Celebrating Diversity In The Entertainment Industry
Kathleen Valbuena
®
A STAR ON THE RISE
Stan Lee's ALLIES OF THE AMAZON
Shari & Stacey THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA
PRODUCER & AMBASSADOR
Frederico Lapenda 10 THINGS TO DO TO BREAK INTO HOLLYWOOD
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 1
Letter from the Editor H
istory has been and will always be a very interesting subject. Its is part of every humans existence. Wherever we are, it always catches peoples attention.
This issue, Brazilian Ambassador of Tourism and award-winning Hollywood producer Frederico Lapenda tells us the greatest American history story that you’ve never heard in his book collaboration with Stan Lee " Allies of the Amazon". Yes, the great Stan Lee creator of Marvel Universe. From our previous issue, we would like to share again Federico's 10 ways to "Break into Hollywood." An insider's advice on how to be successful in the movie or TV industry. This issue comes with other interesting stories:
PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Prather Jackson VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris Michael D. Coxson SENIOR BOOK CURATOR Jane Ubell-Meyer ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Hailey Ashley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alex A. Kecskes Elyce Hastings CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rouland Medina DESIGN & PRODUCTION Denise Chavez AFRICA OPERATIONS Egor Efiok Egorefiok@gmail.com
•
They compliment each other so well, that the dynamic duo of Stacey Blanchet and Shari Belafonte have come together to form Rowan Moon Productions. Shari is the daughter of Marguerite and the famous singer/actor Harry Belafonte.
•
Meet Kathleen Valbuena, a rising star. A model, actress and real estate agent whose perseverance showed her way to success. With her go-getter personality, Kathleen believes her hard work, and positive outlook on life is her key to achieving her goals.
BRAZIL OPERATIONS Fabio Glingani Rico@lapenda.net (310) 567-3333
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Jimmie Lee, the greatest street comedian is back! The Jersey Outlaw has branded with his hit comedy TV show, Dangerously Funny, now shooting in Season 5. Jimmie has filmed this year in Las Vegas, New York City, Atlantic City and Hollywood, and there’s more to come.
INDIA OPERATION Ike Sinha Mobile +919599068592
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Jovan 'Honey' Marie, a woman whose dreams go beyond music and entertainment, and it seems that’s the true thing that sets her apart.
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And finally, we dive into the life of Mr. Jerry Boyd, the definition of success is seen in an entirely new light. His incredible journey opens our mind to one of the truest forms of triumph we’ve ever seen.
Enjoy!
Prather Jackson Publisher
Hollywood WEEKLY is a publication wholly owned by Prather Jackson HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY MAGAZINE LLC. © 2021 All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permisssion of the publisher is expressly prohibited. Letters to the editor may be sent to: PRATHER@HOLLYWOODWEEKLYMAGAZINE.COM. 8345 Reseda Blvd #117, Northridge, CA 91324. For advertising inquiries call: (424) 371-9900 2 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
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04 RECIFE TO MANHATTAN STAN LEE'S 08 SHARI & STACEY 16 19 STRATEGIC ALLIANCES American History Unheard Allies of the Amazon
The Dawn of the New Era
HW Magazine Joins Alliance
20 KATHLEEN VALBUENA JIMMIE LEE 26 JOVAN "HONEY" MARIE 32 36 JERRY BOYD A Star on the Rise
Dangerously Funny
Following Her Dreams
The Man Who Dreamed
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 3
FROM RECIFE TO MANHATTAN
The Greatest American History Story You’ve Never Heard Written by Blaine McManus
THE FIRST Jews who helped to form New York as we know it today landed on America’s east coast by accident as survivors of a capsized ship sailing from their unlikely home in Recife, Pernambuco Brazil! Brazilian Ambassador of Tourism and award-winning Hollywood filmmaker Frederico Lapenda says this is “the most important global history story to ever take place in Brazil.” Because of this, he has channeled his passion for this story and focused it on turning it into a feature film so the world can know how a small beautiful town in Brazil in the 17th century unwittingly contributed to the birth of what the world knows today as the great city of New York. Recife was initially settled by the Portuguese in the 1530s, but the Dutch invaded in 1630 and ruled the region for 24 years. It was during this period that Jews who had previously settled in Amsterdam, many of them of Portuguese descent, began moving to Recife for business and religious purposes. The first migratory flow of Jews fleeing religious inquisition in Portugal and Spain occurred in the 17th century. At the beginning of this century during the inquisition, many Jews who were expelled from Portugal and Spain immigrated to Brazil, a new land with promise of safety and a possible new home with a bright future. In 1638 the first synagogue in the Americas was built (Kahal Zur Israel) in the small coastal city of Recife on the easternmost tip of Brazil. Many of the Jews were converted to Christianity and changed their name to fit in better with their new Christian community. With the arrival of the Dutch however and with the expulsion of the indigenous Portuguese, this scenario changed, allowing for the practice of Judaism between 1630 to 1654. The Dutch period however, while productive for Jews, was short-lived. A little more than 20 years later, the Portuguese resumed dominance of the colony, generating a massive migration yet again of the Jews. In view of the high number of Jews who lived in Pernambuco and the reduced physical space of sea-worthy vessels at that time, many Jews were unable to leave the country, but it is known that seventeen vessels filled with Jews did in fact set sail for other lands. In an attempt to reach Dutch territory, after the Portuguese victory, a group of Jews departed Recife bound for Amsterdam in 1654. Close to the Caribbean, however, the 4 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Paulo Meira, Frederico Lapenda, Bruno Kehrle
ship sank and only 23 Jews survived and miraculously made their way to North America and arrived in the small town of New Amsterdam, installing the first Jewish congregation where New York City was later founded. Author Daniela Levy wrote the book from Recife to Manhattan portraying this story of the Jews history with mastery and released it inside the Brazilian synagogue in Recife in 2019. Architectural Digest magazine published a survey of the 31 most beautiful streets in the world. Rua do Bom Jesus, in Recife, Brazil, known as Rua dos Judeus, was voted the 3rd most beautiful street in the world and the only Brazilian street in the survey. The colorful street of cobblestone located in a neighborhood known as “Recife Antigo,” or “Old Recife”, is lined with tall palm trees and is brimming with history. On this same street, in the middle of the block is a two-story, tanpainted stucco building with arched windows and doors called the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue and is most notably known as the first Jewish house of worship in the Americas. Centuries later, the wealthiest man in Brazil, Jose Safra, owner of Safra
Bank, financed the excavation and discovery of the original remains of the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue and refurbished it to its original grandeur. The building is now a Jewish memorial and cultural center. It
Bom Jesus Street, Recife Brazil
Ambassador Frederico Lapenda HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 5
was restored to look much as the synagogue would have when it was the center of Jewish life in Recife. The restoration also includes viewing areas of ruins discovered below ground level, including a ritual bath called a mikvah. Producer Frederico Lapenda has licensed the rights to Levy’s book, translated it and will soon release it in the United States. Lapenda intends to produce a film telling the story of this journey of overcoming insurmountable odds and injustice. “This is the story of greatest global relevance that happened in Brazil, as the Jews who arrived in New Amsterdam helped to build what the world knows today as the great cities of New York and Manhattan. This is a story that needs to be told, as a celebration of history but also as a cautionary tale and reminder so as to not repeat the same mistakes.” Lapenda says. He also states, “Historically, countries who have expelled Jews, such as Portugal, Spain and Germany, often they go through extremely hard times financially and culturally afterwards. Whether this is a real thing or simply a superstition, one can only wonder what would have become of Brazil had the Jews not been cast out but rather had been allowed to stay and build the same economy and culture perhaps that New Amsterdam/New York became as a result.”
