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July / August 2016 Issue
M AG A Z I N E
A MARTINEZ
IN CALIFORNIA WINTER
BRANDON STACY
BILL “SPACEMAN” LEE MAKES HIS PITCH FOR GOVERNOR
TALKS ABOUT ROOTS
BORN TO ENTERTAIN
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CONTENTS JULY / AUGUST 2016 ISSUE
COVER STORY
MOVIES
Pat O’Brien – Born To Entertain....................... 6-10
The Write Stuff – With Marilyn Anderson And Richard Rossner................ 32-34
CELEBRITIES California Winter With A Martinez.......................... 11-15
Beacon Point One Scary Blue Movie.............. 36-39
Brandon Stacy............................. 16-19
Jason Ancona’s Prescription For Post-Divorce Syndrome........... 40-42
Heaven Gained Another Legend......................... 20-21 Rebekka Mueller......................... 22-23 Dhruv Bali...................................... 24 Jamee Natella.............................. 25
SPORTS Bill “Spaceman” Lee.................. 26-31
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The Fan Boy Film Festival....... 43 Covan’s What’s Hot This Summer – Part 1 Dig The Kid................................... 44-45 Covan’s What’s Hot This Summer – Part 2 Mr. Right...........................................46
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48 MUSIC More Guitars Than Friends – Anni Piper..................................... 48-52
SUE’S COFFEE TALK Attitude To Gratitude............... 53
LIFESTYLE Evelyn Lamodeve – Miss Model Of Africa................. 54-55
HEALTH Live In Your Strength With Dawn A. Sharp............................ 56-57
RECIPES Grilled Salmon Steak With Hoisin BBQ Sauce...................... 58 Grilled Salmon Steaks.............. 59
President & Owner LISA SNYDER citytocountrymagazine@gmail.com Director of Operations/Business Adviser TAMMY KC HEGYES tammykchegyes67@gmail.com Executive Editor & Managing Editor TERRI BASSETT terrirbassett@yahoo.com Assistant Editor &Writer COVAN MAGEE Creative Director & Head of Layouts AMY PAYCANA ESPALDON amyespaldon@icloud.com Journalists Head Writer & Advice Columnist Freelance Writer & Interviews/PR Interviews (Owner/CEO at Wings By The Flock) Freelance Writer Arts & Entertainment Columnist Photographers/Photojournalists Sports & Entertainment Photojournalist at Sterling Images -Freelance Photography Photojournalist Photojournalist Photojournalist
SUE MCGAUGHEY MICHELLE MAGEE CAMERON HOLDER ROBYN WEISS JAY LUSTER BRENT GROH JESSICA ROSE ED SANDOVAL ERIC TIER
Write To Us: 1911 Market Street Beatrice, Nebraska 68310 CITY TO COUNTRY MAGAZINE LLC would like to thank our sponsors for their contributions and will be making changes to our digital and print issues to bring our readers and viewers the best of the best! Sponsors: Sue’s Coffee Talk and Bullzeye Entertainment For those who would like to become a part of our Team here at CITY TO COUNTRY MAGAZINE LLC, you can join us over at CityToCountryMagazine.com and show your support. For those who would like to advertise in and/or sponsor an issue, you can email us at citytocountrymagazine@gmail.com. CITY TO COUNTRY MAGAZINE LLC is a Bimonthly Magazine. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission from the Publisher/Owner, Lisa Snyder. Copyright© 2016 CITY TO COUNTRY MAGAZINE LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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COVERSTORY
PAT O’BRIEN BORN TO ENTERTAIN WRITTEN BY SUE MCGAUGHEY
Nobody has been more blessed to have a more diverse and successful career, and I’m grateful every day for that.
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COVERSTORY
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ntertainment icon, Pat O’Brien, was born into the entertainment industry. His mother was in an all-girl band after WWII and played all over the Midwest. She was an accomplished piano player and played with all the big bands that came through South Dakota and surrounding states. Being very talented herself, Pat’s mom put him on stage to tap dance at the age of three. Her drummer was a dance teacher and taught Pat well. Pat found himself attracted to the attention, the attraction to his talents, and the thrill of the game. He fell head over heels in love with the business and never looked back! When Pat was work age, he landed his first job at John Morrell & Company Meat Packing for $80 a week shoveling hamburger. Pat related that to being like shoveling bubble gum. After a summer of that, his dad intervened and told him he thought he needed a better job that didn’t require him to lift anything. Pat continued on with his talents. He was tap dancing at band concerts, state fairs, and recitals. One day, Pat met a man named Mort Henkin, who was the owner of a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, television station. Mr. Henkin hired 18-year-old Pat O’Brien, and the next thing Pat knew, he was on air doing stories about things like worms on farms and mosquitos. It was then Pat was bitten by the bug, not the mosquitos, but the bigger bug – entertainment. Pat attended the University of South Dakota, where he met one of the biggest influences of his life, Dr. Bill Farber. Dr. Farber became his mentor. Dr. Farber encouraged Pat to go into
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COVERSTORY
It’s to realize there is only one God, and it’s not me. The future is unlimited. I have many more roads to travel.
communications. He knew Pat could hold a crowd with a story. Pat traveled all over the world with Dr. Farber, who encouraged and arranged many fascinating and lifechanging experiences for Pat, like speaking to NATO in 1969 about “youth unrest” and the world. Pat went on to graduate school at the prestigious School for Advanced Studies in Washington, DC. It was there he met Tom Brokaw, who was also a former Dr. Farber student and who helped Pat get a job at the local NBC station. On his first day, Pat met the legendary David Brinkley, who hired him as his assistant and researcher. After this, Pat went to Chicago as a writer, then became an anchor on air in Chicago, where he won multiple Emmy awards in news. After Chicago, he was off to Los Angeles to report and anchor the news at CBS in Los Angeles, where he won even more Emmys! Pat’s boss in LA became president of CBS Sports and brought him to the network in 1980. It was in LA where Pat started hosting NFL Today and all of college basketball, which included tournaments and the Final Four. The NBA is also where he invented meaningful halftimes with At the Half, hosted several NBA Finals, four Super Bowls, 25 US Open Tennis Championships, as well as hosted and reported at eight Olympic games. He also reported all of college football for CBS. In the late ‘90s, NBC hired Pat to develop and host Access Hollywood. From there, Pat went back to CBS for the show Insider. Pat said, “Nobody has been more blessed to have a more diverse and successful career, and I’m grateful every day for that.”
