Hollywood Weekly Celebrates the 95th Oscars

95THACADEMY AWARDS

8 TH ANNUAL HW FILM FESTIVAL NICOLAS CAGE DRACULA

Letter From The Editor

THIS MONTH we are excited to have on our cover the 95th Annual Academy Awards. We also had the opportunity to catch up with a Hollywood Weekly Magazine favorite, Doug Vermeeren Last time we spoke with Doug he was staying busy working on various projects including ‘Operation Broken Sniper’, as well as horror films ‘Bring Me a Skin for Dancing in’, and ‘The Video Tape’. In true Doug fashion, he is continuing to stay busy and even took time out of his cruise to the Bahamas to tell us about the new and exciting projects he is working on, and we can’t wait to share the details!

Dame Munni Irone Founder of Arts 4 Peace Awards has joined the legions of Light Bearers worldwide. These are souls seeking to make the world a better place by promoting peace and love. Dame Munni Irone awoke with a dream which planted a seed which has been watered with her passion and determination to make a difference. Dame Munni Irone is thankful to Prince Dr. Gershom Sikaala, Founder of PureKonect to assist in the production of the 11th Arts 4 Peace Awards 2022.

Enjoy!

Prather Jackson Publisher

BEN AFFLECK'S

From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight with Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Julius Tennon as James Jordan, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, and Matthew Maher as Peter Moore – among others.

Directed by Ben Affleck • Written by Alex Convery • Produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, and Jason Michael Berman Starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Jay Mohr, Julius Tennon, with Chris Tucker & Viola Davis

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE WINNER

BRENDAN FRASER

Brendan Fraser

NOMINEE

AUSTIN BUTLER

COLIN FARRELL

PAUL MESCAL

BILL NIGHY

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE WINNER

KE HUY QUAN

Ke Huy Quan

NOMINEE

BRENDAN GLEESON

BRIAN TYREE HENRY

JUDD HIRSCH

BARRY KEOGHAN

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE WINNER

MICHELLE YEOH

Michelle Yeoh

NOMINEE

CATE BLANCHETT

ANA DE ARMAS

ANDREA RISEBOROUGH

MICHELLE WILLIAMS

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE WINNER

JAMIE LEE CURTIS

Jamie Lee Curtis

NOMINEE

ANGELA BASSETT

HONG CHAU

KERRY CONDON

STEPHANIE HSU

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM WINNER

GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO

Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley

NOMINEE

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH

Joel Crawford and Mark Swift

THE SEA BEAST

Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger

95th Academy Awards

TURNING RED

Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

CINEMATOGRAPHY WINNER

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

James Friend

NOMINEE BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS

Darius Khondji

ELVIS

Mandy Walker

EMPIRE OF LIGHT

Roger Deakins

TÁR

Florian Hoffmeister

COSTUME DESIGN WINNER

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER

Ruth Carter

NOMINEE BABYLON

Mary Zophres

ELVIS

Catherine Martin

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Shirley Kurata

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS

Jenny Beavan

DIRECTING WINNER

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

NOMINEE

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

Martin McDonagh

THE FABELMANS

Steven Spielberg

TÁR

Todd Field

TRIANGLE OF SADNESS

Ruben Östlund

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM WINNER

NAVALNY

Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris

NOMINEE

ALL THAT BREATHES

Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann and Teddy

Leifer

ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED

Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John

Lyons, Nan Goldin and Yoni Golijov

FIRE OF LOVE

Sara Dosa, Shane Boris and Ina Fichman

A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS

Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica

Hellström

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM WINNER

THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS

Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga

NOMINEE

HAULOUT

Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev

HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR?

Jay Rosenblatt

THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT

Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison

STRANGER AT THE GATE

Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones

FILM EDITING WINNER

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Paul Rogers

NOMINEE

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

ELVIS

Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond

TÁR

Monika Willi

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Eddie Hamilton

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM WINNER

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Germany

NOMINEE

ARGENTINA, 1985

Argentina

CLOSE

Belgium

EO

Poland

THE QUIET GIRL

Ireland

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING WINNER

THE WHALE

Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Annemarie

Bradley

NOMINEE

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová

THE BATMAN

Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike

Fontaine

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER

Camille Friend and Joel Harlow

ELVIS

Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

WINNER

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Volker Bertelmann

NOMINEE

BABYLON

Justin Hurwitz

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

Carter Burwell

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Son Lux

THE FABELMANS

John Williams

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

WINNER

NAATU NAATU

from RRR; Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose

NOMINEE

APPLAUSE

from Tell It like a Woman; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

HOLD MY HAND

from Top Gun: Maverick; Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

LIFT ME UP

from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler

THIS IS A LIFE

from Everything Everywhere All at Once; Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

BEST PICTURE WINNER

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang, Producers

NOMINEE

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Malte Grunert, Producer

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh, Producers

ELVIS

Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler

Weiss, Producers

THE FABELMANS

Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, Producers

TÁR

Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert, Producers

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers

TRIANGLE OF SADNESS

Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, Producers

WOMEN TALKING

Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Frances McDormand, Producers

PRODUCTION DESIGN WINNER

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper

NOMINEE

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

Production Design: Dylan Cole and Ben Procter; Set Decoration: Vanessa Cole

BABYLON

Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino ELVIS

Production Design: Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy; Set Decoration: Bev Dunn

THE FABELMANS

Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) WINNER

THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE

Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud NOMINEE

THE FLYING SAILOR

Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby ICE MERCHANTS

João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano

MY YEAR OF DICKS

Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon AN OSTRICH TOLD ME THE WORLD IS FAKE AND I THINK I BELIEVE IT

Lachlan Pendragon

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

WINNER

AN IRISH GOODBYE

Tom Berkeley and Ross White

NOMINEE

IVALU

Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan

LE PUPILLE

Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón NIGHT RIDE

Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen

THE RED SUITCASE

Cyrus Neshvad

SOUND

WINNER

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor

NOMINEE

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Viktor Prášil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel and Stefan Korte

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers and Michael Hedges

THE BATMAN

Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson

ELVIS

David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson and Michael Keller

VISUAL EFFECTS

WINNER

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett

NOMINEE

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus

Frank and Kamil Jafar

THE BATMAN

Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER

Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White and Dan Sudick

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

WINNER

WOMEN TALKING

Screenplay by Sarah Polley

NOMINEE

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Screenplay - Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

Written by Rian Johnson

LIVING

Written by Kazuo Ishiguro

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY) WINNER

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

NOMINEE

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

Written by Martin McDonagh

THE FABELMANS

Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner TÁR

Written by Todd Field

TRIANGLE OF SADNESS

Written by Ruben Östlund

Nicolas Cage Portrays Dracula in Renfield

WATCHING Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage as Count Dracula is by far the biggest selling point for Renfield. But the actor likely won’t be portraying the legendary character in the way that you’d expect. Director Chris McKay offered some insight into what Cage’s Dracula will be like saying, “We’re doing something different. It’s going far away from what you would typically think of a Dracula movie: it’s modern, and it’s through the lens of Dracula as a sh*tty boss.”

The filmmaker continued, revealing that Renfield will be a little more than just a straight-up comedy. “[It’s] not a straightup comedy,” he added. “There is definitely a tongue-in-cheek premise — what if your boss was literally the boss from hell? — but it’s also got action, it’s got a lot of heart, it’s not without menace.”

Meanwhile, Cage’s co-star Nicholas Hoult has heaped praise on what the

Face/Off star is doing with the role of Dracula. “But to get to work with him whilst he was playing Dracula, I don’t think there’s two more iconic things than Dracula and Nic Cage,” he said. “So, to put those together and be in scenes with him and just watch all the inspiration and all the things that he brings to the character, the fun of it, the dedication, his love for acting, I just loved every single moment.”

Hoult has further teased what Cage will bring to the iconic role saying, “As a person, he’s such a pure soul to be around, and I’m excited for people to see what he’s done. It’s original, but it’s steeped in a lot of history, Dracula history and folklore. So it’s exciting, even though it’s a very bizarre, elevated tone for an action-comedy. So I’m excited for it.”

Renfield is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2023, by Universal Pictures.