6 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Different views of Synagogue Kabal Zur Israel
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S TA N LEE 'S
ALLIES AMAZON of the
By Russell Lee Oquist
S
tan Lee is the creator of Spiderman and the amazing Marvel Universe. The great Stan Lee passed away on Nov. 12, 2018, but nevertheless his legacy continues… One year later, on the anniversary of his passing away, the children’s book, “Allies of the Amazon,” was published and released in Portuguese (November 12, 2019). ALLIES OF THE AMAZON features four animals with superpowers who must defeat an evil creature capable of destroying the balance of the Amazon rainforest. This story is “Lion King meets the Avengers.” The book was published by Stan Lee’s Kids Universe (SKLU), a new multimedia children's publishing company that focuses on content for children up to 10 years old. The English version will be available in English (2021). This book was developed in a meeting with Stan Lee and POW! Entertainment's Gill Champion with their partner in SLKU, 1821 Media's
8 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Terry Dougas and Brazilian producer Frederico Lapenda (Men of Courage, Rage). They decided to develop the adventure book together and tapped Brazilian writer Gabriel Chalita to pen the project. Chalita has written over 84 books and several plays in his career. Bruno Miranda, the illustrator of ALLIES OF THE AMAZON, has won 6 Golden Lions in the Cannes Publicity Festival. His beautiful illustrations adorn and powerfully portray the action, drama and humor.
are four animal heroes with magical powers. The four heroes are:
This exciting story takes place in the Amazon rainforest. This part of the world is vital to the world’s ecostructure: with over 75% of the world’s bird species, a vast array of fascinating creatures, as well as, an important source of medicines and oxygen. This story will raise the awareness of how important the Amazon is to the world for children of all ages. It will not be taught as a dry, classroom lecture but rather through an exciting story based on folk legend which features numerous creatures. The central characters
Amazonica Water Lily, who can also transform into a beautiful woman, who has magical power over water.
1 Nina, the giant turtle, who has
power over the earth, the land.
2 Duca, the Red-Faced Monkey who
has magical power over fire.
3 Gabe, the Musician Wren, who has
power over the wind. And….. 4 Serena, The Victoria
The setting is in the Rainforest and indigenous folk lore is woven into an exciting story where our heroes battle the infamous, Lamal, a fallen creature who can transform his appearance at will and who has many magical powers including the ability to bury his enemies in thick, sludgy mud. His goal is to disrupt the harmony and beauty of the Amazon and eventually destroy it.
Our heroes join forces to become the “Allies of the Amazon” with the mission to defeat the evil Lamal and restore. As this story unfolds we also meet many delightful creatures, the fauna and flora of the Amazon Rainforest. In the book the story is told by Grandma Tacia to her precious grandson, Yuri. He was feeling very depressed, having lost his parents recently and very poor growing up in the Amazon area with only his grandmother to take care of him. But Grandma Tacia wanted to lift Yuri’s spirits and make him aware of what a rich heritage he had as a child of the Amazon area. As she started telling Yuri a legend about the Amazon, based on an indigenous folk legend, Yuri became very excited. He also learns many lessons about life as Grandma tells him the story of the Allies of the Amazon. Yuri is enthralled and keeps asking grandma to continue until the story is complete. This is an action story with many exciting scenes told in a dramatic fashion. But it is also a delightful story
about the rich array of flora and fauna of the Amazon region with many colorful and intriguing characters from the Amazon river, including a myriad of fishes, alligators, caimens and turtles, etc. etc. Two special characters, Hugo, the playful and mischievous dolphin as well as Kaiko, the grumpy electric eel. The land offers many types of creatures; from the various monkeys, sloths, leaf cutter ants, anteaters and jaguars, including the powerful female jaguar, Rani and her daughter. The sky is full of the rich array of the bird life of the Amazon including toucans, macaws, egrets, etc. etc. and featuring Anahi, the Rufus bird and Rico, the majestic harpy eagle. The plant life in the Amazon is as rich and varied as the animal life, with various bushes, and many types of trees, including the rubber trees and the cacao trees (from which we get chocolate – yum!), the coffee plants and vines. The story features two wise old trees; Juju and Tai. Tai told many stories filled with wisdom and Juju usually punctuates the stories with wit and humor.
In fact the story is also full of humor and delightful festivals and parties for our characters, which captures the imagination of children of all ages. The Stan Lee's Kids Universe publishing imprint has been a smash hit with children and parents alike since launching in 2013. The label specializes in graphic novels, picture books, and digital books for kids of all ages. Stan Lee's Kids Universe has created over 200 characters from properties including: Cesar Milan Presents: Dinosaurs vs. Puppies, Monsters vs. Kittens, Once Upon A Time There Was a Pig, Reggie the Veggie, Dex T-Rex, Hero Petz, and Rockstar Super Diva, among others. ALLIES OF THE AMAZON is a timely story inspired by a universe of superheroes who operate among the animals of the Amazon rainforest at a time when the animals lived in harmony. This peace, however, has just been shaken. Lamal, a monster who can take the form of any animal to deceive the creatures as well as sow jealousy and disharmony, resurfaces after being HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 9
freed from a prison in the depths of the earth during an excavation by ants who were looking for buried treasure. As he starts to lie to the creatures (disguised as them) he fools them into distrusting each other and into envying others and eventually thinking that they could do things which they could not, like monkeys flying, fish walking on land and birds diving deep into the river (all of which would lead to their demise). Chaos began to reign in the Forest. Lamal even tricked the God of Thunder into sending his destructive lightning bolts into the Forest, starting many fires. When the Allies of the Amazon realized that this was all the doing of Lamal, they set out to defeat him and to reveal his treachery to the rest of the Forest. Many battles ensued as well as the the Allies and their friends set about to help the various animals understand the destructive lies that Lamal had told them. United by purpose and friendship, they work to reinstate the values essential to the balance of a sustainable society. 10 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
"Stan Lee's ALLIES OF THE AMAZON brings a message of unity and environmental awareness that will touch the hearts and minds of people of all ages," says Frederico Lapenda, co-creator of the project. Terry Dougas commented: "Stan Lee's legacy will live forever. He was a true icon, a dear friend, a great business partner and real-life superhero who cared about educating children. ALLIES OF THE AMAZON was near and dear to his heart and we are delighted to launch this beautiful and inspiring story in Brazil since the Amazon is so important for our world." "Stan was a strong supporter of children's literacy, and with SLKU, he always strove to tell stories that are fun, educational and accessible to kids," Gill Champion, Stan's partner in POW! Entertainment, said. "He would be very proud with the launch of ALLIES OF THE AMAZON because it epitomizes two essential elements he firmly believed in: education and entertainment."
C R E AT I V E T E A M Stan Lee, Gil Champion, Terry Douglas, Gabriel Chalita, Frederico Lapenda
Stan Lee is known worldwide as the co-creator of Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, X-Men and The Fantastic Four. Stan Lee served as the Chairman Emeritus of Marvel and Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment, which he founded with Gill Champion. To encourage reading among young people and children, Stan and POW! cofounded Stan Lee's Kids Universe, a multimedia publisher that publishes works for children. POW! Entertainment, LLC is a multimedia company founded in 2001 by the iconic comicbook creator Stan Lee with his friend and business partner Gill Champion to create and license intellectual properties for entertainment media, including: feature length films, television, merchandising, branded content and other related ancillary markets, as well as exclusively maintain and protect the ownership of his name, likeness, voice, trademarks and
publicity rights throughout the world. Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment is working with top writers, artists, animators, filmmakers and actors to extend the legacy of the greatest storyteller of our time.
excelsior idea! This was his favorite compliment for ideas that he love. His wish was that those involved in this great project would maximize its potential, stating, “With great powers come great responsibility.”
