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5 Surprising Benefits of Taking Acting Classes

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Acting is a passion that many build while young. It involves various techniques, and you can only master the tact by enrolling in acting lessons.

Acting is not only meant for students taking fine arts or individuals hoping to get a chance in a Hollywood career. The benefits of theater attract all, both young and old. What’s more? Acting classes are a great investment for working professionals and anyone else wishing to enhance their confidence and communication skills.

Check out the remarkable benefits of enrolling in acting classes:

  1. Improves presentation skills

Acting classes can significantly enhance your presentation skills. Often, we don’t pay much attention to how we appear or sound to others around us. Nevertheless, you should look confident and knowledgeable about any roles that you undertake. Acting classes help you to focus on your pronunciation, posture, and body language.

  1. Intensifies your creativity

To deal with everyday issues, you need a lot of creativity. Acting is an excellent way of doing this. It sharpens your memory, enabling you to build other vital skills. To play someone’s role, you require a lot of visualization, and acting helps you create a character. You contemplate how someone else thinks and feels to immerse yourself in the role fully. You also imagine their goals, motivations, and feelings, making you more creative.

  1. Builds confidence

Acting lessons allow you to face your fears, which play a vital role in building your self-esteem. It requires that you project your voice and practice speaking loudly in front of others, which raises your confidence levels.

Acting involves working with teams, which helps you to discover new ways to take direction, lead, and support. The best part about acting lessons is that you can locate the best trainers online. For instance, you can get private one on one acting lessons with an instructor on Superprof.

  1. Relieves stress& anxiety

Acting is a source of emotional relief. It lets you release your fears, frustrations, and anxiety. While at it, you free yourself expression, gain self-confidence, and show your true nature. This way, you become more comfortable to deal with new changes and issues in your life. 

  1. Improves communication skills

Acting classes an excellent asset for improving your confidence and comfort in front of others. The lessons will not only sharpen your acting skills but will also enhance your way of communication. As you learn how to act out different roles, you even master how to articulate your ideas to fit the chosen role. In the end, you enjoy excellent communication skills that will help you in all spheres of life. 

What’s more? Acting involves working as a team and will help you to relate better with others. The ability to communicate better exude confidence and will enhance your social skills. This helps build better personal and professional relationships. 

The bottom line

Acting lessons will furnish you with the right information and skills and help you develop your acting craft. You’ll interact with other actors and gain acting experience. To reap the benefits of acting, connect with a tutor today, and watch your life transform for the better.

NoHo Director’s Blog – From the Top Down

I was reminiscing with a colleague of mine about a movie that she and I acted in a couple of years ago and that conversation brought me to the subject of this article.

The film was called “Instant Family” and the director was Sean Andres (“Daddy’s Home” I & II, “Hot Tub Time Machine,” “Horrible Bosses”).

My experience working on that film as an actor informed me and reenforced in me that notion that the quality of every production begins at the top. Besides being a Paramount Pictures film with a sizable budget that included me getting picked up by a private car to take me to and from the airport and flown first class from L.A. to Atlanta and then being put up at the Four Seasons Hotel for 21 days. This experience was not only a dream come true, it also was the first indication of the very high regard the producers had for the role I was to play in the film.

From the moment I arrived at the studio for a wardrobe fitting and then on set being introduced to the cast and crew, I was treated just as well as the big stars in the film as an equal and I knew that something special was happening.  As a director, I have always considered myself as an actor’s director, actor friendly. On the set of “Instant Family,” the atmosphere was of professionalism, kindness, fun and of respect for everyone, from the PAs to the stars, Mark Wahlberg, Rose Bryne, Octavia Spencer, Margo Martindale and Tig Notaro. I commented to the 1st AD (one of the nicest assistant directors I have ever worked with) how happy everyone seemed as they were working. And when I mean everyone, I mean from the production assistants, craft services, the camera department, production design, hair and makeup, the producers, all were happy, friendly people. The 1st AD looked at me and said, “It all starts at the top.” He looked over at Sean working a scene with the two child actors on the set. From that moment forward,  I understood that the tone of the shoot, the atmosphere in which hundreds of people were giving their all, was totally dependant on how the set was run. Our director Sean is a prince of a man and he had surrounded himself with talented, brilliant, and lovely people. No wonder everyone was smiling, laughing and having a ball making this film and I really think that shines through when you watch the film.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that no matter the budget or the genre of the film, a productive and successful set ultimately thrives on energy that comes from the top. In this case it was not only Sean, but his production staff that kept this well-oiled machine running. Being an actor on this set, made me remember that if I am the captain of my ship, then I want to be able to make it to my destination on time, on budget, and with a cast and crew that is just as happy reaching our destination as they were when they boarded the ship at the dock.

For over 31 years, I have worked on may sets, both big and small, and I can say that on some of those occasions, the atmosphere was perhaps not as pleasant as it could have been.  But those troubles may have been avoided if the director and producers remember that its takes a village to make a film and it is incumbent of the folks at the top remember that the only way you can be on the top is because of all the people below you that make it possible for you to make your film. “Instant Family” had the added bonus of highlighting the incredible need to find homes for foster kids…and doing it with heart and a whole lot of humor.  Our world is crazy at the moment and what we all need is kindness and support and a lot of love and respect.  Those values are true everywhere, not just on set.

I wish you all a happy holiday and I would like to thank those of you that take the time and read these articles. May 2021 bring all of you closer to your dreams. And one last note, if you have the desire to watch a film that was just as much fun to work on then it is to watch, I invite you to check out, “Instant Family.” It’s a wonderful holiday movie with an excellent cast and it’s was just as much fun to make as it is to watch.  Enjoy!!

Are You Affected by Student Debt?

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Congress is negotiating an extension of COVID-19 relief for student loan borrowers. Lawmakers need to hear from Americans whose student debt burden is compounded by the economic impact of the pandemic.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE


A Message from Student Debt Crisis

We are sad to say that the COVID-19 crisis is worse than ever. For Americans with student debt, the financial challenges are growing more dire each and every day. We are deeply concerned about the grim predictions about growing health risks, the state of the economy, job losses, and more.

Please, share your experience. Even if you responded to our first survey in March, we need to hear from you again.

In the spring, the country had yet to experience the full impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Nearly 40,000 people with student debt took our first survey then. Their voices assisted us in making sense of the rapidly changing situation. Our critical findings were shared with lawmakers and journalists in the effort to strengthen emergency student loan relief policies.

Today, we ask that you lend your voice to the second round of surveys. You probably noticed rules around student loans temporarily changed in response to the pandemic. Those rules are due to change again — which means more confusion and hardship for borrowers.

Submit your survey response today.

Every day, we’re working with leaders on behalf of people impacted by student debt. We’ve gathered more than one million petition signatures, sent more than half a million letters to Congress, and had tens of thousands of people join our Emergency Tele-Town Halls. We’ve accomplished a lot, but we need your help to keep pushing for lasting student debt reform.

Thank you,

Natalia Abrams

Executive Director – Student Debt Crisis

Student Debt Crisis (SDC) is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization committed to the fundamental reform of our nation’s student debt and higher education loan policies. SDC fights hard on two fronts: one, working directly with borrowers to help them navigate the bewildering and frustrating loan repayment system – and two, advocating for lasting and meaningful change through advocacy work and the lobbying of national and state legislators. 

Here’s the NoHo News for December 3

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NoHo News: Holiday Cheer. Caroling. Sidewalk Singers. NoHo Restaurant Delivery. Wear a mask so we can keep NoHo an arts district. #KeepNoHoArtsy.

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!  We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood.

Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News: Holiday Cheer. Caroling. Sidewalk Singers. NoHo Restaurant Delivery. Wear a mask so we can keep NoHo an arts district. #KeepNoHoArtsy.

 

Follow NoHo News with Bloglovin

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

 

How long does it ACTUALLY take to cook Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals?│Vegan Chicken Fajitas│IJTP

Whenever I see Jamie Oliver’s 15/30 minute meals, I always think there’s no way that’s possible in that time.

Finally, I’ve had enough, and thought I’d put him to the test and see if I can get close to cooking one of his recipes in 15 minutes. So join me for the ride and see if Jamie is telling porkies.  (porkie pies = lies)

I had a lot of fun recording this and hope you all like it! Really excited to bring this new series to you all and think it should be a lot of fun for everyone. Remember to like, comment and share here, as it helps me out a bunch 🙂

“Life On The Rez” A Virtual Soloplay written and performed by Luella Wagner

I was lucky enough to see this solo show last year in it’s previous incarnation as “Bloom Where You Are Planted” at the Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest and was so impressed with her story.

It’s now called “Life on The Rez” and is based around a time when she took a teaching job in Montana on a reservation. With the help of a friend she drives to Montana from LA, with her entire life boxed up in a U-Haul.

It’s a fascinating show, full of life lessons, revelations, humor and a good deal of gratitude on Luella’s part for being a part of the life journeys of these precious, beautiful and brilliant Native American people.

The show has developed somewhat from its original version, but it has lost non of it’s heart and certainly retained all of it’s humor.

Luella is preparing for an encore performance very soon, with the wonderful people at the Whitefire Theatre Streamfest.  We will let you know as soon as we know when that is happening…

I’m always so curious why and how solo artists create such gorgeous work and I wanted to know a little more about Luella and how she created “Life on The Rez,” so I asked her!

Hi Luella, What made you think of creating a solo show?  

When I came back from Montana, many people were interested in my time on the reservation, so I started telling my story at conferences, seminars, and retreats, first at the local level then state and national levels. A few years ago, an actress encouraged me to dramatize my story and write a one-woman show.

What was it about this part of your life that you needed to share? My time on the reservation was a very difficult time in my life, but I am so glad I did it. I hope that my experience encourages and inspires other people who are going through a difficult time. While it was difficult, it was also a very transformative year and it changed the trajectory of my life. Sometimes an event can happen in your life and it might seem like it is the worst thing that could happen and then you find out later that it was the best thing that could have happened. It’s funny how life works out like that.