Pat O’Brien is a man with many talents. In addition to hosting and reporting, Pat recently wrote a book that is a New York Times bestseller, I’ll Be Back Right After This: My Memoir, which is currently available for sale on Amazon. Pat wanted to clear-up the gossip and the Internet chatter about what other people thought his life was about. Not only was it a New York Times bestseller, it was a tear-jerking and laugh-out-loud book about his life. It is also almost a textbook on what it’s like to go through alcoholism publicly and come out the other side. Pat’s motto was from Churchill, who said, “When you are walking through Hell, keep walking.” Pat told City to Country Magazine, “I’m proud of everything I have done, and it’s in that book. It’s a little Forrest Gumpish.” Pat O’Brien has lived a blessed life, but not without a few stumbles. He’s been very public about his battle with alcohol. He overcame his struggle and now follows a spiritual path, helping hundreds of people in the addiction community. Once he found his spiritual path, Pat became more free, happy, and joyous every day. Pat is also a loving father to his son, Sean. He loves spending time with his son, and fortunately, Sean, being the loving son he is, still loves spending time with dad. Pat strives to spend as much time with him as he can. Something Pat’s fans may not be aware of is he still loves to tap dance! Remember, his mom enrolled him at age three. It’s one of the things, besides being a great dad, that he feels he’s really good at. He used to dance with some of the greats like Gregory Hines
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COVERSTORY
and Sammy Davis, Jr. Sammy once told Pat he was the best white tap dancer he had ever seen. That’s not all Pat likes to do with his downtime. He still goes to many Rock concerts, where a lot of the performers are actually his friends. He also fancies himself a voracious reader. It’s important to read, inform, and continually educate yourself. As far as advice to the newcomers in the entertainment industry, Pat believes people should learn to read, write, and study history and great communicators. The greatest thing you can have on your side is perspective. He also advises to slow down. You don’t have to be at the top tomorrow. Work slowly and methodically at your craft, so you can carve out your niche. People in a hurry tend to fail in business and/or burn themselves out. Pat’s personal feeling is to just do the best you can and don’t take anything personally. Listen to the voices inside your own head and stay in your lane. Recently, Pat O’Brien launched a new show, Everything, All The Time. His co-host is well-known comedian,
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Cort McCown, who regularly graces the stage of comedy clubs. Cort is very popular across the country. One day, Pat asked him to co-host, and they were like lightening in a bottle. Pat views Cort as smart, insightful, pop culture brilliant, and funny. In Pat’s mind, Cort is the perfect cohost, and he hope he’s there to stay! Everything, All The Time is recorded live every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST from WCOBM studios on Hollywood and Vine in LA. Fans can log onto the website during the show by going to www.wcobm.com and chat live with Pat, Cort, and a revolving cast of celebrity guests. They do just what the title says, talk about everything all the time. Pat O’Brien is an amazing man. He’s a walking library of knowledge. As for Pat’s future, he says, “It’s to realize there is only one God, and it’s not me. The future is unlimited. I have many more roads to travel.” Make sure you follow Pat on his newest road every Tuesday to see what’s going on by watching Everything, All The Time. The legend, the icon Mr. Pat O’Brien, lives and travels on. He truly was born to entertain.
“We’re in a terrible crisis, and it is part of the reason for the emergence of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.” ~ A Martinez In 2006, housing prices all over the United States began dropping. By 2008, what became known as “The Housing Bubble” burst, rendering millions of homeowners with insurmountable debt. While there are many reasons for the crisis and just as many opinions about our national response to it, there is little doubt that one of the primary drivers was the marketing of easily obtainable, lowinterest, variable-rate mortgages to financially vulnerable homeowners. Very quickly, the news media began focusing its attention on the banking industry and the government. This was soon
CALIFORNIA WINTER WITH A MARTINEZ WRITTEN BY JAY LUSTER
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followed by Hollywood movies, like The Big Short and Margin Call, aiming their spotlight on the financial industry and the government. Lost in all of this was the perspective of the everyday people who lost everything. Odin Ozdil’s movie, California Winter, poignantly exposes the living consequences suffered by the people caught in the banking grinder. Emmy Award-winning actor, A Martinez, currently appearing in the Netflix TV show, Longmire, co-stars in California Winter. He says, “The 2008-2009 crisis led to a lot of people getting financially slaughtered.” He continues, “Odin had heard a lot of people, in the aftermath, talking about how they had lost their homes, and it was obvious that this was a story that needed to be told.” The movie stars Elizabeth Dominguez as Clara Morales, a young and quite naive real estate agent. Her family’s finances are precarious, and just before her mom passes away, Clara suggests they refinance their house with one of the new, easily obtainable, adjustable-rate mortgages. The banker tells Clara and her dad, Miguel (A Martinez), not to worry, because in a couple of years when the rates rise, the bank will refinance their current loan to one with a low, fixed rate. With their personal financial crisis at an end, the movie then shifts its focus to the relationship between father and daughter. When the crisis hits, nobody is prepared, and Clara helplessly watches as her acquaintances, customers, and friends begin to lose their homes. The plot deepens when the loan comes due on Miguel, and they realize the money isn’t there to cover the balloon payment. Many middle-class and upper middle-class people were financially wounded or destroyed when the bubble burst, but it was working-class minorities that were hardest hit. Martinez says, “Mortgage companies cold called people and asked them, ‘How would you like to save a giant amount of money on your mortgage every month?’ They would say, ‘We’ll put free money in your pocket right now.’” With the banks promising to refinance the moment the loan became due, millions of people jumped at the chance to ease some of their financial burden. Martinez continues, “You can say of these people that their eyes were too big, and they should have known better. However, the bank’s promise that when these loans matured and the interest rates jacked-up they’d refinance was a lie, and it was told as
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a mass operation. The truth was that the moment these loans got made, the companies scrambled to get them off their books. After the loan was sold, they had nothing to do with them anymore, and so, legally, despite their promises, they were under no obligation whatsoever.” Because mortgage companies paid higher commissions, sometimes three or four times higher, to their employees who sold these types of loans over more conventional loans, the system was incentivized from within. He says, “You didn’t even have to provide a source of income. They, basically, would write whatever number in there that they wanted to see.” As the movie progresses and the crisis deepens, Clara watches helplessly as the financial and personal devastation destroys the lives of the people whose American dream of homeownership she helped fulfill. Then, when she tries to refinance her dad’s loan, she learns that the company wasn’t going to keep their promises. One by one, as homeowners defaulted, the bank’s foreclose department and the sheriff’s department were legally bound to impose evictions. Little by little, whole neighborhoods emptied out, and people were forced to move in with other family members, band together with friends, and in some cases, become squatters...or worse, homeless. While effectively showing real people being groundup in the gears of a system they couldn’t have possibly understood, California Winter is also a coming-of-age and love story. The house was her mom’s dream. As Clara and Miguel are increasingly unable to make the payments and have no ability to refinance, with broken
hearts, they see her dream slipping away. This not only places a strain on their relationship, it strains Miguel’s health to the breaking point. Martinez says, “Fifteen million homes were lost, and everyone was affected, and it really is important that we remember what the common people went through in the midst of all these dramatic, epic changes.” Interestingly, this was Odin Ozdil’s first attempt at a full-length fictional movie. Usually associated with documentaries, he has now very well proven that he can write, produce, and direct a feature-length film. Of his leading lady, Martinez says, “She’s a brilliant actress and a brilliant person.” While she is a relative newcomer, she delivers a stellar performance that promises bigger things ahead for her and for her audience. Joining Dominguez and Martinez on the screen are veterans Erick Avari (Madam Secretary, Grimm), Laura Celon (ER), Rutina Wesley (True Blood), and Michael Ironside (too many credits to list). Interestingly, A Martinez sees parallels between his deeply emotional, yet stoic, performance of the aging and vulnerable Miguel Morales and his character in the Netflix hit series, Longmire. When asked to explain, he says, “In my mind, I put the characters (Jacob Nighthorse and Miguel Morales) in a similar kind of slot. To me, it’s special to tell stories that you respect from the point-of-view of what your character symbolizes in the larger story. One of the great, great things about Longmire is that we’re telling the story of this particular place in Wyoming from the point-of-view of the whole community. Because so much of the story involves the Cheyenne, Martinez says, “Inevitably, the show speaks
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There still are moments in my work where things feel surreal, but those moments also feel as if I have had them before…familiar.
