Sir William Stevenson

Celebrating Diversity In The Entertainment Industry

2022 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL TRIBECA FESTIVAL PREVIEW

Sir William Mickey Stevenson William "Mickey" Stevenson on keyboards in his studio. Photo by Michelle Stevenson

Letter From The Editor PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Prather Jackson VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris Michael D. Coxson BOOK EDITORS Jane Ubell-Meyer Meryl Moss ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Hailey Ashley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alex A. Kecskes Carmelita Pittman LIFE & STYLE EDITOR Niki Shadrow Snyder niki@projectpopdrop.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rouland Medina DESIGN & PRODUCTION Denise Chavez Pearl Beltran

IT'S QUITE a thrill to bring to you a special feature on William "Mickey" Stevenson. William entered the scene in 1937 and went on to become a legendary American singer songwriter and A & R (artists and repertoire) man for the dream come true Motown.

His Legacy as Motown's First A&R man lives to inspire. He will be inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame on June 16, 2022.

Mickey's tenacity, perseverance, focus, drive, love of Hitsville USA and Motown family was the engine that drove the machine.

Also be sure to see our expaned Music Roundup section. And be sure to listen to award winning artist and teen activist HITHA's release of her new single 'Forever.

We are excited to celebrate June's Black Music Month.

Enjoy!

Prather Jackson Publisher

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Tribeca Film Festival Documentaries

Hollywood Weekly News

Entertainment, Music & Sports

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Sir William Stevenson Artist and Repertoire

Hitha

Award Winning Artist

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2022

TRIBECA FESTIVAL

We will be representing the below documentaries at the Tribeca Festival this year from June 8 - 19.

Please get in touch at publicity@norget.com or 917-833-3056 for further information.

WDIR. AMÉLIE VAN ELMBT & MAYA DUVERDIER

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED

BY MARTIN SCORSESE Viewpoints (North American Premiere) The legendary Chelsea Hotel, an icon of 1960s counterculture and a haven for famous artists and intellectuals including Patti Smith, Janis Joplin and the superstars of Warhol’s Factory, has recently reopened after extensive renovations, which are now almost complete.

Dozens of long-term residents, many in their later years, have lived amidst the scaffolding and constant construction for close to a decade. Against this chaotic backdrop, DREAMING WALLS takes us through the hotel’s storied halls, exploring its living body and the bohemian origins that contributed to its mythical stature. Its residents and the walls themselves now face a turning point in their common history. (80 min. Magnolia Pictures - Opens July 8) Screenings: Press: Thurs, June 9, 10:30 am - Village East Cinema 5 Fri, June 17, 5:30 pm - SVA Theater 2 (Q&A to follow with dirs. Amélie van Elmbt and Maya Duverdier and Chelsea Hotel residents) Sat, June 18, 2:30 pm - Cinépolis Chelsea 4 Sun, June 19, 8:15 pm -Tribeca Film Center

LIFT, DIR. DAVID PETERSEN

Viewpoints (World Premiere) Filmed over ten years, LIFT shines a spotlight on the invisible story of homelessness in America through the eyes of a group of young home-insecure ballet dancers in New York City. After performing all over the world, ballet dancer Steven Melendez returns to the Bronx shelter where he grew up to give back to his community, offering a ballet workshop to children. As young dance students, Victor, Yolanssie and Sharia face the same chasm of home insecurity that long separated Steven from his audience and makes the arts inaccessible to so many children who share his background. The children he mentors offer him insight into turning a hidden trauma into dance, and together they make an aristocratic art form into an expression all their own. (87 min. Acquisition title) Screenings: Sun, June 12, 2:00 pm - Village East Cinema 2 (Q&A to follow with dir. David Petersen, Steven Melendez and special guests TBC) Press: Tues, June 14, 10:15 am - Village East Cinema 4 Wed, June 15, 5:15 pm - Village East Cinema 5 Press: Thurs, June 16, 9:15 am - Village East Cinema 6 Sat, June 18, 11:30 am - Cinépolis Chelsea 4 Virtual: Tues, June 14, 6:00 pm (on Tribeca At Home platform till 6/19)

