Independent Streak Magazine - Feb./ March 2022

In d ep en d en t

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M a g a zin e Feb./ Mar ch 20 22

A ctress A l yssa M i l ano tal k s about Netf l i x 's " Brazen " & beyond M i ami Fi l m Festi v al K i ck s Of f Legendary di rector/ actor Werner Herzog comes to South Fl ori da Retro TV stars tal k about th ei r career & new pl ay Goi ng V i rtual : Fl ori da producti on compani es sh ow case th ei r tech Pl us: M ore Fi l m Fests, Fi l m Rev i ew s

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Retro TV Stars Tak e th e Stage

Bern Nadet t e St anis & Ted Lange (Phot o of Lange by Keven Major Howard )

By Rachel Gal vin You may remember them best from your TV screens back in the 1970s and 80s... Ted Lange is best known for "The Love Boat" and Bern Nadette Stanis for "Good Times." But the pair have gone on to do countless projects and graced countless stages, as well as

becoming authors.

Their newest project is a play called "Willie & Esther," which will be showing at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center in Pompano Beach, Florida March 26 and 27 at 3 p.m. ?Willie & Esther premiered in 1987 at the Inner City Cultural Center in Los Angeles and won first place at the Center's first short-play competition, beating out more than 100 other plays from around the U.S.,? said Phyllis Korab, Cultural Affairs director. ?Since then, the play has had many successful stagings, including an acclaimed Off-Broadway run. Now, we are thrilled to launch our own production, showcasing the talent of two beloved television stars.?

The comedic and touching play centers on a couple who hatch a plan to overcome their troubles by robbing a bank. A frustrated scam artist, Willie, is a warehouse worker scheming to achieve a big break.

Meanwhile, Esther endures the drudgery of her beauty parlor job and Willie?s endless schemes.

In addition to the play, there will be other programming associated with the duo at the cultural center, including a screening of "The 1 Love Boat," followed by a Q&A with Lange on March 24 from 7 to 8

p.m. and a screening of "Good Times" with Stanis followed by a Q&A on March 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. Also, on March 28, Lange is doing a master class on screenwriting from 6 to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit www.pompanobeacharts.org. The Pompano Beach Cultural Center is located at 50 Atlantic Boulevard, in Pompano Beach.

This reporter had the chance to interview the duo about the play and about their careers.

Tal king wit h Ted Ted Lange is probably known best for being the lovable bartender Isaac on "The Love Boat." That popular show was on TV from 1977 to 1986.

When it was through, did Lange have a hard time getting back into the industry? His response: "I was able to stretch myself as an artist. 'The Love Boat' gave me the chance not only to act but also to write and direct. I took those skills back to the theatre and was also able to ply my trade on television shows and independent films. I directed 60 episodes for Byron's Allen's company, 'The First Family' and 'Mr. Box Office. ' I directed a film version of 'Othello' and another indy film called 'For Love Of Amy.'" He added, "I have continued to write plays, One of my plays, 'Lady Patriot,' will be done in Charlotte, NC in April. Right now, I am in Syracuse, NY directing for Red House Theatre 'Fences."

He said, "I have written 25 plays. My latest trilogy is Shakespeare influenced. You can buy my book of three plays on Amazon. It is called 'Shakespeare Over My Shoulder.' You can go on YouTube and see two of my plays, type in my name then the play title -- 'Shakespeare Over My Shoulder' [That is one play]. This play answers the 400 year old

question , 'Who wrote Shakespeare's plays?' My play is a comedy. The other play is called 'The Tears of Shylock.' This play deals with immigration, and what it is like to be a foreigner in Italy in the 1500s.

The third play is called 'The Cause, My Soul'. This play won best play of 2017 from the NAACP theatre wing. However, the only way to know this play is to buy it on Amazon. It is a prequel to 'Othello,' written in Iambic pentameter."

When asked what drew him into wanting to do this play, Lange said, "I love this play. It is a comedy and the jokes are idiosyncratic to black folks. Very funny with the playwright's rhythm and sense of humor, strong black characters for both male and female."

When it comes to preparing for a role, he said, "As an actor, I first learn the text, get it down so I know it cold, that way, if I need to, I can bend a joke and not get lost. I pick up the rhythm of Bern Nadette and we can build off of each other's energy."

He added, "Bern Nadette and I have known each other since the '70s.

Our chemistry is built in. We have done social events together and we always joke around. We can feel each other's sense of humor. We met when I was on 'That's my Mama'. 'Love Boat' came later and we got the chance to work together."

What does he hope people come away with after watching the play?

"This play is a comedy. There are really good laughs in the play. I hope the audience has a good belly laugh, and enjoys the story of this couple that is trying to live in a system that is working against them.

There are political overtones to this comedy. So, underneath the laughs, serious points are being made about being black in America," he said.

Lange said he loves being on screen and on stage as well. He doesn't play favorites. "I started in theatre. It is where I learn the craft of acting. TV and film taught me to adjust my skills to suit the camera. I love both," he said, adding, "Over the years, I have adjusted my eye to see the art in both disciplines. For film, the art is in using the camera and where to place the camera to best suit the scene and enhance the characters. Plus, an actor must know how to deliver the goods in a close up and how that changes in a long shot. But, theatre is immediate. The audience must be drawn into the world you create on stage. Plus, there is an audience connection when you are doing a comedy because laughter is the response to the play and your character. Sometimes, you and the audience build on ideas in the play to keep the audience leaning forward. That connection can build on laughs and keep the play rolling."

His favorite part he has ever played? "I appeared in my play 'Lady

Patriot.' The lead actor got a film job and I had to take over. The character was called 'Old Robert.' I did not realize how much fun he was to play until I stepped into the role. He starts out as an 'Uncle Tom' and makes the transition to someone really strong in his belief in himself. This play is also on Amazon."