How has this show changed you? What have you learned? I learned how to write a one-woman show. Prior to the show, whenever I told my story, I would refer to bullet points. When I wrote the show, I mused over each and every word. The show has allowed me to continue to tell my story in a new way. I hope to tell it over and over again and reach as many people as possible. In addition to writing, I am also learning the craft of acting. As a teacher, I directed plays and musicals, but I never thought I would be on the stage! I learned that you can always try new things, no matter how old you are!

Any tips for others considering creating a solo show? I highly recommend reading The Writer’s Journey by Chris Vogler. I didn’t know I had a story until I read Chris’s book. His book is based on Joseph Campbell’s A Hero with a Thousand Faces. In it, he outlines the basic elements of a good story. After reading Chris’s book, I reflected on my time in Montana and then I put all the pieces together to create a lively and entertaining story. Prior to Chris, I really didn’t understand what I had gone through. After reading The Writer’s Journey, my time on the reservation all made sense to me and then I was able to share it with others, knowing that it would be funny, entertaining, memorable, and thought provoking.

How has the solo world impacted your life? One of my goals in life is to work with smart, creative, and talented people and I found that in the solo community. I have met many wonderful people in the solo world, from actors, writers, directors, publicists, graphic designers, and tech crew. It is amazing all that I have learned from them. I hope to keep growing and learning from the solo world, but I also hope that I can influence others in a positive way as well.

You can find our more about Luella and all she’s up to here: https://luellawagner.com

Luella is a wonderful writer and performer, full of honesty and imagination. I saw her show in this years solofest, pre shut down, “Rudy Get Up,” which was absolutely hilarious!!!  Hopefully 2021 will allow all of us more chances to see every kind of theatre and maybe even some more from Luella!! Here’s hoping!

Here is link to my review of Luella’s show “Rudy Get Up” http://www.nohoartsdistrict.com/theatres/theatre-reviews/item/7143-the-whitefire-theatre-solofest-presents-rudy-get-up

Directed by Bryan Rasmussen

Musical Accompaniment bt Joe Vasquez

Performed as part of the Whitefire Theatre’s Streamfest, 2020

https://www.whitefiretheatre.com

4 Most Common Writing Assignments Law Students Will Need to Prepare

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The “why” for legal writing is simple. Clear and concise presentation is paramount in legal practices – without it, cases could be lost. Offering concise information means fewer chances of ambiguity, questions, and confusion when trying to communicate with clients, lawyers, and jurors. 

Here is a quick example that is at the intersection of different fields. One thing that both lawyers write my essay service stress is that you need to consider not only other legal professionals but also impatient clients. Clarity is the best way to connect to your readers and shape up their perceptions about a case. 

Instead of using legal jargon, if your aim is to impress the reader, you need to use reader-oriented techniques first. The best place to start mastering that skill is right from law school. 

While the specifics of assignments depends on your professors, here are the most common types of writing you will have to do in law school. 

front view young female student red t shirt holding copybook writing down notes white

Music photo created by KamranAydinov – www.freepik.com

Case Notes

Perhaps, the most crucial pieces of writing that will help you in your career are case notes. They focus on developing your ability to extract the key facts of the case in handy and memorizable points. It might sound simple, but we are talking about notes that might span for pages. 

When you are required to write a case note, in effect, you are being evaluated for your critical analysis skills. Specifically, whether the decision was correct in your opinion and based on your logical analysis and legal facts. 

There are several ways to approach case notes, suiting your individual examination styles. However, here are some of the points you should include in every case note. 

  • Introduction of the case. Start by stating the name, the court, and the legal significance of the case. 
  • Procedural history. How the case came to court, whether there was an appeal. 
  • The key facts. A broad presentation of the evidence and contradictory facts.
  • The ratio decidendi. In case there is more than one judge, identify each individual decision. 
  • Analysis of the decision. Evaluate the decision from your perception and with regards to the concerning laws. Do you rather agree or disagree with the decision, and what reasons compelled you with the choice. Refer to the previous cases and reference to any legal points. 
  • Citations details. Include references to all resources. 

Any other specific requirement would depend on your assignment details. Yet, you can follow this overall structure and tailor it to the case and your analysis. 

Essays 

Much like any other academic program, legal education also comes with a prerequisite of essay; you can use a cheap essay writing service canada. Essays in law schools are also similar to other graduate departments; it requires communicating a message to a particular audience. 

You need a structure, a logical sequence, and a narrative. The only difference here is the law, where you do your research to argue your position. The usual format is as follows:

  • An introduction where you set the right tone by giving the context and set out your argument. You should also provide an overview of what to expect in the rest of the essay. 
  • The body that discusses the issues, the background, and covers your analysis or evaluation of the topic. 
  • The conclusion draws together your findings and analysis from each section of the argument. You proceed to state your thesis based on your results and discuss the implications. 

Keep in mind that literary review, during a crucial part, does not always have to be an insurmountable task. Law professors always encourage students to work in groups and divide up tasks to help each other. 

Moreover, the reading list recommended is an excellent guide to gather information on the topic and how to structure essays. 

Problem Solving Assignments 

Law schools aim to teach students how to read and interpret the law. But more than merely explaining the law to the clients, a lawyer should be able to advocate for one, as well as predict the effects. This is where problem-solving becomes a critical skill in a legal career. 

While doing problem-solving assignments, the key, yet again, is in clarity. You need to be able to clearly state the facts without derailing, and making it evident what legal rules you would be referring to later.

Such assignments are often hypothetical, meaning they might not be relevant to the research component. Instead, you have to use your textbook or the lecture notes as the primary resource. When you state any legal rule, be sure to cite the law’s primary authority, the case, or the statute. 

Most importantly, if the assignment was given after four weeks of classes, do not refer to the portions that are not yet completed. Even when done well, it might not be a part of the particular assignment marking criteria. 

mikhail pavstyuk EKy2OTRPXdw unsplash

source: https://unsplash.com/photos/EKy2OTRPXdw

Legal Memorandums

Law schools are also likely to prepare you for writing legal memorandums, which would be an essential part of your profession. 

Drafting legal briefs and memos is one thing you need to be confident in. In your job, you might be required to prepare memos for colleagues, document legal policies, or address the client. You can use a similar structure for such briefs:

  • Heading, with the relevant names, subject matter, and the date. 
  • The question presented covering the legal issues, the parties involved, and facts relevant
  • The answer, responding to the question, incorporating other points, and legal attributes.
  • Statement of facts, an objective presentation of the background, and associated law. 
  • Legal discussion, including the pertinent principles, any relevant cases, and how they add up to the case and the client. 
  • The conclusion is to summarize the answer to the initial question and your legal analysis. 

Final Words

A vast majority of legal jobs will require you to deploy legal writing skills. You will be required to research a legal question, analyze the precedents, and present an answer. 

Working on your writing skills while at college will give you the proper foundation. It will also help you keep up with the expectations of your legal profession.

What to Do When You Can’t Make Films

I’ve been having a hard time lately. I know that seems trite, given how impossible it is for so many of us right now.

But although I’ll admit to being stressed, worried, angry, frustrated and terrified all in equal measure and every day, when I say I’m having a hard time, in this context I’m really talking about having a hard time creating.

How to make something when the world seems to be spiraling out of control.  I know that in theory, beauty is made and creativity is at its pinnacle on the very edge of chaos.  In reality, in our collective, crazy reality, I’m having a really hard time with it.

So what to do.  Since right now all my film writing is rewriting and production is stalled indefinitely.  I’m working on something entirely new and outside my realm of experience, a cook book.  Or rather a book of my recipes for the food I’ve grown up with and my children are built out of and friends ask if I’m making before they agree to come over.  This a new and interesting way to create for me.  Beginning with knowing exactly what I am doing, then trying to make it make sense to others, creating instructions and alternatives and then actually cooking the food so I understand how better to do that. It’s a totally different experience in creativity.

It’s kind of like that cooking show in your head you make as you’e making dinner. Am I the only one who does that?

So I’m creating that and I’m also watching a lot of TV…who isn’t right?   Right now, in this moment in time, watching TV can be an utterly unique  and new kind of experience in viewing. With all this time on our hands that is.  For me It’s become very systematic, instead of the rather random searches on Netflix, which used to frequently end in waves of confusion and ultimately nothingness.  Too much to chose from!  Now, with all this space in my life, viewing requires planning and discipline and order.  Having none of those attributes in very large amounts, I have developed my own specific and slightly lazy routine.  The first half of the day is all news based.  “What fresh hell this morning,” I often say as I scroll through my TV to CNN etc.  Then once that’s thankfully over with and I’m only in the cunningly wrought repeats of news I have already watched, I begin the really work,  watching the good stuff, the art.

I don’t do this every day of course, that would be a little nuts, but it is more often than not, If I’m honest.  In between cleaning and working on stuff and dogs and the husband and kids and life in general.  I watch.

If I’m being real, I have always been a happy and fairly massive consumer of TV and movies. I love being totally immersed in worlds other than my own.  It’s not a rejection of my own world, I love my own world, but I can also love others…and while I watch these worlds so brilliantly fashioned, I absorb the process of it, the art of it, the method of it.

Maybe I’m alone in finding the bliss in “Star Trek Discovery” or “The Mandalorian,” or “The Dark,” or “Lovecraft Country,” or “Watchmen,” or “Star Wars” watched the correct order of course, or “Harry Potter,” or “The Boys,” or “Evil,” or “The Great British Bake Off,” or, well, anything else that I have watched that I can’t quite remember right this second. But don’t think I am alone, am I?  That would make a nonsense of an entire industry and its spin offs.

