66.5 F
Los Angeles

NoHo Tours | Advertising | NoHo Card | Contact Us | Business Concierge

Home Blog Page 215

A perspective on rejection

Fran Montano
-
0
A perspective on rejection

Actors constantly deal with rejection and their issues surrounding rejection. It seems to be a frequent topic of conversation among us. I have known numerous actors who left the business because, they say, they “Couldn’t take the rejection.”

Yes, rejection is a big part of this business. Here’s a recent conversation I had with a student, Sarah (not her real name), and my in-class follow up:

“I’m quitting this business, I can’t stand the rejection,” Sarah cried before class.
“Tell me more,” I said.
“Well, actually, I had a bunch of auditions in the past month, so that was good. They were big ones, though, and I really had my hopes up. One was recurring, one a series regular, and one was playing opposite a big star. I got called back for all of them, and had two callbacks reading with the star!!”
“Well that’s great,” I said. “You’re in the game and doing well, it seems.”
“Yes, but I didn’t book any of them. I just heard from my manager and he told me I did well, but they all went in a different direction.”
“I’m sorry,” I said “That must feel terrible.”
“I don’t think I can take it any more. I put myself out there, and I get rejected over and over again,” she cried.

Sound familiar? If you’re in the game, you’re going to get rejected more often than not. That’s just the way it is.

We continued our conversation in class, and I asked the class this question:“How much time do you spend on your auditions?”

Sarah logged in four to six hours for the initial read, two hours working on her outfit, one hour of coaching, and then driving, gas, etc. for just one audition and two callbacks, over the course of three days, with all the added anxiety and rehearsing in between. She concluded she spent about 40 total hours thinking, preparing, working on lines, researching, driving, callbacks, etc.

“Forty-plus stressful hours!” she shouted,. “And all that time never knowing as there are so many other factors that I have no control over.”

Others in the class nodded in agreement, and I asked if that sounded about right. Some spent more and some less time preparing, but all agreed that they give their heart and soul when auditioning for a job. They invest themselves for a period of time, and then, yes, let it go when they are done. They all concurred that they do this over and over again, and it can be discouraging.

“It’s challenging,” one student said, “and sometimes not fair, since there are so many unknown variables. It’s especially bad when someone less talented gets the job.”

“Okay, I understand,” I said. “Let’s talk about something else.” The class was getting riled.

Let’s talk about politics. At this time of year we see a lot of politicians trying to get on the ballot. They’re campaigning, meeting people, traveling, leaving their families, debating, giving speeches, etc. This is their full-time job, 24/7, promoting themselves, raising money and awareness… selling themselves. Talk about preparation, memorizing lines, and rehearsing, their entire lives become dedicated to getting ONE JOB! And it’s more than a year away!

Here’s an even a bigger issue: whether or not they get the job may have nothing at all to do with their experience, dedication, talent, or credentials. It could be personal – because of their looks, race, sex, how they speak, who they socialize with, or simply whether or not they are liked. They have to watch everything they say and do, because just one (wrong, misinterpreted, unpopular) statement can destroy their chances. Photos, scandals, rumors that aren’t even true, you name it… any one of these things can kill their shot of getting the job.

Tell them about rejection! Just look at the rejection they set themselves up for, and the time invested… 40 hours doesn’t seem so bad at all, huh Sarah? The same holds true for professional athletes, people applying for grants and scholarships, and so many others. It’s true in all areas of life. We have to balance whatever our passion is with the rejection it involves.

I say, if you’re going to be rejected, you might as well make it for something worthwhile.

Until next time, I wish you many opportunities that come with the possibility of rejection. It only takes one yes to turn the tides.

5th Annual World Choreography Awards

NoHo - North Hollywood
-
0

5th Annual World Choreography Awards Brings

“WORLD CHOREOGRAPHY AWARDS” AN ANNUAL AWARD SHOW TO CELEBRATE CREATIVITY, DIVERSITY & INNOVATION BY RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN THE ART OF MEDIA CHOREOGRAPHY

“So You Think You Can Dance,” “Dancing With The Stars,” “American Idol,” “American Music Awards,” “Emmy Awards,” “Kids Choice Awards” and more!

riker lynch

WHAT: World Choreography Awards 2015 with Host Riker Lynch (“Dancing With The Stars,” “Glee” “The Band R5”)

“The World Choreography Awards is the only dance show of its kind, that salutes the future, celebrates this present and honors the past,” says producert Allen Walls.

CELEBRITY ATTENDEES: Derek Hough, Paula Abdul, Travis Wall, Mark Ballas

WHERE: The Montalban Hollywood 1615 Vine St, Hollywood,CA, 90028

WHEN: Monday, November 16, 2015 Red Carpet at 6:30pm & Show 7:30pm

ADMISSION: Tickets are on sale now! Orchestra Center $100, Orchestra Left & Right $60, Mezzanine $40, Balcony $20

ONLINE TICKETING: http://www.flavorus.com/event/World-Choreography-Awards/306875

THE CATEGORIES: Feature Film, Television Episodic, Commercials, Television Live Performance, Music Videos, Television Award Show / Special, Concert Performance, Digital Format, Concert Dance Performance, New Generation “Breakout Artist”

We are also excited to announce two special awards!

This year’s “Next Generation” award is given to choreographer JESSICA STARR who will be given the opportunity perform her piece LIVE at WCA 2015 show.

PERFORMANCES BY: Michael Rooney, Jessica Starr, and more!

{youtube}ER2CB_BzOtU{/youtube}

SPONSORS: Joe Tremaine Conventions & Competitions, Go 2 Talent Agency, BLOC Talent Agency, The Movement Talent Agency, Clear Talent Group, McDonald/Selznick Associates, The S Agency, nohoartsdistrict.com, The Hollywood Summer Tour, WORLDTONE Dancesport and Theatrical Shoes, SoHo Dance LA, Crown Dance Shoes.

*A portion of the proceeds will benefit Career Transition For Dancers*

Program Ad Sponsorships – This is a wonderful opportunity to advertise products and services in a beautiful keepsake program, full of vibrant images and exciting information to be distributed in over 700 programs among our audience members. Donation Sponsorships – We really appreciate your continuous support in helping keep the art of dance alive. In appreciation for donations, we will offer a special gift and a big “THANK YOU”!

For More Information On Ads or Donations, Contact Allen Walls (818) 261-9474 or Allen@WorldChoreographyAwards.com
Submissions Due: November 5, 2015

For more information visit: www.WorldChoreographyAwards.com

Profile on Mike Chat of XMA:Xtreme Martial Arts

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

Leadership to the Xtreme – interview with Mike Chat of XMA

What are some of the most important aspects of being a leader? With the upcoming presidential election captivating the country, it’s a very relevant question. In fact, if we use the example of the presidential candidates, you could argue that they all embody key leadership qualities like the ability to inspire, mobilize, motivate and effectively communicate. But there is one key quality that I think most people in a leadership position, presidential candidates included, miss.

You see, I had to rethink this equation after sitting down and interviewing a very dynamic man who brings a new distinction to the word “leader.” His name is Mike Chat, and he’s been inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame, the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, he’s a 7-time World Forms & Weapons champion, the former blue Power Ranger and the founder of XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts. And when I say he’s the founder of XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts, I’m not just talking about the building, located in North Hollywood on Lankershim Blvd- where he and his instructors teach classes from morning until night. No, Chat is the man responsible for having developed this new form of martial arts, infusing all of the different traditional styles of martial arts with dance, gymnastics, acrobatics and performance art.

Mike Chat XMA www.nohoartsdistrict.com

“And it’s not about what you do, but how you do it,” Mike shared during our interview. “So it’s not about that block, that punch, that kick, it’s about doing it in a dynamic way and performing it.” Chat is certainly no stranger to performance, having been training and studying martial arts since the age of ten. But one area in his life where he’s not putting on a performance is in regards to his commitment to building other leaders. It’s where he feels most authentically self-expressed, having trained dozens of World Forms & Weapons champions in addition to holding the title himself. He’s also trained many of the stunt doubles for some of Hollywood’s leading men. And several of his students have gone on to have very successful film careers, probably the two most noted being Jaden Smith of Karate Kid-fame and Taylor Lautner of the Twilight saga.

And in addition to personally contributing to the lives of individuals, he’s also licensed out his XMA program to over 1400 schools, which will impact people and communities he’ll never meet. And he’s just partnered with the ATA (American Taekwondo Association), newly creating and launching his Certified Instructor Training Program for them. So needless to say, Chat has really given his life to this work, and to making Xtreme Martial Arts available to as many people as possible. And the impact he’s made has reached beyond his customers, transforming the entire industry as a whole.

Before XMA, back in the 80’s and 90’s, martial arts schools had been suffering in the retention of their teen students. According to Chat, the student body in most martial arts programs was made up of roughly 80% kids and 20% adults. And the kids were dropping out in large numbers as they became teens, which explains the huge gap between kids and adults. “What happened was first it was The Karate Kid and Ninja Turtles, and then The Matrix, Jackie Chan and Jet Li- and they all made martial arts cool again,” Chat remarked. “So kids were watching The Matrix, but taking classes and getting Karate-Kid martial arts. And they didn’t want Karate-Kid martial arts, they wanted Matrix martial arts, but there was no Matrix martial arts available.”

Mike Chat XMA NoHo Arts District www.nohoartsdistrict.com

And after having trained and studied with Olympic-winning gymnast and Taekwondo fighters, having been accountable for the number one ranked junior martial arts competitive team along with the first international sports karate training camps- not to mention his work as a screen actor in Hollywood- it’s no surprise that someone with Chat’s skill set, business acumen and huge vision would take on finding a solution to what was missing in the market place.

“So we created a program designed to teach in schools what we were already doing in TV, Film and in tournaments and labeled it Xtreme Martial Arts,” he recalls. “So now there is actually a structure in place for schools to attract and retain students who are already excited about X Games and all of the extreme sports movements that contribute to this lifestyle.” Initially, Chat launched the program through two partnerships he fostered with Century Martial Arts, the world’s largest martial arts equipment manufacturer/distributor and with MAIA (Martial Arts Industry Association) – the industry’s largest trade organization. But once key players at the Discovery Channel got wind of this new movement, they decided the topic was potent enough to investigate and showcase, instantly launching Chat and Xtreme Martial Arts into mainstream pop culture.

{youtube}wQ2Tufe9uFM{/youtube}

The 2003 documentary, aptly titled XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts, treated viewers to a behind-the-scenes look into the world of Xtreme Martial Arts through a scientific lense, dissecting the physiology behind some of martial arts’ most popular moves as Chat trained and sparred with his then student Matt Mullins. 2003 was also the year the highly regarded The Last Samurai film was released, which Discovery cross-promoted with the XMA documentary, further legitimizing XMA’s relevance while expanding their own audience at the same time. And the impact on Chat equated to about another 4 million dollars added to his marketing budget, and ultimately led to him licensing out the XMA program to his first 500 schools.

