Hollywood Weekly September - Asia 2017

PHOTOGRAPHER: RAYMOND SALDANA AND OWEN REYES

SEPTEMBER-ASIA 2017

TH 69EMMYS

AWARDS

BORN

THIS WAY

TAKES HOME TWO MORE EMMYS

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT ON OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 1

SEPTEMBER 2017

A LETTER FROM

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Prather Jackson

THE EDITOR

VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris Michael D. Coxson

In our 2017 Emmy edition of Hollywood Weekly Magazine- Asia, we are honored to showcase Asian women making a difference in people’s lives. Dra. Helen is a pediatrician from Pagadian City,

MANAGING EDITOR Prather Jackson

Zamboanga del Sur, with multiple awards including, the 2016 Manila Best Dressed Awardee, Awarded as Outstanding Woman of Style and Community Service.

Ms. Jessie Maloles is a Hall of Fame awardee at Manila Best Dressed, beauty queen, business woman, 2016 Model Mom Awardee, Most Outstanding President of Rotary Club, Gawad America Awardee and Philanthropist.

MARKETING & SALES Launy Rhem

PRATHER JACKSON

Joyce Penas Pilarsky recently won as Mrs. Mother of the Universe 2017 in Durban, South Africa. She was awarded Second Prize in Apparel Category Competition at IDA Design Competition, Grand Prize winner at Coastal Fashion Week 2017 Fashion Design Competition and Grand Prize winner at Los Angeles Fashion Week Design Competition 2015. She also graduated with a Doctorate in Alternative Medicine, Benevolence Awardee Golden Phoenix Award 2014; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ms. Marge Palacios Businesswoman, is the President and Owner of B&W Omni Media, HWM previous cover, Manila Loveliest Awardee, Manila best dressed awardee, she was also included in Rupert Jacinto’s “Faaabvlous VII” coffee table book on its 7th series and active member of Rotary Club of Makati.

Ms. Mhel Pechera is the 2017 Philippine’s Best Dressed Ambassador for Life, 2016 Model Mom awardee, Philippine’s Best Dressed Awardee 2016, Manila Best Dressed Awardee 2016, Ruper Jacinto’s Faaabvlous cover Ladies of 2016, President and CEO of iship Logipack Inc. She is into workouts, running, playing golf, hiking, trekking and mountaineering, she graces a lot of local magazines in Manila and was featured on a previous cover of Hollywood Weekly Magazine.

Dra. Risa Caldoza-De Leon is a Dermatologist, beauty queen, Philanthropist, Mrs. Tourism Philippines 2017, Empowered Women of Achievement Awardee 2016, Best Dermatologist for 2016 by Gawad Amerika in Hollywood, USA, one of Rupert Jacinto’s Faaaabulous VII, Global Golden Heart Awardee, World Class Outstanding Dermatologist 2017, Outstanding Asian Dermatologist and Beauty Advocate at the 30th Global Excellence Awards in Davao City. She is a medical consultant and product endorser for several companies.

Speaking of talent, Scandinavian Talent Agency IMA Content brings the world to the Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival 2017. IMA Content has been selected to coproduce The Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival this year with Hollywood Weekly Magazine. This is an exciting, relatively new, international film festival in Hollywood that is unique in many ways. With visitors streaming in from all over the globe this young festival’s fourth year in town is proving to be a glamorous and star-studded event. Established and new talent alike will be donning their red carpet best and rubbing elbows with industry heavy weights on September 23rd.

And not to be outdone, nominations and winners from the 69th Emmy® Awards are the highlight of this edition and featured in a ceremony hosted by Television Academy Chairman and CEO Hayma Washington along with Anna Chlumsky from the HBO series Veep and Shemar Moore from CBS’ S.W.A.T. Enjoy,

Prather Jackon Prather Jackson

PUBLISHER

AFRICA OPERATIONS Egor Efiok Award Winning Filmmaker & Director General Of Callywood Studios +447932399204 / +2348063167990 ASIA OPERATIONS Joyce Penas Pilarsky HWM Asia Ambassador Email: info@joycepilarsky.com Bench Bello HWM Asia Operations Email: bench@hollywoodweekly.press Mobile: +639273895559 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nitara Osborne MUSIC EDITOR Dick Michaels LIFE & STYLE EDITOR Niki Shadrow-Snyder RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT Alberto Arellano PRODUCTION MANAGER Hector Santacruz FEATURED WRITER

Nitara Osborne, Jenny Werth Alex A. Kecskes

WEB DESIGNER Howard Chan ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Karina Pacheco CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Raymond Saldana and Owen Reyes VP CORPORATE ACCOUNTS STRATEGY & PLANNING Rudy Germany DISTRIBUTORS NEWSWAYS DISTRIBUTORS GOLD KEY MEDIA NEWS INFLIGHT, INC

KEEP UP WITH HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY AT: www.hollywoodweeklymagazine.com FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @hollywoodweeklymagazine (323) 456-5004

WEEKLY

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TH EMMYS AWARDS

NOMINEES AND WINNERS WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

OH, “MOTHER!”

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ON OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES

BORN THIS WAY 20 TWO MORE EMMY’S FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY

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IT’S NOT YOUR FATHER’S HORROR FILM.

IMA CONTENT

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TH THE 4 TH ANNUAL THE 4 ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY MAGAZINE MAGAZINE HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

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WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

Dra. Helen Abayon Mano Ms. Jessie Maloles Dra. Joyce Peñas Pilarsky Ms. Marge Palacios Ms. Mhel Pechera Dra.Risa Caldoza-De Leon

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT ON OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES

Photographer:Raymond Saldana and Owen Reyes Videographer: Charlon Serrano Designer and Styled by: Ms. Joyce Penas Pilarsky (Denim Collection)

Organized by: Bench Bello Makeup Artist: Jess Suarez Location: City Garden Hotel Makati

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT “SUCCESS IS WHEN I GET TO ACHIEVE MY GOALS IN LIFE. SUCCESS IS WHEN I SEE HAPPY FACES OF MY FAMILY FOR WHAT I DO.”

DRA.

HELEN ABAYON

MANO

Dra. Helen is a pediatrician from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, 2016 Manila Best Dressed Awardee, Awarded as Outstanding Woman of Style and Community Service. Grand Champion in a dance competition for the Philippine Medical Association. She also support and extends her help to less fortunate people through JCI Philippines and the Philippine Foundation of the Brotherhood of Christian and Professionals (BCBP).

HW: Tell us about your personal opinion about empowered women?

HB: Empowered women are women of integrity and principle whose lives are dedicated to the service of people and making an impact on the lives of many. They embody the true essence of being a woman, a leader and a change maker.

Photographer:Raymond Saldana and Owen Reyes Videographer: Charlon Serrano Designer and Styled by: Ms. Joyce Penas Pilarsky (Denim Collection) Organized by: Bench Bello Makeup Artist: Jess Suarez Location: City Garden Hotel Makati 8 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

HW: What inspires you?

HB: My family has always been and will always be my biggest inspiration in life. They are my reason for living – my fuel in everything I do.

HW: How do you take care of yourself or what are your

beauty regimens?

HB: Sleep is essential to staying beautiful but being a pediatrician, it is extremely difficult to have adequate time for sleep. Numerous referrals and emergency hospital calls at night would wake me up in the middle of my sleep. I think my biological rhythm has adapted quite well to this set up over the years. I also make sure that I wash my face and get a refreshing hot shower before going to sleep. I love to eat and I am particularly a voracious fruit eater and I just can’t resist seafoods and veggies. I have a passion for dancing and I go to the gym with my husband if time allows but I do light lifts everyday just to tone my arms. I take daily supplements and these help me lot with my daily physical and mental demands as a doctor.

HW: How do you define success?

HB: Success is when I get to achieve my goals in life.

Success is when I see happy faces of my family for what I do. Success is when I am able to save lives of ailing children. Success is when I please God in everything single thing that I do and every thought that I make.

HW: What is your secret of being fabulous?

HB: A good disposition is life is reflection in anything you show on the outside and what you feel on the inside.

I love dress, shoes and bags. It has become my passion to always look good at all times even during emergency hospital calls. Looking good gives me a different mood and confidence.

HW: What is your advice or suggestions to all women?