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hen he auditioned for The History Channel series, Roots, up-and-coming actor, Brandon Stacy, got more than he bargained for. He was asked to play a much larger, more prominent character. JESSICA SVENSON: Congrats on all your success in recent times, Brandon. Does it all feel a bit surreal, or do you feel like you’ve well and truly paid your dues and deserve to be where you are now? BRANDON STACY: There still are moments in my work where things feel surreal, but those moments also feel as if I have had them before…familiar. That could just be about projecting what you want and then doing it. You get out what you put in, right? SVENSON: How is 2016 different to previous years? STACY: It’s been pretty amazing to be a part of some shows getting a lot of attention. I am very proud to be part of a 2016 Oscar winner this year, The Big Short. Underground is also being received very well, and Roots is historic. SVENSON: How did you hear about the Roots role? And did you audition through the usual process? STACY: I did go through the usual process. I was submitted for a role and called in. During the call-back process, I met with Director Bruce Beresford, and he decided he wanted me in a different, larger role than the one I initially went in for.
SVENSON: Is this a character poles apart from yourself? STACY: The way I live my life and my values are quite different. My character, Clingman, is a man of strong principals and convictions, and depending on what side of the line you fall, that can be a very dangerous thing. I always try and find some way to relate the character; however, I have to search. Certainly, I can use my own traits to influence the direction of the character and make some discoveries that way. SVENSON: How does your character figure into the story? STACY: When we follow the lineage of Kunta Kinte, we land on a plantation nearing the Civil War. My character, Clingman, represents a specific mentality of people of his time – a voice of reason and counsel to Frederick, played by Lane Garrison. He is a man who thinks he is justified, but sadly, he is not. SVENSON: We all remember watching that original Roots miniseries growing up. Do you? Are you old enough to remember it? STACY: I did watch it growing up. Not when it initially aired, but later on TV and in school. SVENSON: Did you revisit the series in preparation for the new one?
SVENSON: What were they looking for from you?
STACY: I did not watch the original directly before filming. Though, I have re-watched it since.
STACY: I assume they were looking for the ability to bring truth to the character.
SVENSON: Why do you think it’s been remade? Does it differ much from the original?
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BRANDON STACY WRITTEN BY JESSICA SVENSON
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STACY: Certainly, we cover some new ground in this one, some new characters. The message is one that needs to be retold. It is definitely time for a new generation to learn about Roots and about a part of history that shapes who we are as a society. That knowledge will shape where we go from here. SVENSON: Who was the director on this one? STACY: I had the pleasure and honor of working with the talented Bruce Beresford…a wonderful man. SVENSON: Was he an “actors’ director?” STACY: Bruce has been around a long time, so when he put his trust in me on his project, that certainly meant a lot. It is because of him I got the part. I am very happy to say we “vibed” well on set. SVENSON: Where does Roots rank in terms of your favorite working experiences? STACY: To be a part of something so impactful and to do something that can inspire and teach is quite meaningful to me. I’m blessed that Roots has the ability to do that. The reciprocation of inspiration is such a driving force in what I do. SVENSON: Has being involved in it helped your career? Are doors now opening that were previously closed? STACY: You have to make every step count, and anytime you work, make the best of it. If you do that, a progression is made every time, and people will take notice. I think in many ways Roots has steered my future path. SVENSON: What would you prefer to do – TV or film? Or do you hope to mix it up? STACY: I’m obsessed with the art of film. I certainly want to mix it up though. I’m an explorer by nature, so I would never want to be held back by any medium. To tell a story within a couple hours and have an impact is a magical thing. I will say that sometimes in TV you can further explore a character and storyline, which can be very fulfilling as an actor. SVENSON: Why should audiences tune into Roots? STACY: To be moved. To learn about and from our history, our mistakes, and our humanity. To be able to shape a future we can all be proud of.
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CELEBRITIES
HEAVEN GAINED ANOTHER LEGEND WRITTEN BY CAMERON HOLDER
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he world was brought to “Purple” tears when we lost a major icon of the 20th century. Prince Rogers Nelson was a legend in his own right, and the world loved him. This multitalented genius was born June 7, 1958; however, his life was cut short on April 21, 2016. Prince emerged from a small town near Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1976, where he still resided until his final breath. He wrote, played, and produced all of his music, which was a major pro bono. At the age of 17, he refused to shop his music to any major record label and turned down a lot of signing offers. In 1979, he finally crept into radio rotation with his first nationwide song, “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” Yet, he wasn’t a megastar at first. What caught America’s attention was when he looked into the future and wrote his smash hit, “1999,” from his 1982 album, 1999. He was still overlooked by his media rival and Pop royalty, Michael Jackson. His next album and movie, Purple Rain, catapulted him to a universal frenzy, sealing him as a legend in Pop history. Throughout the rest of the ‘80s and ‘90s, he kept hitting homeruns on Billboard charts. However, he underwent a few identity changes, going from Prince to a symbol,
being referred to only as “The Artist Formally Known as Prince” or “The Artist,” then back to his roots as Prince. In the early part of the new century, he had a health problem. Prince was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the same disease that has crippled boxing legend Muhammad Ali and ‘80s actor Michael J. Fox. But that diagnosis didn’t slow him down at all. He was on the verge of a major comeback when he fell ill on his new tour. It was cited that he had the flu a few days before he was found unresponsive in the elevator at his compound in Minnesota. There has been mass controversy over him not having a will. His multimilliondollar estate and assets will be seized by the government, taking nearly half of Prince’s worth. Two weeks after the announcement of this legend’s passing, his family had a private funeral for him. It was also cited that they cremated the icon. There are talks about having a tribute funeral in the near future, which would be televised like his other legendary peers. Prince will be tremendously missed by the world and will be remembered for decades to come. In this “Purple” world, us doves will always cry out for him! Gone too soon, but never forgotten! We love you, Prince. R.I.P.
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CELEBRITIES
REBEKKA MUELLER WRITTEN BY MICHELLE MAGEE
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CELEBRITIES
I’m fascinated by the story of Black Tiger, as the comic deals with different nationalities and ethnic groups. Today, I think it is more important than ever to make clear that we are one people that shall all be created equal, no matter what skin color or religion we may have.
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nternational actress, Rebekka Mueller, has the focus, talent, and drive to become a global household name. Rebekka is currently starring in two movies, Reeperbahn (distributed by Edel and available in stores and online on DVD and Blu-ray) and Death Wish Zero. Rebekka received her first international Best Actress award at the LAIFF Awards in Los Angeles for You Are Back. Additionally, the film with her as mother, Never Forget, received the Best Film award and 2.000 euro at the 2015 SPITZiale Film Festival in Espelkamp, Germany. Her portrayal of a woman in a bar alongside Christian Harting, who was playing a supporting role in the Academy Award-winning movie Son of Saul, made it into the top 19 from over 4,000 films submitted in the famous 99 Fire Films Award competition during Berlinale 2015. She is signed with the Jerry Pace Agency in Burbank, California. Current projects include her first cinematographic chamber play as a producer and actress, which is being made in cooperation with film and local companies from Cologne, a US 360-degree web series, and a US comic
book series with German and US coproduction. She is very excited about a project called Black Tiger. “It’s an honor to be part of the TV series Black Tiger.” She will be playing the successful business woman, human-rights activist, and upcoming mayoral candidate, Mareike Hofmeister, in the main cast of the upcoming martial arts action series. After meeting the producers from Beyond Time, Inc. at a Comic-Con, she knew she wanted to be a part of the show. “I have been fascinated with comics and comic screen adaptions ever since getting involved,” explains actress and producer Rebekka Mueller (www.rebekkamueller.de/home-en.html). “I’m fascinated by the story of Black Tiger, as the comic deals with different nationalities and ethnic groups. Today, I think it is more important than ever to make clear that we are one people that shall all be created equal, no matter what skin color or religion we may have.” Mueller is one of the top five up-and-coming German actors/ producers working mainly in international productions, and she plans to relocate to Los Angeles, CA to continue her career.
