THE ART IS ALIVE MAGAZINE – DECEMBER ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Filmmaker:

Authors:

Nicholas Iorio

Marc Cavella

Julian Santos

Cynthia L. Tolbert

Film Reviews:

Small Businesses:

“A Wrestling Christmas Miracle”

Dr. John Wynn

“The Rock of Gibraltar”

Ira Domnitz

“The Builder” “Jump Cuts” “Down and Away”

Book Review:

“The Last Christmas Party”

“Shame Pudding”

“Scratch This”

Actors:

Artists:

Tammy Reese

Steve Benford

Charity:

Senior Artist:

Lumedia Music Works

Elaine Witthuhn

Art Contributors:

PR/Media:

Short Story - Chezky Greenberger

East End Taste Magazine

Poet Steve Scialli

The Couture Agency

Davis/Santa Cruz Recap - Trystin Splude

Musicians: Jacqueline Cohen-Baity Sabrina Torch Adam Cola

Notes From the Founder Written By: Cindy Mich I want to take a few moments to talk about the one-year anniversary of this amazing magazine. I find that it is important to make some recognitions and realizations now, as I did drop my first issue in December of 2019. Let me start by saying that owning a magazine has both wonderful, as well as quite wearing, sides to it. I get to cover any subject, public servant, community service, or celebrity I choose. I have the privilege of publishing first time, as well as full-fledged, authors. I am discovering all sorts of new spirits and swell sites in other states. I found out about creative charities and sensational small business owners. I learned of new indie films and filmmakers, as well as amazing actors. I was also lucky enough to share a bunch of art from numerous artists. On the flip side, I spent countless hours editing, entertaining pitches, and enlisting help from staff. I am constantly having to convince people to subscribe. Interviews fall through; staff leaves and technical difficulties arise. So, you see it is a mixed bag of mirth and mayhem. As the Owner, I am well aware that it takes an entire army to publish each issue. I want to send a very public thank you to every single person who has written for the magazine, both past and present. I give a large lump of gratitude to EVERY single person that I or my staff has interviewed, as well as anyone whose art has been featured within each month. YOU all make my magazine bigger and better, as well as entirely more appealing and astounding. Further, to my guy – you are the backbone of my precious publication. You help me stay sane; you ensure that the site runs smoothly, and you handle all the photographic problems. Thank YOU for every minute you make available to aid me. I also send my apologies to anyone that has had to wait for coverage or hard copies. I have found through trial and error a more efficient way to handle things, and so 2021 will find the magazine running both more smoothly and soundly. I am looking forward to featuring so many more artists and the arts in 2021. Thanks! Cin

A One on One with the Creator of Charles Haux, Nicholas Iorio Witten By: Michael Haberfelner The premise of Nicholas Iorio’s picture, Charles Haux, sounds deceptively simple: The titular character is to get his girlfriend’s dog back from a friend of hers, as she is returning sooner than expected from a trip abroad. Of course, things are not as simple as they appear to be. “Charles Haux is the result of taking literary theory in college. I felt challenged by the works I read of Joyce and Nietzsche, and wanted to create a relatively simple story with a great deal of subtext underneath.” That aside, Nick is also quick to add that Larry David of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld fame serves as an inspiration. Is it autobiographical in any way? “All of the characters are some reflection of my personality; though I would not say any one of them are exactly me.” The main character is, of course, Charles (Shan Agish). Felicia (Natalie Pavelek) is his hidden love interest, unbeknownst to his girlfriend. She is basically the unintentional catalyst for all the things that will go wrong. Lastly, there is Gil (Michael Gentile), the guy making Charles’ life a living hell by simply refusing to give up his girlfriend’s dog. On a directorial level, Nick stated that “minimalism was the correct approach, as I did not want the work to resemble any other films. I wanted it to feel unique”. This also meant having cinematographer Alex Zielinsky shoot the whole movie on Steadicam. This, of course, fits the movie very well. It gives the actors enough space to breathe. “Charles Haux is an actor’s film, and it was important that the actors I chose were able to bring a level of intensity that was needed for the movie. I found that many people were rather puzzled by the role of Gil. Michael Gentile really clicked with the character. It was easy to talk to him about the subtext in the film.” Now, bearing that in mind, it is of little surprise that Gentile won for Best Actor at the Art is Alive Film Festival. As for the shoot itself, Iorio says, “We had a few curveballs thrown our way regarding locations - like unexpected noise. While filming at the bar in Mount Vernon, people were honking, which would interrupt the shots. However, I have never seen such a hardworking and efficient crew, and this ended up being a minor inconvenience. Many of the people involved were those I worked with previously or had been introduced to by mutual friends, so I was very excited to work with them.” So, is this the last we will see of the character Charles Haux? Not by a long shot, actually, as Charles has turned up time and again in Iorio’s stories. Most recently, within his tale, A Trip to 55th Street. “A Trip to 55th Street is about an actor returning to New York after living in Los Angeles for a long length of time. He ends up being stalked through the streets of Manhattan and Queens. The story is about how people deal with loss and the way it damages our relationships.” One day, Nick would like to turn it into a movie – something that would totally be consistent with his trajectory to date. He got into the film world via a short story that was written into a film adaptation. Charles Haux is also based on his own short story of the same name that got published in Fordham University’s The Observer in 2010. Additionally, Charles Haux is due to be distributed in 2021. Other than that, Iorio’s future plans include putting on a couple of historical plays. One is set in Ancient Rome, while another in Latin America. He also has several completed screenplays that are just waiting to be filmed. To find out more about Nicholas Iorio, visit his site: https://nicholasiorio.webs.com

Filmmaker Julian Santos: A Young Sharp Lens on the Future Written by: Cecil Delloma

I love success stories and encountering people that follow their passions. They pick a path, and then dig in and follow it; no matter the ups or downs. Their visions flood their minds at all hours of the day. They encounter naysayers and setbacks, but no matter how hard it gets, the love for what they do is something that never disappears. They work so hard to give life to their dreams, and thus, their rewards are beyond measure. I had the pleasure of conversing with an accomplished young man by the name of Julian Santos. Julian is a NYC based Writer, Producer, Director and Independent Filmmaker. He has worked in inspiring places such as Paris, Oxford, and San Francisco. He recently completed his film, The Last Christmas Party (currently available on demand at Amazon), and took a little time off from his regular job to answer a few questions.

Q: When did the passion for film first strike you? I have been passionate about film since I was a little boy; marveling at my dad’s DVD (and VHS) Collection. Speaking from the perspective of a child, there was something really magical about holding physical copies of these movies and looking over the cover artwork. I think the movie that really first made an impact on me was the original Star Wars (admittedly, not the most original pick). I was immersed in the strange space fights and I loved the characters! Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia were my heroes. They were the first fictional characters, with whom I felt an affinity. It was in high school that I started trying to make my own films. Being honest, those first shorts were quite terrible, but I learned from them and that was what mattered. I eventually went to NYU to major in Film and ever since then, I have been making shorts, music videos, and my first feature film. I am a big believer in keeping in practice with your craft - making new content and rehearsing potential content. I think my overall goal as a filmmaker (which partially stems from my love of theater) is to try to do character- driven pieces that have very memorable main characters. I believe a movie really succeeds when you walk away with a strange version of nostalgia; feeling as if the characters were old friends. Q: What would you note as your first real opportunity to break into this work? I think my first big opportunity was going to NYU and attending Tisch School of the Arts. There, I got a lot of valuable lessons from professors like Darrell Wilson, Joan Horvath, Rob Morton, and Archie Tait. I feel like the best professors not only encouraged me, but gave me very valid criticism from which to develop. I once invited a professor to view a rehearsal for a short film. The professor subsequently bluntly informed me that “[she] had

no idea what was going on.”, but I took her notes and luckily, she liked the final short film! That being said, I feel like the most important thing with opportunities so far has been to really just keep your ear to the ground. It is always a toss-up as to who or where the next opportunity will arise. Sometimes, your next project or collaborator may not be the most obvious thing in the world to you.

Q: You have worn a lot of different hats (Director, Producer, Editor, Sound, Casting, etc.). Do you find yourself regularly involved in a number of these various roles in current projects, or rather focused more on your specifics? To be honest, I believe it is hard to be a director without knowing at least some part of everyone’s craft. If you are in charge of the whole production, then it is only reasonable to know how everything works. That said, I am careful who I trust as a proper department head. I bring them on due to prior collaboration or after a reasonable amount of interviewing (my go-to editor, co-writer, and DP have all known me for the past four years). That said, once I bring someone onto a project, I do not micro-manage. Editing is my day-job, as well as a deep passion of mine. However, my regular editor, Benjamin Goebel, still makes his first cut without my direct supervision because I appreciate his new perspective on the material. To conclude, I really do feel that movies are inherently collaborative. There are so many moving parts that it is hard to put all the responsibility on one person, so distribution of work is not only wise, but also a practical necessity.

Q: As a young person in the business, what has been some of your biggest challenges and learning experiences? I think one of the biggest challenges is having people take you seriously in your early 20’s. Honestly speaking, looking young can be quite problematic. In the short time I have been working in this field, there is a real sense that people fallback on their preconceptions and do judge by appearances. Who do you trust to direct your film — the 23-year-old baby-faced Filipino-American, or the 45-year-old grey-haired family man? That said, I have learned the value of making one’s own content on the side. You are not going to graduate from film school and be handed the keys to the kingdom. If there are stories you want to tell, sometimes you (and your equally impassioned collaborators) need to do it on your own. I made my first feature, The Last Christmas Party, because I thought it was an interesting story that I would really like to see realized on screen. As a first-time director, I knew I would be hard- pressed to find funding, so my team and I crowdfunded on Indiegogo and made a twenty-one-day schedule that worked around our day jobs/academic studies. It’s easy to just get tired out keeping up with your day job. However, if you want to still pursue your passion, I believe it essential to go that extra mile and keep making your own content. Even if it is a lot of extra work with no immediate financial reward, it will be worth it.

Q: What and/or who might you note as some of your influences and what sparks and inspires your creativity? My favorite director is Orson Welles, full stop. I wish I could say it was competitive with someone else, but I would be lying. From his 1941 epic debut Citizen Kane to the pulpy noir, The Lady from Shanghai, or The Other Side of the Wind, Welles made such a varied breadth of work. While I could go on for days about the intricacies and innovations of his filmmaking craft, what really stands out for me are the characters. Like most people, I also draw from personal experiences in my life. While I have not found myself literally plagiarizing events from my own life, I affectionately borrow a lot of the complicated emotions that I feel as a young adult. Lastly, I just want to conclude by saying that art really is a good medium to explore opinions. It’s a very unexciting thing for me to just flatly state an opinion/belief I have about the world as gospel. It’s much more interesting to show my opinions in action.

Q: Has the virus affected your work in NYC, and how do you see this affecting your future? Will you stay in New York? Luckily, COVID has not affected my team too negatively. We are not currently shooting anything, but are still trucking along and currently working on new scripts. With so much time spent in one’s house, it has been an exciting time to let the imagination go wild and write about different things. Our current focus is a horror script by Kevin Nittolo called Inkblack set in a small town in the 1960’s. We just did a fully-cast virtual read-through of the script on Zoom, which we are currently editing and sound designing. This was inspired by a lot of the cool work that theater companies are doing to accommodate restrictions due to the pandemic. I thought a virtual read-through would be an exciting idea. I plan on staying in New York for the foreseeable future. Due to the pandemic, it is not the same New York I am used to at the moment, but it is still home. A lot of wonderful collaborators are also sticking in the city, and we are looking forward to filming our next project.

Q: Do you enjoy being behind, as opposed to in front of, the camera? Have you made any appearances in any of your work? While it was pretty inevitable that I would grow up to make my own films, I actually started by doing some theater. I acted in a lot of local community theaters. During elementary school, I starred in productions at Young Performers Theater, playing roles as Winnie the Pooh or Augustus Gloop. (I was a slightly chubby kid if that was not clear). Doing that was a lot of fun and made me appreciate the hard work that goes behind any production. In high school, I went on to do more serious productions like The Crucible and some other Shakespeare work. Macbeth was my favorite of all the characters I have ever played. For one reason or another, I never made an appearance in any of my films - just my theater work. I do not really have any plans on acting any further, but never say never.

