Katonah Classic Stage Film Festival Held as Drive-In: Filmmakers Young and Older From Around the World Present Different Views of our Changing World - Now Set for 8-31

The show must go on! The new local theater for classics Katonah Classic Stage in Katonah, NY (outside NYC ) is presenting its first Film Festival on Friday, August 28, at 8:00pm. This film festival will be shown in in a Drive-in set-up at the Bedford Playhouse in Bedford, NY at 8:30pm. Tickets are available on the website. UPDATE: Due to weather conditions, the festival will be held the same time but on August 31, 2020.

Though Katonah Classic Stage's mission is to present in-person productions of Shakespeare and other classics, because of the pandemic founder actor/director Trent Dawson and his team had to think out of the box. Hence, the KCS Film Festival was born.

Review of Uncut Gems on Netflix: Adam Sandler's Standout Performance Leads this Edge of Your Seat, Nail-biting Thriller.. and it's Better the Second Time Around

By Harry Sherer

With the Uncut Gems’ arrival to Netflix, movie-watchers everywhere will have a second (and third and fourth) chance to watch the Safdie brother’s explosive collaboration with Adam Sandler. One of Sandler’s best acting performances in a decade, Uncut Gems was one of the best films 2019 had to offer, as well as indie-darling A24 Studio’s most successful film in the box office, grossing over $50 million domestically. From the first month of the film’s December 2019 release into early 2020, it felt like Uncut Gems was the film everyone was talking about.

With Sandler’s killer performance, the world-class editing, Kevin Garnett’s surprisingly polished acting chops, the ending that left theatres shocked, and everything in between, the film is an undisputed accomplishment for the Safdies, Sandler, and everyone else involved. 

The film quickly arrived on Netflix only a month after theatrical release and hasn’t left the trending page since. Given the boom of popularity surrounding the film’s release and it’s easy binge-watching access, this isn’t a review of what it’s like to watch Uncut Gems. This is a review of what it’s like to watch Uncut Gems for the second time. If you keep reading I’ll explain why this doesn’t really matter, but for posterity’s sake, I’ll warn you once: spoilers abound.

Review of Netflix Series "Down To Earth" with Zac Efron: Zac Efron and Darien Olien Travel the World and Provide an Entertaining and Unique Glimpse into the Possibilities for a More Sustainable and Better World

By Julia Colucci

In his Netflix show Down to Earth, Zac Efron proves to be much more than Troy Bolton from High School Musical, or that hunky guy from Baywatch. Efron and his close friend Darin Olien (or as many people refer to him, the “Indiana Jones of Superfoods”), travel the world, learning how to live more sustainably. They tackle some of the world’s biggest environmental problems and share ways that different countries are combatting them effectively.

 Part of the show’s appeal is getting to know the entertaining and humorous duo of Efron and Olien. The team visits eight incredible locations on their inspirational journey, and the ones that stood out to me the most include Iceland, France, Sardinia, and London.

 

In the pilot episode, Efron, Olien, and the crew explore the natural beauties of Iceland, a country that specializes in renewable energy. They tour a powerplant and learn that 100% of Iceland’s electricity is generated from natural, renewable resources such as volcanic activity underground and their 10,000 extraordinary waterfalls.

 

The Reel Woman's Network: Crystal Chappell's New Platform Showcases Work by Females including Beacon Hill, Tainted Dreams, Venice the Series and more Original Works by Women

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

In a world where there are new streaming services popping up almost monthy- though I think 2020 has been espcially busy with the advent of Peacock and Disney and more, there are also other platforms being started by entreprenuers to serve specific audiences. The Reel Women's Network is one of them.

Started by Crystal Chappell of Open Books Productions in partnershsip with Jessica and Linda Hill of Bella Productions. the streaming network is dedicated to content created by women. There is free content on it but it is a subscription service and you can also buy just specific shows.

Are you a Fan of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? Listen to Rachel Brosnahan Dish on all the Details in a Live Event Sponsored by Temple Emanu-El Streicker

Review of Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere with Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon: This Twisted Tale of Two Families Is Addictive Yet Heavy so Take Your Time Binging It

By Julia Colucci

Someone set fire to the house of a wealthy, prominent family in the small town of Shaker Heights, Ohio.