His advice to someone new to being an actor? "The most important thing an actor can do is act. It does not matter where ... What matters is that he does his craft. If you are a director, you must direct; if you are a writer, you must write. Every step you take is a step that furthers your knowledge in your chosen field."

He adds, "If you want to have a good laugh and a good time, come see 'Willie and Esther."

To find out more about Lange, visit his IMDB page. He also is on social media.

Tal king wit h Bern Nadet t e Bern Nadette Stanis started her love for acting at a young age. "When I was little, I can remember while on the bus or subway with my mother, I would find an interesting person to watch and I would act like that person when I got home. So, I would say acting must have been in my blood from the beginning from when I was very little," said Stanis.

She was lucky to land a role as Thelma on "Good Times," which was on the air from 1974 to 1979. "Good times was my favorite production to work on because It was my first show to work on and I learned so much from Esther Rolle and John Amos. I also learned about production and cameras, and lighting. It was an amazing show to be part of," she said.

Stanis said she is happy to be working with Lange again on this production.

"I fell in love with this play when I saw it at the Inner-City 2

Playhouse in Los Angeles. I knew I wanted to someday do this play Off-Broadway; And in 1991, my dream came true and I did the play for eight months Off-Broadway. This play is a sweet little love story about two people who belong together."

She added, " I prepare for the role by listening to Willie describe her within his lines. They tell me how to create my Esther. I then know how I want her to look, act and then I create her inner life."

After all these years, Stanis still loves both theater and on screen work. "I enjoy acting and creating my characters. That is why I keep coming back for more. I enjoy live theater because I enjoy the audience. When I hit a line perfectly, I can hear the reaction from the audience. I enjoy that very much," she said.

She added, "There are so many wonderful moments in my acting résumé but my favorite is when I am delivering a monologue with deep meaning and the delivery comes out perfect. My advice to someone new in the business is to study your craft, and take acting lessons so that you can handle any role you want to play.

That way you are not limited to one type of character."

"My most recent role is a character named NeeNee Duncan [in a "Good TImes" TV show 3

"The Love Boat "

called] 'The Family Business,' on BET Plus. I enjoy this character because she is a loving caring wife and mother, and can be a little spicy if she has to. There are so many colors within the character. It can become a very interesting portrait."

When not acting, she said, "I love writing poetry and painting. I still dance a lot."

You can visit her website at www.ThelmaofGoodTimes.com or visit her on social media. You can also visit www.Rememberingthegoodtimes.org.

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch 2022

M i ami Fi l m Festi v al Honors Composer Cri stobal Tapi a De V eer Chilean-born, Montreal-based composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer received Miami Dade College?s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Film Festival?s Art of Light (Composer) Award, presented by Alacran Group.

Tapia de Veer made headlines in 2021 with his music for HBO?s zeitgeist-shaking limited series "The White Lotus." ?Part of what made "The White Lotus" such a buzzy breakout ? is the original score, a tension-swelling burst of tribal music,? Indiewire?s Zack Scharf wrote in a feature story.

Miami Film Festival?s Art of Light Awards are presented to cinematic artists whose exemplary work shines new wonders on the continuing evolution of motion pictures. 2021 winners included actors Aldis Hodge, Andra Day and "Nomadland" cinematographer Joshua James Richards.

Hailed as a ?musical genius? by Paste Magazine, multiple award winner Cristobal Tapia de Veer is recognized for creating some of the most memorable soundtracks in modern entertainment. His early television work includes the critically acclaimed Channel 4 cult series ?Utopia,? which earned him awards from the Royal Television Society among others. Along with ?Dirk Gently?s Holistic Detective Agency? and ?Black Mirror,? Tapia de Veer earned a BAFTA and other honors for C4?s miniseries "National Treasure" and an Emmy nomination for Amazon/ C4?s Philip K. Dick?s "Electric Dreams."

Recent television projects include two HBO series "The White Lotus," and "The Third Day" (produced by Plan B Entertainment and Punchdrunk International, starring Jude Law and Naomie Harris), which received multiple nominations and wins for its haunting score, and the Jordan Peele-produced ?Hunters? for Amazon Prime starring Al Pacino, which earned him an ASCAP Award.

In the wake of his award-winning score for his first feature film, the 2016 dystopian drama "The Girl with all the Gifts," recent film work includes the 2019 Spanish comedy "Advantages of Traveling by Train" ("Ventajas de Viajar en Tren"). ?Music is an essential chaperone in entertainment, intensifying the action on the screen as well as the emotions that audiences feel, and

Cristobal Tapia de Veer?s art reminded us of the vitality of the work of the composer in 2021,? said Miami Film Festival Executive Director Jaie Laplante. ?We are thrilled to be able to present him our Art of Light (Composer) Award at the 2022 Miami Film Festival.?

Alacran Group, sponsor of Miami Film Festival?s 2022 Art of Light (Composer) Award, is a multi-faceted entertainment company consisting of music label Alacran Records, state-of-the-art recording and live streaming facilities Alacran Studios in Miami, and film production company Alacran Pictures.

There will be more information about other awards in the next issue of this publication. For more inf ormat ion, you can al so visit ht t ps:/ / miamif il mf est ival .com.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, at Suit e Habana Caf e, t hhe Miami Fil m Fest ival reveal ed t heir 2022 Fest ival Post er by art ist Raul Monge. See more about t he f est in t his issue and in t he next . Phot o court esy of MIFF. 4

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Audience Award f or Best Short Fil m: "Boxed," directed by Alyn Darnay, starring Laurel Kelly Levey, Avi Hoffman, Ira Grossman Crit ics Jury Prize: "The Swimmer," directed by Adam Kalderon Next Wave Jury Prize: "All Eyes Off Me," directed by Hadas Ben Aroya Each winner was determined by a committee of jurors, drawn from a wide range of perspectives, including film industry veterans, film students and local film critics," he said.