Q: The Last Christmas Party is out! What is next for you? Yes! We are very excited about the release of The Last Christmas Party. With thanks to our dedicated cast/crew and our awesome distributor, Four by Three Productions, we have hit the #1 holiday movie on Amazon VOD for the week of November 15, 2020. As mentioned above, Inkblack is the new project. It begins with an attempted ritualistic murder in the basement of a Catholic college. While the murderer is thankfully stopped before he can kill his victim, a series of eerie suicides start to plague the community. The movie follows Harris and Violet, who are two students trying to investigate possible Satanic conspiracies in their small town. Complicating matters are the fact that Harris and Violet are ex-lovers, who are also trying to work past their own emotional baggage. They find themselves stonewalled by a lot of the Catholic authorities in their town and school, but grow increasingly desperate to follow the truth. That read-through is now being polished by my editor Ben Goebel, while the writer Kevin Nittolo and I look over the script and decide if any tweaks/polishes need to be made. After that, we will start pitching to potential investors to secure funding. Look for Julian Santos online at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11077684/

Interview with Author Marc Cavella Composed by: Cindy Mich You and I both share a sincere and strong adoration for putting words to paper for publication. Most may not realize how rough the road is for one to become an established author. Tell us how you overcame all the obstacles to become one of Amazon’s top 200 in Dark Humor. I think it is just a matter of being persistent and recognizing that there are going to be a number of obstacles along the way, both foreseeable and unforeseeable. Like you said, it can absolutely be a rough road. If you do not have that determination to overcome roadblocks and challenges, then I do not think you are going to get very far. This is especially true if you are an independent writer. You have to write daily and do a little bit each day to promote your work as well. It is a slow build, but after a while, it starts to add up. Your debut novel, Tabernacle, took over a span of ten years to finish. Was this due to on and off waves of inspiration, or due to conceptual changes? Looking back, did the longer time length prove to be a positive in some ways? There was not too much to change conceptually, but that is because I really did not have much of a concept other than a sketch of the main character. I never really sat down to focus on fleshing him out, but mostly because I was always making excuses as to why I couldn’t start writing the book. “I can’t write today because I have to finish a paper for class,” or “I can’t write today because I want to go to dinner after work.” Eventually, I stopped making those excuses and forced myself to sit down and start writing it. I am obviously very glad I did, because once I began to focus on the book, I had such a great time with the characters and the story of how this corrupted human being interacts with the world around him. The longer timeline probably helped in some ways, as you mentioned. I think that as I age, I have become more focused and patient, which are two really helpful qualities when you are trying to write a novel. Not every writer produces a trailer to promote their written work. Talk a bit about the process involved with putting together a video, and how does it help your story to stand out more to the masses? I had seen a few book trailers from other authors and thought they were pretty cool, so I decided to try to put one together myself. Unfortunately, it became fairly obvious rather quickly that I was going to need someone else’s help in order to create a trailer that looked sleek and professional. I was lucky to be able to work with a very talented illustrator and designer named Louis Ciavolella, who had also produced the cover for Tabernacle. He and I worked to put a trailer together based off of a script I wrote. It is always cool to have some unique methods for promoting your work, and a good book trailer can really catch people’s attention. I was informed that you spent your childhood living near the ocean. I imagine that this provided you with better physical and psychological health (which some say lends itself to more constructive writing creations)? Also, was this why you now want to own a bed and breakfast -since oceanfront private oasis property is one grand getaway!

I never actually thought about it that way, but you may be right! Maybe one day someone will do a study to see whether a larger percentage of creative types grew up near the ocean as opposed to elsewhere. I would be interested in seeing the results. Ha! I would love to own a bed and breakfast someday, mostly because I have always just liked the idea of having other people pay my mortgage, to be honest. I kind of want to run a pub, but the kind of pubs they used to have back in the 18th and 19th centuries. An actual public house where people ate food and drank in the restaurant and then could rent a room upstairs if they were too tired (or drunk) to head home. I am not sure if that will happen, but whenever I look for available B &B’s, I check to see if they have an area in the house that I could turn into a small working bar.

Authors will often formulate stories around some of their favorite people, professions or past times. For instance, I see that your book, The Ballad of Ricky Risotto, is set in the world of professional wrestling (a personal favorite of yours). Moving forward, how much of your past goes into the guts of your present projects? I am not exactly sure. I think it will vary depending on the characters and the situations in which they find themselves. With that said, there is probably at least a little bit of me and my personality in each of the characters I write, which I would guess is probably the case for most writers. It is definitely true that I was a huge fan of pro wrestling when I was a kid, and I was thankfully able to draw on a lot of that fandom for The Ballad of Ricky Risotto. That novella was a ton of fun to work on, and my love of pro wrestling from the 1970s and 1980s certainly played a part in that. I liked Ricky Risotto and his fictional wrestling promotion, Ozark Championship Wrestling, so much that I decided to make a trilogy entitled The Man from Coronado: A Lance Sacramento Story. This is the second of the three novellas.

As you just released your latest book recently, when will we expect to see your next two writing endeavors Place the Flowers and The Man From Coronado: A Lance Sacramento Story? Any chance that you will try to transition from books to cinematic screenplays? I would like to have The Man From Coronado out by February or March of 2021. It is the second part of that Ozark Championship Wrestling trilogy, so I am hoping to have all three of those finished and out in paperback by September, 2021. Place the Flowers is the sequel to Tabernacle, and for whatever reason those longer books just require a lot more time and mental energy for me. I find that I really have to work a lot harder to make sure that the book’s plot makes sense, that the themes are developed subtly and gradually, and that the characters are always consistent. It is a lot of fun to do that, and I am looking forward to spending more time with the characters from Tabernacle very soon. I absolutely love movies, and I have had a number of readers say that Tabernacle and Ricky Risotto are almost cinematic in the way they are written, so writing a screenplay at some point might be the next logical step. For now, I enjoy working in the novel/novella medium; although (like every other author) I would be thrilled to see my work up on the big screen someday.

It would seem as if the whole world has been somewhat paused since March, 2020. How do you continue to stay focused and finishing projects when the world seems in such peril? I try to take advantage of every opportunity I can to keep working on projects. A lot of the news cycle has been so negative and dark this year, and personally, I can only take so much of it. So, writing continues to be a great and productive outlet for me. Books are probably just as much of an escape for writers as they are for readers. Looking towards 2021, what is one thing that you hope to have happen for yourself and your family? I hope and pray that my family continues to have good health, good luck, and incredible amounts of happiness over the coming year. As for me personally, I am just extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to write the books that I enjoy writing. I would also like to continue getting the word out about my books as much as possible. I have also met some really great people along this journey so far, and I am definitely hoping to meet some more in 2021. For additional information on Marc Cavella, please visit: https://www.marccavella.com/

CL Tolbert: From Facts To Fiction By: Cecil Delloma Cynthia L Tolbert has been a writer for a number of years, but not always in the area of creative writing. In the early years of her career, she taught children with learning disabilities and pursued a law degree. After successfully completing her education, most of her career was spent as a legal defense counselor to large corporations. Later in life, she seized an opportunity to teach at a law school in New Orleans while also managing the Homelessness Law Clinic. Her long career in law is a contributor to her literary voice today. In 2010, Cynthia won the Georgia State Bar Association’s Fiction Writing Contest for her short story, Out From Silence, which she later developed into a full-scale novel and the first book of her Thornton Mystery Series. She is all set for a February release of her second novel in the Thornton Mystery Series entitled The Redemption. I had an opportunity to pose a few questions to this novelist, and she was kind enough to share her thoughts with us: How deep was your interest in writing before your law career, and do you have any work you plan to share from that time?

I have enjoyed writing since I was a child. I won my first writing contest at age nine; claiming a gallon of my favorite ice cream at the local ice cream parlor as my prize. I was shocked to learn of my win, and never entered another contest again until 2010. It was then that I entered the Georgia State Bar Fiction contest, which I also won. I will also never forget bringing a high school classmate to tears with an essay I wrote as a class assignment. I may have been more amazed by that than by winning the writing contest when I was younger. It took my breath away for a moment. As to my earlier writings, I did not save any of them. Although I published professionally, I didn’t publish works of fiction until 2010. As I have always been an observer, I have gathered stories from all my years of teaching and practicing law. I have finally reached the point in my life where I would like to tell them.

You are a very vivid and descriptive writer. Quite the wordsmith! Can you tell us how your law career helped develop a deeper creative writing voice?

First and foremost, a legal education teaches one discipline and how to research. This comes in handy when writing anything, but particularly when writing mysteries. I am a lawyer, so I write legal procedurals. Writing what you know promotes confidence and a clearer voice. I begin with a murder, which is always a fabrication. I imagine the scene and how it happened. Then, the story takes over, almost as if it had a mind of its own. The spark of most stories has some genesis in truth or fact, but that truth only serves as an inspiration. The rest is pure fiction. Emma Thornton, the protagonist in the Thornton Mysteries, is an attorney who often finds herself in the role of defending individuals accused of murder. I had fun with Emma as a character. She is far more adventuresome than I would ever allow myself to be, and takes far more risks. She pushes boundaries I would not dare do.

Transitioning from one big life occupation into another can be very challenging. Did you experience any difficulty or anxiety making the change from the legal world to the creative writing world? If so, how did you push and grow through the change?

When I retired, I was accustomed to at least a sixty (and sometimes eighty) hour work week, along with working weekends. Inactivity made me restless and unhappy. I compared myself to a car that had been traveling down the road at ninety miles an hour. It could not come to a sudden stop without incurring some damage. Since I had begun writing my first novel before retirement, I continued after I stopped working. I was a member of the Atlanta Writing Club and belonged to a subpart of that - a critique group which met bi-monthly. They helped my writing immeasurably. So, after my retirement, I finished the novel, and began the process of shopping it around to publishers, which was a far more difficult process than writing. The publishing company I finally found, Level Best Books, gave me a three-book contract. I am quite familiar with deadlines from years of practicing law. So, some of the discipline seemed familiar, although the creative process is quite different. Legal writing is all about making an argument built on an established precedent or statutory law which is relevant to your set of facts. So, to some extent, legal writing is formulaic. Creative writing cannot be as calculated. I have enjoyed the changes writing has brought into my life. I still have the structure that practicing law provided, but when I sit down to the computer now, I can create something new every day. It is entirely up to me.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers new to this world, or struggling with a transition from a previous career? A friend of mine, who is an incredibly talented writer, recently finished a memoir and his first novel. He selfpublished his memoir, then began shopping around his novel. He has been a little discouraged since his novel, as it has not been quickly picked up by a publisher. I recently told him not to be, as it takes time to find the right publisher. At least ten publishers were interested enough in my first book to ask to read it, or at least an excerpt. For one reason or another, they did not publish it, and I did not give up. So, that is my advice. Do not be discouraged and have a little patience. You may not find a publisher immediately, but the thing to do is to keep writing. Writing only improves with more writing.

It is often said that writing is a process. How do you go about your writing? Any specific practices, tools, techniques, or environment you find important in your creative process? I prefer writing in a calm, quiet environment. Since the pandemic, I have written at home, with the occasional exception of writing outside at a few coffee houses. Prior to COVID-19, I essentially did the same thing. I wrote at home and would occasionally go to coffee houses to write for a change of scenery. I learned which days certain workers would be there, since some played music I could write to and be comfortable. Thursday was always a good day at one particular cafe because the music was soft and unobtrusive. Once I settle into a quiet place, I usually stay there and write between four and five hours a day.

What inspires you to write and as a novelist, how do you develop your stories and characters? Do you draw from your life, map out deliberate outlines, histories and story lines or maybe random ideas strike you? How do you discipline yourself to move forward with ideas? I have been working since I was sixteen and recently retired from thirty years of practicing law. I taught school for nearly ten years before I enrolled in law school. Throughout that period, I have been gathering stories in my head that I would like to tell. There are scenes, depositions of colorful, interesting workers, and other bits and pieces which have made their way into some of my characters and stories. The thousands of depositions I have taken across the country have given me a great view of the American worker. I have seen the beauty of grace and dignity in the face of grave disease; humor in the face of adversity, and anger and fear as well. When deposed, some people just want to tell their life stories, and so they do. Trial, however, is an entirely different matter. So, I have a symphony of Americans in my head, and it plays when I set the scene. I start with the first chapter, which is the murder. Next, I outline a few chapters, and then write those chapters. I then outline a few more, and proceed like that until the book is written. Writers often refer to a couple of terms to describe writing techniques, namely: plotting and pantsing. Plotting is using an outline to write a novel, and sticking to it. Pantsing is making up the story as you go along. I am something in between both of these.

