Red Silk Carpet #48 #1

M A N I S H VA I D COLLECTIONS

Valante M. Grant

STRIKE A POSE Models Ed Morales Art Deco

RSC#48 April #1

https://youtu.be/whr6uR_yV4A Born in Castellaneta, a province of Taranto, in the south of Italy, Cleofa grew up in a small town called Laterza and quickly became the main attraction by winning every single song competition that was thrown at her.

Red Silk Carpet Publishing recognized a deeply intriguing and remarkable voice value.

In today's confusing lifestyle, this young lady soothes the soul not so much with the words but the unique talent of quality through the tilt of her head and a fierce expression.

Thank you for sharing your Cleofa! s s d

Cleofa Having attended the Musical Theatre Academy of Rome and played as Juliet in the famous opera musical Romeo & Juliet 3d live by Musical Emotion in 2012.

Thirty years old singer, melodist-performer Cleofa born Rita Pilato is one to watch in the coming years.

Born in Castellaneta, a province of Taranto, in the south of Italy, Cleofa grew up in a small town called Laterza and quickly became the main attraction by winning every single song competition that was thrown at her.

After successfully passing her A level in literature with distinction, Cleofa quickly decided to focus on her art, music, and acting.

She has been living in London for four years, where she used to work on her own songs with "sochic4umusic ".

Later, she went on to TV, French TV (w9), she was part of a reality music TV show called "Las Vegas Academy."

In 2019 Cleofa began to travel around the world, with Dubai being the main city where she has been singing and acting.

Cleofa Andrea Casamento, arranger and composer, is her point of reference in Italy. She says, “he believes in me and he helps me create amazing collaborations.�

Andrea Casamento

Piano and Keyboards Pianist - Song Writer - Composer - Producer - Arranger

Andrea Casamento

Pianist - Song Writer - Composer - Producer - Arranger Andrea Casamento, Forty-six years old with Sicilian origins, studied harmony, piano, composition, and pipe organ with the teacher Guido Donati at the conservatory Giuseppe Verdi based in Turin. Successively, he specialized in arrangement and computer music for ROLAND ITALY and attended the Master for arrangement and composition.

Since a young age, Casamento played in the main dance pubs and clubs of Piedmont, proposing a wide range of music going from the Italian pop to disco music.

At 21, Casamento started collaborating with the RAI channel as arranger and musician for the DISNEY CLUB RAI UNO channel, then working for channels such as “Disney Channel,” “Rai Sat Ragazzi,” “LA MELEVISIONE” and “IL GIORNALE DEL FANTABOSCO.” Additionally, he worked with “TREBISONDA,” “MISS ITALIA,”

“CDLIVE,” “DOMENICA IN” “La Prova del Cuoco RAI UNO” (2018-19-20), “Telethon RAI UNO” (2018-19-20), and for “RADIO RAI UNO” (Check-inCitofonare Cuccarini, Last Minute, La Prima nota Bella). Andrea is an all-round musician. Throughout his career, he has also been teaching. He has collaborated with several artists for famous advertisements’ theme songs and Italian hits for artists like Neja, Levante, and Marco Carta and compositions and arrangements for theatres, musicals, and short films.

Furthermore, Casamento arranged songs for the Marco Tullio Giordana’s “Sangue Pazzo”’s dancing scenes (with Monica Bellucci and Luca Zingaretti) and composed songs for Franco Migliacci’s “Divo Nerone” Musical. Additionally is a composer for tv shows by RAI, MEDIASET, MAGNOLIA, and ENDEMOL SHINE.

Linda Pinelli Bass

Linda Pinelli Bass Graduated at Cpm Music School of Milan and Conservatoria “Giuseppe Verdi” of Como Theatre Credits: We Will Rock You - the musical by Queen and Ben Elton - ITALY (Have been choosen by Brian May and Roger Taylor)

The Infidel Musical by David Baddiel music by Erran Baron Cohen - London (Royal Stratford East Theatre) Pop Tour and Tv Credits: J-Ax (current), Biagio Antonacci, Fedez, Giuliano Palma, Loretta Grace, Lorenzo Fragola, E state con noi in tv Rai 1, Platinette, Ekat Bork.