The art of making something so brilliant, so perfect in its own time and place that we can loose ourselves in the watching of it, is something to aspire to indeed.  It’s important. It’s imperative. It’s immortal.  I really believe that.  Why do a thing if not to aspire to the immortality of it.

Lately I have watched works that inspire me to continue working on mine, so that when I can put all this chaos far enough away that I can move forward with my own, I will remember those moments of sheer, luminous and phenomenal art and be moved to keep on reaching for that same kind of brilliance.

Time is not always our enemy.  It can help us think more deeply and give us the courage to believe in ourselves, to find our voice and our purpose.

I’ve watched a lot of stuff.  Mostly good, some not so good, some bad, although I usually stopped watching the bad right away.  Some exquisite.  There was one particular show that I watched on HBO, a British show in fact, “I May Destroy You.”  Written, created and also staring the indomitable Michaela Coel.  This show, about a woman whose life is undone by a sexual assault in a nightclub and how she finds herself again in spite or perhaps because of it, is absolutely superb.  Terrifying, hilarious, fierce, incredibly clever and brave and so so familiar.  Familiar in a way that anyone who has been subjugated would immediately recognize. It is pure and phenomenal art. Art from pain, art from glory, art from the depths of a persons soul.  And what is so so impressive is that she got this made at all, and not just made but made by her, controlled by her, fueled by her.  Taking an experience that was real, terrible and totally out of her control and reforming it into something she had complete control over.  That’s a kind of magic isn’t it?  The kind that only an artist has.  The ability to somehow reform a damaged slice of herself into something stronger.  Like the way a wound can heel and be better than before. A piece of titanium that doesn’t cover up but enhance.

Watching TV, watching films, it’s a way of learning about writing and producing and directing, sure.  But its also a way to see something as it was meant to be seen but its creator.  In its entirety, binged, long hauled, back to back.  Like one long epic journey through their soul.  Whether it’s something death defying like “I May Destroy You” or more fun and frivolous like “Star Trek” – sorry Trekkers, I live in that world too – all of it forming neural pathways and reshaping the way we see ourselves and each other. It’s important and necessary and if you yearn to make something that good every yourself, a very necessary task.  Also, my lovely friend Andi Osho is in “I May Destroy You,” as an important aside…

If I stay on the couch all day absorbing other peoples worlds deeply, seeing life through their eyes and experiencing their perspective, then what a wondrous use of my time as an artist.  I’m not ashamed!  I’m actually vindicated by it.

Spend some of your time, while we all have so much of it, in school then…TV, Movie school, artists school.  The school of “watch everything you possibly can.”  The school of “opening your mind,” of “learning how the masters do it.”  Maybe it’s one very precious gift we can receive from all this chaos.

Caltech presents: “Blood/Sugar”

In the middle of a world wide pandemic, when we are all so viscerally disconnected, what more perfect place than one’s own home and what better time than now, to dramatize in beautifully twisted and brilliant ways, a health crises, proportionally far larger and more insidious than Covid.

Diana Wyenn is a diabetic.  Stage I.  She was completely unaware of this until her early twenties.  While she was in London attending RADA,  she collapsed, was rushed to hospital and emerged days later with the label “diabetic” and the fear that is attached to it.

That was twenty or so years ago and over time she has created and curated her own particular world of art and theatre and movement and health education and furious and brilliant writing.  Out of this world comes her latest work, “Blood/Sugar.”  Once a play, now a multi media, multi camera, multi dimensional performance piece set in her house and supported by the wickedly talented video magic of Jason H. Thompson.

This is a story Diana simply had to tell and she does so with an apocalyptic urgency.  A fierce and sublime honesty and her own, very unique and compelling voice.

Blood/Sugar is part intimate plea, part Laurie Anderson-esque homage, part psychedelic romp…with a barrage of exquisitely formed, insightful and excruciating heartfelt anecdotes.  Ms Wyenn takes us firmly by the hand as she propels us through her life of self discovery, painful subway memories and triumphant Shakespearean diatribes.

She has created an explosion of light and color and sound all mimicking her reality.  Her sugar rush, her tightrope walk of daily awareness, her hilarious and sometimes dangerous daily existence and her absolute fearless need to fix it.

In this performance we are shown her world, her mind, her life in all its glory.  She holds nothing back as she gyrate and writhes and crawls her way around her home.  Tricking us with her skills as an actress into moments of safety, then flipping us mercilessly on our heads as she try to instill her vision, her perspective into our cerebral cortex.

It’s quite something.  Trippy, fluid, poignant and brave.  Diana has that often elusive knack of fully connecting a thought to a moment so completely that we not only believe her, we are her.  She reaches out to not only the audience, but also fellow diabetics knowing how alone they feel, how isolated and unable to share their experience and their fears.

I’ve seen a lot of plays online in the last six months, so many tries in so many ways.  Most are okay, some are wonderful.  But “Blood/Sugar” is something totally different, totally new.  A fascinating, vastly informative and moving window to a world that if we were paying any attention at all, we would know is literally all around us.  One out of every ten adults are living with diabetes in the US and this could soon grow to one in three.  This is not something we should all be willing to live with, but without people like Diana shouting about it from the roof tops, one in three is where we are headed.

Using the power of performance to educate is not a new thing.  But what Diana does with this incredible blend of performance art, physical poetry, choreography and video manipulation is something I have not seen before.  Its effect is profound and the vivid images, words and memories it instills in its audience real and lasting.

In our present Zoom reality we are often peering round other peoples homes, searching for clues, wondering who they really are.  With “Blood/Sugar” Diana has gone far further than straightening her picture frames and kicking her shoes under the couch.  She has thrown herself and her home open to the world, exposing everything, every fear, every tic, every nuance of herself.  Precarious, vulnerable and totally unafraid.  Like the very best of artists, she gives us everything and it is utterly wonderful.

I hope you get the chance to see “Blood/Sugar,” I know I would love to again. It’s tough and beautiful and absolutely bloody brilliant!! Bravo!!

You can see the trailer below and go to https://www.dianawyenn.com for information on the show, Diana and upcoming performances

Written and Performed by Diana Wyenn

https://events.caltech.edu

Visit https://events.caltech.edu for more incredible events.

“Blood/Sugar” Preview

Production Credits 

Created, directed, and performed by Diana Wyenn

Written by Diana Wyenn and Guy Zimmerman

Developed in collaboration with Lauren Campedelli, John Zalewski, Jason H. Thompson, Joey Guthman, Rebecca Carr, Aaron Saldaña, and Laban Pheidias

Camera and performance by Laban Pheidias

Voice-over by Lauren Campedelli

Video design by Jason H. Thompson

Sound design by John Zalewski

Live broadcast by PXT Studio

Produced by Plain Wood Productions 

All video and special effects for the production are deployed live by video designer Jason H. Thompson from PXT Studios less than 5 miles away. 

Blood/Sugar is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Arts and Disability Center at UCLA, with additional developmental support provided by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs and LADAD Space.

“Blood/Sugar has also been presented by REDCAT, Highways Performance Space, and New York University. It has won Outstanding Performance of a Solo Performance and Outstanding Playwright of a Solo Performance at the 2018 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, as well as The Planet Activist Award for its informative talkbacks with local diabetes educators after every performance. Diana was a semi-finalist for Center Theatre Group’s 2020 Sherwood Award and her work has been supported by the California Arts Council, National Arts and Disability Center, LADAD Space, and the Woman’s Building, as well as featured in American Theatre Magazine, Howlround, the Daily Beast, LA Times, Fast Company, and on NPR.

Diana has collaborated on projects with The Walt Disney Company, Lincoln Center, the LA Philharmonic, Center Theater Group, LACMA, REDCAT, SummerStage, American Jewish University, Grand Performances, CAP UCLA, Ford Theatres, Chalk Repertory Theatre, and Ghost Road Ensemble, among others.

Diana is also the co-founder of Plain Wood Productions with her husband LABAN, a former pro-skateboarder turned music video director. Together, they direct and produce music videos, short films and live performances. She is also a member of Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps Climate Reality Leader, and serves as Artistic Director of TIOH Arts & Culture at Temple Israel of Hollywood, where she curates contemporary performance reflecting progressive Jewish values.

https://www.dianawyenn.com

https://events.caltech.edu

https://breakthrough.caltech.edu/story/the-possibilities-are-mote-and-remote/

“Memories” by One Voice Children’s Choir

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This is something to help make your day a bit brighter.

We need a bit of joy and song in our lives now. Thank you to the One Voice Children’s Choir (OVCC) for their beautiful cover of Maroon 5’s “Memories.”

This video was made during the quarantine period of the COVIC-19 pandemic using videos recorded by choir members at their homes.

 

Be safe, kind and creative.

The Most Iconic Movie Theme Songs of all Time

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movie director card and headphones with jack on white background

A film’s soundtrack can either make or break the cinematic experience, and in some instances, the theme song of a movie can become more iconic than the movie itself! From grandiose scores to sultry ballads, we list the best movie theme songs of all time, in no particular order.

My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion: Titanic, 1997

Celine Dion’s heart-wrenching power ballad left not a dry eye in the house, and although Titanic as a movie is an undeniable classic, this theme song almost surpasses the movie’s fame. As soon as Dion hits those high notes, “near, far wherever you are”, the floodgates open and one is transported to the scene of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet pretending to “fly” at the bow of the doomed ship. The heart would’ve been able to go on just fine, if you ask us – if only Winslet had made space for Jack on the floating door.

The Time of My Life – Frank Previte: Dirty Dancing, 1987

This could be seen as number one case of a movie being arguably less famous than its theme songs. This timeless classic was made specifically for the movie, by songwriter Frank Previte who had only $100 in his bank account when his music label asked him to pen a song for a movie. Apparently, the late Patrick Swayze, the movie’s lead actor, claimed that the song made them enjoy the filming process more. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t recall the climatic, euphoric final dance scene in the movie that saw Swayze and co-star Jennifer Grey fly around the dancefloor, giddily in love.