The second book in your Thornton Mystery Series, entitled “The Redemption”, is coming out in February. Congratulations!!! Do you have long term plans for the series, and what might you be working on for the upcoming year?

I am very excited about the launch of The Redemption on February 2, 2021. I have a virtual tour planned with several other authors called Truth and Lies, and other exciting events. I am working on the third book in the Thornton Mystery Series, which will be published in 2022. The book is untitled, but it will also be set in New Orleans - which is an exciting setting for any mystery!

More information on Cynthia can be found at: http://cltolbert.com/

Film Review – A Wrestling Christmas Miracle Composed By: Matrell Wood

A Wrestling Christmas Miracle is the latest screenplay by screenwriter Ken Del Vecchio. The story follows eleven-year-old Kace Gabriel’s quest after he quits wrestling. Gabriel decides to make a film so funny that his friend Charlie, who is in a coma, will laugh and whereby wake from his coma. After the movie is made, it is soon stolen. This forces the Gabriel family to work swiftly to solve the situation before Christmas Day so that all of their Christmas wishes can come true. While the premise of A Wrestling Christmas Miracle is arguably wild and likely difficult for many to suspend disbelief, the film itself is not one I will soon forget. Boasting some all-star names like Gilbert Gottfried, Jimmie Walker, and Martin Kove, this film is both full of heart and a feelgood family Christmas comedy. The saga itself is fairly simple, but it hits the mark. My favorite bit is the running gag of the “bad accents” that are silly and keep fueled the up-beat atmosphere of the feature. The switch between “reality” and the film gives the audience some great glimpses at the work of our main character. Though, I am still asking myself: what in the world is the premise of the project he is shooting. There is a hospital they treat as lock-up, and a judge shows up and treats it as a courtroom. The hospital director/warden is blind, while a wheelchair bound agent is using fake sign language with an interpreter. Suffice to say, it was all over the place, but the weirdness will have you shaking your head with a smile and simply asking, “what the heck is going on?” Additionally, the score fits well for this film. With some Christmas songs we know, and some up-tempo pieces scattered throughout the tale, we get music in just about every scene which adds atmosphere to the on-screen action. Nothing says a Christmas movie like feel good soundtrack full of bells. Though I am sure some will have difficulties with the film (primarily because we have become used to movies that take themselves far too seriously), A Wrestling Christmas Miracle is not without its own charm. You cannot help but cheer for the young boy who gave up his spotlight in sports to get what he wants for Christmas. It is both endearing and enjoyable. There is even a plot twist at the end that ensures for some extra “wows” and some laughs. A Wrestling Christmas Miracle can be found on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/WrestlingChristmasMiracle-Jimmie-Walker/dp/B08NK4GQNQ/

Film Review – The Rock of Gibraltar Authored By: Matrell Wood Recently, I spent a lot of time with my little sister, who is only fifteen years younger than me. She made the comment that my preferred entertainment was “old people entertainment”, and all my favorites were in black and white (kids say the darndest things, don’t they?). This not only made me feel old (despite being far too young to feel that way), but it also made me wonder how we define the age vs. the style of any film. I would soon be able to search for that answer while watching the black and white film, The Rock of Gibraltar. Black and white film is not something we only see in old films. I can think of a few “modern classics”: The Artist, Much Ado About Nothing, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, and Sin City, which are a mix of black and white, sepia tones, and hints of color. The use of black and white gives these films an almost nostalgic feeling and an increasingly daunting atmosphere as the story unfolds before us. So why black and white? What benefits does this type of film offer a filmmaker? Can they hold their own with modern cinematography? To answer all of this, I took a deeper look at the independent film The Rock of Gibraltar. It is a work of artistry that not only captures a classic feel, but also utilizes modern filmmaking to create a compelling movie for anyone who loves a good gangster flick. What is The Rock of Gibraltar? This is a ninety-minute film set during the 1940’s in Arkansas. It follows notorious gangster Deacon Marsh and his crew as they evade capture, and possibly death, at the hands of lawman Jake Bradford. This film has elements that are inspired by classic gangster flicks like The Godfather and the private eye noir classic, The Maltese Falcon. When thinking back on these films, we always remember the impact left upon us by characters like Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone and Humphrey Bogart’s Sam Spade. If you are wondering about The Rock of Gibraltar’s leading man, have faith. Will Trentham is a strong force on the big screen that delivers the impactful narrative with skill and some incredibly memorable one-liners. This was only enhanced by the inspired performances of the rest of this cast. Most noteworthy was his on-screen chemistry with right-hand man Vincent Floyd (Seth Bickett) and the vendetta driven Jake Bradford, played by Jason Collins. The lines were delivered in a lovely fashion, and the weight of their acting talent is highlighted by the black and white style the film was shot in. When I think about the way Michael Pharis wrote the script, I cannot see this film being shot any other way. So, what does all of this have to do with modern filmmaking? Well, I am glad you asked. Despite the black and white film style and the era of the story, modern filmmaking gave this film its own detail. For instance, when you look back at old films, there’s a grainy aspect to them. This is largely due to the cameras used, but even black and white films made in the modern day use that grain to retain some of the classic feel. Pharis decided to use a high-definition camera with a black and white filter to give the film that classic look, while providing a huge level of detail that you find in most modern cinema. The high definition took away nothing about the classic film feeling, and instead provided a crisp image for the viewer to indulge themselves. The high-def image also allowed Pharis to work wonders with lighting and elevate the effect of the contrasting light and dark areas of the screen. The story of the film is full of exciting action, gripping suspense, and heart pounding dramatic scenes that will have your eyes glued to the screen, wondering what Deacon Marsh and his crew are going to do next. Whenever you get the chance, be sure to check out this exciting neo-classic gangster flick and enjoy Michael Pharis’s inspired vision of a classic film in the modern day. For further details on the film, see: www.michaelpharis.com

Film Review – The Builder Authored By: Michael Haberfelner

Richmond, Virginia: On the outside, Don Childress appears to be just another contractor. He looks and sounds rough around the edges. Don also does not mind an occasional scar secured in the line of duty. He is a smoker despite knowing better, and really does know his job. Upon first glance, people would not guess that he is an avid art collector. Childress has a predilection for local contemporary, and often abstract, art. Since he has fixed up many buildings in the Richmond Arts District, he has very unique access to the artwork. He has made many purchases through bartering, and struck up some rather exclusive friendships with some artists. Basically, his professional relationships paved the way for some wonderful personal relationships. The Builder is his story … Now while Don Childress is at the center of attention during this film, the filmmaker does manage to shed a second spotlight on Richmond’s rather vibrant art scene. It gives a focus and a voice to many local artists like Ron Johnson and Heidi Trepaneir. It also grants a sneak peek behind the scenes of those who keep the art machine rocking and rolling. Examples include: collector Tom Papa (who first inspired Don Childress to start collecting modern art), gallerists Bill and Pam Royal, along with many other key figures in their art scene. This is the segment where the film really succeeds. Despite parading around all these luminaries, The Builder does not feel like a collection of talking heads. Through Don Childress and his access to things as a relative outsider, it manages to get an audience interested in the Richmond art scene. Otherwise, many would have been unaware of its existence. The Builder shares Don Childress’ fascination for the subject matter, which is something that really becomes infectious over the course of the movie. Moviegoers will be encouraged to find out more once the movie ends; even if abstract art is not one’s thing at all. For further details, visit: http://www.builderfilm.com/

Film Review – Jump Cuts: An Anthology of Shorts Authored By: Michael Haberfelner

This short film is really a bunch of everyday stories built within exceptional backgrounds. One centers around a salesman (Mani) who could only accept his memory loss once he has chosen to forget. Another is about a woman (Devaki Bhaagi) constantly forgetting key ingredients in her own cooking and slowly coming to terms with this conundrum. There is a tale of an elderly woman (Amrutham Gopinath) finding a better friend in Amazon’s Alexa than any of her human friends; to a young widower (Achuthanandan) choosing to act as if his wife was still alive. Finally, we discover how a day laborer (Babuchettan) finds happiness in the little things of life. Jump Cuts: An Anthology of Shorts is not a movie that pretends to carry any universal truths, although, ironically, it does. Now, this movie does tell a handful of slice-of-life stories in a very unpretentious way. It steers shy of trying to hammer home any message. This routine is reminiscent of Eric Rohmer’s best films. He would leave it up to the audience what to take away from his offerings. The Director does a great job of dragging a receptive audience into the stories he has to tell. Govind invites the viewers to make their own connections between the numerous narrative threads, and then ultimately piece together one’s own “message”. The writer also prefers to be perfectly light-footed about the often-grave topics found within the film, i.e. dementia or death. Overall, an approach that is both appealing and award winning, as he obtained a Best Dramatic Short Film Award from the Art is Alive Film Festival. For further details on the film, visit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11280530/

Film Review – Down and Away Composed By: Michael Haberfelner

Danny Reilly, a high school student with Down’s Syndrome, insists on playing high school baseball. Everyone seems to lack a larger understanding of his wish, except for his father/team coach Bob. He sees a fire in Danny’s eyes that not all players possess, and a paroxysm for the sport that re-ignites his own passion. Thus, he spends evening after evening with his son training him as a batter until he is up to par to compete. However, will the boy be able to put into action the things he has learned while training? It is rather obvious that writer/director Brian Tracey knows what he is talking about, and freely admits a fervor for baseball. This is a trait inherited from his father. Tracey also volunteered at a Down’s Syndrome facility for years, so bringing the two together really made sense to him. It was an opportunity to show baseball as being more than just one big competition. It is honestly a bearer of life lessons as to teamwork, determination, and patience – as well as a positive way to overcome obstacles. The final film is a rather touching parable. It centers around a world of little wins rather than the spectacle of a sporting event. Down and Away lacks large amounts of dialogue, so it is more character-driven. Said characters are strongly and successfully played by Nick Visovich and J. Dixon Byrne, whom the camera always sticks to closely rather than losing them in panoramic shots. The result is a compelling film where not only the finale might move you to tears … To find out more about Down and Away, see: https://www.facebook.com/downandawayfilm/

Film Review – The Last Christmas Party Authored by Michael Haberfelner

It is only days away from Christmas, so Ed (Martin Drop), Charlie (James Williams) and Steven (Gabriel Armentano) decide to throw a party in their apartment. They and their friends are about to leave to visit their families in various parts of the country, as well as abroad. Quite naturally, they also invite their girlfriends, not knowing that their respective relationships are all at a breaking point. Steven and Caroline (Anna Clare Kerr) have a fling; at least that is how it is interpreted by him. She actually thought it was more, but then finds out the truth about his feelings regarding their relationship at the party. This breaks her heart. It worsens when she catches him making out with Melissa (Rosie C. Dean). Ed has to leave for his native South Africa the morning after the party, and he has not yet got a visa to return. He also did not inform June (Lainey Woo), his girlfriend of two and a half years, that he might not be able to come back. When she finds out from her friend Charlie, she is understandably mad. Laura (Samantha Brooks) is in love with Charlie, but so far has been unwilling to commit until ending her long-distance relationship with her high school sweetheart. She manages to do so right before the start of the party, and thus nothing stands in the way of … Well, they do end up having sex. There is only one problem: he has always felt somewhat drawn to Caroline. Now that she has all those problems with Steven, she will naturally need a shoulder to lean on, and maybe more … The Last Christmas Party is a film that does not claim to have all the answers to relationship related issues. It is much more of a slice-of-life movie that favors storytelling over making a point and naturalism (also mirrored in the performances of the ensemble cast) over spectacle. This works well because the story, or rather three stories, feel real and relatable. The way in which they are intertwined – told one after the other, despite them happening at the same time – really adds to the attraction of this movie. Each story has repercussions that are really only found out by the audience once everything is said and done. Overall, this is a rather fascinating cinematic puzzle. If my review has raised your interest in the film, you can find out more at: thelastchristmasparty.com.

