Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 49
September 29, 2019
The Worlds 50 Most Beautiful Cities© 2019
With material from a media release:
The Worlds 50 Most Beautiful Cities© 2019
Chosen by 1000 of the world’s top travel professionals...including me
• Check Out The Whole List
• Search for cheap flights, vacation packages, hotels & more on FlightNetwork
Ask any urbanite in the world, and they will probably tell you their city is the best. So, Flight Network set out to name the World’s Best Cities© by asking the experts — a 1000+ Travel Writers, Travel Bloggers and Travel Agencies from all around the globe, who have seen and experienced the best the planet has to offer. I was one of the travel writer/bloggers on that list.
ParisThis extensive collaboration produced the most thoughtful and definitive list of the World’s Best Cities — a guide that will inspire travellers not only in 2019 but for years to come.
So grab your passport, because we’re taking you from fairytale-like pink city of Jaipur to the Game of Thrones backdrop of Dubrovnik and over to the modern metropolis of Dubai. This unparalleled guide will both challenge you to take a fresh look at famous megacities like New York and dream of new destinations like chilly and charming Bergen, Norway.
So what are you waiting for? Whether you are from Canada, India, UK, USA, Germany, Australia, New Zealand or Brazil, dive into the list and discover your next grand adventure. Start exploring the World’s Best Cities with our unparalleled guide right here.
Here's the Top 25:Paris, FranceNew York, United States of AmericaLondon, England, United KingdomVenice, ItalyVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainBarcelona, Catalonia, SpainCape Town, South AfricaSan Francisco, California, United States of AmericaSydney, New South Wales, AustraliaRome, Italy
Hong KongSingapore, SingaporeLisbon, PortugalAmsterdam, NetherlandsPrague, Czech RepublicRio de Janeiro, Brazil
New York City from a plane wing - photo by Anya WassnbergBudapest, HungaryIstanbul,TurkeyTokyo, JapanVienna, AustriaBuenos Aires, ArgentinaToronto, Ontario, CanadaSan Diego, California, United States of America
Quebec City, image by Anya WassenbergQuebec City, CanadaHong Kong, Hong KongChicago, Illinois, United States of America
Chicago, IL - photo by Anya Wassenberg
The Worlds 50 Most Beautiful Cities© 2019
Chosen by 1000 of the world’s top travel professionals...including me
• Check Out The Whole List
• Search for cheap flights, vacation packages, hotels & more on FlightNetwork
Ask any urbanite in the world, and they will probably tell you their city is the best. So, Flight Network set out to name the World’s Best Cities© by asking the experts — a 1000+ Travel Writers, Travel Bloggers and Travel Agencies from all around the globe, who have seen and experienced the best the planet has to offer. I was one of the travel writer/bloggers on that list.
ParisThis extensive collaboration produced the most thoughtful and definitive list of the World’s Best Cities — a guide that will inspire travellers not only in 2019 but for years to come.So grab your passport, because we’re taking you from fairytale-like pink city of Jaipur to the Game of Thrones backdrop of Dubrovnik and over to the modern metropolis of Dubai. This unparalleled guide will both challenge you to take a fresh look at famous megacities like New York and dream of new destinations like chilly and charming Bergen, Norway.
So what are you waiting for? Whether you are from Canada, India, UK, USA, Germany, Australia, New Zealand or Brazil, dive into the list and discover your next grand adventure. Start exploring the World’s Best Cities with our unparalleled guide right here.
Here's the Top 25:Paris, FranceNew York, United States of AmericaLondon, England, United KingdomVenice, ItalyVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainBarcelona, Catalonia, SpainCape Town, South AfricaSan Francisco, California, United States of AmericaSydney, New South Wales, AustraliaRome, Italy
Hong KongSingapore, SingaporeLisbon, PortugalAmsterdam, NetherlandsPrague, Czech RepublicRio de Janeiro, Brazil
New York City from a plane wing - photo by Anya WassnbergBudapest, HungaryIstanbul,TurkeyTokyo, JapanVienna, AustriaBuenos Aires, ArgentinaToronto, Ontario, CanadaSan Diego, California, United States of America
Quebec City, image by Anya WassenbergQuebec City, CanadaHong Kong, Hong KongChicago, Illinois, United States of America
Chicago, IL - photo by Anya Wassenberg
September 23, 2019
Interview: Da'Vine Joy Randolph Dolemite Is My Name
Interview:
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Dolemite Is My Name
Catch it in movie cinemas October 4, 2019
Stream it on Netflix October 25, 2019
As we meet Eddie Murphy's take on blaxploitation legend Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name, he's on the downside of his prime. He's middle-aged, selling records instead of making them, and creeping toward the edge of desperation. Still, the laughs and a relentless optimismn about what can still be hold him together. He's the has been who refuses to be a has been.
Eddie Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name - image courtesy of TIFFMurphy's portrayal is spot on, and certainly one of the best performances of his career, if not the best. With its over the top 1970s visual sensibilities - all neon colours, platform heels, sequins and feathers - set against the streets of seedy old Hollywood, it would be easy for this film to slide into period parody. Muphy is the story's solid heart, as the man who can seemingly pull success out of less than ashes.
The movie got its world prmeiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019. Directed by Craig Brewer, the movie features a large and star studded cast, including Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Snoop Dogg, Chris Rock, and Wesley Snipes. Murphy also serves as one of three producers.
Just like the movie, after a string of careers, including stand-up, making RnB records, nightclub acts, and more, real-life Moore was working in a record store when he heard the street legend of a pimp. In the movie, he's Dolemite, the character that Moore eventually takes from the legend and makes his own to star in his brand new stand up act. What happened next is, as they say, history.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph plays Lady Reed, the other half of the movie's heart. Rudy comes across Lady Reed on a bad night as he's playing his stand-up routine. Seeing a spark in her that he recognizes in himself, he persuades her to join him up on stage. It's in their scenes together that the movie finds its emotional centre.
Dolemite Is My Name - image Courtesy of TIFFRandolph came to acting by way of singing in her native Philadelphia. She garnered a Tony Award® Nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical Broadway in 2012 for her West End and Broadway debuts starring as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical.
She says the part came to her as a regular audition, but it was the strong script that hooked her interest. "What really got my attention was the description of this character," she says. Lady Reed is a strong character with a vulnerable side, and a consummate show woman as coaxed into her stage glory by Dolemite. But, a description was all she got. Randolph says the project was under an ultra secrecy ban at first, with no script to check out. She had been working on Empire's fourth season, but knew she wanted the role.
It took four auditions and callbacks. "It was a field of phenomenal women," she says. They'd given her one of Moore's House Party albums, where the character Lady Reed is based on is actually recorded. She had two days to memorize her parts, with the added responsibility of trying to get her right. "It's a whole other ballgame when you're playing a real person," she notes.
It made her a little nervous at first, when all she had to go on was a few recordings and scenes from Moore's movies. But, the movies gave her an idea of how to approach her physicality. "It was a good balance." Murphy had known the real life woman, and would give her insights into how she'd speak and the phrases she'd use.
The scenes of Murphy and Randolph together were the ones the script adds onto Moore's story to give the characters depth. Staying alive in the rocky show biz industry meant putting everything on the line for both characters, and they hold each other up. "It's a tricky thing," she says. "He sees this light in her."
One thing the movie portrays is the tight closeness of the actors and crew who worked on Dolemite/Moore's films, a feeling of community that she notes is rare in real life. Along with anything else, the movie is a kind of primer on how to DIY your way to success as a creative - know your audience, and stay true to them. Be willing to mortgage it all to get your work in front of people.