If you missed the Miami Jewish Film Festival, you can always check it out next year. For more information, visit https://miamijewishfilmfestival.org.

M ia m i Je w is h Film Fe s t iva l w r a p s After 14 days and 148 film premieres, the 2022 Miami Jewish Film Festival was thrilled to announce five major prizes for feature filmmaking and short films.

"Honorees, named in total below, represent new achievements in global independent storytelling," announced Executive Director Igor Shteyrenberg. "Bold, intimate and humanizing stories prevailed across categories, with awards going to the following films: Audience Award f or Best Narrat ive Fil m: "iMordecai," directed by Marvin Samel, produced by Dahlia Heyman Audience Award f or Best Document ary Fil m: "The Automat," directed by Lisa Hurwitz 5

Phot os court esy of Igor Sht eyrenberg

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch 2022

P u b lis h e r 's No t e

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There are a lot of scary things happening in the world right now. Just as COVID-19 seems to be lessening, the war in Ukraine is happening. All of these current events can weigh on us in our daily lives and affect us, not to mention rising gas prices and what we pay for groceries.

Remember to turn off the TV when it gets to be too draining. Take some time to take care of yourself during these trying times. You cannot be able to put your full energy into your creativity if you don't. Use your time to write about what is happening, make some art, take some pictures... use what is happening to spur on your creativity. You never

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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch

" Negati v i ty" Bri ngs Posi ti v e Rev i ew s, Crow ds

By Rachel Gal vin On Jan. 30, director Jonathan Vargas held a private screening for his latest film "Negativity" at Savor Cinema in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. His film, starring local Florida actors, brought in a large crowd, as well as Angel Salazar, who played Chi Chi in "Scarface," who signed autographed and posed for photos.

This film, shot during COVID-19, was made primarily with the actors separated using cell phone and online FaceTime footage.

The plot follows a con artist named Shawn, a hustler, who hustles the wrong person and has lands himself in a world of trouble. His troubles are set within a backdrop of the pandemic.

This is Vargas' first feature film, but he has made 16 short films and a webseries through the years. Asked how he came up with the idea for the film, Vargas said, "Originally, I was supposed to work on a feature film called 'Side Effects,' which is based on a short film that I did back in 2017. However, when we were doing pre-production, COVID happened and that?s when we all went into lockdown. Those first few months of lockdown really got to me. I was thinking that this was the end of cinema. Are we ever going back to making movies? But what inspired me to make 'Negativity' was a show on CBS called 'All Rise.' The show was still in production, but due to the COVID lockdown, they had to film an entire episode through Zoom calls. That?s what inspired me. I wanted to make a film, but with COVID-19 being in the background. I wanted to tell a story about the people that were trying to adjust to this 'new normal' that the whole world was trying to get used to. Plus, I needed to do something.

7 Not working on a project was making me depressed and I felt I

could do something small with a group of actors and a small crew."

Originally, "Negativity" was going to be a short film, but he said he shot so much footage that he decided to expand it into a feature.

The film consisted of mostly actors he had worked with before or ones that were cast for "Side Effects," but he did hold auditions as well. "I like working with actors that I get along with and are passionate about the craft. That?s why I usually cast them again in other projects. But I am always looking for new people to work with," said Vargas.

Vargas found working during the pandemic to be challenging. "It was stressful," he said. "We started production in the summer of 2020. The pandemic was really bad in July. There were reports of 10,000 cases a day and I remember feeling a lot of anxiety because I was afraid we were all going to catch COVID on set. Thankfully, none of us got sick.

Plus, since I have done so many low budget films in the past, working with a tiny cast and crew was not hard for me. The first few days on set it was just me; Jeffrey Creightney, my lead actor; and my DP, Kristopher Stoltz. A majority of the film is Jeffrey?s character FaceTime with people and he never was in contact with them. A lot of the cast never got to meet face to face until the private screening. I would go to most of their houses and film their scenes and edit them together to make it seem like Jeffrey was really talking to them."

Besides dealing with COVID-19, he said he had other challenges. " The most challenging thing was making the story personal for

me. Of all the projects I have worked on, 'Negativity' is by far the most realistic and personal film I have ever done. In the past, I did 'genre' films that focused on gangsters, zombies etc. Here, I was focusing on real characters with real problems. A lot of what the characters were going through I was going through: insecurities, mental illness, family dysfunction ... stuff I never Direct or Jonat han Vargas speaks. talked about in any of my movies. I don?t like being personal in my movies, but I had to get a lot of what I was feeling out of my system and type it out, then make it into a film. It was great therapy for me."

Most of his films have dealt with darker topics -- zombies, assasins, etc. Asked why he has chosen those topics in the past, he said, "I guess I?m just [such] a fan of those types of films that I wanted to make my own. Also, they?re very easy to make, especially when you?re doing low budget films. I?m still going to make those types of films in the near future, but as I get older, I want to try and do different films similar to 'Negativity,' but ... I don?t want to do another film involving COVID." The best part of filming BodCast & crew at privat e screening. (Submit t ed phot o)

"Negativity," he said, was, "Finishing it and strengthening the bond I had with my cast and crew. On some production days, it felt like a small family and I didn?t want to finish shooting because we all got along so well on set.