“I felt like the stars were all aligning,” Chat shared. “People were coming to us; the doors that we wanted to open were opening and the timing was just right. We were hitting areas of our industry with our programming that nobody had ever done before. Also, there had been no avenue in which anyone could compete in these divisions, so we created avenues. And it was so amazing to see the tournament circuits, and televised events and the transformation of the industry where it became the most exciting program for people.”

Mike Chat XMA NoHo Arts District www.nohoartsdistrict.com

In 2007, the dream that all this work had been leading up to finally materialized when Chat became a studio owner, opening the doors to his 5100 square-foot XMA World Headquarters. The studio operates as a state-of-the-art training facility, offering classes that range from beginner to advanced levels, taught by some of the most sought after instructors within the dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, stunt, circus and martial arts industries. And none of this happened by accident. Success always happens on purpose, and Mike Chat is no exception. “I grew up watching those boy scout Kung Fu movies and TV shows when I was little,” he shared. “And that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up. So I got into martial arts and started training and competing. And then the goal after high school was to go to college, get a business degree, open up schools and work on training in the movies. And that’s exactly what I did. And now you have extreme form, extreme weapons, demo team competitions and tournaments all over the world.”

And while the headquarters’ facility is equipped for all kinds of tricks, moves and intricately choreographed performances, what’s taking place inside Chat’s studio on a daily basis is so much bigger than that. In fact, martial arts is really just the vehicle he uses to build his students up as leaders. “The reality is when you come into a martial arts class, you basically just learn some moves and a bit of philosophy,” he commented. “What we’re really doing is changing behaviors. So I implement a lot of hardcore positive anchoring and conditioning, that’s the martial part of what we do. And then we add in the art form and the life skills, and it’s the combination of the two that is the winning combo for actually changing behaviors.”

Mike Chat XMA NoHo Arts District www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Yes, on the surface, you could argue that the appeal of XMA comes from all the flips, tricks and kicks we see in the movies and on TV. In fact, to deny the draw these features have provided would be nothing short of irrational given they are largely responsible for thrusting the art form into mainstream pop culture. But it’s important to remember that people may buy a service once based on the features, but they will only invest long terms based on how the service makes them feel and/or what it gives them access to. And in the case of XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts, students are given access to self-expression and life skills that few other activities offer.

“We use martial arts as a base,” Chat explained. “So if we’re breaking a board, we don’t focus on the problem that is the board, we focus on the solution that is getting your hand through the board. So the philosophy is simple, and when students are working on that board break, it’s all about commitment and follow-through. It really has very little to do with technique; it has everything to do with learning to follow through no matter what, and starting strong and finishing strong.”

Starting strong and finishing strong is not just a concept for Chat, it’s truly his life on-the-court. And because of this, his future and the future of the martial arts industry is ripe with possibility. He’s already opened up a second location for his XMA school out in the Agoura Hills area of Los Angeles, he’s just launched new leadership and legacy programming within the American Taekwondo Association, a 12-year process that will bring his programs to over 250,000 students worldwide- and he’s got a few TV projects that he’s developing.

It’s true, Mike Chat knows how to inspire, mobilize, motivate and effectively communicate like many leaders, but what is distinct about him is his commitment, passion and effectiveness at causing other leaders around him and around the world. “Leadership is what was given to me. If you look at anyone in a high-level position, how they got there was from helping other people. It’s just a natural progression. And when the conversation stops being about martial arts, and when people stop referring to it as ‘martial arts’ and start speaking in terms of wanting their kids to learn leadership, that’s when my work will be done.”

For more information on Mike Chat or XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts, please visit xmahq.com.

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

**** 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.

Halloween; How I like to Design

Christopher Porikos
-
0
Halloween; How I like to Design

For many of us, Halloween was and is a fun time. Adding a few decorations makes it that much more special.

It’s a ‘holiday’ that can easily transition from your fall decorating by adding a few special items. Here’s what I like to do.

1. Add a Halloween wreath. It’s an easy fix by adding a few little ghosts and goblins to one you already have.

2. I also change out my door mat to something a bit more festive. I take away the one I use for autumn for a few days, and return when Halloween is over. I like to add a few lighted ghosts on either side of the door for light and safety with a few carved pumpkins with candles inside.

3. When having guests over I add gauze over a black table cloth. Adding black and orange chargers under white plates adds to the theme of the day. Cookies, cupcakes and other goodies look great presented this way. I also wrap napkins with black pipe cleaners or orange grosgrain fabric put into a simple basket.

4. For the guest bath, I simply add black and orange guest towels with a few small Halloween pieces on the counter.

These are just a few things I like do for Halloween. Whatever you choose to decorate with will be great.

Simply have a fun time putting things together and you won’t go wrong.

Enjoy!

NoHo News: Fat Dog, Blastoff, Homefree, Rise + Fall of My Breasts

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

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…ENJOY NOHO!

**** 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.  

NoHo’s Fat Dog…

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

The Fat Dog is not your neighbor’s dog


The Fat Dog is the newest restaurant and bar to join the NoHo Arts District neighborhood. Did you know The Fat Dog NoHo is the second outpost of the popular Fairfax gastropub? It fits right in the neighborhood, serving up classic comfort food from chef John Gladish, craft beers, with a large selection by the bottle and on tap, and a cocktail menu from star bartender Matthew Biancaniello. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, and the service emphasis is on friendly hospitality. So let’s give a big North Hollywood welcome to the owners Richard and Susann Mandeville for choosing the arts district as their second home.

The Fat Dog NoHo www.nohoartsdistrict.com

You have a great restaurant in WeHo. What made you want to open up the second restaurant in NoHo?

The NoHo Arts District is a vibrant, diverse neighborhood, with a large number of creative people within walking distance. We felt that they would enjoy what The Fat Dog offers. Great food and drinks, and unpretentious friendly atmosphere and service.

We like brunch and we love Happy Hour. What’s The Fat Dog got for the neighborhood?

Weekend brunch is from 10am to 3pm, and features comforting dishes like ‘Chicken Fried Chicken’, and Short Rib Hash. There’s a fantastic Bloody Mary, the ‘Fat Mary’ for just $5, one of the best bloodies in town. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, from 3 – 7 pm in NoHo, and features a menu of tasty smaller bites from $3-7, and some beers starting at just $3, with well cocktails at just $5.

The Fat Dog NoHo www.nohoartsdistrict.com

What makes The Fat Dog a place to try out?

The Fat dog’s elevated comfort fare, great cocktails, and large selection of beers, along with a beautiful patio, and friendly service.

We have to ask. How did you come up with the name, The Fat Dog?

The Fat dog was named after the owners, Richard and Susann Mandeville’s bulldog, Luther, who can be seen in the original artwork in the bar.

The Fat Dog is already known in the neighborhood as “dog friendly.” Can my dog dine on your patio?

The Fat Dog welcomes well behaved dogs and their humans.

The Fat Dog NoHo www.nohoartsdistrict.com

We hear from many actors that The Fat Dog is a fun place for theatre goers, too?

The Fat Dog is conveniently located in the NoHo Arts District and is a perfect spot for a pre- or post-theatre bite and a pint.

So head over to The Fat Dog and say “Welcome to NoHo!”

11050 Magnolia Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 985-DOGG  |  info@thefatdogla.com
www.thefatdogla.com

You can also say hi over here too:
TW: @thefatdogla  IG: @thefatdogla   FB: https://www.facebook.com/thefatdogla

**** 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.

How NoHo Does Halloween

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

A NoHo Halloween is on the Stage

We can celebrate Halloween in a ton of ways. But in the NoHo Arts District, we do it with theatre. Why? Well, North Hollywood is home to 20 theatres, the highest concentration outside of New York City. So take a look at our Halloween-inspired theatre show picks.

URBAN DEATH TOUR OF TERROR: Haunted Theatre Attraction

Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group’s all-new fun and frightening, semi-immersive Haunted-Halloween theatrical attraction for 2015 – steering theater-goers and thrill-seekers through a terrifying “Urban Death” Maze of inexplicable horrors, unfathomable monstrosities, and the disturbed spirits that walk among us!

Directed by Zombie Joe and Jana Wimer. For Ages 15 and up.

Dracula - Halloween in NoHo - www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Dracula

Madness, sexuality and power explode onto the stage in this new deranged and horror-filled adaption of Dracula. Renfield fights for her sexual freedom, Lucy struggles against her mother’s expectations and her own growing hysteria, and Mina Murray is left standing alone in the wreckage of the 19th century, facing the man offering her both liberation and death.

ATTACK OF THE ROTTING CORPSES!

The Underground’s all-new “Golden Halloween Edition” of Zombie Joe’s disgustingly-hilarious thriller about a condo complex in the San Fernando Valley, whose water supply becomes contaminated with a dangerous microbe – transforming the residents (and their pets) into ravenous, flesh-eating zombies! Directed by Josh T. Ryan, and Written & produced by Zombie Joe.

NoHo Halloween Death At The Door at Defiance Theatre Company www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Death at the Door

Defiance Theatre Company’s “Death at the Door,” an original horror anthology premieres in time for Halloween. The tree, all new, terrifyingly funny vignettes dedicated to the spirit of All Hallow’s Eve are set over the span of 50 years, learn the terrifying truth about one of the most haunted of houses in the neighborhood, and its legacy of astonishing victims…err…residents.

Wizards and Fools

Brandon Scott’s Wizards and Fools – The Hallows’ Fool Moon Magic Show. A play about a quirky family preparing for a special Hallows’ Eve and night of the Fools Moon, which only happens every 100 years. Relatives on both sides of the family of wizards and fools come from everywhere for this grand party celebration. The elders help the young ones remember their families tradition with games and magical ceremonies. At the stroke of the Fool Moon they put on a magic show that helps all remember the story of their ancestral make believe reality. This otherworldly magic show interweaves storytelling, magic, music, comedy and dance into a unique theatrical tapestry.

NoHo Halloween - Nosferatu www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Nosferatu

In 1922, the sublimely creepy German Expressionist silent film Nosferatu set a new standard for what a horror film can be. Now, F.W. Murnau’s eerie take on the story of Draculatransitions to the stage at Crown City Theatre, where its eerie atmosphere and breathtaking suspense come alive through music, dance, screen projections, special effects and makeup. For all those who thrill to the chill of a shiver down the spine, this unusual and powerful Los Angeles production is for you.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

The coffin will rise on a new stage adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic horror masterpiece adapted for the stage by artistic director Steven Sabel. Dracula travels to England in a quest to reunite with his long-lost love, who he believes has been reincarnated in the likeness of Wilhelmina Murray and h attempts to slowly transform her into his eternal bride Enlisting the lunatic, Renfield, into service by day, Dracula takes over the Carfax Abbey as his new home, and begins to wreak his havoc.

