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BY MADISON PERALES AND CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

When Avondale resident Ramiro Villagomez fi nished his feature fi lm “Lucid,” the goal was recognition.

In 2021, he certainly received that. “Lucid” was awarded best feature fi lm by the Hollywood Boulevard Film Festival, and it screened at the Culver City Film Festival as well.

Now the La Jolla High School graduate is taking it to home to the Valley for the Chandler International Film Festival at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Chandler.

“Everyone on the team wants to get recognition so we can get jobs with the big studios such as Universal Studios or Lionsgate,” said Villagomez, who served as writer, director and co-producer.

Co-produced with El Mirage’s Obed Casillas, the 110-minute fi lm tells the story of Zey, an 18-year-old boy who tries to overcome his challenges with the supernatural. It stars Ian T. Segears, a former Avondale resident who recently moved to Downtown LA, and David W. Rice of San Tan Valley.

“The movie is a family drama involving love and death, but at the same time, there’s trippy imagery and horror,” Villagomez said. “But at its core, it’s an emotional drama.”

A former airman stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Segears said he could relate to his character of Zey.

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“His dad passes away,” said Segears, whose father also died.

“I thought this fi lm was made for me. I thought I was meant to be in this. My basic requirements were, is the fi lm going to be done and made with passion behind it. Ramiro invested these things into it, and it was perfect.”

Outside of the common theme of death, Segears said he and Zey are different. Zey deals with his father’s death with astral projection, an intentional out-of-body experience.

“You lay down and have this out-ofbody experience,” Segears said. “You look down at your body, you can see your body and move around the world.

“With Zey’s power, he can actually manipulate the things around him. He gets into mischief. We’re watching him go through that and explore this power. He tries his best to fi gure out life with his teenage mind and try to make the right choices.”

Segears said Villagomez discovered him through Instagram after looking at hashtags for actors. Coincidentally, the two found out they were both in Avondale.

“I never met anyone making a fi lm in Avondale,” Segears said with a laugh.

Inspiration is aplenty for producers, but Villagomez had a different thought for “Lucid.”

“I have so many ideas all the time, and they come from me listening to music,” Villagomez said. “If I’m in the car or just lying down listening to music, that’s when the ideas start to unfold. I could just picture all of the scenes happening through the emotions and melodies of the songs.”

Villagomez said he believes fi lm’s

purpose is to evoke feelings. He’s hoping that’s what “Lucid” does. “The best movies out there meet the goal of making a feeling come out of you,” Villagomez said. “If a comedy exceeded in making you laugh, it did its job. It’s going to be an impactful, emotional story that has a great message, and Ian T. Segears, a former Avon- you will fall in love with dale resident who recently the characters. moved to Downtown LA, stars “But, at the same time, as Zey in the feature fi lm “Lucid.” (Photo courtesy of Ian T. Segears) you’re going to have fun with it because it’s going to have horror stuff alongside it. It’ll be a fun ride and might make you cry.” A typical independent fi lm budget starts at $100,000. Villagomez and his crew created “Lucid” on a shoestring budget. “We spent $2,500 on the movie,” Villagomez said. “I like making things that are pretty cheap look high budget.” The quality, however, goes beyond any dollar amount. Even though they didn’t spend a lot of money on the production of the fi lm, Villagomez believes the story is what makes it great.” “The story part is the hard thing,” Villagomez said. “Money can make your visual, audio and special effects look better, but if you’ve got the story down, you’re good to go.”

WHAT: “Lucid” WHEN: 8 to 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 WHERE: LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Chandler as part of the Chandler International Film Festival, 1 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler COST: $12 INFO: eventbrite.com, chandlerfi lmfestival.com/tickets

It’s a well-known fact that for many older Americans, the home is their single biggest asset, often accounting for more than 45% of their total net worth. And with interest rates still near all-

But, many aren’t taking advantage of this unprecedented period. According to new statistics from the mortgage industry, senior homeowners in the U.S. are now sitting on more than 9.23 trillion

Not only are people living longer than ever before, but there is also greater uncertainty in the economy. With home prices back up again, ignoring this “hidden wealth” may prove to be short-sighted when looking for the best long-term outcome.

All things considered, it’s not surprising that more than a million homeowners have already used a government-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan to turn their home equity into extra cash for retirement.

It’s a fact: no monthly mortgage payments are required with a government-insured HECM loan; however, the borrowers are still responsible for paying for the maintenance of their home, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and, if required, their HOA fees.

Today, HECM loans are simply an effective way for homeowners 62 and older to get the extra cash they need to enjoy retirement.