Gowns by Jhong Sudlon Makeup Artist: Jessie Maghuyop

HB: We only live once and life is relatively short, so make the most of it. Every woman should feel good and look good whenever possible. Think positively but always learn from the negative side of life. Be proud of being a woman and be an agent of change. Make your family as your fortress and refuge and put God in the middle of it and everything good will spring from it.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 9

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT “TO AFFECT AND INFLUENCE SOMEONE’S LIFE IN A POSITIVE MANNER, THAT IN TURN; THAT SOMEONE WILL AFFECT SOMEONE’S LIFE ALSO IN A POSITIVE WAY.”

MS.

JESSIE MALOLES Hall of Fame awardee at Manila Best Dressed, beauty queen, businesswoman, 2016 Model Mom Awardee, Most Outstanding President of Rotary Club, Gawad America Awardee and Philanthropist.

HW: Tell us about your own personal opinion about empowered women?

JM: For me, being an empowered woman is being in control of my happiness, goals, and dreams. Also to make positive choices and decisions that are truly mine, and not influenced by others; nor having limits set by society, old beliefs, stereotypes, and expectations based on gender.

HW: What inspires you?

JM: My children are my inspirations; they are the reason I want to be on my best in any occasion and situation that life brings. I want them to be proud of me, follow my footsteps, and be their role model.

HW:How do you take care of yourself or what are your beauty regimens?

10 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

JW: It’s simple: I’m very happy and content with what God has blessed me with, pamper myself at a spa from time to time, and of course, take-in the advices of my beautiful friends.

HW: How do you define success?

JM: Success is simply the outcome of having goals and working hard to achieve them.

HW: What is your secret to being fabulous?

That’s my secret... just kidding aside! Just be yourself, enjoy life.

JM: What is your advice or suggestions to all women?

To be happy!!! To laugh often and to laugh a lot. To gain the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the appreciation of honest critics, and endure the betrayal of false friends.

To appreciate true beauty. To find or bring out the best in others. To leave the world a bit better; whether by a healthy child, a greener world, or a redeemed social condition.

To affect and influence someone’s life in a positive manner, that in turn; that someone will affect someone’s life also in a positive way.

To enjoy life!!!

Designer: Marlo Javier Makeup by: Sanny Guanlao De Leva

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 11

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT “I AM INSPIRED BY PEOPLE WHO SUCCEEDS INSPIRE OF A LOT OF ODDS AND TRIALS IN LIFE AND WHO MAKES A WALL OUT OF THE BRICKS THROWN TO THEM”

DRA.

JOYCE PEÑAS

PILARSKY Joyce recently won as Mrs. Mother of the Universe 2017 in Durban, South Africa. She was awarded Second Prize in Apparel Category Competition at IDA Design Competition, Grand Prize winner at Coastal Fashion Week 2017 Fashion Design Competition and Grand Prize winner at Los Angeles Fashion Week Design Competition 2015. She graduated Doctorate in Alternative Medicine, Benevolence Awardee - Golden Phoenix Award 2014; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Classic Mrs. Asia International 2014 and she is an upcoming actress at the movie entitled “New Generation Heroes. Ms. MWI International Ambassador 2013, 2013 Philippine’s Best Dressed and Style Icon Awardee.

HW: Tell us about your personal opinion about empowered women?

JP: Empowered women are women who are not afraid to fight for their rights, they are strong women who knows who they are and what they are worth and inspires and motivates other people to be the best they can be through their shining examples.

12 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

HW: What inspires you?

JP: People WHO are selfless who are compassionate and always ready to help others. I am inspired by people who succeeds inspire of a lot of odds and trials in life and who makes a wall out of the bricks thrown to them.

HW: How do you take care of yourself or what are your beauty regimens?

HW:JP: My beauty regimen is first of all doing a lot of meditation being thankful am alive every morning saying my prayers and thanking God I am alive and all other else follows I make it a point that I balance the mind body and soul and keep a positive mental attitude about life and daily regular exercise and eat healthy Nourishing food.

HW: How do you define success?

JP: Success is when we are able to feel that happiness inside us knowing that we made a difference in one’s life by being of service to others or helping others, it’s a feeling of fulfillment that because of you somebody else’s life was saved, was improved, and was worth living.

HW: What is your secret of being fabulous?

JP: Being fabulous means a lot of discipline and hard work and a dedication to staying healthy that’s what I do. I try to balance my mind body and soul by saying my prayers every morning to thank God am alive and then do my exercises and eat a healthy diet. Drink lots of juices and waters and eat lots of veggies and fruits, because when one is healthy you will glow and you will be happy.

HW: What is your advice or suggestions to all women?

JP: I would advice everyone to love themselves be wise you can only give what you have and if you are full of love you will be able to give a lot of love away. May God abundantly bless all of you.

Gown designed

by Joyce Penas Pilarsky Makeup by Jess Suarez

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 13

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

“WHEN YOU LOVE, AND FEEL LOVED, EVERYTHING CHANGES. YOU WANT TO DO MORE. TO GIVE MORE. DREAMS SHAPE UP. LOVE IS THE GREATEST FEELING OF ALL.”

MS.

MARGE PALACIOS Businesswoman, President and Owner of B&W Omni Media, HWM previous cover, Manila Loveliest Awardee, Manila best dressed awardee, she was also included in Rupert jacinto’s “Faaabvlous VII” coffee table book on its 7th series and active member of Rotary Club of Makati.

HW: Tell us your opinion about empowered women?

MP: The phrase of the decade: Women Empowerment.

So cliché. But being an empowered woman I believe is as simple as having the strength of character within. And it shows. You need not be a dragon lady or a CEO of a huge firm to be empowered. You can be a housewife, a woman who has dedicated her life to raising her kids and serving her husband only because SHE CHOOSES TO and stands firm on the choices she makes. A woman who is brave to face whatever challenge stands before her and is able to think for herself, and not because it is expected of her. I am glad that many women in this time and age, have become bolder, more creative, more passionate and opinionated; and wiser. Just as long as they don’t get drunk with all this empowerment and take it out of context.

HW: What inspires you?

MP: LOVE. When you love, and feel loved, everything changes. You want to do more. To give more. Dreams shape up. Love is the greatest feeling of all.

HW: Beauty regimens and how do you take care of yourself?

MP: I visit the parlor 4 times a year. I do my own nails since I just like them short and clean and if I have to go to a nail spa for that alone, I feel it’s a waste of time for me. I have monthly facials. My daily facial regimen is a 14 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

facial wash and moisturizer. Then I’m fine with just loose powder. But what I cannot leave without is LIPSTICK! In fact I will not leave the house without it. But more than all these beauty regimen, what keeps me feeling good is having to attend dance sessions (fusion, hiphop, funky, modern jazz etc.) at the gym I go to 3 times a week. Ever since I started my dance workout over 6 years ago, I feel younger now than I did 10 years ago!

HW: How do you define success?

MP: Success is a mindset. One may see success as wealth.

Others as having the perfect family. Or for many, fame.

Success is personal. If one is able to achieve their dreams, and is happy and content with its outcome, and still be able to sleep at night, then for me, that is success.

HW: What is your secret to being fabulous?

MP: Frankly speaking, I never really did see myself as fabulous. In fact, I believe I’m far from being that and it’s actually kind of funny that some people think that I am.

I may look it in pictures because I’m required to dress a certain way in some occasions or at least for the camera.

But I don’t really like to fuss over what I’m going to wear or what makeup or hairstyle am I going to apply. For those who really know me, I’m actually very simple. A nice dressed watch will suffice as a daily accessory. Signature bags that are grossly priced are immaterial to me. If it looks good, I’ll carry it. As for clothes, if it looks and feels good, I’ll wear it. I never let brands define who I am. Fabulosity is superficial.

HW: Advice to all women?

Red floral embroidered top gown

by Nanette de lara Feliciano

MP: Enjoy your womanhood. Love and pamper yourself.

Fulfill your passions. Never let yourself go, not just for your partner, but because you deserve better. If you find value in yourself, only then will others learn to value you.

Makeup by Gina Llanto

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 15

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

“YOU CANNOT CHANGE MUCH BUT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK ON YOUR LIFE...

YOU COULD ONLY IMPROVE ON WHAT YOU GOT NOW...”

MS.

MHEL PECHERA 2017 Philippine’s Best Dressed Ambassador for Life, 2016 Model Mom awardee, Philippine’s Best Dressed Awardee 2016, Manila Best Dressed Awardee 2016, Ruper Jacinto’s Faaabvlous cover Ladies of 2016, President and CEO of iship Logipack Inc. She is into workouts, running, playing golf, hiking, trekking and mountaineering, she graces a lot of local magazines in manila and one of HWM previous covers.

HW: Tell us about your own personal opinion about empowered women?