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SPORTS
BILL “SPACEMAN” LEE WRITTEN BY JAY LUSTER
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SPORTS
“My coach put a worm into a bottle of water and another in a bottle of vodka. The one in the vodka curled up and died and went down to the bottom of the bottle. He asked me if I could see what the difference was in the two bottles. I said, ‘Yeah, if you drink alcohol, you won’t get worms.’” ~ Bill Lee To say former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, Bill Lee, is a little out of left field is a monumental understatement. During his career with The Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos, he became known for a wild streak when he was away from the game and cold calculation when he was on the mound. Of course, you’d have to be cool under pressure to be a lefty pitching in
the shadow of the epic left-field wall in Boston’s Fenway Park, but it doesn’t hurt to also be a little crazy. During his 14-year career, he amassed a 119-90 win-loss record, which, in and of itself, is very good, but it hardly tells the story of his career, let alone his life. Lee was initially drafted out of USC by The Red Sox in the 22nd round of the 1968 MLB Draft. Taken with the 507th pick overall, he came to Boston with relatively low expectations. Upon his arrival, the California native took one look at the iconic, 37-foot-tall Fenway Park left-field wall, affectionately called The Green Monster, and asked, “Do they leave it there during the game?” During his first two seasons, he was used sparingly as a reliever and a spot starter, but it was by no means assured that the big lefty was going to stick. Then, in 1971, his third season in Boston, he won nine games, while only losing two. In 1972, his record was 7-4. While not quite as good as the prior season, it was obvious that the team had found a player they knew they could count on. With higher expectations than ever before, Lee didn’t disappoint, and
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MOVIES
THE WRITE STUFF – WITH MARILYN ANDERSON AND RICHARD ROSSNER WRITTEN BY JESSICA SVENSON
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eteran screenwriters, Marilyn Anderson and Richard Rossner, talk about their winning family comedy, How to Beat a Bully.
RICHARD: When I was in school, the bullies called me “melon head.” We gave that incident to one of the kids in the story.
JESSICA SVENSON: I imagine you’d have to have a personal interest in bullying to write a movie about it. Have you been bullied?
What is also interesting is how when we talk to people about the film, almost everyone has a story of how they were bullied. I think that is what makes this a very universal film.
MARILYN: Oh, yes. I was bullied in high school by the “tough girls.” One girl used to hit me every time she passed me in the hall. I gave that story to the mom in How to Beat a Bully. I added a beat about how we got to be friends again, except that didn’t happen in real life. Another time, a girl punched me in the face at a hamburger drive-through. I didn’t put that in the film. But the weird thing is, this girl recently tried to become my friend on Facebook! I’m guessing she doesn’t remember that she punched me, but I do. Of course, the main story is about a young boy who gets bullied, so that part wasn’t personal. But we know it happens all the time, especially to kids who are new or different.
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The difference in our story is that we handle it with a light touch. There are a lot of heavy or sad anti-bullying movies out there. We think humor can be a positive way to help spread the word to stop bullying or open up a conversation about it. SVENSON: How did you, or did you, overcome that? RICHARD: I think I grew my hair longer, so my head didn’t look so much like a melon. And now, as an adult, I got to write a movie. Not bad! MARILYN: When the girl punched me, I drove away and cried. As for the girl who used to hit me in the hall, I tried to stay as far away from her as possible. It didn’t always work
MOVIES
It’s a period in your life, and it may hurt, but there will be better times ahead when you won’t think about it anymore. though, because she’d follow me. The fact is, in thinking about it now, I remember the incidents, but I have let them go. It was in the past. Although it was painful then, we grow up and go on with our lives, and those incidents don’t have to stay with us. I think it’s important for kids to realize this. You will get over it, and it doesn’t have to define you or stay with you. The pain goes away, and sometimes, you won’t even remember it. Many very successful people, including famous singers and actors, were bullied as kids, but that didn’t stop them from attaining their goals and finding happiness. It’s a period in your life, and it may hurt, but there will be better times ahead when you won’t think about it anymore. So, don’t let it overtake your life. Maybe you can even write a movie or book about it someday too! SVENSON: Did it feel almost therapeutic writing a movie where bullying was a theme? MARILYN: For me, it’s therapeutic to write comedy and to enjoy laughter. That’s the thing that makes everyone feel better, I think. If I’m in a bad mood or stressed about something, diving into my creativity and getting involved in a script and the characters takes me out of my worries and puts me into another world. Hopefully audiences experience that when they see a movie or read a book too. As far as comedy goes, it’s been said, “Laughter is the best medicine.” We think this is true for many reasons. People who are laughing together and sharing fun experiences are less likely to make fun of each other or be mean to each other. Many comedians use humor to expound on the sad
parts of their lives and twist the words to make it sound funny. That’s how they turn it around, so not only they laugh about it, but others do too. RICHARD: It was nice to be able to take real incidents from our lives and incorporate them into a movie. I find the writing process therapeutic in general. And this story tickled us so much that it was great fun to write…probably more fun than therapeutic. I have to admit that even though our hero fibs to get the bullies off his back, it was very satisfying to see them bending over backwards to be nice to the hero. And of course, when all of the kids defeat the real bad guys, who are adults, it’s nice to see good triumphing over evil, especially in a light-hearted, fun family movie like this. SVENSON: It’s not a preachy movie though. It’s entertainment first and foremost. Was it important to find that balance? MARILYN: Definitely. Even though it’s a comedy, we wanted to depict real relationships that felt authentic and loving. Early in the script, the mom says, “Home is where the people you love are.” And the dad says, “Look on the bright side.” At the end, Cory’s dad, Joe, tells him, “Words can be just as dangerous as fists, if you don’t use them right.” And the kids confess, “It’s more fun being friends than bullies.” These are lines that reflect the warmth and heart of the story, in the midst of the comical plot twists, and fun of the kid fibbing that his dad is a hitman for the mob. There is broad humor, but there are also sweet moments and the depiction of a caring family. In the casting, it was also important to find actors who could handle the broad
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MOVIES
BEACON POINT
ONE SCARY BLUE MOVIE WRITTEN BY CAROL GALLAGHER
People will always pull comparisons. It is human nature. I was more concerned with writing a good story with compelling characters that would be entertaining.