Although today’s HECM loans have been improved to provide even greater financial protection for homeowners, there are still many misconceptions.

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For example, a lot of people mistakenly believe the home must be paid off in full in order to qualify for a HECM loan, which is not the case. In fact, one key advantage of a HECM is that the proceeds will first be used to pay off any existing liens on the property, which frees up cash flow, a huge blessing for seniors living on a fixed income. Unfortunately, many senior homeowners who might be better off with a HECM loan don’t even bother to get more information because of rumors they’ve heard.

In fact, a recent survey by American Advisors Group (AAG), the nation’s number one HECM lender, found that over 98% of their clients are satisfied with their loans. While these special loans are not for everyone, they can be a real lifesaver for senior homeowners — especially in times like these. Thanks to the money received through an AAG Reverse Mortgage, seniors everywhere are enjoying their retirement and worrying less on how to pay monthly bills.

The cash from a HECM loan can be used for almost any purpose. Other common uses include making home improvements, paying off medical bills or helping other family members. Some people simply need the extra cash for everyday expenses while others are now using it as a safety net for financial emergencies.

If you’re a homeowner age 62 or older, you owe it to yourself to learn more so that you can make the best decision for your financial future.

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BY BRIDGETTE M. REDMAN

After spending her childhood on Luke Air Force Base, Rosemarie Chandler fi nds it fi tting that she’s playing one of the fi rst women in combat during World War I in “The Hello Girls” by the Phoenix Theatre Company.

“The Hello Girls,” which runs through Jan. 30, stars Chandler as Grace Banker, a switchboard operator in charge of a corps of women who went overseas during World War I.

The daughter of two military parents, Chandler lived on Luke AFB in the mid-1990s at the age of 4.

She recalled her parents attending a charity ball and leaving her older brother in charge. Instead of listening to him, she locked herself and her best friend’s neighbor in her dad’s military closet fi lled with freshly pressed and dry-cleaned suits.

“I started doing makeup and got makeup all over his fl ight suits and dress suits,” Chandler said. “My mom came home, and she was furious.”

Her younger brother is now stationed at Luke Air Force Base. During visits, she hears stories from female lieutenants.

“It’s defi nitely been hugely impactful to understand that part of my mom and also what it is like to be a woman in general in the military today,” Chandler said. “They’ve come so far and made great strides, but I think there are still ways we can become even more inclusive.”

Her mother was a protocol offi cer in the Navy for Adm. William Crowe and traveled around the world with him. It was also how her parents met.

“They held the same rank,” Chandler said. “I love that part of their story. The fi rst time he walked into the offi ce, my mom was doing paperwork. She didn’t even look up, she just handed him his paperwork and said, ‘Here you go, Mr. Chandler.’ My dad was smitten right away and went about pursuing her.”

The women in “The Hello Girls” had a more challenging route, as there were no women in the military. The musical is a modern retelling of a critical part of history in the struggle for women’s rights.

The women were part of the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, typically known as “The Hello Girls.” They were bilingual telephone operators who helped turn the tide in World War I and fought to make their way to the front lines. After the war, they spent decades fi ghting for equality and recognition.

The story jumped out at Cara Reichel, the show’s director and co-writer.

“As someone who makes musicals, I’m always on the lookout for stories and ideas,” Reichel said. “I kind of have a mental Rolodex of things. I remember clearly when I fi rst encountered their story — a very brief mention of them in a larger documentary on the history of women in the military. The name was ‘Unsung Heroes,’ and I thought maybe someone should sing about these women.”

Reichel co-wrote the musical with her husband, Peter Mills. The couple, along with college friends, founded the Prospect Theater in New York 20 years ago. “The Hello Girls” premiered there.

“This show is an opportunity to tell a slice of history that had a signifi cant impact on women’s rights in our country but isn’t very well known,” Reichel said. “The characters depict real-life military heroines who disrupted the status quo during the early 20th century and helped pivot the fi rst world war’s outcome.”

The National Endowment for the Arts commissioned “The Hello Girls,” and she and Mills researched these women’s stories.

“We came across a lot of fun things that inspired songs,” Reichel said. “One of the earliest songs was actually the title song. That was inspired by a particular article we read in the Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes. It had a writeup for the Hello Girls, and it was interesting to see how the men in the Army thought about them. There were some sexist perceptions, but there was also a real positivity that they were helping in the war effort.”

They also researched how the switchboards worked. The song “Connected” teaches the audience and the characters how switchboards work. It’s also a metaphor for voices coming together.