Theme song from Jaws, 1975

movie director card and headphones with jack on white background

Who hasn’t chanted the Jaws theme song when swimming in the ocean, or a swimming pool, conjuring up images of that terrifying monster shark hellbent on eating everything in its path? Although not a traditional song, this score from Jaws builds suspense and will forever be iconic and unmistakable upon hearing the very first notes.

Theme song from Mission: Impossible, 1996

Another film score, another unmistakable sound. Suspense and excitement are ranked up to a fever pitch upon the first few notes of this theme song. Apparently, composer Lalo Schifrin created the tune in just three minutes. Now, when you hear it, you immediately think of Tom Cruise rollicking around on screen, doing death-defying stunts and general spy-related activities.

Ghostbusters – Ray Parker, Jr: Ghostbusters, 1984

Who you gonna call? We bet you know the answer to that one! That’s because the Ghostbusters theme song is so iconic that it was even nominated for the Best Original Song award at the 57th Academy Awards. The song didn’t win the award, unfortunately, but has certainly won hearts around the world. Even to this day, decades later, everyone knows it, and exactly what movie it belongs to.

Kiss From a Rose – Seal: Batman Forever, 1995

Although Seal released the song a year before Batman Forever came out, once the song was featured on the movie’s soundtrack, it reached iconic status beyond the star’s wildest dreams. After being a part of the movie’s soundtrack, the song earned Seal three Grammy Awards! Although it seems a strange song for a superhero movie, it worked perfectly and added passion and soul to the cult classic addition to the Batman franchise.

Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey: James Bond Goldfinger, 1964

One of the most iconic James Bond movies needs its very own iconic theme songs! Goldfinger, performed by Shirley Bassey, set just the right tone for Sean Connery to work his on-screen magic for the third movie in the James Bond franchise. In 2008, Goldfinger, the song, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and it is still performed at live shows in Las Vegas to this day.

Men in Black – Will Smith: Men in Black, 1997 

If you think about it, Will Smith rapping about a fictional government agency that polices aliens on earth seems ludicrous, but in the context of the movie, it works perfectly. Smith’s classic song about the “galaxy defenders” really compliments the story and is now one of the most famous movie theme songs of all time. The song earned Smith a Grammy for Best Solo Rap Performance and we really feel like the movie would be nothing without it!

Die Another Day – Madonna: James Bond Die Another Day, 2002

Another James Bond movie, and another case where its theme songs really put the cherry on top of a good production. Producers of Die Another Day, the movie, wanted a really famous singer to perform the theme song, and they couldn’t have gotten anyone more famous than Madonna! Although the song was met by mixed reviews, Madonna still went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination and two Grammys.

So many movies, so many songs

It’s hard to gather the best movie theme songs of all time into one list, when there are so many great movies and ensuing soundtracks out there. Some more honorable mentions for this list include Happy by Pharrell Williams, from Despicable Me 2, Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey from the Great Gatsby, and Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio from Dangerous Minds. We don’t know about you, but we’re ready to binge some timeless classic movies and revel in all these glorious soundtracks!

Cite Your Sources When Translating A Paper

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Translation Skills For Young Writers: How Not To Run Into Plagiarism

Translation is a compulsory skill for philological students and young writers. For students of foreign languages, literature philology, and language education in general, it’s one of the continuous learning skills. Meanwhile, in translating literary journals and historical materials, plagiarism has always been a major problem for young writers. Since translation as a craft requires more than the knowledge of the language, we’d help you avoid plagiarism in your next paper.

For students in the philology faculty, lack of citation on a translated paper is a huge minus.

ll the materials in foreign languages are written by authors with citations and references. As a young writer, in as much as you’d love to be creative in your writing, not citing them would result in plagiarism. Use any plagiarism checker with percentage for citation of your literary essays, translation paper or historical material. Because it goes beyond acknowledging the author’s job. It does not only authenticate your paper but prevents it from being flagged.

The interpretation skills of a young writer in this field are required for superb project delivery. However, in the process of interpreting your research, make references a lot. Aside from the fact that it helps you gain confidence during delivery, it also makes your reader focus on the keynotes.

Paraphrase & Quote Your Sources

It’s okay sometimes to have issues relating your points to your readers. This is where paraphrasing and quoting your sources help save the day for young writers. In your research and findings, you’d come across valid points that are best delivered in quotes. Authors in philology have numerous quotes that young writers should learn to take advantage of. In foreign language education, we paraphrase and quote our authors a lot.

As college students in this field, quoting and paraphrasing your sources earn you more points. Your professors and lecturers can easily relate to the work of the author with your paper. Students can verify their papers on plagiarism checkers with percentage for the right way to quote their sources. These essays would give you a template on how to paraphrase and quote authors in philology.

Credit Authors Using In-text Citation & Reference List

The in-text citation is one of the tips and examples to guarantee success as a young writer. To deliver your material’s precise and expressive nature, your readers need to view from other perspectives. An In-text citation is written immediately after a point, example, or illustration of your university paper or study. To help your readers or reviewers develop the required connection to your language piece, attach In-text citations.

As we all know, the reference list is the list of references and the years of their publication. This list is often at the end of your material to better help the translation of readers. Translation as an aspect of foreign languages is better understood with In-text citation and reference list. Even with your creative content, your professors need to be certain you’re a trustworthy translator. The In-text citation and reference list prove that your ideas still fall within the scope of the study.

Check For Plagiarism Before Publishing Or Submission

After following the above procedures in conveying your translation paper, checking for plagiarism comes last. Sometimes, young scholars of philology become too confident in the translation that they skip this process. Meanwhile, professors in colleges have rejected several papers from students as a result of copied content.

To successfully transfer your knowledge from research to the readers, ensure it passes plagiarism before publication. There are plagiarism checkers with percentages made specifically for the translation of foreign language papers. These checkers help screen through numerous website content, journals, literature materials, and historical writings for copied content. Only when you find your essays free from plagiarism should it be submitted or published.

Conclusion

In writing an academic project on translation in foreign languages, these steps should be taken to avoid plagiarism. Days, weeks, months, or years of research can be wasted when your paper is flagged for plagiarism. It’d save you time, resources, and energy if you’d shun copied content as a young writer. To translate or interpret like a professional in this field, you should learn to do it by the book. Translate and write better today!

Meditate America

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David Lynch to launch Meditate America on December 3 – a FREE, live benefit concert.

The David Lynch Foundation (DLF) will host a live, virtual benefit concert on Thursday, December 3 featuring headliners including Graham Nash, Elvis Costello, Katy Perry, Hugh Jackman, Deborra-lee Furness. Jim James, Kesha, and Angelique Kidjo. The free event, coined “MEDITATE AMERICA,” will be a celebration to raise support to bring free Transcendental Meditation (TM) training to adults and children in need, including healthcare workers on the COVID-19 frontlines, veterans battling PTSD and depression, and families living in at-risk communities. The event will also highlight “Heal the Healers Now,” a new initiative to bring TM to the medical providers who are working tirelessly to end the pandemic. Register for tickets at meditateamerica.org.Highlights of the celebration will include: 

Graham Nash singing “Our House” with a children’s choir 

Elvis Costello singing “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?” 

Kesha and Jim James singing the Bob Dylan classic, “I Shall Be Released” 

Sting singing “One World Is Enough” with Angelique Kidjo and then “Fragile” solo

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness interviewing Katy Perry about her meditation practice

George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, and ABC Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton will host the event

REGISTER>>


MEDITATE AMERICA 

Meditate America is a national initiative to help address the pandemic of trauma and toxic stress in society by bringing the evidence-based Transcendental Meditation technique to everyone in the country who is at-risk and vulnerable to stress and trauma. The first phase of the initiative, now under way, is to conduct large-scale, randomized controlled trials on the benefits of the technique for healing trauma, reducing high blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke and reducing anxiety and depression. Outcomes from the trials will be used to qualify TM for coverage from private and public insurance companies. Once the technique has been approved for reimbursement, then anyone who suffers from stress and stress-related disorders will be able to learn TM at no cost to the individual. In this way, as many as 300 million people will be able to meditate, a development that will transform the health of the people and the entire nation.

Stay calm, stay creative, stay safe.

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

The Other Art Fair | One Platform to Bless Local Artists this Thanksgiving Season

As we approach Thanksgiving, Americans across the globe will be counting their blessings.

Some of us may also be in a place to bless others within the art community by supporting works of art. Whether it’s the purchase of an artpiece or a donation, The Other Art Fair offers a socially-distanced option for backing the arts community.

The Other Art Fair provides one way to connect and purchase directly from artists this Thanksgiving Holiday Season. Alongside Saatchi Art, The Online Studios – The Other Art Fair generated an online platform, delivered right to your home. Curated from the best emerging talent, The Other Art Fair showcases LA artists and an accompaniment of other Online Studios across the world.

Whether you’re looking for artists who specialize in paintings, photography, drawings, sculpture, prints, or otherwise, The Other Art Fair has your back. Ever wanted an artist version of a birch-box or Little Passports? The Other Art Fair offers weekly curated and themed collections which cater to an array of budgets; better yet, these creations are delivered direct to your inbox!

If you’re not necessarily in a position to purchase, The Other Art Fair even offers up non-committal artist profiles and online Q&A sessions. The Other Art Fair even gives the lifeline to online studio tours!

This Thanksgiving sits at a bookend of a wild 2020 with a hopeful cap to uncertainty; one thing we can be certain of though is that our artists will be there for us if we are there for our artists!

Platform:           The Other Art Fair

Location:            https://www.theotherartfair.com/la/

Duration:           Ongoing

Patrick Ames’ “Second Wave” Single Release

Patrick Ames is prolific guy. I think this is at least the third time music from him has come across my desk and each time I delve into his releases I am met with music both authentic and meaningful.