HW: Empowered women? I don’t see it like that way, for me Men and Women are created equal and as an individual we as women have already the power inside and we just have to believe in ourselves that what others can do I can do also or even more.

HW: What inspires you?

Life inspires me, life with my three beautiful children.

MP: How do you take care of yourself or what are your beauty regimens?

“I woke up like this!” Hehehe, Kidding aside, I could say Live healthy, eat the right food, sleep early, exercise and live a stress less day everyday as much as possible... enjoy your life...

HW: How do you define success?

MP: Success is not how much you get in this lifetime but how much you have given to help others... not only in material things but also in spiritual aspects... like advises, lessons in life, knowledge, motivations and inspirations.

16 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

HW: What is your secret of being fabulous?

MP: Everything starts from zero and it’s up to us to improve... I never stopped in improving myself, Every day I challenge myself to learn and improve ... so the me yesterday was an improved version of myself today and the me tomorrow will be also an improved version of the me today.

HW: What is your advice or suggestions to all women?

MP: Love your selves, nobody will love you the way you love yourself... you could not love others until you have fully accepted who you are... you cannot change much but you can change your outlook on your life... you could only improve on what you got now...

Rye Baile - Designer white gown Jhong Sudlon - Beige gown Hair and Make-up Artist: Salon Elegante

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 17

WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

“I WOULD ADVICE EVERYONE TO LOVE FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS AND ALWAYS PRAY TO GOD.”

DRA.

RISA

CALDOZADE LEON Dermatologist, beauty queen, Philanthropist, Mrs. Tourism Philippines 2017, Empowered Women of Achievement Awardee 2016, Best Dermatologist for 2016 by Gawad Amerika in Hollywood, USA, one of Rupert Jacinto’s Faaaabulous VII, Global Golden Heart Awardee, World Class Outstanding Dermatologist 2017, Outstanding Asian Dermatologist and Beauty Advocate at the 30th Global Excellence Awards in Davao City, she is a medical consultant and product endorser for several companies.

HW: Tell us about your personal opinion about empowered women?

CD: Empowered women are perfectly comfortable with their imperfections. They speak out loudly not to shout but just to be heard. They are humble in success and dignified when losing. They are admired for their quiet strength, for they are not scared to go out of their comfort zones and push themselves to the limit because they know that what others can do, they can do better. They take care of themselves so they can take care of their family, career and friends.

HW:What inspires you?

CD: Everything inspires me. The colors of nature, the smile of my children, the gratitude of patients, the curve of a woman’s body, the culture of other countries, a cup of 18 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

coffee… everything.. when I look around me, everything is a story and everyone has a tale to tell. All these inspire me to do better and to be better, to move on and move up whatever the circumstances.

HW: How do you take care of yourself or what are your beauty regimens?

CD: Feeling good makes me look good, so I try to take care of myself inside out. A positive outlook, eating in moderation, a little exercise here and there, vitamins and sun block and in all honesty, lots of sessions in body sculpting machines. At my age, I cannot do away without having anti-aging injections (stem cells, anti-wrinkles, fillers and the like). I hardly wear make-up too unless needed.

HW: How do you define success?

CD: Success is being happy and contented with what you have. You can sleep without worrying what the next day would bring and you can wake up ready to face the day ahead. For me success is not all about money or stature or having Birkins and Rolexes. It’s about peace of mind and peace of heart. It’s about not needing to prove yourself to anyone.

HW: What is your secret of being fabulous?

CD: Being fab is simply a mindset. I don’t compete with anyone but myself, so that keeps me grounded with a positive and confident attitude. Being fab is wearing clothes you are comfortable in (with 6-inch heels, kidding).

HW: What is your advice or suggestions to all women?

CD: I would advice everyone to love follow their dreams and always pray to God.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 19

B

orn This Way’s John Tucker and Rachel Osterbach back stage after they presented awards in three categories at the Emmy’s Creative Arts Awards. Los Angeles, Calif., Sept.

12 – A&E Network’s critically acclaimed and award-winning original docuseries Born This Way’s honors keep adding up – showing that disability is a winning theme.

This series starring a cast with disabilities, which received six Emmy nominations this year, won two Emmy’s at Saturday night’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Casting for a Reality Program and Cinematography for a Reality Program – after bringing home the Emmy for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Series in 2016.

A Focus on Diverse Casting Show creator Jonathan Murray, the innovator behind the first-ever reality-show, The Real World, and many other hit shows including Keeping Up with the Kardashians, said the cast members of Born This Way remind all of us that “every individual has something to contribute.”

“In thinking about the show, we wanted to focus on the ability within the disability and I think that is what is exciting to see,” said Murray. “We also are very proud of the fact that our cast is very diverse. Born This Way has a cast that includes people who are African American, Hispanic and Asian. This is a breakthrough for those minority communities as well.”

This is the first year the Television Academy presented an award for Casting for a Reality Program, which Sasha Alpert and Megan Sleeper won for Born This Way. “Everyone experiences powerful stories,” Alpert said. “By not including a diverse group of people, we are limiting our ability to tell compelling stories. If we make television that doesn’t embrace the various populations around us, we limit the narratives we tell.”

Also during Saturday’s first half of the two-night Creative Arts Award presentation at the Microsoft Theater, Bruce Ready, Born This Way’s cinematographer, took home the Outstanding Reality Cinematography Emmy. The awards on Saturday evening were presented for reality, documentary and animated programs.

Making More History Born This Way cast members Rachel Osterbach and John Tucker made history when they became the first individuals with Down Syndrome to present at any major awards ceremony when they presented awards in three categories at the Creative Arts Emmys.

20 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Sasha Alpert and Megan Sleeper accept their award at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys./Invision/AP

THIS WAY”

“BORN

Produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, Born This Way, an unscripted reality show on A&E, follows a group of seven young adults with Down syndrome along with their family and friends in Southern California. Because its focus is on showing their everyday lives, including employment, efforts for independent housing, loves and more, Born this Way breaks down stigmas surrounding disability.

TAKES HOME TWO

MORE EMMY’S FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY AND FIRST-EVER EMMY FOR CASTING

“Rachel and John graced the stage like true professionals to rousing applause,” said Gail Williamson, a talent agent who focuses on clients with disabilities at Kazarian, Measures, Ruskin and Associates Talent Agency. “When doctors told their parents about the diagnosis of Down syndrome and listed what they thought their children’s future would be like, they never thought to include they would be presenters at the Emmy Awards some day.”

“In an evening that emphasized ‘inclusion’ and ‘diversity,’ it was powerful to have Rachel and John, who both have Down syndrome, included in the diverse group of award presenters,” Murray added.

Increasing Disability Inclusion in Television The Ruderman White Paper on Disability in Television shows that disability often is absent from mainstream film and television – both the depiction of and, even when a character has a disability, the actor often does not. According to the report, an actor pretending to have a disability plays more than 95 percent of characters with disabilities. Furthermore, according to a recent report by The Media, Diversity, & Social Change (MDSC) Initiative at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, only 2.7 percent of all speaking or named characters in film were shown to have a disability in 2016 (up from 2.4 percent in 2015). None of the leading characters were from an underrepresented racial/ ethnic group or the LGBT community.

“By winning the Emmy for casting, A&E’s Born This Way has broken the glass ceiling for people with disabilities of all backgrounds,” Mizrahi added. “Programs like Born This Way that feature people with disabilities, or that tackle disability issues, in a positive light can be successful both critically and financially. Audiences want to see strong, capable role models with disabilities. By focusing on showing these young individuals’ everyday life choices regarding employment, living independently and dating, Born this Way breaks down stigmas surrounding disability.”

Murray agrees that shows like Born This Way and more diversity in Hollywood are good business.

“Hollywood has been really, really slow to recognize the diversity of this country,” he said. “I think it is catching up fast now. And I think it’s realizing that diversity is good business.

I don’t think it’s necessarily because it is altruistic. I think they are recognizing that TV shows will do better if they reflect what the country is.”

The Born This Way cast on the red carpet at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys. Invision/AP

RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities, has been honored to consult during the creation of Born This Way and congratulates the entire team for its hard work in achieving this continued recognition.

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, RespectAbility’s president who herself has a disability and who knows what it means to raise a child with multiple disabilities, said: “I am thrilled that the Emmy’s see the value in showing real people with disabilities and their powerful lives on TV. For generations TV-viewers saw people with disabilities through the lens of the Jerry Lewis telethon. Though it was well intended, it showed people’s inabilities and used a lens of pity. Born This Way is empowering and uplifting. It shows, as one member of the cast frequently says, that the public should not ‘Limit me.’”