Halloween in NoHo - NoHo MonsterBash www.nohoartsdistrict.com

NoHo MonsterBash at The Federal Bar

Welcome to THE only Halloween Party in the Valley, especially North Hollywood! We were tired of having to drive 2 hours just to get to a party downtown, only to find out that the place is packed and it just isn’t fun. We wanted a party that always had something interesting going on, had lots of great eye candy, had a great dance floor, and was fun from the moment you get in to the last moment you left. We want a party that is put on by people that love Halloween! So, here it is, the NoHo Monster Bash. We will have events going on every 30 minutes on the main stage that will dazzle and entertain you! The space is setup for lots of dancing, and we have two fully stocked bars for all of your libation needs!

**** 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.

The music scene in Paris, France

Caroline McElroy
-
0
The music scene in Paris, France

When it comes to the question of the music scene in Paris, France, Nelson Vard and Felix Ramaen are the go to guys in Paris for anything music.

Young, talented and knowledgeable about all things music there is nothing about the scene they cannot tell you.

I first met Vard in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris last September at Jim Morrison’s grave site where we had both gone to pay homage to the famous Doors’ frontman. At the time, Vard was looking at his 18th birthday in a few days and was celebrating it by coming to Paris to try out for France’s version of “America’s Got Talent”… “Nouvelle Star” which is a Freemantle Media production.

Vard won a spot on the show and made it to the finals. Vard’s first performance blew everyone away as he sang Morrison’s “Light My Fire” in an electrifying performance. Vard confided that he had a heart shaped rock that he had picked up by Morrison’s burial site in his pocket at the time and believes that he was channeling Morrison during his performance of “Light My Fire.” Although Vard did not win, it was quite a feat to have made it all the way to the finals given France’s proclivity toward pushing “electronic” music instead of “nostalgic” rock n’ roll as Vard put it.

In many ways Vard is correct about the current music scene being mostly “electronic” driven as that was what was the most predominate music being spun on the radio and on piped- in music in Parisian shops. It was quite surprising to hear The Doors’ “Riders On The Storm” remastered into an “electronic” version which had a twist of rap music sampled in for good measure. Ah, but I was in Paris and it was raining.

According to Vard the only places to hear live rock n’ roll in Paris on a regular basis is to go cafe’s with live performances of “nostalgic” music or performers on the street. Vard and Ramaen did just that by the Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre where they regaled their audience with The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and other assorted tunes. “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak was a huge surprise and it was done well.

During my travels throughout Paris, I found Vard’s opinion of the current music scene to be quite accurate.

Vard is grateful for his time on “Nouvelle Star” as it gave him valuable information on performing, such as voice coaching which helped to put his vocal range into perspective. As for myself, I feel that Vard is a 21st Century Donovan and that any group that he and Ramaen join will be a plus. Both have just finished a run with a band called “SUSAN.” Vard and Ramaen have been friends for a few years and Vard had recommended Ramaen to the band “SUSAN.” Ramaen plays the bass guitar most of the time. FYI, Ramaen’s guitar teacher told him at age 11 that there was nothing more that he could teach him. Ramean adds that he has an “ear” for music like Vard and that he only had the teacher for 2 months…Ramaen is just 16-years-old.

Even tho Vard did not win “Nouvelle Star” and feels that it was because he chose rock n’ roll over “electronic” music, he does believe the info he gleaned from the experience was like cramming two years of coaching into a few months and worth every moment.

In more music news:

Hollywood City Council member Mitch O’ Farrell declared that October 9, 2015 was John Lennon Peace Day which was approved by the entire Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Eric Garcetti. The proclamation was presented to Jerry Ruben by O’Farrell at a birthday celebration @Capital Records for Lennon hosted by Breakfast With The Beatles host, Chris Carter. Lennon would have been 75-years-old. Without Ruben it appears the event would not have become the large event that it is.

November gigs to keep in mind are: Hey Rosetta @TheTroubador November 1st; John Lennon tribute act Just Imagine @The El Portal Theater on November 7&8; LOVE revisited featuring LOVE co-founder Johnny Echols @The Whiskey A GoGo on November 17.

Two books regarding GENESIS are slated for release: Phil Collins has an autobiography coming out in October 2016 and a re-release on iBook of Armando Gallo’s 1978 release “Genesis: The Evolution Of A Rock Band” is anticipated soon.

Also, who knew that songstress and actress Juliette Lewis is in “Jem And The Holograms”! This movie is due out on October 23.

Members of Actors’ Equity file lawsuit against their union

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

Members of Actors’ Equity file lawsuit against their union

LOS ANGELES (October 2015) — Actors and other members of the Los Angeles theatrical community filed a lawsuit today against Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. The lawsuit challenges the Union’s decision to eliminate its 25-year-old waiver of jurisdiction over small 99-seat theaters, a program popularly known as Equity Waiver. Plaintiffs claim that the Union’s decision to end Equity Waiver will unfairly destroy small theater in Los Angeles and deprive thousands of actors of opportunities to collaborate on creative theatrical projects.

The lawsuit was filed in the Los Angeles federal court. The plaintiffs are Los Angeles-based members of Equity, together with other theatrical artists and theater operators who had entered into a litigation Settlement Agreement with the Union in 1989 that established a system for regulating future changes to the Equity Waiver program.

The lawsuit alleges that the stage actors’ union violated this Settlement Agreement by improperly interfering with the democratic and due process procedures established in the Agreement to prevent any unilateral Union decision to eliminate the world of intimate theater. The lawsuit complains that Equity’s new rules, including a prohibition on volunteer acting at small theaters and a new wage compensation obligation on these theaters, will force theaters to close, reduce their production runs, or to hire non-union volunteer actors in place of Union actors.

The plaintiffs announced that they would not serve the Complaint on the Union immediately, in the hope that the Union would respond to their request to meet and confer about a mutually acceptable resolution of the small theater controversy.

“Although we have now filed the complaint, we have not yet served it on the Union,” stated Steven Kaplan, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. “We have asked the Union to take this opportunity to avoid the time, expense and acrimony of litigation, and sit down with its members to discuss a mutually advantageous resolution.”

Gary Grossman, a member of Equity and one of the plaintiffs in the 1989 litigation, stated that “This lawsuit became necessary because Equity refused to comply with the preliminary procedural protections built into our 1989 Settlement Agreement. These procedural protections were designed to ensure that, before substantial changes were made to the 99-Seat Theater Plan, meaningful discussions would take place within the small theater community.”

Actor Michael A. Shepperd, also a plaintiff, said, “Our members voted to reject the Union’s actions by a 2-1 margin in one of the largest election turnouts in the organization’s history. We are terribly disappointed that our Union rejected the principle of democracy on which it was founded, and foisted on Union members new rules that will harm all actors in the long run.”

Actress Karen Kondazian, another plaintiff, explained that “the majority of Los Angeles artists who work in small theaters want Equity to put a moratorium on these new plans in order for local members’ voices to be adequately and fairly heard, and for the Union to work together with a task force of local theater artists to develop a comprehensive plan that will adequately address the needs of the Los Angeles theater community. But our leadership turned a deaf ear to our concerns.”

Actor French Stewart, another plaintiff, lamented that “we would hate to see either the death of intimate theater or the world of small theater go non-union. Equity’s decision was short-sighted and likely will contribute to an erosion of unionized acting in Los Angeles.”

Plaintiffs are represented by the Law Offices of Steven J. Kaplan and Martha Doty of Alston & Bird.

 

**** 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.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY TIGRAN MUTAFYAN

Waide Aaron Riddle
-
0
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY TIGRAN MUTAFYAN

FOCUSING ON AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY TIGRAN MUTAFYAN: A Q & A

A Burbank resident, and perhaps one of the busiest Cinematographers in Hollywood, I sat down with ‘Tig’ for the first time at Starbucks on Venture Blvd. & Vantage.

He greeted me with an exuberant smile and strong handshake. I knew immediately we were going to have fun and have a very relaxed coffee break:

WR– So, Tig, where exactly are you from?

T– From Earth. (Ah, he already has a good sense of humor!) … No, I was born and raised in Gyumri, Armenia. Then moved to St. Petersburg, Russia when I was 22 years old and lived there until 2010… when I moved to L.A.

(He has a thick accent, but is able to communicate and articulate exactly what he wants. This has obviously served him well with the industry and Actors)

WR– And, where were you educated?

T– I have a Masters in Directing from St. Petersburg Theatre Arts Academy, Russia.

WR– Very impressive! What inspired you to want to be a Director of Photography/ Cinematographer?

T– Communicating… ideas… with people was the most important reason for me to become a filmmaker. 

(As you can tell, Tig is very specific with his words during our conversation)

WR– What’s your favorite film you DPed (short for Director of Photography) on? And why?

T– I enjoyed working on all the projects that I have been a part of because I respect the trust that people put into my work. “Zoya” is one movie which is very close to me because I was moved by the subject of the movie. I was given the space to design the shots and visual language. I feel that the amount of trust that the production put in my ideas was one of the most important reason for me to be connected to this movie because of the challenges that it brought.

WR– Beautifully said, Tig… I think all Artists can relate to those words. You were an acting coach in Russia; what is a valuable tip you feel actors-anywhere– should know?

T– The most important advice I can give to the Actor is to find an ’emotional connection to their personal lives.’

WR- That’s a pretty damn good tip there, Tig! (He laughs) Now, what tip would you give to the new and beginning actor in Hollywood? Also known as the ‘green’ actor.

T– Research life a lot. Pay attention to details of the ‘real life‘ around you. Use ‘prediction’ to keep your characters in a way that they are ‘questioning’ the outcome. It will give a sense of reality.

WR– Wow, I’ve been in L.A. for 31 years and that’s very strong advice for any artist. Let’s hope they’re listening.

T– Let’s hope.

WR– What are you currently working on?

T– I am currently shooting a music video for artist will .i. am, from the Black Eyed Peas. The music video will be premiered at the Louvre this December. It is a very unique concept, one of its kind. I am not allowed to speak a lot about it at this moment.

WR– Understood and exciting! Do you have a favorite camera to work with? And why?

T– Every project requires its own equipment based on ‘the look.’ The best camera is the one that captures what is needed for the story to become a reality.

(Wrap your mind around that!)

WR– Everyone has an industry horror story, what’s yours?

T– Fake friendships in Hollywood is the start of every horror story.

WR– Now, that’s an answer that every Artist should take note of… (We both look at each other a moment) Got a favorite book?

T– “An Angel Comes to Babylon” by Friedrich Durrenmatt.

WR– Favorite author?

T– Hovhannes Tumanyan

WR– Favorite movie?

T– “La Strada” (Release 1954/ USA Release 1956. Dir. Federico Fellini)

WR– Favorite song?

T– “Oror” by Lusine Zakaryan

WR– Favorite singer?

T– My Mom.

WR– Boxers or briefs?

T– Boxers or naked.

WR– Good for you, Tig! (We both chuckle) Any political issue that concerns you? And why?

T– Wars based on religion are stupid.