This latest release, “Second Wave,” personifies his musical ethos – to create purposeful music, beautifully.  His signature “live” feel is comfortingly repeated with this wonderful bluesy, soulful track.  A lament on the virus, the lies surrounding the pathetic trumpian attempt to manage the response, and a powerful, sweetly sounding regret on how torn up we all are as a country.

Ames has created and lovely, slightly spooky, mournful funk.  “Second Wave” feels like a song that rattled around in his head, keeping him up at night.  It’s direct, precise, tightly wound, with a gorgeous bass line holding it all together and the sound makes you feel as if you were right in the room with him…as it happened.

It’s a bit Talking Heads, a bit Leonard Cohen, a bit Don Henley.  Warm, resonant, heartfelt and very, very catchy. Ames has a knack for pointing out the obvious, what we are all thinking and feeling and giving it his own very particular vibe.  He loves to entertain and yearns to change the world. Music can unite, it can educate and it can protest.  But most importantly of all it can move us.  So let it.  Love this!!

Stream “Second Wave”:

Soundcloud = https://soundcloud.com/patrickames/second-wave

Bandcamp = https://patrickames.bandcamp.com 

Spotify

Youtube

Websites:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Soundcloud

Youtube Channel

Spotify  

Credits:

Jon Ireson: Producer, bass, 2nd guitar

Patrick Ames: guitar, vocals

The 10 Benefits of Having a Pet

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10 Benefits of Having a Pet

Whether it’s a dog, cat, something smaller or aquarium bound, owning a pet can have a significant and positive impact on your life. Yes, they are a responsibility, and you do need to financially invest in their health and wellbeing, but owning a pet also brings so much joy. 

If you are thinking of bringing a new pet into your home, then you are not alone, with an estimated 68% of households in the US including an animal friend. We take a look at 10 benefits of having a pet. 

The 10 Benefits of Having a Pet via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

  1. Companionship

Pets can be wonderful companions, with research showing that they can also reduce the impact of loneliness, especially amongst the elderly and those who live alone. You can also have meaningful interactions with your pet, especially cats and dogs, who enjoy your company and come to see you as their pack… in other words, their family. They are also hugely beneficial for your mental health – think that cuddle on the sofa at the end of a tough day or the soft, soothing feel as you stroke their fur – and give you purpose and structure to your day. 

  1. Health and wellbeing

Pets really are good for your health, from boosting your activity levels to lowering your blood pressure. They also give your brain a good workout as you interact and ensure your pet has the very best life. And as most pet owners will tell you, their animal friend gets them up from the sofa and increases their activity levels during the day. 

Dogs in particular need regular exercise, and give you a reason to get out, about and active every day. In fact, dog owners exercise on average 300 minutes a week, compared to 100 minutes completed by non-dog owners. And watching your pooch running around like a dufus and enjoying their best life is one of the best tonics you can have. 

  1. Can boost your heart health

Pet ownership can actually boost your heart health by lowering blood pressure and reducing risk of related cardiovascular diseases as well as strokes. Cats and dogs can help to relax their owner.  On top of the increase in activity levels when caring for, playing with and exercising their pet, this can lead to improved cardiovascular health. 

  1. Lowers stress

We all know that modern life can be stressful and are aware of the dangers of high levels of anxiety can have on our health as well as mental wellbeing. But owning a pet has been shown to help reduce the amount of stress we have in our lives, as well as providing a wonderful way to destress and unwind. Simply stroking your pet or watching fish in an aquarium can reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure and bring some much-needed calm into your day. 

  1. Can make you more social

While you may see your furry bud as your best friend, owning a pet can make you more sociable too. Taking your pooch for a walk in the park can help you to meet new people and are a good way to strike up a conversation, especially if small talk is not quite your thing. 

And research has shown that owning a pet can also make you feel more connected with your own human community and can help you to make strong friendships all round. 

  1. Can improve your immune system

With all the care and attention your pet requires, taking care of your animal friend can have a positive impact on your own immune system. Spending time outside with your pet, exercising your dog or mucking out your horse can also improve your resilience to bugs and germs, potentially increasing your immunity to colds and other minor illnesses. And owning a pet can possibly help prevent children from developing certain allergies (although you should be cautious of owning a pet if allergies are already present).

  1. Help to keep you safe

As well as companionship, owning a pet can also help you to feel safe in your own home. Dog ownership in particular can be a good choice if home security is also a priority for you. Sometimes, just by having a noisy, active and inquisitive dog can make you feel safer as burglars can be less likely to target a house if there’s obviously a dog at home. And a canine is an excellent early warning system, especially if you have a breed that is a natural guarding dog. Having a dog you can take walking, running or exercising can also make you feel safer when out on your own.

  1. Encourages responsibility

Pet ownership can boost a child’s sense of responsibility, especially if it is their task to do the pet-related chores. Pet ownership can teach your children lots of important life skills too, such as discipline, commitment, care and empathy – all skills that will certainly stand them in good stead as they get older! And pets can be your child’s confident and non-judgmental best friend, especially if they have had a tough day. 

  1. Can boost cognitive function

As well as the brain power needed to correctly care for and support your pet, animals can also improve cognitive function and social interaction, which can be particularly beneficial for the elderly, people who live alone and individuals with learning disabilities. Regular interaction with pets such as cats or dogs can also lead to a reduction in agitated behavior associated with dementia. 

  1. Unconditional love

And last, but by no means least is our final benefit – the joy of having a pet in your life. From sharing outdoor adventures with your furry friend, to simple cuddles on the sofa and the pleasure derived from caring for and watching your pet thrive, pet-ownership can be life-affirming. And with all the love and attention you lavish on your pet, you can be sure of one thing – that love will be returned, unconditionally. 

So, there you have it, our top 10 benefits of owning a pet. From health and exercise, to combatting loneliness to boosting your brain power and easing stress, for many having a pet is a total win-win. All you now need to do is choose which pet is right for you!

Source:

Benefits of Owning a Dog  PetSide

Science-based Benefits of Having a Dog  American Kennel Club

Benefits of Pet Ownership  Blue Cross

Benefits of Owning a Pet  CNN Health

North Hollywood Restaurants Delivery/Takeout List

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Here’s our growing list of North Hollywood restaurants that are delivering or are open for takeout during the Coronavirus shutdown. Wishing you calm days filled with creativity and kindness. Check back as we update this list.

The Federal NoHo | 5303 Lankershim Blvd.
20% off all orders above $20 that are either picked up or delivered by The Federal.

Tamashii Ramen  |  11024 Magnolia Blvd.
Check out tamashii daily deals, 10% discount with NoHo card and free Thai Tea when you show the coupon on your phone.

El Tejano  |  11122 Magnolia Blvd.
20 % discount on all takeout only.

The Other Door   |   10437 Burbank Blvd.
Beer, wine, liquor, mystery boxes, milk, eggs, bread…

The Juice Parlor  |  5658 Cahuenga Blvd.

Little Toni’s  |  4745 Lankershim Blvd.

Brews Brothers Craft Beer  |  5140 Lankershim Blvd.

Pitfire  |  5203 Lankershim Blvd.

Superba Snacks + Coffee  |  5203 Lankershim Blvd.

Front Yard  |  4222 Vineland Ave.

Urban Kebab  |  11046 Magnolia Blvd.

Blaqhaus  |  11671 Victory Blvd.

Universal Bar & Grill  | 4093 Lankershim Blvd.

Hop Merchants (Need beer to go?) |  5013 Lankershim Blvd.

Kahuna Tiki  |  11026 Magnolia Blvd.

Hoke Poke  |  5077 Lankershim Blvd.

Jersey Mike’s   |  4821 Lankershim Blvd.

Riozonas Acai  |  5233 Vineland Ave.

Royal Curry Café   |  4329 Lankershim Blvd.

Republic of Pie   |  11118 Magnolia Blvd.

Big Wangs  |  5300 Lankershim Blvd.

The Original Coley’s   |  7333 Fulton Ave.

Tatang   |  10829 Oxnard St.

The NoHo Diner  |  11329 Magnolia Blvd.

The Magnolia Grille   |  10530 Magnolia Blvd.

Moby’s Coffee and Tea Co.   |   5815 Satsuma Ave.

Chokolatta  |  5264 Tujunga Ave.

Mofongos  |  5757 Lankershim Blvd.

Poke Motto  |  11114 Magnolia Blvd.

Groundwork Coffee  |  11275 Chandler Blvd.

Amazing Thai Cuisine  |   10604 Magnolia Blvd.

Food Festish Catering   |   10650 Burbank Blvd.

Cahuenga General Store   |   5510 Cahuenga Blvd.

NoHo Cafe   |   5964 Laurel Canyon Blvd.

Victorio’s Ristorante  |  10901 Victory Blvd.

EAT  |  11108 Magnolia Blvd.

Teapop   |   5050 Vineland Ave.

BlaqHaus NoHo  |  11671 Victory Blvd.

Yerevan Steakhouse  |  5752 Lankershim Blvd.

Marie et Cie  |  11704 Riverside Dr.

The Fox and Hounds  |  11100 Ventura Blvd.

If your business is open for takeout or delivery and would like to be listed on this page, please fill out this QUICK FORM. It would be helpful to have your updated info for future projects.

A word of encouragement.

We are the NoHo Arts District – a one-square mile community with 20 theatres, six dance studios, countless recording studios and creative businesses. We haven’t fought to maintain North Hollywood as an arts district for the last 20 years without having resilience. We all are supposed to work hand in hand to keep our neighborhood the eclectic, creative performing arts destination that attracted you in the first place.

Be kind. Be helpful. Stay safe. Stay at home.

Together we can help #KeepNoHoArtsy… and well fed.

Follow @NoHoArtsDistrict on Instagram for up-to-date info.

