Mrs. Asia USA International Bichlien Nguyen Featured Exclusively on the Cover of Hollywood Weekly

Celebrating Diversity In The Entertainment Industry

Lesley Ann Warren

Joys and Challenges of Acting

BICHLIEN NGUYEN MRS. ASIA USA INTERNATIONAL

exclusive photos

6th Hollywood weekly Film festival

BEDSIDE READING BOOKS TO DEVOUR

Designer: Tadashi Shoji Photographer: Huy Khiem Make-up Artist: Tam Vo

®

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HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 3

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Prather Jackson

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris Michael D. Coxson

W

elcome readers to a very special issue of Hollywood Weekly Magazine. On our cover is the fascinating, beautiful, Mrs. Asia USA International Bichlien Nguyen.

What makes Bichlien Nguen so fascinating is she’s never who you think she is at any given time, and you never know the current career direction she’s traveling in. She looks like a fashion model, but she’s a Beauty Queen. You think she”s a Beauty Queen but she received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in computer science and mathematics from UC Davis.

She”s currently the Senior Program Manager at high-tech firm here in California...

And then you find out she’s Royalty. A descendant of Vietnam’s famous Nguyen Dynasty. Mademoiselle Bichlien Nguyen is mysterious, highly talented and wonderful. We are so honored to have her gracing our cover.

As always, we thank you, our readers, for your continuing support. We are who we are because of YOU.

DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES & ASST TO THE PUBLISHER Jordan O'Quinn-Campbell MARKETING & SALES Launy Rhem CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alex A. Kecskes Allison Kugel Carmelita Pittman Jordan O’Quinn-Campbell Rebecca Miller

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Denise Chavez

Anthony Ewart

VIDEO EDITOR/ PRODUCER Israel Aleman

Associate Editor

Celebrating Diversity In The Entertainment Industry

Lesley Ann Warren

®

Joys and Challenges of Acting

BICHLIEN NGUYEN MRS. ASIA USA INTERNATIONAL

exclusive photos

6th Hollywood weekly Film festival

BEDSIDE READING BOOKS TO DEVOUR

Designer: Tadashi Shoji Photographer: Huy Khiem Make-up Artist: Tam Vo

@ALEXANDRINEPOET

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anthony Ewart

ART DIRECTOR Damian Aragon

Wishing you all peace and happiness!

@ANTHONYEWART

SENIOR BOOK CURATOR Jane Ubell-Meyer

CALL: (424)371-9900 EMAIL: HollywoodWeekly@gmail.com

CHINA OPERATIONS Victor Migalchan victor@hollywoodweeklymagazine.com (213) 220-3052 (424) 371-9900 INDIA OPERATION Ike Sinha Country Director Art4Peace Awards Hollywood Weekly Magazine B1/1565 Vasantkunj New Delhi-110 070 Mobile +919599068592 ASIA OPERATION Joyce Penas Pilarsky HWM Asia Ambassador Email: info@joycepilarsky.com Bench Bello HWM Asia Operations hollywoodmagazineusa@gmail.com Mobile +639273895559 DISTRIBUTORS CoMag MADER NEWS

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BICHLIEN NGUYEN Mrs. Asia USA International

14 VANESSA WILLIAMS 18 JAMIE BERNADETTE 26 SEYMOUR UBELL 30 KEN COMER 38

Lesley Ann Warren Joys and Challenges of Acting

Grace, Beauty and Grit

Breaking Through the ‘Wall’ in “The Furnace”

Retirement is Not an Option

Brings “Reality” to Screenplay Lena’s Rule

Bichlien was the model wearing the Vietmanamese Queen Costume.

She played the role of the last queen in Vietnam “Nam Phuong Hoang Hau”.

Photographer: Long Huynh I Make Up Artist: Phi Ngoc Nguyen

6 ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY FILM FESTIVAL STELLAR GALA TH

BY JORDAN O’QUINN-CAMPBELL On November 2, 2019 Hollywood Weekly Magazine hosted its 6th annual Film Festival at the historic Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank. The event attracted people from around the world including Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and China. There were several foreign dignitaries and talented actors, producers, and screenwriters in attendance. Some of the special guests included: President Goodluck Jonathan, Zik Zulu Okafor, Ejike Asiegbu, Producer/Writer Egor Efiok, Director Jeta Amata, Vanessa Martini, Joan Brown McCarthy, Producer Tess Cacciatore, Akon, Reno Omokri (“Most Outstanding Humanitarian Cause” Award Recipient), Regina Daniels (“Most Outstanding Child Star Outside of the USA” Award Recipient”, and several other stars.

Awards were given to the best shorts, features, screenplays, comedies, thrillers, dramas, and science fiction films. The festival was hosted by Eric Zuley and Dante.

Eric Zuley, as you know now from our HWM Cover, is the son of Jim Zuley, who is featured on the Cover of 6 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

this HWM edition. Jim and Eric created eZWay Promotions, which is a company that prides itself in being the top ten social media influencers in the world. They are well on their way to becoming major International Promoters.

Our Hollywood Weekly Film Festival began with a red carpet and lunch at nearby Claim Jumpers in the TNT building, near Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank.

Everyone arrived, chatting over lunch and drinks.

Networking and business connections were the buzz of conversations; everyone talking about their upcoming film and television projects. People were also able to rub shoulders with foreign dignitaries and international stars. Everyone was in high anticipation for the award ceremony. Actors, producers, and screenwriters were interviewed about their films and photographed on our TWO Red Carpets! One red carpet and stepand-repeat was located at our pre-Award lunch and another Red Carpet and step-and-repeat continued at Warner Bros. Studios.

Larry & Marsha Covin grace the red carpet with a music icon

Once the red carpet and interviews were over everyone made their way into the lavish main theatre venue of Warner Bros. Studio. The theatre contained a huge screen with seating accommodations for over 200 guests -- and we SOLD OUT! There were 30-minute panels that included a Q&A by Film Festival Winners like Writer/Director Alycia Cooper and the cast for her Award-winning short film “Trade,” and Director Jeta Amata and Producers Egor Efiok and Tess Cacciatore for their Best Feature Film Winner “Road to Redemption.” The amazing night ended with Host Eric Zuley Honoring his father, Jim Zuley, with a Special Award from Hollywood Weekly for all the work he’s done in helping his son, Eric, build his eZWay Empire, and being the kind of Father we can all love and admire. This was a night of Film, Fun and Love, which was our goal at Hollywood Weekly Magazine right from the start.

Mission Accomplished!

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 7 Photos

By Daler Olimjanov

BICHLIEN NGUYEN

MRS. ASIA USA INTERNATIONAL

BY CARMELITA PITTMAN

F

ollowing the footsteps of Bichlien Nguyen, one is amazed at her journey to America from Vietnam. She hails from Hue City, in central Vietnam, the nation’s former capital during the Nguyen Dynasty, the last ruling monarchial family. Although her name ties her to royalty, she has overcome the odds of surviving the repressive Communist reign which took over the country. In 1975, at the end of Vietnam war, her family moved to Saigon, the capital of South Viet Nam, known as “Pearl of the Far East.”