Allies of the Amazon is an excellent addition to children’s literature which is also suited to be an animated feature which would delight and educate us all. The creators believe that Allies of the Amazon will be as successful as Stan Lee’s earlier projects and are confident that it will lead to animated feature films, a TV series, Video and Virtual Reality Games and possibly even an amusement park. To this end, the governor of the Amazon State of Rondonia, has offered a piece of land (10,000 acres) by the river, valued at $30,000,000 for an Allies of the Amazon amusement park. Our beloved legendary Stan Lee was very excited about this story and in his inimitable way said that it was an HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 11
10 THINGS TO DO TO BREAK INTO
HOLLYWOOD By Russell Lee Oquist
H
ollywood! The very name evokes visions of glamor, success and excitement. It is the dream of countless people to be able to have a career in the Movie and/or the TV industry. Most picture themselves being a famous movie star. Some are even drawn to the jobs which are behind the scenes; such as a writer, director, producer, director of photography, editor composer, etc. Whatever their individual goals and where they think that they will “fit in” they greatly desire to be in the entertainment industry. Everyday people are arriving in Hollywood with visions of a glamorous career. They are constantly looking for a way to break into show business. However, the competition is so great that even if you have considerable talent and are willing to dedicate yourself to this goal, making whatever sacrifices
are needed to succeed, it sometimes seems difficult, even impossible to make the dream come true. Everyone is looking for the “big break” and to “be discovered.” The trade magazines are full of opportunities to auditions for upcoming productions. But the things you have to do seem endless and frankly you start to wonder if it is worth it. I had the opportunity to meet up with Frederico Lapenda, a successful Hollywood Producer (producing numerous movies including the U.S.S. Indianapolis and Rage (Nicholas Cage, Danny Glover) and many other credits to his name. He is also the president of the Grand Jury for the Beverly Hills Film Festival and Tourism Ambassador to Brazil. I asked about how someone can get started in this exciting but difficult industry. The following is the result of this interview:
RLO: Greetings, Frederico. Thank you for granting this interview. FL: You are very welcome, Russ. It’s good to see you again. RLO: As you know, everyone wants to break into Hollywood, but it seems so difficult to do. But you started out to pursue your dream with a couple of extra obstacles. You were born in Recife, Brazil, about 11,000 miles from Hollywood.
Terry Dougas, Frederico Lapenda, Stan Lee, & Gabriel Chalita 12 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Frederico Lapenda(President of the Grand Jury)
Yet you came to Southern California as a high schooler. Did you specifically come to the USA with the dream of making it in Hollywood? FL: Yes, I did. RLO: That takes quite a bit of determination. People come from all over the USA with the same dream, but they grew up in the USA with many advantages of a fuller knowledge of English, the culture, etc. So, what did you do in your education to get caught up to speed? FL: First of all, I was blessed to have a gracious American family who hosted me, named the Hansens. Billy, Michael, Carol and Bob were all wonderful to me. I studied in High School and college, and completed a degree in Cinema and T.V. from UCLA. RLO: Since then. you have quite a career: You have produced over 40
films and documentaries, MMA events on T.V including many PPV (Pay Per View) events, video games and music concerts/ One of your most significant recent accomplishments was to produce a children’s book, along with Marvel Comics Founder, Stan Lee, the creation of Allies of the Amazon. This is a fascinating children’s book about the importance of the Amazon rainforest and teaches children many important moral lessons.
We all have a friend who can impersonate Al Pacino playing Scarface. “ Say Hello to My Little Friend” hahahah. In my case the passion was so great that I moved 11K Miles, work hard and got into the Entertainment Business. RLO: Yes, but it seems so hard to break into Hollywood.
FL: Actually, it has never been easier to break into Hollywood than now. When FL: Yes, I feel fortunate to see many of I graduated from film school in 1993, my dreams come true. I am also excited things were very expensive: it was hard about what the future may bring. to get into the University and movies were shot in 35mm. Now it has become RLO: What drove you to work so hard to super cheap and democratic. You can bring all this about? make a movie using your cellphone with your friends and edit it on your laptop. FL: There is no business like show Then you can send the movie digitally, business!!! Anywhere, that I have been compete in many film festivals around around the world, I have always felt an the world and promote your own film incredible love and passion for the seventh using social media. Now, if a person truly art. I know you probably have friends who wants to get into the movie business, has memorized lines from different movies. there is no excuse not to try. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 13
Frederico Lapenda, Don King and John Daly RLO: So then, I think that you are a good person to ask this question: Frederico, what are the top 10 things needed to break into Hollywood?
1
LEARN YOUR CRAFT. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get proper training if you plan on getting in the business. You are talking about a business that attracts people from all corners of the world - they are full of drive and focus. And most of them have prepared themselves for many years. If you want to work in this business, you must go to school and learn the craft. The other great advantage of going to school is that you meet other people that are on the same path as you and you will likely work together in the future.
2
MAKE SHORT FILMS. Short films are a great way to sharpen your skills, network
14 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
4
NETWORK BY GOING TO PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FROM THE INDUSTRY HANG OUT. If you are super focused on your career, then go to the places where the people in the industry hang out. If you are in the right place, you are surrounded by opportunities. You INTERN IN BOTH SMALL AND just need to reach out. One time I was BIG PRODUCTION COMPANIES. in a meeting with a major Hollywood Interning in a production company Mogul, and learned a valuable lesson. is a great way to elevate your game. You He felt that one person in the meeting get to learn how to run a company, how to was wasting his time, so he asked him. negotiate, and most importantly you get If I gave you 10 Billion Dollars, but by to hang out with people from the industry. accepting the money you would be 100 I am a strong believer in networking. It years old, would you take the money? is amazing how small this world really is. The man jumped up and said “NO” The After working in the town for a few years Mogul then said, ”You see how time is you keep meeting the same people and too important, so don’t waste mine.” I you start to connect the dots. It is very took this lesson to heart. So, make sure important to build a good reputation. that you are spending your time with Build bridges, don’t burn them. Your people with the same goals and work reputation is everything and remember that ethic, so you can be of benefit to each the ass you kick today, you might have other. You can’t afford any distractions; to kiss tomorrow. because time passes so fast. and participate in film festivals. In the beginning, try to keep the plot simple and use as few locations as possible. Every time you do a project you learn so much. if you were to redo this film, you would be able to do it better, faster and cheaper. Make as many movies as you can.
3
5
FIND A MENTOR. After college I worked a decade in TV, promoting MMA fights. But, my ultimate goal was to move to films and I was super lucky to find a mentor. An acquaintance introduced me to a man who introduced me to two time Oscar winner, John Daly (Terminator, Last Emperor). Mr. Daly was a great guy, who produced over 200 films. We had one thing in common - the love for the Fight Game. He had financed the famous Match between Mohamad Ali vs George Foreman, the Rumble in the Jungle. Hanging out with John taught me so much; the right mind set, approach, how to pitch a project, etc. Terry Dougas, a successful producer friend of mine, told me that early in his career he said to his mentor, a famous producer, “Treat me like I’m your partner, but I will treat you like your my Boss.”