MY NAME IS ANDREA, DIR. PRATIBHA PARMAR

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY GLORIA STEINEM AND MORE Documentary Competition (World Premiere) MY NAME IS ANDREA is a hybrid documentary about controversial feminist writer and public intellectual Andrea Dworkin, who offered a revolutionary analysis of male supremacy with an iconoclastic flair. Decades before #MeToo, Dworkin called out the pervasiveness of sexism and rape culture, and the ways it impacts every woman’s daily existence. The film focuses on key moments in the life of this fearless fighter who, shaped by the values of justice and equality learned in the civil rights movement, demanded that women be seen as fully human. Woven in with rare, electrifying archival footage of Dworkin are performances by Ashley Judd, Soko, Amandla Stenberg, Andrea Riseborough, and Christine Lahti, who bring Dworkin’s powerful words to life. (91 min. Acquisition title) Screenings: Fri, June 10, 8:00 pm - Village East Cinema 2 (Q&A to follow with dir. Prathiba Parmar, prod. Shaheen Haq, EP Gloria Steinem and cast members Amandla Stenberg, Christine Lahti and Soko) Press: Sun, June 12, 9:00 am - Village East Cinema 6 Sat, June 11, 2:45 pm - Cinépolis Chelsea 5 Sat, June 18, 11:45 am - Cinépolis Chelsea 5

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SUBJECT, DIR. CAMILLA HALL & JENNIFER TIEXIERA

SANSÓN AND ME, DIR. RODRIGO REYES

Viewpoints (World Premiere)

Documentary Competition (World Premiere)

During his day job as a Spanish criminal interpreter in a small town in California, filmmaker Rodrigo Reyes met a young man named Sansón, an undocumented Mexican immigrant who was sentenced to life in prison without parole. With no permission to interview him, Sansón and Reyes worked together over a decade, using hundreds of letters as inspiration for recreations of Sansón’s childhood—featuring members of Sansón’s own family. The result is a vibrant portrait of a friendship navigating immigration and the depths of the criminal justice system, and pushing the boundaries of cinematic imagination to rescue a young migrant’s story from oblivion. (83 min. PBS Independent Lens - April 2023)

SUBJECT explores the life-altering experience of sharing one’s life on screen through key participants of acclaimed documentaries The Staircase, Hoop Dreams, The Wolfpack, Capturing the Friedmans, and The Square. These erstwhile documentary “stars” reveal the highs and lows of their experiences as well as the everyday realities of having their lives put under a microscope. Also featuring commentary from influential names in the doc world, the film unpacks vital issues around the ethics and responsibility inherent in documentary filmmaking. As tens of millions of people consume documentaries in an unprecedented “golden era,” SUBJECT urges audiences to consider the often profound impact on their participants. (93 min. Acquisition title)

Screenings: Sun, June 12, 5:30 pm - Cinépolis Chelsea 4 (Q&A to follow with dir. Rodrigo Reyes) Mon, June 13, 4:30 pm - Village East Cinema 5 Press: Tues, June 14, 12:00 pm - Village East Cinema 6 Tues, June 14, 6:00 pm - Cinépolis Chelsea 6 Virtual: Tues, June 14, 6:00 pm (on Tribeca At Home platform till 6/19)

Pre-fest Press Screening: Thurs, June 2, 10:00 am - IFC Center *reviews embargoed till premiere

Tribeca Talks: Latinx Voices + The Art of Non-Fiction: Featuring Rodrigo Reyes, Kristy Guevara-Flanagan (Body Parts) and Rebeca Huntt (Beba); moderated by IDA president Rick Perez Tues, June 14, 12:30-1:30pm - Cinépolis Chelsea 4

2022

TRIBECA FESTIVAL

RSVP: publicity@norget.com Screenings: Sat, June 11, 4:30 pm - SVA Theater 2 (Q&A to follow with dirs. Camilla Hall and Jennifer Tiexiera, participants Margie Ratliff (The Staircase), Jesse Friedman (Capturing the Friedmans), Arthur Agee (Hoop Dreams), Mukunda Angulo (The Wolfpack), Ahmed Hassan (The Square), and more) Press: Sun, June 12, 1:00 pm - Village East Cinema 4 Mon, June 13 - 5:30 pm - Cinépolis Chelsea 4 Sat, June 18 - 3:00 pm - Cinépolis Chelsea 6 Tribeca Talks: SUBJECT Town Hall Event: Join SUBJECT’s participants for a lively discussion around the issues and themes of the film; moderated by Sonya Childress Sun, June 12, 3:15-4:45 pm - Village East Cinema 3