So begins the first scene of this Hulu original, which presents itself as a mystery, but quickly takes you back to the previous year, when everything started. With only one season and eight incredible, action-packed episodes, Little Fires Everywhere is easy to blow through in a week of binging. However, the content is very heavy and intense, so instead of watching it all at once, you might want to spread it out. I compare it to a rich slice of chocolate cake—it’s delicious but best in small amounts.

Little Fires Everywhere follows two families—one being your typical upper-class, nuclear family, and the other being an underprivileged, single-parent family. The show never portrays one family-type as better than the other, but rather highlights the beauty and struggles that can come with both. The families are shown in their most vulnerable states, so over the course of the show you see how their conditions and experiences shape them as people. This is one of the reasons I found the show so interesting; it gives a very intimate view of lifestyles that are so different from my own.

 

Our Roundup: What Females in Entertainment are Doing in 2021

#FEMALESINENTERTAINMENT

#MARYRICHARDSLIVES

Here's our roundup of just some of what the #femalesinentertainment are doing this year.

Editor' Note: This roundup used to appear on our sidebar, and will now appear as a clickable article on the sidebar. Updated regularly. 

This column is on hold as of June 2021. For information on the ladies, may we suggest visiting https://womenandhollywood.com

March 2021: 

Apple series Essex Serpent will star Claire Danes… Mindy Kaling to star in Velma Dickley series called Clone High…Time Travelers Wife Series coming to HBO with Rose Leslie in the lead… Younger will premiere Season seven on Paramount Plus…America Ferrara to direct movie called I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter… Gillian Anderson will be First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in new Showtime series… Netflix show Luckiest Girl Alive will star Mila Kunis… Sashe Calle will be Super Girl in The Flash… Judy Greer joins The First Lady on Showtime… Regina King to star and produce Shirley Chisholm biopic… Search Party renewed for season five at HBO Max ...Jamie Lee Curtis to appear in Borderlands… Lisa Vanderpump will have a new reality show on E!… Director Chloe Zhao will direct a sci-fi western called Dracula… Lincoln Lawyer Series at Netflix to star Neve Campbell...Kate and Ally is getting a reboot on  NBC Anne Hathaway to star in Apple series about  WeWork… Nancy Drew spinoff series coming... Harry potter TV series coming.... HBO Max is ordering a series about Julia child… Cardi B will start in a movie called Assisted Living.

November 2020: Judge Judge Sheindlin is starting a new court show.... Awkwafina and Sandra Oh are playing sisters in a new series by Gloria Sanchez... Nicole Kidman, hot off the success of The Undoing, will star in a new drama called Things I Know to be True...the wonderfully talented Mindy Kaling will star in and produce the film Good in Bed for HBO Max....Variety's New President is Michelle Sobrino-Stearns....New Company Orchid Pictures begun by Suzanne Mackie....Julia Verdin's Angie: Lost Girls to stream on December 18, about child trafficking....the busy director Ava Duvernay set to work on a new show about Native Americans on NBC...Scarlett Johansson to star in and produce a sci-fi- drama - and don't forget to watch her in Home Alone 3.....Legally Blonde 3 is coming, but you'll have to find out more about what Elle Woods is doing in 2022...Kristen Bell busy with new Netflix series The Woman in the House....Reese Witherspoon producing drama Where the Crawdads Sing......Kate Hudson to be in Season 2 of Apple's Truth Be Told....Patrisse Cullors, founder of Black Lives Matter, has signed a deal with Warner Brothers Television Group to produce a variety of programs for different platforms....Grease the Spinoff series going to Paramount Plus....Congrats to Nicole Brown for her new role as President of Sony's Tristar Pictures......Jennifer Lopez's Rom Com Marry Me pushed to May 2021 release...

Shockfest Film Festival - Host Actress Grace Juliana aka Vampire Princess Selena Explains what this Year's Horror Fest Has In Store for Fans

If you've never heard of Shockfest, or if you're already a fan, get ready for the festivities for

this "horrific" festival this year. This year's host, Actress Grace Juliana known this year only as Princess Selena, gives us the scoop on all the fun and fright of the festival.

Review of Movie Feral - Annapurna Sriram's Role as A Homeless Women is Deflty Acted As we Root for her Survival on the Streets and Tunnels of NYC

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

The film by Andrew Wonder, Feral (2019 now on Amazon Prime), is aptly named. Simply put, Feral is the story of a young homeless woman in New York City. We see Yazmine (played superbly and adeptly by Annapurna Sriram), slinking around the subterranean world of New York City that she inhabits, climbing on piles of rocks with ease, slinking through the tunnels and foraging for food... just as a cat would.