IN MEMORIAM Lisa Marie Presley 1968-2023

LISA Marie Presley passed away from cardiac arrest at age 54. The daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley was rushed to the hospital after paramedics performed CPR at her home. Later that Thursday night, her mother shared the sad news.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley confirmed in a statement to People magazine. “She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”

Lisa Marie Presley made a January 8 public appearance at Graceland, celebrating what would have been Elvis’s 88th birthday. But her last memorable and very public appearance took place on January 10 at the Golden Globe Awards, where she was also seen on the NBC broadcast of the show, after Austin Butler thanked her and Priscilla from the stage, and she tapped her heart in response to him across the room as she and her mother wiped away tears.

(Left) Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay.

Photo Credit: Michele K. Short/Universal Pictures

M3GAN

SHE’S MORE THAN JUST A TOY. SHE’S PART OF THE FAMILY.

FROM the most prolific minds in horror— James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring franchises, and Blumhouse, the producer of the Halloween films, The Black Phone and The Invisible Man—comes a fresh new face in terror.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion

and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

A Man Called Otto

BASED on the # 1 New York Times bestseller “A Man Called Ove,” A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol. She challenges him to see life differently, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world around. A heartwarming and funny story about love, loss, and life, A Man Called Otto shows that family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

Directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland), A Man Called Otto stars Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), Mariana Treviño (Club de Cuervos), Rachel Keller (Fargo), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Magnificent Seven), Truman Hanks and Mike Birbiglia (Trainwreck). The screenplay is written by Academy Award® nominee David Magee (Best Adapted Screenplay, Life of Pi, 2012; Best Adapted Screenplay, Finding Neverland, 2004) based upon the best-selling novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman, and the film A Man Called Ove by Hannes Holm.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-yearold niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan, M3GAN is directed by awardwinning filmmaker Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant, The Nun 2) based on a story by Akela Cooper and James Wan.

The film also stars Ronny Chieng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will & Grace), Jen Van Epps (Cowboy Bebop), Lori Dungey (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, extended edition) and Stephane GarneauMonten (Straight Forward).

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse present an Atomic Monster production in association with Divide/Conquer. The film’s executive producers are Allison Williams, Mark Katchur, Ryan Turek, Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath.

The film is being produced by Fredrik Wikström Nicastro, Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman.

Douglas Vermeeren KEEPING UP WITH

WE ARE EXCITED to have had the opportunity to catch up with a Hollywood Weekly Magazine favorite, Doug Vermeeren. Last time we spoke with Doug he was staying busy working on various projects including ‘Operation Broken Sniper’, as well as horror films ‘Bring Me a Skin for Dancing in’, and ‘The Video Tape’. In true Doug fashion, he is continuing to stay busy and even took time out of his cruise to the Bahamas to tell us about the new and exciting projects he is working on, and we can’t wait to share the details!

If I were to truly tell our readers about every individual project Doug has his hand in, I’m fairly sure I would run out of space on the page. With his

vastly diverse skillset, it seems Doug has yet to turn down a challenge and continues to break barriers within the entertainment industry. From acting, producing, and stunt work, to public speaking, podcasts and directing, I am left wondering, is there anything he can’t do?

Each time we speak with Doug, he greets us with his warm, inviting energy. His positive energy and cando attitude are simply contagious. But what stands out most about Doug, and always has, is his genuine passion for what he does. He not only puts his time and energy into these projects, but he really does put his love in first and foremost, and it’s abundantly clear. I believe that truly

is what continues to separate Doug from the rest, and if I had to guess, it may be a part of his secret to success.

Per usual, there are so many great new things he’s working on. One of the projects Doug is excited to be a part of is called ‘Recreating 1912’, which is extremely unique and intriguing. This project attempts to use modern day technology to create a film from the silent film era. Meaning all stunts, props, filming methods, etc., will be used in an effort to re-create and re-capture the early history of film. With Doug’s lifelong love of films, I am personally beyond excited to see what he does with this one, and I am sure he won’t disappoint. You can look out for this

one around April of next year.

Doug’s busy schedule also includes an action thriller titled ‘A Bullet with Her Name on it’, which he begins shooting in March. The 2023 summer film takes us on a journey of a hitman hired by the government to hunt down and murder a very surprising, and unlikely target. The edge-ofyour-seat, action packed thriller is a perfect fit for Doug, and there’s no doubt his rugged side, and raw talent will shine through in this role.

He is also excited to share with us that he will be featured in the film ‘Bullets, Blades and Blood’. Which is a story of revenge, featuring an excovert military operator who goes out on a personal mission when his family

is kidnapped, and possibly murdered.

Doug shares with us “I’m excited for all of the projects that I’m involved in for many different reasons, and in many different ways.” He continues “One of the things I am most thankful for, is just being able to work again since the COVID-19 restrictions have bene lifted. I am also extremely excited about being able to work with and be surrounded by so many incredibly talented people who love what they do and are great at it”.

When we asked Doug what challenges he’s facing with these projects, he said “Honestly, this is a difficult question to answer, I am not experiencing any specific difficulties on any of the projects”. He goes on to share “I think one of my biggest challenges in general is just keeping my schedule sorted. I have an amazing team that helps keep me on track, and I am extremely thankful for them.” He continues by telling us “I think for most actors it’s all about finding the balance where you can be doing a fantastic job on your current project, while also being able to spend time and energy looking at future projects. I am beyond grateful that so many filmmakers are considering me for their projects right now. It’s not always like that and I’m sure that most actors can relate.”

Doug also opens up and digs a little deeper with us when we asked about what’s going on in his personal life. He shares with us “Professionally, I have a lot of great upcoming opportunities over the next two years. These are all projects I am really excited about, and I am looking forward to what will come next. Personally though, it can be a bit complicated. I have great family and friends, and I’m staying busy. However, right now I’m single so we will see what happens next in that department…”

Although Doug’s raw talent and true passion for what he does have given him so much success, he also shares “There are so many people that helped me with the success that I have been experiencing. I am lucky enough to have the support of so many great family members and friends. But there are also people

within the industry who have been so helpful and kind to me”. He goes on to tell us “Those people have given me great advice, as well as helped open doors for me. But most importantly, they helped me see where I was lacking, and allowed me to be aware of my weaknesses.” He continues by saying “Those conversations haven’t always been easy to hear, but they have been crucial in my growth. Of course, no one likes to hear about their deficiencies. It can even be painful to hear, but oftentimes those conversations have ended up being powerful opportunities for me.”

Coming so far from the little boy messing around with his grandfather’s 8mm video camera, we asked Doug what he would say to his childhood self if he could go back, and his answer is surprising “Most of the time when people ask this question, it comes with the idea that you would go back and tell yourself something that would change your present or future. The reality is, I love my life. I love what’s happening and I love where things are going.” He continues by sharing with us “So, I don’t know if I would give myself much advice. I would simply say ‘Just keep going, believe in yourself, try your best and have fun’.” His answer isn’t one I’ve ever heard be for and left me feeling that if only we could all be so easy on our past selves, I believe the world would be a much lighter place.

You can keep an eye out for Doug’s new project, Awakening the Orbs Archive, which starts shooting this month. The film is being directed by award winning director Aaron Glanfield, and Doug is really looking forward to being a part of it. The feature film which takes place in post-apocalyptic earth, tells a story of humanity fighting for its survival, while at the same time trying to track down and protect a magical power it desperately needs. There is no release date as of today, but Doug promises to keep us updated.

Recently, Doug has also landed a spot on the TV series ‘Operation Majestic’ which will premier this summer on CTV in Canada. The series tells a story of a UFO conspiracy and a secret organization called Majestic, who exhaust all their efforts trying to hide information from the public.

Doug plays a character by the name of Nick Tyler who is torn between loyalty to his agency, and a dangerous truth that must be exposed. The show gives an early 90’s X-files vibe, and Doug tells us he is really looking forward to start shooting in the spring.

It seems there’s never a dull moment in Doug’s life. Whenever we get to steal a few moments of his time, he always has new, and incredibly exciting projects to discuss with us. It left me curious, what’s his dream role?

Doug lets us in a bit more, and shares with us “There are a few dream projects that I would love to be a part of. I am a huge James Bond fan and have been since I was a kid. So, I would be thrilled to do anything they asked me to do in the James Bond series.” He continues by telling us, “I would also love to do something for

Marvel, or Star Wars. I have always been a massive fan of both of those franchises as well, and I would be incredibly honored to be a part of a legacy like that in some way.”

