Feel-Good Interview Series: Actress Heather Hemmens of Hallmark's A Pinch of Portugal - 7 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos, #Powerjournalist 
 
Actress Heather Hemmens is known for her acting work in Roswell, New Mexico, If Loving You is Wrong, Hellcats,Yellowstone and several TV movies. She stars in the 2023 Hallmark movie A Pinch of Portugal opposite Luke Mitchell. In this new original film, a celebrity chef walks off his show, and prep cook Anna must step into the spotlight and make the show her own, with the help of her Aussie cameraman and Portuguese location scout. I got to ask this talented actress some questions about her life and work.

Career-defining Moments 

On her career-defining moments, she said, “There have been so many. My very first experience as a series on the show Hellcats was a steep learning curve for me, and those moments that I learned being a professional on set, to bonding with the cast, and living in a different country because we shot that in Vancouver. I had to adjust to all those challenges in very little time and I had to roll with it. That was so valuable to get that steady work and experience. It’s the standard that I try to uphold for myself to this day, especially how hard I worked in that job. Nothing really changes.” 

Feel-Good Interview Series: 7 Things to Know about Actor Ross Jirgl From Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, Love at Christmas Contest and the Upcoming Butch and Sundance

By: Markos Papadatos, #Powerjournalist

Ross Jirgl is the star of the new western film Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, which aired on Tubi. He also starred in the Great American Family holiday film Love at the Christmas Contest opposite Samantha Cope, and also starred in Bodyguard Seduction opposite Jessica Morris, My One True Love, as well as Love Map, and A Professor's Vengeance, among others.

For Aspiring Filmmakers, Actors & Musicians- Free In-Person and Zoom Panels by Industry Professionals will Give you Tips on The Biz, April 23rd and 26th presented by Ridgewood Film Festival with Emmy WInnner Cady McClain, Producer Suzanne Ordas Curry

 

Are you a filmmaker.... or an aspiring one? Do you want to hear from some people in the "biz" who can tell you what it's really like? Do you want to become an actor? Are you fascinated by movies? If so, then you may want to attend one of two FREE events sponsored by the Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival.

On Sunday April 23rd the festival will present an online virtual zoom discussion with, Composer for award-winning and Oscar-nominated films. Sunday 4/23 at 7:00pm EDT - Music in Film: Practical, Legal and Artistic Considerations.  Also with entertainment lawyer Lee Morin, Esq. and others. Virtual 60-90 minutes.  Sign-up required to receive Zoom link in advance. Contact: Jcsuozzo@gmaiil.com.

On Wednesday April 26th in person, hear from Three-Time Daytime Emmy Award winning Actor/Director Cady McClain (Jennifer Days, Dixie, All My Children), Producer Suzanne Ordas Curry and Music Composer Mark Suozzo. 

New York's Axial Theater Presents Spring Events: Reading of Sam Shepard's Fool For Love and Original Plays, Acting Classes and Youth Leadership Event

Axial Theater presents a staged reading of Same Shepard's Fool for Love on April 22nd. New to the cast of this reading is Bruce Aparr.

See below for Cactus Flowers, their online readings as well as new workshops for spring.

NYC Area Event: Katonah Classic Stage Presents A.R. Gurney's Later Life starring Carolyn McCormick April 27th - May 7th

 

Katonah Classic Stage (KCS) will kick-off their 2023 season at Armonk’s Whippoorwill Theatre with the bittersweet comedy, Later Life, from the timeless playwright A.R. Gurney. Starting with a preview on April 27th, the play, set in the 1990s, will take audiences on a romantic journey of missed connections with hope for new beginnings, through May 7, 2023. 

Interview with Anthony Scalia, The Filmmaker Behind Bendix: Site Unseen - Illuminating the Incredible Story Behind this Iconic Establishment

Bendix: Site Unseen is a remarkable story about a remarkable man. For anyone in the New York City Area, the diner is on a major thoroughfare - and has been for years. But I don't think that many people know that this iconic establishment is run by a man with disabilities - a blind man. In his engaging documentary, filmmaker Anthony Scalia opens up our eyes to let us see how a disability does not stop this one man, John Diakakis, from having a full life, successful business and loving family. In this interview, I talk to the documentarian, Anthony Scalia.