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

Reviews – The Life Ahead; The Crown; The Queen’s Gambit

If you are trying to find a way to entertain yourself as we enter what passes for the holiday season, Netflix does have some fine offerings for your viewing pleasure.

For example, the luminous Sophia Loren, who has been absent from screens for a while, has returned in The Life Ahead, directed and co-written by her son, Edoardo Ponti. The film is another adaptation of Romain Gary’s novel The Life Before Us (it was previously filmed as Madame Rosa starring Simone Signoret) and it tells the story of Rosa, an elderly woman (Loren) who looks after children of women generally “of a certain trade.” She agrees to take in Momo, a tough twelve-year old Senegalese street kid/small time hustler after they “meet not-so-cute” (he robs her and knocks her down). Needless to say it is not a match made in heaven, since Momo is still playing fast and loose with the law and having trouble being part of Rosa’s family; for her part, Rosa is coping with financial difficulties, haunting memories, advanced age, a weakened heart.

https://www.pluggedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Life-Ahead-WP-1024×587.jpg

Though The Life Ahead follows along a predictable path, what is not predictable is the power of the two central performances. Sophia Loren’s Rosa is a survivor in every sense of the word, and she admirably conveys grit and resilience, weariness, and a touching vulnerability. There are some memorable moments as Loren’s Rosa falls victim to her “reveries” and suddenly returns, and in her emotional shifts towards an initially recalcitrant Momo. It is an unsentimental portrayal in a role that might have become prone to pathos. The young Ibrahima Gueye is a real “find” as Momo, smart (as in “street”) beyond his years, yearning for a home yet resistant to the idea—all the while battling demons and indulging in fantasies. The film also offers some finely etched contributions from the supporting actors, including Abril Zamora’s Lola (Rosa’s friend and confidante) and Renato Carpentieri’s Doctor. In the end though, what makes The Life Ahead a “must-see” is the luminous Loren, who elevates the film with both her star power and her considerable acting experience. Perhaps another Oscar awaits…

I think it’s safe to say that Prince Charles and the Royals are not going to be too happy with Season 4 of The Crown, even though it is one of the most entertaining yet. For one thing, this season (set in the 1980s and covering Charles’ courtship and marriage to Diana) consistently suggests that the Queen (Olivia Colman) is well-intentioned but irrelevant and inconsequential, challenged by both the changing times and the growing outspokenness of prominent members from both England’s “territories” as well as England itself. The Queen is also at a loss as to handle her own unhappy family, who have not reaped the emotional rewards that privilege might have bestowed.

Diana and Charles are front and center this season, and both Emma Corrin and Josh O’ Connor are perfection in their portrayals of flawed individuals. Corrin’s Diana gets what she wants—only to find she is ill-equipped to cope with “the rules of the game.” O’Connor’s Charles comes off as a weak-willed pseudo “man’s man” who allows himself to be pushed into a marriage which he tends to only half-heatedly while reserving any active emotional involvement in phone calls (and visits) with the dreaded Camilla Parker Bowles (Emerald Fennell from Call the Midwife). Also playing a prominent role is Gillian Anderson’s Margaret Thatcher, who is not only a worthy adversary for the Queen, but for any politician (man or woman) who steps into her path. Regrettably there isn’t enough for Helena Bonham Carter’s Margaret to do other than to offers tidbits of advice to the Queen (generally not followed) but she does have one good showcase episode with “The Hereditary Principle.” Overall it’s an excellent season, with marriage troubles, labor troubles, social unrest, shows of strength both public and private, and many little betrayals. I think you’ll have a fine time with this season’s The Crown. 

© 2020 Netflix

The Queen’s Gambit, also on Netflix, is another nicely executed limited series, adapted by Scott Frank and Allan Scott from a novel by Walter Tevis, who was also responsible for The Hustler. Whereas Tevis’ Fast Eddie was consumed by billiards, Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit is a young, orphaned chess prodigy who tries to become the world’s best chess player in spite of some pretty heavy opposition in the form of a rival Russian chess master—and an addiction to both tranquilizers and alcohol. The first episode works its magic in getting the viewer hooked, from its “present-day” opening to its extended flashback wherein we see an eight-year old Beth’s growing passion for both the game (and the drugs, alas), culminating in an ill-fated try for a “green paradise.” Later, a teenage Beth finds herself in suburbia with adoptive parents with some secrets of their own—and still hoping to prove herself in what has been a “man’s world’ of chess. The series is compelling throughout, and Anya Taylor-Joy is superb at making an emotionally reserved character interesting to watch. She has fine support from Marielle Heller as her adoptive mother, Bill Camp as an unlikely mentor, and Harry Melling, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster as fellow chess players. You may not only get hooked on the series—The Queen’s Gambit might inspire you to take up (or revisit) the game of chess.

Here’s the NoHo News for November 19

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NoHo News: FREE Flu Shots. Thanksgiving Outside. Starlight Jazz. Sidewalk Singers. Holiday Variety Show. Playlists. #KeepNoHoArtsy.

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!  We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood.

Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News: FREE Flu Shots. Thanksgiving Outside. Starlight Jazz. Sidewalk Singers. Holiday Variety Show. Playlists. #KeepNoHoArtsy via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

 

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**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

 

How To Meal Plan In Minutes! (21 Easy Cheap Student Friendly Meals) │Vegan

In the final episode of our 21 meals for under £25 series, I show you how you can make a super quick meal plan within minutes using the recipes we’ve made together.

I also show you how you can see the recipe measurements and cost, as well as easily modify the serving size to fit you! 

You can download the spreadsheet with all the meal plans, prices and video links right here

Here’s the full playlist for this series

Why Artists Need to be Wary of Fraudulent Investments

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Are you an artist that is trying to make money to follow your passions?

We all know that it can be difficult to give up the day job and pursue your dreams. In particular, a lot of artists will not have a steady income to begin with. Until you have made your mark and spread the word about your work, you may be worried about making a living.

But this does not mean that you should give up on becoming an artist. It just means that you have to figure out how you are going to have an income before you are selling your work and building your reputation. For a lot of artists, this means making good investments.

However, it is important to realize that there are a lot of fraudulent investment opportunities out there. They prey on people that are new to investing and this could be you. So, here are some ways you can protect yourself as an artist against fraudulent investments.

artist-scam.jpg

They Can Promise Your Big Returns

If you are worried about your income, you are looking for sure ways that you can make money. Unfortunately, a lot of fraudulent investments will promise quick and big returns on your money, as well as having low risk. But it is important to remember that every investment you make has some sort of risk. In addition, a lot of them are for long-term returns. If you see something that guarantees you a lot of money, this is often going to be a scam and you want to stay clear.

In particular, a lot of scams claim that everybody is doing it. This is something to look out for and may signal that something is not right. After all, if everyone was making the investment then it would not be as good as they are making out.

Avoid Unsolicited Contact

Have you received a telephone call or email from a salesperson saying they know you are an artist and want to help you make investments? You may think this is great that someone wants to help you. In fact, you might think it is a huge coincidence. However, we hate to break it to you but this is most likely a scam. You may have entered your details somewhere without thinking and they are contacting you. A lot of people fall for a forex trade scam through emails and telephone calls with very convincing people.

Always Do Your Research

Before you take any risks with investments, ensure that you do your own research. Look into a company that is going to assist you with investments and read reviews on them. You do not have to rush into any decisions. Take your time and ensure that you know what you are getting yourself into. After all, you want to become an artist and focus on your passions. When you choose safe investments, you will be able to do this and have peace of mind.

Hands 4 Hope LA’s Starlight Jazz @ Home Holiday Concert

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Wayne Linsey & Friends Starlight Jazz @ Home Holiday Concert on Saturday, November 28 to benefit Hands 4 Hope LA.

Join Wayne Linsey, Pat Prescott, and some of Hands4Hope LA’s  favorite jazz artists such as Nils, Karen Briggs, Johnny Britt and Lynne Fiddmont for a holiday show unlike any other. For their second show of the Starlight Jazz @ Home, three-part series they will celebrate the holiday season with some of their favorite tunes featuring a smooth jazz twist.

Wayne Linsey & Friends Starlight Jazz @ Home Holiday Concert on Saturday, November 28 via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

With a tax-deductible donation of $20, $200 or $2,000, you will receive an exclusive invitation to their holiday jazz concert. Your donation will help fund new and innovative programs for their students and see what all the jazz is about.

Hands4Hope LA provides support to at-risk youth ages 8 to 18 from low-income, predominantly minority households to improve their quality of life through free STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) after-school programs, low cost academic summer camp, and semiannual single parent resource fairs.

WHEN: Saturday, November 28, 6PM PST

TICKETS>>  

Thank you, Hands4Hope LA for helping to make North Hollywood a better community!


**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

Free NoHo Flu Shot Clinic

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Free North Hollywood Flu Shot Clinic Friday, November 20 from 10AM-4PM

General Motors and CVS Health are working to increase access to flu vaccines in the Greater Los Angeles area to help avoid a dual pandemic in the region. Together, GM and CVS will host a pop-up flu shot clinic in North Hollywood for area residents to receive the flu vaccine at no cost – no health insurance required.

Face coverings, physical distancing and other measures recommended by state and local officials will be in place to help protect public health and safety. Drive-through options will also be available. Note that flu shots will be available while supplies last.

GM & CVS North Hollywood Flu Clinic Information

WHEN:

Friday, November 20, 2020, 10AM-4PM

WHERE

5350 Biloxi Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601

FREE! NO INSURANCE REQUIRED.

Flu Vaccine Information

Flu vaccinations are recommended for everyone over 6 months old, including healthy children and adults. Flu immunization is especially recommended for people at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications, including:

• People 65 years of age and older
• Pregnant women
• Children younger than 5 years of age
• People with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes or HIV

For more information, visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/FluSeason.