"He really believed in himself, even when every door was closed," she says. "If you really want it bad enough, you'll find a way. I think everyone deserves that."
In Moore's case, the gamble worked out spectacularly. After paying to successfully screen the movie out of his own pocket, he found a distributor who understood the burgeoning Black movie market of the 1970s, and went on to make several more.
The production looks fantastic, and Ruth E. Carter's costumes are nothing short of spectacular. Along with the eye popping costumes, the movie sports a great soundtrack of Motown and RnB. Word is that Netflix is pushing Dolemite Is My Name for an Oscar, or two or three or so. The movie is part of the streaming service's first set of new theatre-first releases, with a theatrical release on October 4, followed by streaming availability as of October 25.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Dolemite Is My Name
Catch it in movie cinemas October 4, 2019
Stream it on Netflix October 25, 2019
As we meet Eddie Murphy's take on blaxploitation legend Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name, he's on the downside of his prime. He's middle-aged, selling records instead of making them, and creeping toward the edge of desperation. Still, the laughs and a relentless optimismn about what can still be hold him together. He's the has been who refuses to be a has been.
Eddie Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name - image courtesy of TIFFMurphy's portrayal is spot on, and certainly one of the best performances of his career, if not the best. With its over the top 1970s visual sensibilities - all neon colours, platform heels, sequins and feathers - set against the streets of seedy old Hollywood, it would be easy for this film to slide into period parody. Muphy is the story's solid heart, as the man who can seemingly pull success out of less than ashes.
The movie got its world prmeiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019. Directed by Craig Brewer, the movie features a large and star studded cast, including Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Snoop Dogg, Chris Rock, and Wesley Snipes. Murphy also serves as one of three producers.
Just like the movie, after a string of careers, including stand-up, making RnB records, nightclub acts, and more, real-life Moore was working in a record store when he heard the street legend of a pimp. In the movie, he's Dolemite, the character that Moore eventually takes from the legend and makes his own to star in his brand new stand up act. What happened next is, as they say, history.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph plays Lady Reed, the other half of the movie's heart. Rudy comes across Lady Reed on a bad night as he's playing his stand-up routine. Seeing a spark in her that he recognizes in himself, he persuades her to join him up on stage. It's in their scenes together that the movie finds its emotional centre.
Dolemite Is My Name - image Courtesy of TIFFRandolph came to acting by way of singing in her native Philadelphia. She garnered a Tony Award® Nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical Broadway in 2012 for her West End and Broadway debuts starring as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical.
She says the part came to her as a regular audition, but it was the strong script that hooked her interest. "What really got my attention was the description of this character," she says. Lady Reed is a strong character with a vulnerable side, and a consummate show woman as coaxed into her stage glory by Dolemite. But, a description was all she got. Randolph says the project was under an ultra secrecy ban at first, with no script to check out. She had been working on Empire's fourth season, but knew she wanted the role.
It took four auditions and callbacks. "It was a field of phenomenal women," she says. They'd given her one of Moore's House Party albums, where the character Lady Reed is based on is actually recorded. She had two days to memorize her parts, with the added responsibility of trying to get her right. "It's a whole other ballgame when you're playing a real person," she notes.
It made her a little nervous at first, when all she had to go on was a few recordings and scenes from Moore's movies. But, the movies gave her an idea of how to approach her physicality. "It was a good balance." Murphy had known the real life woman, and would give her insights into how she'd speak and the phrases she'd use.
The scenes of Murphy and Randolph together were the ones the script adds onto Moore's story to give the characters depth. Staying alive in the rocky show biz industry meant putting everything on the line for both characters, and they hold each other up. "It's a tricky thing," she says. "He sees this light in her."
One thing the movie portrays is the tight closeness of the actors and crew who worked on Dolemite/Moore's films, a feeling of community that she notes is rare in real life. Along with anything else, the movie is a kind of primer on how to DIY your way to success as a creative - know your audience, and stay true to them. Be willing to mortgage it all to get your work in front of people.
"He really believed in himself, even when every door was closed," she says. "If you really want it bad enough, you'll find a way. I think everyone deserves that."
In Moore's case, the gamble worked out spectacularly. After paying to successfully screen the movie out of his own pocket, he found a distributor who understood the burgeoning Black movie market of the 1970s, and went on to make several more.
The production looks fantastic, and Ruth E. Carter's costumes are nothing short of spectacular. Along with the eye popping costumes, the movie sports a great soundtrack of Motown and RnB. Word is that Netflix is pushing Dolemite Is My Name for an Oscar, or two or three or so. The movie is part of the streaming service's first set of new theatre-first releases, with a theatrical release on October 4, followed by streaming availability as of October 25.
Americana: The Rightly So - Vandura (Independent / 6 September 2019)
Americana:
The Rightly So - Vandura
(Independent / 6 September 2019)
• Stream It On Spotify
• Buy It On Bandcamp
The sound is simple - two voices, two guitars - sometimes with some help on percussion, and the music falls into familiar territory. It's the energy and sublime vocal harmonies that lift The Rightly So and their new release, Vandura, above the crows.
Hailing from Buffalo, New York, The Rightly So are guitarist/singer Gregory Zeis, and singer songwriter Jess Chizuk. Both are gifted singers, Jess a sweet high soprano, and Gregory an expressive tenor. Stylistically, they range from the vintage Americana sound of Black and Blue, and acoustic folk of Honest Kind of Peace, to bouncy guitar-driven contemporary country in You Can Bet on Me, and a bluesy Ball and Chain with its fat organ sound.
Chizak serves as songwriter, with a relatable style that talks about love and life.
If I were truthful I might scare you...
She turns storyteller in Devil's Work, a song about a hard scrabble life of crime. In Not Coming Home, they sing a duet about leaving for the last time.
The new album comes after their highly regarded self-titled debut, released in 2017. The duo has played 100+ shows each year for the last four years, including three cross country tours. They have performed with Howie Day, Davina and the Vagabonds, Sean Patrick McGraw, Dylan Jakobsen, and many other artist, and have been featured in The Huffington Post, No Depression Magazine, and NPR affiliates in Amarillo (TX) and Grand Junction (CO).
It's an enjoyable collection driven by the charisma and vocal chops of the duo of artists that make up The Rightly So.
Personnel: Jess Chizuk: Vocals and Guitar; Greg Zeis: Vocals and Guitar
Track List:
1. Black and Blue
2. You Can Bet On Me
3. Honest Kind of Peace
4. Ball and Chain
5. All These Things
6. Dying Day
7. Devil's Work
8. Nothing But The Weather
9. Good Luck and Godspeed
10. The Lucky Ones
11. Not Coming Home
Stay In Touch:
https://www.therightlyso.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRightlySo
https://www.instagram.com/therightlyso/
https://twitter.com/therightlyso
The Rightly So - Vandura
(Independent / 6 September 2019)
• Stream It On Spotify
• Buy It On Bandcamp
The sound is simple - two voices, two guitars - sometimes with some help on percussion, and the music falls into familiar territory. It's the energy and sublime vocal harmonies that lift The Rightly So and their new release, Vandura, above the crows.
Hailing from Buffalo, New York, The Rightly So are guitarist/singer Gregory Zeis, and singer songwriter Jess Chizuk. Both are gifted singers, Jess a sweet high soprano, and Gregory an expressive tenor. Stylistically, they range from the vintage Americana sound of Black and Blue, and acoustic folk of Honest Kind of Peace, to bouncy guitar-driven contemporary country in You Can Bet on Me, and a bluesy Ball and Chain with its fat organ sound.