9
IT TAKES 10 YEARS TO SUCCEED. Be patient because it takes time for everything to fall in place. Sometimes we see younger people getting to higher places and it makes you feel that you are not moving fast enough. I learned that usually when you see an “overnight success,” they have actually been working on it for 10 years or more. Also, everybody’s fate is different.
10
NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF. This business is full of “naysayers.” it is very important that you don’t allow the outside force of negative people to destroy your faith in yourself.
RLO: This is a great list. How would you summarize your advice? FL: The business we chose is super fun and fulfilling, but remember that have to work hard and eat, breath and sleep the industry if you want to make it. RLO: Thank you for these valuable insights, Frederico. You are a talented man and you have worked hard, but I cannot help but believe that if you can make it, there are many other people out there who can as well. FL: Absolutely!
6
WORK ON SETS NONE STOP. Repetition is the mother of skill. The more you work, the better you become. The more quality relationships you make, quicker you will get to your goal. In the beginning of your career and even later on it, be willing to work for free, if the project is worth it to you.
7
MAKE CONTENT. I had a valuable lesson in film school that shaped my career. I took a class from Producer, John Lenox (Splash). He told us that content was king and whoever owned content in the future would be in a great place. When I graduated, I started to produce and finance Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events. The fact that I owned my content put me in the driver seat. So, my advice to you is to create your own content during your free time. Find something you enjoy talking about and produce your own content.
8
GET A JOB THAT GIVES YOU FLEXIBILITY. Before you get your break and can support yourself, take a job that does not get in the way of your career; like Bartender, Doorman or Uber driver. You must be available during the day to work on your craft, go to meetings, do whatever is needed.
Frederico Lapenda and Danny Glover HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 15
Rowan Moon Productions
The Dawn of a New Era by Hailey Ashley
W
e’re all familiar with the most well-known pairs; peanut butter and jelly, Oprah and Gayle, Jack and coke, Timon and Pumba, or the newly famous and utterly beloved, avocado and toast. Although it seems like quite the elite club, it looks like we’ve found another powerhouse pair to add to the list - Shari & Stacey. They compliment each other so well, that the dynamic duo of Stacey Blanchet and Shari Belafonte have come together to form Rowan Moon Productions, which they began in order to establish a diversified media company and create highquality content with engaging experiences that will reach a global audience. Their relationship began when Stacey and Shari met in 2016, when Stacey was working with Trend Prive magazine on an interview show. With the instant connection between the two of them, they decided to continue with the project on
16 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
their own and turned it into something different. With countless hours of interviews, and endless information shared between the two, they turned the material into a film, and the interview into a friendship. That is when they created a documentary called ‘In the Know with Shari Belafonte’, which is available on Amazon. It was then that Shari broke the news to Stacey by telling her “Sorry, but you’re a producer”, and they ran with it. Shari’s documentary is a sit down with the multi-talented star. On the big screen we get to dive into her past as Shari discusses growing up being the daughter of a famous entertainer and human rights leader, how her career in the late 70’s as assistant to the producer comes to life, as well as becoming the second Woman of Color to ever appear on the cover of Vogue Magazine, following Beverly Johnson. She was also the first Woman of Color to ever grace the covers of Self Magazine &Los Angeles Magazine.
Shari has lived a life in the spotlight, as the daughter of Marguerite, a psychologist, and Harry Belafonte, who is a well-known singer and actor. She began an early career as a model, becoming a successful cover girl and starring in commercials for Calvin Klein jeans. In her early years, she became an assistant to the publicist at Hanna Barbara Productions, and while paying her dues behind the scenes, Shari was “accidentally discovered”, and received several modeling opportunities. As we get to see in her documentary, those opportunities ended up allowing her to appear on the cover of Vogue Magazine 5 times. Currently, she is tied with Rihanna for most Vogue covers as a Person of Color. The other half of Rowan Moon, Stacey, also has a documentary titled ‘The Journey to Myself’, which she describes as her “unfinished life story”. The documentary takes us on a journey of the life of Stacey Blanchet, who is a
Shari Belafonte woman of many roles, including fashion designer, publicist, film maker, producer, and daughter. On the screen, we are inspired by Stacey’s ability to fight for herself and learn to embrace the damages she faced to become the woman she is today. In her own words, Stacey tells us, “I want to be a work in progress until the day I die”, and it is clear that her journey is far from over. Although both these ladies have extensively successful backgrounds in various entertainment fields, they both wanted more for themselves. Their continuing evolution has taken them on a journey of new partnership, friendship and through the hardships of COVID-19. We can look forward to a few of their upcoming projects, including the documentary series show, ‘Scions’, hosted by Shari, and co-produced with Texas Crew Productions. The new series explores our celebrity obsessed culture by focusing on people born into the limelight, the children of the super famous, and their firsthand stories of growing up in their celebrity parent’s shadow while they attempt to make a career - and a life - of their own. Additionally, we can look forward to what seems to be a laugh out loud series titled ‘Chix on the Links’, described as “comedians in golf carts drinking vodka”. It’s a project that’s close to Shari’s heart, and she tells us “If you don’t play golf, you assume it’s boring, but it’s actually really funny”. On this series, we can look forward to seeing that golf doesn’t discriminate. With guest appearances from stars ranging from Martin Sheen all the way to rapper Shwayze, we see the extreme, and hilarious, world of golf in a different light.
As they look towards the future, their goal is simple - to put out good content. The task of doing this may be simple to understand, but it’s no easy feat. When discussing how a company can get a project going in the right direction, Stacey let us know “It is important when shopping your projects, you have the following (Deck, Top Sheet and budget). If you partner with another production company, you will need a deal memo between the two companies. Where your project lands will determine how correct your budget is. There is a process to getting your foot in the door and you must understand and respect it.” When we asked her for some advice for those working on a project of their own regarding how they would be able to get financing and distribution for their projects, Stacey states, “These two questions are the most important questions to anyone in any business. If you get outside financing prepare to lose control of your project. If you finance yourself, you must know about distribution houses and/or sales agents and how they work. Should you go down the road of filming and distributing yourself, ask yourself, how will people see my project? You better have a big budget for that. Ultimately this always comes down to walking through the entire project.” Shari added, “Having a toe in the door helps, but get used to the idea that it may
take months, even years, to get everything up and running. So, be prepared. Distribution is key, but you also must be flexible. And be tenacious, or at least have a tenacious partner”, she laughs. When we asked for Stacey’s thoughts on partnering with the right connections, she lets us in on her secret by giving us some sound advice, “Your connections are solely based on you and the kind of person you are. If you are genuine with people and treat them with respect you will get the same in return. Everyone can always spot someone who is out for themselves. You will find that you will create your connections and hold on tight if they are people you can trust.” At Rowan Moon Productions, it seems that Stacey and Shari are creating a new experience in their field where there is no discrimination, and anyone with an interesting story is getting the opportunity to share in their success. People with content from all walks of life, different backgrounds, ages, races and religions are welcome. With that, these top-notch professionals seem to be creating an entirely new lane in a field that can tend to be an old, one way road, and we’ can’t help but jump on for the ride.
You can find out more information, or get in contact with Rowan Moon Productions through their website www.rowanmoonproductions.com.