At the beginning of the movie we get a hint as to why she is homeless, but later on we get a hint that that that assumption may not be the correct one. I say this is important, because when we see homeless people, often our thoughts are "why?" This movie delves into the subjects of homelessness, despair, hope and acceptance.

Review of Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods On Netflix: Lee's Mastery of the Medium, Multiple Genres and Storytelling Presents a Complex and Compelling Need for Change

by Ashton Samson

Editor's Note: Ashton is not just an avid film fan but is also a high school student. His review provides hope that change will come from the young people.

“We’ve been dying for this country from the very get, hoping one day, they’ll give us their rightful place. All they give us is a foot up our black asses.”
-Stormin’ Norman

Ever since he thundered onto the scene in 1986 with his controversial debut about a woman who dates three men at once, called She’s Gotta Have It, Spike Lee has been one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation. At 63, Lee has accomplished a great deal, directing over thirty projects, including documentaries, TV shows and most importantly, twenty-seven feature films; among the most noteworthy, Do the Right Thing, Blackkklansman and Malcolm X. 

Review of The Award-Winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime - Clever, Colorful and a Fascinating Look into the Beginning of the Modern Career Woman

By Julia Colucci

As the pandemic continues into the summer and television continues to be an important part of my life, I can confidently say that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is one of the highest-quality shows that I have seen in the dramedy genre. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show is three seasons in, with its fourth season release date set for December 2020 (though the pandemic may affect this date).

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel takes place in 1958 in New York City. The main character is Midge (superbly acted by Rachel Brosnahan), a Jewish woman in her late twenties. She lives on the Upper West Side in a beautiful apartment with her husband Joel (Michael Zegan) and their two young children. The series starts with the couple living a content, typical life, where Joel fulfills his husbandly duties by going to work at his office job during the day, then comes home to his loving wife Midge who has just prepared a hot dinner waiting on the table.

However, Midge’s life soon takes a dramatic turn, and she finds herself pursuing a profession that she never thought she would—comedy.

Interview: Brandon Barash of Days and General Hospital Stars in New Short Film on the Reel Woman's Network; Why He Took the Role and How it's so Different from his "Day" Job

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

Fan fave Brandon Barash is a busy man. First, in typical but still much beloved Days of our Lives style he returned to Days even though he was killed off (and his heart given to someone else.) That just shows how much the fans wanted him back. In addition to this day job, this single dad is  busy with a multitude of other projects including a role as a handsome young husband in the short film The Mourning Hour, of which he is also a producer. Written by Shevaun Kastl and also starring Shevaun and Robert Knepper, you can see this film now streaming on The Reel Woman's Network. Read on to find out why he took this part, and what he's doing now in his downtime.

Brandon, how did you get this role? Did you know Shevaun?

BRANDON BARASH: Shevaun and I met through a mutual friend. From what I can remember (this was about 10 years ago), she emailed me that she had a script that she had written and wanted me to play one of the parts. At the time I was playing Johnny Zacchara on General Hospital -- the shooting schedule was grueling, so my immediate reaction was to say no.

Review: Andy Samberg and Christin Milioti in Hulu's Palm Springs Movie: Pure Escapism makes it a Perfect Summer Comedy

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I am a big fan of romcoms and comedies. I was excited to be able to see Palm Springs on Hulu the first night it was available, without paying a premium. (So I am waiting to see King of Staten Island until the price comes down). That gives you an idea of what I will accept in a comedy.

I also do not want to know much about a movie before I watch it. I want to be surprised. I also do not read the reviews. I may watch a few minutes of the trailer and then stop it because in these days of instant gratification, most trailers give way to much away.

So did I like it? Well, it was no Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day had purposeful meaning and could be watched by the family. This was certainly not a family movie. But, it kept me engrossed to see how it would turn out and had some very LOL moments. As far as physical comedy and laughs to make you forget about what is happening outside the room you're watching it in, it did the job as providing comedy to the pandemic-drained population.

And speaking of the pandemic, as much as I know life on Planet Earth will return to some kind of normal, a movie that centers around a wedding with a whole bunch of people drinking, dancing and standing close to each other without masks on was just bittersweet. So call this movie pure escapism.