According to the U.S. Census, one in five Americans has a disability. Currently 70 percent of working-age people with disabilities are not working – even though most of them want jobs and independence. The numbers are even worse for people with Down syndrome. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, there are more than 400,000 people with Down syndrome. Many studies show that people with disabilities, including those with Down syndrome, can work successfully and live relatively independently. The individuals on Born this Way prove that since several are productive employees and one is a business owner herself.

JONATHAN MURRAY “BORN THIS WAY”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi: 202-365-0787, jenniferm@ respectability.org Lauren Appelbaum: 202-591-0703, laurena@ respectability.org

“We have a long way to go in how television shows people with disabilities,” Mizrahi said. “For almost five decades, the Jerry Lewis telethon stigmatized people with disabilities by showing what people with disabilities CAN’T do. Now is the time to show what people with disabilities CAN do.”

Recently, Born This Way was chosen as one of six honorees for the 2016 Television Academy Honors, an award that recognizes “television programming that inspires, informs and motivates.”

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 21

LENNIE JAMES

attend the Creative Coalition’s 2017 Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner hosted by the Nordstrom Supper Suite with Grey Goose Vodka at STK

JASON ISAACS

attend the Creative Coalition’s 2017 Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner hosted by the Nordstrom Supper Suite with Grey Goose Vodka at STK

JUSTINE BATEMA attend the Creative Coalition’s 2017 Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner hosted by the Nordstrom Supper Suite with Grey Goose Vodka at STK

JOE MCCANTA

attend the Creative Coalition’s 2017 Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner hosted by the Nordstrom Supper Suite with Grey Goose Vodka at STK 22 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Colin Farrell, Yorgos Lanthimos and Nicole Kidman attend the “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” premiere party hosted By Grey Goose Vodka and Soho House

T

oronto International Film Festival, GREY GOOSE Vodka celebrated game-changing film in Toronto’s Yorkville district during opening weekend with The Creative Coalition 2017 Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner honouring the independent film industry.

The dinner took place at the modern and chic restaurant STK to celebrate this year’s honourees including Bill Pullman (Independence Day, Battle of the Sexes), Matthew Newton (Who We Are Now), Brian d’Arcy James (Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House, Molly’s Game) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek: Who We Are Now). Other notable attendees included: Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County, Who We Are Now), Lennie James (Les Miserables, Snatch) and Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Death of Stalin).

Meanwhile at Soho House Toronto, Grey Goose hosted a private dinner for the premiere of The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Guests gathered on the club’s second floor Pantry

Jimmy Smits, Zachary Quinto; Julianne Nicholson and Matthew Newton attend the Creative Coalition’s 2017 Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner hosted by Grey Goose Vodka

The Creative Coalition 2017 Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner HONOURING THE INDEPENDENT FILM INDUSTRY restaurant and congratulated Nicole Kidman (dressed in Valentino with Chloe Gosselin shoes and Fred Leighton jewelry), Colin Farrell and Director Yorgos Lanthimos as they arrived.

Guests at both gatherings enjoyed a collection of bespoke GREY GOOSE cocktails including the vibrant GREY GOOSE Director’s Cut, the rich and expressive Star of Film Noir espresso martini cocktail and the signature GREY GOOSE vodka film serve, the effervescent GREY GOOSE Le Fizz.

Soho House and French luxury brand GREY GOOSE vodka have co-hosted film industry events and parties for nine concurrent years during the Toronto International Film Festival, as part of their ongoing support of the film community. Both the film industry and GREY GOOSE share the same daring spirit and passionate pursuit of the extraordinary, after all “if you can imagine it, it can be done.” (François Thibault, GREY GOOSE creator and Cellar Master).

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 23

69

TH EMMYS AWARDS

NOMINEES AND WINNERS

N

ominations for the 69th Emmy® Awards were announced today by the Television Academy in a ceremony hosted

by Television Academy Chairman and CEO Hayma Washington along with Anna Chlumsky from the HBO series Veep and Shemar Moore from CBS’ S.W.A.T.

Patricia McLaughlin at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball.

Sharna Burgess and Artem Chigvintsev perform at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball

24 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

“It’s been a record-breaking year for television, continuing its explosive growth,” said Washington. “The Emmy Awards competition experienced a 15 percent increase in submissions for this year’s initial nomination round of online voting. The creativity and excellence in presenting great storytelling and characters across a multitude of ever-expanding entertainment platforms is staggering.

“This sweeping array of television shows ranges from familiar favorites like black- ish and House of Cards to nominations newcomers like Westworld, This Is Us and Atlanta. The power of television and its talented performers – in front of and behind the camera – enthrall a worldwide audience. We are thrilled to once again honor the very best that television has to offer.”

This year’s seven Drama Series nominees include five firsttimers distributed across broadcast, cable and digital platforms: Better Call Saul, The Crown, The Handmaid’s Tale, House of Cards, Stranger Things, This Is Us and Westworld.

Nominations were also spread over distribution platforms in the Outstanding Comedy Series category, with newcomer Atlanta joined by the acclaimed black-ish, Master of None, Modern Family, Silicon Valley, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Veep.

Saturday Night Live and Westworld led the tally for the most nominations (22) in all categories, followed by Stranger Things and FEUD: Bette and Joan (18) and Veep (17). Leading the nominations in totals by platform were HBO (110), Netflix (91) and NBC (60).

First-time Emmy nominee Milo Ventimiglia was joined in the Lead Actor in a Drama Series category by Other notable nominations included Lead Actress in a Drama in which first-time nominee Claire Foy joins nominees Viola Davis, Elisabeth Moss, Keri Russell, Evan Rachel Wood and Robin Wright. Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Robin Beauchesne and the hairstyling team from Westworld at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball.

Artem Chigvintsev, Mandy Moore, Sharna Burgess, and Kathryn Burns at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball

Kim Estes and guests at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball

Angela Bassett at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball.

A general view of the atmosphere at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball

Paul Witten at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball.

Martin Childs and Michele Clapton at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.

Patrika Darbo at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball

Alex Gitler at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball.

Kristine Ling at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball

Myriam Arougheti and guest at the 2017 Creative Arts Ball

included first-time nominee Donald Glover, new nominee in this category, Zach Galifianakis, joining Anthony Anderson, and Emmy winners Aziz Ansari, William H. Macy and Jeffrey Tambor. Counterpart nominees in the Lead Actress in a Comedy were Pamela Adlon, Jane Fonda, Allison Janney, Ellie Kemper, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tracee Ellis Ross and Lily Tomlin.

Multiple nominees included Aziz Ansari, Riz Ahmed, Ty Burrell, Alec Baldwin, Ann Dowd, Donald Glover, Ewan McGregor, Matthew Rhys and Liev Schreiber.

Five-time Emmy winner John Lithgow received his 12th nomination, three-time Emmy winner Jessica Lange received another nomination for FEUD: Bette and Joan, while first-time Emmy nominees in the Limited Series or Movie categories included Robert De Niro, Carrie Coon and Reese Witherspoon.

Stephen Colbert

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 25

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE - 2017

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE - 2017

Ewan McGregor as Ray Stussy/Emmit Stussy Fargo

Geoffrey Rush as Albert Einstein Genius

Felicity Huffman as Jeanette Hesby American Crime

Nicole Kidman as Celeste Wright Big Little Lies

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes Sherlock: The Lying Detective (Masterpiece)

Riz Ahmed as Nasir “Naz” Khan The Night Of

Reese Witherspoon as Madeline MacKenzie Big Little Lies

Carrie Coon as Gloria Burgle Fargo

John Turturro as John Stone The Night Of

Robert De Niro as Bernie Madoff The Wizard Of Lies

Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford FEUD: Bette And Joan

Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis FEUD: Bette And Joan

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES - 2017 Donald Glover as Earn Marks Atlanta

Zach Galifianakis as Chip Baskets / Dale Baskets Baskets

Anthony Anderson as Andre Johnson black-ish

Aziz Ansari as Dev Master Of None

William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher Shameless

Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfefferman Transparent

Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox Better Things

Jane Fonda as Grace Hanson Grace And Frankie

Allison Janney as Bonnie Mom

Kevin Spacey

Liev Schreiber

Matthew Rhys

as Jimmy McGill Better Call Saul

Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson This Is Us

as Francis Underwood House of Cards

as Philip Jennings The Americans

Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson This Is Us

TH EMMYS AWARDS

Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson black-ish Lily Tomlin as Frankie Bergstein Grace And Frankie Ellie Kemper as Kimmy Schmidt Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer Veep