TURN EVERY PAGE - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBERT CARO AND ROBERT GOTTLIEB DIR. LIZZIE GOTTLIEB Spotlight (World Premiere)

TURN EVERY PAGE explores the remarkable fifty-year relationship between two literary legends, writer Robert Caro and his longtime editor Robert Gottlieb. Now 86, Caro is working to complete the final volume of his masterwork, The Years of Lyndon Johnson; Gottlieb, 91, waits to edit it. The task of finishing their life’s work looms before them. With humor and insight, this unique double portrait reveals the work habits, peculiarities and professional joys of these two ferocious intellects at the culmination of a journey that has consumed both their lives and impacted generations of politicians, activists, writers, and readers. (112 min. Acquisition title) Pre-fest Press Screening: Wed, June 1, 10:00 am - IFC Center *reviews embargoed till premiere RSVP: publicity@norget.com

Screenings: Sun, June 12, 5:00 pm - SVA Theater 1 (Q&A to follow with dir. Lizzie Gottlieb, Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb) Press: Mon, June 13, 12:30 pm - Village East Cinema 6 Wed, June 15, 5:00 pm - Village East Cinema 2 Sat, June 18, 8:00 pm - Village East Cinema 2

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 5

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ROUNDUP

MUSIC

The Weeknd Expands Global Partnership With UMG Deal further extends relationship across recorded music with Republic Records, music publishing with Universal Music Publishing Group, merchandise and audiovisual projects Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced an expansive, long-term partnership with global music icon The Weeknd, one of the most commercially successful and critically-acclaimed recording artists and songwriters of the last decade. The agreement further builds upon the relationship between Abel Tesfaye p/k/a The Weeknd, and UMG’s Republic Records, which has been his label home and partner since 2012 and will remain his label partner for future recorded music releases.

The new expanded relationship will see Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) administer all his future works and songwriting catalog in a new longterm deal, upon expiration of his existing commitment. Tesfaye has already proven himself as one of the 21st century’s most prolific and skilled songwriters, breaking numerous chart and sales records throughout his career. The Weeknd holds the record for the longest-charting song in Billboard history, with “Blinding Lights” achieving an unprecedented 90 weeks on the Hot 100 chart.

Bravado, UMG’s leading brandmanagement and merchandise company, will continue to work closely with The Weeknd & XO to expand and develop global merchandising, branding, ecommerce and retail licensing opportunities around future projects and releases.

In addition, the new agreement also covers future audiovisual projects in collaboration with Republic Records and UMG. Few artists have so profoundly impacted global culture over the past decade as The Weeknd, with more than 75 million albums sold, and numerous chart records broken. The Weeknd’s ‘Save Your Tears’ was recently named as 2021’s best-selling global digital single by the IFPI, matching the feat achieved by ‘Blinding Lights’ in 2020, and marking the first time any artist has won this award twice, let alone winning in consecutive years. Both tracks were featured on 2020’s globally acclaimed album After Hours–an album which solidified The Weeknd’s status as a true global superstar, evidenced in part by his headline performance at the Superbowl Halftime show in 2021.

The Weeknd’s most recent album (Dawn FM), released in January 2022 through XO/Republic Records, has continued on the success path of its predecessor, breaking the Billboard Global 200 chart record, with 24 songs charting in its debut week, the most ever by any solo male artist. The album received widespread acclaim following its surprise release and has already topped charts around the world.

The launch of album was backed by an innovative campaign which included The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience, an immersive music special on Amazon’s Prime Video expanding the album into a groundbreaking visual experience. This followed The Weeknd’s appearance in 103.5 Dawn FM, a livestream experience which streamed exclusively on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and in the Amazon Music app.

One of the most popular live performers, The Weeknd will embark on the global, After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour which is scheduled to visit North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East in the summer of 2022.