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eorgia native Eric Blue is about to give sciencefiction a good shake up with his relentlessly disturbing and very frightening, outdoor spookfest, Beacon Point. CAROL GALLAGHER: Where do you come from, Eric? ERIC BLUE: I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. It’s a great city for filmmakers. We have a booming film industry, tons of talented cast and crew, and some amazing locations. I’m proud to be a Georgia filmmaker. GALLAGHER: Did you grow up wanting to make movies? BLUE: I was a kid in the ‘70s and ‘80s and loved the classics, like Star Wars, Time Bandits, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Alien. The minute I saw Star Wars, I knew I
wanted to make movies. It was a game-changer for me. GALLAGHER: Have encouraging folks? BLUE: Yes, my folks have been encouraging. As a kid, I was always doing creative things like making silly videos, telling crazy stories, or building a haunted house in our garage. My mom always thought I’d make a good director. GALLAGHER: What was the first thing you made filmwise? BLUE: I’ve done a bunch of shorts that you can watch on my www.bluelanternfilms.com website. I made a movie called Lost Crossing, which stars Melissa McBride (Carol from The Walking Dead), that did really well on the festival circuit. Beacon Point is my first feature. I’ve been working toward this goal, a feature film, for a
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long time. I’m very excited about our world premiere in Hollywood on June 10th. GALLAGHER: Is this the big one for you? Do you feel this is the one that’s going to open doors that might’ve previously been closed? BLUE: I think it’s an important step for me as a filmmaker to get that first feature made. It’s been really difficult to get to this point, but I knew this is what I wanted to do. If I can make another movie after this, I know I’m successful. GALLAGHER: And you shot this locally? Or where did it shoot? BLUE: We shot Beacon Point mostly in Georgia. It’s our home turf, and we were excited to support Georgia businesses and crew members. Georgia production took place in Atlanta, Conyers, and Blairsville. For ease of access, we shot all of our night scenes at the Georgia International Horse Park. The waterfall scene was shot on private land, and yes, we had permission. It is rumored to be the largest waterfall on private land in the US. We also shot on location in North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains. This is where the story is based, and it was crucial to show the immense size, beauty, and isolation of the area. GALLAGHER: Were the actors local? BLUE: We worked with a Georgia-based casting agency, Big Picture Casting. They gave us tons of options and took the time to make sure we were happy. I had never
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held auditions via Skype before. We had several actors auditioning in LA, and Skype was the perfect platform. We cast Rae and Jon out of Los Angeles and Eric, Jason, and RJ out of Atlanta. We were fortunate to have four days of rehearsals just prior to shooting, giving us the opportunity to connect as a group. GALLAGHER: Did you pull a Hitchcock and cameo in it? BLUE: You called it! Yes, I did. My son and I are in the movie for literally one second. If you blink, you’ll miss us. I’m not an actor, so I kept it brief. My wife is in a cool scene on the Appalachian Trail. She gets a lot more screen time than I do. GALLAGHER: Is it fair to say Beacon Point is a mesh of different genres? BLUE: We’re calling it a sci-fi thriller, which I guess is a mesh of genres. It definitely has strong aspects of sci-fi and thriller. I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to give anything away. GALLAGHER: How much does the location play a part in the story? BLUE: The remoteness of the locations really adds a scary vibe. Kubrick, for example, plays off remoteness in The Shining to build tension and scares. We also use fear of the unknown, the deep woods, as a scare element. This, combined with the tension and distrust between the characters, really makes the movie scary and fun. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, since there are some big surprises.
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GALLAGHER: Are there any films or filmmakers you’d say directly or indirectly influenced the film? BLUE: I was influenced by the impact directors like Kubrick, and Ridley Scott had me emotionally. Their movies are full of suspense and compelling characters. This is what really interests me with storytelling and what I strived for with Beacon Point. GALLAGHER: How hard is it to come up with a sci-fi story that people haven’t seen before?
BLUE: Yes, I could have made this film ten years ago, and it really wouldn’t have been that different. More than anything, I wanted a good story with interesting characters. The movie isn’t about how much cool technology we could use or how many visual effects we could create. It’s about telling a story that is engaging. I don’t think the movie really would have been that different if we had made it ten years ago. GALLAGHER: Is it a movie with a message?
BLUE: I think coming up with anything totally unique or fresh these days is really tough. I wasn’t worried about that too much when writing Beacon Point. People will always pull comparisons. It is human nature. I was more concerned with writing a good story with compelling characters that would be entertaining.
BLUE: Yes, there are definitely some strong messages and themes in the movie. Some of the themes are more obvious than others. I love subtly. The movie takes place in the Great Smoky Mountains, the home of the Cherokee, and this provides a foundation for the legends and myths surrounding the Great Smokies. We also play with the ideas of distrust and paranoia.
GALLAGHER: As for most of the effects, are they practical or computer-generated?
GALLAGHER: Are you happy with the film? What do you think audiences will get out of it?
BLUE: Most of the effects are practical. We had an amazing makeup effects artist, Toby Sells, who works on The Walking Dead and did Zombieland. The team at Company 3 Atlanta did our digital effects for us and knocked it out of the park. On a lot of what they did, you’ll never even know it is a digital effect. You never want to call attention to digital effects, in my opinion.
BLUE: I am extremely happy with and proud of Beacon Point. I’ve been working toward getting my first feature made for a long time, and it feels really good to finally be at this point. My main hope is that audiences find the movie entertaining and think about some of the themes later on. If people have fun watching it, then I did my job.
GALLAGHER: Could you have made this film even ten years ago? How different might it have been?
Beacon Point screens as part of the Dances with Films Film Festival on June 10th, 11:45 p.m., Chinese Theatre.
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JASON ANCONA’S PRESCRIPTION FOR POST-DIVORCE SYNDROME WRITTEN BY JESSICA SVENSON
I really liked directing my own script. As the writer, I know the story I want to tell.
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ason Ancona, an award-nominated screenwriter and accomplished producer, makes his directorial debut with Dr. Cheapskate, a great indie comedy about a man that enters the dating pool after being divorced.
Bunyan and The Burning Dead. Both were creature features. Yes, I did feel it was time I tried directing my own work. And since my favorite movies are comedies, I loved being able to write and direct one that’s in that genre.
JESSICA SVENSON: Congrats on the film. How long has it been coming?
SVENSON: Why a comedy?
JASON ANCONA: Thanks! We started shooting in the fall of 2014 and didn’t wrap production until February of 2015. Filming dates often got pushed back, because of availability of the cast and crew and shooting over weekends. And postproduction took nearly a year. We had a private screening in November of 2015, but we finished another edit of the movie in April 2016. SVENSON: Having worked on other people’s films for so long, did you feel it was time to direct your own piece? ANCONA: While I’ve written a dozen scripts, I’ve only had the privilege of working as a cowriter on two other films that were actually made, Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul
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ANCONA: I love laughing and crying from laughing so hard. There was a girl I used to work with who was so silly and funny. She made me cry laughing many times. Kristin Pomales is hilarious, but she’s in Dr. Cheapskate in a serious scene as Dr. Cheapskate’s ex-wife. I enjoy seeing other people laugh and smile, and I’m hoping Dr. Cheapskate does that for audiences. SVENSON: Is it all fictional? Anything personal in here? ANCONA: It’s fictional, but there are a lot of personal elements in it. Like in the movie, I went through a divorce and was somewhat slow about dating again. And when I did, I struggled through online dating, trying to figure what to put in the profile, how much to reveal, which pictures to
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use, which places to go to, what to wear, what to talk about, and what to do once you’re on a date. I finally gave up the handshake greeting and went with the hello hug. SVENSON: How long did the screenplay take to write? ANCONA: After four months, I’d been through several drafts of the script to where I was pretty happy with it. SVENSON: How much did it change between the first draft and shooting script? ANCONA: There weren’t a ton of changes. There were some, because of us not being able to get a location (for free). Writing around those type of things, you kind of reverse engineer the script based on what locations you can get or have access to. Thankfully, the Duplass brothers shared that tip, which they used in their movie, The Puffy Chair. SVENSON: Is it harder or easier to direct your own script? ANCONA: I really liked directing my own script. As the writer, I know the story I want to tell. So, I should be able to communicate that story to the cinematographer and actors better than someone who doesn’t have the same connection to the material. That being said, I’m sure I made a ton of mistakes as a first-time director. SVENSON: Would you say the film was influenced by any particular films or filmmakers?