Although Doug possesses a generally quiet and shy demeanor - to me, these big dream answers are no surprise. His success up until now speaks for itself, and really shows that his ability to continue dreaming big and shoot for the moon is destined to land him amongst the stars.

If you would like to contact Doug for future projects, you can find him directly on his website, www. DouglasVermeeren.com on Facebook @Douglas Vermeeren, on Instagram @douglasvermeeren, search for him on IMDB, or go directly to his blog www.douglasvermeerem.com/blog.

8TH ANNUAL MAGAZINE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW

CATEGORY – SHORT FILMS

Winner: Phoenix 2021/A Survival Guide

DISTANCE

SHORT FILM

A suspenseful, mysterious short film that is based on a planet parallel with Earth, that has been ravished by a virus. The characters take us through the journey of a confrontation in the woods that begins innocently, but then takes a turn.

PHOENIX 2021/A SURVIVAL GUIDE SHORT FILM

An intriguing short film that says so much. Telling a story of mental health, and a girl striving for perfection. With a topic so many people can relate to, the film draws out emotion, and uncomfortableness in the best way possible. Shot well, I thoroughly enjoyed.

A SILENT CALL: CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?

SHORT FILM

This short film takes us through the personal struggles of addiction, therapy, family trauma and identity crisis. The story line was enjoyable, and the characters were relatable. The story shows the modern-day family struggles that so many of us go through, but don’t care to discuss.

CATEGORY – FULL LENGTH FILMS

Winner: La Lucha – Getting Schooled in America

LA LUCHA: GETTING SCHOOLED IN AMERICA FULL LENGTH FILM

Incredible film, extremely raw, and emotional. A story of gang violence, trauma and sadly, the reality so many kids in Los Angeles are affected by, all on top of everyday teenage struggles. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen, it was shocking, sad, sometimes unbelievable, inspiring, and most importantly a story that needs to be told. The film is also educational, and greatly insightful.

GUNRUCK: ELEGY PROFESSIONAL FULL LENGTH FILM

A dramatic and twisted story about a girl who’s traumatic past lands her in a less than ideal situation. The film was suspenseful, intriguing and kept me interested throughout the entirety of it. The cast was believable, relatable and overall enjoyable to watch. An interesting storyline, looking at the relationship between predator and prey that makes the mind wander.

CATEGORY – SCREENPLAYS Winner: Amy and Angel

AMY AND ANGEL SCREENPLAY

An uplifting, inspiring story based on true events that pulls on your heartstrings all the way through. Shining a light on bullying, being different and finding a way to embrace that even when the world has been unkind. Showing how finding love and acceptance in unexpected places in sometimes exactly what we need to find our inner strength and go to greater lengths than ever imagined.

FLECKERI SCREENPLAY

An interesting sci-fi story with many twists and turns. Very imaginative, with well thought out characters, and character development. Taking place in post-war Afghanistan, two super soldiers are simply fighting to stay alive until the government beings to rely on them to save their lives. A unique story that includes action, sci-fi and drama.

MURDERESS OF DEMONS SCREENPLAY

A story with mystery, demons, black holes & dreams turning to reality. With twists and turns around every corner, this screenplay takes you on a journey in a crooked reality where sometimes you’re not sure what is real and what’s a dream. Interesting, strong characters that are easy to follow along with.

GOLDLIVERY SCREENPLAY

A very interesting and entertaining story of delivery drivers from all around the world come together in Italy and engage in a competition for $1 million dollars to determine who the best delivery driver in the world is. An extremely unique plot and storyline, that kept my attention. Very diverse characters with the right amount of conflict and feel-good moments.

VODUN SCREENPLAY

An intriguing story where the very traditional Catholic Church crosses paths with East African tradition and the cult of Vodun. Focusing on a clash of cultures, with the added opposition of the cult makes for an extreme contrast in human belief systems. A blend of drama, and some mystery the characters develop well and the story builds in a way that keeps you interested in finding out what comes next.

01 Phoenix 2021/A Survival Guide (Short Films) 02 La Lucha – Getting Schooled in America (Full length Films)

03 Amy and Angel (Screenplays)

Michael Emerson

On EVIL, acting styles, and other abstracts

By Alex A. Kecskes

Best known for his iconic character 'Ben Linus' on ABC's LOST, Michael Emerson’s nuanced portrayal of the enigmatic villain has gained him critical acclaim and made him a LOST fan-favorite. A Golden Globe Nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Emerson proved that playing the bad guy pays off. Named by Variety as One of the greatest villains in television history, Emerson held LOST's inexplicable answers close for his five-season tenure on the hit series.

Emerson won his first Emmy for Best Guest Performance in a Dramatic Series playing serial killer William Hinks on ABC's The Practice. He also starred alongside James Caviezel in the hit CBS crime drama Person of Interest. Most recently, Emerson appeared in the TV series Mozart in the Jungle, Arrow, and Claws

Regarded by many as TV's most frightening character, Emerson was recently nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his breakout role as Leland Townsend in Paramount+'s EVIL A two-time Emmy Award winner, Emerson is terrifying millions as the star of the supernatural hit EVIL. Entertainment Weekly calls EVIL "a revelation," and Vanity Fair declared it "riveting television." Currently filming season 4, the dark psychological mystery examines the origins of evil and the dividing line between science and religion.

Thank you for taking the time for this interview. Evil wrestles with questions of faith, spirituality, morality, and the occult. What, in particular, attracted you to the role of Leland in Evil?

Michael Emerson: It was the general outline of the story that I was most interested in. I saw that Leland, who didn’t have much to do at the time, had the potential to grow into an interesting adversary—a real villain in the show. I was drawn to that. That and the pedigree of the show. I'm always interested in what Robert and Michell King are doing. So I thought, why don't I sign up for this repertory theater company and see what kind of experience it is? And it's been a good one.

How did you prepare for the role of a sociopathic psychologist?

Emerson: There’s not a lot of preparation to it. I do kind of what I’ve always done, which is sound out the dialog in my head. I repeat it and it’s like music, I suppose. I repeat it until it sounds like it has the right melody for the character. And when I reach a point where I’m happy with its ambiguity, mystery, and humor, I'm good to go.

Leland occupies that arresting space of nerdy menace that worked so well for you in Lost.

Emerson: Yeah, but he’s less earnest than Linus and less tortured. He seems perfectly happy with his work and his place in the scheme of things. Which is kind of funny sometimes.

Do you think Evil makes a statement about the many problems facing our society? About our cocooned, digitized lives and how we may be unprepared for some imminent evil to overtake us?

Emerson: I don’t think the show has a particular agenda. They're just saying here's a particular way of looking at a lot of things that disturb us or interest us. Let's just take a what-if proposition and run with it. What if there were some supernatural agency at work in world events or the things we read in the paper? Would that be an interesting conversation? What if it was predicated on a landscape of good vs. evil?

Since its move to Paramount, Evil’s themes have been getting darker. Will this continue?

Emerson: It’s the license we get from being with a streamer. But I think we’ve already arrived at that. I don’t think there’s any reason to push that envelope any further. We can already show as much blood as we want. As far as profanity and sexuality, I don’t see us going a lot further in those directions. In season four, the writers are comfortable and confident. I’ve only seen the first three scripts and I think they’ve hit their stride.

Will the series delve into Leland's background and go into his head a bit more in Season 4?

Emerson: I don’t expect they need to tell the audience a whole lot more about him. It may serve the character if he remains a bit of a cipher, a bit more mysterious. But at some point, if they have a great idea for making an entertaining reveal of some of his real life, I won’t hesitate to do it. But let’s not show too much of an everyday guy in Leland. Leave them wanting more is my motto.

Evil sprinkles a bit of humor into many episodes. Do you think it provides just enough relief to offset the show's macabre underpinnings?

Emerson: I think so. It gives the audience a license to not go to sleep and have nightmares. It’s a reminder for the characters and some writers that the show is entertainment. It’s a nice balance.

Are there Leland scenes you really like that make you think, God, I really love this show?

Emerson: Sure. Some scenes are so breathlessly dangerous with the stakes so high—in terms of injury or life and death—that it’s thrilling to be in it. For me, it’s musical. It’s like trying something and getting it just dead right, with all the tones and timings singing perfectly. I had a faceoff with Andrea Martin who plays a nun—me with a bottle of raw ammonia and she with a butcher knife. That was kind of thrilling. You could’ve heard a pin drop on the set.