V

ietnam is a country that has had a history of invasion from the French, the Japanese, the Chinese, and the division of the North and South. With the presence of the restrictive government, after several attempts, she and her family fled the region and became part of the escaped Boat People by way of the Pacific Ocean to other Southeast countries to seek freedom. The exodus was huge, between 1975 and 1995, hundreds of thousands people involved, many did not survive the passage, losing their lives at the hands of Pirates, lack of food, and the storms at sea. The journey was rough, but fortunately, Bichlien and her family made it through to America.

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he grew up equipped with brains as well as beauty and thus studied Vietnamese literature at Saigon University. When she first arrived in the U.S.A., she barely knew the English language. A survivor, she was determined to succeed, and she pushed herself to endure long hours of overcoming the language barrier while she studied and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and mathematics from U.C. Davis. Bichlien began her high-tech career as a software engineer. Being an intelligent and hard-working individual, she quickly obtained leadership roles. As a software manager, she led technical teams developing software products to serve the US military. She is presently the Senior Program Manager at a high tech company in the Bay Area. Her projects demand her expertise to draft and execute large contracts across multiple companies and organizations. Her skills and attribute of strength have enabled her to lead and develop teams in business deals with US clients as well as those located in Asia and Europe. It was startling and surprising at the beginning of a high tech company to witness someone who looks like a model command such a responsibility. With ten + hours daily, she manages to get the job done.

Photos by Huy Khiem HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 9

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mongst her achievements is the establishment of becoming the first Vietnamese TV newscaster on Channel 48 in San Jose. She also appeared on Trung Duong television. She has preserved the values from her culture and ancestors of maintaining “face,” humility, motherhood, hard work, recognition, and honor of the elders for their experience and wisdom and applied sharing and caring for those less fortunate. She is a woman of determination, integrity, and positivity. She dives into everything she does with gusto looking for the best product. A humanitarian with a big heart, she serves the sick, the needy, provides food, and education to orphans during her excursions to Vietnam.

She supports the community in the Bay Area by volunteering her singing talent, modeling, and moderating various charity events as MC. As a result, she is well known and beloved in the community.

M

ay 2018, the largest Vietnamese Art and Culture, a non-profit organization in the USA, selected Bichlien for the role of “Mother Au Co” to represent the “Mother of Vietnam” in the “Ao Dai Festival.” This selection occurred as the result of their observation of her support of the Vietnamese community, love of the arts, and involvement in charity programs. During one of the events, she played the role of the last queen of Vietnam, “Nam Phuong Hoang Hau.” In 2018 she was recognized and crowned as Mrs. Vietnam, California. The same year she became Mrs. Asia USA International at the Virgelia Productions 30th pageant. She aims to serve as a role model for all Vietnamese American women. Indeed her life is exemplary, overcoming tremendous obstacles in triumph. Her greatest role, however, is being a good mother, which she manages to balance with her unusual and unique career and achievement. She manages to fulfill her spiritual life as well by spending time praying and meditating at the Buddhist Temple.

A life well-lived, a heart well given, she is happy with her lifestyle.

Bichlien Nguyen wearing the Ao Dai Dress, selected to represent the Mother of Vietnamese Civilization from the “Me Au Co” Collection Designer: Do Trinh Hoai Nam Details are flowers on the crown and dress of pure 24 Karat Gold Value: $40,000

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Purple dress and hat I Designer: Tommy Le ( TeeJay Couture) Photographer: Daniel Pham I Make-up Artist: Tam Vo

Bichlien Nguyen on the runway Designer: Tuan Tran I Photographer: Andy Nguyen

Bichlien Nguyen in national costume I Designer: Tommy Le of TeeJay Couture Photographer: Ken Hugh I Make-up Artist: Tam Vo

Bichlien Nguyen at a Buddhist temple I Designer: Chau Nguyen Photographer: Hai Tran I Make-up: Johnathan Nguyen HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 11

Bichlien Nguyen (in the center of the Red Carpet) at the Ao Dai Festival in San Jose Photographer: Hai Tran I Designer: Chau Nguyen

Bichlien was the model wearing the Vietmanamese Queen Costume.

She played the role of the last queen in Vietnam “Nam Phuong Hoang Hau”.

Photographer: Long Huynh I Make Up Artist: Phi Ngoc Nguyen 12 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Photographer: Huy Khiem I Make up Artist: Tam Vo

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 13

LESLEY ANN WARREN New York-born Lesley Ann Warren began her career as

ON HER LATEST FILM AND THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF ACTING

BY ALEX A. KECSKES

New York-born Lesley Ann Warren began her career as Cinderella in Disney’s classic feature “Cinderella.” The youngest student in Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio, Warren went on to play a wide range of vulnerable neurotics and sexy, worldly ladies. These included roles in “Clue,” “Love Hate Love,” and “The Legend of Valentino.” Warren later earned a Golden Globe in the rags-to-riches miniseries “‘79 Park Avenue.” This was followed by her outstanding performance as Norma Cassady in the slapstick musical “Victor-Victoria,” which won her nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a New York Film Critics Award and a People’s Choice Award. She also appeared in several high-quality offbeat films, including “Choose Me,” which earned her a People’s Choice Award, and “Songwriter,” which secured a Golden Globe nomination. And who can forget her portrayal as the scatter-brained comedienne in “Will & Grace” and “Desperate Housewives.”

In “3 Days with Dad,” Warren is Dawn, the devoted wife of dying husband Bob Mills (Brian Dennehy).

The darkly comic film brings out the pain, humor, and pathos of a family facing the demise of a cantankerous but lovable curmudgeon.

Thank you for taking the time for this interview.

You have one of the most well-rounded careers in show business. What stands out as your favorite early acting role?

Lesley Ann Warren: Honestly, I don’t have a favorite. I feel so blessed in having had such a wide variety of roles in my career. And so many have been close to my heart. It would be impossible for me to play favorites. From “Cinderella” to “Victor-Victoria” to “Clue” to “3 Days with Dad”—I’m so proud of them all.

In “3 Days with Dad,” you play the devoted wife of a dying man. What did you draw from to bring the character of Dawn to life?

Warren: The film was based on people that were close to Director Larry Clarke. I really relied on him to give me an overall as well as a specific understanding of the character.

I built from there using a variety of sources. Larry showed me pictures and explained the dynamic of her stepchildren.

So I was able to use all of that in creating Dawn.

What aspect of Dawn’s character did you find most challenging to bring out?

Warren: I think her lack of sensitivity toward others.

What may have come across as selfishness was really the adoration of her husband at the exclusion of her stepchildren. And there was her critical judgmental perspective, her denial. I don’t have a lot of denial in my life. And until the very end, Dawn is unable to accept the reality of what’s happening.

You started dancing ballet at six. If someone offered you a role that included dancing would you take it?