We Will Rock You London ( West End, Dominion Theatre, as deputy bass player)

Marco Adami Guitar

Marco Adami Guitar Songwriter, Arranger, Music Producer Marco Adami was born in Rome on the 15th of March 1976. He studied classical guitar at the conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome. He studied literature and philosophy at the Sapienza University of Rome. He studied composition with M. Bruno Zambrini, that was also his first producer and publisher.

In 1995 he had his first publication on a cd with a song for the singer Fabrizio Pieraccini. Then in 1996, he reached a big success as a singer with the hit single "Canzone Per La Mia Ex Ragazza."

From his cd "Colpo Di Fulmine," published by BMG, were extracted three singles. He made a big tour in Italy and performed in the most important tv and radio shows.

In 1997 he reached the second position at The International Star Music Festival in Montecarlo with the song "E' si o no."

In 1998 the songs "Canzone per la mia ex ragazza" and "É si o no" were included in the soundtrack of the successful movie "Cucciolo."

In 1998 and 1999 he released two singles that played on our most important radio in Italy.

In 2000 he rescinded the contract with BMG and worked as songwriter and arranger for singers, tv shows, and cinema soundtracks.

In 2004 he played in two important concerts of classical guitar in Jerusalem and Bethlemme.

In 2005 he founded the Kafer Records Company, label, and recording studio in Rome. He produced several Singer and bands, as the tenor Massimiliano Drapello, the rock band Wasthead (n.10 in the iTunes chart), Prima luce, etc. He produced many dance songs for the most important dance compilations in Italy, as "Hit Mania" and "Eurodance." In the following years, as songwriter and arranger, he worked with many prestigious international artists, as Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet), Michael Bolton, Corona, Ice Mc, Marco Masini, Patty Pravo, Amedeo Minghi, Noemi, Lino Rufo, Ernesto Bassignano, Francesco Pannofino, Luisa Corna, Geoff Westley, Don Byron, Steven Bernstein, Nada, Farias, Fabrizio Bosso and many many others.

In 2011 he Co-founded in London "Ilessons LTD," a society that produces multimedia lessons for musicians in iBook format.

In 2012 he won the Italian "Golden Globe" with the song "Com'è Bello far l'amore" sung by the superstar Patty Pravo in the successful homonym movie.

In 2015 he moved to live in Austria with his wife Marcella, and in November, his first daughter Giulia was born.

In 2020 Marco Adami, the author of 3 new songs for the movie “La mia banda suona il pop” by the top director Fausto Brizzi, with superstar actors Christian De Sica, Diego Abatantuono, Massimo Ghini and Angela Finocchiaro, will be coming soon in the Cinema in February 2020.

He wrote the music for the tv show "Italian diary" for Rai TV. In 2016 his song " La Borsa Di Una Donna" sung by the famous singer Noemi was in the prestigious "Festival di Sanremo" and became a big success.

He arranged the soundtrack for the documentary "AstroSamantha" by Fabio Mandarà.

In 2017 he opened with his wife Marcella the "Colosseum Sound Factory" recording and photo studio in Rankweil Austria. They had as guests german stars as Roberto Blanco and Graziano, the grammy awards winner Al Walser, the well-known Switzerland singer Natacha, and many other artists.

In 2018 He worked on many projects for Italian artists as "nova musica romana" by Emy Persiani, the young singer Evaluna, the dancing singer from

the Hamburg Armin K project. He produced four singles for the well-known Austrian singer Wolfgang Frank, the folkrock singer Mario Rudigier and many others.

In 2019 he produced a new Cd for the American Jazz singer Rhina Restrepo, and he arranged for the Austrian Legend Gustl Grabher.

In 2020 he Is the author of 3 new songs for the movie "La mia banda suona il pop" by the top director Fausto Brizzi, with superstar actors Christian De Sica, Diego Abatantuono, Massimo Ghini, and Angela Finocchiaro, coming out in the Cinema in February 2020.

He is the author of 2 songs for the Corean Star Choi Sung Soo Hwang coming soon.

DEAR JACK In 2013 - 2014 and 2015, I collaborated in the artistic production of the songs in the first two albums of the Band.