Chizak serves as songwriter, with a relatable style that talks about love and life.
If I were truthful I might scare you...
She turns storyteller in Devil's Work, a song about a hard scrabble life of crime. In Not Coming Home, they sing a duet about leaving for the last time.
The new album comes after their highly regarded self-titled debut, released in 2017. The duo has played 100+ shows each year for the last four years, including three cross country tours. They have performed with Howie Day, Davina and the Vagabonds, Sean Patrick McGraw, Dylan Jakobsen, and many other artist, and have been featured in The Huffington Post, No Depression Magazine, and NPR affiliates in Amarillo (TX) and Grand Junction (CO).
It's an enjoyable collection driven by the charisma and vocal chops of the duo of artists that make up The Rightly So.
Personnel: Jess Chizuk: Vocals and Guitar; Greg Zeis: Vocals and Guitar
Track List:
1. Black and Blue
2. You Can Bet On Me
3. Honest Kind of Peace
4. Ball and Chain
5. All These Things
6. Dying Day
7. Devil's Work
8. Nothing But The Weather
9. Good Luck and Godspeed
10. The Lucky Ones
11. Not Coming Home
Stay In Touch:
https://www.therightlyso.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRightlySo
https://www.instagram.com/therightlyso/
https://twitter.com/therightlyso
Hotel News/Travel Spain: H10 Hotels - the H10 Palacio Colomera in Cordoba
With material from a media release:
Hotel News/Travel Spain:
H10 Hotels - the H10 Palacio Colomera
Located in the central Plaza de las Tendillas in Córdoba
• Check It Out/Make A Reservation
In the summer of 2019, H10 Hotels opened the H10 Palacio Colomera. The 45-room hotel is located in the famous Plaza de las Tendillas, in the centre of Córdoba, very close to the main tourist attractions of the city.
H10 Palacio Colomera - facadeThe hotel is housed in the former Casa Colomera, a majestic palace built in 1928 and which served as the residence of the Counts of Colomera. The hotel restoration plan aimed to recreate the palatial atmosphere of the old building, from which both the façade and the two classical towers have been restored.
The interior design, carried out by Tarruella Trenchs Studio, features contemporary furniture crafted with plush fabrics. The front desk and an elegant cafeteria with large windows overlooking the Plaza de las Tendillas are located on the ground floor. From there, you can access an outdoor garden with a plunge pool and sun lounger area, an ideal spot to cool off during the summer months.
Palacio Colomera - lobbyRooms
The hotel offers its guests Double Rooms, Junior Suites and the Duplex Suite with Terrace. All rooms feature superior amenties, including a 49" Smart TV with international channels, a Nespresso coffee machine, USB ports and international plugs, a bathrobe and slippers, a Minibar and an in-room safe, a climate control system and a professional hairdryer.
For the rooms, mouldings have been used on the walls, and materials such as walnut wood and brass, granting the space an atmosphere inspired by the old palace but featuring very contemporary furniture. As a nod to the city, there are paintings with photographs of details from around Córdoba above the headboards.
Palacio Colomera - lobby barDining Options
Breakfast is served in an airy Córdoba-style patio from the original building, from which the colonnade and the original mosaics have been restored, with light flooding from above through a large skylight. Guests will find a full breakfast buffet every morning, made with fresh ingredients.
The Rooftop Terrace features panoramic views of the historic Plaza de las Tendillas and the Mosque of Córdoba. There's a menu of light snacks and dishes to go along with premium cocktails and an unforgettable view.
Palacio Colomera - view from the rooftop barAbout Córdoba
Discover how culture, tradition and modernity come together to make this city truly unique. Córdoba is located in Southern Spain, with a vast cultural and monumental legacy you'll see in the beautiful architecture of its streets. Get lost in its historic centre and discover every corner of this wonderful city.
H10 Palacio Colomera ****
Plaza de las Tendillas, 3
E-14002 Córdoba
T (34) 975 216 800
h10.palacio.colomera@h10hotels.com
www.hotelh10palaciocolomera.com
The H10 Palacio Colomera has complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. This opening is part of the H10 Hotels expansion plan for 2019, under which hotels in Punta Cana, Venice, Lisbon and Seville have already been opened and two more openings in Tenerife and Jamaica have been planned for the end of the year.
Hotel News/Travel Spain:
H10 Hotels - the H10 Palacio Colomera
Located in the central Plaza de las Tendillas in Córdoba
• Check It Out/Make A Reservation
In the summer of 2019, H10 Hotels opened the H10 Palacio Colomera. The 45-room hotel is located in the famous Plaza de las Tendillas, in the centre of Córdoba, very close to the main tourist attractions of the city.
H10 Palacio Colomera - facadeThe hotel is housed in the former Casa Colomera, a majestic palace built in 1928 and which served as the residence of the Counts of Colomera. The hotel restoration plan aimed to recreate the palatial atmosphere of the old building, from which both the façade and the two classical towers have been restored.The interior design, carried out by Tarruella Trenchs Studio, features contemporary furniture crafted with plush fabrics. The front desk and an elegant cafeteria with large windows overlooking the Plaza de las Tendillas are located on the ground floor. From there, you can access an outdoor garden with a plunge pool and sun lounger area, an ideal spot to cool off during the summer months.
Palacio Colomera - lobbyRoomsThe hotel offers its guests Double Rooms, Junior Suites and the Duplex Suite with Terrace. All rooms feature superior amenties, including a 49" Smart TV with international channels, a Nespresso coffee machine, USB ports and international plugs, a bathrobe and slippers, a Minibar and an in-room safe, a climate control system and a professional hairdryer.
For the rooms, mouldings have been used on the walls, and materials such as walnut wood and brass, granting the space an atmosphere inspired by the old palace but featuring very contemporary furniture. As a nod to the city, there are paintings with photographs of details from around Córdoba above the headboards.
Palacio Colomera - lobby barDining OptionsBreakfast is served in an airy Córdoba-style patio from the original building, from which the colonnade and the original mosaics have been restored, with light flooding from above through a large skylight. Guests will find a full breakfast buffet every morning, made with fresh ingredients.
The Rooftop Terrace features panoramic views of the historic Plaza de las Tendillas and the Mosque of Córdoba. There's a menu of light snacks and dishes to go along with premium cocktails and an unforgettable view.
Palacio Colomera - view from the rooftop barAbout CórdobaDiscover how culture, tradition and modernity come together to make this city truly unique. Córdoba is located in Southern Spain, with a vast cultural and monumental legacy you'll see in the beautiful architecture of its streets. Get lost in its historic centre and discover every corner of this wonderful city.
H10 Palacio Colomera ****
Plaza de las Tendillas, 3
E-14002 Córdoba
T (34) 975 216 800
h10.palacio.colomera@h10hotels.com
www.hotelh10palaciocolomera.com
The H10 Palacio Colomera has complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. This opening is part of the H10 Hotels expansion plan for 2019, under which hotels in Punta Cana, Venice, Lisbon and Seville have already been opened and two more openings in Tenerife and Jamaica have been planned for the end of the year.
Review: Kristina Stykos - River of Light (Thunder Ridge Records / 19 January 2019)
Review:
Kristina Stykos - River of Light
(Thunder Ridge Records / 19 January 2019)
• Stream on Spotify
• Stream on Bandcamp
"I'm a poet-musician working at the outer boundaries of the music industry, and I believe that we can all take control of our own message."