This film is being shown at the Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival in Ridgewood, NJ on April 27th. Details here.

Banded Together: The Boys From Glen Rock High - Learn How Director Barry Rubinow Created this Documentary on The Path of Some Very Successful Musicians

Director Barry Rubinow's feature documentary Banded Together: The Boys from Glen Rock High has been making headlines as it screens in the NYC area and will be a featured documentary at the Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival in Ridgewood, NJ on April 27th, 2023. The film is for any music lover, it is aptly described as a "heartwarming, uplifting documentary feature film, providing a window into the lives of eight talented individuals as they go from gifted teenagers to successful professional musicians...playing alongside jazz, blues and rock legends." Viewers may recognize many of the featured people in the doc, including Uncle Floyd, the Vivino Brothers, Conan O'Brien and more.

NJ/NY Area Event: Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival Announces Film Lineup, Free Industy Panels, Networking - Premiere of Trinity's Triumph Film with Joe Morton, Banded Together Doc, Bendix Diner Film & More

The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival (RGIFF) announces its lineup for its 12th Season with five nights of events. Come join in the fun and excitement in downtown Ridgewood and see over 50 films by up and coming filmmakers, see the premiere of a NJ feature film, enjoy panels by industry experts, do some networking, hear inspiring Q & A's, pose on the Red Carpet and mingle at the Awards After Party.

If you've never been to a film festival, this is the perfect place to start. The RGIFF is an official GOLD Star film festival and has become recognized for its unique curation of films, attention to the filmmakers and support of NJ and NY filmmakers.  You can see shorts, documentaries, web/new media, animation, features, international content and more. 

Trinity's Triumph Movie Premieres at Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival: Interview with the Father Stephen Fichter, the NJ Priest Who Made the Movie

Trinity's Triumph is a new movie about three young men contemplating becoming priests. What's most unusual about this film is it's authenticity. It was actually written by a priest, Father Stephen Joseph Fichter, PhD who is currently Pastor at St. Elizabeth's of Hungary in Wyckoff, NJ. 

The film stars Joe Morton (Scandal, Brother from Another Planet) as well as some young talent including Joshua Wills who plays Father Joe, Narci Regina who plays Magdalena, and Melissa Bolona who plays Annie. The film will be premiering at the Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival on April 27th at the Bow Tie Cinemas Warner Theater, 190 East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood NJ (a short distance out of Manhattan and easily accessible by train.) Tickets are still available at https://ridgewoodguildfilmfest.com/

Feel-Good IntervIew: Giles Panton of The Man in the High Castle, Hallmark, Lego, Marvel and So Much More: 7 Things to Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos #Powerjournalist

Actor Giles Panton shared some of his favorite things. In the last few years, he has starred in the Amazon Prime series The Man in The High Castle, where he played propaganda minister Billy Turner, as well as in multiple Hallmark movies. He has played lead roles, supporting roles and guest star roles on such shows as Travelers, Reign, Supernatural, Volton Force, and Flash Gordon. Panton is also known for his voiceover work. He is working on several voice projects for Marvel and Lego.

Giles Panton's  Favorite movies

On his favorite movies, he said, "I am a huge fan of the Dune franchise in general. When I was a kid, I made my parents rent the Sting and Patrick Stewart movie Dune probably 20 times. There is something about it that I just love. This movie has literally spanned decades of my life."

Females in Entertainment: Meet Filmmaker Luz Cabrales - She Talks about her Hometown Children's Show "PAlette" Inspired by her Hometown in PA

SBTS: You are such a busy and creative woman! I love your short Sing To Me, and now  you have a new project, PAlette. Tell me about what you do.

Luz Cabrales: I am a producer, director, and film editor. I have worked on promotional spots, films, web series, and television shows for her local community in Scranton, PA. 

I have worked on multiple local projects such as PAlette: Exploring the Colors of Pennsylvania (2023), Scranton’s Championship Season Documentary (2022), Julie & The Dearly Departed Players Documentary (2020), and Sing To Me (2019)

 I also founded of Scranton Films and The Independent Film Creative Hub as an outlet for artists to collaborate on projects and find talent and resources that grow the filmmaking industry in the Scranton, PA area.