PAOLO VALLESI Artistically producing, with Dado Parisini, the song "Non-Mi Tradire" in a remixed version, the 2008 single "Free Design" and two versions of "La Forza Della Vita" and one of the songs "C'e" both rearranged and duetted with MARA emerging Spanish cantande.

I also produced the video of this song, already online.

I have participated in various musical events, festivals, conventions, competitions.

STEVE LUCHI Drum D r u m m e r - S o n g Wr i t e r - P r o d u c e r From 2002 to 2006, I was the Drummer of the Article 31 band. With Article 31, in addition to having done 7 Tours, between "Tomorrow I stop and Middle Italian." I was lucky enough to collect some of the most important experiences of my life. I played at two editions of the Heineken Jamming Festival, and at two MTV DAYS in 2002 and 2004.

In 2003 I opened the Vasco Rossi show in S. Siro. Also, in 2004 for Vasco, at the mega concert in Soverato (CZ), with more than 400,000 people!

I participated in three editions of Festival Bar with finals at the Verona Arena in 2002,2003,2004.

With Article 31, I made a total of about 300 Live shows, crowned, in 2005, with the recording of a Live DVD Article 31 - The reconquest of the Forum. J-AX Since 2006 I have collaborated, as author/producer, on the first solo album of J-Ax "Di Sanapianta" by co-writing the song "How many years." In the spring of 2009, I joined as a drummer, the Accademia Delle Teste Dure, the J-Ax Band.

In 2015 I wrote and produced Rock City & The Pub Song, two songs on the album "Il Bello Di Esser Brutti," released in January 2015.

From 2009 to today, I'm his Drummer.

J-AX & FEDEZ I was the Drummer of the "Communists with Rolex" Tour, a total of 34 dates, which started in February 2017 and ended on June 1st, 2018, with an 80,000 attendance Sold Out at the San Siro Stadium in Milan.

THE VOICE OF ITALY 2014, 2015, 2018 As Vocal Coach for the J-Ax Team, in the Rai 2 TV Talent "The Voice of Italy," wherein 2014, he saw the J-Ax Team with Sister Cristina win.

IRENE GRANDI. I collaborated with Irene from 1997 to 2010. As an author, I co-wrote 8 and a half, Green Red and Blue, All-Different. As Author / Producer, the song Per Fare L'Amore. Cowritten with Pio Stefanini and Francesco Sighieri and Co-produced with Carlo Rossi and Pino Pinaxa. In February 2007 as Drummer in the new single Bruci la cittĂ , and in Spring 2007 as Drummer in the 1st virtual concert on SecondLife, together with Pio Stefanini (Fender Rodes) Francesco Sighieri (guitars) Michele Vitulli (bass). In August 2008, I recorded 4 Traks of the New Album out for Christmas, including the single "Bianco Natale" In 2010, I recorded the Batteries of the new CD "Alle Porte Del Sogno."

TOUR: From 2009 to today I am the drummer for J-Ax 2020 - With J-Ax for the presentation of the album "ReAle" at the Blue Note in Milan. 2018 2019 with J-Ax for J-Ax 25 Anniversary / Reunion Article 31, 10 sold-out dates at the Fabrique in Milan, and 10 Summer dates in the most important Italian Music Festivals.

2017-2018 with J-Ax and Fedez for the "Communists with the Rolex" Tour, including Arena di Verona and Stadio S. Siro Milano.

2008 Summer tour with Paolo Vallesi and Valeria Vaglio.

2007 Show Case with Max De Angelis.

2007 Show Case with Irene Grandi on Second Life. 2005-2006 and 2007

Summer tours with Paolo Vallesi.

2002 - 2006 with Article 31

M A N I S H VA I D COLLECTIONS SS20

Manish Vaid

Manish Vaid is the owner and designer at Jsquad Clothing Inc and the creator of the brand MANISH VAID. After earning his Bachelors's degree in Mechanical Engineering, he completed his Masters in Business Administration in 1996 from a prestigious university in India. He further went on to complete his Post Graduations in E-commerce and International business.

Manish always had a passion for designing an apparel line and wanted to utilize his education for creating a successful global brand.