Females in Entertainment: From HR to Hollywood: Rutgers Alum Beverly Aisenbrey is Now Producing Movies and Helping to Produce Bright Minds with a Scholarship for Rutgers Fashion Program

Jamie Lee Curtis with Beverly Aisenbrey on-set of An Acceptable Loss

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I don't think that when starting a career in business many years ago Beverly Aisenbrey thought she woud be hanging with Jamie Lee Curtis on a movie set. But, you never know where life will take you when you just keep persisting and work hard.

As most people know, making contacts and keeping those contacts can open doors. Little did Beverly know that through a female investment banker friend she would one day be hob-nobbing with celebrities and attending film festivals as a producer on independent films with major stars in them. But Beverly is a woman of many talents and is very hard-working. She spent most of her career helping to build a company and now she is giving back to her alma mater, Rutgers University in New Jersey. After years of serving on a Rutgers Board, she has now started a Fellowship (scholarship) for students in the new Rutgers Master of Science in the Business of Fashion. Read on to see how this unfolded and how to apply for the Fellowship.  

Daytime Emmy-Nominated Actor Trent Dawson Launches Katonah Classic Stage Summer Film Festival: Looking for Films Inspired by Classics Made by All Ages, Amatuer and Professional - Submission via Film Freeway

New Streaming Platform Herflix Offers Free Movies: This Changes Everything, Nora Ephron, The Girls in the Band and More

Looking for something new and different? The new online movie theater for women, Herflix, is announcing a  line-up of movies just in time for the summer which can be streamed for free. Herflix is all about content for and about women. The movies that are available to stream for free are This Changes Everything, The Girls in the Band, Chavela, Sand Dollars, Nora Ephron (documentary) and Gemma Bovary.

These movies are sponsored by Martha Stewart Perfectly Roasted Coffee by Barrie House. They can be viewed for free at anytime at www.Herflix.com using the links listed below. No membership is required. Just sign in for free to access the site.

A New NO! An OLD Way to Watch Movies is Back, and There's Nothing Like a Drive-In.

A Case of  Blue Film premiered at a  Drive-in Film Festival
Photo courtesy Dana Glazer

By Ashton Samson

Against the backdrop of the current state of the world, how can we retain our connection with one another, all while keeping our safety? That’s the question that everyone is pondering and I have the answer: Drive-ins. You might have heard this phrase from one of your grandparents as they reminisced about a Friday night hangout from the days of yesteryear. Come on this journey to learn about the time of its apex at a much more simplistic moment in history, its decline at the commencement of a much more technologically complex era and intertwined with it all through the ages, the power of cinema. It will help you to understand why we could really have the potential to return to the good old days of our parents and grandparent’s youth, so I entreat you to dream with me of the past, present and future.

Movie Review of The Help: It will Make You Laugh and Make you Cry, But Above All it is Movie To Help you Understand

By Julia Colucci

Since the recent protests around the world, Netflix and other streaming services have been showcasing more films on systematic racism to help people better understand the issues. The movie The Help is a 2011 film directed by Tate Taylor and based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett. It’s rated #7 in Netflix movies today, because not only is the cast phenomenal, but the story is an honest representation of the tragic racial injustices that were so prevalent in the past and still linger today.

The movie is about an aspiring writer named Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, living in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. It was a time when being a black woman meant that your only future was being a maid to white families and raising their babies. Growing up, Skeeter was very close with her maid, Constantine, who was a much more loving and present figure to her than her own mother. This is one of the reasons she is so dismayed by the way the black community is treated by her friends, neighbors and white people across the country.

Females in Entertainment: Interview with Writer/Actor/Coach Shevaun Cavanaugh Kastl - All about Her Film The Mourning Hour Now on The Reel Women's Network, Her Past Films and Her Quarantine Projects

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

Shevaun Cavanaugh Kastl has always been keeping herself busy in the film world as an actor, director, filmmaker, writer, dancer and teacher. And during the pandemic, she's used the time to create even more.

I got a chance to talk to her about her short film, The Mourning Hour, which she stars in alongside Brandon Barash (General Hospital, Days of our Lives), that is now streaming on the new The Reel Woman's Network.

 The Mourning Hour is about a 1950's suburban housewife whose husband was killed in a train accident. The film is unique is that it tells the story in an unusual way, seeing the women "travel" through two periods of time, her present life as well as when she was an aspiring cellist at 19.