She's got a gift for creating hook-laden songs in the Americana/country style, with a nice swing underneath the breathy, spoken word style vocals. She sings about roadside diners, with a slant on life that's all her own.
The day that I surrender
And lay my chassis down
And empty my compartments
And crumble to the ground
I'll still be full of living
Cause I ain't done yet
I Like A Hard Hearted Man is vintage acoustic blues, with a slow and relentless groove. She's assembled a solid backing team of musicians for the recording, including Jackson Browne guitarist Val McCallum.
Since You Asked is a stand out track, with a catchy harmonic pattern as a backdrop to her visceral poetry. It highlights the strength of her artistry.
Musically, she mines a lot of territory within that Americana-roots-folk vein. At The Edge brings in an edge of funk and hip hop. In The Cleansing Rain turns jazzy.
Her self-made credo is an honest one. Kristina solidified her launch as an audio engineer in 2008, earning a certificate in studio production from the Berklee School of Music. As of 2019, she holds producer credits for upwards of 30 albums created at her hill-top recording loft, Pepperbox Studio: a solar, wind and generator powered, fully off-grid facility. She is also founder-owner of a small, Americana label, Thunder Ridge Records.
Kristina was awarded "Best Songwriter of 2013" by Vermont's Times Argus newspaper, for her 5th solo album, Wyoming Territory. The album was supported in its development by the Ucross Foundation & Brush Creek artist residencies of Wyoming. Her first self-produced release, In the Earth's Fading Light, was awarded "Best Vermont Album of the Year" by the same paper in 2005.
Personnel: Val McCallum: guitars, bass, vocals, lap steel; Steve Mayone: guitars, bass, vocals, lap steel; Jeff Berlin: drums; Patrick Ross: fiddle, cello; Abby Jenne: vocals
Track List:
1. State Line Diner River 3:50
2. I Like a Hard Hearted Man 2:48
3. Walking These Ridges 3:28
4. Since You Asked 4:07
5. At the Edge 3:54
6. In the Cleansing Rain 3:01
7. Caught by the Heart 4:25
8. River of Light 4:26
9. Breaking Trail 3:45
10. Climb This Ground 4:13
11. Waging Peace 5:04
12. Blessed Light 3:40
13. Godspeed 4:01
Stay In Touch:
http://kristinastykos.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pepperboxstudio/
https://twitter.com/kristinastykos
Kristina Stykos - River of Light
(Thunder Ridge Records / 19 January 2019)
• Stream on Spotify
• Stream on Bandcamp
"I'm a poet-musician working at the outer boundaries of the music industry, and I believe that we can all take control of our own message."
She's got a gift for creating hook-laden songs in the Americana/country style, with a nice swing underneath the breathy, spoken word style vocals. She sings about roadside diners, with a slant on life that's all her own.
The day that I surrender
And lay my chassis down
And empty my compartments
And crumble to the ground
I'll still be full of living
Cause I ain't done yet
I Like A Hard Hearted Man is vintage acoustic blues, with a slow and relentless groove. She's assembled a solid backing team of musicians for the recording, including Jackson Browne guitarist Val McCallum.
Since You Asked is a stand out track, with a catchy harmonic pattern as a backdrop to her visceral poetry. It highlights the strength of her artistry.
Musically, she mines a lot of territory within that Americana-roots-folk vein. At The Edge brings in an edge of funk and hip hop. In The Cleansing Rain turns jazzy.
Her self-made credo is an honest one. Kristina solidified her launch as an audio engineer in 2008, earning a certificate in studio production from the Berklee School of Music. As of 2019, she holds producer credits for upwards of 30 albums created at her hill-top recording loft, Pepperbox Studio: a solar, wind and generator powered, fully off-grid facility. She is also founder-owner of a small, Americana label, Thunder Ridge Records.
Kristina was awarded "Best Songwriter of 2013" by Vermont's Times Argus newspaper, for her 5th solo album, Wyoming Territory. The album was supported in its development by the Ucross Foundation & Brush Creek artist residencies of Wyoming. Her first self-produced release, In the Earth's Fading Light, was awarded "Best Vermont Album of the Year" by the same paper in 2005.
Personnel: Val McCallum: guitars, bass, vocals, lap steel; Steve Mayone: guitars, bass, vocals, lap steel; Jeff Berlin: drums; Patrick Ross: fiddle, cello; Abby Jenne: vocals
Track List:
1. State Line Diner River 3:50
2. I Like a Hard Hearted Man 2:48
3. Walking These Ridges 3:28
4. Since You Asked 4:07
5. At the Edge 3:54
6. In the Cleansing Rain 3:01
7. Caught by the Heart 4:25
8. River of Light 4:26
9. Breaking Trail 3:45
10. Climb This Ground 4:13
11. Waging Peace 5:04
12. Blessed Light 3:40
13. Godspeed 4:01
Stay In Touch:
http://kristinastykos.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pepperboxstudio/
https://twitter.com/kristinastykos
September 17, 2019
#TIFF19 Diary ...and that's a wrap
#TIFF19 Diary
...and that's a wrap
If you even browse through my blog a little, you'll see that I write about a wide variety of arts and culture - not just film. And, to be honest, I don't quite understand how other people do it, i.e., specialize in film. After just one festival within commuting distance and a handful of freelance assignments, I'm pretty exhausted. But, some of those hardy film journos were off to another festival in yet another city.
I'd rather end my relatively brief, yet intense affair with movies on a lovely and positive note, full of great memories, and not the hotel and coffee shop food that gets old really, really fast, or those lousy pillows even the best of hotels insist on using.
Heading down King Street West on TIFF Day 1Here's some of my impressions, and good-bye TIFF...till next year or so.
Day 1 (September 5)
This is the most fun day. First, brunch with other media types, including an appearance by co-heads and artistic directors Cameron Bailey and Joana Vicente for a few words.
TIFF co-heads and artistic directors Cameron Bailey and Joana VicenteCanapé trends: it seems that chicken satay, after a long hiatus, is back on the menu. Organizers try to cater to the two extremes of foodie trends - both fat/meat heavy keto fare like mini sandwiches with cured meats (yes I know they're called sliders) and some kind of veggie quinoa salad. All in all, I'd say that the vegans got the short end of the stick.
Fruit market on King Street West - an interesting addition to TIFF19At 2pm, I have an interview with Peter Gregson. The easiest one to arrange.
Toronto Hyatt - view from the scenic elevatorDay 2 (September 6)
It's Netflix day. First, a screening of Dolemite Is My Name, the Eddie Murphy come back vehicle. I'll agree that it should put him back in the spotlight - his performance is completely riveting.
After some lunch from the Netflix buffet - they've taken over the third floor of the Shangri-La - and again, I can report both extreme meat, and extreme vegan options - I have an interview with Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who co-stars.
Day 3 (September 7)
This day has been rearranged a few times. I miss an 8:30am screening because of the stupid GO train. My afternoon interview has been rearranged because my subject has visa issues.
Hotel Shangri-La Toronto - sculpture and front entranceBut, my inteview with the director of Ready For War runs just fine at the Intercontinental Hotel on Front Street. Great doc that I viewed via a screener at home.
Day 4 (September 9)
8:30am An early Press & Industry screening for The Song of Names. Interestingly, people lined up at the door only want to speak to Americans.
10:40am Interview with Ina Weisse and Nina Hoss, director and star of The Audition. It's an an interesting place called Coffee, Oysters, Champagne on King Street West. For the interview, I go behind the bar, down a dimly lit hallway, and into a cavernous basement...to another bar.