Was there a show or actor that first drew you into acting?

Emerson: As a boy, I liked comic actors like Don Knotts, Red Skelton, and Jackie Gleason. I also liked the actors I couldn't figure out—like Peter Lorre, and Vincent Price. Guys you worried about, guys you weren't sure about. I like not knowing everything they were. That they had secrets or things you couldn't know. I've held on to that as an aesthetic principle.

When you brought up Peter Lorre, it brought to mind The Beast with Five Fingers.

Emerson: (Laughs) He was a wonderful actor.

What have you learned about acting and show business that truly surprised you?

Emerson: Well, I've learned there are more ways to go at it than I ever dreamt. And I've learned that the kind of naturalistic acting that you’re taught or that you learn when you’re young, the kind of ‘methody, delve or reach inside yourself’ style, and the sense memories from your family; I’ve learned that those are not much use to me. I like to approach it more abstractly. I'll refer back to my music analogy. I think of a script as notes on paper and I'm the player. And I'm going to wring the music out of it in a particular way.

What were you like in high school? The guy most likely to….

Emerson: I was a success in high school. I was student body president. But I was the smallest boy in school in my grade, even at graduation. I was the kid most likely to get beat up (laughs). I had a mouth on me. My mother was always reminding me of that, saying, “You need to be quiet because you have a punchable face.”

Did you do drama in school?

Emerson: Yes. And that was my ticket out of the world of competitive maleness. And into a world where I was likely to succeed like anyone else.

Michael Emerson

Lori Singer

On Rachel Hendrix, cello music, and ‘staying footloose’

Dancer, cellist, and actress, Lori Singer grew up in Texas, Portland, Vancouver, and London. Her father Jacques Singer was a symphony conductor, and her mother Leslie was a concert pianist. Accepted to the Juilliard Performing Arts School at age 14, she became the school’s youngest undergraduate music student. A year after enrolling, she made her debut as a soloist with the Western Washington Symphony. In 1980, she won the Bergen Philharmonic Competition. Tall and strikingly beautiful, Singer also

pursued a successful modeling career with the Elite Model Agency.

In 1982, Singer landed a role in the TV series Fame. She was a natural to play the tall, beautiful cellist Julie Miller, displaying her dancing and singing skills. Singer later portrayed a model in the TV movie Born Beautiful, winning a Silver Halo Award for her performance. Her breakout role was as Ariel in the 1984 dance feature Footloose, which grossed $80,000,000. In 1985, Singer was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead

By Alex A. Kecskes

in Trouble in Mind. In 1993, she won a Golden Globe Award for her outstanding performance in Short Cuts. Two years later, she starred in the sci-fi series VR.5. Singer still plays the cello regularly and devotes her spare time to the “DISHES Project” for Pediatric AIDS.

In the heartfelt drama Rachel Hendrix, Singer is Rachel, a creative writing professor who experiences a relapse of grief after losing her husband amidst the impact of COVID-19 on her beloved coastal town.

Thank you for taking the time for this interview. You are an accomplished cellist and worked as an Elite model. What film or actor drew you into acting?

Lori Singer: Well, my father was an orchestra conductor, my mother is a pianist, my older brother is a Shakespearean actor, and my mother’s second cousin is actor Raymond Massey. So there are a lot of actors and musicians in my family. When I went to Julliard, I spent a lot of time watching rehearsals in the theatre. So I began studying acting at HB Studio and with Jill Adler and Sanford Meisner. Of course, by that time, I was already working. But I continued studying at the Actor’s Studio.

Rachel Hendrix is a powerful film about finding one’s way through the grief of loss. How did you prepare for the role?

Singer: We were in the middle of Covid and I’d just lost a very close friend, Hal Willner. I also lost my mother not too long ago. Victor (Nunez) is an amazing filmmaker and he made this film as an ode to his wife who passed away. He really had a strong vision of what he wanted. He wrote, directed, and produced the film. He also shot, edited, and even AD’d the film. We were all very much in his rhythm. It spoke to layers of grief, and of Rachel not being present, no matter how hard she tried. She’s still teaching, seeing her daughter, and calling her son but she was disconnected. When Ann (Kim Sandwich) loses her boyfriend, Rachel sees her life mirrored in a very young person.

You were so convincing as a creative writing professor. I wanted to sign up for your class. Were you a teacher?

Singer: (laughs). Well, I did teach some acting classes, chamber music classes, master classes, and others at NYU. I also taught at a performing arts high school. I love young people and their writing.

You expertly captured those silent moments of distraction when Rachel reflects on everyday events that remind her of Carl. Can you go into those a bit?

Singer: That push-pull was so paralyzing for Rachel. And she didn’t even realize she wasn’t fully present. It’s not that she’s living in the past, but a past that wasn’t exactly the way she imagined it. This is very jarring because I think Rachel really is or wants to be a realist. Even when, in her class, she’s trying to change, understand, and deconstruct Jacques Derrida. What does that mean? What exactly is it? She completely steps away at that moment and steps out of herself. It’s that struggle. And maybe, in a certain way, we all struggled during Covid, to pull ourselves together and try to be optimistic for each other. Rachel has lost touch, not only with herself but with her family. And she can’t quite manage it until the very end when she realizes the beauty of the love that surrounds her.

What did you find most challenging about the role or being in the film?

Singer: This was a very personal film for Victor. Just to fulfill his vision was really it for me. There was a moment when Rachel listens to Beethoven, but other than that, during the rest of the film, he wanted to have her listen

to music. That’s very rare. In every other film that I’ve done. I’ve always chosen to have music in my head. In this film, Rachel is just struggling to hold on to where she is. That was different because I had to accept Victor’s idea of what Rachel was going through. It made me understand his vision of Rachel, of being physically there but not present. In class, was she really hearing her students? That push-pull was so alive for Victor. That’s how Rachel lived and how she barely got out of it. For her, it was about reclaiming life and living.

Can you go into your favorite scene or scenes and why you like them?

Singer: It’s such a totality. Almost like Our Town. Is Rachel layering the people around her with their reality? What’s grabbing her? It’s something out of reach. She never says, “I see Carl.” She also never says, “I might be drinking too much.” She never says to her son, “When I think of you, I miss you so much. I only see you when you’re little.” Because her only memories of him are from when he was little. Maybe he was most honest with her. People move in and out of her life and she’s grasping at these various impressions. And when she gets back to writing, she writes about Carl. Even the report was her grasping and trying to seize control over something.

What have you learned about acting and show business that truly surprised you?

Singer: I always play characters that are a bit manic or crazy (laughs). Rachel Hendrix centers around a completely different tone. It’s an ode to Victor’s wife but it’s also about a very humble character. She’s a writer but she’s not trying to be a Hemingway. It was a surprise for me to play a wonderful kind of ‘every-woman’ person who loses her husband and doesn’t go overboard with emotion. When she goes to the ocean, she stands at the shore but doesn’t go into the water—a metaphor for her being at the edge of reality.

Many fans loved you in Footloose. Can you talk about what you liked about it?

Singer: (laughs). Well, I was a lot like that at the time. I was from Texas originally. My family was in the spotlight because my father was a performer. It’s similar to a preacher’s daughter. You’re supposed to stand up straight, do right, and be a model for the town. And that’s a lot of pressure. I had a very strong father and a very loving mother. We all got along so well that it was just very real. Christopher Penn could not dance. When I saw him practice dancing in the garage, I thought it was so interesting and true that I felt they should have used that. But in the end, Chris went to every Hollywood party and danced. And

Chuck (played by Jim Young) was a stunning cowboy type. John and Diane were like my parents. I sat with them for lunch and it was like being home. I loved being wilder than any of them. I did all the stunts. I stood for too long in front of the train—the stuntman had to pull me away. I choreographed the scene with the car and the truck. I wanted to be intimately involved.

What were you like in high school? The girl most likely to….

Singer: (laughs) I wanted to compete with boys in racing. To try to do something good, to contribute something to the world, to help people. I wrote letters to the editor when I was in the eighth grade—one was even published.

FROM THERed Carpet

Sherron Ballard: Reporter

Alexis Dominique: Journalist

On behalf of Justice for Women International/Children

Uniting Nations and the Hip-Hop Alliance, these two organizations joined forces to bring awareness of the devastating issues of Human Trafficking on women and children. This partnership is working to eliminate the violence and trafficking of young girls in our society. It was an exciting event filled with hope and love for a worthy cause.