The music immediately inspired Chandler.

“Just the way the writers Peter Mills and Cara Reichel capture moments that are so tense, such as when they’re sailing across the Atlantic,” Chandler said. “It gives me goosebumps. Then, at the end of the play we come together as an ensemble and sing about making history. We ask the audience the ques-

Rosemarie Chandler as Grace Banker and Gabrielle Smith as Suzanne Prevot in The Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of “The Hello Girls.” (Photo by Reg Madison Photography)

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Rosemarie Chandler, who lived at Luke Air Force Base as a child, plays Grace Banker in The Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of “The Hello Girls.” (Photo by Reg Madison Photography)

tion, ‘How do you want to make an impact?’”

The music, she said, spans many genres.

“There’s your classic Broadway number titled ‘The Hello Girls’ when they first arrive in Paris and the doughboys are thrilled to have American operators,” she said.

“It’s a Broadway dance number. You even have a rock number called ‘The Front’ where the girls get together and agree that they need to get to the front whatever it takes and they make a pact to make it happen.”

She said recurring musical phrases define the characters.

“If I could describe the music in two words, it is smart and moving,” Chandler said. “It’s really just an honor and a joy to be able to sing it.”

“The Hello Girls” premiered in New York in 2018 and received three Drama Desk Award nominations for outstanding musical, music and lyrics.

“It still feels relevant,” Reichel said. “We are fighting the war against COVID. This requires us to come together as a society and solve problems. I hope that the show will have an even deeper resonance given what we are going through. We were just really grateful that the Phoenix Theatre reached out to us and wanted to tell the story here in this community.

“It’s not only a celebration and testament to the Hello Girls, but the arc of the story really turns to the audience and makes us ask a question of them. I hope the audiences walk away from it asking how they want to answer the call in their life and how do want to make an impact on people. That’s all that really matters at the end of the day. Without each other, we would be nothing.”

WHAT: “The Hello Girls” WHEN: Various times through Jan. 30 WHERE: The Phoenix Theatre Company’s Hormel Theatre, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $44 INFO: 602-254-2151, phoenixtheatre.com

Gar fi sh, weighing in at over 200 pounds and stretching 7 feet in length, now call the massive Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park’s River Monster exhibit their home.

“Fortunately, we can provide these incredible and huge fi sh the space they need to thrive and be ambassadors to the public, helping their wild counterparts that are struggling to exist,” said Kristy Hayden, media relations director.

Other River Monster arrivals include the sharp-toothed, red-bellied piranha and the giant black pacu.

The Wildlife World Zoo has welcomed other new family members recently, including an Asian smallclawed otter family.

With more than 600 species and 6,000 animals on display, there are always new arrivals at the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park.

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is located at 16501 W. Northern Avenue, Litchfi eld Park. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Aquarium exhibits welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission includes access to the zoo, aquarium and safari park.

For more info: 623-935-WILD (9453) or visit Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @ZooWildlife, and wildlifeworld.com.

The 200-pound Gar Fish now call the River Monster exhibit home. (Photo courtesy of Wildlife

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

1 Even 5 Apply cream 8 “The Good Earth” heroine 12 “Please go ahead” 14 Fork prong 15 The National Pastime 16 Circus structure 17 Cacophony 18 Scalawags 20 Basilica areas 23 Diving duck 24 Soccer legend 25 Brewing gizmo 28 Greek letter 29 Not -- out of place 30 Scull need 32 Kook 34 Ordered 35 Skin breakout 36 Notorious 37 Port city of Poland 40 Former Mideast org. 41 Pealed 42 Pitcher’s tactic 47 “American --” 48 Consume too little 49 Lion’s pride? 50 Meadow 51 Sciences’ partner

1 Bar bill 2 “-- tree falls ...” 3 UFO crew 4 One of the Ramones 5 Cannon of film 6 MSN rival 7 Reduced-rate postal delivery 8 Canada’s capital 9 Actor Schreiber 10 Green Gables girl 11 Tennis barriers 13 Baseball stats 19 Cornhusker’s st. 20 iPhone download 21 Mexican money 22 Lost traction 23 Black Panthers leader Bobby 25 Appreciative 26 Rich soil 27 Stow cargo 29 Grade-school basics 31 Flushed 33 Hang loose? 34 Diva Streisand 36 Kismet 37 Bleak 38 Baby’s father 39 Unsigned (Abbr.) 40 Fed. food inspector 43 Chemical suffix 44 -- Lingus 45 Back muscle, briefly 46 USN officers

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!