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V8-43 10.23.24

Maisy Stella Owns Her Queerness

A Night of Glamour and Gaming

13 Reasons to Visit Netherworld

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How Maisy Stella’s Own Queerness Enriches Her Performance in ‘My Old Ass’

By Chris Azzopardi

Photos: Amazon Studios

Our older selves might have a lot to say about how we live our lives now. What can we learn from them? And what might they learn from us?

later in my life, and so I really related to Elliot in a lot of ways. I also didn’t relate in a lot of ways, but I found that part of her to be really safe and comfy, and I wanted it to be done well and done right, and I hope Elliott’s dilemma in “My Old Ass,” a film by that it was. I hope what people take from it writer-director Megan Park (“The Fallout”), is you’re allowed to change and grow, and revolves around the challenge of knowing queerness is complicated and it’s wide the unknowable. The story unfolds during [and] to just exist and to not put so much a mushroom trip in the woods as Elliott pressure on yourself to know exactly what celebrates her 18th birthday with friends, you are when you’re 18. It’s OK if you marking the end of an era. As she looks put a label on [one] day and it ends up forward to a big-city life in Toronto, far changing. removed from the familiar cranberry farm in rural Ontario she grew up on, she Was Elliott’s queerness all on the page enters a hallucinatory state where an when you got the script, or was there older, jaded version of herself (played by room for shaping that part of her as Aubrey Plaza) at 39 appears to offer a you went along? glimpse of what lies ahead — not all of it good.

Things changed from the script a little, but she was there. She was definitely written In her star-making film debut, 20-year-old as who she was. I think Megan is super Stella, who became a child star on the open in terms of writing and changing ABC show “Nashville,” captures Elliott’s things. But she’s pretty spot-on with her punkish spirit, portraying a character writing. She’s just a very genuine person, whose freedom is defined not only by which I think comes across in the way that her journey to create her own destiny but she writes for people. also by her exploration of identity. At the start of the film, she has a crush on a girl, In what ways were you able to a reflection of her previous attractions. influence the character? Did you have But when Chad enters the picture — the a say in the styling? very person her older self warns her to avoid — Elliott begins to question her Yeah, with the styling, our costume own understanding of love and attraction. designer used a lot of my Instagram Throughout, there’s a sense that no and what I wear in real life as inspiration matter who Elliott becomes as an adult, for Elliott, which I thought was so cool. she will love whomever she chooses.

I was so confident and comfortable in her clothes, which really played a huge In a recent video call with Stella, the actor part as to why I was just comfortable in discussed her relationship with labels as general. It matters a lot more than you a queer person and how she incorporated think it does, but I think that every person aspects of her own identity into Elliott. in this movie shaped their character.

Megan wants that and is so open to that I’m going to cry just talking about this and actually really encourages it to just film, because I cried so much during have real personality and not just be this movie. written. And so yeah, I think I shaped Elliott with personality; so did everyone Cry. I’ll cry too just for fun. Let’s do it. else in the movie. That’s just Megan’s style of directing, honestly.

How do you hope that young queer people respond to Elliott and her Were there any other themes of selfidentity evolution? discovery that felt very familiar to you as somebody who was the age of the Elliott was always very moving to me, the character you were playing when you way that she was written. I think that I was played her? lucky enough to grow up in a way where labels weren’t really pushed on me, and Yeah. The most relatable aspect of Elliott I know that’s not everyone’s experience was how, at the start, she was just kind and not everyone is lucky enough to be of self-centered and self-absorbed and given the room to explore and be truly accidentally harmful to her mom and dad open. I feel like the confusion and stress and her family, and I really related to that. over queerness didn’t come until much It’s just the feeling when you look at your

in relation to Elliott and the way that she comes out as gay to Chad?

I mean, that’s a real thing that a lot of people — a lot of women, a lot of bisexual women — struggle with. It’s a real thing where they fall in love with a man, and they’re bisexual.

It means they like men and women and then [it’s] like, “Oh, you’re not bisexual anymore.” It doesn’t really make sense to me. I think that bisexual women, if they’re in a relationship with a man, it doesn’t make mom and you just are rushed with sadness them any less queer if they are still attracted to women. It’s a weird thing. I know a lot of and you just feel bad and you’re just like, people that experience that and struggle “Wait, oh my god, you’re literally just trying with that, and so I think it’s a cool thing to your best. This is your first life. We’re all acknowledge. I am always searching for figuring it out, and I am sorry.” queer movies and a lot of times it’s just a little bit too much. It’s just like the only focus That’s just the feeling, and so I related to Elliott a lot in the ways that I think Elliott gets of the character is that they’re queer, and so I really love that Elliott has so much more very caught up in life and excitement and to her and that that’s just part of her; it feels all these things. Leaving home, it’s all so exciting to her, and in that, she’s accidentally really special to me. It feels so human and real and not overdone. kind of just being harmful to the people that she loves and that love her. That was Given that “My Old Ass” will shape a lot probably what I related to the most about Elliott. That felt tender to me. It was such a of young queer people, I’m wondering what queer movies were there for you reminder for me. growing up.