Stacey Blanchet HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 17
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Hollywood Weekly Magazine Joins Strategic Alliances to Promote Tijuana and BC in the US
IN ORDER to create alliances to promote the attractions of Tijuana and Baja California in the United States, representatives of the training industry, real estate and health sectors, met at the facilities of the Tijuana Convention and Tourism Committee. The president of this Committee, Carlos Cruz Archundia, stressed that it is important to work together to promote this destination in cities of the American Union, where there are compatriots who are interested in knowing everything that is offered here. He pointed out that Tijuana and Baja California are prepared to receive visitors and tourists, especially because we are the first state to vaccinate the population aged 18 years and over, in addition to the fact that tourist servers implement biosanitary protocols, thus offering safe experiences to its users. Karla Silva, president of Monarchs Strategic Alliances, mentioned that it is vital to have alliances with representatives of these areas, in order to be able to support them on their various platforms so that they can contact their public of interest in the neighboring country of the North. One of these is the Hollywood Weekly magazine, which has a distribution in 260 cities in the United States and other regions of the world such as Italy, Singapore, Poland, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Iceland, Greece, the
Middle East and India and they plan to bring it to Mexico soon. This magazine is distributed in places of interest such as hotels, airports and even in supermarkets in some major cities in Dubai, Asia and South America. He announced that people living in the American Union are very interested in learning about what Tijuana and the entire region offers in terms of tourism, health, the entertainment industry, and real estate. With regard to the entertainment industry, here in Baja California there are sites to record different types of productions, first-class medical services are offered, in addition to the fact that there are buildings in the coastal area ideal for retirement or second home for people who live in the United States, given that the prices that are handled are really competitive. "We want to start developing these strategic alliances with representatives of these sectors to see how we work in an exchange that allows us to support each other," he said. Other routes are some events that they organize such as the Music Festival, within the framework of Labor Day at the University of Los Angeles and a film festival at Warner Bros. studios. "I want to congratulate them for their gastronomy, wines and hospitality, I want to tell them that people have left very satisfied with everything that this region offers them," he said. One of the main
guidelines is the promotion of the training industry, which is why they have invited the organizers of the Baja California International Film Festival to one of their events related to film activity. Nelly Castañeda, director of this festival in Tijuana, highlighted the importance of these alliances to promote everything that this city offers in terms of cinema, tourism, culture, entertainment, gastronomy and one more end of activities. He specified that from July 15 to 20, the fifth edition of this online and faceto-face festival will take place in the first weeks of July at the facilities of the Tijuana Cultural Center. “We will be coming back with enthusiasm, we already miss all the filmmakers and all those who are dedicated to the subject of entertainment, we had this year so complicated by the pandemic, but everyone is getting ready to be able to meet in a meeting of friends and continue working so that more productions come to Baja California ”, he concluded.
HOLLYWOOD SIGN HIKE Hollywood Weekly team up with the Asociación Mexicana de Asistencia en el Retiro AMAR (Mexican Association to Assist Retirement) in promoting wellness among the 50 + community through hiking to the Hollywood Sign. AMAR is a leader in the industry and has been promoting Mexico and other Latin American countries that are prime destinations for retirement, not only because are more affordable financially, but because they offer unique locations with all the services and amenities to cater to this demographic. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 19
Kathleen Valbuena
A Star on the Rise by Hailey Ashley
This bold, beautiful woman needs wide open spaces to allow her potential to flourish
I
f you shoot for the moon, you’ll land amongst the stars. It’s one of the most inspiring and uplifting statements you can believe in, and it’s one Kathleen Valbuena lives by. When we spoke with this mega star, the heart, drive, desire and belief within her filled the room. She is, simply put, a one in a million, golden hearted woman who brightens anywhere she graces with her presence. With determination that we are envious of, Kathleen is on a journey to higher places, where she has room to shine. This bold, beautiful woman needs wide open spaces to allow her potential to flourish, and we are honored to be a steppingstone in her quest to reach the full potential that lives within her. Coming from humble beginnings, Kathleen grew up in the Philippines, and came to America at the age of 12. With the American dream in her back pocket, she dreamed big, and never gave up. At a young age, she looked up to her father, and aspired to be successful. With faith as her grounding principle in life, even through the darkest times in life, she has been able to remain humble. Kathleen has been making her name in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. Her passion for modeling
20 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
began when she was only 15 years old. At the cusp of stardom, she had to put her dreams on hold when the greatest adventure of her life began, motherhood. Being the selfless, loving individual she is, she became a stay at home mom to care for her son, who is now 17 years old. As a mother who was determined to secure her financial future for herself, and her son, she chose to follow in her father’s footsteps as a real estate agent and take her shot at real estate. Her father, a well-known and successful real estate agent, was able to show her the ropes, and gave her the ability to get her foot in the door. Although she always kept her dream of being in the entertainment industry alive, she found she had a natural ability, and genuine passion for real estate. She has now created a name for herself in the extremely competitive field of real estate. For over 11 years she has been helping families find their dream home. She provides her clients with a one of a kind experience, and always helps them with resources that guide them in making a decision that is right for their individual needs, which can oftentimes
be the biggest, and most anxiety ridden decision of their life. She achieves this by utilizing the latest technologies, market research and business strategies to exceed her clients expectations. But most importantly she listens, and always finds solutions that are tailored to each and every client and their individual needs. She tells us “A home is not a home because of the room dimensions and the color of the walls. It’s how you feel when you walk through the front door, and the way you instantly envision your life unfolding there. Real estate is not only a home, it’s a feeling”. Her passion is inevitable, and it’s clear how she became an instant success in her field. With her welcoming demeanor, and genuine heart, she truly makes you feel like as though you’ve formed an instant friendship after only a few moments of knowing her. Her talent, integrity and humble spirit are undeniable. She tells us, “Being honest and having integrity is the core of my business. I truly enjoy connecting with my clients on a personal level. And I make sure that they are 110% satisfied with my service, every time”.
Manager: Andrew Lane Fashion Designer: Alison Sky Photographer: Steve Mongare
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 21
privilege of visiting many third world countries, and she tells us “It amazes me to see how people can have so little in life, yet be so happy for what they have. It truly touches my heart and humbles me. It allows me to appreciate all that I have”. When we asked her how she makes it all happen, she let’s us know “Being a mom is the hardest job, but it’s also the best job. Every day I start my day with a great workout, usually pilates. Having a great physique is my goal to a healthy lifestyle. A proper diet with exercise gives me the strength I need to live a good happy and healthy life. My motto is, ‘great wealth comes from good health’. If you’re not healthy you can’t enjoy life in abundance. Our bodies need the proper balance of rest and diet to maintain good health”. When she can find spare time, Kathleen tells us “Some of the great things I truly enjoy in my spare time are Pilates, boxing, shopping, cooking, dancing, water sports, traveling, and spending time with my 17 year old son”. Her achievements in modeling, spanning over two decades include, work with Fresh Peaches Custom Swimwear, Cocoyana Bikini, Comic-Con San Diego, and Calvin Klein promo modeling.