Coffee, Oysters, Champagne - Toronto
In between: I visit the AT&T VIP Lounge at the Hotel Le Germaine for some delicious mac and cheese...and a vegan salad. And fruit, along with a celebrity sighting or two.
Hotel Le Germain, Toronto - lobby
Celeb sighting outside Le Germain Hotel
2:30pm The interview with director Francois Girard is late, and a mere 10 minutes, but I think I've got enough before springing for a panicked taxi ride through the rush hour traffic to my next screening.
Hotel Le Germain - lobby
Juan Minijin, Jonathan Pryce, Fernando Mereilles repping The Two Popes at the AT&T Loung TIFF 20193:00pm A must-see screening - the North American premiere of Atlantics by Mati Diop at Ryerson theatre.
Red carpet at the TIFF Bell Lightbox - September 2019
Day 5 (September 10)
11am - Or, it's supposed to be 11am, but more like 11:17am by the time Mati Diop makes our interview in the Netflix Shangri-La enclave. She begins by quizzing me on what I thought about the film, and seems disappointed in my lack of effusive enthusiasm. I think she just doesn't know me well enough to judge.
Hotel Shangri La Toronto - lobby11:40am - My ten-minutes-late interview with Abba Makama, director of The Lost Okoroshi and a voice of the new Nollywood of art films.
TIFF 19 celebrity sighting - Rosario Dawson
Day 6 (September 12)
My long awaited interview with Ugandan gonzo action auteur Nabwana I.G.G. and his VJay Emmie. Their visas were delayed, then their passports sent to the wrong country, but he's here at last to see his film on a big screen for the first time. The flick, Crazy World, will play the last two nights of the festival for its Midnight Madness series.
Toronto - King Street from the media room
Day 7 (September 14)
My last screening, with a Q&A with director Chinonye Chukwu and star Alfre Woodard.
Director Chinonye Chukwu and star Alfre Woodard of 'Clemency'
Some Time Later...
Stories filed.
TIFF swag
This, too, is Toronto
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Toronto from above
...and that's a wrap
If you even browse through my blog a little, you'll see that I write about a wide variety of arts and culture - not just film. And, to be honest, I don't quite understand how other people do it, i.e., specialize in film. After just one festival within commuting distance and a handful of freelance assignments, I'm pretty exhausted. But, some of those hardy film journos were off to another festival in yet another city.
I'd rather end my relatively brief, yet intense affair with movies on a lovely and positive note, full of great memories, and not the hotel and coffee shop food that gets old really, really fast, or those lousy pillows even the best of hotels insist on using.
Heading down King Street West on TIFF Day 1Here's some of my impressions, and good-bye TIFF...till next year or so.
Day 1 (September 5)
This is the most fun day. First, brunch with other media types, including an appearance by co-heads and artistic directors Cameron Bailey and Joana Vicente for a few words.
TIFF co-heads and artistic directors Cameron Bailey and Joana VicenteCanapé trends: it seems that chicken satay, after a long hiatus, is back on the menu. Organizers try to cater to the two extremes of foodie trends - both fat/meat heavy keto fare like mini sandwiches with cured meats (yes I know they're called sliders) and some kind of veggie quinoa salad. All in all, I'd say that the vegans got the short end of the stick.
Fruit market on King Street West - an interesting addition to TIFF19At 2pm, I have an interview with Peter Gregson. The easiest one to arrange.
Toronto Hyatt - view from the scenic elevatorDay 2 (September 6)It's Netflix day. First, a screening of Dolemite Is My Name, the Eddie Murphy come back vehicle. I'll agree that it should put him back in the spotlight - his performance is completely riveting.
After some lunch from the Netflix buffet - they've taken over the third floor of the Shangri-La - and again, I can report both extreme meat, and extreme vegan options - I have an interview with Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who co-stars.
Day 3 (September 7)
This day has been rearranged a few times. I miss an 8:30am screening because of the stupid GO train. My afternoon interview has been rearranged because my subject has visa issues.
Hotel Shangri-La Toronto - sculpture and front entranceBut, my inteview with the director of Ready For War runs just fine at the Intercontinental Hotel on Front Street. Great doc that I viewed via a screener at home.
Day 4 (September 9)
8:30am An early Press & Industry screening for The Song of Names. Interestingly, people lined up at the door only want to speak to Americans.
10:40am Interview with Ina Weisse and Nina Hoss, director and star of The Audition. It's an an interesting place called Coffee, Oysters, Champagne on King Street West. For the interview, I go behind the bar, down a dimly lit hallway, and into a cavernous basement...to another bar.
Coffee, Oysters, Champagne - Toronto
In between: I visit the AT&T VIP Lounge at the Hotel Le Germaine for some delicious mac and cheese...and a vegan salad. And fruit, along with a celebrity sighting or two.
Hotel Le Germain, Toronto - lobby
Celeb sighting outside Le Germain Hotel2:30pm The interview with director Francois Girard is late, and a mere 10 minutes, but I think I've got enough before springing for a panicked taxi ride through the rush hour traffic to my next screening.
Hotel Le Germain - lobby
Juan Minijin, Jonathan Pryce, Fernando Mereilles repping The Two Popes at the AT&T Loung TIFF 20193:00pm A must-see screening - the North American premiere of Atlantics by Mati Diop at Ryerson theatre.
Red carpet at the TIFF Bell Lightbox - September 2019Day 5 (September 10)
11am - Or, it's supposed to be 11am, but more like 11:17am by the time Mati Diop makes our interview in the Netflix Shangri-La enclave. She begins by quizzing me on what I thought about the film, and seems disappointed in my lack of effusive enthusiasm. I think she just doesn't know me well enough to judge.
Hotel Shangri La Toronto - lobby11:40am - My ten-minutes-late interview with Abba Makama, director of The Lost Okoroshi and a voice of the new Nollywood of art films.
TIFF 19 celebrity sighting - Rosario DawsonDay 6 (September 12)
My long awaited interview with Ugandan gonzo action auteur Nabwana I.G.G. and his VJay Emmie. Their visas were delayed, then their passports sent to the wrong country, but he's here at last to see his film on a big screen for the first time. The flick, Crazy World, will play the last two nights of the festival for its Midnight Madness series.
Toronto - King Street from the media roomDay 7 (September 14)
My last screening, with a Q&A with director Chinonye Chukwu and star Alfre Woodard.
Director Chinonye Chukwu and star Alfre Woodard of 'Clemency'Some Time Later...
Stories filed.
TIFF swag
This, too, is Toronto
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Toronto from above
Brazilian Indie Folk-Rock: Luiz e os Louises - Life´s a Cigarette (Independent / Sep 20, 2019)
Brazilian Indie Folk-Rock:
Luiz e os Louises - Life´s a Cigarette
(Independent / Sep 20, 2019)
• Listen Online
Indie folk meets pop rock with ripples of Brazilian rhythms and sounds along the way - Life's a Cigarette by Luiz e os Louises offers an idiosyncratic take on the singer songwriter genre.
From his childhood in a small town in Brazil, Luiz Henrique Niehues has been writing music. It led him to pursue his dream of recording to New York City. That's where he connected with producer Ben Rice, and Dan Iead, Pete Remm and Greg Wieczorek, three musicians from Norah Jones' band who play on the recording.
Please Everyone is a catchy soft rocker. As a songwriter, Luiz has a nice sense of how to create hooks that stick in your ear. His wavering tenor suits the material, using his flexibility for effect on tracks like Don't Make Me Cry and After School.