WR– You can say that again.

T– Wars based on religion are stupid.

WR– I guess I stepped into that one, eh?.. Marriage equality?

T– Mutual respect is the only thing that should be equal in any kind of marriage. Everything else is unique and should be unique.

(My head just spun!)

WR– … (I think he is going to say something more, but I’m not sure) anything else?..

T– (There is a long pause before he speaks again) I love people and humanity regardless of how violent it is. We should cut the ‘bullshit’ and live together and understand that everyone is valuable.

(And it spun again!)

WR– Favorite color?

T– As a DP, I like normal skin tones. No highlights or underexposed.

WR– You are definitely a ‘cut and dry’ kind of guy, Tig, and that’s a great quality to have. (He smiles). Thank you for taking the time. It was a pleasure to sit down and get to know you.

T– You’re welcome.

… and there’s another big smile and strong handshake, and he’s off to his next gig.

The Rise and Fall of My Breasts @ NoHo Fringe

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month a perfect time to talk about breasts. These conversations are exactly what you will find within the episodic play: The Rise and Fall of My Breasts, a NoHo Fringe Festival entry at The Acme Theatre, Saturday, October 24 at 4:00 and Sunday, October 25th at 5:00, 5124 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA. 91601.

The most significant issue surrounding women’s breasts is breast cancer. Examining, testing and treatment are paramount in the life or death of a woman. CDC’s 2012 statistics indicate that 224,147 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 41,150 died from breast cancer. These are cold numbers. Behind them are lives, families, triumphs and defeat. Presented within The Rise and Fall of My Breasts are a few stories depicting the struggles and triumphs with breast cancer?

Since the beginning of this year, two members of the original cast of The Rise and Fall of My Breasts have lost loved ones to breast cancer, one her wife, the other her mother. An audience member had been diagnosed with breast cancer, undergone treatment and a mastectomy, another shared that after seeing the show at age 43 was motivated to get her first mammogram. For these women and their families we humble submit The Rise and Fall of My Breasts in their honor.

The Rise and Fall of My Breasts www.nohoartsdistrict.com National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Rise and Fall of My Breasts, is based on interviews conducted with women 19 – 90. I’m full breasted! I remember my world changing when my breasts started to form. Not just physically, but I had to contend with gawking, sexual overtures; even my character was called into question as a result of having breasts.

After an examination of the impact of breasts in my life, curiosity compelled me to question whether my experiences were isolated. Conducting research and talking to other women a common thread emerged: “no matter the size: small, medium, large or non-existent, females experienced memorable life altering events associated with having breasts.” Their interviews gave birth to the play: The Rise and Fall of My Breasts. Within the play are memories of puberty, first bra, being fondle and molested, mammograms, breast feeding, mastectomies, enhancement, sexuality, homosexuality getting older and life.

“Sadly, advancement in anything that asks for a cultural shift is slow. Women’s breasts continue to be sexual, shameful, and objectified. I would love to be free to accept myself as I am, to boldly and proudly inhabit my body without shame, and to fully embrace and accept my anatomy as the beautiful and miraculous vessels that it is.” I don’t live in a vacuum, and though I have made progress in my own life, there is much work to be within me and within the world that I inhabit. For this reason I am encouraged to help others, as well as myself, be more aware of the influences that shackle women to antiquated and misogynistic precepts. Breasts are made up of fat, nipple, glands, and a network of ducts which milk can pass from.

The Rise and Fall of My Breasts National Breast Cancer Awareness Month www.nohoartsdistrict.com

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a perfect opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the impact of both cancers; physical and social. There are runs, walks, movements, social media campaigns that involve women and their breasts. Get involved. Oh yeah, and go see The Rise and Fall of My Breasts Saturday October 24 at 4:00pm or October 25 at 5:00pm at The Acme Comedy Theatre, 5124 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.

TICKETS>>

**** 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.

What are you going to do in NoHo this weekend?

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

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…ENJOY NOHO!

**** 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.  

Same Sex Marriage Ruling Raises New Tax Issues

Lillian Appleby
-
0
Same Sex Marriage Ruling Raises New Tax Issues

Total Improv Kids returns to NoHo with new Halloween show!

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

Total Improv Kids is back in NoHo! The troupe performs a brand new show Saturdays in October.

For years, Total Improv Kids, the nation’s premiere school for teaching the art of improvisation to children, left a lasting imprint on North Hollywood with its critically acclaimed, sold-out shows at the historic Avery Schreiber Theater. Though the Schreiber closed in 2013, the work of Total Improv Kids continued and grew stronger. And now founder Linda Fulton’s class of talented performers are ready to make their return to the NoHo stage with a brand new show.

DATES AND TIMES:

October 10-31
Saturdays, 2PM

LOCATION:

The Sherry Theater
11052 Magnolia Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601

TICKET PRICES:

General Admission: $10
*Patrons are encouraged to wear costumes!!

INFORMATION & RESERVATIONS:

For further information, please call: (818) 481-8072 or check out their website at: www.totalimprovkids.com

Total Improv Kids www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Jack-O-Laughter plays Saturdays in October, starting Oct. 10 from 2-3 p.m. at The Sherry Theater on Magnolia in the heart of the NoHo Arts District. As always, Total Improv Kids’ shows are run completely by kids from the moment the lights go down to the moment they come up. Taking audience suggestions, the actors will perform a series of improv games in a Halloween-themed show that Fulton swears can go toe-to-toe with any adult improv troupe performance.

“It still amazes me even today what these kids are capable of in terms of not just improv but putting together a show of their own,” said Fulton, who launched Total Improv Kids in 1999. “We have some amazing experienced performers. Mixed with the freshness and energy of some new performers, this is going to be a great show.”

While the closing of the Schreiber and the loss of a home definitely affected the young troupe, Fulton and her students banded together and dedicated themselves to the work. The result, Fulton says, is a passion and drive that she is proud to see come from her kids.

“We have been working hard and honing our skills,” Fulton said. “The community is going to see that we haven’t gone away at all, we’re still a big part of the NoHo community.”

Fulton continues to teach her improv classes and her work with local charities, offering to teach students with financial hardships and both children and adults with learning disabilities. She and her students often put up charity shows as well. The company, which has performed Off-Broadway, is looking to return to New York with a new show soon as well.

Plus, Fulton has begun sharing what she’s learned from her many years working improv with students, teaching parents, educators, coaches, therapists, etc., teaching them her Fulton Method. She also has a book coming out in 2016 entitled The Power of Improvisation.

“With the teaching, the shows, the book, all of it—I just want to show as many people as possible how amazing improv can be in helping a child learn valuable life skill and unlocking their true potential.”

**** 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.  

THE HIDDEN ARTIST: Dietmar Kohl

nohoarts
-
1

THE HIDDEN ARTIST: Dietmar Kohl
CONNECTION TO NOHO: Long time artist and resident who enjoys tea and pie at Republic of Pie
MEDIUMS: Photography and fashion design
WEBSITE: http://dkohl1.photobiz.com

European transplants, especially artistic ones, have always interested me, both in Chicago where I’m from and in Los Angeles where I’ve resided for over twenty-five years. In my opinion, there’s something quite different about them—some kind of class or style that most Americans don’t have. Of course, they’ve always been opinionated about almost anything American, but for me it was a refreshingly different perspective on what many Americans, including myself, often dismissed or took for granted. But nothing prepared me for what I would learn during my interview with Dietmar Kohl.

I’d been slowly meeting Dietmar on Facebook. What attracted me to him were his photography posts of downtown Los Angeles. The guy definitely had an “eye” for content as well as composition, but more importantly, he possessed the rare gift of being able to get close to his subject matter. So, I made an appointment with him on one of those now seasonably hot Los Angeles October afternoons at The Republic of Pie on Magnolia. We sat on a truly spring less couch in the back of the restaurant—you know, the kind you can’t get out of because your butt has landed closer to the floor than you expected. At first, Dietmar was a bit shy with me and spoke quietly. He wore a black ball cap he’d studded with skull and nailheads that he wanted me to see and told me he’d been designing hats like it, as well as leather jackets, for a store on Melrose Ave. And then we talked about his photography.

Dietmar is originally from Vienna, Austria. He came to the U.S. during the early 90s with a resume and portfolio full of fashion and graphic experience, then married the woman of his dreams. But misfortune struck. His wife later died of a rare lung disease and Dietmar was struck by a car, which disabled him for a period of time. Slowly, he has been recreating his life and getting back to fashion, but he is always photographing—everything, everywhere, and anybody, especially those who many Angeleno’s choose to ignore—our homeless residents of the streets, viaducts, abandoned buildings, and bridges.

Turns out Dietmar has been not only photographing the homeless since the 90s, but he’s been getting right next to them too—so close in fact that he can fully empathize with their plight, know a little of their histories, and enable them to trust him. Now, who does that? All we do is hurriedly flip coins in their direction or complain they are eyesores in the light of the gentrification happening around us—and that’s spreading like a bad rash. But did you know mental institutions deliver mentally ill patients to the streets in vanloads because they can’t care for them anymore? Did you know that although many of us got through the economy downturn in 2009 that the repercussions of all those jobs lost, the houses taken away, and even the economy’s present revival (which has become quiet evident with the insane rental increases and new construction) have those people still kicked to the curb?

Did we ever consider that the “filthy miserable lechs” laying on skid row in downtown Los Angeles are there because they’ve been treated as nothing more than subhumans, offered no place to sleep, let alone a decent place to clean themselves in other than a cold concrete institutionalized shower room? Dietmar told me these things because he’s been close enough to see them in these horrid circumstances. And after awhile—after he can actually call these people by their names given to them at birth, he photographs them.

I think there are many reasons to write about Dietmar today. He is wonderfully talented and deserves recognition for all his work. I mean, the man isn’t even from America and he has more soul for the human race than any American I know. It is my hope that Dietmar’s photographs will get into everyone’s faces, especially these iconic and sad documentaries of our brothers and sisters. I pray they will be used to bring more awareness and fundraising to give these poor people back their dignity by giving them a place to rest and clean their bodies. Dietmar said we all live in a ghetto and it’s so damn true. All we have to do is open our eyes and see it all around us. But we have to do more. We have to get so close we can touch them—like Dietmar Kohl has.

Literature Hits the Streets of NoHo at the 3rd Annual Lit Crawl L.A.

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

L.A.’s biggest literary night out features more than 200 SoCal writers and artists in more than 40 literary performances & readings at restaurants, galleries and more!

Thousands of literary arts lovers from throughout Southern California are expected to converge on the NoHo Arts District for one night of “literary mayhem” at Lit Crawl L.A. On Wednesday, October 21, 2015 from 6PM to Midnight, NoHo becomes a choose-your-own literary adventure experience with more than 35 restaurants, bars, theatres, galleries and more hosting 40+ literary happenings, featuring hundreds of SoCal’s best writers and artists! Audiences will enjoy performances and readings and meet well-known L.A. authors and celebrity writers in addition to dozens of members of L.A.’s diverse literary scene. Lit Crawl L.A. is FREE to attend with the exception of the Closing Party and is an entirely walkable experience.