**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

Toys in the Couple’s Bedroom

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It Isn’t the Swinging ‘70s Anymore

You’ve probably seen TV shows or movies that take place in or around the seventies. There is often that one joke that revolves around a weird hanging chair in a random room of a family’s house. Some kid tries to get into it because he thinks it’s some type of swing. What he doesn’t know, but the audience does, is that it is a sex swing.

For whatever reason the sex swing hanging over the shag carpet is the only image used for a sex toy for a married couple. Why? That is in some was tame. The world is so large and the experiences so varied, why stay with the same old troupe of a sex swing? Granted, they can be a lot of fun, but don’t think that couple’s renounce their use of sex toys once they become officially together.

Sex Toy Use Doesn’t Mean It Isn’t Hot Already

The lack of imagery of sex toys in the couple’s bedroom could be connected to the false idea that couples are supposed to think that their partner does it all for them without the need for mechanical assistance. Women are supposed to weep for joy as soon as her partner’s privates enter the room. Men are supposed to hold a raging hard on for the entire night and only climax when they mentally allow themselves.

It couldn’t be farther from the truth. Couples couple not because of sex but because of the totality of the individuals. If sex were the ultimate factor then we would all be married to porn stars, or sex robots. Rather, sex is only a component of the equation. It could be that our life partners aren’t the best in bed or that they are having trouble finishing the deal. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. The sex could be the best thing in your life. Introducing toys into the couple’s bedroom doesn’t in any way degrade or comment on the quality of the sex.

Toys in the bedroom are purposefully introduced to enhance an already pleasurable experience. Think of it like a dessert. You may be preferential to chocolate chip cookies. Does that mean you will only eat chocolate chip cookies forever and nothing else? Hopefully exploring the boundaries of culinary delights is something that excites you and intrigues your taste buds. The same goes from sex. Toys and exploration are about pushing the pleasure further into areas unexplored as a couple. Toys may have been used independently or with other partners, but couples share a different level of connection that can be positively reinforced via toys.

What Do You Like?

If you are ready to introduce something feathery or silicon based into the bedroom you need to view the experience not as yourself but as a couple. What does you “the couple” enjoy? It could be something that you bring from prior experiences. Or it could be something that neither of you have ever done before. Remember it isn’t about some mechanical motion driven just to climax. This is about something much deeper as a couple.

When you are with someone you trust intrinsically, you can inherent explore your sexuality more deeply. Think about anal sex. Have you ever done it before? If not, how would you feel about trying something light? If you have done it before, then what are your thoughts on a tail?

What matters most in the bedroom is the trust to enjoy the experience and have fun. Toys are called toys and not tools because the main purpose isn’t too climax but to have fun.

What Toys Are You Comfortable With?

On the blog Dame Products, the credentialed sexologist Alexandra Fine, talks extensively on the different types of toys to introduce into the bedroom. Traditional sex toys are an excellent start. However, that isn’t the end of the story. You can introduce all of the standard female or make stimulation toys. You can also introduce couples-specific toys that focus on the pleasure experienced by both people.

However, even traditional toys can be experienced in new ways. Alone, you work on yourself with your favorite toy. When you are with your partner, they can work on you with it or pleasure you while you focus on yourself. With a partner you can free up your hands or expose another area for pleasure. Toys introduced into the bedroom elevate the experience by allowing the partners to explore the silky pleasures of their skin in new ways and in new motions. Don’t let the word “couple” keep you from having even more fun.

Set up your Home Studio

A great project to take care of during this time of Covid is to get your self tape studio together.

More and more auditions are self tape and now we’re even seeing zoom auditions. This is the future in my opinion.  You will get an appointment time, wait in the waiting room, and then let in. They may interview you, chat a bit, give you a redirect and have you read a few times.  This is probably going to continue after Covid as some casting directors are saving on office space, not having to hire a camera person or receptionist.  You should be prepared as it could be the new way of auditioning.  After all, when your audition is over, they will have you on tape to review and show their directors. They will even have you in an interview situation and maybe reading several times. It is just like driving to their office.

Take time to create your own studio environment.  You want the light to be perfect, a good background and quiet enough for your sound.  Spend some time getting this perfect, yes, get it as perfect as you can. It’s easy, inexpensive, and there are tons of people doing this.  Lighting is cheap, a decent camera is not expensive, many people are working very successfully off an i-phone, and a good web cam can also work well.   Most important is good lighting with a proper background that shows you well.  Gray, blue, or a soft color is good. What kind of energy do you want to present yourself in?  Some people get green screens and then you can put whatever you want for a background. 

I am not here to tell you what you should have, I am here to say, do it so you look and feel good, and sound good.

We want to see you clearly, into your eyes and see and feel your expressions easily. It matters, it really matters.  You need to feel good and proud of it, as it reflects you.  Test out your system, do research, ask your fellow actors. If you know a lighting person or cinematographer, ask them for help.

Keep it simple so on short notice you can get on and deliver comfortably.  You want little energy on the set up, your time and energy should be on the script and character. Sometimes the turn around time for an audition is short and you will need to get it done quickly.

I’ve seen people use closets, pantries, a blank wall in their apartment.

What matters is that it is simple to set up and you look and sound great. Once you get it perfect, it should be easy to recreate each time. If you use natural light from outside, that can be good but you are subject to the time of day and other weather conditions. That’s why I suggest good lighting in a space that will work any time of day.

It does not have to be expensive to work well. There is no need to spend a lot of money on this.  Lighting systems and cameras are changing quickly, they are constantly improving and getting cheaper.

The protocol for actors has been to have a good headshot, and tape, yes that’s true.  Now, you need to be able to tape yourself on short notice, and be ready to be interviewed and audition live in an excellent environment. One that you create and are comfortable in.  It’s a good thing, it’s something that you have control over.

Take care

Cosmopolis “The Distances” Single Release

“The Distance” has gorgeous dystopian energy, timely and melancholy, with lovely spacious soaring guitar.  Part “Paris Texas,” part Depeche Mode part Radiohead.  All soundscapes and fluid energy and resonance.  It’s a really beautiful sound, haunting and anthemic.

These three superb musicians, Gavin Kendall, Nicolas Payelle and David Hussey,  live far apart from each other, UK, Belgium and Australia.  Much of this track was recorded separately then, as Covid has separated us all. The result is something entirely of its age. Who knows how different it would sound if they had been in the same place. Something about all this isolation is forcing us to evolve somehow. To create something else, something new, something that appeals to our most intimate selves, as we become over accustomed to our solitude.

This song is a yearning, a rejection, a pushing away of company when, you might imagine, we need it the most.  But it makes sense to me. As we accept our aloneness, we see things far more clearly. Things come into focus more, like how the winter light makes everything more, defined, more seeable. This song reminds me of that. So brilliantly produced, so effortlessly sung belying its intricacy, it’s nuance and the exquisite, purposeful arrangement.

“The Distance” is shockingly beautiful. I cant stop playing it…I absolutely love it. More please!!!!

Stream “The Distances”

Spotify

Youtube

SmartLink

Musician Names/Instruments: Gavin Kendall (singer, multi-instrumentalist); Nicolas Payelle (guitars, bass, multi-instrumentalist); David Hussey (drums, percussion); Liz Haak (guest backing vocals)

Producer Name(s): Cosmopolis

Official Website: www.cosmopolismusic.com

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/cosmopolis.official/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cosmopolis_?s=21

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmopolis_official_/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2uMqqeU9LXM0MfLqIUdCZF?si=KMmJPt6kR2WtiLBpYjFAtQ

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEYId3HqN-uX-Gsih35LQQ

8 Tips for Mastering the Art of Fresh Pasta at Home

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Pasta is one of the most versatile foods around. Pasta can be very informal (think spaghetti bolognese) or very high-end (truffle-stuffed ravioli, anyone?)

No matter where or how you’ll want to dress up your pasta, though, the best pasta dishes start with fresh pasta, and when it’s homemade pasta, even better.

Here are our 8 tips for mastering the art of fresh pasta in your kitchen.

#1 Remember the ratio

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a maths whizz to remember the flour ratio to eggs. Here it is: three parts flour to two parts eggs (weigh your eggs). That’s it!

You can then add small variables such as extra egg yolks for a richer dough or a different type of flour. If you use all-purpose flour one day, you may want to try semolina flour or finely milled flour next time. Just remember the key ratio, and you’ll be fine.

#2 Go traditional if you can

The traditional way of mixing dough for pasta is to make a mountain of flour and leave a well in the middle. You then crack your eggs, add the salt in the middle, and use a fork to incorporate the eggy middle into your flour slowly.

Pasta has been made in this way for many years, and as long as you have a clean countertop, this method can work well for you.

However, if you don’t have the time, a standing mixer still does the job. You might want to add a bit less flour or water before you start mixing and then adjust as you go along. Use the dough hook rather than the beater to make it easier to incorporate the eggs into the flour.

#3 Feel the dough

By ‘feel the dough,’ I mean literally. Kneading the dough with your hands is the best way to get a feel for the consistency. You will, therefore, know what needs to be added.

Making pasta from scratch is a hands-on experience. The dough isn’t just about measurements. Other factors such as humidity, the type of flour, and your eggs’ size may mean you need a bit more flour (or not) to get your ideal consistency.

You’ll want to knead your dough for at least 10 minutes to achieve a smooth and silky ball of dough.

#4 Decide what shapes you’ll make

If you are making tubular pasta such as penne or macaroni, your dough will need to be a bit drier so that it doesn’t stick to the extruder when you’re making your shapes.

If you are making sheet pasta such as lasagna or ravioli, you’ll want a softer dough. There are many different kinds of pasta to experiment with, and you can have fun with pasta makers like this one at unocasa.com to make them even more unique.

#5 Give it a rest

The dough needs to rest, and so do you. The dough needs rest to allow the gluten that it contains to lengthen into strands, which will make your dough elastic enough to be formed into noodles. You need to rest because you can then appreciate the process – and perhaps grab a glass of wine while you do so.