Warren: Absolutely! I did a show for a couple of years called “Dance to the Movies.” It was a theatrical performance that I did with some of the dancers from You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars. We did it with the Boston Pops, in Ontario and others. It’s a compilation of movie dance numbers. I did that periodically and I just loved it.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 15

What do you like about comedic roles, like those you played in “Will & Grace” and “Desperate Housewives”?

Warren: It’s interesting because I never look at it as a comedic role. I try to create the character in a situation that’s funny. It’s her quirks and behaviors that are comedic. It takes flight from there. I love to be funny. I have a great sense of humor and I enjoy making people laugh. I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to do both comedic and dramatic work.

Same question for your dramatic roles like those in “Bay House?”

Warren: It’s the other side of the coin. Understanding character, the character’s motivation and the situation she finds herself in. It’s also the relationship to the other characters. If it resonates with me, if it moves me then I have the hope that it will move others as well.

When you develop a character, do you sometimes feel that you get lost in it to the point where you have to back out of it?

Warren: I used to be that way when I was younger—unable to separate myself from the character. But after years of work experience, that isn’t a problem anymore. In a way, it was a saving of my sanity.

Most actors have a love-hate relationship with auditions. What was your most memorable audition?

Warren: At the beginning of my career, I auditioned. My most memorable audition was with Richard Rodgers in “Cinderella.” It was in his apartment with musical supervisor Johnny Green and choreographer Eugene Loring.

Richard asked everyone to step out of the room. He sat at the piano and had me sit next to him. He taught me My Funny Valentine and had me sing it with him. That’s a memory I’ll never forget. My worst audition was for a dancer-stripper role—I can’t remember the film’s title.

But I tried to do this kind of dance in the room with the director and I fell flat on my butt. I was so mortified. And when I tried to get up, I smeared lipstick all over my face.

Needless to say, I did not get the role.

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Talking about the craft and business of acting, what have you learned about acting that most surprised you?

Warren: I guess it’s what we were talking about earlier. I’d have to stay in character in the scene, especially if it was a dramatic or emotional scene, pretty much all day. As the years went on, I’ve learned how to create that in maybe five minutes before I have to do it and then let it go within minutes afterward. It’s very hard to do that and very heartbreaking to go to those places. I’ve learned that I don’t want to load up my nervous system by staying in it too long before and after.

What scene involved the most takes you ever had to repeat in a film?

Warren: I know they’re out there but I’ve never worked with a director that does many multiple takes.

Had you never pursued acting, what career path would you have taken?

Warren: That’s almost impossible to say because I started dancing at six and went into acting when I was 16 on Broadway. But I’ve always had an interest in homeopathic medicine. For the last 35 years, I’ve been going to doctors who do that. I find it incredibly brilliant and fascinating. I think it’s something I would have had a talent for.

Can you go into your role in the upcoming murder mystery “Blind Psychosis”?

Warren: That was a web series in which the director wanted a 1940s melodrama. He wanted a sort of heightened radio performance of those kinds of murder mysteries. It was a lot of fun to do. But sadly, you’re not with a lot of actors when you’re doing it, so that’s difficult and it makes it less creative in a way.

What did you like about working on “Victor-Victoria”?

Warren: Everything. I loved working with Julie (Andrews).

I absolutely adored Blake (Edwards)—both personally and professionally. He gave me a complete run of my character and allowed me to do tons of improvising. It was one of the more creative, exciting and challenging experiences that I’ve had.

You’ve seen it all. Paid your dues. What advice would you give to young actors just starting their careers?

Warren: I always say the same thing. I worked with Lee Strasberg for ten years—both privately and in the Actors Studio. And I do believe in studying a craft—whatever craft that may be—and being diligent about it. So when you’re lucky enough to get on a set, you have your toolkit you can use in any circumstance.

LESLEY ANN WARREN AS DAWN IN “3 DAYS WITH DAD”

THE GRACE, BEAUTY AND GRIT OF

VANESSA WILLIAMS

By Allison Kugel

V

anessa Williams is a creature unlike any other. It’s as though she came here to impart the ins and outs of living life on one’s own terms. From unwitting societal lightning rod during the 1980s to multi-platinum selling recording artist; and Broadway, film and television star, Vanessa Williams slayed the male-dominated Hollywood dragon long before the #MeToo movement happened. You can tell from talking to her that, both, the scars of past judgment she endured, and the fruits of her sweet success have made their impact. Both created indelible imprints.

In more recent years, Williams stunned audiences with sultry scene-stealing characters on hit series like Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty. Her recent film starring Orange is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba, Miss Virginia, tackles the socio-economic and educational inequities that urban students of color endure, showcasing a more socially conscious film portrayal.

Vanessa Williams’ exotic beauty strikes you dead on arrival, but Williams does not lead with her looks. She prefers to enter a conversation with intellect, boldness and strength.

Williams is now preparing to take her Broadway-honed stage skills across the pond to London’s West End, where she will be starring in a production of City of Angels, opening at the Garrick Theatre in 2020. She’s also added fashion designer to her packed resume, launching the sexy and sophisticated Vanessa Williams collection for HSN, and fresh on the heels of a multi-album deal with BMG, Williams is working on new music to reflect a collection of musical genres she is currently passionate about.

A renaissance woman for the ages, Vanessa Williams’ life is nothing if not purposeful.

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Allison Kugel: Something told me to read your 2012 memoir, You Have No Idea, which I read cover to cover yesterday. I’m so glad I read your book, because it was the missing piece to really understanding you. The one constant theme throughout your life, it seems, is that you are a natural born rebel!

Vanessa Williams: (Laughs) Yeah.

Allison Kugel: That quality plays out in one way when we’re young, but changes as we get older. How do you express that side of yourself now?

Vanessa Williams: It’s now about being unafraid to take chances. In terms of my career, I just signed on to do City of Angels on the West End [of London]. It’s not a lot of money, but it is an opportunity to work on the West End. It’s always been a dream of mine to live overseas, and to study in London.

I’ll be working at the Garrick Theatre. We start rehearsals in January, we open in March, and the show will be running until the end of July. There are no guarantees, in terms of leaving my life in the states behind, but it’s something that excites me. At this stage of my life it’s all about asking myself what I want to do that I’ve never done. The challenge of it excites me, and doing the same thing bores me.

Allison Kugel: When nude photos of you surfaced during your 1984 reign as Miss America and you were forced to relinquish your crown ten and a half months into your year-long reign, you were counted out there for a while in your twenties.

Do you ever pat yourself on the back these days and say, “I did it!”? Broadway, films, television, platinum-selling recording artist and on and on… do you feel vindicated?

Vanessa Williams: No, I really don’t. I don’t think that, because there’s always that next goal, like, “but I want to originate a role on Broadway;” “but I want to do a movie musical.”

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 19

There is always something yet to be done. It’s not that I’m never satisfied, but there is always another goal on the horizon. When you’re an actor, it’s like being a gypsy. You jump into another circle of players, and it’s great. Then when it’s over, it’s heartbreaking, but then you’re ready to move on to the next circle. That’s what excites me and that’s what will always propel me to say, “Ok, what’s next?”