The Weeknd recently headlined this year’s annual Coachella Music Festival alongside Swedish House Mafia.

Through his powerful music, unique visual identity and aesthetic, innovative production and creative live performances The Weeknd, continues to be renowned throughout the world to audiences of all ages, widely influencing popular culture through his music and art. In 2020, Tesfaye was named amongst the TIME 100 of the world’s most influential people.

This multi-faceted agreement marks the beginning of a new era of expanded global collaboration between The Weeknd, XO and UMG.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 7

ROUNDUP

MUSIC

2022 Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival

Cory Wong The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced today initial details of the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival (formerly Playboy Jazz Festival) presented by the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl, June 25–26, 2022. An artistically exciting and eclectic line-up of performers has been confirmed, including late-night sensations The Roots, drummer and producer extraordinaire Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, horn sensations and audience pleasers Tower of Power, beloved vocalist Gregory

The Roots 8 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Jose James

Jungle Fire

Porter, Nigerian superstar Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, guitar virtuoso Cory Wong, trumpeter, composer and producer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Lean on Me: José James Celebrates Bill Withers, pianist and saxophonist Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, saxophonist extraordinaire Azar Lawrence with the Azar Lawrence Experience, pianist and composer Gerald Clayton and more.

The full line-up for the 2022 Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival was announced last February in tandem

with the entire Hollywood Bowl summer 2022 season.

2-day Festival packages are currently available with singleday festival tickets going on-sale.

Tickets will be available online at hollywoodbowl.com or via phone at 323 850 2000.

For more information on the 2022 Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, please visit hollywoodbowl.com.

The Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival is produced in association with the Los Angeles Philharmonic by FestivalWest, Inc.

Tower Power

Veronica Swift

ROUNDUP

MUSIC

JUNETEENTH: A Global Celebration of Freedom Produced in partnership with Live Nation Urban

An all-star lineup comes together for a musical celebration of Black freedom and excellence at the Hollywood Bowl. JUNETEENTH: A Global Celebration of Freedom features performances by Earth, Wind & Fire, The Roots, Lucky Daye, Jhené Aiko, Robert Glasper,

Killer Mike, Billy Porter, Mary Mary, Anthony Hamilton, Michelle Williams, Mickey Guyton, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and more. Plus, Thomas Wilkins and Derrick Hodge lead the ReCollective Orchestra, marking the first-ever performance of an all-

Black symphony orchestra in the Hollywood Bowl’s 100-year history.

Musical direction for the night is provided by Adam Blackstone and Questlove. Don’t miss this oncein-a-lifetime musical celebration of Juneteenth.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 9

ROUNDUP

TV & FILM

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Photo by Giles Keyte

THIS SUMMER, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled in Minions: The Rise of Gru. Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement.

It’s not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions.

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When the infamous supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6, oust their leader—legendary martial arts fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar® winner Alan Arkin)— Gru, their most devoted fanboy, interviews to become their newest member. The Vicious 6 is not impressed by the diminutive, wannabe villain, but then Gru outsmarts (and enrages) them, and he suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to master the art of kung fu to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.

Featuring more spectacular action than any film in Illumination history and packed with the franchise’s signature subversive humor, Minions: The Rise of Gru stars a thrilling new cast, including, the Vicious 6: Taraji P. Henson as cool and confident leader Belle Bottom, whose chain belt doubles as a lethal disco-ball mace; Jean-Claude Van Damme as the nihilistic Jean Clawed, who’s armed (literally) with a giant robotic claw; Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, whose traditional nun’s habit hides her deadly nun-chucks;

Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, who dispenses his enemies with spin kicks from his spiked skates; and Danny Trejo as Stronghold, whose giant iron hands are both a menace to others and a burden to him.

The film also stars Russell Brand as Young Dr. Nefario, an aspiring mad scientist, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, an acupuncturist with mad kung fu skills, and Oscar® winner Julie Andrews as Gru’s maddeningly self-absorbed mom.

Steered by the franchise’s original creators, Minions: The Rise of Gru is produced by visionary Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborators Janet Healy and Chris Renaud. The film is directed by returning franchise filmmaker Kyle Balda (Despicable Me 3, Minions), co-directed

by Brad Ableson (The Simpsons) and Jonathan del Val (The Secret Life of Pets films), and features the iconic voice of Pierre Coffin as the Minions and a killer ’70s soundtrack courtesy of legendary Grammy-winning music producer Jack Antonoff.