Making a film, he said, is like a drug that keeps him coming back for more. "Every time I get to make a film, I have this ultimate high. I?m so excited to be on set and make magic that I continue to do more just to get better and have that high Kenny Ruiz is one of t he act ors in again." t he f il m, and is al so an art ist , f ashion designer and has his own He has been inspired by many on lin e sh ow. great directors through the years, including Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Kinji Fukasaku, Steven Spelberg, Brian De Palma and others.

For "Negativity," he said he had a few films that inspired him. "Spike Lee?s 'Summer of Sam' and 'Do The Right Thing' played a big part In inspiring me to make this film. Also The Safdie Brothers?'Uncut Gems' gave me inspiration, especially with the main character, Shawn. Also, I?m a big fan of Japanese cinema from the golden era. Those films have shaped me into the filmmaker that I am today."

Asked what he wished he had known when he started out doing films, he said, "The legal and business side of cinema. It?s important to know how to protect yourself in the future."

The film will be hitting the festival circuit next. You can Vargas at www.facebook.com/jon.vargas.581 and www.instagram.com/citystar611.

Angel Sal azar, who pl ayed Chi Chi in "Scarf ace," wit h IS f ounder Rachel Galvin.

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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch 2022

A ctress/ Producer A l yssa M i l ano tal k s " Brazen" & beyond

By Rachel Gal vin The TV movie "Brazen," directed by Monika Mitchell, went straight to the top on Netflix. Maybe its success was due to the engaging story and maybe it was because of Alyssa Milano being in the leading role.

After all, a generation of people grew up with her coming into their living rooms, on TV shows like "Who's the Boss," "Melrose Place," "Charmed," "My Name is Earl" anc countless others, as well as films.

Certainly, "Brazen's" popularity had to do with the writing and acting, and everything that goes into making a successful film.

The story was based on a novel by Nora Roberts called "Brazen Virtue" and the screenplay was created by Donald Martin and Edithe Swensen. The film follows her character, Grace, a mystery writer, as she tries to uncover who killed her sister, Kathleen, who was a teacher by day and secretly a cam girl by night. The neighbor next door, Ed, happens to be a detective who gets wrapped up in trying to solve 9

the case. Finding out whodunit is not as easy as it seems.

Milano talked to this reporter about her involvement in the film, which she not only acted in, but also produced.

Asked how she got involved in the project, she said, "I?m always interested in a good story, and 'Brazen' tells a great story. We?ve got a strong female lead who can be strong while still being a woman ? nobody would replace Grace with a male actor without having to change everything about the character, which isn?t always true in stories where women play the lead in crime and action stories. And who wouldn?t want the chance to work with someone like Nora Roberts, who has been entertaining readers so successfully in this genre for decades?

Preparing for a lead role as juicy as this one certainly can be a daunting task for any actor. Milano tries to step into the shoes of her character long before she hits her mark and starts filming. "I always try to get to know a character long before I start shooting. It?s not just reading the script, it?s trying to understand who they are as a person.

I?ll be out in the grocery store, and I?ll try to notice the differences between how I shop and how I think my characters would shop. I try and find places where I can fill in parts of the story that aren?t on the page, and use those to inform how my characters fill space in the world," she said.

She added, "I?m dyslexic, so I also have to spend a lot of time working on the script itself, memorizing the lines and really internalizing the story. It?s not as easy for me as it is for other people, so I make sure I dig in and come prepared. And, of course, there?s the time in the gym.

It?s the worst."

Given the content of the scenes, she had to be very emotional in parts, which really appeared natural in the film. She said getting to know your character helps an actor be able to reach those emotions. "I think this comes from understanding the character ? if you don?t know how your character is going to feel and act in these scenes, you won?t be believable. Grace and Kathleen have a complicated history, and there?s a lot of difficult emotions bound up in that. Understanding those emotions, knowing how they were always present for Grace, and knowing that she had no way to resolve those directly to Kathleen is a deep well to draw from. And of course, as an actor, you remember your

own personal experiences. You know how you felt in those moments, and accessing that emotion ? but making sure it flows through the life and history of your character ? makes it authentic," she said.

Filming during COVID-19 added another level of difficulty to the shoot, said Milano. "It was the first time I really filmed during the pandemic. It was difficult to truly connect during rehearsal and some of the normal off-camera time you spend with the cast and crew in a way that could automatically translate on the screen. ... especially in scenes where you have to be really intimate with someone. That?s why I was so glad we brought an intimacy coordinator into the crew. She really helped both make those scenes as comfortable as they could be, but she also helped us feel connected and engaged with one another in a way that drew some of the best performances out of us."

There were definitely intimate scenes between Milano and Sam Page, who played the detective, Ed. About working with Page, she said, "Sam?s great. He?s a really generous acting partner, who was completely prepared and professional. We had a natural rapport, and I think that came off on the screen. It was just fun to work with him. As far as the actual scenes together, the intimacy coordinator helped me feel really safe filming them ? not at all that Sam didn?t, he?s amazing ? but they?re hard to shoot. Having that coach who made sure we captured what we intended to capture in a space where we all felt comfortable giving our all made a big difference."

Of course, for an actor, anytime they are on set is a good day overall and Milano enjoyed working on the project despite the challenges of COVID-19 protocols. She said, "I really loved working with this whole team. They?re smart, and creative, and talented and fun, and I really loved working with all of them. But my absolute favorite part came shortly after my family and I arrived in Canada. We had to quarantine together in the home we rented, and Canada took it really seriously.

Shortly after we arrived, I was having a Zoom party with some friends back home and there was a knock on my door from one of the very friendly but very serious government inspectors making sure we were all home and locked down together. My daughter Bella, who was 6 at the time, yelled out, ?Mom, the governor of Canada is here!?