Although her success in real estate came naturally to her, and allowed her to achieve her goal of supporting her family, her true passion, and dream, has always been in the entertainment industry. Kathleen is bilingual, with the rare talent of speaking English and Tagalog, she is a classy, sweet woman, and she has always enjoyed the finer things in life. She is absolutely beautiful, inside and out, and is an inspiration to all those who cross her path. As her son got older, she was able to begin following her dream once again, and began reopening the doors to her modeling journey, and even considering acting. With faith, she tells us “My hard work will always provide me the rewards I seek”, and we have absolute belief in her. 22 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
With her go-getter personality, Kathleen believes her hard work, and positive outlook on life is her key to success. You may have seen her on various reality shows, including ‘Patty’s Millionaire Match Maker’ and ‘House Hunters’. She has also shown us her bubbly personality as the co-host of LA talk radio, and a guest on ESPN1700, along with various other radio stations. Her ambitious, confident and seemingly spontaneous personality shines bright, and she tells us “My goals, achievements, and accomplishments helped me change and mold me to be a better overall person”. She loves to travel, and appreciates many cultures, as well as the beauty of nature. She has had the
She has also done promo modeling in various states areas including, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Arizona, and Chicago. In addition to her success in various avenues of modeling, she has appeared in multiple beauty pageants, as well as fashion shows such as the Cocoyana Bikini show at the Hard Rock Hotel, and ‘The Art Issue’ for Fine Magazine. Her work can also be seen in magazines including Fine Magazine, and Home Magazine. If you’d like the chance to collaborate with this gem, you can find her on Facebook as Kathleen Valbuena, or on Instagram as kat_valbuena. Her work ethic, and drive proves to us that although her successes have been great, she is no where near finished. She provides us with honest, and caring advice when she tells us “Age is nothing but a number. As long as you have desire, and passion, you can always
Never stop dreaming, because life is full of possibilities. We only get one chance, and I want to live my life to the fullest, and be the best I can be. follow your dreams”. She adds, “Whatever your dreams may be, no matter how big they are, go for it so you don’t have any regrets”, and with that statement, it’s clear that this sweet soul practices what she preaches, and as far as her advice goes, we couldn’t agree more. With her exotic look, charming personality, and one of a kind smile, this island girl has high hopes for the future. Her goal is to retire by age the time she hits the young age of 50, and buy herself a beach front property in Orange County, as well as in Hawaii, and we have absolute faith she will do just that. While she continues following her dream, she is currently acting in a movie for Henning Morales called Vino Royale, which is a preamble to the feature film, Metal Crush. She is also shooting a short film in Italy, but as you may have guessed, she isn’t stopping there. Her goals moving forward include continuing with her modeling, keeping her acting career alive, and ultimately starting her own real estate reality show. She believes her desire, passion, drive and perseverance will make her successful, and turn her dreams into a reality. With a personality that instantly fills the room, a kind soul, and humble demeanor, we only wish we could take a little piece of Kathleen Valbuena and share it with the world. Her presence is truly uplifting, and her passion for life is contagious. There is absolutely zero doubt that this amazing mother, model, real estate star, and actress will continue to achieve greatness and conquer any and all things she sets her mind to. The final words she left us with truly sum up the incredible, humble soul she possesses. She tells us, “Never stop dreaming, because life is full of possibilities. We only get one chance, and I want to live my life to the fullest, and be the best I can be. I thank God for everything I have, and I know He will continue to bless me as long as I have integrity, faith, and humility”. Although her journey is far from over, we cannot help but applaud her for how far she’s come. Starting as a 12 year old girl from the Philippines, with only the American Dream, to the successful, beautiful and unstoppable woman she has become, Kathleen’s future shines bright. Her potential is endless, and as she continues to shoot for the moon, it’s inevitable that she will land amongst the stars. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 23
SOUTH OF FRANCE MEETS MALIBU 5801 Kanan Dume Road, Malibu CA 90265 OFFERED AT $4,395,000 Live, Work, Play. Two Houses; 2+2 in main house and detached 1+1 studio. Enormous workspace with soaring ceilings and polished concrete floors. Ocean views, 1.8 usable acres, 5 min. to Zuma Beach, easy access to Point Dume, shops, restaurants, schools. Outdoor kitchen, firepit and courtyard with long table. Plus vineyard, winemaking room, art studio, tiny house, covered gazebo, parking for 20+ cars. Gated & private.
Lee LaPlante Global Luxury Property Estates Director Top 2% Companywide out of 50,000 Assoc. Coldwell Banker Realty | CalDRE Lic. 01225083 29178 Heathercliff Rd, #3, Malibu,CA 90265 Tel: (310) 383-3341 Email: lee@leelaplante.com
The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.
immie Lee JThe Jersey Outlaw Hits the Streets R
with Season 5 of ‘Dangerously Funny’
ecently, the world has been in the dark shadows of the global pandemic of Covid. With everyone looking for a break from the stress, we believe we have found the medicine we all need to maintain our sanity, and it comes in the purest form of
comedy. Jimmie Lee- The Jersey Outlaw – “the comedian on the streets” is just the dose of laughter we’ve been yearning for, and just the cure we need. The Jersey Outlaw has branded with his hit comedy TV show, Dangerously Funny, now shooting
in Season 5. Jimmie has filmed this year in Las Vegas, New York City, Atlantic City and Hollywood, and there’s more to come. He also filmed last year in 2020 , including stops to London. Jimmie Lee’s comedy is a unique brand of street comedy, that combines one liners, insults and zingers, with “Jersey Attitude” in an “old school wise guy style” similar to Rickles and Dangerfield. His style is very unique in that nobody is doing this kind of comedy anymore. Also, Jimmie truly loves his audience and interacts directly with his fans on the street, and this has built up a big following for him. “I want to entertain and make the people laugh and have fun. I create excitement and pandemonium and mayhem on the streets. I love the old style of comedy I grew up with in the 80s and 90s, and the people seem to love it and enjoy the outrageous skits I do,” says Jimmie Lee.
Jimmie Lee and the Funnies..... as he razzles and dazzles em in Las Vegas.
26 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
The Jersey Outlaw’s charisma and over the top personality shows from the moment he starts his schtick. Jimmie performs with his signature leather jacket, dark sunglasses and an Elvis style
Jimmie Lee-The Jersey Outlaw and Hit Comedy TV Show, Dangerously Funny. Jimmie creates a unique brand of street comedy, that combines insults, zingers and one liners with some Jersey Attitude, for one of the top rated shows on comedy TV today.
I want to entertain and make the people laugh and have fun. I create excitement and pandemonium and mayhem on the streets. I love the old style of comedy I grew up with in the 80s and 90s, and the people seem to love it and enjoy the outrageous skits I do. hairdo. He travels with “The BanditoGirls” ,which are his hype models, and the security guards by his side. Jimmie’s ability to perform ad lib improv comedy which is right “off the cuff” and his quick wit, is what sets
him apart of most of the comedians today. He also has an outrageous bravado style, that is politically incorrect . He has caught on , simply because he is different and has the ability and guts to do this style of comedy in todays climate.
The greatest street comedian on earth ! Nobodys funnier than the Jersey Outlaw!
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 27
Jimmie Lee creates excitement and fun for all his fans in recent shoot in Atlantic City.