ANCONA: Definitely. I love John Hughes and his movies: The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Vacation, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off…so many great movies. They are lighthearted and fun movies with characters you care about. I also love Harold Ramis and his work: Groundhog Day, Animal House, Stripes, and Caddyshack. SVENSON: Where did you grow up, sir? Was Hollywood always in your sights, even way back when? ANCONA: I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Hollywood wasn’t in my sights from the get-go. I always loved movies, but never considered it as a career path. I got a marketing degree and worked in the corporate world. When I moved to Los Angeles fresh off a divorce, I was sort of searching for what I wanted to do. The movie American Beauty came out right about then, which made me search even more. I totally identified with Kevin Spacey’s character. Such a great movie. A girl I worked with suggested I take a screenwriting class. My first UCLA professor told me he could count on one hand the amount of people he’d had in class that had the talent and drive to make it in this town, and I was one of them. My first script, which I wrote in his class, was a finalist in a screenwriting contest of over 4,100 scripts. I became hooked on writing and haven’t been able to kick the habit. SVENSON: Did your parents encourage this route? ANCONA: I’m fortunate that my parents have always been supportive of me and what I want to do. Both were teachers for many years. Had I chosen a filmmaking route, they
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MOVIES
COVAN’S WHAT’S HOT THIS SUMMER – PART 1
DIG THE KID WRITTEN BY COVAN MAGEE
They were chosen to contribute the ending title track to the recently released, big-budget remake of Katheryn Bigelow’s 1991 surf cult classic, Point Break. I recently discovered them looking at that remake. I was a huge fan of the original and decided to purchase the new one. It was just as awesome as the original, if not better. Toward the end scene of the movie, approaching the credits, Dig the Kid’s “Still Breathing” is played. It really grasps the particular scene of that film. The music composition of that track is absolutely superb. This band is 120% the real deal. When I heard that song, I had to find out who the band performing it was. I looked up the credits and found them. I hit them up and actually made contact with them. We’re going to be doing a collaboration track sometime in the future.
f you’re looking for some seriously awesome tunes to blast in your automobile this summer, then look no further than Dig the Kid (DTK). When Dig the Kid sing about living life on the edge, this hard-rocking power trio knows what it’s talking about.
I just fell in love with this band, from the “Still Breathing” track to it “All Falls Down,” “Love,” “Bones,” and “On a Mission.” From drums to guitar to the lead singer, everything is just done top notch. You will definitely fall in love with the voice of the lead singer, Cory. Heck, I gotta bro crush. Lisa is just completely hot and raw on the drums. Ian owns the bass and looks cool doing it.
Forming a little over three years ago, founder Lisa Mongelli (drums) hooked up with fellow Academy of Art University graduates Cory Todd (singer/guitarist) and Ian Lasater (bass). DTK built a following the old-fashioned way, through dynamic live performances and steady touring.
I haven’t heard of a band this great in a long time. They definitely have that California sound, and you can clearly tell that they are influenced by the greats of the past. I encourage you to go rent the Point Break remake, as well as seek out the catchy tunes of Dig the Kid!
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You can find them on their official website at www.digthekidband.com/. Get their song, “Still Breathing,” anywhere you buy music.
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COVAN’S WHAT’S HOT THIS SUMMER – PART 2
MR. RIGHT WRITTEN BY COVAN MAGEE
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eed a movie to watch this summer? Honestly, this movie is good for viewing anytime. Look up Mr. Right, starring Sam Rockwell as Mr. Right (Francis), RZA, Tim Roth, and that girl from all the Pitch Perfect movies, Anna Kendrick. So, here’s the plot. A girl falls for a “perfect” guy who happens to have a very fatal flaw. He’s a hitman on the run from the crime cartels who employ him. I took that from IMDb, but that does not do it justice. Listen, this movie is spectacular! There is action comedy from beginning to end, with a whole lot of silliness in between. In the midst of all of that creativity, they find a way to manifest romance. Sam Rockwell, Mr. Right, really takes the movie away from the red nose gimmick to his quirky humor and awesome dance moves that usually lead into him kicking some serious bad-guy ass. The movie is basically centered around a hit man who kills the people who hired him, which is extremely hilarious. He stumbles into a store and bumps into Anna’s character, Martha. Martha is coming off of an interesting breakup, after sitting in the house when her boyfriend walks in the door with another woman. I don’t want to go into too much detail with that. You just gotta go see the movie. So, what makes this movie so cool? It’s that Rockwell’s character has an ability that enables him to do what he can do. In a unique way, this ability connects him to Martha. It all comes together when Martha is kidnapped by the very same people he is running from. So, check your local movie outlets, cuddle with that special, significant other, and rent Mr. Right today! You won’t regret it! And Mr. Rockwell, if you ever come across this review, I’d love to have an online video interview with you just to see your funky footwork. I’ve been a fan ever since Charlie’s Angels. This movie gets 9 out of 10.
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MORE GUITARS THAN FRIENDS
ANNI PIPER WRITTEN BY JAY LUSTER
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MUSIC
and her singing that really catch and hold your attention. She observes that her ex is nothing more than a lowdown cheater, and she’s a “Wonder Woman” wondering what she ever saw in him to begin with. Despite the outward anger she’s expressing toward him, she is asking us to understand that she’s really blaming herself for being foolish. The mix of Rockabilly and exposé works, and the record is off and running. hroughout her career, Anni Piper has shown musical versatility that has included forays into Jazz, Country, and Rockabilly, yet she has never strayed far afield from her signature Blues style. While she hasn’t abandoned Stevie Ray Vaughan’s legacy altogether, she has chosen to dive deeper into other genres, resulting in a quirky, interesting record called More Guitars Than Friends. Piper’s writing has always tended toward the autobiographical and has often included biting observations of herself and of those around her. While she is coy about whether this record is autobiographical or not, her ability to write in the first-person perspective is on full display, as is her trademark bass playing. What is perhaps most interesting is that, as the record plays out, you realize, thematically, it is a total concept album from top to bottom. Because Piper herself is an unpretentious person, it is little wonder that she’d tell a ten-song story without bashing you over the head with it. That’s just one of the many ironies that make More Guitars Than Friends interesting and likeable.
She follows up with a couple of tracks where she appears to bounce back from the bad breakup. “Just a Little Bit” is an up-tempo Blues shuffle, with an outstanding guitar solo, that covers an apparent desire for instantgratification revenge sex. Next is the third and one of the strongest tracks on the record, “Buckle Bunny.” Piper is originally from Australia and moved to Florida to bring her closer to her core audience. Last summer, she toured the US and says, “We went to a bar in Wyoming one night, and there was a community square dance going on, and I’d just never seen anything like that before.” The boots, western shirts, and Country dance rhythms proved to be a huge influence, and the result is a revved up honkytonk jump. The song is essentially a list of all the things her ideal man would have. The lyrics begin, “I need a straight-shooting, all-nighting, boot-scooting, fist-fighting cowboy, honey, for this Buckle Bunny,” and it goes on from there. The result is a joyous, raucous barburner that ought to be a radio hit. As it is, it fits into the record as the hopeful reassessment of her view of men and romance.