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES - 2017 Robin Wright as Claire Underwood House of Cards

Viola Davis as Annalise Keating How To Get Away With Murder

Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings The Americans

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II The Crown

Elisabeth Moss as Offred The Handmaid’s Tale

Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Westworld

26 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Bob Odenkirk

as Ray Donovan Ray Donovan

69

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES - 2017

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES - 2017

Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Ford Westworld

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES - 2017 Louie Anderson as Christine Baskets Baskets

Matt Walsh as Mike McLintock Veep

Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy Modern Family

Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump Saturday Night Live

Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Tony Hale as Gary Walsh Veep

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES - 2017 Vanessa Bayer

Leslie Jones

Kate McKinnon

Kathryn Hahn

Judith Light

Anna Chlumsky

as Various Characters Saturday Night Live

as Various Characters Saturday Night Live

as Shelly Pfefferman Transparent

as Various Characters Saturday Night Live

as Raquel Fein Transparent

as Amy Brookheimer Veep

OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM - 2017 Girl Meets World

School Of Rock

Disney Channel Michael Jacobs, Executive Producer Frank Pace, Co-Executive Producer Matthew Nelson, Co-Executive Producer Mark Blutman, Co-Executive Producer Jeff Menell, Co-Executive Producer

Nickelodeon Jim Armogida, Executive Producer Steve Armogida, Executive Producer Jay Kogen, Executive Producer Scott Rudin, Executive Producer Eli Bush, Executive Producer Richard Linklater, Executive Producer Steve Skrovan, Co-Executive Producer Suzie V. Freeman, Co-Executive Producer Sarah Jane Cunningham, Co-Executive Producer Harry Hannigan, Producer Chris Arrington

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 90th Celebration NBC Brad Lachman, Executive Producer Bill Bracken, Co-Executive Producer Matt Lachman, Producer

Once Upon A Sesame Street Christmas HBO Brown Johnson, Executive Producer Ken Scarborough, CoExecutive Producer Benjamin Lehmann, Supervising Producer Karyn Leibovich, Producer Stephanie Longardo, Producer Mindy Fila, Producer

Star Wars Rebels Disney XD Simon Kinberg, Executive Producer Dave Filoni, Executive Producer Henry Gilroy, Co-Executive Producer Kiri Hart, Producer Carrie Beck, Producer Athena Yvette Portillo, Producer

NOMINEES & WINNERS OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE - 2017 Big Little Lies

“You Get What You Need” HBO Yves Bélanger, CSC, Director of Photography

Black Mirror: Nosedive Netflix Seamus McGarvey, ASC, Director of Photography

Fargo

The Night Of “Ordinary Death”

HBO Fred Elmes, ASC, Director of Photography

The Young Pope “Episode 1”

HBO Luca Bigazzi, Director of Photography

“The Law Of Vacant Places” FX Networks Dana Gonzales, ASC, Director of Photography

“Routine: Kairos” ABC Derek Hough, Choreographer

Dancing With The Stars “Routines: On Top Of The World & Carol Of The Bells” ABC Mandy Moore, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance

“Routines: The Mirror & Send In The Clowns & She Used To Be Mine” FOX Travis Wall, Choreographer

Atlanta

FX Networks Donald Glover, Executive Producer Paul Simms, Executive Producer Dianne McGunigle, Executive Producer Hiro Murai, Producer Alex Orr

black-ish

ABC Jonathan Groff, Executive Producer Kenya Barris, Executive Producer Anthony Anderson, Executive Producer Laurence Fishburne, Executive Producer Helen Sugland, Executive Producer E. Brian Dobbins, Executive Producer Corey Nickerson, Executive Producer Gail Lerner, Co-Executive Producer Courtney Lilly, Co-Executive Producer Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry, Co-Executive Producer Hale Rothstein, Co-Executive Producer Kenny Smith, Co-Executive Producer Laura Gutin Peterson, CoExecutive Producer Vijal Patel, Co-Executive Producer Emily Halpern, Co-Executive Producer Sarah Haskins, Co-Executive Producer Lindsey Shockley, Supervising Producer Peter Saji, Supervising Producer Michael Petok,

Master Of None

Netflix Aziz Ansari, Executive Producer Alan Yang, Executive Producer Michael Schur, Executive Producer David Miner, Executive Producer Dave Becky, Executive Producer Igor Srubshchik, Executive Producer Andrew Blitz, Co-Executive Producer Eric Wareheim, Supervising Producer

Modern Family

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY - 2017 Dancing With The Stars

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES - 2017

So You Think You Can Dance “Routines: Unsteady & This Is Not The End” FOX Mandy Moore, Choreographer

The Real O’Neals

“Routines: Born This Way & West Side Story & Boyfriend” ABC Fred Tallaksen, Choreographer

ABC Christopher Lloyd, Executive Producer Steven Levitan, Executive Producer Paul Corrigan, Executive Producer Brad Walsh, Executive Producer Danny Zuker, Executive Producer Abraham Higginbotham, Executive Producer Jeffrey Richman, Executive Producer Elaine Ko, Executive Producer Stephen Lloyd, Executive Producer Vali Chandrasekaran, Executive Producer Chuck Tatham, Executive Producer Jeff Morton, Executive Producer Andy Gordon, Co-Executive Producer Jon Pollack, Co-Executive Producer

Sally Young, Producer Christy Stratton, Consulting Producer

Silicon Valley

HBO Mike Judge, Executive Producer Alec Berg, Executive Producer Michael Rotenberg, Executive Producer Tom Lassally, Executive Producer Clay Tarver, Co-Executive Producer Dan O’Keefe, Co-Executive Producer Chris Provenzano, CoExecutive Producer Graham Wagner, Co-Executive Producer Jamie Babbit, Co-Executive Producer Jim Kleverweis, Co-Executive Producer Carrie Kemper, Supervising Producer Adam Countee, Supervising Producer Aaron Zelman, Supervising Producer

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Netflix Robert Carlock, Executive Producer Tina Fey, Executive Producer Jeff Richmond, Executive Producer David Miner, Executive Producer Sam Means, Co-Executive Producer Dan Rubin, Co-Executive Producer Allison Silverman, CoExecutive Producer Leila Strachan, Co-Executive Producer Eric Gurian, Co-Executive Producer Meredith Scardino, Producer Dara Schnapper, Producer Jerry Kupfer, Produced by Veep HBO David Mandel, Executive Producer Frank Rich, Executive Producer Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Executive Producer Lew Morton, Executive Producer Morgan Sackett, Executive Producer Peter Huyck, Co-Executive Producer Alex Gregory, Co-Executive Producer Georgia Pritchett, CoExecutive Producer Jennifer Crittenden, CoExecutive Producer Gabrielle Allan, Co-Executive Producer Ian Maxtone-Graham, CoExecutive Producer Steve Hely, Co-Executive Producer Ted Cohen, Co-Executive Producer David Hyman, Co-Executive Producer Rachel Axler, Supervising Producer Billy Kimball, Supervising Producer Dale Stern, Producer Erik Kenward, Consulting Producer Dan Mintz, Consulting Producer

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 27

Showpo O

ne of Australia’s most successful online fashion retailers founded by millennial entrepreneur Jane Lu, celebrated their official launch in the US with a private kickoff event on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at NeueHouse Hollywood. Showpo’s CEO, Jane Lu, attended along with some of Los Angeles’s most stylish fashionistas and Hollywood scenesters. Among the crowd was Corinne Olympios from The Bachelor and The Bachelor in Paradise, as well as Danielle Lombard and Jasmine Goode, also from The Bachelor and The Bachelor in Paradise. Other notables attendees included Ashlee Lian from E!’s What Happens at the Abbey, and Durrani Popal from Dash Dolls.

28 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Makes Their U.S. Debut with Reality Starlets and Fashion Influencers

ABOUT SHOWPO Showpo is an established Australian– based fast fashion brand that produces on-tend clothing at affordable prices.

The brand started in Jane Lu’s garage in 2010, and has since grown into an online global empire now shipping to 80 countries. Currently boasting a $30 million run-rate, the company is en route to meeting $75 million in sales by 2020.

Showpo’s main driving force of awareness and sales is by social media with over 2 million Instagram followers. https://www. showpo.com/us/

ABOUT JANE LU

While model and DJ Sam Blacky spun, guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and two signature cocktails, the Bondi Beach and the Sunset Boulevard. Chic Studios and La Mienne provided hair and beauty bar touch ups, while other guests perused the Showpo gifting suite.