In 2015, Manish moved to Los Angeles to pursue his passion and set up his design studio in the heart of DTLA at the fashion district and began his journey in the field of fashion designing.

Living several years on the beautiful island of Jamaica inspired him to create an exotic resort wear line where he blended the skills of hand Beading stones and crystals on the vibrant digital prints and styles he created. He now has a manufacturing facility in India, where he employs more than 50 skilled workers while the designing team works at the Los Angeles office.

Manish Vaid is now established as a premium brand in the resort, holiday & swim markets and has more than 400 stores across Europe, North & South America, and the Caribbean who proudly carry his collections.

Apart from being part of several fashion weeks, Manish was specially invited to showcase his Summer 2020 collections at a Luxury Gala, SCREENING OF THE OSCARS event on February 9th, 2020, which was attended by celebrities, filmmakers and various other professionals from the US and overseas.

Manish is also one of the judges at the Mrs. World Beauty Pageant. The 201920 pageant was held at the Westgate, Las Vegas, where Mrs. Sri Lanka was crowned Mrs. World.

Instagram @manishvaidofficial Fb Page: manishvaidofficial www.jsquadclothing.com Photography: Saba Hussain @sabadesignstudio.photography Arezoo Jalali @arezoojalali_photography

Va l a n t e M . G r a n t founder of The byDesign Network Valante has built a network that encompasses media, audio/video production, graphic design, and training. As a master storyteller, she uses her network to help people creatively deliver key messages with precision and authenticity.

• XYZ and Beyond: ChicagoNow column, Valante, and her daughter Vanyce explore Chicago from different perspectives. This is a platform to bring generations X, Y, and Z together by finding highlighting Chicago attractions that appeal to all ages. • The Sanctuary Academy: A committed biblical scholar and teacher, Valante hosts a weekly Sunday School class (over 1/2 million viewers) via The Sanctuary Academy YouTube Channel. As Executive Producer, she oversees filming, editing, and quality assurance.

• TED Conferences: An active member of the TED community, Valante is a TEDx event organizer and Speaker. She organized TEDxBolingbrook Women and hosted TED Opening Night, TED Prize, and TED Highlights events for the TED Cinema initiative in Naperville, Illinois. • Union Gospel Press: A passionate writer, Valante writes for the Expositor Illuminator, Adult, Young Adult, and Teacher publications. Valante authored four feature articles (including the cover) for the inaugural edition of the pre-teen take-home papers.

• SCORE: Valante is a Certified SCORE Mentor and member of the Fox Valley Chapter. Her areas of expertise include video production for business and social media for business. • The Evolution: Inspired by Valante's special guest appearance on Oprah Winfrey's LifeClass (during the debut week), this is a platform to provide inspiration and motivation through blog posts, videos, and workshops. She also conducts interviews and shares inspiring stories. Valante has presented two workshops at the Black Women's Expo: The Evolution of the Black Woman in America and The Evolved Singled Parent.

Valante has committed to mentoring young people academically, socially, and spiritually. She has served as a career mentor for Proviso Math and Science Academy in Maywood, Illinois, and Metropolitan Family Services on Chicago's Southside. Her philosophy is that every human being is one of God's designer originals. She uses her creativity to design a life that fulfills her purpose and helps others reach their destiny. Valante resides in the Chicago metropolitan area. Her inspiration is her daughter, Vanyce.

I originally painted these two girls about 3 decades back. Back then the faces were

very different. Recently I repainted the faces directly from my imagination to see what would happen. These are the results.

Ed Morales email: deselarom@olypen.com

STRIKE A POSE 'Model and Talent Management' Represents a Diverse Portfolio of Children and Adult Models of all ages, both Male and Female in the N.Y.C. and surrounding areas. We have fresh faces to satisfy any brief, from Fashion Shows, Print Work, Photo Shoots, T.V Commercials to Magazine's and Editorials. Our clients have worked with some of the biggest company's in the industry along the East Coast and abroad, which includes, Fashion Avenue News Magazine, Model World Magazine, Circle Of Sisters, NY Black Expo, N.B.A. Wives Basketball Gala, Fashion On The Hudson, Rainbow Fashion Week, Bronx Fashion Week, Harlem Fashion Week and Fashionista "U.S Virgin Islands" Walk Fashion Show and many others. They are professionally trained and comfortable working in any and all parts of the industry. We at S.A.P have many different personalities and attribute to fill any assignment.