He's influenced by classic old pop from mid-century America, and it shows on tracks like Mary Lou. To May is a highlight of the album, with a trippy kind of rhythm, and back and forth vocals in harmony against acoustic guitar. It's a track with its own laid back groove. Go Away carries a political message, and Girl takes a trip into classic rock territory, via the psychadelic route. It's a mode that suits his off beat sensibility.
The album was recorded in New York City, and previewed with a live set at Under St Mark's Theatre on September 10. Luiz assembled a tight band to flesh out his music on stage. Larissa Conforto is a well known drummer and percussionist well beyond the borders of his native Brazil. Keyboard player João Nogueira has played with Sean Lennon, and guitar player Dan Iead has backed up Norah Jones. Bassist Sabine Holler rounds out the band.
Luiz and Daniel Aragão have produced a short movie and two features independently, filmed with his band in Portugal. They will be released in 2019 and 2020 respectively. They will be finishing another one in the beginning of 2020.
Track List:
1. Please Everyone
2. Your World, My World
3. Don't Make Me Cry
4. Mary Lou
5. No More Shaking Hands
6. After School
7. To May
8. Time To Love
9. Go Away
10. Girl
11. Going Home
Personnel: Luiz Henrique Niehues / Additional Musicians: Dan Lead: electric guitar; Larissa Conforto: drums; Sabine Holler: bass; João Nogueira: keyboard
Stay in touch:
https://www.facebook.com/luizlouises
https://www.facebook.com/luizlouises
Luiz e os Louises - Life´s a Cigarette
(Independent / Sep 20, 2019)
• Listen Online
Indie folk meets pop rock with ripples of Brazilian rhythms and sounds along the way - Life's a Cigarette by Luiz e os Louises offers an idiosyncratic take on the singer songwriter genre.
From his childhood in a small town in Brazil, Luiz Henrique Niehues has been writing music. It led him to pursue his dream of recording to New York City. That's where he connected with producer Ben Rice, and Dan Iead, Pete Remm and Greg Wieczorek, three musicians from Norah Jones' band who play on the recording.
Please Everyone is a catchy soft rocker. As a songwriter, Luiz has a nice sense of how to create hooks that stick in your ear. His wavering tenor suits the material, using his flexibility for effect on tracks like Don't Make Me Cry and After School.
He's influenced by classic old pop from mid-century America, and it shows on tracks like Mary Lou. To May is a highlight of the album, with a trippy kind of rhythm, and back and forth vocals in harmony against acoustic guitar. It's a track with its own laid back groove. Go Away carries a political message, and Girl takes a trip into classic rock territory, via the psychadelic route. It's a mode that suits his off beat sensibility.
The album was recorded in New York City, and previewed with a live set at Under St Mark's Theatre on September 10. Luiz assembled a tight band to flesh out his music on stage. Larissa Conforto is a well known drummer and percussionist well beyond the borders of his native Brazil. Keyboard player João Nogueira has played with Sean Lennon, and guitar player Dan Iead has backed up Norah Jones. Bassist Sabine Holler rounds out the band.
Luiz and Daniel Aragão have produced a short movie and two features independently, filmed with his band in Portugal. They will be released in 2019 and 2020 respectively. They will be finishing another one in the beginning of 2020.
Track List:
1. Please Everyone
2. Your World, My World
3. Don't Make Me Cry
4. Mary Lou
5. No More Shaking Hands
6. After School
7. To May
8. Time To Love
9. Go Away
10. Girl
11. Going Home
Personnel: Luiz Henrique Niehues / Additional Musicians: Dan Lead: electric guitar; Larissa Conforto: drums; Sabine Holler: bass; João Nogueira: keyboard
Stay in touch:
https://www.facebook.com/luizlouises
https://www.facebook.com/luizlouises
September 15, 2019
Ready For War: Showtime Documentary Highlights Plight of Deported US Army Vets #TIFF19
Ready For War
Directed by Andrew Renzi
Look for it on Showtime & On Demand October 25, 2019
The person who left never came home.
I struggle every day just to feel human.
Ever wonder what happens to those US veterans who are deported to Mexico? Every now and then, there is a story in the news as a veteran, a legal US resident, is deported, but if that's all you know about the subject, it's hard to truly grasp its dimensions.
Hector Barajas in Ready For WarAs the documentary Ready For War notes, I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) doesn't keep any data on just how many veterans end up on the deportation list. But, as the film also illustrates, there are communities in Mexico that number hundreds, if not thousands, of people who put their lives on the line for a country that literally tossed them out.
In truth, immigrants have been fighting for America as long as there has been an America. Ready For War fleshes out the headlines by following the stories of three vets who were sent back to a country they didn't know at various stages of the process.
Hector Barajas has been separated from his family back in the US for 14 years as we meet him. He's nonetheless relentlessly positive about his prospects for re-entry as a naturalized citizen, and a super patriot with an office full of American flags. In the meantime, he's in Juárez running a service to help re-integrate the constant stream of new arrivals, trying to keep his hopes up.
Miguel Perez' case is just entering the American judicial system. He's been released from one jail, only to be snapped up by ICE and jailed indefinitely, with a view to eventual deportation, and separation from his family in Chicago.
Many immigrants assume that, when they join the US Army, they are automatically given citizenship. That's just not true. As the cases in the film illustrate, a familiar pattern emerges. A vet returns from one, and often more, tours of duty a changed man, suffering from PTSD, depression, and other ailments both mental and physical. He drinks too much, or drugs his problems away. He gets into trouble and lands in jail for a non-violent offence like possession or even drunk and disorderly.
And that's it. One chance, no mercy. Instead of getting the medical help that his service entitles him to, he's deported through a loophole in the law that was created in the 1990s.
Director Andrew Renzi's punctuates the stories they tell, and the institutional gloom of the ICE prison, by taking viewers on a nerve wracking ride through hell in cartel territory, riding alongside a cartel enforcer by the name of El Vet. He too was sent back to Mexico, and deposited right in the middle of a cartel war. Threatened with violence and death on only to himself and his family, and abandoned by the system, he becomes a full fledged member. Inside abandoned and bleak interiors, we see his masked figure as he cooks meth for them...and much worse.
The cartels, see, recognize the value of having this influx of men with American military training. As El Vet tells the camera, drug enforcer hits once looked like a messy show of violence. Today, they are executed with the precision of a military operation. The US Army, in other words, is fueling the violence that constantly simmers at the border.
"The cartel knows the soldiers are valuable," El Vet says matter of factly. "We got skills."
Director Andrew Renzi already had a couple of documentaries under his belt when he got wind of the potential of this story. "I was introduced to Hector Barajas by a colleague," he recalls. Renzi was attracted to a story about second chances, as well as the growing realization this was a much bigger issue than he'd supposed.
After a trip to Juárez, Renzi made a local connection who introduced him to Miguel and El Vet, the latter being a dangerous prospect from the outset.
"Probably the hardest part was how to tell the cartel story," Renzi says.
Filming took the better part of two years. Even though it's a documentary, Renzi wanted to treat the story as fiction, and builds a narrative through the three men and their journeys through bureaucratic hell. "How do I tell it as a taut thriller?"
El Vet, Ready For WarMuch of it was shot very simply with only Renzi and cinematographer Jeremy Peterman, and their subjects. That led to the jittery sequences of cartel ride-along, and a very real sense of inherent danger. "It was really important for me to show how far this could go." Even if they could trust El Vet, however, his environment was unpredictable and violent. "The biggest fear is not him, it's the people that come for him." It led to hair raising situations. "I had a bag over my head for three hours," he recalls. "There were moments when I thought, I've gone too far."