Lit Crawl L.A. is held in three “Rounds” plus an Opening Program and Closing Party. Guests can choose to attend just one event each Round or “crawl” from event to event. The schedule is:

* 6:00PM Opening Program at the Laemmle NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd.
* 7:00PM Round One
* 8:00PM Round Two
* 9:00PM Round Three
* 10:00PM Closing Party at Studio 77, 5077 Lankershim Blvd.

The complete Lit Crawl L.A. in the NoHo Arts District schedule is available at www.LitCrawl.org/LA.

Litcrawl LA 2015 www.nohoartsdistrict.com

A few of the outstanding collection of 200 writers and artists participating in the Crawl include: Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde lead singer), Erin Aubry Kaplan (Journalist and Novelist), Janet Fitch (White Oleander, Paint it Black), Jerry Stahl (Permanent Midnight), Joe Loya (The Man Who Outgrew His Prison Cell), Amanda Gorman (Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate, 2014-15), Julia Horwitz (Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate, 2015-16), graphic novelist Derek Kirk Kim (Still Life), Ryan Gattis (All Involved), S. Pearl Sharp (NPR Essayist and Commentator), Los Angeles Times Book Critic David Ulin (Sidewalking: Coming to Terms with Los Angeles – to be released October 6), Samantha Dunn (Not By Accident), Susan Straight (Between Heaven and Here), Tony Valenzuela (Executive Director, Lambda Literary), J. Ryan Stradal (Kitchens of the Great Midwest), Jillian Lauren (Everything You Ever Wanted), Tod Goldberg (Gangsterland), Barbara Keegan (Emmy award-winning actress), Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo (award-winning poet), and more!

Litcrawl LA 2015 www.nohoartsdistrict.com

The 40+ literary performances and readings include programs like: Zombies vs. Vampires from PEN Center USA, All-Female Literary Smackdown from UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, Show & Tell Comics from Los Angeles Cartoonists of Color, Choose Your Own Los Angeles from Heyday, Word Power: The Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate Showcase from Urban Word Los Angeles, Coming Out, Coming of Age, or Just Plain Coming: Tales of Queerdom from Lambda Literary, Hands Like Eyes / Eyes Like Ears from Invisible Stars and Watts Village Theater Company, Lit-alingus from Cultural Weekly, and more! Several presentations will combine music and words with The Return of the NoHo Beat from the Los Angeles Poet Society and “From the Mouths of Musicians” from The Empire of Fun.

Litcrawl LA 2015 www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Lit Crawl L.A. was founded in 2013 by leaders in the local L.A. literary community. Conrad Romo, host of the Tongue & Groove reading series, approached the host of The New Short Fiction Series, Sally Shore, and former West Hollywood Book Fair Director, Rosalind Helfand, with the dream of founding a large scale LA crawl that unites literary lovers and creators. The first crawl was a huge success, drawing over 2,000 guests. In 2014, over 3,000 lit crawlers attended the event for an amazing literary smorgasbord. Lit Crawl L.A.

Project Director Sally Shore proclaims, “Going into Lit Crawl L.A. year 3, I am filled with wonder and awe at the breadth, diversity and quality of the L.A. literary scene. I encourage Angelenos to come out to the NoHo Arts District on October 21st and discover the literary bounty in our own backyard.”

Litcrawl 2015 www.nohoartsdistrict.com

The crawl is receiving tremendous support from the local community and the city of Los Angeles. This year, Lit Crawl L.A. is also teaming up with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to put a spotlight on water with The New Short Fiction Series’ Water, Water Anywhere??? featuring spoken word performances of short stories by L.A. authors, and Weather Report: Stories of Drought and Rain presented by the College of the Desert. The Opening Program is made possible by Laemmle Theaters at the Laemmle NoHo 7 at 5240 Lankershim Blvd. Held from 6pm to 6:45pm, the Opening Program will include an energetic program of poetry readings getting audiences ready to crawl plus special guest speakers. Kaiser Permanente, Lit Crawl L.A.’s Official Walking Sponsor, will participate with goody bags for Lit Crawlers.

Lit Crawl L.A.’s annual Speak-Easy Closing Party will be hosted by Studio 77 NoHo at 5077 Lankershim Blvd. from 10pm to Midnight. The party will include food, beverages, music, prizes and more! Guests will soon have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the party at www.LitCrawl.org/LA.

Lit Crawl L.A. in the North Hollywood Arts District is a walkable event and all Lit Crawl L.A. presentations take place less than a mile from the North Hollywood Metro Station. Audiences are encouraged to Go Metro to Lit Crawl L.A. by taking the Metro Red or Orange Line to North Hollywood Station in the NoHo Arts District. To determine the best route, guests can use the Metro Trip Planner or call (323) Go Metro (323.466.3876).

Lit Crawl L.A.’s major sponsors include Metro LA, Kaiser Permanente, Laemmle Theaters, Akin Gump, Knitting Factory Entertainment, Studio 77, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the Mid-town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council. Presenting partners include the Los Angeles Public Library, County of Los Angeles Libraries, Los Angeles City Council District 2, the NoHo Arts District Business Improvement District, and the Department of Cultural Affairs Los Angeles. Other sponsors include NoHoArtsDistrict.com, Poets & Writers, Submittable, and Mod Pizza.

Lit Crawl L.A. is a project of the EMERGE fiscal sponsorship program of The Pasadena Arts Council and the Litquake Foundation. The Lit Crawl originated in 2004 as part of Litquake, San Francisco’s Literary Festival. San Francisco’s Litquake Literary Festival runs October 9-17, 2015, with annual Lit Crawls in Los Angeles, NYC, Seattle, Iowa City, Austin, London, Helsinki, and Portland.

**** 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.  

Unusual Casting – and why it can save your film…

Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros
-
0
Unusual Casting – and why it can save your film…

“Casting is storytelling”…Joss Weadon

We are all in the end, tragically…or maybe not, at the mercy of our actors.

When you are working with no money you may imagine that you should hold to the ‘realistic’ ethos of just “taking whatever you can get.” But that, my friends, is a critical and potentially disastrous mistake.

And people make it over and over again.

It’s a very fine line to walk when casting your movie, or rather several very fine lines.

You must be true to the vision of your characters and the story they will tell.

You must be realistic and not expect Benedict Cumberbatch to wait patiently in the lobby for the possibility of an audition with you…well not at this stage in your career anyway.

You must be aware that you may, given your budget, be auditioning actors who may not have that much experience on screen and therefore in the auditioning room. If you are lucky you might get many theatre actors, looking for screen time. Actors who audition for stage work usually audition with their own well rehearsed pieces or monologues and not four lines of ambiguous shouting you emailed them the night before, so be understanding. And most importantly, this is something I always do and it’s really important, so pay attention, take a moment to scan their resumes when they hand you their headshot…lots of hidden gems may be there for you to work with, to help draw them out of their terrified shells and to support them in giving you something that you absolutely want – the perfect actor for the role.

And here is the big one for me. Cast bravely and uniquely and memorably, across type, gender, race, physical ability, language, and never, ever, ever cast safely.

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this happen, and even have been guilty of it myself. If you have a small film, short and sweet, or short and salty or short and scary…whatever… you will not do it justice at all by casting safe, good, reliable, attractive, twenty somethings.

You know the films that you remember? The Good The Bad and The Ugly…with ugly in it….Reservoir dogs…Jaws…Mad Max…The French Connection…Alien…good grief even Ghostbusters, or Fargo, or Pricilla Queen of the Desert and I could go on and on. None of these films, these crazy, dirty, wonderful, gorgeous films had anyone who could remotely be referred to as beautiful in them. Or fit, or handsome or tall even.

If you want people to watch, if you want your film to stand out, your little, not many people are going to see it film, you must CAST BOLDLY…

Some of my most treasured films are the ones where I made bold or unpopular choices in the casting. I have cast people with unusual physical characteristics, disabilities, against gender and age perceptions and with such thick accents that, for some at least, it is hard to understand them, and they are present in the film with no explanation of their background, no ‘reason’ why. Because that is how the world is, a wild mixture of people with cultures gorgeously reflected in the faces of our neighbors. All of us unique and powerful and far from cookie cutter.

The right actor can elevate your work to levels you had never dreamed of, and the right actor could be anyone, any shape, any form. Do not be the fool who limits themselves by pandering to the studio executive in your head.

Our culture is so ridiculously misrepresented in the media and although it is changing, more Black actors, and Asian actors etc., and even, heaven forbid, more non traditional (whatever the heck that means), female actors, it is the ‘lives richly drawn’ that attracts me the most. That always shows on the face, in the eyes, the movements, the physical echos and definitely in the personality of an actor.

I am working on a new and very ambitious project for next year, a Sci-fi feature film that I will write and direct myself and shoot for very little money. I will cast beyond the Hollywood norm, filling every frame with the people-riches of the world, with faces and lives that not only reflect who we are as a planet, but who we are endeavoring to become.

Can you imagine how amazing it would be to cast Gary Busey in your film, as the Dad, or the cop or the priest for instance? Do you think it would be easy? Probably not, but boy would you have an audience. Every other actor would rise up to meet his crazy and brilliant talent. Your little film could actually get seen, get shown, and be something other than you had ever imagined it to be.

Okay, it might crash and burn. But if we are being honest, that could happen anyway, with or without an actor who is, to put it politely, unpredictable. But the gamble is worth it. What you get onscreen from these actors with difficult lives, or histories or huge personalities is a presence that often you can’t find anywhere else. They fill the screen. Their thoughts mirrored in their eyes, translating your words into powerful moments and memorable relationships and vivid interpretations.

What we all want in the end is to be seen.

Our films, our stories, our lives. Film is the ultimate ‘seeing’ machine. The stories we tell are important, because they are our stories, but that’s never enough. You need someone to help you tell them that can captivate, mesmerize and stand out from ever deepening ocean of content. Interesting and some might say even ‘risky’ casting can make all the difference in the battle for an audience.

To ‘be seen’ you must take chances, be interesting, push limits and gather those artists around you that have the ability to do the same. Not by trying to be, but by actually, truly ‘being’ all these things that you can imagine, and some things that without their unique and inspiring contributions you never, ever could.

You may make your producer pull their hair out and give them and probably you a few sleepless nights, but the results will be so rewarding, the film you make so beautiful and honest and real that you will have no regrets and every reason to cast again and again these abstract, challenging and brilliant actors with a universe within their bodies and a lifetime of experience in their faces.

Three perfect tips for fashionable health

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

You could be a style queen, a fashionista of the highest order or the Yves Saint Laurent of your zip code – but have you got the good health to back your claim to fashion fame up?

Just think about the models who strut the catwalks of Paris, Milan, and New York. Do you think they feast on a Domino’s pizza every night? Not a chance.