This was the first time the event was held at the Original Warner Bros Estate in Beverly Hills on the day of the Academy Awards. The star-studded, A-list celebrities included Film and TV Producers, Writer, Actors/Actress and Hip=Hop Moguls and Artist.

Hollywood Weekly Magazine was invited to take part in the interview coverage of “Jane Doe” of the Harvey Weinstein court trial. She was one of the accusers (victim’s) of sexual assault but was never allowed to testify on her own behalf during the trial. But now, for the first time her identity will be revealed this evening. Furthermore, Harvey Weinstein was convicted of several counts of crimes and violence against women and sentence to prison.

The evening ended with Gourmet Dinner, and an Auction of various signed Portraits and Artist Paintings. I am sure the proceeds will further education and seek to eliminate the brutality of violence against women and children worldwide. These types of efforts are needed to stop destroying innocent lives and bring back a balance to our world.

The Beginnings:

Tracing back to 400,000 years ago there stood the beginnings of human kind known as the Peking Man (Homo erectus pekinensis) which inhabited the Zhoukoudian Cave also known as Dragon Bone Hill in Northern China. This area is South-west of Beijing at the juncture of the North China Plain and the Yanshan mountains.

Peking was the original name used by Jesuit missionary Martino Martin. Beijing originated with the French missionaries four hundred years ago and means Northern China. The area has a colorful history including invaders such as Genghis Khan and his Mongolian army. The area also experienced invading nomadic tribes which caused the construction of the Great Wall of China to be built to keep them out. It was built on rugged land as part of the defense.

Several dynasties existed ruled by emperors. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty 1368 - 1398. The Imperial palace was named the Forbidden City and became the residence of 24 emperors, their families and servants through the Qing dynasty which ended 1911 Beijing is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, parks,gardens, tombs walls and gates. The natives speak a Beijing dialect which is a version of Mandarin. Amongst the city's attractions are the remarkable architectural wonders. The Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, the Palace Museum, National Stadium, Lama Temple, Beihai Park, Jingshan Park and more. The city also proudly hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The City is amongst the most populated in the world with a count of over 21 million residents. It is one of the world's leading centers for cultural achievements in the arts and music, politics, science and technology, tourism, education, research, and houses the largest number of Fortune Global 500 companies, plus boasts an amazing number of billionaires. Amongst its proudest achievements is Beijing Daxing International Airport, the largest single structure airport terminal in the world.

It was built after 3 individuals who were born in Beijing made their way to America. They came equipped with dreams of success in the film industry. Their names are Chris Bixi Li, Ruijia Wang, and Jiaqing "Vincent" Ge. They represent the youth of today. Their story begins at a meeting at Starbucks in Burbank, California where they made plans to launch their upcoming movie entitled, "HIDE".

Article by Carmelita Pittman

Jiaqing "Vincent" Ge

Jiaqing Vincent Ge's parents, both engineers, gave him a strong foundation. On his father's side was a heritage of the military.

Vincent states that he was the black sheep of the family because his aspirations took him from a conservative point of view to the wildly imaginative road of entertainment. Yet both his parents were tolerant and lent their full support behind his dreams. They believed that an individual would succeed doing what they love. They helped pay for Vincent's education. They were very wise indeed.

Vincent enjoyed watching movies. His eyes were opened by the Harry Potter film, an imaginary world and huge commercial success, which became a world of its own with passionate followers. Avid fans have lined up to get the latest book or even camped out on the street to see the latest episode in the theater. Vincent thought Harry Potter was cool and his imagination was sparked which landed him in America as an upcoming film maker.

Chris Bixi Li

Chris discovered and became enamored of short films when she was in high school. She managed to achieve producing one of her own during that time entitled "Suddenly Like a Dream". In addition she directed 8 short projects during undergraduate school and 7 short projects during graduate school. Her experience includes freelance screenwriter in story developing and screenplay writing for various companies. Soundfirm Beijing is a post-production company she worked with. She has also assisted to IO and DIT and color grading in the post production for feature films. In addition she served as the interpreter and coordinator with post-sound engineers from the headquarter in Australia online.

Able to handle multiple assignments she also engaged the 2nd season of Top Funny Comedian in Shanghai Dragon TV. She discussed scripts and preproductions, assisted agents with actors' daily management needs and publicity. Equipped with all of this experience under her belt she built a foundation which she transferred to America where she landed in New York and studied at the New York Film Academy. The East coast proved to be a fertile launching ground for her imagination when she began the writing of "HIDE" 2019.

Ruijia Wang

Ruijia Wang was born and raised in an artistic family. Her mom was a housewife and her dad produced commercials. Her grandmother was a photographer. As an only child she received the benefit of her family's full attention and by the 3rd grade she was already an actress in Beijing. She wanted to be a producer however. For a time she lived at Beijing New Talent Academy. Her quest led her to the New York Film Academy where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She took her training and experience to California. Her credits include 50 short films and 10 music videos. Her experience includes handling a number of assignments for film production including break down of the script, scouting for and securing locations, getting permits, generating budget, completion of paperwork, posting casting calls and completing SAG-AFTRA requirements, creating call sheets, recruiting and contacting the crew, holding casting sessions and rehearsals, anticipating and solving any issues on the set. She makes the job for the producer and director and client easier by handling and fulfilling any needs. Her titles have included Line Producer, First Assistant Director. She also holds a Producing Certificate obtained from UCLA Extension.

Although he had preparation in Beijing during his high school years in summer camp, and spent 3 years in high school, he enriched his studies after transferring to an international school where he studied chemistry from Spain, statistics from Nepal, economics from Canada.

Vincent has acquired an impressive amount of credits in the film industry which includes title as First Assistant Director. He has worked on over 30 short films as well as 6 feature films and 1 TV series. He has broken down scripts and generated shooting schedules, created call sheets, scouted and scheduled locations, recruited and contacted the crew and held casting sessions and rehearsals. Part of his duties has been to trouble shoot to keep production running smoothly. He has insured that productions run on time by communicating between the crew and talents.

Global Genesis Group Seven Days Alive, TV series is in his pocket of credits. During that time his language heritage was a premium in alleviating language barriers between a Mandarin speaking director and English speaking crew. He translated 24 episodes of the TV series scripts from Chinese to English, including formatting the screenplay. He also provided feedback to the writer to assist in getting the correct information for delivery onto the screenplay. The highly revered Rose Parade is an international treasure. Vincent directed a commercial with a 40+ crew connected to the Rose Parade. With all of this behind him, Vincent is excited to bring his cultural background to the growing international market in L.A.

HIDE

In the deep dark chambers of a green forest on the West Coast of the USA there stood tall vertical trees reaching towards the sky. The dank smell of a nearby pond filled the air with its aroma. There stood a wooden weather worn shack, small but large enough to accommodate its occupant, the unsightly Jekyll. His skin was moist with the dew, yet wrinkled. Part of his face was missing. He was frightening in appearance. His years on earth revealed his elderly state, old and withered. How did he come to be this way? Originally from the East Coast during his youth he became involved in an underground activist group of thirty members. Their quest was to make the world a better place. They felt that the world was kind of messed up. They tried many ways to get positive recognition but soon came to their own conclusion that violence is what captures attention. Unfortunately they planted a bomb under his guidance and the result was an explosion which left Jekyll badly marred for life. He was betrayed by the group's leaders. His physical state left him resentful and vengeful. He re-located to the West Coast to get away. Disfigured, he hid himself away as a hermit in the woods and used survival skills. Jekyll was mysterious and gradually became a sociopath and tumor to society. He will face the consequence of his actions.

Nearby was an isolated small town where a youngster who was fourteen years of age named Joey happened to meet Jekyll in a general store. Joey was blond and attractive in appearance. The old man mysteriously told Joey"I know what you did." Joey sensed something unusual about this old man. It seemed that Jekyll had some kind of psychic powers. Unbeknownst to anyone else, Joey had committed some crimes. Somehow he had managed to hide that side of his personality even from his abusive single mom, Helen, who was also blond, or his friend Natalie whose hair was brown of medium length.

In spite of Joey's questionable activities he wanted himself and things to be better. Unfortunately he had been bullied when he was even younger and became a misfit. He has a hunger for getting power

and becoming a real "man". Both he and Jekyll are wanting to fight for fairness. He falls into Jekyll's hands however which misguide him. The more times he meets with Jekyll, the more serious mistakes Joey has made "accidentally".