Allison Kugel: Clearly, you value adventure over routine.

Vanessa Williams: Well, I look at some people who have been on the same show for eleven or twelve seasons, and it’s a great cash cow. It’s great to have that kind of consistent salary where you can budget and put money away. God bless everyone who has had a series on the air for ten years, but there is an energy that keeps you kind of hungry when you are always looking for the next thing and you don’t know what that next thing is.

Allison Kugel: I want to go back a bit and talk about the beginning. I think people may forget because it was so long ago, but you broke through a pretty significant glass ceiling in your twenties by being crowned the first African American Miss America. You became this societal lightning rod at the time. In 2008, when President Obama was elected as our first African American president, did you feel a connection or kind of kinship with him, since he broke a barrier in a similar way?

Vanessa Williams: Oh, absolutely, in terms of his safety, and his presence was worldwide. But there is an expectation that comes with that honor of breaking barriers. It’s also a tremendous fear, not only for yourself, but for family members; because there is such division, which doesn’t seem to leave us. I thought it was over in the 1980s and it wasn’t; I thought it was over in the 2000s and it wasn’t; and, obviously, it’s still apparent now. So, there is a specific fear and uncertainty that you have, but you have to be brave and you have to continue to do what you were chosen to do, and the job that is before you.

Allison Kugel: Had you ever had that conversation

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with President Obama about that?

Vanessa Williams: I met him right before he began his run for president. I’ve been on the Special Olympics international board for years, and I was on Capitol Hill with the Special Olympics meeting people and trying to raise money for our group. I met him right off the heels of that wonderful speech he’d given at the Democratic National Convention, and word was out that he was someone to watch. I gave my little spiel about how we needed more funding for the Special Olympics. I could see the appeal, and then he announced. When he announced that he was going to run for president, I was definitely in his corner. My mother was coming from the perspective of having lived through Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. being assassinated, and Kennedy being assassinated, and she was fearful for his life. That’s the generation that she grew up in. I felt that it could happen, and she also, of course, had some issues with it. It just showed the fear that was due to where my mother’s generation had come from.

Allison Kugel: What have you learned about love? What’s been your greatest love lesson?

Vanessa Williams: I’m lucky to have four children, and there is nothing like that love; a love like that never ends. Once they’re out of the house, you’re still, as a mom, always available. You’re still always worried (laughs) and concerned. And you’re still always extremely proud, no matter their age or what they are doing.

Allison Kugel: How do you take care of your body, mind and spirit; and what’s your feel-good routine?

Vanessa Williams: My feel good is waking up with a good cup of coffee and doing a crossword puzzle in the sun. That starts my day off perfectly. And when I get a chance to explore and travel, I love to horseback ride, wherever I am, and go to the stables and find a horse and go on an adventure and explore the terrain on horseback. Spending time at home is also a joy for me. I’m on the road traveling so much, so my happy place is kicking off my shoes and hanging out at home.

Allison Kugel: You’re a practicing Catholic and you attend Church regularly, but in your most quiet and intimate moments, whom or what do you pray to, and what do you pray for?

Vanessa Williams: Hmm... it depends on what it is. I pray to God and my ancestors and my guides, and everyone who has been with me along my journey. As far as what I pray for, it depends on what I want or need at that particular moment; whether it’s guidance, whether it’s “show me the way,” or whether it’s protection for one of my children. It depends on what my particular need is at that moment.

Allison Kugel: What do you think you are here in this life as Vanessa Williams to learn, and what do you think you are here to teach?

Vanessa Williams: I absolutely love to teach, in the literal sense, and I’ve done it for three years in a row at NYU (New York University). I’ve taught Master Classes at Syracuse University, where I went for musical theatre. I also teach women’s groups. It’s teaching strength and to be aware, because you never know when and where something is going to happen for you. Whether that’s your talent, whether it’s an opportunity… just be open to who comes into your life and what they can bring.

offer help. I think I’m here to learn to keep moving ahead.

On this earth we have setbacks, struggles and obstacles. You have to be able to say, “What is this teaching me?” so you can move through it and move ahead in your life. Avoiding something or trying to deny it won’t get you anywhere.

Allison Kugel: Speaking of giving advice to other women, back in 2011 and 2012 you worked on Tyler Perry’s film Temptation with Kim Kardashian while she was going through the separation from her ex-husband, Kris Humphries. The two of you spent some time together during filming. Did she seek your advice about weathering scandal and a media firestorm?

Vanessa Williams: She’d just broken up with Kris [Humphries] and the press was all over the place, so Tyler made it very easy for her to hide from the press on set. Basically, it worked on the set, keeping the press away.

Then we flew back to LA together.

I just needed to be the sounding board for her at that point. Sometimes you don’t need to talk. You just have to let them talk, and you have to listen. She talked To be continued page 24

Allison Kugel: And you’re here to learn?

Vanessa Williams: That as women, for sure, we are a community, and to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or for help. Look for a mentor.

I’ve learned that there are many people that are willing to be teachers and to help you along in your life, so don’t be afraid to ask because there will always be somebody there to HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 21

Photo by Wayne Hoggatt

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HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 23

about all the stuff that was happening and her fear of being judged, but that it was something she felt she needed to do.

My advice to her was that you go through the storm, but the dust will settle, and you’ll get an opportunity to see clearly, and it will be a different day; and you’ll feel better and you can move on.

Allison Kugel: Do you consider yourself a trailblazer for women?

Vanessa Williams: I think my history has made me a trailblazer, unknowingly. I’ve always just been myself and that’s how it played itself out.

Allison Kugel: What makes you feel most beautiful?

Vanessa Williams: The sun and the warmth makes me feel beautiful. Every time I land someplace that’s warm, it makes me feel like I’m connected to nature. And that’s without hair and makeup and wardrobe, and all that stuff. It’s just the breeze, the water, and heat that makes me feel like my most natural self. And then being around children. Whether it’s my children who are all grown up… there’s a connection that I have with kids. Maybe because both of my parents were elementary school music teachers, but there is a connection that me and my kids have with young kids that I absolutely love. My connection with children makes me feel so alive.

way, where I’ve worked with incredible costume designers and been exposed to fantastic fashion through stylists. And I’ve settled into what my own personal style is, along with what resonates with other people. When I design, I keep my eighty-year-old mother in mind, and then my children; my girls are from age 19 to 32. Everyone’s got their own sensibility, and there’s one piece for everyone to enjoy.

Allison Kugel: When will you be recording your next album?

Vanessa Williams: Now! I just finished recording a children’s album, which will be out next spring. And I’m working on a new album for BMG that will be out next year. We’re leaning towards mood and tropical music for this next album, and there will be more projects to come.

Allison Kugel: Let’s circle back to your upcoming show on London’s West End, City of Angels. You’re a Broadway veteran, but this will be your West End debut!