Film Review – Scratch This Authored By: Michael Haberfelner

Karen (Laura Dowling Shea), Kristen (Jessica Sherr), and Kaitlin (Jessica Alexandra Green) are sisters who were all born in the same month (not same year, mind you). That is pretty much all they have in common and yet, well, they live together. They are also all not a real fan of their mother; not that they have anything much to do with her. Every year, their mother sends them one joint birthday card. After all, if their birthdays are only days apart, why waste money on buying three cards? She also sends a stale cake and a bunch of lottery scratch off cards. These trifle gifts trigger nothing but disdain from Karen, Kristen and Kaitlin. That is, until Kristen finds out that one of her scratch cards is a winner. Seeing herself on the receiving end of one million dollars, she really sees no point in sharing this with her sisters. Unfortunately for Kristen, Karen and Kaitlin want in, and if she does not voluntarily give the ticket up, then violence is always an option… Scratch This is the first episode of an upcoming web series. The six-minute comedy pretty much gets it right on every level. It uses its time wisely to build up the comedy element within three very different lead characters. The story is allowed to gradually grow out of them. During the process, it tells a tale that is really funny and has quite a bit of hair-raising action to it. The story feels organic and leaves one wanting for more by its finish. This comedy is augmented by a very solid ensemble cast, who have just the right sort of antagonistic chemistry to make this work. In 2018, Scratch This earned a Best Short Film Ensemble Cast Award at the 15 Minutes of Fame Film Festival. Release dates for future episodes can be found at: www.ScratchThisTheSeries.com.

Dr. John Wynn – Faith Based Television Founder and Filmmaker Written By: Cindy Mich Dr. John Wynn is a successful entrepreneur originally from Reno, Nevada. John has been a Pastor for over twenty-three years, and is the Presiding Bishop of International Church Fellowship. He is also an accomplished author, producer, writer and musician. Finally, he has founded a twenty-four-hour inspirational television platform called The Wynn Network. We took some time to discuss his world, and his thoughts are below.

Q: You are currently a member of the clergy, and you serve your community as a Bishop. To clear up any confusion, what are the day-to-day duties of a Bishop, and how does it differ from a priest or pastor? Also, what intrigued you about venturing into this vocation?

As the Presiding Bishop of International Church Fellowship (I.C.F.), I oversee multiple churches and the Pastors that lead each congregation. Though I am the head of the organization, we are governed by a General Council. This is comprised of a team of Pastors and Bishops who come together to discuss the ever-changing global ministerial community and how it impacts our organization and the work that we do. The mission of I.C.F. is to develop lives, empower communities, and expand ministry. Our number one goal is to help people and share love through empowerment training, providing resources, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Q. You possess a BA in Arts/Sociology from Ashford University. I see that your day job does find you enriched by your education. However, how does the study of humanity help you to be a better artist and bring benefits to fellow artisans?

Everything that we do in life is either inspired by, or directly affects, other human beings. As a writer, producer, and artist, I am driven by the need to inspire others to reach their full potential. In my work, I always ask myself the question, “How will this benefit the audience?” I believe that everything we do should have a purpose and by understanding social interaction, thought processes, and decision making, I am able to accomplish my goal of inspiring others.

Q. I note that with your wife Edith, you have a total of eight children. I thought my raising four was a full house! Talk to us about the upside of having such a sizable family, as well as how you structure time so as not to miss too many special moments? Further, as one of nine siblings, are you finding that having an initially full family aided you in being a better father?

When my wife Edith and I got married, we would watch The Brady Bunch every night and our goal was to be like them. A big family was always the goal, and we got more than what we expected - which is an absolute joy. Raising eight children has been an interesting experience. There is never a dull moment, and there is always something to look forward to each day. When our second oldest was a Senior in high school, we began homeschooling the other six, which added to our already unique experience. Watching them grow and develop their own personalities, seeing each of their interests, and implementing their gifts into the businesses we have created has been a blessing.

Q. You and I share a commonality, as I myself act as a working author and broadcast media personality. Do you create your own scripts for on air, as I see you also host television shows? What do you feel contributes to the appeal of your content to audiences?

I am a natural born visionary, so as my thoughts come to me, so do new books, scripts, shows and films. For some projects, I develop the story and my team and I collaborate in writing the scripts. For other projects, I write the scripts and develop the story. My stories always have a message and cause the audience to ask themselves questions.

Q. On top of all of your other terrific talents, you spend some of your time giving workshops and seminars. What are some of your favorite subjects to teach, and what is normally your target audience? What do your students say about your teaching style?

I have had the pleasure of developing and teaching multiple curriculums for students who have a desire to go to the next level in their life. Some of my favorite topics include personal development, moving past bad relationships, and overcoming mental roadblocks. My target audience varies, depending on the course. I have a specific curriculum for middle and high school students, and a curriculum developed for parents of K-12 grade students. There is another one for entrepreneurs and career driven individuals who want to grow in their industry, and finally, a curriculum for inmates that I created when I was commissioned to spearhead the chaplaincy program at the Washoe County Sheriff’s office. There have been countless testimonials about the emotional and mental barriers that are broken after students encounter my interactive course. I believe that learning is half the battle, and applying what you learn is where we see real success. I encourage my students to engage with the course material both during and after class in order to see growth in their personal lives. My students return to me or my staff and express their sincere gratitude for the information received in each course, as well as the impact it has had on their life, family and or business.

Q. Lucky Strike Film Festival bestowed a Best Short Film award to you for your film. Will you continue on in the film circuit, or stick this straight to distribution? Talk to those who are filmmakers about the benefit of festivals vs. Distribution franchises.

Film festivals are great opportunities for actors to showcase their talent to other creatives. It also gives filmmakers an opportunity to tell the story behind their art. In some cases, short film makers who enter festivals have a difficult time transitioning their work from short to feature. I have met short film makers who tell me that their creativity for certain projects reach its peak because the story has already been told in roughly twelve minutes. From there, they do not know where to go and so the idea meets its expiration date. Distribution franchises give independent filmmakers an opportunity to license their work and share their story with the world. Through distribution (depending on the type), filmmakers are able to leverage the credibility of the deal in order to secure funding, talent, or production teams for future projects. When you are talented and work hard, your work speaks for you and opens doors that can change your life forever.

Q. The Wynn Network boasts itself as a novelty where “inspiration meets entertainment”. Terrific tag line. You offer a wealth of affordable in-home entertainment ($8.99 a month), and throw in nine new movies a month. As the Founder, what elements does a production need to possess for it to be shown on the network? How do you find your followers take in faith based live streams?

As a filmmaker, I want to start by saying kudos to anyone who has the courage to use their faith to bring their dream to life. I never knew what it took to create a feature length film until I did it. Once I created my feature length film, I gained an entirely new respect for every person who plays a part in production work. I appreciate all content creators for the effort and time they spend developing good content. At The Wynn Network, we focus on faith, family and fun entertainment. In order to have content placed on our platform or in our catalog, it must possess one of these three qualities or offer a message of hope or enjoyment for our viewers. When COVID-19 struck and our world came to a standstill, churches across the globe had to close their doors to faithful congregates. The Wynn Network had a place where pastors could stream live every week and reach their audiences. We have seen a tremendous response from churches tuning in to hear members from their leadership team speak and share information with everyone at one time, in one place. Recently, The Wynn Network hosted the Church of God In Christ Solemn Assembly Day of Prayer and over 20,000 of the organization’s members tuned in and were blessed!

Q. At this time, the Wynn Network is available on Roku, Apple, Amazon Fire and Android. In 2020, many are talking about how tired they have become of watching virtual platforms vs being in person. How are you encouraging subscribers to stay during this turbulent time? You must have the miracle answer - as you currently possess 380,000,000 viewers!

I must admit that 2020 has been an interesting year to say the least. As someone who is in the entertainment and film space, I understand what a crucial time it is for producing content that is refreshing for audiences. From a business standpoint, virtual conferences, meetings, seminars, etc. can be a bit taxing at times. However, one thing is always true - we love to be entertained! Movies and TV shows have been a guilty pleasure for many since the drive-in movie. In a time where people are saying there is nothing to watch on television, it is important to us at The Wynn Network to share movies, short films and TV shows that will keep audiences company, bring them comfort, and hopefully offer a glimpse of hope during such a dismal time.

Q. March of 2021 will serve as the release of your latest project, John Wynn's Playhouse. Explain a bit about the premise, and how it is different than others you have done in the past. Will you eventually gravitate to doing more film over time, or will the writer win out?

The “Playhouse” was expected to be a lusty getaway, but soon became an unwanted therapy session where hidden memories are unclothed by Dr. Williams and his peculiar methods. The film is similar to my other productions, in the sense that there are twists and turns that draw the audience into the story. It is different because the focus is on relationships, and that’s not a theme I have based a lot of my films on in the past. I am interested in hearing the responses from those who see the film. I enjoy telling stories, and I do not think that is going to change anytime soon. I hope to make films for as long as the Lord allows me to, and in doing so, I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams and do the same. The Wynn Network can be found at: https://www.wynnnetwork.com/

The Art of Law Created by: Matrell Wood

If I merely mentioned the word “lawyer” to you, you just might run and hide - because that is the image generally painted for us as a population. Attorneys tend to be looked at badly because they do their jobs. So, lend me some faith for a moment when I tell you about one that you would actually want to befriend. Ira Domnitz is not your everyday lawyer that is depicted on television or in film. The law that Ira Domnitz practices deals with protecting and preserving the rights of the artistic community. Domnitz is a long-time fan of what many consider “geek culture”. He is a subscriber to shows such as “Doctor Who” and “Star Trek” and has attended many a cosplay convention. In fact, he is not just a fan of “Doctor Who”, but also a publicly recognized expert Whovian. Maybe I am a bit of a dork, but I think that’s beyond awesome. The “Doctor Who” aficionado himself loves art in a way that you see many artists feel when they pursue their passions. However, his specialties primarily revolve around the following areas: convention and gaming law, as well as copyright, patent and trademark law. So why did Ira choose this path for his practice? It started with science, as art law was not his initial pursuit. Since he had a love for science, Domnitz attempted to become a hospital administrator. However, he soon realized that he could not deny the path to his true happiness. Science and information are surely a strong driving force for him. He recalled this relevant thought: “the science fiction and Fantasy of today becomes the realistic science for tomorrow.” This is important, because in the science community he does a lot of work for patenting and copywriting for science fiction, fantasy, and art. His passion has led him to a number of places. He has met many people; introduced guest at conventions, and even been a guest speaker at them himself. Having a huge respect for the hard work and dedication of cosplayers has also helped him to find a few clients at said conventions. Thus, Ira holds these events in the highest regard. With regard to cosplay, Ira Domnitz pursues copyrighting for those who craft original cosplays and want to pursue making a business of their passions. For those who are not familiar, cosplay is a shortened way of saying “costume play”. It is an incredible form of performance art that often finds its participants in costumes and fashion representing their favorite media icons and heroes/heroines. However, many in the cosplay communities around the world create their own original designs, characters, and makeup or accessories to make their mark on the cosplay industry. Domnitz works to protect the art created by these hardworking and dedicated individuals.