Pandemonium and Mayhem on the streets w Its no holds barred, uncanny and unpredictab
Jimmie Lee is the greatest street comedian on earth Jimmie Lee caught the entertainment bug as a kid, growing up in Atlantic City. He went to the 500 Club and hit the casinos in his early years to catch every comedy show. He knew at a young age, he wanted the spotlight and had the charisma to be an entertainer. He’s one of the hardest working people in show biz today. When we asked Jimmie about where his passion for comedy came from, he told us…. “I was always funny as a kid. Always the class clown and always wanted to be the center of attention. So, it was a natural progression to do the comedy. It just comes to me very naturally. I also happen to be a very creative person and very quick, so that helps”. 28 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Jimmie Lee’s hit comedy TV show, ‘Dangerously Funny’, owns up to its name, with pandemonium and mayhem, no holds barred, uncanny and unpredictable comedy on the streets. Jimmie Lee creates an unbelievable energy that sends shock waves from the East Coast to the West Coast, and all over America. Jimmie is an unrivaled force in comedy today. The Jersey Outlaw is the “talk of the town” and the press and media have fully embraced his comedy. Val Milano from the Hollywood Times says, “Jimmie Lee is the greatest street comedian on earth”
Jay Cohn from the Las Vegas Sun says it best, “Jimmie Lee brings pandemonium and mayhem to the streets, he’s a wise guy and master improviser, with over the top high energy comedy”. HipNJ states, “The Jersey Outlaw’s comedy is tongue-in-cheek, with sexual overtones, and reminiscent of the old insult comedy “. Dangerously Funny , hit comedy TV show , currently airs on Comedy TV, Amazon Prime and YouTube. In this crazy world of entertainment, The Garden State can take pride to one outlaw of a good nature, that’s Jimmie LeeThe Jersey Outlaw.
with the Jersey Outlaw! ble!
The Jersey Outlaw raising hell in NYC with hit comedy TV show, Dangerously Funny, now shooting in Season 5.
FOR MORE ON JIMMIE LEE Official Website:
www.thejerseyoutlaww.com
YouTube Channel :
Jimmie Lee-The Jersey Outlaw
TikTok
@thejerseyoutlaw
Jimmie Lee (Public Figure)
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 29
PRE-CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021 IN RI BHOI DISTRICT, MEGHALAYA, NORTH EAST STATE OF INDIA . As part of the International Women ‘s Day 2021, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District, Nongpoh,Meghalaya ,a North East state of India organized a Pre Celebration programme on Prime Minister’s mission of self reliant called ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat ’ and ‘ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ .It is a campaign by the Government of India that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls in India. It is also translated as “Save the girl child & Educate the girl child” . The event was conducted in collaboration with the Meghalaya Handloom Industries at District Library Hall, Nongpoh in the august presence of the Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District, Smt. R.M Kurbah IAS as the Chief Guest and Ms. Hitha Yelluru, a 16 years old youth icon from United States of America as the Guest of Honour, Shri Raghu Yellaru, father of Ms. Hitha began with lighting of the auspicious lamp by the Chief Guest and dignitaries. Ms.Hitha was handpicked by Unite4:Good after visualizing her vision and mission to work with the youth of India for a better world. Unite4:Good then involved her to follow the Hon’ble Prime Minister ,Shri Narendra Modi on the “Atmanirbhar Bharat ” or self reliant mission with the school children and the youth of India .Unite4:Good assisted her all along with Ms.Rosy Ahluwalia in different schools to create the awareness of her mission to be self reliant and inspire the youth to be united for this change in an environment to be more healthy, peaceful, full of kindness and compassion , post this pandemic The programme was attended by the ADCs, EACs, Government officials, weavers from different parts of the district, fashion designers, school children, teachers and others. The motive of the programme was to encourage women to be strong, confident and self-reliant and also to promote weavers on Khadi textile and handloom as well, to encourage families to save and educate their girl child. Songs, traditional fashion 30 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 25
show was performed by the weavers and school children that marked the celebration..“Choose to challenge” said
UNITE4:GOOD TEAM WITH MS.HITHA FELICITATING DC, RI BHOI DISTRICT, MEGHALAYA
“Choose to challenge” said the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi District to women while speaking at the Pre - celebration of International Women’s Day as the Chief Guest. There are many ups and downs faced by women in their day to day life but they must know that at the end of the day, they have to face the world on their own ability. She mentioned that there still existed a very less percentage of supporting and understanding parents. She lauded and appreciated Ms. Hitha’s parents for supporting and guiding their daughter who is a talented teenage girl and has set an example to other youths of India.
WOMEN WEAVERS FROM VILLAGE CLUSTERS OF RI BHOI DIST. HIGHLIGHTS THEIR OWN WOVEN HANDLOOM FABRIC ON THE RAMP CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY The day included the release of video song on ‘ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ” and the official address of the MESSAGE from the Hon’ble Mr. Dinesh K Patnaik, Director General , Indian Council for Cultural Relations who extended Greetings to all women of Meghalaya on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The North East women weavers and handicraft artisans had demonstrated their skills in the Handloom sector and are proud of their ‘ Make in India’ product and on being self reliant. Indian Council for Cultural Relations supports promotion of traditional handloom and also supported the initiative taken by Unite4:Good to bring Ms Hitha from the US on the India tour and to make her connect with youth and children in India to make this world a better place with acts of kindness ,compassion, peace and happiness by using Music and Art as the medium of communication.
Ms. ROSETTA M KURBAH,DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF RI BHOI DISTRICT
The official MESSAGE of DG,ICCR was read out by Mr.Ike Sinha ,Country Director,Unite4:Good ,to the august house and the letter was handed over by Ms.Hitha to Smt.R M Kurbah, Deputy Commissioner ,Ri Bhoi District.
The Deputy Commissioner also said that being a woman is not easy to have a conducive environment in their life and in her career. She has a paramount duty and responsibility as a mother for upbringing of children. She also stressed upon the need for equal education to both boys and girls and more importantly to treat and respect women, teachers, classmates and other human beings. She encouraged parents to be more reasonable and to do the right thing as it carries the correct message to ensure safety of the girl child. Ri Bhoi has been an aspiration district of Meghalaya , one of the parameter has been to talk about teenage pregnancy and institutional delivery. She reminded the gathering that as per law provided, the age for marriage is 18 years for a girl and 21 years for a boy and also she encouraged pregnant women to have institutional delivery and refrain from home delivery. She also pointed out the three arrows to children which signify that the first arrow speaks about taking care of themselves , the second arrow speaks for taking care of family and the third for the country. She therefore, urged parents to educate their children of the three arrows and also guide them to have a conducive, productive, independent and to also have leadership skills in their future.
Ms. HITHA PRESENTING THE OFFICIAL MESSAGE OF DG,ICCR TO DC,RI BHOI DISTRICT,MEGHALAYA
The MESSAGE from Mr.Dinesh K Patnaik ,Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations during the International Women's Day 2021 to the women of Assam and Meghalaya was just befitting during Hitha’s tour to the North East states.