They wake up at 6am, head to the gym for a workout, chow down on a low-fat breakfast, hit the gym some more, chow down on lunch, have a healthy walk – and all to look as dazzling as possible when they model the latest fashion trends.

Naturally, no one expects you to have such a Full Metal Jacket-style drill for your day-to-day good health. But you do need to boost your diet and beauty regime if you want to feel great.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a few top tips to help you get in shape and gain the health to complement your natty outfit!

Top up on minerals

You’ve slapped on enough makeup to fill a cosmetics counter – and, to be frank, you look a little bit like an Oompa Loompa. Foundation and heavy makeup can look caked on, and less healthy than a face that’s cosmetic-free.

It’s a shame because there’s a world of difference between cheap makeup and mineral makeup. A dose of minerals on your visage will provide you with a lighter skin tone and allow your skin some room to breathe, saving you from the blight of pimples.

15 minutes is all you need

When you’re living a sedentary lifestyle, plucking up the energy to exercise can feel like pushing a Ferrari uphill with your nose. After all, you’ve got an entire box set of Game of Thrones to burn through – can you really make the effort to step outside and get fighting fit?

But not every workout has to set your muscles on fire. In fact, 15 minutes a day should be enough to keep you healthy – to begin with.

Once you’re comfortable with your 15 minute session, add five minutes in increments. After a few months, you’ll have a full-blown workout – and you’ll barely break a sweat.

Get super

You’re scoffing Domino’s, guzzling Diet Cokes and topping off your meals with a daily dose of chocolate cake. No wonder you’re struggling with your diet. It’s time to shake things up. Start incorporating superfoods (foods high in vitamins, proteins and minerals) into your meals and you’ll enjoy clearer skin and an outlook that’s brighter than the California sun.

**** 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.

 

NoHo Senior Arts Colony- Native Elder Art Group Show

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

Neshikunat – we are all related. A celebration of Native American Heritage Month

In November we celebrate many holidays, observances and month designations. But there is one that honors the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and histories and acknowledges the contributions of Native American people. We celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November. The NoHo Arts District is celebrating with Neshikunat – Native Elder Art Group Show at the NoHo Senior Arts Colony with a free, opening reception on Tuesday, October 13 from 6-8PM and the exhibit runs through December 13.

Native American Heritage Month is a time to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people, and to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

WHAT: Neshikunat – Native Elder Art Group Show
WHEN: Opening reception Tuesday, October 13 from 6-8PM
Exhibit runs October 13 – December 13
WHERE: NoHo Senior Arts Colony
10747 Magnolia Blvd. NoHo Arts District

NoHo Senior Arts Colony Native American Heritage Month www.nohoartsdistrict.com
Artist Gail Werner

A note from Kat High, the coordinator of the Neshikunat – Native Elder Art Group Show.

Several years ago there was a push to pull the network of Native artists in California together to support each other, to spotlight our unique place in California history and culture, and create opportunities for mentoring our Native youth – as well as all youth who have had their education cut off from their art.

For Native Americans, traditionally there was no “art” separate from objects of daily life. For many tribes paint = power. Objects were painted to increase their power. Symbols were used to create relationships and tell stories. Our elders have had the experiences that are often depicted in these stories.

This show started with Caroline McElroy – an educator, artist, activist, and friend – who lives at the NoHo Senior Arts Colony (NoHo SAC) – and first broached the idea of hosting a show of our Native art.

“My longtime friend Kat High shared her vision of a Native American elder art show in the NoHo Arts District via The NoHo SAC,” said Caroline McElroy. “Kat High and I have been friends since we worked together as commissioners on the LAUSD’s American Indian Education Commission. Among the projects we worked on was eradicating Native American themed mascots from the LAUSD.”

There is a community of Native people in North Hollywood, but they had drifted apart – it’s hard to hold together when you are not from the same tribe, you don’t work together, and the ties that bind you become worn. This is the seed that we hope will bring our community together to see the beauty and power in our stories, and feel the pride we have in our elder artist/storytellers.

Celebrate Native American Heritage month by learning more about the people who first called our country home.

**** 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.

Beer, Fringe Fest, Street Party, Theatre for All – NoHo News

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

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…ENJOY NOHO!

**** 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.

PRO99 Street Party to save AJS Costumes

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

The NoHo Arts District and PRO99 organize street party to save AJS Costumes

On Sunday, October 18, the NoHo Arts District and members of the “PRO99″ Los Angeles theater community are throwing a block party to raise awareness about the impact that new regulations from Actor’s Equity Association, the union of actors’ and stage managers, is having on the local community – including AJS Costumes which is in danger of going out of business. The NoHo Arts District and PRO99 Street Party to Save AJS Costumes will feature entertainment, music, celebrity speakers, community leaders and a costume parade of extravagant period costumes designed by AJS founder and owner Jeffrey Schoenberg.

WHEN:

Sunday, Oct. 18 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE:

NoHo Plaza
5223-5225 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, 91601

ADMISSION:

FREE

MORE INFORMATION:

www.ilove99.org or visit them on Facebook

Actor’s Equity has promulgated a new plan regulating actors’ pay, scheduled to go into effect on June 1, 2016, that will force “intimate theaters” in Los Angeles to pay Equity actors minimum wage. Many smaller theaters allege that they will be forced to go “non-union” or face going out of business as a result. In anticipation, many 99-seat production budgets have already shrunk. AJS Costumes, which has served the greater Los Angeles theater community for over 13 years, currently faces a severe slowdown in business and is at risk of being one of the first major dominoes to fall.

“Changes in the local 99-seat theater plan are causing many theater companies to be very conservative about selecting their projects,” says Schoenberg, who has been honored with numerous awards and nominations, including Ovation, LA Weekly and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, for his costume designs. “They are doing smaller productions, with less costume design needed, and fewer period plays. Business has slowed to a trickle. It has been devastating.”

According to Nancy Bianconi, publisher of NoHo Arts District’s website nohoartsdistrict.com, many businesses in the district are worried about the upcoming Equity changes. ”Our fear is that this could cripple the NoHo Arts District and undermine the district’s success in becoming a cultural tourist and entertainment destination,” she says.

PRO99 member Frances Fisher states, “If the new Actor’s Equity 99-Seat Theater Agreement goes through, it’s not just going to affect actors, it’s going to affect the larger Los Angeles community and its economy.”

PRO99 members (who take their name from the current Actor’s Equity 99-Seat Plan that allows members to volunteer in smaller venues) oppose AEA’s new agreement. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles membership of AEA voted down an advisory referendum on the new agreement by an overwhelming margin of 66%. In addition to regulating pay scales, the new agreement eliminates basic protections and rights mandated by the current 99-Seat Plan. PRO99 is requesting that AEA put a moratorium on the new agreement in order for local members’ voices to be heard, and that the union work together with its members to develop a plan that will adequately address the realities of the Los Angeles theater community.

Schoenberg has started a GoFundMe page to help support his business at https://www.gofundme.com/bn328dqq. Donations can also be made in person at the event.

Proo99 street party www.nohoartsdistrict.com

ABOUT PRO99
PRO99 is a collective of actors, stage managers, other theater artists and audience members who are committed to preserving, protecting and promoting the intimate theater movement in Los Angeles and beyond. For more information about PRO99 go to www.ilove99.org.

ABOUT NOHO ARTS DISTRICT
The NoHo Arts District is a community organization that promotes art, culture, theater, festivals and all performing arts and happenings in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood. For more information go to www.nohoartsdistrict.com.

**** 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.

Paws for Patriots – 5 Organizations That Provide Service Dogs for Veterans

nohoarts
-
10

It’s common knowledge that service dogs are incredibly helpful in the lives of those with physical disabilities.

Thankfully, our nation is beginning to recognize more every day that military veterans’ psychological needs are just as real and valid as other, more common physical disabilities we so often associate with service dogs.

You may have seen stories in recent news about veterans being kicked out or not allowed in restaurants with their service dogs because of the staff’s inability to recognize a “PTSD service dog” as a “real” service dog. With the news reporting on the matter more frequently, restaurants nationwide have begun to understand. A veteran with a PTSD service dog, and a blind man with his guide dog for example, should be welcomed equally in all places of business. Service dogs help not only those who cannot see, but also those who have seen too much.

pet2

Service dogs can be trained for a variety of specific needs to assist their owner. Where the guide dog for the blind may be particularly more skilled in leading in a walk and being cautious for obstacles in its path, a service dog for a veteran with PTSD is more skilled in monitoring the veteran for debilitating panic attacks, flashbacks, or depression. There have been numerous accounts by veterans who share their stories of their service dogs, who helped them during times of need.

Sadly, twenty-two veterans commit suicide each day. Thousands of dogs are euthanized each day.

This practical solution of training dogs to be of service and paired with veterans in need is a wonderful life-saving concept that the following organizations have put to work.

Want to help? Donate or volunteer for these nonprofit organizations, they depend solely on your donations and assistance to keep costs minimal or free for the military veteran.

THE BATTLE BUDDY FOUNDATION

pet3

The Battle Buddy Foundation’s mission is to ensure that veterans and their families receive programs and services that will help them acclimate back to family and civilian life. They accomplish this by:

· Providing highly trained psychiatric and mobility service dogs to veterans of all eras suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and physical limitations at no cost.
· Connecting veterans to employment and housing opportunities within our network of Veteran-focused organizations.
· Building a community of peer support for veterans and their families through programs, events, and social media.
· The Battle Buddy Foundation was founded by veterans to serve veterans. All our efforts are aimed at effecting long term and positive change in the lives of combat veterans and their families.

AMERICA’S VET DOGS

dog4

America’s Vet Dogs serves the needs of disabled veterans from all eras who have honorably served our country. VetDogs provides guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; hearing dogs for those who have lost their hearing later in life; service dogs for those with other physical disabilities; facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals, and PTSD service dogs to help mitigate the effects of PTSD in an effort to provide the emotional and physical support needed. America’s Vet Dogs’ mission is to help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence.

CANINES FOR VETERANS

pet5

Known as the “triple win”, Canines for Veterans program has twice been awarded a Newman’s Own Award for program innovations supporting our military and their families, is approved by the US Department of Labor as an apprenticeship program and was named a Joining Forces Community Challenge finalist.​

Launched in 2008, the program began at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune until August 2010 when it transferred to the Navy Consolidated Brig, Charleston, South Carolina. ​Canines for Service has been training service dogs for over 18 years. From making sure the service dogs are trained to meet ADA requirements in the tasks that they can do, to developing specialty skills to assist a specific client; it is about the person we serve.

PUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION

pet6

The Puppy Jake Foundation is dedicated to help wounded military veterans with the assistance of well-bred and professionally trained service dogs. Veterans’ injuries may be invisible such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or physical mobility impairments. The Foundation advocates for increased awareness and accessibility for those accompanied by a service dog in everyday situations.