Vanessa Williams: This will be my “junior year abroad” that I never got the chance to do! In college, I was supposed to go to London and then I became famous that September. So, it’s my delayed junior year abroad, thirty-six years later (laughs). And it’s getting a chance to show my stage talent on another respected stage. My children are not at home, so it’s an opportunity to tick another thing off the bucket list.

Allison Kugel: You recently launched your own clothing Shop the Vanessa Williams line, Vanessa Williams, which collection at HSN and pre-oris available through HSN. der tickets to see Vanessa WilThe collection is versatile, imaginative and sexy, yet un- liams star in City of Angels at the Garrick Theatre in derstated. And I love how you incorporate animal prints London’s West end. Visit VanessaWilliams.com. and patterns with different looks.

Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, Vanessa Williams: Thank you. It’s another opportunity to author of the memoir, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a be creative and I’ve got a great manufacturer, so the quality life unhinged and on the record, and owner of communiis fantastic. It’s an extension of what I love, which is putting cations firm, Full Scale Media. Follow her on Instagram my stamp on things. I love fashion, and I’ve been fortunate @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com. to work on amazing shows, both on television and on Broad- Photo Credits: Rod Spicer, Mike Ruiz, Gilles Toucas 24 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

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ERIC ZULEY TRAILBLAZER

6th annual hollywood weekly film festival

SEYMOUR UBELL RETIREMENT IS NOT AN OPTION

JIM ZULEY LIKE FATHER AND SON

THE OFFICIAL HWMFF AWARD WINNERS

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 1

323 297 0566

CALL: (424) 371-9900 EMAIL: HollywoodWeekly@gmail.com HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 25

JAMIE BERNADETTE

JAMIE BERNADETTE Breaking through ‘the wall’ in “The Furnace”

BY ALEX A. KECSKES An icon in the horror genre with films like “I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà Vu” and “4/20 Massacre,” Jamie Bernadette has been in 20 other horror films including “The 6th Friend,” which was released worldwide in 2019. She received two Best Actress awards from the Freakshow Horror Film Festival and RIP Film Festival.

Some of her most recent credits include guest star roles on “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Midnight Texas,” and a series regular on “Ember.” In 2017, The Independent Cinema Foundation & Festival Academy recognized Jamie’s stellar work, naming her Best Actress. That same year, The Lucky Strike Film Festival awarded Jamie the Rising Star Award.

In “The Furnace,” Jaime is Mary, a runner determined against all odds to compete in The Furnace, a brutal 150-mile run through the largest wild game reserve in Africa. Directed by Oscar-nominated Darrell Roodt, the film is confirmed to release in 90 countries. For her outstanding performance, Jamie has already received two Best Lead Actress Nominations from the Nice International Film Festival and the Madrid International Film Festival.

Thank you for taking the time for this interview. “The Furnace” is a far cry from the horror genre we’re used to seeing you in. What attracted you to this film and the role of Mary?

Jamie Bernadette: I love survival type films that pit an individual against nature. They’re among my favorite subgenres. So when producer Sam (Frauenstein) sent me the script for consideration, I thought OMG, I’ve always wanted to do something like this.

You appear physically fit. Are you a runner? How did you prepare for this demanding role?

Jamie: I do run, but I wouldn’t say I’m a runner who runs like seven miles a day. I do a lot of uphill mountain hiking.

When I got the role, I started running more. But nothing could have prepared me to run in this film. We shot entirely on location in Africa. It was a ton of running--sometimes 12 hours a day. One time, they were shooting me from a helicopter and it was take after take of me running. There

were days when I just ran all day long. I was sore and I had to keep running. Usually, when I run, it’s 40 minutes, not 12 hours. I just wasn’t prepared for it. On top of that, there were live animals that could attack you. When I was running, it was usually me and the cameraman, who stood off-frame behind a bush. And I thought, if an animal attacked me, I wouldn’t get much help.

I love that picture of you with those beautiful cheetahs.

Jamie: Those cheetah were rescued from an owner who gave them a grilled cheese sandwich or turkey sandwich a day. They were underfed and didn’t develop properly.

We used them in the scene where the cheetahs threaten me. The animal handlers teach you to be very quiet around them and to slowly walk in so you don’t startle them. I wasn’t too nervous around the animals--some people were, though. I think cheetahs can sense your fear, so it was good that I wasn’t scared.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 27

Are you an animal person?

Jamie: I have a dog. I think I am an animal person. I love animals. I was a vegan for a little while for that reason.

In one scene, you looked like you suffered serious sunburn. Did you roast in that 110-degree heat?

Jamie: No, that’s our amazing make-up artist, Julene Paton. She’s an award-winning artist who won MAC cosmetics for life. In the film, they made sure I didn’t burn. They had me under an umbrella between takes. They didn’t want me to burn because the next day I had to appear all sickly and pale.

How many miles of The Furnace did you run?

Jamie: I don’t know. We were in the middle of filming and the producer suggested that I should have worn something on my shoe that logged my miles.

The film also speaks to the agony of losing a spouse, what did you draw from to so convincingly portray that loss?

Jamie: I pull from whatever I can, whatever is working for me that day to draw out that emotion. I delve into my past. I’ve had some losses in my life and a rough upbringing so there was a lot of material for me to pull from to get there emotionally. I get where I need to be before the camera starts rolling. We did a hostile scene and when we finished, I went into a corner and cried for probably two-straight hours. I just couldn’t stop crying. When I’m in the scene, and the camera starts rolling, I’m thinking how Mary thinks. At that point, I’m already there, because I’ve prepped myself to be her. It’s what you do as an actor.

28 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

In the film, Laura Linn personifies the faith that pulls Mary though her devastating loss, as well as her struggle to finish The Furnace. How did you address the faith-based aspect of the story?

Jamie: I feel the film does a good job of not shoving that aspect of the story down peoples’ throats. So people who may not be religious can still relate to it. We didn’t want to be talking about God throughout the film. I’m a big believer in having some faith or spirituality in your life. I love all religions and people of all faiths. I think it’s important to have a moral code you follow, something that guides you in life, gives you hope. There has to be something more than the material world we’re in. I believe we’re spirits in a body. I know there’s a spiritual world. How do you explain things that have happened?

Mary’s relationship with Coffin is exceptionally real, congenial, yet bracing at times. How did you two work together to create such authenticity?

Jamie: We just bonded right away.

Luthuli Dlamini a very real, down-toearth person. I think you either connect with someone or you don’t. We connected and worked together easily. Luthuli is a phenomenal actor, very seasoned. His acting is natural and flawless. He’s a celebrity in South Africa. All the extras knew who he was and wanted photos and autographs.

What do you see as the core message in “The Furnace”?

Jamie: I think it’s to go on in spite of all the adversities life throws at you.

And eventually, things will get better.

Even on our darkest days, we may feel like the light will never come. If you just hang in there and stick it out, the light will come and you will pull through. And life can be good again.

It appears that your dance card is full for the next year. How do you find time to unwind and relax?