ROUNDUP

TV & FILM

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

CBS’ REALITY competition shows are cranking up the heat with the backto-back summer premieres of BIG BROTHER and THE CHALLENGE: USA, on Wednesday, July 6. BIG BROTHER opens the night with a 90-minute episode (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), followed by the 90-minute premiere of one of the world’s most popular competition series, THE CHALLENGE: USA (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/ PT). Both franchises will also be available to stream live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+*.

Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and Bunim/Murray Productions, THE CHALLENGE: USA inaugural broadcast on CBS further underscores Paramount’s strategy of leveraging its popular franchises across the company’s global platforms. The summer premieres also come on the heels of recent ratings success. For three of the last four summers, including summer 2021, BIG BROTHER was a top 10 summer series in viewers, and top five in adults 25-54.

Most recently, THE CHALLENGE: SPIES, LIES AND ALLIES finished the fourth quarter of 2021 as the #1 unscripted cable series (P18-34).

MTV’s THE CHALLENGE was the very first reality competition series when it launched on June 1, 1998 and is currently the longest-running reality series in the history of television.

Produced by Fly On The Wall Entertainment in association with Endemol Shine North America, BIG

BROTHER kicks off season 24 as a group of all-new Houseguests move into the BIG BROTHER House. Expect the unexpected this summer with a season full of new and unique twists and turns to challenge the Houseguests.

Following the premiere, the series will air Thursdays (9:00-10:00 PM, LIVE ET/ delayed PT), featuring the live evictions, and Sundays and Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). Julie Chen Moonves returns as host. Paramount+ subscribers can continue to catch all the action on the BIG BROTHER Live Feeds. Emmy Awardwinning producer Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan serve as executive producers.

In a special edition of the blockbuster global franchise, THE CHALLENGE: USA brings together fan favorites from CBS’ reality shows, including SURVIVOR, BIG BROTHER, THE AMAZING RACE and LOVE ISLAND, to compete in one of the most unpredictable and demanding games of their lives, living in a constant state of paranoia and unable to trust anyone but themselves. Following the Network’s 90-minute premiere, the show will air Wednesdays (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT). In addition to the $500,000 prize, the cast of THE CHALLENGE: USA will be competing for a spot on THE CHALLENGE: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (working title) that will stream on Paramount+. T.J. Lavin serves as host.

Julie Pizzi and Justin Booth serve as executive producers.

Baymax!

WALT DISNEY Animation Studios’ “Baymax!” returns to the fantastical city of San Fransokyo where the affable, inflatable, inimitable healthcare companion, Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit), sets out to do what he was programmed to do: help others. The six-episode series of healthcare capers introduces extraordinary characters who need Baymax’s signature approach to healing in more ways than they realize. Created by Don Hall and produced by Roy Conli and Bradford Simonsen, filmmakers behind 2014’s Oscar®-winning feature “Big Hero 6,” the series’ episodes are directed by Dean Wellins (Eps 1, 2, 6), Lissa Treiman (Ep 3), Dan Abraham (Ep 4) and Mark Kennedy (Ep 5).

“Baymax!” debuts exclusively on Disney+ on June 29, 2022.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 11

ROUNDUP

SPORTS

Lakers Introduced New Head Coach

DARVIN HAM was introduced as the 28th coach in Los Angeles Lakers history on Monday afternoon at the UCLA Health Training Center.

Ham, who was a Lakers assistant coach from 2011-13, spent the last several seasons with Milwaukee, aiding the 202021 title-winning Bucks in his 12th season overall as a coach.

A tough yet positive individual, Ham grew up in Saginaw, Mich., as an allaround athlete whose first love was football. He played college basketball at Texas Tech before fighting his way towards an 8-year NBA playing career despite going undrafted. He also had a stint as a G-League head coach and GM prior to getting the call to join the Lakers.