Your co-star Aubrey Plaza is considered “Blue Is the Warmest Color” was the first by many to be a queer icon. On behalf movie that I’d watched that knocked me of all queer women, did you happen to off my chair. I was like, “All right, things are let Aubrey know how much they follow her career and that they wanted Aubrey turning.” “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is also so beautiful. I would say those are probably and Kristen Stewart’s character to be together in “Happiest Season” and we’re the two that live the highest in my head. still kind of mad about that?

Yeah, no, I didn’t go into detail about that [laughs], but I do agree! I mean, I’ve always loved Aubrey. I’ve always been a massive fan. I think she’s just such a genius artist and getting to know her as a person and getting to work with her has been one of the greatest things I’ll ever get to do. I’ll never get over it. I feel genuinely so grateful to have gotten to do that and gotten to be around her. She’s just a very special person to get to experience, so yeah.

The ideal older you.

The ideal! If I was asked, I’m not kidding, she would have been my absolute number one pick. I just love her.

The film acknowledges a topic that film doesn’t often explore and one that, in fact, is rarely discussed openly: how queerness is still valid even when someone is dating a person of the opposite sex. Can you talk about the significance of that aspect of the movie

Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

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Pride Kick Off @ Georgia Aquarium

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13 BONE-CHILLING REASONS TO VISIT

NETHERWORLD HAUNTED HOUSE It’s the most terrifying time of the year at NETHERWORLD Haunted House! Halloween is only a few short weeks away! In honor of spooky season, read on to discover 13 frightening facts about Atlanta’s most iconic haunted attraction. And, don’t forget to secure your tickets at www. fearworld.com. This year’s two NEW haunted attractions, WAKE THE DEAD and MR. GRENDEL’s BIRTHDAY PARTY OF HORRORS, are open most nights through Halloween, plus Nov. 1-3 and Nov. 8-9.

1) NETHERWORLD moved to its Stone Plus, over 3,000 costumes and masks Mountain facility in 2018. The fill the backstage of NETHERWORLD, property is 10 acres of land and has and more are created each year to approximately 70,000 square feet accommodate the ever-growing of interior space for attractions, storylines and characters that fabrication, operations, and storage, make up the mythology behind the which is nearly double the space of its attraction. previous location of 20 years.

6) High-profile celebrity appearances 2) NETHERWORLD is a massive, haunted have become commonplace at attraction! Walking through the two NETHERWORLD. Familiar faces such haunts is the same distance as 8.5 as Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lawrence, football fields. It is packed to the Usher, Slash, Woody Harrelson, “The brim with intricate sets, over-the-top Walking Dead” cast, Iggy Azalea, special effects, and intense scare Ludacris, and many, many more have actors, filling every moment for visited. guests with sensory overload!

7) The owners of NETHERWORLD are 3) NETHERWORLD has created over some of the cornerstones of the 4,000 seasonal jobs since it began in haunt industry and have founded 1997. and served on multiple industry associations, written numerous 4) Customers from all 50 states articles, taught dozens of seminars, and around the world visit and helped train generations of NETHERWORLD’s haunts every haunted attraction owners and season! operators.

5)

The haunted houses and escape room games at NETHERWORLD feature over 500 animatronics and special effects.

8)

NETHERWORLD has close ties to the film and television industry, as many of its core staff members come from

the entertainment field. In addition, items from the haunts are often rented to productions, and many of NETHERWORLD’s amazing sets and props have come from some of your favorite films, including “The Hunger Games,” “American Made,” “Goosebumps,” “Passengers,” and “Zombieland” to name a few!

9)

In addition to the haunts, NETHERWORLD has five highly acclaimed escape rooms each with a different theme and a Monster Museum which are open all year long!

10) NETHERWORLD has a year-round staff dedicated to creating special effects, sets, props, and monsters for its haunted houses and escape games.

11) Media outlets from all over the world have sought out NETHERWORLD for expert information on Halloween, haunted houses, themed attractions, and what it takes to scare people, including “The Today Show,” Travel Channel, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNN Headline News, TIME magazine and more!

12) “The Collector,” one of NETHERWORLD’s most iconic monsters, is based loosely on Dooley, the unofficial mascot of Emory University, where co-creator Ben Armstrong spent his undergrad years.

13) Did you know 2024 marks the 28th Season of Screams for NETHERWORLD Haunted House?

There’s no better time to experience one of the most famous, terrifying, and high-quality haunted attractions on Earth!

Get your tickets to Netherworld Haunted House at fearworld.vom.

A Sultry Casino Affair: A Night of Glamour and Gaming

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt On November 15, AID Atlanta invites you to enjoy a night of fundraising in the spirit of Monte Carlo meets Moulin Rouge. The Casino de Monte Carlo party will not only be a significant fundraising event for AID Atlanta, but it will give guests an experience of old-school glamour, gambling, and entertainment like none other. We spoke to Jon Santos, Director of Development at AID Atlanta, about what to expect at the Casino de Monte Carlo.