Shevaun is also busy with her acting school, which she says has been quite a challege during the pandemic (she is in hard-hit NJ) and looking towards the future of coaching as well as making more films. Read on to find out what inspires this young woman to keep working in a very hard business.

What inspired you to make The Mourning Hour?

Shevaun C. Kastl: Wow! BIG question. So many things! I had just finished my first short as a Writer/Producer/Actor and was on this crazy high after the Premiere. I couldn’t wait to write something else. I was like a cinematic junkie. And I love a good challenge, so I wanted to write a period piece. And right away I thought of adapting a short story I had read in High School called “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. I always loved the author (who also wrote The Awakening) and this particular story of love and loss and reawakening really resonated with me, even at an early age.

Brad Forenza's "Squeaky" to Stream Live July 5th at 2020 Hollywood Fringe Festival: A New Take on Manson Cult Leader Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme Delivered in a New Kind of Theater Environment

(Staff) The Fourth of July is a celebration of our Independence and the radical proclivities of our founding fathers. However, in Brad Forenza’s Squeaky, the day after Independence Day may paint a less liberated picture.

This Fifth of July, Forenza’s Squeaky (an examination of Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme) will receive her own show, as presented by the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Squeaky will be accessible to all through the rapidly expanding “streamed theater” experience. It stars Sara Eklund, Rosie Gunther, Brooke Hoover, and Roberta Lipp, as different dimensions of the titular character, as she opines about the current state of affairs and the unavailable men in her life (Tom Pryor and Forenza also appear).

Review of Netflix Series Hollywood: Hooray for this Series About Glitz, Glamour and Getting a Seat at the Table

By  Beth Abramson Brier

Hooray for Hollywood! I’m talking, of course, about the seven episode series Hollywood  by Ryan Murphy released by Netflix in May.

Set in post WWII Tinsel town, it is coincidentally (no, strike that) - it is eerily part of our current national conversation. And it is a “must see” for so many reasons. Trust me when I tell you this because in the last three months I’ve had the attention span of a carrot. Just when I thought I just didn’t have it in me to watch anything along comes Hollywood. Finally- a reason to bunker* down and binge watch through the night.


Hollywood had me at “hello” - in this case the dramatic introduction which I never once opted to skip when given the choice. Ambitious hopefuls ascend the landmark Hollywood sign: would-be stars and starlets, aspiring writers, budding directors - all willing to climb a little bit higher, leap without a net, take a chance.

It’s the golden age of studios and film. Big production numbers featuring staircases, swimming pools, and a hundred extras. Glamorous leading ladies (I’m talking opera gloves, evening gowns, feather boas). Swoon-worthy male stars in hats and suits instead of hoodies and shorts. It’s Hollywood at its best. Only better. It’s Hollywood reimagined.

View: My Must-See Summer Movie List has just Two Movies on it - Something's Gotta Give and Weekend at Bernie's...And Maybe Just One More

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

My summer viewing list is short. Yes, I'll watch several movies a week on the streaming platforms, but just as I have my Must-See list for the holidays, even though I've seen most of the holiday movies 20 times or more, I've also got my summer playlist. And I'll watch them every year.

For me, there's just two movies on that list. Something's Gotta Give and Weekend at Bernie's.

Total opposites, right? But, both make me smile. Isn't this exactly what we need now, and pretty much all the time?

I love Something's Gotta Give, because I want to step into that beachouse and be living that life. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, Diane Keaton plays Erica Barry, a NYC playwright juggling work, her daughter, an ex-husband and two "suitors".

I don't think I am alone that most women watching that movie want to be Diane Keaton. She lives in the most stunning beach house in the Hamptons, she treks into New York City for fancy-schmancy events, she spends her days writing, and she has two guys swooning after her. Okay, so one of them is Harry Sanborn, (played by Jack Nicholson) who is a self-absorbed, womanizing, aging music producer that has a heart attack. But the other one is the handsome doctor Julian Mercer played by Keannu Reeves.  He pursues her, calls her, brings her flowers and whisks her away to Paris. Aaaahhh......

What We're Viewing: Review of Mindy Kaling's Never Have I Ever - A New Twist on a Common Teen Plight But Shhhh.. Moms Like it Too

By Julia Colucci

The Netflix Original show Never Have I Ever is a hilarious comedy that highlights the life of a teenage girl struggling to survive high school and the many obstacles that come her way.