Cosplay takes a lot of time, work, dedication, and skill, as well as numerous resources on many occasions. His work is not only helpful and guided by his kindness and professionalism, but it is a part of the industry than can be often overlooked. Outside of science, science fiction, fantasy, cosplay, and art, Domnitz has a particular focus and interest in informing musical artists on ways to uplift and protect themselves in the industry. He is part of a webinar entitled, Creative Law for Artists. He hosts this biweekly series with music professor DJ Justin Paul. They discuss legal business issues that can affect artists, and how creatives can protect their work. Ira told me that the most rewarding thing in his business is bringing happiness to the creative people who come to him. From something as simple as getting them a patent or trademark, to informing them of their rights as an artist and guiding them forward. He celebrates these little moments, and for that he should be celebrated himself. Domnitz puts a premium on asking questions. With a short anecdote, he explained that simply asking a question or even just getting a free consult can help an artist avoid losing their hard owned investments. There are simple copyright and trademark laws which exist so that artists can pursue their passions safely. If you’re an artist, look into making an appointment to speak with this unsung champion of the art industry. To learn more about Ira, visit: http://sdmattorneys.com/

Tammy Reese: Positive People See Positive Results By: Cecil Delloma

It is not an everyday event for me to chat with an entertainment professional. I myself could count my experiences on one hand. When I was given the task of interviewing Tammy Reese, I must say, I was a bit intimidated. I mean, this woman has done it ALL! On the film side, she is a CNY award-winning actress, who also acts as a Director and serves on the Communications Committee for New York Women in Film and Television. As to her author side, she is a writer, journalist, publicist and philanthropist. She currently contributes to Vocal Media and We Empower Magazine, and is the Founder of Visionary Minds Public Relations and Media. Tammy currently lives in Upstate New York, and clearly has her hands in just about everything arts related. As to accolades, she has been awarded the prestigious 40 Under Forty Award, and on International Women's Day, she was honored with the WCNY Makers: Women Who Make America Award at the Women's Rights National Historical Park. Recently, Tammy took time to offer us some insights into her life, both on and off the camera:

You are a very hardworking, self-made woman. Can you give us some background on your career path? I began my career at a TV and Stage Production Company called The Media Unit. We performed sixty live stage shows a year, and a weekly tv show. I was in the company for eight years. I got to write, act, and direct live television and plays, along with much more. I eventually went to college and obtained my degree in media studies. From there, I knew I was absolutely head over heels in love with all things entertainment including theater, film, and multimedia. The rest is history. Over twenty years of work has not always been easy, but I never gave up. I am thankful to everyone who has been with me on my journey. In 2019, I covered my dream film Festival as press (Tribeca Film Festival), and I was honored on International Women's Day 2019 with the WCNY Makers: Women Who Make America Award. These were two epic moments in my life, but my story is still being written.

You have an extensive career in the Entertainment industry in a variety of roles. Where do you find the most joy within your work? Great question and very hard to answer. I love the challenging questions. My mother (God rest her soul), who passed away in January 2020, always told me to be selfless with my gifts. Also, a close friend told me I should consider getting into PR. Being a Publicist has given me many moments of enormous joy. For example, I am thrilled when a client gets featured in a magazine, blog, or booked for a podcast or talk show. Also, when my clients are successful in having their business, brand or event promoted across social media platforms, it most assuredly makes me smile. Seeing others elevated and gaining more exposure is super joyful. Being the Founder of Visionary Minds Public Relations and Media made that joy in my heart possible. However, acting was my first love and overall, the flame that sparked me to even want to enter the Entertainment industry. During the pandemic, I felt so blessed to be a Publicist due to not being able to be on set acting or filmmaking. One of my other occupations that truly makes my heart skip a beat is being a journalist. Everyone has a story of triumphantly overcoming adversity, and I love sharing those stories via various multimedia avenues. i.e., blog, or in person/phone/Zoom interview, etc. Interviewing entrepreneurs, media & entertainment professionals, and more, Is undoubtedly one of my life purposes. I enjoy it the most.

Activism has been a way of life for you for a very long time. Tell us about some of your past experiences, and what causes are you passionate about today? My Dad is an Army veteran who served for sixteen years. My mom was a highly decorated activist and advocate. She also served two terms as the first woman President of the Syracuse, NY NAACP. Coming from parents who dedicated their lives to public service just rolled on to me too, but in my own way. I love spreading awareness on social issues through the arts. I have done tons of stage plays on social issues as a teen and young adult. Also, I wrote and produced numerous short film/video productions on social awareness topics such as: bullying, racism, HIV, suicide prevention and domestic violence. Every social issue touches my heart. However, I am very vocal about black women not being embarrassed to speak up and out about mental health and extremely vocal about ending racism.

Has the passing of your mother inspired you to pursue any new work and/or causes? Losing my mom was the hardest thing I have had to live through. Everything I do and will do is inspired by her love, belief in me, her resilience, and her iconic legacy. I wish she got to witness all that I have accomplished this year since her passing on January 31, 2020. Important moments such as being featured in The Art Is Alive Magazine and Sheen Magazine. The interviews I did with Meagan Good-Franklin, Leon, Tamra Simmons, Carl Anthony Payne, 112, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Also, being at my first Industry Virtual Press Conference for TV One. I know she watches over me and is extremely proud. Anything I do is in her memory and honor. She will always be my biggest inspiration.

You have been noted as “Best Interviewer of 2020”. What are your thoughts on that accolade, and what makes for a great interview? Yes, Tamra Simmons, who is an Emmy Nominated Producer of Lifetime Networks Docuseries Surviving RKelly, stated that I was indeed the best Interviewer of 2020. That made me feel blessed and humbled. It really made me ready to keep learning and enhancing my skills and trying new multimedia endeavors. As I mentioned earlier, I love to interview people and tell stories; especially ones of inspiration, empowerment and overcoming adversity. I am so inspired by Tamra's career, talent and resilience. That accolade from her was the affirmation through my pain. I still indeed have a divine purpose in life that is bigger than me. I am so thankful to have been able to interview her and receive such a profound compliment.

What makes for a great interview is listening and making the person who you are speaking to feel like family and respected, no matter if they are famous or not. What also makes a great interview is the end results. When I say end results, I do not mean how many “likes” or “views” (though that's nice and all). I am speaking deeper than that. Have the end result be exactly what you intended for the interview to be and nothing else. Do not make someone think you are shining a positive light on them and then humiliate them, because that will make for a terrible interview. Integrity as a Journalist guarantees a great interview.

What are some of the things you are working on for the upcoming year? So many new things! I will continue consulting, and copywriting/scriptwriting. Of course, building my business & personal brand. I want to work on my new online talk show; conduct a ton of interviews and more. and all while homeschooling my son!

What advice would you give to aspiring writers, journalists, and entertainment driven professionals that are starting out and hungry for opportunity?

During this pandemic, the best advice I can give is “Inter-network”. Use zoom, social media, and email to meet new people and create new opportunities for yourself. Avoid comparing yourself to others because you are special and unique. Remember that it is ok to start over. That is not considered a failure, but rather a mere redirection. Every once in a while, you have the good fortune of encountering people that inspire and re-energize you as to your own efforts. I came to know a great person in Tammy. She is an excellent example of passion, commitment, hard work, determination and great character. A pro-minded entrepreneur with a deep passion for the arts and a huge desire to help others. Her mother would be proud of her achievements, but even more so of her heart.

Connect with Tammy Reese via her website: https://www.tammyreesemedia.com/index.html

Book Review – Shame Pudding Written By: Matrell Wood

“Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” It may be hard to imagine meeting someone who has never heard this quote, but what does it truly mean? Many say that we do not create beauty in life until it is presented in art and we notice its beauty secondhand. It is possible that there is some merit to that statement, but what could be said of the opposite? The ups and downs; the not so beautiful moments, or the emotional aspects of life that can only be emulated after they are felt or experienced? Is it merely imitation, or rather representation? Shame Pudding connects the heart, the mind, and the eyes in a way that answers these questions with a pill that’s not as tough to swallow as existential philosophy. However, even something seemingly simple digs deeper when you are willing to pay attention. As an autobiographical graphic novel, Shame Pudding presents Danny Noble’s life in a visually entertaining way, while presenting the solemn wonder of life. She gives the reader an inside look at a life that many could only imagine experiencing. The story tackles anxiety, coming-of-age, selfdiscovery, religion, love, political activism, rock n’ roll, and Jewish grandparents (which is actually the source of the title.) Do not judge Shame Pudding at first glance. Admittedly, there was a disconnect for me with Danny Noble’s art style when I first opened the pages of this book. The awkward and heavy lines of the child like drawings may not be everyone’s preference, but they are done well and with purpose. The further you dive into Shame Pudding, the more the art begins to weave the tale for you. If you are like me, it is okay for a piece to lack visual appeal from the start. As you read the words and explore the pages, it becomes something of a wonder. One can recognize the distinctiveness of the art, along with the emotions, poured into every page. The story covers years of her life and depicts aspects that many can relate to and understand. Separated into chapters that often jump between ages, the reader is able to see themselves in her experiences, while still appreciating the unique parts of her life. Noble has truly created a fascinating tale. There are moments for you to laugh or feel joy; as well as those that may cause you to cringe. Do not feel ashamed if you should even shed a tear. The story is laid out well, and decidedly keeps you wondering about what you will discover on the next page. In truth, I feel as though I personally know Danny Noble just a bit by exploring the pages of her autobiographical work. No matter what you think of the art, or the medium, it is a piece that she most assuredly put her heart into so as to share it with the world. If you do not find yourself interested in biographies or autobiographies, I still suggest you take a look behind this cover. Erase or eliminate any pre-conceived ideas of fiction versus nonfiction. This is a truly engaging book that tells the tale of a living work of art. To purchase a copy, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Shame-Pudding Graphic-Danny-Noble/dp/1951491025

Steve Benford Brings the Gift of Art to Guitars Written By: Matrell Wood

Throughout the many decades of music, we identify most musicians via their voice and set style. However, style is a key element to many stage identities. Sometimes, it is the clothes they wear or the way they do their hair. Other times, they carry iconic instruments that audiences remember as well as the one actually played. Examples are: Jimi Hendrix’s upside-down arctic white Stratocaster, Cobain’s Jag-Stang, Jonathan Davis’s mic stand, and Paul McCartney’s violin like Hofner Bass (there are many more, but we would be here all day). These are all tools of the trade with as much fame and notoriety as those using them to create their art. Individuality in art is a wonderful thing, and Steve Benford is an artist who understands that ideal. When Steve was young, his father was a graphic artist, and Steve was involved in art classes almost immediately. However, he started working with guitars in the 1980’s when he moved to Wisconsin. Sometime between 1986 and 1987, Steve got his first guitar and “broke” it apart with a hammer, chisel, sandpaper, and his own paints. Steve laughed when he retold this story; recognizing that he probably should not have taken a hammer and chisel to his guitar. Yet, he also enjoyed tinkering with the instrument and redesigning it into an image he admired. For the next decade, Steve Benford recalled not having much interaction with guitars until he started working for Music Go Round. He did guitar repairs, learned more about how the guitars worked, and what kind of designs he could implement onto these instruments. This fueled his desire to build his own guitars again, so he began piecing together various necks and bodies. Eventually, his own designs caught the interest of customers. Then, in 2005, Steve went into business for himself. Benford Guitars became a place where he could use his passion for art to support the passion that other people had for music. His business is primarily online, however, he also has his own workshop. Though it is not a storefront, he says he does not mind people talking to him in person about what they want and how they want to do it. A major part of his business is the fact that the majority of his work is made to order. Steve spends days, even weeks if needed, corresponding with his clients to make sure that he takes the time to know exactly what they want. A patient man with a talent for design, Steve Benford puts painstaking care into each of his designs, spending one or two months on each one. Each design is one of a kind, hand crafted delight. This type of art might sound tedious, but Steve never tires of the task. To him, mass production of guitar creations is not fulfilling. He wants clients to receive art they can love and respect that is created by one person who is passionate about the piece. At present, he is taking another leap and diving into hand crafted theme-oriented guitars (for instance, rustic guitars that he makes out of aged barnwood). He even buys new metallic hardware and ages each piece by hand to provide exquisite detail for each order. This is a man on a mission to provide memorable artwork. Steve holds hope that people will continue to enjoy his work, and he gives sincere gratitude to those that support his business. He says that the majority of his advertising has always been word of mouth, and without the kindness of his clients, Benford would have found it difficult to be seen. He wants to continue on with the current theme of his work, as well as engaging in the exploration of newer, better, and weirder designs. For more on Benford guitars, visit: http://www.benfordguitars.com