The 31-year-old transitioned from a business analyst at KPMG and EY to a fashion savvy entrepreneur, social media expert and owner of the Showpo empire. Lu has been nominated for numerous awards, taking the title of Cosmopolitan’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015 and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2016. Lu has been covered by various Australian business and fashion outlets including Elle, Entrepreneur, Mashable, and Daily Mail.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 29

A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. From filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream), mother! stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer in this riveting psychological thrille… MORE

Release date: September 15, 2017 (USA) Director: Darren Aronofsky Screenplay: Darren Aronofsky Cinematography: Matthew Libatique Music composed by: Jóhann Jóhannsson, Clint Mansell

Oh, “Mother!”

It’s not your father’s horror film.

A

BY ALEX A. KECSKES

30 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

visceral psychological thriller, Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! leaves you logically untethered, uniting metaphor and allegory in film that, some say, reinvents the horror genre.

Set in a remote house rebuilt after a fire, Mother! begins with a once famous writer, known simply as Him (Javier Bardem) and his wife, Mother (Jennifer Lawrence) who dutifully works to remodel their home. One night, an unexpected visitor arrives. Known as only as Man (Ed Harris), he charms his way into staying the night, stroking Him’s ego by saying he’s a big fan. Next to arrive is Woman (Michelle Pfeiffer), an acerbic interloper with

AS FILMMAKERS, WE CAN SHOW WHERE A PERSON’S MIND GOEAS, AS OPPOSED TO THEATER, WHICH IS MORE TO SIT BACK DARREN ARONOFSKY

AND WATCH IT.

Clearly, this is not your father’s horror film.

It draws you in with an exploration of gender roles and an attempt to define the creative mind stuck in what we initially perceive as writer’s block. It ends with a vastly expanded allegorical scope of blood drenched horror, leaving you spellbound until they roll credits and your less film savvy friends tug at you to leave the theater.

an icy persona that rubs us the wrong way. The conflict begins when Mother’s unease with her visitors clashes with Him’s eagerness to let them stay.

THERE’S A POINT WHERE YOU REALIZE YOU’VE BEEN IN THE EYE OF A HURRICANE AND NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU TURN, IT’S BAD. Slowly, the film starts unraveling, drifting inexorably toward a conclusion you still don’t quite understand.

There’s a point where you realize you’ve been in the eye of a hurricane and no matter which way you turn, it’s bad. Spoilers here would explain much, but let’s just say you’ll put away the popcorn and Coke to start biting your nails. Like a jerky, spook-filled fun house ride, mother is full of unexpected surprises, some of which are skillfully foreshadowed by Aronofsky. Like when Mother puts her hand on a wall to reveal a tight zoom of a dying heart.

Or when she bends down to find a blood spot on the floor. The film expands and turns inside out, becoming more metaphorical as it catapults us to its white-knuckle conclusion.

Lawrence does a fine job depicting a wife obsessed with cleaning and turning a husk of a house into a livable home, or Paradise as it’s called. And Bardem dutifully portrays the tortured creative, feeding not off the inspiration of others but their praise.

Lawrence is clearly at the epicenter of Mother!, underscored by cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s claustrophic close-ups as Mother navigates a rat maze of disturbing discoveries. Feiffer and Harris morph into the houseguests who never leave and things get dicey when their adult children arrive. Allegorically, Lawrence embodies the spirit of Paradise, with Feiffer and Harris as the first Man and Woman. Mother! takes this concept to modern day, with Mother’s concern for her home symbolizing a stewardship of our planet.

Aronofsky tortures us with a refusal to square peg Mother! into anything resembling a traditional horror film. Shot entirely on a 16mm handheld camera, with only three angles, there’s a unique movement and flow to the Mother!, its mise-en-scène pressing drama, humor and horror into tight corners and spaces.

As the film reaches its climax, we find ourselves tumbling gravity free in the dark ether of Aronofsky’s choosing.

Some Aronofsky’s fans will consider Mother! his magnum opus. Non fans will argue over its merits, its meaning, and realize this filmmaker has redefined what it means to watch a horror movie.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 31

PHOTO BY ALI BEN BIKRI

S TALENT MANAGER / PRODUCER MARIA VASCSAK IMA CONTENT

THE INTERNATIONAL ANGLE BECAME A NATURAL INGREDIENT IN HER BUSINESS.

candinavian Talent Agency IMA Content brings the world to the Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival 2017 Scandinavian agency IMA Content has been selected to co-produce The Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival this year with Hollywood Weekly Magazine. This is an exciting, relatively new, international film festival in Hollywood that is unique in many ways. With visitors streaming in from all over the globe this young festival’s fourth year in town is proving to be a glamourous and star-studded event. Established and new talent alike will be donning their red carpet best and rubbing elbows with industry heavy weights on September 23rd.

The incredible woman behind this growing, buzzed about enterprise is Maria Vascsak. It isn’t easy nowadays, but Vascsak can certainly be called a pioneer with her establishing of this agency a mere 4 years ago in Sweden.

Vascsak’s sought after and accomplished talent can be found in Stockholm, Los Angeles and New York. IMA Content focuses on bringing professional talent from Scandinavia to the international market as well as working locally.

IMA Content believes in actors that are well rounded and diverse. They have actors that work in different countries around the world all the time, and seamlessly take on roles that aren’t even in their native tongue.

Maria Vascsak, who is Swedish with Hungarian heritage and also speaks the language fluently, has called Paris, Brussels, Monaco, Menlo Park California and Mahwah New Jersey home at one time or another. Therefore, the international angle became a natural ingredient in her business.

IMA Content is a modern Scandinavian talent management and production agency with an international roster of actors, directors and storyboard artists. IMA is made up of 100 years of creative experience who together form the most unique content around. IMA is represented in Stockholm, London, New York and Los Angeles.

IMA has a very special relationship with Hollywood Weekly Magazine and its Film Festival.

32 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

SCANDINAVIAN TALENT MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION AGENCY

IMA CONTENT BRINGS THE WORLD TO THE

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY MAGAZINE FILM FESTIVAL 2017 -Even though Swedish actors and artists really have helped to put Sweden on the map lately – we still live in a pretty small country. I was sure that the international angle would be crucial for me, the agency, and first and foremost for my talents. I also think that the industry is changing; we’re seeing more diversity and inclusion.

As a Talent Manager today, I think you need to look at the whole world as your playing field, and not just the country that you’re based in, Maria Vascsak continues.

Vascsak basically commutes between Stockholm-Los Angeles-New York City-London in order to see her network face to face. This also happens to be a huge part

of the success of IMA Content; Maria’s close collaboration with her talent. She chooses just the right number of clients in order to have the right amount of time to work closely with each one, custom fitting her management to each individual’s needs. If you ask any of her actors about this, they will tell you that they feel as if she only works with them and no one else as she is constantly on top of each aspect of that talent’s particular requirements.

IMA Content, with Maria Vascsak at the helm, has grown substantially over a short period of time. It has proven over and over that the concept of boutique agency, close and particularly personal relationships with the talent, combining production and collaboration within the film industry, is the way of the future. Vascsak, undoubtedly, always seems to be a step ahead…

PHOTO BY DANIEL GUAL

IMA Content saw the incredible potential of networking through Hollywood Weekly Magazine and The Hollywood Weekly Film Festival early on. The extraordinary synergy between these entities has been lucrative on many levels.

So much so that the main hosts chose for the event, Mikael Spreitz and Angelika Roberts are clients of IMA Content as well as Elise Rovinsky who will be presenting.

ACTOR MICKE SPREIZ IMA CONTENT

PHONE: +1 (917) 717 9091 MAIL: INFO@IMACONTENT.COM WWW.IMACONTENT.COM

ACTRESS ANGELIKA ROBERTS IMA CONTENT

FOR NEWS AND UPDATES ABOUT OUR CLIENTS AND PROJECTS FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/IMACONTENT TWITTER: WWW.TWITTER.COM/IMACONTENT INSTAGRAM: WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/IMACONTENT/ VIMEO: WWW.VIMEO.COM/IMACONTENT IMDB MANAGEMENT: WWW.IMDB.ME/MARIAVASCSAK

W W W . I M A C O N T E N T. C O M

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 33

PHOTO BY RIC SECHREST IMA CONTENT’S ACTRESS ELISE ROVINSKY

Scandinavian actor Mikael Spreitz is well known for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest and The Girl Who Played with Fire where he played the role of Ronald Niederman. Spreitz has a background as a martial artist competing for Sweden, a silver medalist at the European championship in 1985. In 2013 Spreitz founded Fighterhjälpen, a non-profit charity foundation that supports children with cancer. He is based in Los Angeles.