#6 Store your pasta carefully

Once you’ve made your pasta noodles, if you’re not going to use them right away, store them carefully. Divide the pasta into portions and dust them with flour so that the noodles don’t stick together. Place the pasta onto baking sheets that are lined with parchment paper and cover with a kitchen towel till you’re ready to use them, leaving them out at room temperature if you’ll be using them the same day.

If you need to freeze your pasta, you can do so. Place the baking sheet into the freezer for approximately a quarter of an hour and then remove the pasta and put it into freezer bags. Take out as much air as possible from the bags, and when cooking, cook directly from frozen.

#7 Don’t skimp on the salt

I’m not suggesting you add lots of salt to your sauce so that it tastes like the Atlantic. The salt is for the large pot of boiling water, where you will cook your gorgeously and lovingly prepared noodles. You want the water to be well-salted because the salt will a) make the water boil faster and b) add flavor to your pasta.

#8 Drain, don’t rinse

Once you’ve drained your pasta, don’t rinse it. Rinsing cooked pasta takes away some of the starchy coating, which is what your noodles need to hold onto all of the delicious sauce you’ll serve them with. Keep the rinse cycle for cleanup time.

Enjoy your homemade pasta!

Norine Braun “December Falls” Album Release

Boy am I ready for some seasonal cheer! 

There’s such a lovely retro feel to this gorgeous, wintery Christmas album from Canadian artist Norine Braun.  I reviewed her album “Through Train Windows” last year, which I loved.  She has a beautiful, sultry, soulful voice – bluesy, hopeful and warm. So whatever she sings sounds wonderful, if I’m honest. 

This is a brilliant collection of songs, Christmas classics, carols and plenty of really excellent originals too. In fact, my favorite Christmas song is even here, the much forgotten “I Saw Three Ships.” It reminds me so much of Christmas as a kid in England. “Silent Night” as well, all done in Norine’s own inimitable style – soulful, gentle, authentic. Nothing spangly or fake, over done or commercial.  Just a great collection of music that would work in any setting…party, dinner, quiet evening with the family, Christmas morning as we tear open the presents!

I can’t remember the last time I listened to a Christmas album, I wonder why more artists don’t give it a go.  It’s the one time of the year that most of us stop worrying about all the unimportant stuff and try to have some fun.  Music is such a significant element of our ability to let go and this year, more than most years, we all need to forget about the drama and have some fun.

Norine has a real KD Lang quality to her voice, with a little bit of Tracy Thorn from Everything But The Girl.  There’s a distinct 80s vibe to this collections, it’s the song choice and also the gorgeous open production, the saxophone, the percussion, the unabashed joy and excellent musicians. Honestly, this is such a great album!  I absolutely love it!!!  And any time you can listen to “Last Christmas” is a very good day if you ask me and Norine’s arrangement is sublime!!

Favorite song…”Solstice,” but I also love “I Saw Three Ships” of course!

Norine Braun is offering limited edition CDs, Toques, Shirts and handwritten lyric sheets at her official store.

Listen to “December Falls” on Soundcloud.

Stream lead single “Solstice” on Spotify.

“Solstice” OneLink

Stream “The WInter After Elvis Died” on Spotify.

“The WInter After Elvis Died” OneLink

Websites: 

Official Website: www.norinebraun.com   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norinebraunmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/norinebraun

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norinebraun/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/50EtuuoMGWF8irCzYNtZph?si=uA9NANBUSwuaLFAhKkEldw

Bandcamp: https://norinebraun.bandcamp.com

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/norinebraun

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/norinebraun

Adam Popowitz returning as producer and playing bass and lead guitar on the album. Elliot Polsky is on percussion and drums, Alice Fraser is on keys and harmony vocals. Huggybear Leonard on blues harp and penny whistle, Brent Mah features on tenor sax and Norine plays rhythm guitar and vocals. Mixed and mastered at Rear Window Song and Sound.

Idiot Grins “Thoughts and Prayers” Album Release

This is the Idiot Grins’ fourth album and a track for track retelling of the Louvin Brothers epic “Satan is Real” 1959 Album.

It’s something of a departure for me as a reviewer and a style I have to admit I would never have chosen to listen to. However, I can totally understand why these Oakland guys took a chance and decided to create this homage to the beloved Louvin Brothers. Maybe I understand that now more than ever in fact. We all must turn to out truth after all.

These songs are part of the American songbook, soulful country, country gospel, folk classics. Simple, honest and one revelatory, life-changing story after another. The twanging guitar, the heartfelt harmonies, the melancholy and the longing. All beautifully produced and with a feeling so live you can imagine them standing around a microphone in a dusty studio croning away, taping their feet, authentic and raw.

As I said before, it’s not exactly my cup of tea this, but I like it. It’s cinematic dustpan handle, “Grapes of Wrath” heartbreaking and all American. This is the kind of music that is passed down through generations; the songs are heirlooms, precious moments in a collective history that deserve to be honored and relived. These stories are still relevant, today perhaps more than any, while we face what we face, pandemics, isolation, fear and division. These songs, sung so lovingly by this band of artful musicians are meaningful, historic and real. For that I am gratefully entertained and enlightened.

Idiot Grins are:

Mike Conner – piano and organ

Evan Eustis – bass, mandolin and vocals

John Hansen – vocals

Michael Melgoza – drums

Randy Strauss – guitars

Listen to the album:

Thoughts & Prayers OneLink

Artist Links
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube Channel

The Open Door Playhouse – New Plays, New Writers, New Talent

The Open Door Playhouse is a podcast bringing new plays to the public as audio performances.

https://www.opendoorplayhouse.org

This is such a brilliant idea! It’s so tough for those of us avid theatre goers right now. No live theatre, no live performances anywhere. I’ve seen everything on Netflix and beyond and am sick of the news. Obviously. So these kinds of intrepid productions, full of new life and brave and fascinating stories are like mana from heaven.


Bernadette Armstrong

The Open Door Playhouse podcast is in its second month and fully intends to keep on going for as long as there are new artists to support and new plays to produce.

But we wanted to know a little more about everyone involved and why they felt compelled to create this space for playrights to perform their plays during the pandemic. So we asked Bernadette Armstrong, the force behind it all.

What was the inspiration for the podcast and how did you put the team together?

When my play I was canceled in April 2020 due to the COVID pandemic I was really bummed. So, I just started looking around and couldn’t find an outlet until I remembered listening to radio pPlays while doing my research for my play “Joan,” based on Joan Crawford and went from there. I figured I wasn’t the only playwright without agency that had their play canceled this year so I opened up submissions to everyone in my advertising.


Goreti da Silva standing next to Elaine Mello-Clark at mic

At first it was just me – applying for the fiscal sponsorship through Fractured Atlas, finding the name for the podcast, finding the platform, etc. and rehearsing “Custody.” And then I became a bit overwhelmed so I posted an ad for a producer and fortunately Laree Griffith applied and that has been a godsend! She’s organized, she helps with the website, she schedules and helps with promoting and keeping things going. And right now, it’s just her and me.

Is there any thematic link between the plays, or was that at all important?

Actually, I opened the door to all genres and topics: LGBTQ+, Black Lives Matter and senior citizens and any and all social issues. We received so many plays from the LGBTQ+ community that we were able to build programing to celebrate COMING OUT DAY in October, mixed in with a couple BLM plays. Most of our content has been centered around the LGBTQ+ – and senior citizens – which I love because there are so few roles in theater for wonderful, older actors!  Most of the plays are comedies, but all of them have heart. Just a very sweet range of plays.

How do you see the theatre community right now in Los Angeles?

Being CREATIVE! Every time I see ads for new plays with creative ways to present them to the public – making do with the situation we are all facing. It’s very cool, however I do hope to see live theater on stage again. Sometime in the near future. But until then, writers and actors are finding new ways and how can you beat that?


Matthew Scott Montgomery 

With all theatre on hold, is there anything positive to come from this?

Bernadette: See above – creativity can’t be stopped.

Laree, The Open Door Playhouse producer:  There are a lot of positive things that have come from this. This podcast is one of them! I believe that all artists have had to make tough decisions and reinvent themselves during this crisis in order to keep their dreams, career and enthusiasm for their craft alive. That’s not a bad thing. We have always had the choice to reinvent, think outside the box and create in new and different ways. This crisis has, in a way, been a real game-changer for creatives.

How can we help support local theatre?

Don’t forget it’s not free to those who produce the work. Our time, our energy and patience, it all still costs and many of us are not working due to COVID-19. Don’t forget to donate to the projects. Help out. Like for my podcast, it costs money to record them (yes, I knew this from the start). I believe in the quality of my productions. I pay everyone  because it’s the right thing to do. And without a theater to sell tickets, most of us have lost our way to create revenue. I have a donate button on the podcast and the funds I raise pay for the sound studio and the actors. And my donate button is – to me – like a ticket sale. Push the button, donate, and you have purchased a ticket for an entire range of plays. They will always be there to download and listen to. I think that’s a good deal (and funds are tax deductible!). It’s kind of like Direct to PPV.

Open-Door Playhouse, is a theater podcast that never closes.


Daamen Krall

What are your plans for the future, artistically?

I would love to keep writing plays, keep directing plays and, when the yheaters open up again, build a set and enjoy the sound of a live audience. Until then I’ll listen to them on the podcast – like old time radio.


Thanks, Bernadette and Laree. So far the plays have been absolutely brilliant! We look forward to much more from you all and thank you from saving me from the telly and giving so many playwrights and actors a valuable forum for their work!!

You can check out every play that they have broadcast so far. New plays arriving on November 25 and contribute if you can!!

https://www.opendoorplayhouse.org

Twitter is: @opendoorplayhouse

Facebook is: https://www.facebook.com/opendoorplayhouse