The first track, “Wonder Woman,” opens with a slick guitar/bass interaction that leads into a Rockabilly swing, which is an obvious nod to the song “Rock Around the Clock.” While that is a tiny bit distracting, it’s the lyrics
The next song is the title track, “More Guitars Than Friends,” and it is also a very strong track. Piper introspectively laments that her lifestyle might be the reason for her romantic woes and loneliness. There
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MUSIC
I love the Blues, but I can’t be described as a purely Blues artist. I’m definitely very much a crossover artist with my music.
is a danger that a song like this could turn into a selfconscious expression of narcissism, like “King of Pain” by The Police. However, she easily avoids this trap in two ways. First, the song is arranged like a 1930s big band Jazz torch song, which is the perfect vehicle for her tortured words. The guitar is watery and tremulous, the cymbals rain steadily on the sidewalk, and her bass answers her questions with poignant clarity. The second is in her vocal performance. While her ability to write songs in genres other than the Blues has grown with each new release, it is the emotional maturity of her singing that drives not only this song, but the whole album. Somewhere along the line, Piper has figured out a way to be earnest, without being obsequious, and a way to be ironic, without being obvious. Mainly, it just seems that, even on an emotionally-charged song like this, she’s having fun telling her story. Maybe it’s because, despite the seriousness of the subject, she seems to not be taking herself overly serious. Following the melancholy interlude of “More Guitars Than Friends,” she gives us “Paper Bag,” a rather silly song. After the breakup and self-pity, she runs into her ex and his new girlfriend, who is just plain ugly. She asks him straight-up if he sticks a paper bag over her head in order for them to have sex. While her observation is kind of cruel – I mean, we really can’t help how we look – you can’t help but wonder along with her why people willingly trade down. After this, the story continues with an outstanding performance of the oft-covered “Cold Pizza and Warm Beer.” The song tells the story of waking up the next day after a night of overindulgence. When put in context of the record as a whole, it is the second time she has reacted badly dealing with her ex. Clearly, she has issues, and despite her desire to drink them away, it just isn’t working. The next song is called “Shotgun Wedding.” It’s a humorous walk down memory lane, explaining how she
might have ended up in her bad relationship to begin with. Done to a breezy Reggae beat, the song features tons of percussion, including a clicking camera. With her tongue planted firmly in her cheek, she tells us that in order to avoid a bloodletting, presumably her boyfriend’s blood at the hands of her father, they decided to opt for a spontaneous shotgun wedding. Little wonder their relationship ran into problems. Soon, she finds herself lonely and longing to forgive him for what she knows he’s been doing. The song is called “I’m Lost Without You,” and it is easily the most interesting piece on the record. Somehow, she meshes two alternating, distinct melodies and beats together to make one successful song. The emotionally-wrenching verse is moodily reminiscent of “She’s Not There” or “Time of the Season” by The Zombies. The Zombies had a way of creating a kind of mysterious air within their music, which was accented by Colin Blunstone’s introspective singing style. Piper, while remaining artistically honest, has captured that tone beautifully, both instrumentally and vocally. The second part, the chorus, is straightforward 12-bar Blues. Though it isn’t the only pure Blues moment on the record, it is probably the best. Interwoven over the verse music, during a break, is a guitar fill that would not be out of line on Santana’s Abraxas record from the early ‘70s. When considering all of its unrelated constituent parts, it’s amazing that the song works at all, and yet, it not only does, it is probably the best song on the album. It is at this point that she realizes her current needs to become her ex, if for no other reason than her own sanity. In the song “Eugene,” another honkytonk rocker, she finds herself absolutely stunned at the depth and frequency of her husband’s deception and declares the marriage over. She lists all the women he has bedded while married to her, and it includes a model, her cousin, her best friend, and her best friend’s twin sister.
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It is a pretty impressive list, and she renders it with just the right amount of outrage and flabbergasted humor. The album ends with her very strong rendition of “Blackberry Brandy,” which is the epitome of a woman’s brokenhearted drinking song. More Guitars Than Friends is a strong addition to Anni Piper’s catalog, and many of its songs are already making appearances in her stage show. Though it is a departure from her more popular Texas Blues and Swing music that her fans have come to expect, it is a good record that stands up well to repeated listening. The change in style and content is probably due to her choosing to
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leave her record label and become an independent. She says, “I love the Blues, but I can’t be described as a purely Blues artist. I’m definitely very much a crossover artist with my music.” When you hear an album as creatively free as this, it’s easy to understand why many artists are choosing to leave the straightjacketing labels behind. Between the middle of June and the end of September, Anni Piper will be on tour covering everywhere from her home in Florida, across the South, and all the way to the upper Midwest. To find out more about her and where she’ll be appearing this summer, please check out www.annipiper.com or follow her at www.facebook.com/annipiper.music.
SUE’S COFFEE TALK
ATTITUDE TO GRATITUDE WRITTEN BY SUE MCGAUGHEY
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ocietal influences are so confusing, aren’t they? just take what they want, and worse than that, they With reality TV shows, films, news, music, and an think they can take from other people who have actually abundance of social media, teens and even adults worked hard and earned what they have. The sad thing are being consistently influenced to conform to what’s is this attitude comes with them into their adult lives. perceived as “the norm.” Women’s weights fluctuate As adults, what are we teaching our youth of today? between being anorexic skinny and being a voluptuous, What are we teaching each other? I think we need to be bigger woman. Whatever you are watching, your brain mindful of how we educate those around us with our is digesting. Are you watching shows like Keeping Up actions and words. with the Kardashians? What about The Biggest Loser? Think about it. One show teaches you to work hard, In any area of your life, learn to be grateful. If you start watch what you eat, exercise, your day giving thanks for what and focus on a healthy way Every day, remind yourself you have, instead of complaining of getting in shape. The other about what you don’t have, you of what good you do, show shows you how to make will set the pace of your day rather than focusing on money looking good. They on a positive path. If you go don’t really show you HOW things going wrong or what through the day with a positive they get to looking good. My attitude and setting the example you don’t have. point is, we live in a society of gratitude, others will follow. If where people, especially the you have children, start teaching youth of today, are influenced by what they see and what them how to be grateful for what they do have and not they hear. So many shows nowadays teach people how to complain about what they don’t have. In a relationship, have attitude, rather than gratitude. Our society seems to look for the positives and don’t focus on the negatives. heavily influence people on how to have an image, rather What can you fix? What can you work on? Of course, than how to be based in reality and just be yourself. the most important factor is to never give up on yourself. Find your positives and be grateful for them. Every day, Living in the shadow of an image tends to spawn people remind yourself of what good you do, rather than with attitudes, but not necessarily the right type of focusing on things going wrong or what you don’t attitudes. Kids are growing up with a sense of entitlement, have. We are completely capable of influencing our a sense of wanting whatever they see advertised with zero own mindset and influencing those around us. Go regard for the hard work, authority, or how to work for through every day with gratitude, not attitude. You what you want. Many youth grow up thinking they can will see it make a difference.