Somehow Jekyll became increasingly involved in Joey's life, manipulated him and took over Joey's consciousness.

About the Project Behind the Scenes

Chris Bixi Li who conceived this film project has collaborated with Ruijia Wang and Jiaqing Vincent Ge. The film is currently in post production and expected to make its debut 2023. Along the way although there have been challenges, the project has maintained its mobility. The first major hurdle was dealing with the worldwide Pandemic which basically froze everything in its path. Masks became part of the wardrobe hiding everyone's presence. So many of the photographs during that time are actually hiding the participants. Interesting that the title of the project is HIDE.

Production depended on everyone's availability so the production worked

around everyone's schedules. That factor slowed progress a bit.

Major decisions had to be made. One consideration was out of state production. However it is more difficult to control the production costs as well as unexpected expenses which can be incurred. That could also impact control of the quality of the film since it costs more to produce out of state.

Staying in L.A. also has proved to be a benefit since there are more personal contacts available. Although this film is a labor of love, favors available or exchanged were a plus.

About the Actors

Jason Hahn drove up from Idaho. He is blond, attractive and fourteen years of age and is playing the role of Joey Price. This is his film debut. Eric Ross Gilliatt, a dramatic actor of film, stage and screen, is from the Ukraine and plays the role of Jekyll. His experience spans 30 years. He has been through a lot of experiences because he had to flee from the Ukraine to Poland. Eric's role as Jekyll also involves sitting for a minimum of 2 hours for makeup to show disfigurement and at least 45 minutes for make-up removal.

Credits

Title: HIDE

Writer, Producer, Director: Chris Bixi Li

Script Consultant: Travis Seppala

Producer: Ruijia Wang 1st Assistant Director and Co-Producer: Jiaqing "Vincent" Ge

Genre: thriller, crime, drama • Tone: dark, mysterious, suspenseful, sullen

Length: around 93 minutes

Project Status: post-production

Stars: Eric Ross Gilliatt as Jekyll, Jason Hahn as Joey Price, Fay Gauthier as Helen, Josie Hull as Natalie

Additional Cast: Jackson Ark, Dexter Farren Haag, Clayton Gorman, Prince Udeh, Justin Stapleton, Dean Simone

Director of Photography: Evan Butka,

Photographers: Tiancong Zheng, Yuxi Liang

Rating: R

NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR THE "54TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS"

Today, NAACP unveiled the full list of “54th NAACP Image Awards” nominees with ABC and Netflix leading the pack with 28 and 15 nominations respectively. The winners will be revealed during the two-hour LIVE TV special, airing Saturday, February 25th, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET on BET and 8:00 PM PT on delay. The show will be in front of an audience for the first time in three years.

Netflix and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever lead nominations across the motion picture categories with 15 and 12 nominations respectively. ABC and Abbott Elementary received the most nominations in the television + streaming categories with 28 and nine nominations respectively. Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar are tied for the most nominations in the music recording categories (5 respectively). RCA Records / RCA Inspiration received the most nominations across record labels (11). Penguin Random House and Harper Collins lead nominations across literary categories (9).

“This year’s nominees have conveyed a wide range of authentic stories and diverse experiences that have resonated with many in our community, and we’re proud to recognize their outstanding achievements

and performances,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP.

“We take pride in recognizing the trailblazing achievements and artistry of this year’s esteemed nominees and celebrating the powerful legacy of the NAACP,” said Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, BET. “We look forward to bringing the Image Awards back to Pasadena in front of a live audience and delivering unforgettable moments that epitomize the brilliance of the Black community.”

The public can vote to determine the winners of the “54th NAACP Image Awards” by visiting www.naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes on February 10, 2023. Winners will be revealed during the “54th NAACP Image Awards” telecast on February 25, 2023, on BET. NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised Image Awards categories February 20-24, which will stream on www.naacpimageawards.net. For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @ NAACPImageAwards.

Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural awards shows, the “54th NAACP Image Awards” will continue

a tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to that purpose.

One of the most iconic annual celebrations of Black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years’ attendees and winners include Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Wizkid, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Michael B. Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Jamie Foxx, Chloe x Halle, Regé-Jean Page, Daniel Kaluuya, Michaela Coel, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Blair Underwood, Will Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Sterling K. Brown, Loni Love, Sheryl Underwood, Halle Berry, Common, Dwayne Johnson, Audra Day, John Legend, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Oyelowo, Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, Issa Rae, Trevor Noah, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Jacob Latimore, Jill Scott, H.E.R., Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Loretta Devine, Sylvester Stallone, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Ava DuVernay, the late Chadwick Boseman, and many more.

Alexis

Dominique A NEW LEVEL OF BEAUTY

THIS MONTH at Hollywood Weekly Magazine, we are shining the spotlight on Alexis Dominique, who we had the chance to catch up with. Alexis is a local hairstylist who caught our attention with her outgoing, sweet, and bubbly personality. Alexis came from humble beginnings in the beauty industry. She started out sweeping hair as an assistant and has climbed her way to the top. She is now the owner and operator of her own hair studio; Hair by Lex, located in Los Angeles. Just how did this SFV native find a way to elevate herself all the way to the top of her game? Well, we’ve set to find out.

Alexis Dominique was born in the San Fernando Valley and raised throughout the Los Angeles County area. Always surrounded by friends and family, her younger years were fun and full of love, which is where her passion for beauty began. As a child, Alexis loved playing around with styling her cousin’s hair, and the more she did it, the better she got. From a very young age, her friends and family could clearly see the natural gift Alexis had.

When they realized she was on her way to turning her passion into her profession, they supported

her, built her confidence, and encouraged her go out and pursue her dream. Between her natural talent, determination and passion Alexis excelled through Cosmetology school, and has come a long way since then.

She is now a professional, soughtafter, studio owning hair stylist who specializes in extensions, wigs, cuts, and color. When we saw what Alexis Dominique could do behind the scenes, we knew this was someone who should be in front of a larger audience of department heads in the hairstyling world. Her efforts are seamless, and she seems to have a style all her own.

Although her talents very clearly speak for themselves, what you don’t get to see in the glossy photos showcasing flawless hair styles, is the incredible energy Alexis brings along with her. She is confident, but humble, and she alway keeping her clients feeling comfortable that they will love the result every time, so they have no concerns while they’re sitting in her chair. Her genuine care and love for her client’s needs is unmatched, and her passion for what she does truly comes to life through her results.

With her detail-oriented personality, and undeniable understanding of her client’s needs, Alexis is making huge strides in her career, and we have no doubt that the sky is the limit when it comes to what this star on the rise can accomplish.

Along with owning a hair studio, Alexis has also had the opportunity to showcase her work during fashion week in both New York and Paris. She tells us “When I see an opportunity, I seize it! That mindset has really opened doors to a lot of incredible opportunities for me that I will always be grateful for”.

When we spoke with Alexis about her dream job, she lights up while talking about one day being hired by a major motion picture company. She believes that an opportunity of that level could greatly expand her knowledge and help perfect her skillset by having the opportunity to work with a training department of that capacity. She continues to share with us that she has always wanted to become a lead stylist for films, and various high-end clients like celebrities. Beyond that, Alexis would love to be involved in editorial shoots where she can showcase her unique

style and take her passion for hair and beauty to the next level.

I have full confidence that Alexis will achieve all these goals and go far beyond them. Her kind spirit is contagious, and her determination to succeed will continue to take her where she has always been headed –straight to the top.

In the future, Alexis hopes to continue to build her client base, and would love to grow her portfolio with opportunities on the east coast and abroad. She also plans to continue expanding her knowledge in prop styling for film. Both of which will allow her the ability to join her trade industry Hair Stylist Union. One day, she plans to create a beauty line of exclusive hair products, and we cannot wait to get our hand on some!

As she continues stacking the building blocks to her global brand, she tells us her personal goal is to “follow my inner spirit by giving what I can back to society”. She also hopes to one day expand the fullness of her life by building a home with a family of her own.

So, for those wondering just how Alexis Dominique has worked her way up from the bottom and has been able to live out her dream – she

tells us, “Find something that you love and follow your dream. That may very well be your God given talent.”, she goes on to say “It’s not easy. It will take hard work, persistence, and perseverance. But it will be so rewarding, and you get to have fun doing it too!”