“When someone begins his NBA coaching career at the G League level and goes all the way through playing an integral role on the front bench of an NBA Championship team, it really speaks to a certain strength of character,” summarized Lakers VP of Basketball Ops Rob Pelinka. “Our players and fans will immediately identify with Darvin’s

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no-nonsense and hard-working approach, which we feel will bring toughness and a competitive edge to all we do.

While Ham is officially the 28th coach of the Lakers, only 17 men have coached a full NBA season, with 11 coaches either serving on an interim basis, or being let go before a full campaign.

As a player, Ham played a role, typically in the power forward spot. He never averaged more than 22.6 minutes per game, with 5.1 points and 4.9 boards serving as career highs in 1999-2000 for Milwaukee. He also played for Detroit – where he won a title in 2004 – as well as Atlanta, Milwaukee, Washington, Indiana and Denver.

That grind he experienced as a player who went abroad to compete in three different countries has very much informed the way he coaches. He played internationally in Spain, the Philippines and Puerto Rico.

Last time Ham was in Los Angeles as an assistant coach, he spent a lot of time with Kobe Bryant, both on the court in workouts and in the film room.

“It was great,” he reflected. “We spent a lot of time together on the practice floor, individual workouts, watching clips. And (I learned) if I can go back and forth with him, and him disagree with me and then double back and tell me I was right, we all know how stubborn he was. It gave me a wealth of confidence in myself as a coach.

“Seeing him and him sharing different ways he saw the game (was huge). And even with Russ (Westbrook), Lebron, (Anthony Davis), Giannis (Antetokounmpo) Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Paul Millsap ... these guys I’ve been able to coach and learn from them. It’s a two-way street, not just this coach that thinks he knows it all and is barking orders. You have to be able to collaborate, communicate and understand each other.

Not your way or my way, but what’s the best way to go forward? Kobe was right at the forefront of that in my development as a coach. He’s a big part of why I was able to grow the way I did as a coach.”

Ham has already been in touch with several Lakers players, and is very eager to get to work to see how quickly L.A. can get back to where it wants to be.

ROUNDUP

SPORTS

Dodgers announce second half of promotional schedule and special event calendar

THE LOS ANGELES Dodgers today announced the remaining promotional items and special event dates for the 2022 regular season. Promotions will be given out to the first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance, while supplies last, at the guest's first point of entry, unless otherwise noted at dodgers.com/ promotions.

There are many theme night celebrations on the docket at Dodger Stadium this summer and fall. Luau Night (July 25), Korean Heritage Night (Aug. 19), Women's Day (Aug. 21), Law Enforcement Appreciation Night (Aug. 22), Black Heritage Night (Sept.

19), Native American Heritage Night (Sept. 23) presented by The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and Cal State Dominguez Hills Day (Sept. 25) will include a special giveaway item to those who purchase a specific ticket pack.

Additionally, the second Pups at the Park event of the season, presented

by Lucy Pet Foods, will be held on Sept. 5. Other exciting promotions will incorporate the team's biggest stars, including bobbleheads of Cody Bellinger (July 21) presented by Jacoby & Meyers, Clayton Kershaw (July 26) presented

by Security Benefit, Freddie Freeman (Aug. 10) and Mookie Betts (Oct. 3) both presented by Spectrum, Dustin May (Sept. 22) presented by Yaamava' Resort and Casino at San Manuel, Austin Barnes (Sept. 24), and Justin Turner (Oct. 4). A Walker Buehler jersey, sponsored by Yaamava' Resort and Casino at San Manuel, will be handed out on Saturday, Aug. 20. These promotional items are stadium-wide giveaways and will be given to the first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance. Fans are in for a fun promotional giveaway on Tuesday, Aug. 23, as they will receive a limited edition of one of the team’s seven replica World Series rings from the 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, and 2020

championships. Each ring, presented by Budweiser, will be randomly dispersed to the first 35,000 fans in attendance.

The Dodgers will welcome fanbases from the city's other professional sports teams throughout the second half of the season. Los Angeles Football Club Night (Aug. 9), Lakers Night (Aug. 24), and Kings Night (Sept. 21) will all be celebrated and fans who purchase a ticket pack at dodgers.com/ticketpacks will receive a one-of-a-kind item upon entry and are sure to enjoy a slew of tailored pregame ceremonies. LA Rams Night (Sept. 6) will also be held on the newly added fan-favorite, Taco Tuesday, presented by Delta Air Lines.