Lumedia Music Works: Early Music In The Digital World Interviewed By: Cecil Delloma Dallas, Texas based Lumedia Musicworks is made up of a group of visionaries. Musicians, historians, artists and professionals who all share an appreciation for great music and artistic performance. Their expertise lies within music from the baroque, renaissance, and medieval periods in history, collectively referred to as “Early Music”. To be more specific, any music composed before 1750. Lumedia offers much more than live performance. Their appreciation for Early Music is tributed in the concert experiences they craft. A lineup of accomplished musicians and vocalists work in ensembles that range from three to four performers for smaller, more intimate experiences. For larger musical events, there are thirteen or more performers. Guided by impressive and innovative music, artistic and creative directors, Lumedia showcases music from this era with traditional instrumentation for performances. To be more specific, instruments that were prominent in the music world from the 12th to 18th centuries. Lute, dulcimer, harpsichord and sitar are a few of the more familiar instruments featured. Lesser-known instruments such as, theorbo, traverso, gamba and vielle are featured in performances, as well as female and male soprano, tenor and baritone vocalists. Historical percussion instruments are also employed, and musical experiences are often accented with theatrics and creative visual presentations. As to performance locations, there were no large concert halls during the Early Music era. Performances were often held in homes, small rooms, or gardens, and so Lumedia follows suit. They offer diverse and customized programming to suit specific audiences and events. Lumedia’s passion, professionalism, talent and creativity leaves a lasting impression with their audiences and puts them in a class all their own. Live performance is only a portion of what this business has to offer. Fans of the Early Music era can enjoy online concerts. They showcase a variety of concert series and special events. Holiday and style themed musical offerings that are performed in select venues and broadcast from different locations and available for viewing anywhere in the world. Additionally, short films are produced that captivate the viewer with community creativity, featuring Early Music and an inspired visual presentation that compliments the piece. All can be viewed online, as well as featured during live, in-venue performances. In 2020, Lumedia introduced their Early Music Film Festival’s (EMFF) online competition. Early Music community members are encouraged to participate. Participants compete for a cash prize by submitting an original short film accompanied by Early Music selections. The competition sparks creativity within the Early Music community, and also expands the listening audience. This is the very heart of Lumedia Musicworks. A series entitled Stories began in October of 2020, and encompassed stories and works of Early Women Composers. The four-part series featured vocal compositions by Claudia Sessa, a violin sonata by Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, a harpsichord concerto by Wilhelmine von Bayreuth, and the vocal works of Barbara Strozzi. Additional series programming such as Spotlight Concerts, Four-Course Concerts and Live Lunchtime Concerts are part of Lumedia’s 2020-2021 Virtual Season. 2020 has been tough on everybody, and the arts have taken a big hit. Restrictions on gatherings and the reasons driving the restrictions have all but put an end to the live music experience. Through the course of this year, we have seen many performers do what they can to move themselves towards a greater online presence. Many artists are doing well, however, several are struggling. Noone can say for sure when the full, live music experience may return to “old-normal” but Lumedia is poised to succeed in the virtual realm for 2021. This is not the first time Early Music has seen a plague, and Lumedia isn’t slowing down. Long time admirers of music will love what Lumedia Musicworks has to offer. Check them out on their website, https://www.lumediamusicworks.com/

SPOTLIGHT ON SENIOR ELAINE WITTHUHN WRITTEN BY: JANENE AIRD

Greeting cards of every kind - birthday, anniversary, milestone, and sympathy - are Elaine Witthuhn's artistic treasures she shares with the world. Clocking in at eighty-five years young, Elaine reigns from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is in this little town that she makes these one-of-a-kind cards while instructing others to do the same. She would like everyone to know that the product she sells "is not sucky." Stunning, made by hand pieces fetch a much-too fair price of $1.50 apiece. A boutique could easily ask five times that much, and the buyer would still feel like they stole it. Elaine was born in Omro, which is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. It is about ten miles west of Oshkosh. She was widowed at a very young age by a young man who turned out to be a hero during WWII. Manning, a B 15 Tail Gunner, flew thirty missions before his plane was shot down by enemy fire. This trip was considered a "Gravy Run", but as misfortune would have it, this was anything but easy. Accompanied by twenty other planes in formation, a brutal battle ensued. Her husband's plane was the only one that made it out of that dog fight. He limped home, and his aircraft was scrapped for parts. Witthuhn outlived her husband, saved his bomber jacket, and will be donating it to the Aviation Museum in Oshkosh as soon as the restrictions of the COVID global pandemic are lifted. The jacket has all of the bombs that he used hand-painted on the back. The effects of this pandemic have been difficult on Elaine, but not unbearable. Fellow friends who also reside in her independent living complex have been sharing their grief and loneliness with her. Being isolated from others, especially from their children and grandchildren, has taken its emotional toll. She was able to stay with her daughter for a month because the county her daughter resides in only had nine cases of this novel coronavirus. Most other Wisconsin counties have had hundreds in the past months.

Elaine teaches her craft at an on-site art facility that is part of Miravida Living, an assisted living/retirement location that is also her current home. Pandemic rules apply, but students are present. They are learning the diecut method to create various fonts and graphics. Witthuhn chooses to demonstrate her various art mediums to both inspire and encourage others to share and strengthen their talents. The demand for greeting cards seems to be a thriving business, and so now Elaine just ordered a new die-cut machine. They cut everything from paper and fabric, to heavy vinyl and even metal. Her hope is to keep touching people with these creative and artistic cards. If you are interested in ordering your own hand-crafted card from Elaine Witthuhn, contact The Art is Alive Magazine directly at [email protected].

ELIJAH THE DRUNK: CHAPTER 1 It was a fine Passover night. Yes, fine is the precise description. It was, to be certain, no more than fine. It had never, for example, verged near the territory of good or great. Nay. Rather, the night lumbered along, very much like a well-prepared cup of instant coffee. In fact, at exactly 10:30 PM—which was when the night had hit upon the most exact meteorological manifestation of “fine” ever recorded in world history—a total of seven-thousand people found themselves suddenly considering the mere sufficiency of a well-prepared cup of instant Joe. If it is any consolation, the night did, at one point, veer left of fine and turn weird. Our story begins in the Bender home. Well, technically, it does not really begin in the Bender home. If we were to be historically accurate, we would have to admit that our story begins almost three-thousand years before the Benders were squished out onto the planet. The Benders lived in a bijou corner house in a small London Jewish suburb (the name is censored for privacy concerns]. It is important we remember where this is taking place, lest we mistakenly experience this story and its characters without the paradoxically clever, silly, and mature sounds of an upper-middle-class British accent. Either way, this distraction has gone far enough. Just be sure to have the tune of British Posh playing in your mind from here on out, and everything will be alright. The Bender home was accented by a statuesque miniature windmill with red turbines, along with a surprisingly unintimidating gargoyle, and a winter-beaten lawn sign that simply said, “anti-Semitism is bad.” Where the Benders lacked originality, they made up for with a surplus of Jewish pride. David, the youngest Bender boy, was tasked, on this fine Passover night, with opening the door for Elijah the Prophet. Elijah is that undead Jewish legend who, despite being besties with God, got one glimpse of heaven and said “naw... that’s okay, planet Earth sounds just fine.” Apparently, God was still reeling from the insult. He could not tell Elijah “no, you must stay here,”, since that would have risked alienating him and losing one of his best friends forever. He was already in a fight with Jacob over a controversial game of Rummy. Poor Lord Almighty. No one to talk to. No shoulder to cry on. Regardless, it is unlikely it went down that way. Unlikely that Elijah was the one who turned down God. It more likely was some variation of this: God said “Oh Elijah, Hi, it's so nice to finally meet you in person...uh... yeah, I am just going to come out and say it... would you mind not dying right now? It’s really not a good time. I’ll give you superpowers?” Upon hearing this, Elijah, with a smile of prophetic optimism, responded, “of course Lord, whatever you command.” Oh poor, enthusiastic Elijah. That poor, poor, man. If only he had known sooner. Anyways, back to David. David had been opening the door for Elijah for three years of fine Passover nights. Every time, he was met with the same empty porch and the same harsh disappointment. He stood there with his hands in his pockets; his eyes scanning the street for a man with all the unknowable trappings of something holy. His little heart continued to clamber in the hope that the undead prophet would not desert him again. Well, he no longer expected him to show himself. Not this year; nor again. Not ever, ever, again. He had not told anyone, but he was beginning to wonder if the whole deal was not just some ugly hoax. This year David had tried to get himself replaced by his little sister Rita, but his father was adamant that the job was his, and one that should fill him with pride. David disagreed, but silently. Never out loud. So, he took a big breath in, then let a big grumbling breath out, and went to open the door for nobody. Rita flicked out her tongue as he passed and it took all his ten-year-old self-restraint not to punch her in her stupid little smirky lips. David touched the door handle and sighed as loud and long as he could. “This is stupid, he said. Elijah never comes”. His father looked at his watch with all the weariness of a man who had been going through the motions all his life. “Fine, he said. He doesn’t come. You are right. Would you just open the door already?”.

David clenched his teeth and pulled the door open. Surprise! The porch was once again empty, except for two small blue chairs and a pink jump rope. David shook his head, and stepped into the still warmth of spring. “Stupid lies”.

He looked over his neighborhood of little same-same twinsies to the matching shingles and stupid boxes. In every one of those boxes, there was someone who, like him, was expecting Elijah to show up. In every one of those boxes, there was someone who, like him, was getting sick and tired of Elijah not showing up. Sick and tired, yes, just like all the adults claimed to be getting all the time. David folded his arms. “Stupid lies”. “David, you want to get back in here?”, his father called from the dining room. “Yeah,” Jonah, his older brother, said. “Elijah’s supposed to come in; you’re not supposed to go out”. However, David did not want to go back in. Everyone had lied to him. David waited a few minutes, which is the usual amount of time it took for his father to begin to feel “sick and tired”, and then resort to shouting as his most cherished parenting strategy. Predictably, the shouts came, and David cursed his luck (with a “heck” and a “darn”), kicked the jump rope down the steps, and turned to go back inside. “What is this?”, came a slurred voice. “Number twenty-four?” David whipped around and his jaw disconnected from his face. He would have smiled or smirked, but astonishment had seized him. Walking up the front lawn and seemingly talking to no one, was a bearded old man clad in a shrunken white robe. Well, the robe was almost certainly white once upon a time, but it has since been spotted with so illustrious a history of purple stains that it could easily be called an offpurple robe. The man wobbled, and heaved his way up the front lawn as if he were attempting to survive an insurmountable mountain. “Darn you, Gabe,” he said wheezing. “I asked you what number house I am coming to!” There was a heavy sigh-heavier than David had managed-that seemed to come from nowhere. “Yes, this is your twenty-fourth visit, which is two more than you did last year,” a new voice said. “Impressive Elijah. You are getting better”. That last bit was said with stinging sarcasm. David looked around for the source of the voice, but saw no one. He looked back to Elijah with a clenched throat and his legs stuck like marble slabs. Elijah yawned, heaved his sandaled foot onto the first step, and looked up at him. “Oh, look, the boy is waiting outside for me. How nice. I feel bad for these little ones. Poor kids are always disappointed”. Elijah started up the stairs, and then stopped and looked at David again. “Wait. Why is he staring right at me?” David blinked. “Can you see me right now, little boy?” David nodded and swallowed hard. It really was Elijah. He had a fluffy white beard, splintered walking stick, and excessively hairy legs. After all these years, it was, finally the undead prophet on his front porch. Yet, Elijah did not sound like David imagined he would. He sounded rather drunk. Elijah threw his stick to the ground and cursed himself. “Darn it! I forgot to make myself invisible! Oh, stupid Elijah, stupid, stupid, stupid.” He then burped, and his face went funny and his eyes twirled. “Oh no...” he said. He then threw up all over the second-to-top stair. David jumped backward to avoid the splash. Elijah wiped his mouth, picked his nose, and then cleared his throat with the ferocity and “cchhhh” of a battle-scarred Jew. Turning towards his his invisible friend Gabe, he said, “See? This happens every year. How am I supposed to visit every Jewish house for a drink? I do not have that kind of tolerance. Nobody does”. David’s father then came outside in a grim mood. “I told you to get in-- oh my God... is that... who are you?”