Jamie: I’m attached to a lot of projects right now. I’m very particular about what I’m taking. I want to do really good films and work with really good filmmakers. At the beginning of my career, I was focused on quantity rather than quality. Now I look for quality roles that challenge and inspire me. Being selective also gives

me more time between projects. I’m trying to get three features off the ground.

One’s a true, real-life drama, another is a horror film, and a third is a domestic abuse drama.

What advice would you give young actors just starting their careers?

Jamie: Don’t listen to the negativity. A lot of people will tell you things that may have been true for them but it doesn’t have to be true for you. I heard an actor once say that if you haven’t made it by the time you’re 30, you won’t make it. If you hear that and you take it as your truth, you’re likely to manifest that in your universe. It then becomes your reality. I always tell people—don’t agree to the negativity. You can make it at any age. Some will tell say, oh, it’s so hard. Don’t buy into that. Others will say, oh, there’s hardly any work.

And I say, what are you talking about? We have more work now than we had 10 years ago—with HULU, Netflix and Amazon. So, I just don’t accept those negative comments.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 29

Retirement is not an option.

A Conversation with Seymour Ubell, first time novelist at 88 years old.

Hollywood Weekly: The title of your book, The Birth Mother is intriguing. Tell us a little bit about the story.

throughout children’s young lives. Including the dramatic chance meeting by the adoptive father with the actual Chinese Birth Mother.

Seymour Ubell: A middle-aged New York couple with a ten-year-old son, decide to adopt twin girls, as a result of totally circumstantial events. Daryl and Maxine Landsman go through the complex labyrinth of adoption in China. The couple brings the twins home.

The children grow up in New York surrounded by a complex family environment. The story, both tragic and filled with joy, is filled with twists and turns

HW: Where does your inspiration foryour story come from in this book?

SU: The story tumbled into my lap from a personal experience between my wife and me. Very early in my career in China, one of my partners brought me to an orphanage. He was a benefactor at the institution. I saw the children and fell in love. As a result of the meeting, we had an opportunity to adopt the twins. We reluctantly decided not to. Because of a time in life when I was in my early sixties, just a bit too old to take on the responsibility of two infant children. As the years passed, my wife would mention, “The girls would have been five years old now and nursery school age.” Once again, eight years later, Marsha said, “it would have been time for their Bat-Mitzvah and years later my wife would remind me; “Our twins would have been off to go to college. At that moment I decided to write a novel that we did, in fact, adopt the children.

What I learned from that experience is, women never forget anything.

Men hardly remember anything.

HW: Where does the theme God is a woman come from?

SU: Let me begin by stating, I am an atheist. However, I do believe in kindness, caring and accepting all people into my life, regardless of religion, race or politics. My wife is a very wise and the kindest, most loving person I have ever been with. She is my partner; I trust her the most. For more than three decades, I learned that women are much smarter, more sensitive and more creative than man is. As I wrote, the story; the tale began to have a life of its own and it took over. It guided me down the path, that if, there is a God, that God must, without question, be a woman. And so, I argue, if God is a man; Why do women have the power to perpetuate the species?

Why do women have the power to feed the species if there is no food? Adam never ate the apple; he was nursed on Eve’s breast. Why do women have the power to give a man his most significant pleasure? Why do they call Earth, ‘Mother Earth”? Why is nature is called ‘Mother Nature or that beautiful statue welcoming emigrants, Miss Liberty? All good things are a “She” never a “He”. I recite biblical stories where women save the day and the lives of both Judeo and Christian moments in history. When reading this book you will discover the power and gifts that women, in all their sensitivity, intellect and caring, have.

HW: Tell us about your early careers.

SU: I never went to college. My father died when I seventeen. It was vital that I go to work to earn money, helping

the family. We were very poor. We lived on a widow’s pension and the $42.50 a week I earned as a stock clerk in a men’s clothing company. At the age of nineteen, I was promoted to work in the company showroom. Shortly after, in my early twenties, the VP of Sales at the company gave me another promotion; to go “on-the-road” as a salesman.

At the age of twenty-eight, I started my own printing brokerage company. It was very successful. Shortly thereafter, I simultaneously started a messenger

people who read my story, approache me, consistently sharing the honesty they experienced.They mentioned in detail their feelings regarding descriptions of World War II days in Brooklyn.

And all the firsts in my life; including sex, love, marriage, children, and money. Readers enjoyed my account of the old neighborhood, the stores, the trolley cars racing on the main streets of Brooklyn; including descriptions of the neighbors, their gossiping, the simple apartment buildings. Their response

I enjoyed the creative experience very much. I wanted to continue writing.

In truth, I needed to continue writing.

as the author, much power. If I like someone, I reward them. If I don’t, they suffer, or they die. I can make it snow or rain. Or sunshine. I am the master, in total control of life and death, success and failure. I am satisfied that I finished The Birth Mother. I wrote every single day. Perhaps an hour or more. I had to do research. A learning process. I have my own personal handicap about not attending college. However, I have become my own college professor, learning every day. In the saga, I had to learn. I am self-taught about Buddhism, Leukemia, Genetics and the use of a dictionary, a thesaurus and the research of how twins live and grow up.

HW: What is a typical day like for you?

was a much-welcomed experience. It SU: I awake early, 6:15 AM. By 7:00 was most gratifying. A memoir is inter- AM, at the gym. A trainer works estingly restrictive. You must be truth- with me three days each week. I go to Equinox five, sometimes, often six ful. Truth has power and it works.

My father died at the age of 44. I have days each week. I am on my Gym little memory of him. All I have is my bicycle, riding three to four miles each day. imagination and the feeling of my love for him. In my own life with the blessing of three especially talented children, whom I love totally, it was important for me to leave them the story of my life. I hoped to document my energy, my being, and the joy I treasured from my family, my HW: What inspired you to write a successes as well as the pain and novel? the struggles I encountered in failure. It was a wish to give my heirs SU: After I wrote my first book, a mem- the pleasure of remembering me oir. “A Life of Risks Taken”, I enjoyed as a man of multiple talents and the creative experience very much. I skills. At the same time explain wanted to continue writing. In truth, I how I overcame life’s reversals. needed to continue writing. I learned so And equally, my achievements. much about myself and the people in And just perhaps my grandchilmy life. When I write, it’s a rare time in dren and great-grandchildren my life, I am not in charge. The story might be a bit curious about takes over. The computer becomes the their heritage. boss.

What about this book are HW: What did you learn while you most proud of ? writing your memoir?

Seymour at 18 SU: My most poignant exSU: Writing my memoir was an educa- perience with the novel is, tion. I learned, when telling the story of writing the fiction gives me, your life, the truth always works. Many service company, a tennis racket company, and an advertising agency. At the age of sixty-two, I retired. Two years later, I discovered, I hated retirement.

It was important for me to return to the business world. I decided to go to China. I envisioned the future; seeking a business opportunity Asia. The one place in the world I believed would be the future economic global competitor to the USA. When most people are retiring at the age of 64, I went back to work. I do not regret a single moment.