Regarding working with the director, Milano said, "I love Monika Mitchell. I?d work with her again any time. She had great insights, she works so hard, and she pushed us in just the right ways."

Asked what qualities she likes best in a director, she said, "I mean, I?ve been directed for 40 years. What I really like is a director who has a clear vision for a project, who isn?t afraid to insist on getting it, but who isn?t so locked down in that vision that there?s no room for an

actor to bring something of their own vision to the production. The director is the boss, but the projects we put together as collaborative efforts are the ones that I think turn out the best."

She has been acting for so long, Milano said she does not take acting classes anymore, but added, "I?m always watching actors. On the screen, on productions, I just take it all in. I?m blessed to work with so many special talents, it would be such a huge mistake to not soak all of that in. I hope I?m always learning and growing in my craft."

Her advice for actors new to the business? "Be really, really sure this is what you want ? no, that this is what you need to do. If it is, go all in, but make sure you?re trusting the right people and that you don?t let anyone take advantage of you."

What's next for Milano? "I?ve just signed a production deal with A+E Studios, and I?m so excited to bring new projects to the screen. We?ve signed a deal with Fox for our show 'White House Doctor,' a drama based on Dr. Connie Mariano?s memoir and there?s a lot more in the pipeline."

Besides her acting career, Milano has been involved as an activist, something this article is not deliving into, but when asked what else she might like to share, she asked those who read this article to "Call your members of Congress and demand they remove the arbitrary and unnecessary deadline blocking adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment, which has been ratified by all of the states."

To find out more about Milano, visit www.Alyssa.com and find her on Twitter (@AlyssaDotCom) and her personal Twitter 10

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch 2022

M i ami Fi l m Festi v al K i ck s Of f For 2022

By Rachel Gal vin This year's Miami Film Festival kicked off on March 4 with Fernando León de Aranoa's Spanish satire "The Good Boss," shown at Silverspot Cinema. (See more about the film on page 17). The film was followed by a fabulous party at the nearby historic Alfred J. Dupont Building.

The party was themed after "Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado," the 2020 Awards Night Film (since the party could not be held at that time due to COVID-19). Upon entering the party, people were greeted by a cardboard stand-up of Mercado perfect for photo opps and a mysterious fortune teller holding a "crystal ball," of sorts, inside of a table filled with cootie catchers so people could figure out their own fortunes. As guests entered the event, they also found many tables filled with samples of food and drink, which they could enjoy while listening to the music being pumped out by the DJ. Participating restaurants included Shake Shack, Divieto Ristorante, Bulla Gastrobar, Pisco y Nazca, Chicken Guy, The Lazy Oyster and YIP Miami , and libations were provided by Estrella Damm!, Volley Tequila Seltzer, Barceló, Cardenal Mendoza, Liquore Strega, Rosaluna Mezcal and Marques de Riscal with mocktails from Ghia and Olipop Soda, as well as LaCroix Sparkling Water. But it was not all about indulging, it also was about capturing the moment . There was makeup station to get a touch up, a 360 photo station that was out of this world, as well as another place to strike a pose. To go with the astrological theme, being that Mercado, who passed away in 2019, was a famous TV astrologer, they also had a tarot card reader available. The event was a breath of fresh air after being cooped up due to the pandemic.

The best part was that the event was just the kickoff to the festival, which continued until March 13. There will be more coverage of MIFF in the next issue. For more info. on the fest, visit www.miamifilmfest.com.

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SNAPS at MI FF 2022 Opening Night

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See more snaps and inf o. soon at www.f acebook.com/ independent st reak 13

Lou Sil ver & Sara Rogers at t heir Fil m St ock event .

Sar a Roger s i s k n ow n as bei n g a l ocal act i n g coach , bu t sh e al so h as m an y ot h er t y p es of ev en t s abou t t h e i n d u st r y. Sh e an d L ou Si l v er ju st h ad an ev en t cal l ed Fi l m St ock , w h i ch br ou gh t i n v en d or s, agen t s, cast i n g d i r ect or s, a p h ot ogr ap h er an d m or e. Th e ev en t w as gear ed t ow ar d act or s an d f i l m m ak er s.

Act or s cou l d sh ow case t h em sel v es i n f r on t of agen t s an d cast i n g d i r ect or s, get a h ead sh ot t ak en or f i n d ou t abou t r esou r ces i n t h e i n d u st r y. Fi l m m ak er s cou l d p i t ch t h ei r p r oject s t oo. You can f i n d ou t m or e abou t t h at ev en t by r ead i n g t h e l ast i ssu e. I t w as h el d back i n N ov em ber . Th ey p l an on d oi n g i t agai n .

Si n ce t h en , sh e h as con t i n u ed t o d o ev en t s, i n cl u d i n g Th e Ar t of t h e Pi t ch , w h i ch y ou can see t h e ad f or h er e.

Fi nd out m or e a bout ever yt hi ng Sa r a Roger s does a t a dult a ct i ngcoa ch.com .

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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch 2022

Werner Herzog V i si ts FA U

By Rachel Gal vin With more than 60 films and documentaries under his belt, Werner Herzog has become a legend in the film community. ?Time? magazine even awarded him one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2009. He is considered a pioneer of New German Cinema. In addition to being a director, he also is known as an actor, including working in ?The Mandalorian? and ?Jack Reacher,? and he is an author.

On Feb. 11, he was welcomed to Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida for a special event, which included the screening of his 11th film, ?Aguirre: The Wrath of God," celebrating its 50th anniversary. Joining him was his co-producer, Jose Koechlin. The film being shown was a perfect companion to the Machu Picchu exhibit, which was shown until March 6 at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. The event was sponsored by FAU?s School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and the America?s Initiative along with the Boca Raton Museum of Art, State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Herzog said when they made the film ?Aguirre: The Wrath of God," they were 'just kids.' The film was released in 1972. He tends to take on some pretty ambitious Jose Koechl in speaks as Werner Herzog l ooks on. undertakings while filming and this film 15

certainly fit the bill.