Angelika Roberts, also from Scandinavia, is well known for Zero Tolerance and “Den Utvalda” among several other Swedish TV –series and stage performances as well as her work at The Drew Carey Show in Los Angeles.

The festival’s audience is an attractive and affluent one that comes back year after year to enjoy the festivities and networking. During this Gala evening, the opportunity is given for companies and organizations to participate in order to strengthen relationships, meet new customers

Angelika Roberts is a graduate of The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York, Roberts continued her education in Los Angeles with renowned teachers; Barry Papick (who coached Sean Connery, Jamie Foxx, Lindsey Lohan to name a few), Jeraldin Baron and Susan Peretz.

Roberts is based in Stockholm.

Elise Rovinsky, based in New York City, was most recently seen in “How To Tell You’re A Douchebag”, which premiered at Sundance and later screened at the Stockholm Film Festival. She is currently working on the new series “Gray Ground” in which she has a recurring role.

REPORTER SIMO BENBACHIR

IMA Content is a modern Scandinavian talent management and production agency with an international roster of actors, directors and storyboard artists. IMA is made up of 100 years of creative experience who together form the most unique content around. IMA is represented in Stockholm, London, New York and Los Angeles.

IMA has a very special relationship with Hollywood Weekly Magazine and its Film Festival.

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PHOTO BY OMAR ALTRUK

IMA Content was fortunate enough to secure couturier Hicham Benslimane as the designer for host Angelika Roberts for the Hollywood Weekly Film Festival.

Cutting cloth and sewing it together into something beautiful wasn’t enough for couturier Hicham Benslimane, he went to study in Paris, and because Paris is always a good idea – not to mention, an excellent place to start – Hicham studied Fashion Design, Marketing and Management, making him a true jack-of-all-trades.

Moving between Paris and Los Angeles, Hicham’s training was extensive and his career promising from the start. “As a creative, I wanted to show that I’m different from all other designers in the industry, and this is what made me unique,” he explains.

HICHAM BENSLIMANE / ROYAL LEGACY

and partners. The audience is broad because, as we know, film is something that touches and appeals to most people one way or another. The festival offers businesses to be associated with strong brands within the entertainmentand cultural industry.

Collaborating with IMA Content and the Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival this year again is jet setting journalist, Simo Benbachir.

Aside from being thе firѕt and only Mоrоссаn TV rероrtеr frоm Afriса and the Middle Eаѕt tо interview many international celebrties еxсluѕivеlу in Lоѕ Angeles, and to cover EGOTѕ, Simo iѕ using his over еightееn уеаrѕ оf vаѕt еxреriеnсе in thе media induѕtrу to influence thе media world in a fаѕсinаting wау.

Among the several mеdiа hоuѕеѕ Simо hаѕ wоrkеd with are 2M; thе second Moroccan TV сhаnnеl, Nеѕѕmа TV and B-Bеirut (LBC SAT) whеrе he соvеrѕ current glаmоrоuѕ international events. He also works for Dubai TV (Al Arаbiуа Nеwѕ Engliѕh).

Benhachir was awarded with the Brukmer Honorary Award as one of the best African TV Reporters based in Los Angeles. He is featured on the cover of Belgian magazine (Kastiani) which nominated him as a Star of journalists. He was also chosen to be on the cover of Moroccan magazine Version Homme as the most influential Moroccan showbiz reporter.

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It was earlier on in his fashion career that Hicham found himself working alongside some of the industry icons.

Interned for jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Elie Saab and Max Azria, his apprenticeships benefited his career. “You teach yourself to do things, they [the design-houses] take your designs and offer you techniques and tips that you need to improve on,” Hicham started, “When you take up an internship somewhere, they take you because they know you have something that you can offer.” Of all the greats, Hicham found that his favorite design-house to have worked with was Givenchy. “Givenchy implemented many of the designs I created and I’m very proud of that,” Charbel elaborated, “I feel like it was the design-house that had the same style-spirit that I have.”

With an atelier in Paris and LA, Hicham joined forces with business women Majida Housni and found a permanent home for his couture and ready-to-wear collections at the world-famous Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. Hicham and Majida kicked off their career and launched Royal Legacy Beverly Hills. His immediate rise to stardom though came after Paris Fashion Week back in 2011 where he won the Emerging Best Designer award! Boasting an impressive clientele list, Charbel is making waves internationally and locally. JLo, Eva Longoria, Erica Mena, Myriam Fares are just a few of his international clientele.

Still, his dream is to one day dress Charlize Theron.

With September 23rd fast approaching, Maria Vascsak and her team are thrilled to be able to bring you the Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival and even more excited about the prospect of a busy year ahead with several projects already booked.

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Fashion Credits: Hollywood Weekly Magazine Photography: Matthew Mitchell Hair & MakeUp: Trish Gossett Fashion Styling: Mike Sam Talent: Jamee Natella Location: Sanctuary at Soledad Goats in Mojave Desert Dress Kut from the Kloth www.kutfromthekloth.com Belt Carlos Felchi www.carlosfelchi.com Boots Frye www.thefryecompany.com Cuff Eleven13 www.etsy.com Earrings Twisted Silver www.twisted-silver.com Ring Twisted Silver www.twisted-silver.com 36 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

JAMEE NATELLA THE PRODUCER WITH THE MOST ENDURANCE WINS

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BY NITARA LEE OSBOURNE unning long distance is a combination of acquired skills and natural-born ability. A big part of the success with distance running is pacing oneself, and being able to balance this along the entire journey of the run. You don’t want to start off running too fast because you will tire easily, and lose the physical capability to finish even when your mind desires to continue. To the contrary, you don’t want to run too slowly, as you would substantially decrease your chances of winning the race.

A great producer, like an unyielding distance runner, understands how to pace and balance themselves in order to succeed in the end. Jamee Natella is such a producer. Not only is she a mother who is totally “present” and connected with her 9 year-old son, she is the Founder of Blueyed Pictures, a company “serving both advertising agencies and clients” with offices in London, Tokyo, and right here in the entertainment capital of the world… Los Angeles.

Jamee serves as an Executive Producer along with Executive Producer Michael Labellarte. Michael runs the day-to-day operations, and because Jamee sold a portion of her company in what was a closed deal, she works when her time is requested, but willingly rolls up her sleeves and always puts 100% into fulfilling the task at hand. She made the global company into the success that it is today, and like any great “runner” who is a part of a team, she handed the baton off in order for her to be able to pursue other endeavors.

Producing is still very much a prevalent part of Jamee’s life, as she is making the smooth transition from focusing on producing commercials to producing films.

And like the adrenaline-filled distance runner with a rapidly beating heart, Jamee’s heart beats with excitement when she thinks about her philanthropic work with sustainability and the environment.

Her down-to-earth personality makes you feel like you’re talking to your best friend next door.

The multi-interests lady that she is, then transforms into super mom to her fourth grader as they continue to work together on their children’s book I Am Sam. How amazing is that? To have a mom who is as busy as Jamee is, not only create quality time with him, but even goes above and beyond by creating a whole world within a story with her little boy.

Regardless of all of the tasks on her plate, she is still very much in demand as a producer. She evolves into this powerhouse that brings stories to life with a phenomenal team of people. Jamee chooses to win regardless of what she’s up against, steadily pacing her momentum along her journey and balancing every significant variable in her personal and professional life in order to be complete.

HW: You’re well-traveled, a successful entrepreneur with all of your accomplishments in the film industry as a producer, and you’ve been in front of the camera as well. What is it within you that pulls you to be a producer?

JN: I’m more successful as a commercial producer than a film producer. I feel like I still have further to go as a film producer just because it is oftentimes HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 37

hard to get material that I really love into production.

I like true stories and things that have a purpose.

Sometimes those are not what people want to see or they’re not great for sales over a box office weekend.

But what draws me to producing is that I like putting things together. I like solving problems. I like listening to people. I like bringing people together. I find it rewarding when I’m bringing a team together based on their area of expertise.

HW: That’s a very fair and honest response. Do you feel “called” to be a producer or is it simply that individual projects draw you in?

JN: There are two parts to that question. First, I enjoy every single client. I can always get a good take-away from every client. The other part is that I still own a portion of Blueyed Pictures. I have overhead and a responsibility to find and supply work for those working for me. So, there are times when I may not relate to a particular product or understand it, but I move forward with the client regardless. However, I never take on something that I don’t want to do. I like both my clients and those working for me. This is how I find balance in that.