AID Atlanta has always been great at creating in the most dire need. and hosting fundraising events throughout the You’ve had quite the year of fundraising – so year – but this one is different! Can you tell us what’s next? a little bit about the background for the Casino de Monte Carlo event?

Casino de Monte Carlo is our last major special fundraising event for the year. After this we focus This dressy, sultry, and sophisticated cocktail on Giving Tuesday, Holiday In Memory of and party will feature exciting casino gaming In Honor of efforts, and a Year End Campaign. experiences with professional operators running Then we regroup and do it all over again. tables for craps, roulette, blackjack, and slot machines. Guests will use casino chips, which What if you can’t make it to the event? How can be traded for raffle entries to win incredible can we support AID Atlanta otherwise? prizes, including trips, Blue Ridge Cabin Stays, and an Atlanta Staycation.

Visiting: www.aidatlanta.org/donatenow/ is the Guests will enjoy signature cocktails crafted by easiest way to give. Our friends may include Tito’s Vodka and delicious hors d’oeuvres by the program or service they wish to support Affairs to Remember. Cabaret-style performances by leaving information in the ‘comments’ box. will entertain throughout the evening, featuring Supporting our life-saving work is instrumental singers, dancers, and magicians. to our continued efforts. With HIV Testing costing $25, an STI Testing running around $70 How did you come up with the idea for the those programs are in constant need of funding. swanky casino and nightclub theme?

Let’s return to the event – how do you get to We looked around the community to see what attend? And will there be a dress code? might be fun that isn’t currently happening.

Casinos, gambling is fun. I see a mixture of The link to purchase tickets online is www. the opening sequence of Sister Act, Casino aidatlanta.org/casino/. Pit Boss Host Admissions Royale, 50 Shades of Grey and Shirley Bassey’s are $175 per person, and Player General Cover of Get The Party Started were part of our Admission is $100 per guest. Captaining a table inspiration. is absolutely welcome and encouraged.

What can people expect at this event? Will Guests will enjoy signature cocktails and there be gambling? delicious hors d’oeuvres by Affairs to Remember.

Cabaret-style performances will entertain As you know, gambling with real money is throughout the evening, featuring singers, illegal in Georgia, and while we will have dancers, and magicians. professional gaming operators, craps, roulette, blackjack and slot machines with real ‘play,’ we Anything else you’d like to add? will use funny money. At the end of the event money can be turned in to raffle prize entries. We invite you to please join us. The evening will be fun, we will raise funds to help fund Events like this raise necessary and vital funds our agency, and thank you for your years of for your programs. Can you elaborate a little bit generous support. AID Atlanta is by and of our on how the money raised will be spent? community.

Special fundraising events tend to be the most visible in our Development program, and at AID Atlanta, our special fundraising events exist to help fund our prevention and care programs and services like our Free HIV and STI Testing and Treatment Program, Men Engagement Network (MEN), Sisters With A Voice (SWAV), and Emergency Assistance fund that helps those

Get your tickets for AID Atlanta’s Casine de Monte Carlo event at aidatlanta.org/casino.

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227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

9 10 & Piedmont 991 Piedmont Ave NE 10 Campagnolo 980 Piedmont Ave NE 16 G’s Midtown 219 10th St NE 17 Henry’s 132 10th St NE 19 La Hacienda 900 Monroe Dr NE

6 My Sister’s Room66 12th St NE 7 X Midtown 990 Piedmont Ave NE

fitness

BARS not on map

spa/bath

1 FUTURE ATLANTA 50 Lower Alabama St. SW Suite 180

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE 15 Flex Spa

76 4th St. NW

PAPI’S ORIGINATED WITH A FAMILY RECIPE, A DREAM, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO RISK EVERYTHING.

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1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd

30 Gravitee Fitness

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

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32 Atlanta Eagle 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 33 Felix's 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 34 The Hideaway 1544 Piedmont Ave NE 35 Mixx 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 36 Oscar's 1510 Piedmont Ave NE Mary's 1287 Glenwood Ave SE Sister Louisa’s Church 466 Edgewood Ave SE Lips Atlanta 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE The T Woof's 494 Plasters Ave NE

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1447 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

41 Equilibrium Fitness 1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L

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A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in DAVID & visit their websites for weekly event listings.

SNAPS

BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE BULLDOGS 893 Peachtree St NE FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl.com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

ATLANTA EAGLE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE

HENRY’S henrysatl.com 132 10th St NE

FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com 900 Monroe Dr NE

THE HIDEAWAY 1544 Piedmont Ave NE MIXX mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE

MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE

OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

X MIDTOWN xmidtown.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE

WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE

THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE

TRIPPS fb: tripps-bar 1931 Piedmont Cir NE

CHESHIRE

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HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE WESTSIDE MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW 840ATL 840 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW ANSLEY

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RETAIL MIDTOWN BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE CHESHIRE SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE ANSLEY BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1000 Piedmont Ave NE, Ste A

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