMMY MCGRIFF How much of an inspiration is the world of cinema when it comes to the unique sound of The James Taylor Quartet?

We’re happy to be speaking today with James Taylor, acclaimed Hammond organ player and leader of the British four-piece jazz funk band The James Taylor Quartet; greetings and salutations, James!

Before we meander down the Q&A musical pathway, could you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to the musical alchemists that make up the James Taylor Quartet?

JAMES TAYLOR ORGAN PAT ILLINGWORTH DRUMS MARK COX GUITAR ANDREW MCKINNEY BASS Major congratulations on your upcoming annual Christmas shows which are set for December 15-16 at The Forge in Camden, London!

For any fans who have not been lucky enough to catch a live performance from The James Taylor Quartet, can you give readers a hint or three as to what special treats they’re in for with this holiday offering?

WE WILL BE IN FLL PARTY MODE PLAYING OLD TUNES AND NEW AND REALLY HIGH OCTANE ENERGY WISE, IT’LL GO THROUGH THE ROOF! Some bands translate well to the live performing stage, while others seem to exclusively shine strictly on vinyl. The James Taylor Quartet achieves both feats with no discernible effort. What’s the secret to translating the magic from your recordings onto a stage in front of an audience?

CERTAIN TUNES WORK WELL AT GIGS AND OTHERS JUST WON’T COME TO LIFE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT FOR SOME REASION, SO THE TRICK ITS TO JUST ACCEPT THAT AS A FACT AND WORK WITH THE MATERIAL THAT REALLY FLIES LIVE The James Taylor Quartet has been an active and always-timely presence on the music scene since 1985. To what do you attribute this longevity?

JUST KEEP ON LOVING TO PLAY, AND TRY TO DEKIVER AT EERY GIG, THE PUNTERS SEEM TO KNOW IF ITS REALLY HAPPENING AND ITS HONEST, THEY KEEP COMING BACK, THANKS PEOPLE! Word ‘round industry campfire that 2024 is set to be a busy one

YES I LOVE GOOD FILM MUSIC, WAS WATCHING THE SHINING AT HALLOWEEN, AMAZING SOUNDS THAT WORK SO WELL WITH THE IMAGES, WHEN IT ADDS TO THE FILM THEN ITS SUCH A WONDERFUL COMBO Along with being a respected musician, you’re also a qualified psychotherapist! Are these two facets of your life mutually exclusive, or does one sort of feed into the other?

YES ABSOLUTELY, ITS DIFFENET SIDES OF THE SAME COIN, TRYING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE XXX As someone who has been on the music scene for a number of years and who has seen trends come and go, what’s your take on the music landscape in 2023?

VERY HAPPY TO HAVE REFORMED THE PRISONERS AND SEEING THEY ARE POPULAR, REALLY ENJOYING ROCK N ROLL AGAIN