That is obvious right from the first scene as a long line of Spanish conquistadors and Indian slaves wind up treacherous and narrow pathways in the mountainous jungles of Machu Picchu, climbing precariously upward attacked by the elements. He said he had hundreds of extras in that scene and it was done in one take.

Werner Herzog l ist ens.

The film follows the journey of Spanish conquistadors in search for a city of gold, El Dorado, a fruitless endeavor, and one that becomes more and more futile, and dangerous, and leads to mutiny as one conquistador, Don Lope de Aguirre, decides to take things into his own hands and lead his men into certain death that the jungle provides.

Aguirre was played by Klaus Kinski and he plays a madman, but according to Herzog, it isn't just an onscreen performance. He was quite difficult to deal with on the set as well. He said he had to take his gun away from him after he shot at a tent filled with extras when they stayed up late talking and kept him up. He also threatened to leave the set, but Herzog threatened him and he ended up staying. Evidently, he carried the gun around because, according to Herzog, Kinski was afraid he would be attacked by gigantic pythons and jaguars, which never happened. In one scene, he swung a sword around and ended up hitting an actor in his helmet, leaving a large dent in it.

Making the film was also challenging due to the location and the funds, or lack thereof.

"We had literally no budget. We are always in need of money ...

We couldn't pay actors ...We ran out of] food," said Herzog.

While talking about the film, he said he has conducted all of his business on a handshake his whole career. "In my entire life, a handshake was a more solid contract than 140 pages," he said, adding he has never needed an attorney to do his legal or personal business. "I Werner t el l s a st ory. do not need them. I do all my own contracts, and for more than 30 years, I have never spoken 20 attorney, and I'm doing fine."

Herzog said he worked on a film in North Korea once and had filmed the soldiers being joyful but the secret service did not allow it. "They wanted me to hand over my material. They wanted to confiscate it. It was 45 days of footage. I said I guarantee I am never going to use. They said, 'Right, you will show it on American TV." But, he convinced them he was being genuine. "If you offered me $10 millon, I would not give it. You will not get to see it," he said.

Besides navigating through dense jungles, they also braved white water rapids on rafts. The way it was shot, it really makes the audience feel they are also on that raft. He said he tested it first to make sure it would work and then did it in one take.

Asked how he came up with the idea for the film in the first place, he said he randomly picked a book off of his friend's shelf about adventures of conquistadors. Within it, there was only a very small amount about Aguirre, so it was ripe for interpretation.

The film has a wider context, he said, including topics like friendship, pristine jungles, human follies, human self-destruction. "What we are doing here is embedded into something much larger. It is not just a film," he said.

He and Koechlin also discussed their next project, "Fitzcarraldo," a film that was shown at The Living Room Theater at FAU at the same time.

You can see more about Herzog's career on his IMDB.com.

(Above) Werner & Jose t al k. (Bel ow): IS f ounder Rachel Gal vin wit h Werner Herzog.

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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE back. It is a popros that Blanco's company sells scales seeing that he is constantly striving for balance that never seems to be achieved.

This movie is a fun watch with quick pacing that keeps the audience engaged. They plan on hopefully having a theatrical screening of it this summer.

The director was at the screening, as was Irantzu Diez-Gamboa, the President and CEO of Mediapro US, a branch of the Mediapro production company with studios in Miami and New York. Mediapro has produced more than 50 films and has earned two Oscars, two Academy awards, and 28 Goyas for films including "Midnight in Paris," "A Perfect Day" and "Camino."

Also in attendance was Jaume Rouresis, the film's producer, who is also the founder and CEO of Mediapro, and Maria Sisternas, who is on the film team of "The Good Boss" and is a co-founder and CEO of Mediaurban, as well as the Urban Content Creation Agency of the Mediapro Group.

Fi l m Rev i ew : " Th e Good Boss"

By Rachel Gal vin Nominated for a record 20 Goya Awards (Spanish Academy Awards) and winner of six, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director, Fernando León de Aranoa's "The Good Boss" hits on all cylinders. Lead actor Javier Bardem milks his role as the boss, Blanco, for all that it is worth and the other actors follow suit. His character does his best to put on a veneer of being the perfect boss, but under his suit of armor, there are a lot of chinks. Because his persona relies on having his company run perfectly as well, his facade fades if anything goes wrong. In order to keep a tight ship, he noses himself into all his employees affairs, playing a doting papa to his surrogate children. But, unfortunately, those "children" don't akways behave, leaving him his scurrying from one to the next to plug up holes in what seems to be a leaky dam about ready to break. Adding to the pressure is the fact that a committee is about to visit at any moment to assess whether ot not he will receive a business award. And dealing with his employees issues is not his only worry. A strangely familiar new intern who 17 catches his fancy might just be the straw that breaks the camel's

For more info. on the film, visit the film's distributor on www.cohenmedia.net.