With her drive and raw talent, I do believe Alexis could do this all on her own. But luckily, she doesn’t have to. She tells us she has an excellent support system in her mother, Sherron, who has always believed in her daughter’s skill and helped get her to where she is today.

As Alexis says, “Great hair doesn’t happen by accident, it happens by appointment!”, so if you need a little refresh, or a full reset contact Alexis for all your hair needs, or stop in at Hair by Lex near the LAX airport in Los Angeles, CA.

CALLUS

If you are interested in future business opportunities with Alexis Dominique, please call (818) 408-1327 directly, or reach out to her on Instagram @ HairbyLex.

Gabrielle Ruiz

BROADWAY STAR, singer, actress, and dancer Gabrielle Ruiz established a name for herself playing Valencia Perez on the CW’s Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning musical comedy series My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Now, the Texas-born Latina is adding recording artist to her title, with the release of her first original holiday spiritual single, Twinkle, Twinkle. Ruiz has also made the jump to the world of sci-fi and comics, lending her voice as the Vulcan T’lyn in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and as Rio in the series Spidey and His Amazing Friends.

Ruiz got her start on Broadway, starring in the musical If/Then opposite Idina Menzel, then in Evita with Ricky Martin, and In The Heights with LinManuel Miranda. Ruiz is also the co-host of the popular podcast What are Friends For alongside Pallavi Sastry, where they delve into joyful, meaningful, and uncomfortable conversations about platonic love in a socially distanced world. They have featured interviews with notable talent including Jaime Camil, Melissa Fumero, Danielle Bayard Jackson, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, and Megan Hilty, to name a few.

Ruiz hails from Edinburg, Texas where she grew up developing dance as her primary passion. She trained at Melba’s School of Dance under Melba Huber and Anne Bowling. To further her education, Ruiz received a ballet scholarship to attend the Texas Association for Teachers of Dance summer convention. She began vocal lessons early on and was classically trained by the late David Custer of San Antonio, Texas. Gabrielle attended Oklahoma City University’s Ann Lacy School of Dance and Arts Management where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. After college, Ruiz moved to New York where she dove headfirst into the theatre world.

ON VALENCIA PEREZ AND LA VIDA LOCA OF SHOW BUSINESS

By Alex A. Kecskes

Thank you for taking the time for this interview. So you initially trained as a dancer but you got your start in theatre. What was that like?

Gabrielle Ruiz: I think it was a combination of telling a story using my body and my voice. I trained vocally in a public school and performed in the Texas all-state choir. Combining that with my dance training made absolute sense. In the summer of my college years, I performed in an ensemble in their summer stock. But I think what really made it click for me was getting a paycheck for it (laughs).

You then went on to play Tina in Law & Order SVU. Was that a learning experience, transitioning from theatre to a TV police drama?

Gabrielle: It was pretty cool and completely different from the momentum where you get everything done in one day. The director and crew were fantastic to let me learn on the job. It was also a different schedule. In TV, you shoot out of order; on a live stage, it’s in order. It was a challenge, but it made sense to me.

Did you have detective consultants to advise you on procedures?

Gabrielle: There are firearm consultants who make sure you understand the safety, logistics, and what level of firearms

education you have—be it security guard, detective, or military.

After that, it was a string of TV appearances—from the romance drama Sex Love & Salsa to the comedy Alone Together. Were you thinking, okay, I’m just a one-episode actor now?

Gabrielle: That’s a good question. The theatre auditions were coming more frequently because I’d told my agent it was what I wanted. So that was going well. But we would just dabble here and there on TV to see where I fit. When it comes to TV, I don’t feel I’m raw talent but more of a student. So I took some TV acting classes. The auditions are different for TV but I found a manager who helped me with that. It sounds so funny but with TV you have a weekend, with Broadway, you don’t.

Then came your big break in My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. What attracted you to the role of Valencia Perez?

Gabrielle: It’s so much fun. The creators--Rachel Bloom and Aline McKenna--the magic they have with the show. One of the things I like to point out about the four seasons is that in season one, all the principals had solos with professional dancers behind them. But by the time you get to season four, you

see the evolution of the cast as a family to the point where we’re supporting and dancing behind David Hull in Love is Not a Game. We’re all the ensemble and we all have featured moments. And that’s when rehearsals were even more fun with Kathryn Burns. So Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was the first big show that moved me and my husband to Los Angeles. It’s my first family here in L.A.

Finally, a show that lets you tap into all your dance training and voice talent.

Gabrielle: I was very lucky, we were lucky to have a choreographer to help us explore all the genres, styles, parodies, angles, and jokes. And there’s a lot of trust because there were moments, as in Friendtopia where we weren’t quite sure where we were going (laughs) but it worked.

How do you prepare for the role of Valencia? Do you have friends that are like Valencia? Or is there a Valencia trying to break out of you?

Gabrielle: (Laughs) Vella Lovell says I roll my eyes a lot and I think it’s because of Valencia. One of her first lines was “Oh, you made a joke. I don’t like humor,” which is a nod to my sister. She sometimes doesn’t get my jokes. And when I ask her, she’ll say, “okay.” Her intensity, her actions, and demeanor definitely inspired Valencia. I hope she takes that as a compliment. My sister is very fierce with her love and so is Valencia. So I discovered the Valencia in myself.

What inspired you to create the holiday spiritual single, Twinkle, Twinkle?

Gabrielle: Well, I definitely didn’t come to Hollywood to get into the music industry. But I love to sing and create. And I had this desire to get creative with spirituality and make music with friends. I worked with Chensiang Tiow, a poet/ mathematician, and Charlie Malcolm, a talented composer to create this lovely song and video. I loved the poems that Chen created during the holidays. So I asked him if we could do something with his poem Twinkle, Twinkle.

What do you find challenging about your voicework in Star Trek: Lower Decks and as ‘Rio’ in the series Spidey and His Amazing Friends?

Gabrielle: It’s a blast. It lets me hone in on my vocal and music skills. There’s rhythm, cantor, and waiting and stopping and speeding up how you speak. The pressure’s off when it comes to memorizing because the script’s in front of you but there’s a different kind of pressure with timing. When you’re recording your lines—even during the audition—there’s a lot of darkness of not knowing the whole picture because the actors are not with you. You’re all by yourself in a studio. But it’s imagination with reckless abandonment because you can do a voiceover without setting up lights, cameras, makeup, or hair. You learn the timing and style and just run with it. So I love that style of auditioning, you skip a lot of steps.

Tell us a bit about the popular podcast What are Friends For.

Gabrielle: I needed a project that was not about acting or the entertainment industry. I just wanted to talk about something else with my best friends. It’s about friendship, adulting, platonic love, and how to manage skills as an adult who isn’t in a romantic relationship. We also have pop culture conversations where we talk about movies and TV shows.

Are you now content with the idea that acting is my life? That you won’t do anything else?

Gabrielle: That’s a really good question. It goes back and forth all the time (laughs). I feel that during the pandemic, a lot of people paused to reflect and maybe thought about trying other things. I recently had a baby so now I challenge my life and my lifestyle every day. I do love and will continue to pursue acting, choreography, and podcasting.

If not acting, what career path would you have chosen?

Gabrielle: I’m my alternate universe, I’d be a child psychologist. I teach dance and my favorite age spectrum is young

children who are learning motor skills and dance.

What have you learned about working in entertainment that surprised you?

Gabrielle: Well, right now, I’m shooting a movie and the role is everything that I want and nothing that I trained for.

When my manager called and said, “You have 48 hours,” I said, “I don’t have any experience for a role like this. Do I audition for it?” And he said, “No, I just sent them your stuff.” And I said, “What stuff?” So I took a full-on crash course in the skills I’d need for the job. And what I learned is to not assume in any way where your career will take you.

Just go for it and let go. Stay sane while you do it and make sure you can pay the bills (laughs). Every audition is so unpredictable.

What advice would you give to a young Latina eager to get into acting?

Gabrielle: Anthony Wayne is a good friend of mine. The best advice he gave

me was, Gabrielle, get your water, get your rest, and save your coins. It’s basic and makes complete sense but can be hard to follow.

What were you like in high school? The girl most likely to….?

Gabrielle: I actually was listed as something in my senior yearbook. I think to be famous (laughs). My class was 2003. Go Cougars!