PAWS FOR PURPLE HEARTS

pet7

Paws for Purple Hearts (PPH) is the first program of its kind to offer therapeutic intervention for veterans and active-duty military personnel by teaching those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to train service dogs for their comrades with combat-related injuries. PPH is built upon the trusted and time-honored tradition of veterans helping veterans.

Founded in 2006 as a program of Bergin University of Canine Studies, the pilot PPH program at VA Palo Alto Health Care System, California, continues serving veterans today. PPH initiated and trained staff to operate canine therapeutic programs at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Maryland), the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (Maryland), and Fort Belvoir (Virginia).

Trust: can you find it in a fashion article?

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

Here’s a piece of advice that should always keep you in good stead – never, ever trust a fashion article.

Yes, it’s an opening line that asks you to be suspicious of everything about to be written, but just hear this writer out for a second.

Have a look through fashion magazines and articles from a decade ago. By nowadays standards, they probably seem quaint. A few mighty even look outright batty. They’re like reading someone try to describe the internet in 1990, or discuss the appeal of Mark Wahlberg circa 1992.

Do you really want to put your faith in the hands of people who only live in the moment? Whose sense of fashion can change within a matter of weeks, until the latest Vivienne Westwood collection blows their conceptions right out of the water?

The latest collection from Kanye West, as fascinating as it was, showed us one thing – that we’ve got no real idea if we like a fashion collection when a celebrity is involved. Their endorsement muddies the waters.

And if our opinions are so unstable when someone like Yeezus promotes his latest brand, how can we know what we really think about any fashion clothing?

Timeless styles

So what can you trust in the fashion world? Where can you look for some stability in your style?

The answer is simple – pick the fashion trends that worked.

There are certain styles that exist seemingly outside of time. They’re somehow both fossilised and still relevant. You could strut up the catwalks of Paris and Milan in these garments and they’d still look tremendous.

Which era of clothing you prefer will, naturally, depend on your personal tastes. But there are a hefty number of styles that have consistently made the grade throughout the decades.

Consistent fashion-makers

Take a look at Audrey Hepburn. She’s an icon of glamour who still seems as fresh and invigorating as a lungful of oxygen. Her sleek black cocktail dresses combined with splashes of primary colours have transcended their period. You could wear them in a scuzzy nightclub or an upper class dinner party and receive the same dazzled looks.

Then there’s normcore, as it’s now called. Normcore is all about dressing down but still looking stylish. Your coats should brim with class while seeming practical, and your dress sense should fit the norm of urban living.

On the outre side of the spectrum is the goth look. Black lace, 19th century ruffles, splashes of white amidst the murk – they’re all hip in their own way, despite never having entered the fashion mainstream.

With these styles you can look great without going out of date. See? Maybe there is a fashion article you can trust.

**** 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.

Welcome Rattlestick West to NoHo

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

Rattlestick West offically launches with the 2015 Fall Festival

Yes. We are the NoHo Theatre District. Why? Well, with more than 20 theatres in a square mile and many more theatre companies calling North Hollywood home, we have the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City. Let’s welcome Rattlestick West to the neighborhood at their home at the Sherry Theater. They launch with a new play by Scott Caan, “The Performance of Heartbreak : An Epilogue,” about a distressed Hollywood writer who enlists the help of his street wise friend at the crossroads of a life altering decision. Also slated for their Fall Festival are One Acts from the James Franco’s acting and film school Studio 4, a film festival and much, much more!

The Rattlestick Theater www.nohoartsdistrict.com

While working on a play at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in 2014, Scott Haze and James Franco decided to join forces with David Van Asselt, Artistic Director of Rattlestick, to create Rattlestick West. Rattlestick, known for its work with emerging American artists, has produced over 90 world premieres in its 20 year history. Haze, founder of The Sherry Theater in Los Angeles, brought in his producing partner Lukas Behnken and the Sherry team with over 10 years of doing theater in L.A. to form this new bi-coastal collective.

The mission: seek out unique new voices, work with new and emerging playwrights, establish a home where playwrights have the ability to work with actors to explore and hone their art. More than that, we are looking to create an environment where all kinds of discovery becomes possible, through stage, film and innovative media, where the borders of art collide, and inspiration can thrive.

In this coming season Rattlestick West will produce five plays at the Sherry Theater, including works by Scott Caan, Daniel Talbott, and a chamber musical with songs co-written by Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik to a script of Ms. Vega’s based on Carson McCullers’ life.

Rattlestick is also co-producing with the Boston Court Theatre, Seven Spots on The Sun by Martín Zimmerman, at the Boston Court in Pasadena.

Twitter |   Facebook

The Sherry Theater www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Rattlestick West calls the Sherry Theater home, a theater that is specifically designed with the intention of bringing an intimate, audience friendly theater to the NoHo Arts District community. Founded in 2006 by Scott Haze and Lukas Behnken, the Sherry is located at 11052 Magnolia Blvd. (between Lankershim and Vineland) in North Hollywood. Scott Haze named the venue after his mother and his vision is to provide a venue where actors enjoy creating and presenting original and innovative material, a place where talent in every aspect of theater will thrive.

**** 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.

CODY’S VIVA CANTINA

Tammy Johnston
-
0
CODY’S VIVA CANTINA

With the closing of many San Fernando Valley old school restaurant bars/nightclubs, one place still holds true to the old cliché of the neighborhood bar where everyone knows your name and they are always glad to see you! Cody’s Viva Cantina has been in the same location since 1965.

Whether you stop by after work to relax, sit at the bar and have a cold beer and watch the game, enjoy a delicious authentic Mexican dinner or come for the live music and dancing, Cody’s Viva Cantina is your place!

They host music 8 days a week on two stages, and seldom have a cover charge. This is the happening spot in the valley. The Venue is located at the entrance to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and is open 366 Days a year. They are close to ABC, Disney, Warner Bros., DreamWorks and NBC.

With 3 Dining rooms, 2 stages, 2 bars and 2 patios, mucho free horse parking out back, mucho free automobile parking across the street, this is a win –win.

They have been seen on many TV shows including a really fun episode of American Pickers.

I had not been to Viva’s in a few years so early Sunday evening, I popped in for a visit and have a bite to eat. I parked in the large lot just across the street (for free) and headed over.

The patio area was busy with patrons chatting and enjoying authentic Mexican dishes. I made my way inside, to the first dining area. As I paused to take in the wonderful scenery, I was greeted with the warm friendly atmosphere I suddenly realized I had so missed!

Directly in front of me were rows of tables sporting checkered table cloths and candles. To the far left, in the corner of the room stood a small stage, empty with the exception of a drum kit, mic stand and standard musician’s equipment. Beautiful and colorful sombreros were proudly displayed on the wall above the stage. I was flooded with memories of dinners and dancing to wonderful live music many moons ago!
The walls are decorated with record album covers of a variety of music styles, Neon signs of musical instruments and photographs of entertainers past. Chandeliers hang throughout the rooms, adding to the ambience.

I smiled to myself and headed to my right, to find Ben tending bar, he has been part of Viva’s for over twenty years! He flashed a heartwarming smile as we chatted about the place and people. I joyously looked at photographs on the wall, of Ben as a young rodeo star, and one of Ben and Willie Nelson!

I heard live, blues music in the background and decided to check out the 2nd stage area complete with dance floor. I passed through the dining room, noticing small booths that seat two, perfect for a romantic dinner. Once in back, I was happy to see people grooving on the roomy dance floor and even spotted a few familiar faces!

I saw old friends, made new friends, had a fabulous dinner and listened to incredible, live music. The bottom line is I had a wonderful time. I will most definitely be back.

See ya at Cody’s Viva Cantina!

~Tammy

Be sure to check out the calendar for monthly music events.

https://www.facebook.com/Viva-Cantina-134856953246184/timeline/

Electronic Music Open Night Comes to NoHo!

Lisa Bianconi
-
1

Get ready for NoHo’s Elektronik Muzikk Experience (#EMX)

Underground electronic music is alive and expanding in Los Angeles. It’s called the Elektronik Muzikk Experience (#EMX), and this grass-roots music community meets  on the second Sunday of the month at the Other Door in North Hollywood for L.A.’s only Electronic Music Open Night!

WHEN: Sunday, October 11
WHERE: The Other Door
10437 Burbank Blvd. NoHo Arts District

The event is to showcase up-and-coming artists:
-DJs
-Producers
-Vocalists
-Dancers
-Visual Artists

EMX www.nohoartsdistrict.com

EMX founder “justin o.” created the Electronic Music Open Night after attempting to book shows as a DJ here in L.A. He had a hard time booking his first electronic gig, so “Open Night” was created to allow new and upcoming artists in the electronic music world a place to perform without the typical “Hollywood Hassle.”

Justin is originally from Olympia, WA where there is a very strong DIY scene that has given birth to bands such as Nirvana, the Melvins, Beck, Elliot Smith, Bikini Kill, and numerous other musical acts that were built from the ground up without major label support. He studied Audio Engineering & Electronic Music Production at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, and toured the nation three times with the Tight Bros From Way Back When supporting their record releases. They also sold their song “Hayseed Rock” to TGI Friday’s for use in a commercial. In 2000, Justin was in a very dramatic car accident in Las Vegas, NV, and found dead on the scene. His girlfriend had fell asleep driving and drove the car into a ditch. Luckily a passing trucker stopped to check on the couple to find Justin ejected 50 feet from the vehicle, and not breathing due to a punctured lung. The trucker had medical training so he used a PVC Pipe to re-inflate Justin’s lung and get him breathing again. Justin was then flown to the Trauma Center at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and they discovered that he had slight brain damage with internal bleeding. After six months of recovery Justin jumped back in the band van and continued to tour drumming with the Tight Bros.

After the Tight Bros legacy was over Justin ended up in Los Angeles playing drums with Ogg Xorbis & Snooz (aHNIGHITO_HISS), both members from the art department of L.A. progressive rock band Tool. Their sound shifted from Rock to Electronic Music and soon Justin decided to go solo and began trying to book himself shows DJing music that he composed and engineered.

EMX www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Unfortunately, there was no venue that welcomed upcoming electronic music artists in Los Angeles except for Open Mics, which were known for acoustic guitar and low energy performances. One Open Mic included a show at Rock n’ Roll Pizza in Moorpark where one of the chefs actually came out with a butcher knife and threatened Justin to turn his House & Trip-Hop music off because “this is Rock n’ Roll Pizza!”

Since there was no easy path to start performing his own electronic music, Justin realized there was demand for an event that allowed new & upcoming DJs, producers and vocalists to perform their music without the hassle of booking first gigs in Los Angeles.

Janine Jordan (founder of the Electronic Music Alliance & wife of Ken Jordan of the Crystal Method) liked Justin’s drive and helped him to find a venue at a bar/club called the Other Door in North Hollywood. Luckily, the Other Door was looking for a show to fill their Sunday nights! The Electronic Music Open Night takes place on the 2nd Sunday of every month at the Other Door, and welcomes DJs, poducers, vocalists, dancers, and visual artists from all over the world to come perform for a very welcoming crowd of Electronic Music fans and representatives of the music business!