Elijah looked up and flashed a vomit-stained smile. “Why, I am Elijah the prophet. I came to drink your wine and bless your household... buuuuurrrp... excuse me, sorry about that... just a little tipsy... it’s all out now... as I was saying”. “Get off my steps, creep,” David’s father said angrily. This trick is not funny, Purim was a month ago”. Elijah raised a furry white eyebrow. “Trick? This isn’t a trick. I’m Elijah the prophet, thousands of years old a--” “I told you to get off my porch. Go, or I am going to call the police.” “On Passover?” Elijah said, smiling. “Who is not a good Jew? Is it you?” He then started laughing. David, still stunned by Elijah’s presence, whipped around to his father and begged him to believe the man with the fluffy white beard. “It’s true! He’s Elijah! I know it’s true! Please, I know it, I promise!” “Get inside,” his father said without looking at him. “This man is dangerous.” Elijah’s jaw dropped, and he held his hands to his chest defensively. “Me? Dangerous? Have you gone mad?” He cleared his throat and adjusted his voice to mimic an over-the-top medieval lord. “I am Elijah, the longest living prophet in pathetic history! Wait, that’s wrong. It’s prophetic history, apologies, I speak many languages. Can’t be expected to have them all exactly right”. Elijah continued up the stairs, as invisible Gabe hung by his side. “David, get me the phone,” Mr. Bender said firmly. David would not listen. “He is really Elijah! I promise! He has an invisible friend with him!” Elijah reached the landing. “Friend? You mean Gabe? Gabe is no friend He is more like a babysitter. A real goodie two-shoes". Mr. Bender lifted David off the ground and ran inside, slamming the door in Elijah’s face. “How rude,” said Elijah through the closed door, “at least give me my drink first”. Gabe materialized out of the air like a solidified ghost and took the form of a handsome young man with curly locks and a stubbled jaw. Elijah looked at him sideways. “Really, Gabe? Really? I’m relegated to this arcane body for the night and you tease me by taking the form of that? You do not even look Jewish!” Gabe smiled thinly. “Calm yourself Elijah, or God will hear about your behavior.” Elijah’s ancient temper flared. “Why do you always have to go straight to the threats every single time; every single damn time! It is your fault we never became friends by the way. I tried; I really tried.” Meanwhile, inside the Bender home, it was sheer pandemonium.

THE BRAVEST ONES WRITTEN BY: STEVEN SCIALLI

The Bravest People I know were the kindest people They laughed They smiled They were the sweetest The most generous The happiest They loved life They lived life Even on their due date They had a smile for all w/gentlest hand Yet revealed they were w/ ignorance gloating muddy fearful superiority Sadness overcomes me those forgotten friends treated statistic Oh, we miss you all Oh, final peace may you find be your joyful salvation dark end brightest light shine

Recap: Davis/Santa Cruz Fight Composed By: Trystin Splude The sky’s the limit for rising star Gervonta “Tank” Davis, as he viciously knocked out Leo Santa Cruz in the sixth round on Halloween. After joining sides with Floyd Mayweather in 2015, we have seen nothing but outstanding performances and stunning KO’s from the lightweight and featherweight belt holder. His latest challenge, as stated previously, came in the form of former WBA featherweight title holder Leo Santa Cruz. Cruz is a very technical boxer, who was looked at by many pre-fight as Gervonta’s hardest test to date. Stylistically, it was a very good fight up until round six. The global scorecards had the first round for Davis, giving rounds two and three to Cruz, and then rounds four and five to Davis. There was a lot of back-and-forth action in the opening rounds, with quite a few exhilarating exchanges. To my surprise, Cruz would often stand toe to toe with Davis in the pocket, and would utilize his jab to full extent. Cruz was the busier fighter, throwing 390 total punches, landing at twenty-five percent. Davis relied more on his power, especially his uppercuts, as he landed at thirty-seven percent, throwing 227 total punches. Davis landed a mere four jabs throughout the duration of the fight. Although the fight did not go his way, props must be given to Santa Cruz, as he went up in weight classes to attempt to get a title in his fifth division. As the sixth-round bell rang, the score was 48-47 Davis, and this round would provide more action. As the exchanges in the pocket continued, Cruz would almost always hold his own for the most part. His chin was held up high for the duration of the fight; up until the third minute of round six when Davis had Cruz on the ropes. Cruz tried to keep Davis at range; again, relying on his jab and cross. Davis, known for his incredible speed and ruthless power, ate around three or four of Cruz’s shots before slipping one of his crosses, and countering with a lightning fast and rock-solid left uppercut. This sent Cruz’s unconscious body to the canvas, where it lied there looking lifeless. Gervonta goes off and celebrates, jumping on the ropes and feeling the moment with his fans, as the referee waves off the fight. Gervonta goes and embraces Floyd Mayweather, a man critical to his success both in and out of the ring. The official decision is in: knockout, round six, two minutes and forty seconds. Davis goes home with another belt on his resume; leaving Cruz with his first knockout loss and second overall loss of Santa Cruz’s forty fight career. Looking forward, it is hard to deny Tank’s place as one of the lightweight division’s most elite fighters. Although there is up-and-coming talent like Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Vasily Lomchenko, and newly crowned champ Teofimo Lopez to contend with, what is next for the power puncher Davis? There’s the fight with Lomachenko, who recently lost a decision to Teofimo Lopez, resulting in a loss of his belts. I believe if Davis can take out Loma, there is a good chance he will be next in line for the belt. There is also the fight with the young, fast handed prospect Ryan Garcia. Garcia has a fight coming up in December against Luke Campbell, who is Garcia’s toughest fight yet. If Garcia can come up with a win against Campbell, I think it sets up perfectly for a showdown with Davis. The two have exchanged words over social media numerous times, so it would make for a super fight. The winner of that could go on to fight Lomachenko for the number one contender spot, or Lopez for the title. While nothing is confirmed or set-in stone, one thing is crystal clear: Gervonta “Tank” Davis is the real deal.

What’s Happening in the Hamptons Composed By: Matrell Wood If you watch as much television as I do, I am sure you have heard of the Hamptons at least once or twice. If you were lucky enough to visit, then you might have just enjoyed some luxury living. Whether encountering this seaside community in fiction or reality, East End Taste Magazine is sure to give you the information you need to make your trip an unforgettable one. Vanessa Gordon is the Publisher of East End Taste Magazine, which is a Hamptons based lifestyle publication that covers everything from luxury real estate to dining and events. Though food trends and events are two of the main coverage areas for the publication, Vanessa and her team also cover sustainable travel and wellness for the North Fork of Long Island and various other locations. Running a major publication was not what Vanessa initially set out to do. At the time East End Taste Magazine was started, Gordon was teaching English as a second language, and she stumbled into what would become a major opportunity for her. The idea began as a creative outlet for her, as often times, her family and friends wondered what she was doing in the Hamptons. The platform became a source to share thoughts on the area and answer their questions. By the usage of some photos and blog posts about the area, her audience began to grow. Today, she boasts a following of over 80,000 people across all social media platforms. Vanessa recognized what she called a void in lifestyle and food focused coverage year-round for the Hamptons. Everything seemed to be centered on the summer and holiday scene, but the presence of small businesses needed to be highlighted for the area. Vanessa enjoys being able to engage small business owners in conversation so that she can learn more about what they do and what brought them to where they are today. She felt that not only did their voices need to be heard, but she also enjoyed learning more with each conversation.

Over time, her blog gained traction, and a snowball effect ensued. People began asking her to cover various things that they wanted to learn about themselves and they trusted her word. During the time that Vanessa was a fitness trainer, a friend of hers who owned a ginger tea line took her to lunch and Vanessa simply engaged her in conversation about her business. Afterwards, she decided to tell anyone who found themselves on her blog about her friend’s business. She did so simply because she loved the line and wanted to tell people about it. This is the driving force behind the mission of the East End Taste Magazine. East End gives a voice to people, but also provides insights into how incredible they are. Presently, Vanessa has employees all around the world who help with things such as developing articles, graphic design, video editing, and more. While she wishes to engage with her immediate community, she also recruits college graduates and those she feels she is able to help and guide, even if they do not plan to stay with her publication. Gordon wishes to provide them mentoring opportunities and help them learn as they professionally progress towards success. Vanessa also created East End Lifestyle, which is a publication that sells lifestyle products. She hopes to focus even more on sustainable travel content as the world adjust from its current state. She also plans to revitalize her interactive brunches when that time comes. The interactive brunch is an event that unites brands and influencers so as to network. To learn more about East End Taste Magazine, see: https://eastendtastemagazine.com/

But What If You Fly? Authored By: Matrell Wood

Demia Doggette is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring people I have ever had the opportunity to interview. Her astounding charm, adorable personality, and wonderful attitude are only matched by her incredible work ethic and heightened ambition. Demia is the Owner of The Couture Agency, a public relations firm that focuses on uplifting, promoting, and engaging with fashion, beauty, wellness and lifestyle business owners of color. Doggette did not start out working within the public relations industry, but the brands that have worked with her are certainly glad she chose this path. In college, she shifted her majors to eventually land in communications, with a focus on public relations. Finding that her direction furthered her drive, she eventually acquired multiple masters’ degrees. She became employed by an IT company for some time before eventually realizing that her dreams lay elsewhere. Therefore, Demia soon after went to work for a public relations firm, and she largely grew to love the field. However, difficulties would once more come to the surface. Her immense enjoyment of the work could not allow her to ignore the fact that she was unenthusiastic about her employer. She admits they were not the best fit for each other, and she has since gone on to do great things. These admissions, along with the support of her friends and family, helped to bolster her resolve (specifically on April 5, 2017 at 4:58 p.m. Central Standard Time - she remembers the exact date and time), and she then resigned from her position at the firm. It was at that time that she started her own firm, The Couture Agency. So, what drove her mission when she built her PR firm? It was love and representation. Demia saw all the major magazines, TV and radio shows, and other media outlets covering only small amounts of companies run by women of color. She wanted to give these women a chance to get the same amount of exposure as other brands. So, instead of only speaking about it, she went out and decided to be about it.

The beginning of The Couture Agency came with numerous challenges for her to overcome. “One of the most difficult things for me was the thought of failure. The thought was almost crippling to me.” Despite these words, she told me that her support system uplifted her. With assistance from her husband, friends, and parents, she found the courage to overcome her fear. It took about seven months for her to get her first retainer client, but she did not give up. Since that time on, she has not gone a single month without a client. She told herself again and again that there was no way she was not going to succeed now that she had begun her own business. With at least a dozen brands that she supports, Doggette’s agency is flourishing as a powerhouse firm for women of color in the aforementioned industries. Even though there are still struggles and difficulties along the way, she continues to keep her positivity and love for what she does at a high level. For her, the most rewarding thing to accomplish is establishing a ton of new opportunities for her clients. To explain her position, she told me the story of one of her clients. Someone came to her after leaving a terrible deal they were involved in, and though they were fighting an uphill battle upon arrival, they are now a thriving multibillion dollar business. As to her inspirations, Demia is inspired by her family, and especially her children. She fights to give them a life where they want for nothing or go without. When asked what keeps her afloat still and brushes away the fear, she recounted the poem by poet Erin Hanson. She recited the lines “and you ask, but what if I fall?’ Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” These words are something she holds close to her because they remind her to never fear failure like she did before. She hopes that young women who want to break into marketing, fashion, beauty, or any other industry know that to succeed they have to “go for it and do not let anything hold you back.” The Couture Agency continues to rise, and I for one will be watching the numerous successes they are sure to accumulate. Demia informed me that not only are they updating their services available for their clients, but she also gave me the exciting opportunity to be the first to talk about a brand-new endeavor. She is developing the Couture Brand, which is Doggette’s very own jewelry line – due out in 2021. Check out their website, as you too just might fall in love with all that Demia has to offer. Details on The Couture Agency can be found here: https://www.thecoutureagency.com/