Strike A Pose M&T Mgmt - Present's "Diverse Primacy" Dance Team.

Diverse Primacy is a modern dance team based out of the New York City area and was founded in 2018. With over Ten Years of teaching experience, our training is rooted mainly in jazz and majorette. Our foundational and fundamental training stems from Rising Stars Dance Company and Gramercy Art's. Here at D.P Dance Team, our performance experience has included working with many dance and talent companies based in N.Y.C. and abroad.

The private lessons schedule and curriculum are customized just for you! https://www.facebook.com/StrikeAPoseModelAndTalentManagement/ https://www.instagram.com/strikeaposemodelandtalentmgmt/ https://twitter.com/StrikeAPoseNYC https://www.facebook.com/PrettyfacesbyNicole/ Christopher Garcia Director of Programs and Artist Services Strike A Pose Model and Talent Management

C r i s t i a n A n t o n i e ta H e r r e r a

"Fashion passes, style remains," this phrase by Coco Chanel, a philosophy that defines classic style very well. The woman of the 21st century does not leave the elegance and femininity that has been marked since previous decades. Designer Cristian Antonieta Herrera knows very well with her clothing firm L Atelier D'Antonietta, which reflects with her designs a woman with power, delicate and sensual. Discover the best ideas to fill your wardrobe with classic, timeless, and very elegant clothes to dress well without effort.

The photographic work carried out by fashion photographer Leidy Cano complies with the aesthetics and modernism of this century, inspired by the elegance, sensuality, and femininity of the French woman that actress Elen Carvalho knew how to interpret.

Through the streets of Madrid, each photo is focused on the fact that each piece is intended to be used beyond the day of the event in question, being very contemporary.

CREDITS Clothing and shoe designer Cristian Antonieta Herrera @l_attelier_d_antonietta Jewelry Designer Victor Lopez @elenco_jewelry Model Elen Carvalho, @ elen.carvalho_ Make-up Artist Gillian JimĂŠnez @ _gillianmua Photographer Leidy Cano www.leidycano.com @ leidycano.photo

A chance encounter at Cook Children's Medical Center is all it took to set Todd Barrow on his mission to revamp classic country with his signature modern twist.

One day, an American Idol contestant was slated to perform for the patients at Todd's place of employment, but the audio tech was nowhere to be found. When he heard the call, "Can anybody here run sound?"

Todd answered. In walked Texas Music Hall of Fame Honoree Sonny Burgess just as Todd was setting up the live rig, and the two musicians struck up a conversation.

Sonny told Todd about his work with Charlie Pride and Randy Travis and asked Todd if he might lend his technical skills to help build the recording studio sponsored

by Garth Brooks and Troy Aikman that had in the works.

This serendipitous encounter yielded a coffee meeting to review the blueprints for the project, and before long, Sonny was meeting Todd for coffee weekly to discuss music. Eventually, he became Todd's mentor, forever changing the course of Todd's career.

Now, Todd Barrow is making a name for himself as a country artist to watch. The Texas singer-songwriter has racked up more than a few accolades, from a PRSA Award of Excellence to an Akademia Award for Best Country Album, and an artist spotlight in Alternative Roots Magazine,

American Pride Magazine and AVA Radio.

He has appeared on television shows, including Good Morning Texas with Jerry Matheny and Texas Music CafĂŠ on PBS. He's even shared the stage and studio with some of country music's heaviest hitters, from CMA musicians in Miranda Lambert's band to Fort Worth Producer of the Year Bart Rose. But it's more than just Todd's success to date that makes him such a compelling country artist. What's most readily apparent in Todd Barrow's music in his heart.

Now, Todd Barrow is making a name for himself as a country artist to watch. The Texas singer-songwriter has racked up more than a few accolades, from a PRSA Award of Excellence to an Akademia Award for Best Country Album, and an artist spotlight in Alternative Roots Magazine, American Pride Magazine and AVA Radio.