Footage with figures like US Senator, Army veteran and advocate Tammy Duckworth add a larger context to the story. Renzi's hope is that the issue is seen as one that can cross party lines. Shouldn't those who have put up their lives for the United States get some help for their post-war troubles, instead of an immediate deportation?
Visually, Peterman intercuts broad views of the often bleak areas where the men live with the jittery secret camera of the El Vet segments, and Hector's office in Juárez, stuffed with upbeat Americana. It's effective in adding texture to the story line.
What's most heartbreaking is that, even with deportation, most of the vets are still devoted to America, and don't regret their military service.
The list of executive producers who got behind the story is impressive in itself, including David Ayer, Chris Long, Tara Long, Aubrey 'Drake' Graham, Adel 'Future' Nur, and Vinnie Malhotra.
Director Andrew Renzi was born in Washington, DC, and studied literary arts at Brown University. He has directed the short films The Fort (2012) and Karaoke! (13), the documentaries Fishtail (2014) and They Fight (2018), and the fiction feature The Benefactor (2015). Ready for War (2019) is his latest documentary, and got its World Premiere September 8, 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by Andrew Renzi
Look for it on Showtime & On Demand October 25, 2019
The person who left never came home.
I struggle every day just to feel human.
Ever wonder what happens to those US veterans who are deported to Mexico? Every now and then, there is a story in the news as a veteran, a legal US resident, is deported, but if that's all you know about the subject, it's hard to truly grasp its dimensions.
Hector Barajas in Ready For WarAs the documentary Ready For War notes, I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) doesn't keep any data on just how many veterans end up on the deportation list. But, as the film also illustrates, there are communities in Mexico that number hundreds, if not thousands, of people who put their lives on the line for a country that literally tossed them out.In truth, immigrants have been fighting for America as long as there has been an America. Ready For War fleshes out the headlines by following the stories of three vets who were sent back to a country they didn't know at various stages of the process.
Hector Barajas has been separated from his family back in the US for 14 years as we meet him. He's nonetheless relentlessly positive about his prospects for re-entry as a naturalized citizen, and a super patriot with an office full of American flags. In the meantime, he's in Juárez running a service to help re-integrate the constant stream of new arrivals, trying to keep his hopes up.
Miguel Perez' case is just entering the American judicial system. He's been released from one jail, only to be snapped up by ICE and jailed indefinitely, with a view to eventual deportation, and separation from his family in Chicago.
Many immigrants assume that, when they join the US Army, they are automatically given citizenship. That's just not true. As the cases in the film illustrate, a familiar pattern emerges. A vet returns from one, and often more, tours of duty a changed man, suffering from PTSD, depression, and other ailments both mental and physical. He drinks too much, or drugs his problems away. He gets into trouble and lands in jail for a non-violent offence like possession or even drunk and disorderly.
And that's it. One chance, no mercy. Instead of getting the medical help that his service entitles him to, he's deported through a loophole in the law that was created in the 1990s.
Director Andrew Renzi's punctuates the stories they tell, and the institutional gloom of the ICE prison, by taking viewers on a nerve wracking ride through hell in cartel territory, riding alongside a cartel enforcer by the name of El Vet. He too was sent back to Mexico, and deposited right in the middle of a cartel war. Threatened with violence and death on only to himself and his family, and abandoned by the system, he becomes a full fledged member. Inside abandoned and bleak interiors, we see his masked figure as he cooks meth for them...and much worse.
The cartels, see, recognize the value of having this influx of men with American military training. As El Vet tells the camera, drug enforcer hits once looked like a messy show of violence. Today, they are executed with the precision of a military operation. The US Army, in other words, is fueling the violence that constantly simmers at the border.
"The cartel knows the soldiers are valuable," El Vet says matter of factly. "We got skills."
Director Andrew Renzi already had a couple of documentaries under his belt when he got wind of the potential of this story. "I was introduced to Hector Barajas by a colleague," he recalls. Renzi was attracted to a story about second chances, as well as the growing realization this was a much bigger issue than he'd supposed.
After a trip to Juárez, Renzi made a local connection who introduced him to Miguel and El Vet, the latter being a dangerous prospect from the outset.
"Probably the hardest part was how to tell the cartel story," Renzi says.
Filming took the better part of two years. Even though it's a documentary, Renzi wanted to treat the story as fiction, and builds a narrative through the three men and their journeys through bureaucratic hell. "How do I tell it as a taut thriller?"
El Vet, Ready For WarMuch of it was shot very simply with only Renzi and cinematographer Jeremy Peterman, and their subjects. That led to the jittery sequences of cartel ride-along, and a very real sense of inherent danger. "It was really important for me to show how far this could go." Even if they could trust El Vet, however, his environment was unpredictable and violent. "The biggest fear is not him, it's the people that come for him." It led to hair raising situations. "I had a bag over my head for three hours," he recalls. "There were moments when I thought, I've gone too far."Footage with figures like US Senator, Army veteran and advocate Tammy Duckworth add a larger context to the story. Renzi's hope is that the issue is seen as one that can cross party lines. Shouldn't those who have put up their lives for the United States get some help for their post-war troubles, instead of an immediate deportation?
Visually, Peterman intercuts broad views of the often bleak areas where the men live with the jittery secret camera of the El Vet segments, and Hector's office in Juárez, stuffed with upbeat Americana. It's effective in adding texture to the story line.
What's most heartbreaking is that, even with deportation, most of the vets are still devoted to America, and don't regret their military service.
The list of executive producers who got behind the story is impressive in itself, including David Ayer, Chris Long, Tara Long, Aubrey 'Drake' Graham, Adel 'Future' Nur, and Vinnie Malhotra.
Director Andrew Renzi was born in Washington, DC, and studied literary arts at Brown University. He has directed the short films The Fort (2012) and Karaoke! (13), the documentaries Fishtail (2014) and They Fight (2018), and the fiction feature The Benefactor (2015). Ready for War (2019) is his latest documentary, and got its World Premiere September 8, 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
September 11, 2019
Shortcuts at #TIFF19: It's Nothing - Screening September 14 2019
It's Nothing
A short film by Anna Maguire
Playing at the Toronto International Film Festival
September 15, 2019
How do you portray an eating disorder on film in a way that truly depicts its devastating effects? Canadian-British writer, director and actor Anna Maguire does it with a clever visual ruse in her latest short, It's Nothing.
It's Nothing - by Anna MaguireOur heroine digs a hole in the park, one that is secret, but more of an open secret. It symbolizes the disease - all encompassing, leaving her covered in dirt, dishevelled, all while acting like everything's just fine. Others in her life go along with the act - except when they don't. Her mother wonders when she'll see her eat a whole meal, and a friend tells her she 'gets it', but instead of comforting her, it only ramps up her paranoia.
Canadian actor Cara Gee (The Expanse) is solid in the central role, embodying the combination of a perky, nondescript exterior and the often frantic, always conflicted interior. A film with a strong visual metaphor can easily get swallowed by the premise, but Gee keeps the focus on her character and the complicated logic that drives an eating disorder. Don't go home yet - wait till they're finished dinner...don't go to the party, they'll expect you to eat something.
It's a poignant recreation of the lonely hell that is an eating disorder. The film makes its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Shortcuts Programme. Screening information:
Shortcuts Programme #6
Sat, Sep 14
Scotiabank Theatre
Subtitled
9:30pm
About the other films in the programme:
Toomas Beneath the Valley of the Wild Wolves
Toomas teispool metsikute huntide orgu
Chintis Lundgren
CROATIA, ESTONIA, FRANCE | 2019 | English, French
North American Premiere | 18 minutes
In this decidedly cheeky and deliriously fun animation, a decent, hard-working wolf must rely on his physical gifts in order to make ends meet for the sake of his family.