From the gym, I take a cab to my office where my son Ed, who is the CEO is running the company. I just sign the checks. By 3:30 PM, I am at home. I take a nap and write for an hour or more. Often dinner with friends, or my children or just Marsha and me. By 9 pm I am in bed listening to both classical folk music I grew up with; including Sinatra. Simultaneously reading the NY Times or listening to my audiobooks. My children, Lynn, Jane, and Ed speak to me almost every day. A special blessing for any parent.

Before my eyes close, I turn to my left and see the love of my life.

We kiss and whisper, “Goodnight.”

Before my eyes close, I turn to my left and see the love of my life. We kiss and whisper, “Goodnight.”

Earl, Alvin & Seymour Ubell

HW: What is next on your list? What are you planning to write about next?

SU: I am working on two books at the same time. One is a fictionalized story about our family business that began in Europe with my grandfather and continued with my father here in America. The story includes their meetings with the Mafia families that existed in those days. My other book is about people who have another opportunity in life after the death of a wife or husband. And those couples who go through divorce and find a “second love”. And in most cases a happy life.

But not always.

32 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Seymour and his wife Marsha Tosk

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 33

Books to Devour

by Jane Ubell-Meyer, Founder of Bedside Reading

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elcome to 2020. This is the time of year when I recommend that we evaluate our lives, not only to look forward but to look inward, as well. Three of our authors speak to these disciplines. Rohit Bhargava, a WSJ bestselling author of Non-Obvious MegaTrends. As I started reading his book, I was reminded of how I, and perhaps all of us, could take a new look at ourselves to see if we are wired for a “growth mindset” or a “fixed mindset”. Do you notice the smallest of details? And can these details change our lives? Another visionary author is PJ Jackson. She’s an incredible empath who is taking the ancient concept of the labyrinth to tap into our true selves. Our third author Tim Tigner, who has had more bestsellers than we can count, explores the concept of immortality in his spell binding bestseller, The Price of Time.

The Body Double by Emily Beyda

A

dark, glittering debut novel, The Body Double is the suspenseful story of a young woman who is recruited by a stranger to give up her old life and identity to impersonate a reclusive Hollywood star.

A strange man discovers our nameless narrator selling popcorn at a decrepit small-town movie theater and offers her an odd and lucrative position: she will forget her job, her acquaintances, even her name, and move to Los Angeles, where she will become the body double of the famous and troubled celebrity Rosanna Feld.

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The Prophecy by Kim Sakwa

F

ierce and feared, 16th-century Highland laird Greylen MacGreggor has yet to meet his match—until Dr. Gwendolyn Reynolds falls through time and into his arms. Get spellbound by this time travel romance.

Vicious by L.J. Shen

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hey say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true. The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares. He is a brilliant lawyer. A skilled criminal. A beautiful liar. A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover.

Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.

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34 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

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The Prize by Geoffrey M. Cooper

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hat does it take to win a Nobel Prize?

Deceit? Fraud? Maybe even murder? When she finds a drug that has the potential to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Pam Weller is certain she’s made the discovery of a lifetime.

But her success threatens the supremacy of Eric Prescott, a leading figure in Alzheimer’s research, who sees his chances at a Nobel Prize slipping through his fingers. His lust for the prize and the accolades that come with it drive him to concoct a plot against Pam that threatens her career, her freedom, and even her life.

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The Birth Mother by Seymour Ubell

n a business trip, a high-powered fifty-six-year-old American entrepreneur visits his partners in China.

After their meeting, his Asian mentor invites him to an orphan- age, a trip that will change the course of his family’s life forev- er. Without hesitation, he and his wife fall in love with Anglo/Asian twin girls and become their adoptive parents. The children grow up in a world of twists and turns with multiple coincidences and synchronicity. The story takes us on a journey them from China to Europe to America and back to China where their unusual birth mother enters their lives. This powerful story is filled with drama at every turn as the daughters face internal and external challenges. The Birth Mother is a story filled with love, pathos, tragedy, and triumph. A surprise of the season!

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The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow

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n this riveting memoir, David Crow presents a searing account of his experience growing up on the Navajo Indian Reservation with a mentally ill mother and violent father, an ex-con from San Quentin who groomed him to be his partner in crime. When David ultimately found the courage to change his life, he unwittingly triggered a plot of revenge that forced him into a deadly showdown with his father. Raw and palpable, “The Pale-Faced Lie” is an unforgettable testament to the power of forgiveness and the strength of the human spirit.

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The Moments Between by Natalie Banks

T ◘

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ragedy strikes the life of Claire DuPont when her husband of nine years is killed in a train accident on his way home from work, leaving her alone with two small children.

One morning, six months later, she awakes to find him alive and there with her in the house, like he had never been gone.

With her head spinning she picks up her phone only to see the date is actually three months before the accident ever occurred.

Bewildered but grateful, she writes it off as a very vivid, bad dream. But as time goes on, she realizes that events are unfolding exactly the way they did in her dream. Racing against time, she desperately tries to change the inevitable but finds herself helpless to change anything. Unwilling to give up, she vows to stop at nothing to save her husband before it’s too late.

Lost Tomorrows by Matt Coyle

The Changemaker: The Art of Building Better Leaders

by Deke Copenhaver

.

eadership is never easy.

Almost all leaders deal with both triumph and tragedy, oftentimes in equal measure. The fact of the matter is that leadership insists on constant rejection of the status quo. True leaders demand continuous reflection and improvement of those around them, and even more importantly, of themselves.

True leaders are Changemakers. You will learn to become unafraid of doing omething different in the service of a good cause and how to spark a movement that others can’t help but rally around. The Changemaker is a roadmap of sorts, designed to deliver comprehensive, common sense leadership strategies to people from all walks of life.

phone call thrusts Rick Cahill’s past and all its tragic consequences into his present. Krista Landingham, his former partner on the Santa Barbara Police Department, is dead. When Rick goes to the funeral in the city where his wife was murdered and where he is seen as guilty for her death in the eyes of the police, he discovers that Krista’s death may not have been a tragic accident, but murder. Hired by Krista’s sister, Leah, to investigate, Rick follows clues that lead him to the truth, not only about Krista’s death, but about the tragedy that ruined his life.

In the end, Rick is left with a decision that forces him to confront the horrific actions he’ll need to take to exact revenge and achieve redemption.

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HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 35

M

Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold

any corporations have slick, flashy mission statements that ultimately do little to motivate employees and less to impress customers, investors, and partners.

But there is a way to share your excitement for the future of your company in a clear, compelling, and powerful way, and entrepreneur and business growth expert Cameron Herold can show you how. “Vivid Vision” is a revolutionary tool that will help owners, CEOs, and senior managers create inspirational, detailed, and actionable three-year mission statements for their companies.

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I Know How This Ends

by Amy Impellizerri

n the spring of 2020, a very special class is graduating from high school. This class of students has just one thing in common. The class is comprised completely of 37 survivors – of children whose pregnant mothers were in and around the World Trade Center on 9/11, but whose mothers survived, and gave birth within the next few months. These 37 students are part of a longitudinal study known as “Operation Steel Survivors” and their very public commencement is now scheduled for Carnegie Hall in Manhattan.