The Sound of the Soul Written By: Matrell Wood Jacqueline Cohen-Baity a.k.a. Jacqine is a singer/songwriter, pianist, and an artist with a plethora of other talents, including dance. One magazine article is not a large enough avenue to list off her many accolades, but I will attempt to give her a proper portrayal in print. She combines a strong mix of soul and pop into her vocals, which are found from various different musical influences. Though the instrumental pool is wide, the influences come from many areas for this budding talent. A major point of study early in her career was opera. As if her voice alone was not impressive enough, Jacqine has the skills to sing arias in Italian and German. On top of that, she studied jazz, RB, and pop, which helped her find that soulful sound she holds. Her songs are capable of touching your soul, while giving you a reason to get off your feet and move to the music. Jacqine started her musical journey at a young age. While we may be used to hearing an artist got their start on a guitar, drums, or pianos, Baity began on the organ at a young age. She started with simple chord progressions, and then moved on to more difficult compositions. Eventually, Jacqine learned how to play brass instruments and strings, with the occasional simple drum addition. While she has received some classical training, Jacqine attributes an immeasurable amount of her musical talents to having the innate ability to quickly and effectively learn how to play an instrument so that the sounds blend well with her words. Her music is largely all her own creation. While she does utilize other producers, and partners with various musicians from time to time to add an extra flair to her sound, most of her composition is done by her own two hands and her powerful voice. She crafts her music with only her own creativity and emotions in tow. Sometimes her formula dictates the words before the music, and then there are times when the opposite is also true. Jacqine strives to make her music as real and personal to her as possible. She says that when she says something in her lyrics, it is real. Of course, in her more heart touching songs, she tends to leave the names of those involved out, as they are not necessary. With her writing, it is clear that these lyrics are largely personal to her. It came as no surprise to me that her music came from such heartfelt place. Not only could you tell it was honest from listening to it, but her musical influences are just as telling: Chicago, Patti LaBelle, Lalah Hathaway, and Fleetwood Mac; to name a few. The influence is undeniable in Jacqine. From Patti LaBelle and Fleetwood Mac’s incredibly personal lyrics, to Chicago’s notoriously eclectic sound and blending genres, Jacqline puts these musical patterns to work in her own way to develop a fresh and friendly sound and identity as an artist. In addition to her singing, Jacqine has a specific interest to dive more into creating scores for visual media. With her mixed composition talent, she creates instrumental scores that are pumped full of as much, if not more, emotional energy. She is currently seeking more work for film scores; whether it be specific or general, instrumental or vocal. Jacqine has had her music played on dozens of radio stations. She was even picked to be played as “Artist in the Spotlight”, “Artist of the Week”, and charted as number six in the top 20 songs on Banks Radio. This rising star is building a buzz on radio and social media with her eclectic songs. Jacqine told me that regardless of what direction her career takes, she gives great thanks to her husband, her family, and all of the people who support her and have looked out for her on her journey. Keep your eye out for what is to come from this emerging talent. She has numerous collaborations coming with different artists, a new website and music, and is expanding her film score work. Take the time to check out her musical collection, as it is something to be felt and fully enjoyed. For updates on Jacqine, visit: https://www.facebook.com/Jacqinemusic/

Interview with Musician Sabrina Torch Written By: Cindy Mich Sabrina Torchio, aka Brina Torch is a sixteen-year-old singer and songwriter from Staten Island, NY. She was gracious enough to give me some time to talk about her music and main mission.

I see that you are a resident of Staten Island, and I have a huge adoration for the Big Apple. Talk to us a bit about what life is like living there for the last nine months, and moreover, how has this affected your educational and entertainment endeavors? How do you feel that your music is helping others your age to feel less alone or afraid?

Living in New York City has always influenced how I work, and over the past nine months, it has affected me more than ever. As a New Yorker, I am always inspired by the fast-paced nature of the city; I can relate to the huge hustle that is routine. However, when all of this constant movement came to a halt, it allowed me to reflect on my music and myself. I have spent these past months writing music about who I am as an individual on the inside. I hope the music I put out helps other teens realize that we may be different, but we all have similar experiences we go through together.

You are a younger musical artist, in that you are currently sixteen, and started studying music at the mere age of seven. In the last nine years, what have you learned about the creation and cultivation of strong song writing? If someone reads this, and is unsure if they should follow their dream of being a singer or songwriter, what words would you use to convince them to do so? One of the most important things I have learned about songwriting is connecting with your work. Although I am only sixteen and still discovering new things, every one of my songs reflects events in my life. As a songwriter,

I believe it is so important that writers reflect their emotions and experiences within their work. Connecting to your writing gives a sense of raw emotion that helps listeners picture exactly what message you are trying to convey. I believe there is no such thing as “bad songwriting”, so I encourage all aspiring artists to NEVER give up on their work!

During one of the interviews you have done, it was written that Freddy Mercury is an artist you admire – and ironically, my teenagers hold that same feeling for him. What is it about Mr. Mercury that stands out, and further, do you see yourself paralleling his style in sound and clothing style at some point? Also, do you think the majority of millennials appreciate the work of what we call old school musicians?

As someone who admires Freddie Mercury, I think the reason that he is so loved by many is because of how comfortable he was in his own skin. He would make music that he believed in, and he performed as a true star on stage. I think I parallel him with my specific style of performance. In my opinion, connecting with a crowd while being your truest self is extremely important, and Freddie was definitely a huge backer of this belief! My thought is that people of all ages appreciate the work of old school musicians because of how they have shaped the music industry as a whole. Without some of them, ninety percent of the modern music industry would not exist!

While wandering through your social media sites, I noticed that you have a tendency to consistently change your clothing and hair color to match your mood. Is this done because this is who you are naturally, or are you attempting to nurture a new image for yourself? What do you think sets you apart from other musical performers in 2020?

One of the biggest reasons I tend to change my hair and my clothing is because I love to express myself through my appearance. As a teenage girl, I feel like we all have that tendency to change our style to express how we feel on the inside while having fun experimenting with new looks on the outside! However, one thing that sets me apart from other music performers is how heavily I value my work. Being a singer-songwriter is the most precious gift I have, and I never want to take for granted how special it is to me. My ability to write and perform my own emotions is something that defines me as an artist.

Congratulations on earning your degree, as it is a tall order to attempt to build a career in music while managing academics. The hope of all singers is that they are a roaring success, and yet, some do set up a backup in case of unforeseen circumstances. Is singing meant to be your concrete career, or will you embark into other forms of entertainment such as acting, directing, or theater?

While music will always be my true love and major focus in life, I would love to pick up acting one day. I have always been fascinated by how actors can become a whole different person onstage or on screen. I would adore any opportunity to perform in a theatre or on screen! I have so much fun being involved in musicals and plays at school; thus, I think it would be wonderful to pursue someday! How lovely of you to lend your voice to organizations such as Have A Heart Foundation and Divine Women. Was this because of some sort of personal connection to these charities, or a simple interest in their initiatives? Others have also moved forward and founded their own non-profits at some point – do you see yourself ever being the CEO of a charity?

I have participated in multiple fundraisers because of how important their causes were to me. I think that it is important to give back to your community and work with charities you genuinely believe in. One day, I do wish to be a CEO of my own non-profit organization for teens who struggle with bullying and self-expression. As someone who believes kindness and self-acceptance is extremely important, one of my dreams is to help others in accepting the good and bad about themselves.

I love the new title for your recent album – Monet – which dropped on October 30, 2020. Is it fair to say that just as Monet had many layers, so do you as an artist as does your own art form? Tell me how audiences are reacting to the EP, and at what point will you be releasing another album?

I think as an artist, I have many sides to myself. I am constantly growing and learning new things about my craft, and I feel like any self-growth gives you layers as an individual. Most people who have listened to the EP have told me that they have seen my maturation through the songs, and I cannot wait to show more of what I have been working on! I hope to release another album sometime within the next year.

I myself took the time to listen to your music, and Barbie is one ballad that stood out. Your vocals seem to be a solid mixture of a sound similar to Ava Mix, the new singing sensation from my hometown of Milwaukee. Do you agree that your sound combines a tone that is part soft and yet sassy? A girl who sends clear messages in a crisp fashion?

Definitely! When I write my music, I always strive to paint a picture in the listener’s mind of what story is being told. However, I love to have fun with my music, and clever lyrics with a chunk of class are my favorites to write! I think it is important to acknowledge that versatility as an artist is vital to success. Combining a mixture of seriousness and sass within your work will secure hold of an audience’s attention.

What is your one hope for yourself and others for 2021?

For the year 2021, I hope that we as a society try to be kinder to one another. As a teenager, I have seen so much hate thrown from one person to another. We are going through rough times, but I hope we can make it easier for one another – day by day. As for personal hopes for 2021, I really want to release more music, and hopefully get back to performing!

For further information on Sabrina Torch, please visit: https://www.brinatorch.com/

ADAM COLA: Be Fearless. Be Free and DANCE! By: Cecil Delloma Be Fearless, Be Free, and DANCE! This is a marvelous message from L.A. based singer, songwriter, dancer and activist, Adam Cola. He plans to pump some inspiration into the world with his latest December release, Make Your Mark. This serves as the first single off of his upcoming twelve track offering. Canadian born Adam Cola is a lifelong performer with a charismatic blend of style, talent, flair and passion. His music is an infectious, smooth mix of soulful influence and emotion that pulses through the body. Cola creates a fearless vibe and compels you to let yourself go; have a great time, live in the moment, and dance. Adam is a soulful and seductive artist with a great voice and grand moves, along with striking good looks. He puts his heart and soul into his craft while striving for honesty and self-expression in his music and performance. As a pro-minded artist and performer, Adam has aligned himself with terrific talent such as, DJ Anthony Pisano, and Grammy Award winning producer Neal Pogue. He has a growing catalog of excellent music and an unmatched drive for continued success. Music is not all that inspires Adam. There is much more to this man than what is found in his music and videos. Underneath the glitz and glam, sultry voice and sex appeal, beats a humble heart that has as much passion for serving others as he does for music and performance. Adam is a champion of kindness, selfexpression, individuality, fearlessness and freedom. He works hard to convey a positive message within his art, while using his platforms to create awareness and support for numerous social issues we all face in today’s society. I shared some time with Adam regarding his music and his mission, and hope you as the reader will find him as remarkable as I do.

What first got you into music? My whole life, I have wanted to be a performer on stage singing and dancing and connecting with people. I slowly started pursuing smaller projects with record producers I had been referred to in the industry. One thing kind of led to the next until I had a team of people working with me to help me get my start in music. I am influenced by the big pop stars of generations present and past, including Michael Jackson, Usher, and Justin Timberlake.

Tell us about your new record, “Make Your Mark,” produced and co-written by Neal Pogue.

The song packs a punch. I like that it is more of a straight-up pop record, as compared to some of my other releases that pull more from different genres. It has a similar vibe to my song “Dancin”, which is another favorite of mine. Who or what inspired you towards a path of music, dancing, and being an activist? Growing up, I found myself in a community that did not encourage individuality or self-expression. I went to Jewish elementary and high school, and always had to wear a uniform. I remember trying to switch it up in some way by wearing my own t-shirt underneath the school sweater or wearing colorful shoes. I just wanted to be myself, but I felt like there was no room for it. Thus, I suppressed my true identity behind an image I felt pressure to uphold. I think that I pretended to be a different person for so long because I did not want to accept the truth about my sexuality. Therefore, I continued to play along with this image I had created. I started self-harming as a way to cope with my fear of rejection and disappointing others. It is an experience that has opened my eyes to why it is so vital to embrace your true identity. It is what set me free after all those years.

What social issues do you usually work on? I think that diversity in film, television and music is very important. Each person has their own story and background that shapes them into the person they are today. Representation of these tales on a big screen allows those people to feel human and to know they are not alone. Art is a representation of real life, as it transfers emotion from one person to another. To be truly great, it must be genuine — and to have diversity represented in the arts is a mirror to the diverse world shared by all.

Why do you think these issues exist? Sadly, prejudice is taught - and I believe no one is born to be prejudice. I am pleased that such change has happened recently, and I hope this continues.

If you had the power, what changes would you like to see happen right now? I would inspire a movement built on anti-ignorance regarding people of different backgrounds, whether that be genetics, sexual orientation or social status. Bullying, hate-speech, and discrimination are still very much alive in the world. It needs to end now.

Where can everyone stream your music? I am on all major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and others.

What are three things you want your audience to know about you? I love my dog Lukah (four-year-old Papillion), living an active/healthy lifestyle, and I enjoy steak.

What is a day in the life of Adam like leading up to a show? I start off my day with iced black coffee - no milk. I doing breathing and vocal exercises in the morning, and keep going throughout the day with intermittent breaks. I usually do late shows, so I will get my makeup and hair done in the late afternoon/early evening. I drink smoothies and eat salads with chicken as my meals to avoid feeling bloated when I know I am going to have to sing and dance! I try to stretch during all my off time and before I go on stage.

What do you find most rewarding about live performance? Live performance is so rewarding because it is all about the moments. Each performance gives me the opportunity to connect with the audience. I find it immensely rewarding to see people digging and dancing to my music. Performing live is what it’s all about to me. Most Challenging or demanding part of your career at present? I am a self-motivator, and have to push myself to get as hands-on as possible if I want anything done a certain way. I guess that is the biggest challenge... being my own boss. If you could share a stage with anyone, who and where would it be? Does this include those dead and alive? I wish I could perform with Elvis Presley.

More information on Adam Cola can be found at: https://m.facebook.com/adamcolamusic/