Direct or Fernando León de Aranoa

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch 2022

6t h Annual Boca Rat on Jew ish Film Fest ival Kick s Of f Launched six years ago, the Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival (BRJFF), presented by the Adolph & Rose Levis JCC Sandler Center (Levis JCC Sandler Center), is now considered one of the largest Jewish/ Israeli Film Festivals in the country. My Festival, My Way, which started at the end of February and runs through April, is widening access beyond county lines and creating a flexible experience by screening over 80 films both in-person and virtually. Audiences will enjoy a broad array of short and feature length films and documentaries from around the globe, Q&A sessions, and appearances by notable film industry guests. In-person films will be shown at the Cinemark Palace in Boca Raton, Movies of Delray, and Beifield Auditorium at the Levis JCC Sandler Center. ?We are so grateful to loyal supporters like Levis JCC Grand Benefactor Judy Levis Krug who combined her passion for giving back to the community and her love of cinema and storytelling to help create this program,? said Stephanie Owitz, Levis JCC Sandler Center director of Arts, Culture and Learning. ?She remains an integral part of presenting this Festival each year and has inspired others to support as well.? Recently, a generous gift from Billi & Bernie Marcus enabled the Festival to expand, offering Jewish-themed film programming

year-round.

?While the way we operate today?s Festival may have changed, our goal remains steadfast,? said Wendy Honig, BRJFF artistic director. ?We are dedicated to engaging with our audience and expanding their understanding of the Jewish experience and culture, through the diverse perspectives portrayed through our hand-selected films.?

The festival had a special guest appearance by famed fashion designer Elie Tahari, who visited on Feb. 23 for a kick-off event in celebration of his documentary, ?The United States of Elie Tahari,? directed and produced by David Serero. They also spotlighted such films as "The Automat," "Fiddler?s Journey to the Big Screen," "Rose," "Persian Lessons" and "Image of Victory," among others. ?The Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival now attracts upwards of 3,000 attendees each year and has become a highly-anticipated community event, as well as a respected collaboration with the screening committee, filmmakers, directors and the film community at-large,? said Lesley Rich, BRJFF program director.

A full program guide including dates, showtimes, trailers, a synopsis of each film, Q&A?s and special events are available on www.bocajff.org.

Film packages and Festival Passes are also available for purchase online and range from $59 to $540. As a bonus, all pass holders will receive access to ?A Day of Shorts? Program for free. All films can be enjoyed for up to 72 hours after its scheduled time and can be viewed on various platforms by downloading the Eventive TV app which is available on Apple TV, Roku, Firestick and Chromecast, among others.

The Levis JCC Sandler Center takes the health and safety of all of its guests very seriously. COVID-19 protocols are strictly observed.

Visitlevisjcc.org/ culture for the most current updates.

For more information, visit www.bocajff.org. The Levis JCC Sandler Center is located at 21050 95 Avenue S. in Boca Raton, FL.

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Goi ng V i rtual : Fl ori da f i l mmak ers sh ow case th ei r tech

Fil mmaker gears up t o f il m a scene at St udio V1 at Ful l Sail Universit y.

Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida (near Orlando) has officially opened the doors to what they described as "one of the first, one of the largest and one of the most technologically advanced virtual production studios on any college or university campus in the nation, Studio V1: Virtual Production."

Unlike traditional filmsets, virtual production utilizes various software packages allowing users to marry both computer graphics and live-action footage in real-time. This advancement gives content creators and contributors from various locations the ability to create and render digital environments, while onsite cast members are physically located in the studio working on set. Through a combination of tracking and real-time rendering abilities, this latest addition to the university?s campus will allow for immersive virtual environments (ranging from iconic landmarks to interplanetary landscapes, and more) to be created serving as scenic backdrops for film, tv and additional production projects.

Utilizing Brompton processors, and with 410 tiles on the ground, 90 tiles across its ceiling, and 2.8mm-pixel pitch, the facility features 19

a 40 ft wide and 16 ft high LED wall (comprised of APG?s hyper pixel LEDs), and they say it is one of the most technologically advanced Virtual Production Studios on any college or university campus in the nation. This new facility will allow students to collaborate across multiple degree programs providing real-world experience with current trends and technology found in the entertainment industry, in addition to hosting professional projects and productions.

Rick Ramsey, education director of Visual Arts at Full Sail University, said, ?Our Virtual Production Studio will allow our students to gain real world industry knowledge utilizing the latest technology, while also attracting professional projects to the region. We look forward to the future projects and learning opportunities this studio will provide.?

But they are not the only ones to delve into this type of technology who have recently made some changes. V? Technologies, creator of disruptive virtual production studios for film and video, just announced on March 1 that it had closed on a $17 million seed investment from ADX Labs, Topmark Partners and Angel investment syndicates from Tampa, Orlando and Texas. The investment will fuel the expansion of its existing Tampa-Nashville-Vegas virtual studio network.

"V? Technologies is on a mission to create the world's largest network of virtual production studios for the film, television, and advertising industries," said Tim Moore, V? Technologies co-founder and CEO. "With our fully immersive, photorealistic virtual environments, we are empowering world-class directors and talent to shoot scenes as if they are on-location anywhere. Thanks to our

investors, V?'s network will forever change the filmmaking landscape, presenting limitless opportunities for creatives."

V? Studios, headquartered in Tampa, are advanced sound stages utilizing value-added integration of proprietary and patented V? technologies with key third-party vendor products, including Epic Games' Unreal Engine, Mark Roberts Motion Control and Mo-Sys motion tracking devices. Ribbon cut t ing at recent opening of St udio V1 As a result, directors, at Ful l Sail Universit y.

and producers can achieve incredible savings of time and money by shooting against the fully immersive, high-definition LED Volumes of V? Studios.

"One of the toughest and costliest elements to film production is scheduling the director, the producer and the talent to be in the same room at the same time," said Jon Davila, president and co-founder of Vu?Technologies. "V?'s virtual capabilities removes this element from the equation ? a true game-changer for the film and entertainment industry."

"V? Studios is leading the virtual production revolution," said Steve Lux, Managing Partner, Topmark Partners. "As corporations, ad agencies, and other content creators realize the advantages of virtual production; we are excited to partner with V? to support their continued growth as they expand their virtual studio network across the country."