Ms. Hitha, the youth icon , in her address expressed her immense pleasure to associate herself with the women of Ri Bhoi District during the programme. She appreciated and congratulated the glittering performance of songs and fashion shows performed by various participants. She also informed the gathering of having a good and supportive parents who has inspired and guided her in her journey. She encouraged those teenagers who do not have a healthy environment to study in schools ,must try to excel in their other interests in life. They should not be dismayed, instead should fight all odds and obstacles that come their way and to aim with determination to achieve their dreams and success in life. Ms. Hitha showcased her talent by singing her original compositions and also interacted with the students. Ms. HITHA WITH DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, Ms.ROSETTA M KURBAH CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH WOMEN WEAVERS,ARTISANS AND THE YOUTH FROM VILLAGE CLUSTERS OF RI BHOI DISTRICT. Its objectives was to support the cross section of the North East people to promote their traditional culture through Music, Art & Culture which was then shared with both Print and TV Media then followed by her performance at Ri Bhoi district event with women weavers from village clusters, artisans and the youth coming together to celebrate International Women’s Day. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 31 26
32 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Jovan ‘Honey’ Marie On a Journey to Follow Her Dreams by Hailey Ashley
Her dreams go beyond music and entertainment, and it seems that’s the true thing that sets her apart
A
s children we are always asked, what do you want to be when you grow up? Many of us dream big, we want to be a princess, or a president, maybe an astronaut or a world traveler. However, as we grow, our ‘shoot for the stars’ mentality often gets put on hold and we end up settling for whatever helps us pay the bills. Recently, we met a woman who was able to keep her dreams alive, and with her drive, determination and spark for life, is in the midst of turning them into a reality. Jovan ‘Honey’ Marie has a style, and spirit unlike any we’ve ever seen. She is an artist with a cause, and if you ask her, she’s always been an artist. For as long as she can remember, she spent her days singing, dancing, designing clothes, and expressing herself in any way she could. According to Honey, who got her nickname because of her sweet ora, and undeniable presence, “singing soothes and is healing for me, and others”. So when COVID-19 hit, and we were all left with questions we’ve never pondered before, Jovan decided that she needed to let go of the conditions and limitations that she placed on her life. She decided “I can be absolutely who I am, and the only person that needs to understand it is me”. You may have seen her before opening for Trey Songz, or at the Sonoma or Santa Rosa Women’s March, but if you ask Honey - her biggest accomplishments are yet to come, and the fresh start she has given herself is a sort of re-birth, and this is only the beginning. She was inspired by ‘Sasha Fierce’ to find her release, and tells us “It’s hard to separate your conscious mind and totally release, but you cannot allow that to effect your energy’. Her dreams go beyond music, and entertainment, and it seems that’s the true thing that sets her apart. Honey realizes that the platform she has must be used for a bigger cause. She strives to be ‘walking art’, and her true inner desire is to be HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 33
a humanitarian. She hopes to be a vessel, and resource for others who share her goals, and are adamant on making changes all around the world, big or small, in any field. Jovan is truly one of a kind, and her joyous demeanor comes in loud and clear. Her drive in life is to be used as a vehicle for change. With so many people getting caught up in the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, Honey is going in the opposite direction. She tells us “There are too many distractions in the entertainment industry, it’s easy to get lost”. With hopes of spreading her inspiring message, we asked her what advice she would give her younger self. She explains “I would teach myself about the concept of time. Time can be described as so many things. There’s a small group of people who made the decision about what time is, and when you let go of those restraints there is a sense of true freedom. It’s so important to live in the moment”. She goes on to add “You can spend years in your head. I never want to be stagnant, or standing still”. We cannot wait for her new content, with her original style. You can find Honey on Instagram @4jovanmarie, or go directly to her website, www. jovanmariehoney.com. Jovan is truly a figure of empowerment, for women and men alike. She tells us “There are not enough women bragging about their men in good ways. Yes we are independent, sexy, and empowered. But, we can stand on our own two feet and still have good men surrounding us. We need to talk about the good, supportive partnerships between men and women, and we need to expose our youth to those healthy relationships that exist”. She tells us best herself “When we plan big, exciting goals, we sometimes forget as time passes who we are and what we love”. However, it is absolutely clear to us that Jovan ‘Honey’ Marie has always known she was special, and with her big dreams, she will go big places, and we can only hope that her message spreads like wild fire, and inspires us all to keep dreaming. 34 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
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The Story of
JERRY BOYD A Man Who Dared to Dream
By Hailey Ashley
W
hat does success mean to you? Fame? Fortune? Or is there an entirely different meaning, unique to each and every one of us? As we dive into the life of Mr. Jerry Boyd, the definition of success is seen in an entirely new light. His incredible journey opens our mind to one of the truest forms of triumph we’ve ever seen. As we spoke to Jerry, we quickly learned that we were dealing with a man of depth. One who has been on a long, strenuous journey in life. He took us through the ups and downs he’s experienced, and the strength he’s been able to achieve. This is a man who has made something of nothing, and taken the most sour of lemons and created the sweetest lemonade. Coming from humble beginnings, Jerry was born into a family of share croppers in Alabama. From the time he could walk, until the ripe age of 10, Jerry spent his days in the fields. Day in and day out, in the freezing rain, or the beating sun Jerry did what he knew how to do, pick cotton. Living with his mother, and stepfather, he did what he needed to do to contribute. But as the days grew long, Jerry would look to the endless blue sky and dream. He dreamed of a better life for himself, and with the influence of the first television show he ever saw, ‘Cisco Kids’, he dreamed of one day being apart of the magical world of entertainment.
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JERRY BOYD It became evident to Jerry that the universe had a different plan for him. At the age of 12, when the relationship with his step-father became too much to handle, Jerry ran. He was on a mission to find what all young men need, a father. Although he was tough as nails, the streets were tougher, and this boy who was forced to be a man was no match for the long, rugged road ahead. Jerry fought through countless hardships while hitch hiking from Alabama to Dayton Ohio, in search of his biological father, including one no person ever deserves to suffer through. He was molested by a man who offered him a glimpse of hope to reach his destination. At the time, this was a catastrophic experience! Without a doubt, the worst moment of his young life, and although he remained open and honest about the experience, his biggest let down was yet to come. Emotionally stoked, he says softly, after finally reaching Ohio, and coming face to face with the man I had been yearning for. (At this point he broke down), shedding tears as he talked about the parental rejection he faced. Then things took a turn for the worst, as he emotionally explained how door were slammed in his face, and how he was left with no place to turn to. ...he paused momentarily, in a very reflective manner, and cried even harder as he told us that this experience, the rejection by his father was by far the worse than anything he faced while navigating his way to Ohio, to include the molestation.
Looking for a love that could fill the void in his heart, he followed a girlfriend after high school to her sister’s home in Ohio, and after a couple of weeks, he ultimately ended up homeless, hungry, and without hope. As he continued on his quest to find his purpose, Jerry was put on a bus home, by a waitress after not being able to pay for his meal. Confused, and in need of a life with substance, he looked up and saw a sign that read ‘Join the Navy and see the world’. At that moment, his decision was made, and he didn’t look back. Young, naive, and terrified, Jerry was off to fight for his country. He soon realized he was in for much more than he could have ever imagined. Hearing shots that sounded like fireworks, he tells us, “That’s the day I grew up. I didn’t know where I was, everyone was yelling. I was just hurting”. Although the military took Jerry on a whirlwind, that produced over a decade of unimaginable war stories, it turned out to be exactly where his journey was always taking him, and placed him right where he needed to be. On a night out, Jerry was approached by a man who would fulfill the dreams he had while looking up at the sky as a child. With a great afro, he was offered an audition to play a role in the series ‘Hawaii Five-O’, where he ultimately would get a recurring part on the show. Although he was only a few years away from military retirement, he couldn’t help but believe that the dream he manifested, and subconsciously held onto as a child was finally coming true. And in
true Jerry fashion, he began his journey to Hollywood, and never looked back. Through Jerry’s story, we can all learn an important lesson - never give up on your destiny. He tells us “Always be true to who you are, and eliminate all the noise and negativity around you.” With words of wisdom we can all live by, Jerry’s success shows us that we truly can create our own dreams, regardless of what the harsh world can throw at you. So, what does success mean to you? As Jerry says “If you’re only in it for the fame, it will never work”. His is a tale of always getting back up when you’re knocked down. If we can all find a way to push through the rough patches in our lives, look up at the endless blue sky, and keep dreaming, we will end up exactly where we need to be. Instagram @jrry_boyd | Facebook Jerry Boyd
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