He has appeared on television shows, including Good Morning Texas with Jerry Matheny and Texas Music CafĂŠ on PBS. He's even shared the stage and studio with some of country music's heaviest hitters, from CMA musicians in Miranda Lambert's band to Fort Worth Producer of the Year Bart Rose. But it's more than just Todd's success to date that makes him such a compelling country artist. What is most readily apparent in Todd Barrow's music in his heart.

Todd's music is no country for older adults. While he undoubtedly draws his sonic influence from titans like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, his melodies skew modern. He plays almost every instrument, from piano to guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and drums, and the multi-instrumentalist doubles as a songwriter for himself as well as for other artists. "If I can put a smile on someone's face through song, well, that just means the world to me," he says. "I try to get to the real heart and soul of a song. To me, it's not just words but a story, and I do my best to portray that with every line. That's my main draw to country music; the stories, the people, and the sincerity that comes from the heart."

It's precisely that heart that has won over audiences around the world. Todd Barrow's recent single, "The House That Love Built," co-written with Sonny Burgess, was featured on RightNow TV and was honored by PRSA Fort Worth for its fundraising efforts on behalf of the Ronald McDonald house. Todd was featured in the lineup for Bo's Extravaganza festival at John Schneider's Studio, alongside such artists as Kid Rock and Tom Wopat from Dukes of Hazzard.

He has received radio airplay from Italy Radio 6.75 for his single "Hot Southern Night."

Todd Barrow just released his latest single, "Hell and Back," written by longtime Nashville songwriter Lonnie Ratliff, and is hard at work on new music in the studio.

Todd is a proud member of the : Harry Fox Agency Country Music Association International Singer-Songwriters Association Texas Music Office, BMI Fort Worth Songwriters Association American Music Podcasting NSAIDFW Songwriters Association

Dallas Songwriters Association British Country Music Association Bayou Country Music Association

https://youtu.be/5NNaDYL6cwI

https://youtu.be/I28zLc_NEho

https://youtu.be/I28zLc_NEho

RED Silk Carpet Magazine INTERNATIONAL CONCIERGE MEDIA GROUP SANDRA SMITH- DOGHMI Founder and President SHELLEY PEKALA Editorial Director MIKAYLA PEKALA Editor-in-Chief C RY S TA L A T WO O D Assistant Editor in Chief

DION GREER Chairman of Board of Advisers SAIF RAHMAN SOZIB International Communication Jour nalist Director LUCIA CAPRÌ Red Silk Carpet Italia Editor-in-Chief GUTHRIE BONNÉTT #ATOC Editor-in-Chief SOPHIA CIN CINFULLY DELICIOUS Editor-in-Chief EMER GOMEZ Creative Director S A N TA NA C RU Z Marketing Director LOUIS CAPIZZI International Photographer shelley@redcarpetconciergeofchicago.com

Maestro Ahmad Akrum

HISTORICAL & ARCHEOLOGICAL CONTENT: Ali-Adeeb Palace, west of the Syrian coastal city Jableh, and east of the ancient port.

TECHNICAL CONTENT: The artwork was first painted in 2016 using watercolors, then turned to oil colors painting in 2018 to be out along with the launch of the initiative of the artwork "Gabala" announced by me last summer to develop the urbanism of Jableh city.

Ahmad Akrum

11th

of

April,

when

began,

Ishtar

is

the

here

story

again...

Listen to her voice in the rain...

She told me a story of a number...

And gave me a day to remember...

Ishtar is here...

I saw her in a flower... every-thought is clear…

And now I have all the power…

To write a love story… to draw all the glory…

A little chrysanthemum whispered: follow your heart…

I tried to draw it... so let me tell you about that part: I tried and tried...laughed and cried...

I stood and said: Ishtar are you here?

I want to finish the painting, so help me, dear! she listened...and came She told me the same : 11th of April when the story began...

11th of April, the story never ends..!

Ishtar is a primary Mesopotamian goddess closely associated with love and war. She and Tammuz are the protagonists of one of the world's first love stories, but the romance doesn't end in lasting happiness for them.

Ahmad Akrum

Five factions run the underground life of the prestigious Haldwell boarding school. At the head of the most powerful faction - The Spades - sits Selah Summers. By turns charming and callous, she chooses whom to keep close and whom to cut loose, walking the fine line between being feared and loved.