Virtual production, a new and burgeoning sector of the professional film and video industry ? pioneered by V? ? offers and blends both Extended Reality and Mixed Reality technologies in advanced studio facilities. Typically rented by film, TV, advertising and corporate video producers by the day, week, or month, V? Studios empower directors to shoot their talent in largely enclosed high-definition video projection environments.

"This investment will position Florida as a competitive leader in extended reality and mixed reality production offerings," said Charlie Lewis, managing partner of Waterfall Ventures Investments, which worked to bring 30 Orlando-based investors to participate in this investment for$1.7 million. "This is a massive win for Waterfall Ventures Angels and the Central Florida tech community. We are excited about both the innovation and financial impact it will bring to our State and region."

Incorporating multiple technologies invented and patented by Tim Moore, the V? Max, V? Pro, and V? Essential are large circular sound stage studios that provide HD LED panels on all walls and ceilings.

The V? Dome is a sound stage in a massive 30 foot (9.1m) diameter dome structure with custom-made curved HD LED internal surfaces, providing a 180 by 90-degree volume. V? Walls, constructed in effectively infinite sizes, provide advanced shooting environments for tracking shots.

Unique to V?'s patented LED panels is an innovative system that allows V? Studio

soundstages to be theatrically lit from above the enclosed volume. In addition, V?'s deep integration of LED, robotics, camera tracking technology, and game engine know-how allows the generation of realistic backgrounds in real-time, rendered from the point of view of the moving camera with perfect parallax.

"We're thrilled to see smart, strategic investments being made in the entertainment and tech spaces," said David Adelson, Executive Director of Innovation & Technology at the Orlando Economic Partnership. "V? Technologies represents the future of filmmaking, and this investment will allow V? to expand its footprint in the Central Florida area and throughout our region, diversifying our economy and generating a positive fiscal impact."

These are just two examples of places implementing advanced technologies. But there are more using LED screens and more. Do your research if you are interested in using this type of equipment.

Have a new piece of technolgy that your production studio is implementing that you think people should know about, contact us here at Independent Streak Magazine at writerrachel@yahoo.com and let us know.

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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE Feb./ M ar ch 2022

and host; Kelsey Scott, a two-time Emmy nominated actress; filmmaker Chris Ryan; Alicia Haywood, founder of The iSpeakMedia Foundation, and an award-winning producer; Adam Howard, who does Visual Effects, animation and design work; Mike Kennedy, the star of Discovery Channel's "Airplane Repo;" Suzanne Niedland, an award-winning filmmaker, actor and Broadway producer; Jane Rumbaua, an award-winning director, actress and photographer; Michael Orland, a pianist, arranger, vocal coach and associate musical director on American Idol; and Ryan Shore, a two-time Emmy Award and Grammy Award nominated composer, songwriter, music director, and conductor for film, television, virtual reality, games and more.

For more information, visit www.pbfilm.com/SSOF.

The Palm Beach SSOF is back ... live!

After two years of virtual award shows, the 27th Annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of And t he judges are...

Films brings back the red-carpet live award show on May 6, 2022 at the newly renovated Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida (Info: www.jupitertheatre.org). ?This year brings the excitement of a new venue, being able to gather once again, celebrity presenters and lots of surprises for our audience.

With Burt Reynolds' deep connection to the theatre, we are delighted call the Maltz Jupiter Theatre our new home," said Michelle Hillery, SSOF executive producer.

The competition received 300 eligible submissions from student filmmakers, writers and graphic designers representing 45 schools from all over Florida. Actor and host Frank Licari will emcee once again. And they will be bringing in an mpressive list of judges as usual, including Vanilla Ice, an award-winning rapper, actor 21

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE 3rd A nnual Rose Warner A w ard For Ex cel l ence

By Rachel Gal vin The Florida Arts Network will be hosting their 3rd Annual Rose Warner Award Show on Wednesday, March 23 f rom 7 t o 10 p.m. at Savor Cinema, at 503 SE 6 St . in Fort Lauderdal e, FL.

RECENT EVENTS: Since the last issue, the Florida Arts Network has held a Christmas party and, on Feb. 22, they had an event bringing in the award-winning director William Grefe', known for his work doing grindhouse films in the 60s, 70s and beyond, including "Checkered Flag," "Death Curse of Tartu," "The Devil's Sisters, " Impulse," "Mako: The Jaws of Death," and more. His film "Stanley" was shown following with a Q&A. For more information on the Florids Arts Network, visit: www.floridaartsnetwork.com.

(Above): Direct or Bil l Gref e' and a f an hol ding up one of his post ers at recent event . (Bel ow): At t endees at event pose wit h Gref e'. (submit t ed phot os).

The category for the award this year is Florida filmmakers. They must have filmed in Florida and used Florida cast and/ or crew. The f ive nominees f or t he award are Agat ino Zurria, Al ejo Vega, Jonat han Vargas, Juan Al onso and Lizandra Parra. More info. on nominees: https://floridaartsnetwork.com/member-spotlight/f/top-5-nominees.

The evening will be hosted by Katana Malone, with performances by Clementine, Kahra Keyes and Steven Avi. ?We created the Rose Warner Award for Excellence to honor Rose Warner, a passionate supporter of the Florida Film Industry who tragically left us way too soon. We want to highlight professionals that are now carrying her torch of excellence here in South Florida," said Frank A. Ruffolo, author, screenwriter and founding member of the Florida Arts Network.

The Florida Arts Network is dedicated to promoting the arts in Florida. Their goal is to help people in the performing arts community support each other and collaborate on various projects. From workshops to film production, they use networking to facilitate this collaboration.

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