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LIFESTYLE
http://missafricaofafrica-lamodeve.blogspot.com http://lamodeve.wordpress.com http://myspace.com/lamodeve
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MISS MODEL OF AFRICA LIFESTYLE
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Dawn identifies physical, emotional, and behavioral triggers that can be overcome to lead to permanent weight loss and lifestyle change.
DAWN A. SHARP LIVE IN YOUR STRENGTH WITH
WRITTEN BY CORRETTA DOCTOR
D
awn A. Sharp is a yoga instructor and meditation practitioner specializing in the vinyasa flow method. Dawn’s mission in life is to educate, inspire, and empower people to adapt a healthy lifestyle. Dawn has been a professional, personal trainer for nearly two decades. She established her fitness practice in 1998, Sharp Fitness Yoga & Pilates Studio. She later formed her total wellness company, Body Wisdom, LLC, in 2007. Dawn provides nutrition, health, and fitness education to individual clients. When she is not training clients one-onone, she is leading group training sessions and presenting corporate training lectures. Dawn was born in Woodbury, New Jersey. Her family relocated to South Carolina when she was a young child. The transition to country life from city life had a deep contrast. Dawn recalls her favorite pastime was being an amateur archaeologist searching for Indian arrowheads. Nature always appealed to Dawn. Her personality was a true blend with nature. She would spend hours walking through wooded trails, exploring the backwoods of Hampton County. Her first love, above everything, was gymnastics and dance. Dawn’s earliest memory of choosing a career path
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in fitness was in her elementary school days. In school, she excelled athletically. In middle school, Dawn was co-teaching gymnastics with her coach. Though Dawn achieved titles such as Jr. Olympic and State Champion, her long-term dream of being an Olympic gymnast faded when she noticed physical changes in her body during her college years and, subsequently, an increased weight gain that resulted in Dawn’s dance teacher giving her a “fat slip.” While Dawn lost some of her confidence, she made a decision to drop out of the active classes of dance and enroll in theatre. After being devastated by the “fat slip,” Dawn became depressed and turned her anger inward. She always knew she was talented, but now her performance was being measured by her appearance. Just because she didn’t have the body of a ballerina, it didn’t mean she wasn’t a beautiful dancer. Her dreams were shattered. Society tends to dictate the body shape of people, especially women. When Dawn received the “fat slip” from her dance teacher advising her to lose weight, she then lost her self-esteem. With many people, weight gain becomes an emotional state and can lead to depression. Dawn fell victim to this situation, but instead of falling into the pits, she pulled herself together and used her life lessons to teach others how to push
HEALTH PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT RAINEY PHOTOGRAPHY
forward. She became an expert in coaching and working through adversity from the inside out. Dawn’s greatest challenge in personal training and nutritional counseling is teaching people how to avoid selfsabotage. Dawn shares how after supporting and motivating clients to stay on track with their weight loss, many times clients revert back to old behaviors, old patterns of eating, and self-sabotage. Not only is this disappointing for Dawn, the clients are often discouraged. This is where the REAL work begins. We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, accept it as a lesson, and get back on track. Having a personal coach and accountability partner not only puts the client back in control, they are often empowered by growing THROUGH their mistake. This is what Dawn likes to call “failing forward.” Many people think weight loss is controlled solely by food, but it is a combination of things that involves the mental emotional state as well as the physical state. The client has to believe in the process and take the time to understand the educational counseling of nutrition that goes hand-inhand with exercise science, behavior modification, and the physical aspects of a complete wellness plan. As a wellness leader, Dawn creates a plan for her clients that takes into account their full fitness, nutrition, and social obligations. She does an intensive client intake and listens to the client in order to determine how best her coaching
will help them achieve their goals. One popular obstacle for people is getting up and going to a gym. Dawn helps them with her in-home approach to weight and agility training and endurance. She goes to her client’s home, providing them with an appropriate plan to meet the same objective that going to a gym would provide. Dawn has the distinct interpersonal skills that are required to help people on the personal journey to transforming their body and impacting their total life. As Dawn continues to work in her passion, after 19 years of fulfilling her dreams of transforming lives and assisting people in changing their eating and fitness habits, she is adding another dimension to her brand. Dawn is on a path to grow her business internationally, take her knowledge to the speaking circuit by providing instructional and informative lectures, and share her personal story in an upcoming book she is writing. Dawn identifies physical, emotional, and behavioral triggers that can be overcome to lead to permanent weight loss and lifestyle change. Are you ready for your wellness journey? One without dieting, that teaches proven methods for permanent weight loss, and that anyone can follow no matter their size or fitness level? Dawn offers a free 15-minute phone consultation. Your new health journey starts now! Call (201)701-DAWN (3296).
To stay connected with Dawn, please visit the following: Website: www.DawnASharp.com For media, PR, and booking inquiries for Dawn A. Sharp, Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bodywisdom.Dawn please email Corretta Doctor at Corretta@TheAListInc.com. Twitter: @BodywisdomDawn
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RECIPES
Total time: 30 min. Prep: 15 min. Inactive: 5 min. Cook: 10 min. Yield: 4 servings
Grilled Salmon Steak with Hoisin BBQ Sauce INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for brushing on salmon 2 shallots, sliced 2 cloves garlic, chopped ¼ cup hoisin sauce ¼ cup ketchup 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon sambal oelek 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 (8-ounce) salmon steaks Cilantro leaves, for garnish
DIRECTIONS Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until soft. Stir in the hoisin, ketchup, honey, sambal oelek, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and fish sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the vinegar, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the grill to high. Brush the salmon on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill until golden brown and slightly charred on both sides. Cook to medium-well doneness, brushing with the sauce every minute or so. Remove the salmon from grill to a plate and brush with more sauce. Transfer the fish to a serving platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve. Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay Read more at: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/grilled-salmon-steak-with-hoisin-bbq-sauce-recipe.html?oc=linkback 58 | CITY TO COUNTRY MAGAZINE LLC
RECIPES
Grilled Salmon Steaks
Total time: 30 min. Prep: 20 min. Cook: 10 min. Yield: 4 servings
INGREDIENTS 4 salmon steaks, 1-inch thick 1 teaspoon whole cumin seed 1 teaspoon whole coriander seed ½ teaspoon whole fennel seed 1 teaspoon dry green peppercorns Sea salt or kosher salt Canola or olive oil to coat steaks
DIRECTIONS Prepare grill by lighting 4 quarts of charcoal (1 starter chimney’s worth) or turning gas grill to medium-high. Examine steaks for pin bones by rubbing fingers over surface of meat. If found, remove with bone tweezers or pliers reserved for culinary uses. Using a sharp paring or boning knife, trim bones from the cavity side of the steak. Trim the stomach flaps so that one side is missing about 2 inches of skin and the other, 1 inch of meat. Roll the skinless section up into the hollow of the cavity, then wrap the other around the outside to form a round resembling a filet mignon. Tie in place with 2 passes of butcher’s twine. (Do not tie it too tight, or fish will pop out during cooking.) Combine cumin, coriander, fennel, and peppercorns on a double-thick piece of aluminum foil and toast over grill, shaking gently until seeds become fragrant. Crush seeds in mortar and pestle or pour into spare pepper grinder. Coat steaks lightly with oil, season with salt, then liberally grind toasted seeds on both sides of steaks. Quickly wipe hot grill grate with a rag or towel dipped in a little canola oil, then grill fish to medium-rare, about 3 minutes per side. (Fish should be well colored on the outside and barely translucent at the center.) JULY / AUGUST 2016 | 59