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Conversations With Our Authors Q: So many people go through personQ&A with al and emotional PJ Jackson, author upheavals in their lives--loss of a loved of The Labyrinth one, loss of a job, Influence: Awaken an illness, etc. What the Wisdom Within is the best way to embrace change?

A:No matter what comes your way, you must believe there is a reason for it.

Life is a journey where you are given challenges to learn and to grow. The number one way to cope with change is to expand your self-awareness. You must accept the notion that inside this challenge there is a blessing. If you can learn to love the opportunity to grow, then you can embrace anything that is put in front of you.

Q: Why are so many people fearful of change?

A:People don’t fear change, they fear the unknown.

Not knowing what will happen next fills you with anxiety which, left unchecked, ultimately turns into fear.

Without change you become complacent and your youthful curiosity is lost. A great way to look at change it is to step back and observe the changing of the seasons. Each season has its ups and downs, yet you know what to expect. You also know the season will change again, and you can easily find joy in what will happen in the next season. It’s the same 36 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

with life. Ask yourself, “What can I do with this change to make my life more joyful?” Look at change as an adventure, and trust that no matter what happens, you’ve got this!

Q: It is now 2020, what’s your best advice on how to approach the new year?

A:The best advice to approaching the new year is to focus on you and do these three things. First, put in the time to find yourself and understand your true purpose.

Second, be kind to yourself, you are the most important person you will ever meet.

And third, give yourself permission to hire a coach. No matter what you are trying to improve in your life; your health, your relationships or your self-worth, you don’t need to do it alone. You can’t be the best you until you invest in you, so make 2020 the year of YOU! It’s not selfish, it’s self-care.

Q&A with Tim Tigner, author of The Price of Time Q: Should scientists be searching for the Fountain of Youth?

A: No, because it would be a disaster if they found it. The population would explode beyond sustainable limits, forcing governments to enact artificial means of limiting life. We’re much better off with a natural balance.

Q: Do you think we’ll ever achieve immortality?

A:I don’t think it’s possible to indefinitely stave off death. To stop our bodies from wearing out. Biological systems can be patched and propped up, but those are temporary and isolated fixes. On the other hand, one could argue that for most intents and purposes, Shakespeare is immortal. He’s still part of the zeitgeist, still shaping and affecting lives.

Q: Setting aside the population issue, would the human race be better off if we were immortal?

A:While the idea of preserving wisdom is enticing, the answer is no. The refreshing effect of the circle of life is crucially important because it brings fresh minds into management positions, minds that matured in themodern environment. If that weren’t the case, Caesar might still rule the world, which would be covered with temples to Zeus and Apollo. Also, the whole world would likely resemble the Middle East, where history andgrudges drive endless cycles of destructive behavior. We’re much better off with a biological cycle that givesus fresh starts and clean slates.

Q&A with Rohit Bhargava, author of Non Obvious Megatrends Q: How can professionals succeed in the midst of what you call the modern believability crisis?

A: I believe it’s harder to be trusted today than ever before. Part of the reason is that we are surrounded by fake news, fake brands and fake leaders too. That’s the modern believability crisis, and it’s having a serious impact on business. Building trust with your customers and your team is hard because they are all skeptical. One key to doing it is being willing to share the unexpected truth. For example, we trust the waiters who tell us the truth about what’s great on a menu and what isn’t much more than we trust the one who says, “you can’t go wrong, everything’s great.” If you want to succeed, you need to start with trust and that comes from proactive honesty.

Q: Do you really believe anyone can learn how to predict the future?

A: I do! But it’s not just based on wishful thinking. I’ve conducted hundreds of workshops for leaders at many different levels within an organization and I’ve discovered that you can teach people the same five basic habits and they can learn how to see the details in the world around them and put them together in a way that allows them to see the trends as they are happening. The five habits are being curious, being observant, being thoughtful, being elegant and being fickle. Putting them together allows you to build a disciplined habit of collecting ideas the way most people collect frequent flier miles.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 37

W

hether Ernest Hemingway was

obsessed with the idea that writers had to experience life before they could write, or he just believed it as an artistic truth, that school of thought, unfortunately for young writers, is correct. The longer you live in this world, the more varied your interests and experiences are while you are here, makes you a better writer. It’s just a fact. Even the great, multitalented Steven Spielberg, who was a cinematic prodigy by anyone’s standards, famously admitted that if he made “Close Encounters of the

Third Kind” as a mature man, the ending may have been different. As a young man in his 20’s Spielberg felt no qualms about sending Richard Dreyfuss’ character “Roy Neary” off to space to live with aliens instead of staying on Earth with his family.

But now, as a husband and a father, an artistic decision like that for Spielberg would require more thought... Life is the ultimate teacher.

Mark Twain said never let school get in the way of your education. The school of life, where the worst that can happen won’t be suspension from school...though you will “exit the campus,” as it were.

Ken Comer is a twenty year

veteran of the New York City Police Department.A seasoned Detective who retired in 2005. Early in his career he was recognized as one of the top officers in his percent. Young Officer Comer was reassigned to the Organized Crime Control Bureau -- he became an undercover Narcotics Investigator. The operative word to sum up Mr. Comer’s life with the NYPD would be gritty -- and that is a pleasant way to describe the world Ken Comer worked in and somehow made it to the other side...but he didn’t come back to us empty-handed, he brought stories. Lots of them.

Screenwriter, Retired N.Y.P.D.

Detective Ken Comer brings

“Reality” to his fictional Screenplay Masterpiece

“Lena’s Rules” 38 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Of course, Ken knew what

to do with all those stories and the memories of all the characters he encountered in his 20 years with the NYPD. Life for came began with the dream of acting. He even did some modeling early in his career before he decided that he wanted to live the life of those famous

Detectives he read about in novels or saw in films. Reading Ken Comer’s screenplay “Lena’s Rules” was like reading a new novel by Michael Connely -- except, (and I love Michael Connely), Ken Comer has walked the walk. The things his characters say and the emotions and feelings and dire strait situations they find themselves in all come from an organic place of creative, artistic truth. I don’t know what kind of writer Ken Comer would have been had he not spent two decades working with the NYPD, but I do know that the screenplay “Lena’s Rules” could not have been written without the life experiences Ken Comer lived through.

Not surprisingly Ken Comer

is now working as a full-time screenwriter. And, as an added benefit for all that life experience Hemingway loved writers to have, Ken has also found a new career as a law enforcement consultant in Hollywood. But it’s Ken’s characters.

Ken’s words. The colorful, vivid, dangerous worlds that Ken Comer creates that is truly fascinating -- and where we, movie audiences, will benefit from his talent the most.

KEN COMER SCREENWRITER, RETIRED N.Y.P.D. DETECTIVE com904@aol.com 917-734-5977

by Anthony Ewart