Arts 4 The Spectacular

Peace AWARDS

Article by Carmelita Pittman

DAME MUNNI IRONE Founder of Arts 4 Peace Awards has joined the legions of Light Bearers worldwide. These are souls seeking to make the world a better place by promoting peace and love. Dame Munni Irone awoke with a dream which planted a seed which has been watered with her passion and determination to make a difference. Dame Munni Irone is thankful to Prince Dr. Gershom Sikaala, Founder of PureKonect to assist in the production of the 11th Arts 4 Peace Awards 2022.

It was a three day International Peace Summit and gala which began Nov 10. The Tree Planting ceremony was held in Beverly Hills to symbolize the planting of Peace. Although political individuals are involved Dame Munni Irone who is not a politician aims to direct world leaders to use their conscience to improve the lives of their followers. She knows that everyone has a conscience and that with proper guidance can be directed to improve lives. Economic development and wellness has also been her focus.

Dame Munni Irone welcomed and personally received dignitaries including royalty representing at least 33 countries. Each guest received a pearl garland. It is her tradition to make people feel special. The first group of 18 delegates arrived direct from the airport to her home in Beverly Hills where she served breakfast and lunch. A gold limousine sponsored by Rabbi David Baron took them to the tree planting.

Nov 11 at the Saban theatre Dame Munni held a large meeting to give Honorary Doctorate degrees to individuals such as Javid Pymanee, Dr. Liston Bouchette, Rajbir Singh Husson, Dr. Amb Pst, Verona V. Broomes, Dr. Amb Andrew A. Broomes, Dr. Amb Denise Zoubert, Charles Quainoo, Dr. Amb Patrick Noland, Dr.Amb Taré Porbeni, Dr. Amb Ann Marie Wright, Dr. Amb

Pst, Christopher A. Pusey, Dr. Amb Pst Grace M. Morgan, Dr. Amb Pst Andrea L. Thompson and Dr. Amb Georgia Reynolds. Rocky Peter, Prince Dr. Greshom Sakaala. Dame Annie Pirmordi.

The crowning of Sandip Soparrkar as King and Alma Dang as Queen of Art 4 Peace Awards also took place at the Saban and flags representing the countries were held up. That evening at 5:00 p.m. a reconnection was made for the business world inclusive of cultures. The following day Nov 12 unfolded with the huge red carpet upon which elegant individuals in colorful attire walked at the W Hotel in Hollywood. An arch way was formed by holding up banners by willing hands under which the 4 soldiers which included Mark Hill entered followed by a procession. Once inside the W Hotel another 22 ft of step and repeat areas attracted dignitaries, royalties and celebrities who enjoyed the attention of Beverly Hills /Hollywood photographers. An unannounced Prime Minister and entourage arrived. They have been enjoying the event since 2015. They love the freedom, security and privacy Dame Munni has provided them. She booked all the media and sold out the event two weeks in advance. She is a unique brand who can pull off these events. Her 40 years of service has been reflected with the love she has generated amongst the media and community.

The work of Dame Munni in Haiti is supported by Presidential candidate Mr. Jude Elie and former Beverly Hills Mayor John A. Mirisch, Dr. Liston Bouchette the Mayor of Fort Myer and Michael Vo the Mayor of Fountain Valley and Rabbi David Baron. At the W Hotel a Four US soldier salute took place. The shofar was blown by Guddu the folk singer who flew in from

India. His Majesty King Mana Ali’i Nui Aleka Alpoalani and his wife and Dame Munni Irone walked the red carpet with royal court entourage plus King Sandeep Suparker and royal Queen Alma Dang and Samrin Ahuja the youth leader, entered with her entourage.

At the entrance was The Hollywood Weekly table hosted by publisher Prather Jackson, Marvin, Carmelita Pittman staff writer. On the carpet was fashion designer Azeezat Abiola Amusat whose clients include Beyonce, Congressional candidate Jan Perry, Larry (Earth, Wind & Fire) & Luisa Dunn. Roky Peter, Josh Moreland, NBA Wesely Fluellen, Peace Ambassador April Sutton, Peace Ambassador Carmelita Pittman, Bruce Hablutzel. Also present was Sheldon Reynolds (Earth Wind & Fire). Hana is chief of staff of Worldwide Youth Congress.

INDIAN DELEGATES INCLUDED:

01 Prof (Dr) Vijay Srivastava - Vice Chancellor MSU Baroda

02 Dr. Sangeeta Nehra Director Ayush Haryana.

03 Dr Amitabh Shrivastav ( founder Confluence & Visual artist)

05 Dr Kanwarjeet Singh Kochhar ( MD Taurus Hotels )

06 Pramod bhagat (Founder - World peace & health Foundation)

07 Dr. Shiv Agarwal (co- founder - world peace & health foundation)

08 Dr. Smita shrivastav ( founder Confluence)

09 Acharya Dr Jeetu singh ( Vedic astrologer)

10 Reena Dhaka Sharma ( fashion designer)

11 Mukesh Modi (Film maker )

12 Reshu Kumar (Beauty Therapist)

13 Shagum Gupta

Inside the ballroom area were dozens of decorated round dinner tables with beautiful center pieces. as well as a display table showing collections of jewelry from India and accessories.

The program opened with National Anthem of the U.S.A. India, Israel, Haiti with a Peace Candle Lighting ceremony. Prince Dr. Gershom Sikaala delivered a strong presentation urging peace and love. A prince born in Zambia, humanitarian, global speaker, and also a business man, he is a recipient of the Royal Peace Award.

The beautiful hostess Simran Ahuya who held together the gathering as MC at the Saban also played a major role in not only hosting but modeling in the fashion line-up and doing an electrifying dance in colorful attire. She entered from the rear of the room and made her way up to the stage. The entertainment portion of the event opened with Josh Moreland who energized

the audience. His credits include performances in concerts overseas with Stevie Wonder. A trio of colorful folk music performers of India were a feast for the eyes. The legendary Mr. Alston Koch from Australia was honored and also performed. James Koch sang and played guitar. Sir Kaya Redford, and Bobby Chance were also on hand to MC.

In between the presentations to honorees the entertainment included a spectacular fashion show with garments created by Ms Rina Dhaka and Bollywood choreographer Sandip Soparrkar. Queen Nak made her grand entrance with two handsome gentlemen who held up her long train as she made her way to the stage. Her proud mama Ms Isatu N. Timbo also joined her on stage momentarily. Under the Queen Nak’s cape was a very revealing costume covered with jewels. Her 4 dancers joined her as she did a performance that would make Beyonce blush and which titulated the appreciative audience. More

included a singer from Miami that gave a Latin flair as well as the lovely Victoria Martin of Mexico. Pepe Reyes Torres wearing his traditional Mariachi hat delivered as well. The sounds from the large seashell by a large performer who wore a strange and unique head dress and costume welcomed the Polynesian King Aki Nui’i whose face was covered in tattoo designs recognizing the ancestors.

More presentations included award recipients such as the former Mayor of Beverly Hills John Mirisch, Ambassador April Sutton and Bobby Chance. His Eminence Dr. Madhu Krishna, Honorary Dr. Michael Vo, Liam O’Connor, Dr. Amb Pst Verona V Broomes, Dr. Amb Andrew A. Broomes, Dr. Amb Denise Zoubert, Charles Quainoo, Dr. Amb Patrick Nolan, Dr. Amb Taré Porbeni, Dr. Amb Ann Marie Wright, Dr. Amb Pst, Christopher A. Pusey, Dr. Amb Pst Grace . Morgan, Dr. Amb Pst Andrea L. Thompson, Dr. Amb Georgia Reynolds, Dr. Listen Bouchette, Amitab Shrivastav, Dr. Bonzie William, Sir Gary Kong, Dame Annie Pirmoradi, Mr. Navin Gunerantne from Sri Lanka. Mame Toucouleur Mbaye Honorary consul of Senegal. Also present was Philanthropist David Allan Keil Chairman of Project One Earth which is building school computer labs and water towers for the underprivileged. Star Bucks has been a proud sponsor.

A line-up of many more recipients received lovely awards and certificates including Hovhannes John Babakhanyan , a big supporter. Art 4 peace awards certificates are designed by the royal employee of England. They are original and beautiful and only presented to the deserving.

At the end of the event Dame Munni Irone has expressed gratitude to the CIA, FBI and Security for keeping all participants safe.