Honestly, I was a bit hesitant going into this show. From the Netflix description, it seemed a little cliché. When I read that it was about a high school girl trying to “spruce up her social status,” it sounded like dozens of other teenage dramas with mediocre writing. Just based off the name, Never Have I Ever, I figured it was for a younger age range, since it’s a game my friends and I played in junior high.

This is why I was shocked when my parents said we should make it our new “family show.” We’ve had this tradition in my house during quarantine where we all watch an episode of a television show together after dinner. Before the pandemic, most of the shows we watched as a family have been on the darker side—Breaking Bad, Dexter, The Walking Dead, How to Get Away with Murder, etc. 

NJ's Lighthouse Int'l Film Fest Goes Drive-In & Virtual: NJ Producer Scott Rosenfelt to be Honored for Home Alone, Teen Wolf, and his New film A Case of Blue, 80 Films Screened

Tucked away on a 18 miles stretch of white sandy beaches and shore houses along the Jersey shore is a film festival getting bigger each year.  The Lighthouse International Film Film is now in it's 12th year. Yes, the islanders and vacationers surely know about it but it's getting better and more reknown each year attracting people from all over the NY/NJ/Philadelphis area and more.

Courageously the show will go on this year despite the pandemic in a drive-in and virtual format from June 16th-20th. Luckily the island presents beautiful spaces where cars can socially distance themselves and movie buffs will get to see some great films on a big screen under the stars (which you can actually see on this pristine island).

What We're Viewing: The Killing of A Sacred Deer with Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell - An Unsettling, Fascinating Horror/Thriller Not for the Faint of Heart

By Alicia Wilcox

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a horror/thriller based on the ancient Greek tragedy “Iphigenia at Aulis” written by Euripides. Filled with symbols and metaphors worth analyzing, this movie is uniquely disturbing. Due to strange character details and dramatic orchestrated music throughout, The Killing of a Sacred Deer is sure to keep you in a state of suspense. The title itself comes from an ancient Greek myth where someone in a group was responsible for accidentally killing a sacred deer, and a sacrifice was required to reconcile the situation. The plot is based off of this required sacrifice. 

This movie follows Dr. Stephen Murphy, a cardiac heart surgeon (played by Colin Farrrell) who secretly befriends Martin. Martin is a teenage boy whose father was killed by Stephen during heart surgery, a surgery that he performed while drunk. When Stephen introduces the boy to his family, they all begin to fall ill under mysterious circumstances. This is because Martin forcibly makes Stephen choose one of his family members to kill to equalize the fact that he killed Martin’s father. If he fails to choose one family member, they will all die under the control of Martin’s plan. Quickly, they all begin to show symptoms of unidentifiable illness, such as bleeding out of the eyes and paralyzation. 

Entertainment Weekly Presents an All My Children Reunion May 26-29th for Feeding America: Susan Lucci, Cady McClain, Eva La Rue, Kelly Ripa and More to Appear

If you're a soap fan or fan of the Hallmark Channel, here's a bunch of stars you will know getting together for a good cause. Entertainment Weekly Reunions #UnitedatHome will stream an event from May 26th-May 29th featuring dozens of the actors who once were on the Emmy-winning daytime Drama on ABC, All My Children.  It is a five part series with a new live episode each morning at 10am EST.


You can stream them for free on EW.com and PeopleTV.com.

Females in Entertainment: NYC's Director Isabella Olaguera Talks about the Pandemic's Affect on Production and how She's Helping her Friends with Feed The Freelancers

I met Isabella Olaguera on the set of the independent film A Case of Blue, shooting outside of NYC in the burbs of Jersey. I was impressed first of all, to see a female as 1st AD and even more impressed to see the other females in the crew she surrounds herself with. 

Being part of a crew, doing production in NYC is a tricky thing; it's gig work and takes a lot of adjusting to the needs of each set. During this pandemic, "adjust" is the key word. Sitting in her apartment, with all production shut down and none even scheduled, Isabella knew she had to do something. And so, she started Feed the Freelancers, recognizing that though she could put food on her table that so many of the people in production that she had worked with through the years were going hungry now. Read on about how she got help from her friends, FEEL, and major companies. As Mr. Rogers said, "the helpers come out."