HW: That takes loyalty and heart.

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JN: Thank you for saying that. Now that I get hired outside of my company as a freelance producer, I’m independently producing. Like J.L. Ranch Family with Hallmark. After this I will be producing a movie called Nightmare 19 with Julianne Moore’s brother -- Peter Moore Smith -- who wrote the project. Those types of projects really inspire me. Have I answered your question?

HW: Yeah, you sure did. So, when you were offered to be the head producer of the Japanese talk show Teatime, was there any hesitation to take the job?

LIKE THE ADRENALINE-FILLED DISTANCE RUNNER WITH A RAPIDLY BEATING HEART, JAMEE’S HEART BEATS WITH EXCITEMENT WHEN SHE THINKS ABOUT HER PHILANTHROPIC WORK WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

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JN: Oh, there was a lot of hesitation… I never lived in Tokyo. I didn’t speak the language. And I wasn’t really understanding the culture. I think the project that I was asked to produce was our American version of The View. It was educating the Japanese culture on western situations, ways of thinking, or new trends that were coming through. And I just didn’t have a good understanding of their culture.

HW: How did you overcome that obstacle?

JN: I was really lucky. My boss Hirozo Isozaki was very encouraging and wanted to invest in me. Part of the reason he hired me, or perhaps what he simply appreciated about me, was that I was teachable and young enough to have the energy to work hard. (chuckles) Like I said, he needed me to bring western knowledge to the Japanese culture, so it was important for me to immerse myself into Japanese culture so that I can bridge the gap between the two. He paid for me to learn the language. He even brought me to the countryside and had me live with a Japanese family for two months. He made me take a Japanese driver’s test so I can understand the roads and the signs. By understanding the language, I understood the phonetics and I understood the culture of my environment.

HW: That must have been an empowering feeling. To be learning? To have support like that?

JN: It totally was. When I lived there, there were only three TV stations. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that Rupert Murdock came in and created Star. So, I didn’t really have the opportunity to speak English.

Immersion proved to be the best way to learn a language. It’s hard for me to believe that I speak fluent Japanese, but I studied it for seven years, and now I have a lot of business from commercial clients from Japan. Pioneer. Toyota, Mitsubishi, Lexus. All of these people were Japanese clients. Once again, I did have hesitation, but when you have someone who believes in you, the sky’s the limit. You can do anything.

HW: Tell me about it. Belief is a powerful thing.

How has traveling expanded your career – outside of bringing you all of these amazing clients?

JN: I draw a lot from experiences. I’ve been to a variety of countries. Egypt, Russia, India…Travel opens my

eyes to other cultures… and other crew. The way people do things – the way they approach things is somewhat done differently. This makes me look at and approach things from a different perspective. This expands my mind. In California we have stagnant locations. We’re lucky that we have beautiful oceans and a very healthoriented lifestyle here. But you go to other cultures, there are tall buildings… even go to some different states – like Florida. You go there and it’s kind-of like a retro-flashback to the 70s or early 80s. That kind of look and feel is just different from how things are in California.

HW: True. We have such a cultural melting pot right here in the United States. We don’t even have to go to other countries to experience diversity.

JN: Yeah, and I love being around people who are not American because they are different from me.

HW: Your global production company – Blueyed Pictures -- first opened its doors in 1998 in Japan. What was the reason for creating your production company there before opening the doors in Los Angeles?

JN: Okay, so I was producing a TV show for three years. Before I produced that TV show, I worked at Warner Bros., Touchstone, Alpine pictures and various commercial production companies. People knew that I had moved to Tokyo and people heard that I was producing. Back then… you know, Japan was very foreign to people. They didn’t really know how to execute production there. They didn’t know how to put together multilingual crews. English wasn’t a universal language there. So, they didn’t know how to pull permits. For instance, you couldn’t film on train tracks.

They just didn’t allow it. The safety of the people came first instead of putting public transportation within filming above that.

HW: Well, that’s understandable.

JN: Totally was. But I had solutions. And so many people wanted to film things there. I was getting calls from friends and colleagues that wanted to bring production to Japan. They wanted to produce something in Tokyo, but just didn’t know how. So, I jumped right in. “I can help pull permits. I can help put a crew together. Sure, I’ll do a budget for you.” And it became so time-consuming that it ended up becoming more of a work opportunity than the job where I was at.

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I LIKE LISTENING TO PEOPLE. I LIKE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. I FIND IT REWARDING WHEN I’M BRINGING A TEAM TOGETHER BASED ON THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE.

HW: You were the solution to the problem that was begging to be solved all along?

JN: Exactly. So I had this idea that I could really make a business out of this. There was a need to create a service production company where I could help people produce projects. That was the start of Blueyed Pictures in 1998. There was an opportunity to create a service production company to execute production and to educate the western culture and production into the Asian market. And that’s what I did.

HW: And your other offices?

JN: London was the second location that I opened.

And LA was the third. I literally moved back to the United States to Los Angeles the exact day of 9/11.

HW: Scary timing.

JN: Right? Well, Blueyed Pictures became a partner with BBDO ad agency, which is owned by Omnicom Holding Group. Back then, agencies didn’t have production companies inside of ad agencies. So, this was a big deal. I became partners with BBDO West and acted like an in-house production company.

It’s common to have a production company in an ad agency now, but back then I was one of the first, if not the only one.

HW: I want to pivot here just a bit and talk a little more about people. You are about “business,” but at the end of the day, you care about people. That’s clear with every word that you’ve shared. I read online that you mentioned the importance of developing strong business relationships. What advice would you give to up-and-coming filmmakers that could improve upon how to effectively and genuinely network?

JN: Okay, um… I have worked with this next generation, the Millennials. It takes a certain characteristic within a person to have a certain work ethic. I really look for that. I feel like this newer generation – they are willing to work, but they also carry with them the stigma of

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that sense of entitlement. We live in a culture where we can achieve a lot. That’s what America is about. With what we do, we are all here with one goal – to create or execute a story, right?

HW: Right.

JN: My advice is to simply develop a good relationship with whomever you’re working with. I say be nice to everyone because you don’t know who’s going to come around 10 years later and ultimately be making all the decisions.

HW: That’s great advice. I agree. Pivoting once again, you have a cause that you’re absolutely driven and passionate about. Share with us just what ignites a fire underneath you outside of film production.

JN: Yeah, absolutely. (deep and excited breath) Sustainability is important to me. I really believe in taking care of the planet. And I have this massive passion about water. And the way the advertising industry has “done a number” on us with bottled water… I think we need to look at the infrastructure of tap water and how to rebuild it and make it safe for us to drink. Whether the problem is eight yearold pipes, leakage, or droughts in the cities that have access to water… or whether the problem is simply the way that they test the water coming through the pipes… let’s figure out a solution so that we can drink our water again.

HW: Many people don’t think about this. Their solution is bottled water. End of story.

JN: Exactly. But people need to be open to alternatives.

With a team of people, we are creating a movement so that we are changing the way people think about tap water so that they aren’t buying bottled water.

Educating people about water. Making it so that they feel comfortable about the water they are drinking. A portion of everything that we are doing goes back into rebuilding the pipes for the city and where the water bottle is sold. I’m not actually in the business of selling water. It’s actually a type of bottle that educates people about the tap water that they are using to fill it in.

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I can’t openly discuss it at this point, but let’s just say the environment is very important to me. These types of endeavors are part of what makes me feel complete.

HW: Keeping your personal and professional life in mind and those in your environment, what would be your biggest accomplishment to date?

JN: Um… hmm… I would say my biggest accomplishment in life – like I said before, we all draw from experiences… and I really live by those experiences because they make me happy and put a smile on my face… so I would say my biggest accomplishment is my son, Sam. I put a lot of time and effort into who he is and he teaches me to be human again.

HW: That’s pretty powerful and profound. Thank you for opening up and sharing another side of who you are with all of us.

JN: Thank you. My pleasure.

The producer of a project brings a team of people together to execute one common goal, the creation of a story. She must constantly consider how she can give, support, and push everyone with the perfect balance and at just the right pace. In the end, it’s the endurance of the producer that is responsible for the whole team crossing the finish line and winning. And Jamee Natella has brought several teams to victory.

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THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SERVICE PRODUCTION COMPANY TO EXECUTE PRODUCTION AND TO EDUCATE THE WESTERN CULTURE AND PRODUCTION INTO THE ASIAN MARKET

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