In the closed world of an elite Pennsylvania boarding school, Haldwell, the student body, is run by five factions. Seventeen-year-old Selah Summers (Lovie Simone) runs the most dominant group, the Spades, with unshakable poise, as they cater to the most classic of vices and supply students with coveted, illegal alcohol and pills.

Tensions between the factions escalate, and when Selah's best friend/right hand Maxxie (MOONLIGHT's Jharrel Jerome) becomes distracted by a new love, Selah takes on a protĂŠgĂŠe, enamored sophomore Paloma (Celeste O'Connor), to whom she imparts her wisdom on ruling the school. But with graduation looming and Paloma proving an impressively quick study, Selah's fears turn sinister as she grapples with losing the control by which she defines herself.

In her feature debut, writer/director Tayarisha Poe immerses us in a heightened depiction of teenage politics. This searing character study encapsulates just how intoxicating power can be for a teenage girl who acutely feels the threat of being denied it. Exciting newcomer Lovie Simone's performance beautifully embodies both Selah's publicly impeccable command and the internal fears and uncertainty that drive it.

A CONVERSATION WITH WRITERDIRECTOR TAYARISHA POE

How did this project originate?

I made an overture to Selah and the Spades, called "Overture," in 2014, knowing I eventually wanted to make a feature. But I didn't know how to write a feature script, and I didn't know what it would be about, so I wrote short stories about the characters and their world — one every day for the month of November 2014. At the end of the month, I had all these stories. Since I knew how to write and take photos, I turned the stories into separate multimedia works. It's not the most conventional approach to making a movie, but it worked for the story because I wound up spending so much time worldbuilding and thinking about the lives of these kids, which in the end made the feature itself so much more complex and richer.

What was the inspiration for the story?

After graduating from college in 2012 and starting a real job, I kept wanting to write characters that did whatever they wanted, who kept moving forward in life without overthinking things or even thinking about them at all.

At what point did you decide to make a gangster movie set in high school?

From the project's inception, the first Selah story I wrote was about Selah watching from afar as Maxxie beats up this kid who owes them money. It was about this girl who doesn't get her hands dirty — she sends other people to do her dirty work. That's the kind of story I've always been drawn too.

Who is Selah, and how has she evolved over the years?

She's a 17-year-old girl who's already well aware that her actions are constantly under review by others, but I'm still asking myself from where that comes. She's been around for a long time, but she's always been the character she is. She's an amalgamation of the strong women I'm friends with and

sometimes see myself as , but it's less about who those women actually are than it is about how others perceive them. Selah was born out of this frustration of me knowing that if we're too headstrong or aggressive, I might be stereotyped as an aggressive black woman, so I spent a lot of time being chill and eventempered. But it's exhausting to think about how other people are seeing you constantly.

Selah was born of my frustration with that.

Combined with the notion of examining what life would be like if you didn't have to lean into the image of what you should be, or how you should act, or what you should be doing with your life, or your body, or your energy. Selah came out of those feelings, and she's evolved over the years into something deeper and more complex.

This is a movie about power.

What did you want to explore about power through this movie or these characters?

Power is an addictive thing, and I'm interested in the things people do in order to hold onto power, especially if you're a person who lacks power, like a woman, for example.

What will you do to hold onto power once you have it?

I'm interested in exploring that, because who doesn't want power? Who doesn't want to be able to do whatever they want, and nobody can tell them otherwise — to me, that's a thrilling thing.

TAYARISHA POE (Writer / Director) Tayarisha Poe is a storyteller from West Philly who believes that all stories are inherently multisensory and multidimensional and thus should be told that way. She was chosen as one of the "25 new faces of the independent film" by Filmmaker magazine in 2015, and in 2016 she received the Sundance Institute's Knight Foundation Fellowship. In 2017 she was selected for the January Sundance Screenwriters Lab and the June Sundance Directors Lab. She is a 2017 Pew Fellow.

Da by Daniel

https://youtu.be/clukQ_1LCcU

VIDEO PRODUCER DA N I E L A L E X A N D E R FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R DA N I E L A L E X A N D E R MODEL G R A Y L E N A E A S T WO O D