Suzee: So, tell me about what you do and some of your recent work.

I’m a non-union 1st Assistant Director for commercial and narrative work. Some of my projects include Oscar-nominated short film My Nephew Emmett, international feature film No Land’s Man (directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Tahsan Khan), and All These Small Moments (starring Molly Ringwald and Brian D’Arcy James). I’ve also AD’d commercial spots for clients like Equinox, Facebook & Walmart. 

The Wrong Missy is just the RIGHT Movie to Watch Now: Happy Madison Productions Gives us More of what They're Famous For

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

What can I say about the new Netflix flick The Wrong Missy?

I stumbled upon it one night when it showed up as the number one most viewed movie on Netflix, which was a few days after it's 5-13 release. Seeing it was a Happy Madison Production, and as I am a big Adam Sandler fan (which some people may not admit to) I watched it.

Let me say that about one quarter of the way through I almost turned it off because the crudeness was over the top (I kept saying, this was written by a man for sure). But  I kept on watching like someone would a car wreck just to see what was going on.

Well, I am glad I continued to watch. As I said, I am a fan of almost anything Adam Sandler has a hand in. That means I am used to cringing due to the vulgarities, language and body part humor as well as the  nonsensical but clever dialogue often found in them. (There is one song about body parts, I must add, that was over the top even for an HM movie as well as one other scene that is not without controversy.)

And of course, I can find all the usual suspects in his movies from Rob Schneider to Nick Swardson to Nick Farley (Chris' brother) and even to Mrs. Jackie Sandler, who I may add, was rocking her bikinis. Adam always takes care of his friends. (I saw him recently in AC, and Rob was his surprise special guest). Phone, wallet, keys, laptop forever but I digress.

Females in Entertainment Interview: NYC Actress/Director Shara Ashley Zeiger Talks about Getting Started in the Big Apple, Keeping it Going and her #MeToo Moments

Shara Ashley Zeiger

Back in the day, pre-COVID, I would spend an afternoon every so often meeting with young women in the business that I've never met in person. Shara was on of the go-getters that I sat with at a busy midtown coffee shop to talk "shop." Shara is well-entrenched in the NYC acting community. Her seven shorts have circulated on the film festival circuit, she has another in post, she's acted in several hit TV shows and she's got a script looking for production. Shara survives and thrives with a circle of creative people to constantly keep her on her toes. Right now, she's part of "The Homemade Sketch Show" which can be seen on Youtube, but she's also got so much more going on.

Suzee: You are like on creative overload! Let's talk about your latest project first. Tell me about the virtual reading you had. How greatly have you been affected by this crisis?

Shara Ashley Zeiger: The crisis has been interesting. I have asthma and it's newish and I never thought it really put me in danger, but it puts me in the immune-compromised category, and navigating that and living in Queens has been quite a doozy. It's taken a lot of planning but I find delving into my creative projects to be a wonderful distraction.  I'm currently working on a few projects. 

Behind Lee Grant's Retrospective: A Modern Way to give New Life to Classics in Theaters: Interview with Curator Taylor Purdee on how this Model Could Help The Independent Theater

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

If you're not familiar with the work of Academy Award-winning Actress/Director/Producer Lee Grant, you can now get familiar with her work in the comfort of your own home (while still supporting local theater) by viewing the Virtual Cinema series 20th Century Woman:The Documentary Films of Lee Grant . This retrospective was curated by Actor/Director Taylor A. Purdee out of New York City. Though curation is not a novel concept, new times call for new processes and this series, which started as a series of screenings at New York City's Film Forum before Covid, has now become a series of films and clips available to view anywhere through the websites of local theaters. Virtual cinema is a relatively new concept that gaining a lot of traction since the pandemic. Independent theaters can still make money without bodies in their seats. And, in the case of 20th Century Women: The Documentary Films of Lee Grant, the viewers get to view a package not seen elsewhere.

We talk with Taylor A. Purdee who put this retrospective together, Taylor is filmmaker with, as they say, folks in showbiz. His dad is popular daytime star Nathan Purdee (known for One Life to Live and Y&R), and his mother Roberta is a producer who has worked for years with Lee. In this interview we talk about how he found himself putting this series together, how he's introducing them to a new generation, and how something like this might just be around for quite some time.

Taylor, I asked Lee if she every thought she would be the subject of virtual cinema. Her answer was "never". Tell me how this started.