Lucia En El Limbo
Valentina Maurel
BELGIUM, FRANCE, COSTA RICA | 2019 | Spanish
North American Premiere | 20 minutes
Displaying the intensity of focus only a 16-year-old can muster, the teen at the centre of Valentina Maurel’s caustic take on coming-of-age tropes does all she possibly can to rid herself of both her head lice and her virginity.
Exam
Emtehan
Sonia K. Hadad
IRAN | 2019 | Persian
World Premiere | 15 minutes
A teenage girl reluctantly agrees to deliver a pack of cocaine on the day of an important test.
God's Nightmares
Daniel Cockburn
CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM | 2019 | English
World Premiere | 5 minutes
In the latest of his idiosyncratic blends of found-film hallucination and metaphysical comedy routine, director Daniel Cockburn imagines the thoughts that rattle through the Almighty’s head late at night, presuming that He has a head at all.
All Inclusive
Teemu Nikki
FINLAND | 2019 | Finnish
North American Premiere | 15 minutes
Bullied by his co-workers and disrespected by nearly everyone else, a sad sack gets the chance to change his life. But, as soon becomes clear in Teemu Nikki’s ingenious comedy, this opportunity may have unexpected ramifications.
Oracle
Aaron Poole
CANADA | 2019 | English
World Premiere | 9 minutes
While their parents undertake prolonged home renovations, a child is left to roam the house, absorbing the chaos of construction and adult anxieties.
It's Nothing
A short film by Anna Maguire
Playing at the Toronto International Film Festival
September 15, 2019
How do you portray an eating disorder on film in a way that truly depicts its devastating effects? Canadian-British writer, director and actor Anna Maguire does it with a clever visual ruse in her latest short, It's Nothing.
It's Nothing - by Anna MaguireOur heroine digs a hole in the park, one that is secret, but more of an open secret. It symbolizes the disease - all encompassing, leaving her covered in dirt, dishevelled, all while acting like everything's just fine. Others in her life go along with the act - except when they don't. Her mother wonders when she'll see her eat a whole meal, and a friend tells her she 'gets it', but instead of comforting her, it only ramps up her paranoia.Canadian actor Cara Gee (The Expanse) is solid in the central role, embodying the combination of a perky, nondescript exterior and the often frantic, always conflicted interior. A film with a strong visual metaphor can easily get swallowed by the premise, but Gee keeps the focus on her character and the complicated logic that drives an eating disorder. Don't go home yet - wait till they're finished dinner...don't go to the party, they'll expect you to eat something.
It's a poignant recreation of the lonely hell that is an eating disorder. The film makes its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Shortcuts Programme. Screening information:
Shortcuts Programme #6
Sat, Sep 14
Scotiabank Theatre
Subtitled
9:30pm
About the other films in the programme:
Toomas Beneath the Valley of the Wild Wolves
Toomas teispool metsikute huntide orgu
Chintis Lundgren
CROATIA, ESTONIA, FRANCE | 2019 | English, French
North American Premiere | 18 minutes
In this decidedly cheeky and deliriously fun animation, a decent, hard-working wolf must rely on his physical gifts in order to make ends meet for the sake of his family.
Lucia En El Limbo
Valentina Maurel
BELGIUM, FRANCE, COSTA RICA | 2019 | Spanish
North American Premiere | 20 minutes
Displaying the intensity of focus only a 16-year-old can muster, the teen at the centre of Valentina Maurel’s caustic take on coming-of-age tropes does all she possibly can to rid herself of both her head lice and her virginity.
Exam
Emtehan
Sonia K. Hadad
IRAN | 2019 | Persian
World Premiere | 15 minutes
A teenage girl reluctantly agrees to deliver a pack of cocaine on the day of an important test.
God's Nightmares
Daniel Cockburn
CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM | 2019 | English
World Premiere | 5 minutes
In the latest of his idiosyncratic blends of found-film hallucination and metaphysical comedy routine, director Daniel Cockburn imagines the thoughts that rattle through the Almighty’s head late at night, presuming that He has a head at all.
All Inclusive
Teemu Nikki
FINLAND | 2019 | Finnish
North American Premiere | 15 minutes
Bullied by his co-workers and disrespected by nearly everyone else, a sad sack gets the chance to change his life. But, as soon becomes clear in Teemu Nikki’s ingenious comedy, this opportunity may have unexpected ramifications.
Oracle
Aaron Poole
CANADA | 2019 | English
World Premiere | 9 minutes
While their parents undertake prolonged home renovations, a child is left to roam the house, absorbing the chaos of construction and adult anxieties.
It's Nothing
September 6, 2019
#CelebritySighting #TIFF19 -AT&T ON LOCATION Takes Over Le Germain Hotel Toronto Merce Sept. 6-9, 2019
From a media release:
#CelebritySighting #TIFF19
AT&T ON LOCATION Takes Over Le Germain Hotel Toronto Merce
Sept. 6-9, 2019
AT&T Returns to Toronto International Film Festival with Variety Studio for 3rd Year in a Row and an All-New Activation, Location and Programming
AT&T is returning to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Sept. 6-9, 2019 to premiere AT&T ON LOCATION, an all-new activation, talent destination and location at Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer.
AT&T ON LOCATION will once again host the Variety Studio presented by AT&T, a long-standing portrait and video studio for A-list actors. Guests to include Meryl Streep, Jessica Biel, Dakota Johnson, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Hanks, Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Lopez, Renée Zellweger, Shia LaBeouf, Antonio Banderas and more. Interviews will appear on Variety.com and its social channels throughout the festival. https://variety.com/2019/film/awards/...
"We are proud to be back at TIFF with the Variety Studio for the third year in a row. It’s a great addition to the AT&T ON LOCATION space, which exemplifies the passion our company has for arts, innovation, entertainment and community,” said Tim Gibson, vice president of video and application marketing at AT&T.
AT&T ON LOCATION will also host cocktail parties, cast dinners as well as a lounge for celebs and tastemakers for a multi-level experience and hotel takeover equip with high-speed Wi-Fi.
#CelebritySighting #TIFF19
AT&T ON LOCATION Takes Over Le Germain Hotel Toronto Merce
Sept. 6-9, 2019
AT&T Returns to Toronto International Film Festival with Variety Studio for 3rd Year in a Row and an All-New Activation, Location and Programming
AT&T is returning to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Sept. 6-9, 2019 to premiere AT&T ON LOCATION, an all-new activation, talent destination and location at Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer.
AT&T ON LOCATION will once again host the Variety Studio presented by AT&T, a long-standing portrait and video studio for A-list actors. Guests to include Meryl Streep, Jessica Biel, Dakota Johnson, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Hanks, Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Lopez, Renée Zellweger, Shia LaBeouf, Antonio Banderas and more. Interviews will appear on Variety.com and its social channels throughout the festival. https://variety.com/2019/film/awards/...
"We are proud to be back at TIFF with the Variety Studio for the third year in a row. It’s a great addition to the AT&T ON LOCATION space, which exemplifies the passion our company has for arts, innovation, entertainment and community,” said Tim Gibson, vice president of video and application marketing at AT&T.
AT&T ON LOCATION will also host cocktail parties, cast dinners as well as a lounge for celebs and tastemakers for a multi-level experience and hotel takeover equip with high-speed Wi-Fi.
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