“OPEN NIGHT is a great spot for upcoming Electronic Music talent to be discovered, and build their audience! We have already helped artists to have original music produced for them, and have scouts from Burning Man, Insomniac, Do-Labs, and record labels attending our events. Johnny Depp and Playboy Playmate Olga Loera were even spotted at our OPEN NIGHT in North Hollywood this past Sunday!” Justin says.

EMX also offers artists that perform assistance with merchandise, and also offers lessons for the public in Electronic Music Composition, Mixing, and Mastering & DJing.

Elektronik Muzikk Experience (#EMX)

“Electronic Music Open Night brings together musicians of all musical backgrounds and skill levels to create an ecosystem where participants: 1) are able to hone their skills, 2) develop a musical identity, and 3) inspire each other to be fearless in their artistic presentation. You can’t help but to walk away feeling a sense of accomplishment and motivation to be bold, be an expert in your craft, and most importantly – be yourself. Honest art is built in a judgment free zone and EMON fosters that safety along with healthy competition.” -RaneRaps (“Future Beats” artist & EMON performer)

“Being to new LA, it was really tough to meet people in the music scene since I didn’t know where to start. EMX really helped fill that void. When I attended my first performance I was so amazed at the amount of diverse musical talent that I was witnessing. It was great to see others with the same drive and passion for music as I have. EMX really provides a solid foundation for local musical artists to exemplify their talent. Not only do the artists have fun but the audience also has great interaction too! From glowing hula hoops to expressing yourself through exotic dance moves, this place is open to anyone affiliated with the electronic music scene. EMX has such a friendly vibe where all artists alike can come perform without the fear of negative criticism or judgement. It’s also amazing how quickly the Elektronik Muzikk Experience has built up quite a following in such a short amount of time!” -Phocus (Deep/Future House DJ & EMON performer)

EMX has now hosted nine open-night events at the Other Door and is expanding to its second electronic music showcase: ELEVATION.

ELEVATION is an artistic showcase that features top performances from the OPEN NIGHT as well as dance groups such as GoGo Hoop Dance Stars.

If you would like to perform at a future event e-mail:    emx.losangeles@gmail.com

Get over to the Other door in NoHo on the 2nd Sunday of next month for the next Electronic Music Open Night!

Please support EMX by clicking “LIKE” on Facebook: https://facebook.com/emx.la

Elektronik Muzikk Experience

www.soundcloud.com/emxla  |  www.soundcloud.com/wormwoodmuzikk

**** 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.  

How to: create a living room you’ll love

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

How to: create a living room you’ll love

The sun is shining through your beachfront windows, the wind swirling outside in a lull as the far-off ocean ebbs and flows. But while you might have a fantastic view, the living room you’re sitting in is far less glamorous.

Your sofa is about as comfortable as an instrument of torture. The television looks like it’s from the set of Mad Men. And your walls, which you’re sure used to be white, have become an unidentifiable mass of brown. It really puts a dampener on that view, doesn’t it?

To give your living room a new lease of life, we’ve come up with a few ace tips. Give them a look – then give them a try.

The right sofa

Is there anything better than sitting on a sofa that feels as though it was made just for you? The type of seat that cushions your backside tighter that swaddling around a new born child?

Well, the sad fact is that most people don’t sit on a cushion of luxury. Instead they make do with seats that strain their backs and, in the long term, give them major spinal issues.

That’s why we’d recommend an entire overhaul to your seating. For our money, Chesterfield sofas are your best bet,  providing you with comfortable cushions and a boost in lumbar support.

Moreover, these sofas won’t cost you an arm and a leg – and they’ll fit in almost any living room.

The Friends look

Friends might have ended more than a decade ago, but the era-defining TV show has never really fallen out of fashion. And now, especially as the 90s aesthetic gains traction, there’s never been a better time to make your room look like Monica and Rachel’s.

Gaining the interior design look of your fave sitcom has become even easier thanks to a recent Friends exhibition in London,  the photos of which can be viewed online. Take a look at those pictures and see how you can turn your dull room into a living space that would make Monica proud.

A touch of class

Forget wallpaper, paint and expensive new furniture – sometimes all you need is a touch of class to make your room look fantastic.

Invest in a bookshelf and a few of the modern classics – Hemingway, Bukowski, Ellis and maybe even Shakespeare – to give your living room a cultured feel. Couple this with some classical ornaments, candlesticks and framed paintings to really make the room feel like it should be from the set of a Woody Allen film.

After all these changes, you’ll be happy to laze about in the sun in your newly refurbished living room.

**** 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.  

NoHo News: Happy Hour and Theatre

Lisa Bianconi
-
0

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…ENJOY NOHO!

**** 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.  

The Beverly Hills artSHOW Features Special Exhibits this October

NoHo - North Hollywood
-
0

The Beverly Hills artSHOW Features Special Exhibits this October

Dramatic Weather Images and a “Space Weather” Lair are Special Features Among 240 Art Exhibits

The Beverly Hills artSHOW will hold its free fall event on Saturday and Sunday, October 17th and 18th, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Beverly Gardens Park on Santa Monica Boulevard, from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive.

Special exhibits include: Drenched, Dehydrated, Driven by Wind: Weather in Art, which will highlight nearly 20 artists portraying dramatic weather conditions in various media, as well as a special 3-D installation that provides an interactive experience in an outer space landscape.

A 3-D installation staged by Debi Cable, an exhibitor at Burning Man and Electric Daisy Carnival, will erect Altered Landscapes – Wild Weather on this Planet and Beyond. Be prepared for a meteor shower in this immersive experience.

Photographer Michael Lohr, who chronicled the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, will show these startling images, along with other “wild weather” photographs.

Other artists contributing to the Weather feature include painter Carole Steinberg, who will be painting a Southern California storm on site, and Elsie Sims, the accomplished woodcut artist, who will present gale-struck coastlines of California. Susan Handau will use layers of materials and techniques to make a desert-soaked landscape for show visitors, and newcomer Lamar Waters will exhibit his mixed-media paintings depicting drought, drowning and deliverance. Painter Kristin Brin and photographer Ira Meyers exhibit frozen vistas in the chillier category of Arctic Affairs, and jewelry maker Deidre Greene will show her Polar Ice line.

Long-term weather effects are portrayed in the Weathered artworks of three photographers: Roy Kerchkhoffs captures weather-beaten lands from the ocean to the desert; Jen Rosenstein, known for rock and roll photography seen in Rolling Stone, EMI and Vanity Fair; will exhibit landscapes shaped by intensive weather and even disaster. Photographer Zale Richard Rubins, of the City’s Fine Art Commission, depicts gorgeously weathered pieces and places.

The show features 240 regional and national artists in the fine art categories of Painting, Sculpture, Drawing, Printmaking, Mixed Media and Photography, along with the fine craft categories of Ceramics, Glass and Jewelry. View the complete Artist List for the October 2015 show.

In addition to art, a wine garden, food trucks, a beer garden, live entertainment, and family activities will be offered. All show artists will be on site to talk with visitors about their work. All art is for sale, and patrons come from Southern California and beyond to shop, collect and savor this art-filled weekend.

Category awards and major show awards, including the Best of Show and Most Original Work, will be announced in a Sunday afternoon ceremony, at the show’s center, in front of the Lily Pond.

The 2015 artSHOW sponsors and media partners include: David Frank Design, Engel & Volkers, the LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Art Association, Fabrik Magazine, LA Art Party, Yelp, Whole Foods Market, Paley Center for Media, and the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitor’s Bureau. Food and Beverage support come from Whole Foods Market, Premiere Events, Beck’s Beer and Hint Water. The show’s charitable partner is Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and its sister organization, Healing Art with Kids.

For general information about the October 2015 Beverly Hills artSHOW, visit www.beverlyhills.org/artshow or call (310) 285-6830. For media inquiries, contact Dana Beesen at dbeesen@beverlyhills.org or call (310) 285-2530.

 

Top 5 Ways to Recharge and Rejuvenate Mid-Day

Jack Witt
-
0

Uh oh. It’s a Tuesday, say 2:30p…lunch is digesting…your mind starts to lose focus…you feel sleepy….you’ve suddenly slipped into the mid-day slump-a-dump.

Does this scenario happen all too often? Maybe it’s at another time during the day, maybe it’s even all day!

There are a few quick natural remedies that’ll kick your mind and body back into high alertness gear.

1. Drink a glass of water. Most people are chronically dehydrated. We just don’t drink enough water. If you think you’re drinking just enough, your probably drinking way too little. If you think you’re drinking a lot, it’s probably more like almost enough. Once you drink a full glass of water, you’ll instantly feel more alert and energized.

2. Stretch. Most people don’t take enough time for stretching throughout the day. Tight and overactive muscles can drain the energy right out of your system. Take 5 minutes to stretch and you’ll feel 5 times better right afterwards.

3. Clear your mind while deep breathing. We’ve had so many thoughts racing through our minds by mid-day that it’s a good idea to take just 5 minutes and BE in those moments. Try not to think about the past or worry about the future. At the same time, you can focus on your breath and oxygenate your body by breathing with an inhale for 4 seconds and then exhaling out for 4 seconds. Repeat that 10 times and suddenly your body and mind are back awake and refreshed for the rest of the day.

4. Take a quick walk somewhere away from your desk/workstation. Just a simple change of scenery for a few minutes can help to recharge your mind and body and stir the creative juices and positive brain chemicals. Maybe it’s just down the hall, maybe it’s outside around the building, or better yet maybe it’s in a nearby local park or nature path. It’ll instantly re-boot your body-mind system and keep you in high gear for the rest of the day.

5. Adjust your lunch. If you eat too much or if you eat processed foods you’ll be tired and unfocused for sure in the mid-afternoon. Evaluate your choices and re-adjust your lunch eating choices if necessary. Your body is craving nutrients and antioxidants, it’ll let you know it’s not getting enough by making you lethargic and mentally run-down.

 

Cheers,

Jack Witt, MS, CPT
Fitness and Health Coach
“Get Fit with Witt”
Individuals / Groups / Corporate
310.562.5629 Cell / 818.760.3891 Main
www.getfitwithWitt.com 
https://twitter.com/GetfitwithWitt  

* New Book “From Passion to Purpose”

* Hike the Holy Land: Join me March 28 – April 5, 2016

 

1...214215216...253Page 215 of 253

ABOUT US

The NoHo Arts District is a one-square-mile community in North Hollywood that is home to more than 20 live, professional theatres, dance studios, art galleries, public art, music recording venues, acting and art workshops, international dining options, clothing and specialty shops, and businesses that create a myriad of art forms. NoHo is "Where the Arts Are Made." - "NoHoArtsDistrict.com"

FOLLOW US

© NoHo Communications Group 2024