In addition to celebrating the Super Bowl champions, unique taco-themed dishes and drinks will continue to be served around the stadium and mariachi performances will be held before and throughout the game. The annual Día de Los Dodgers celebration, presented by Hornitos Tequila, will provide a full day of fun, as it is slated for the team's second split doubleheader of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Fans who purchase a ticket pack to each game will receive a separate item upon entry.

The club will celebrate Hall of Fame broadcaster, Jaime Jarrín, on Saturday, Oct. 1. A host of pregame recognitions and a commemorative giveaway pin, presented by Budweiser, will be available for the first 40,000 fans in attendance.

Major League Baseball's longesttenured broadcaster is set to retire at the conclusion of the 2022 season after serving 64 years as the "Spanish Voice of the Dodgers". La Gran Fiesta, the culmination of Viva Los Dodgers, presented by Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and Spectrum, will also take place on Saturday, Oct. 1 with exciting activations at the Historic 76 Station. The following day, Oct. 2, will be Fan Appreciation Day, where fans in attendance will have the chance to win special prizes throughout the game.

The Dodgers’ full promotional schedule can be found at Dodgers. com/promotions and tickets can be purchased at Dodgers.com/tickets.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 13

The Imitable | Unconquerable | Triumphant

Sir William Mickey Stevenson

By Carmelita Pittman

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, January 4, 1937,

William Stevenson entered the scene and went onto become a legendary American singer songwriter and A & R ( artists and repertoire) man for the dream come true Motown. He became known affectionately as "Mickey", "Il Duce" as named by a member of the Funk Brothers, composed of extraordinary talented musicians which he recruited from nightspots to form Motown's studio band. He was known as "William R" used by Marvin Gaye and others.

Silver Fox is also a popular nick name for him. Somewhere along the line he acquired the title of "Sir". He also became Avery Vandenburq to fool would be gatekeepers which blocked anyone of color. Since they saw his sheet music but not his face.

Who knew? And it worked. How ironic it was that so-called "Whites" spent precious money in sun tan parlors to get "Brown''. But during the 60's racial turmoil was the order of the day including riots. It was the time of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King whose dream was to just give everyone a chance to be their best in a just world. And like the late Godfather of Soul James Brown said, "Just open up the door, I'll get it myself". Mickey endured , survived those times and did well by those he served. His reputation helping musicians, artists, writers eventually reached Berry Gordy.

Editor's Note: Sir William "Mickey" Stevenson, your life has been a roadmap to success, overcoming many hurdles. Your legacy as Motown's First A & R man lives on to inspire. Soon you will be inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame on June 16, 2022 in New York. You also became a newly wed to the lovely Michelle on Nov 11, 2021.

CONGRATULATIONS from Jerry and Carmelita Pittman & Prather Jackson

Mickey had aspired to be a recording star like Jackie Wilson and when he met Berry Gordy at a barber shop he could barely contain himself. The two men exchanged contact information and he met Berry at a building Mickey described as "ghetto fabulous". Berry greeted Mickey in his little apartment and

continue on pg. 16 14 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Michelle and Mickey. Photo by Danielle Wooten

Michelle and Mickey in the studio. Photo by Prince Purposed HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 15

gave Mickey the opportunity to unload his briefcase of original music. At the time Mickey was so impressed with Berry Gordy whose hit songs had propelled Jackie Wilson to success. But in spite of Mickey's history as a performer including his stint as a Hamptone on tour, and earlier foundation of Gospel and Doo Wop, even a first place winner at the Apollo with his two brothers as a child promoted by his mother, Kitty "Brown Gal" Stevenson, a prominent jazz singer. Berry was not impressed with Mickey's singing.

Insulted, Mickey only stopped when Berry offered him the first A & R job 1959, the year Tamla/ Motown was formed.

Motown's First A & R Man presents The A & R man written

by William Mickey Stevenson, transcribed by his daughter Ashley Stevenson. Book is available on Amazon or www.mickeystevenson.com Photo by Novel Stevenson

16 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

Mickey's tenacity, perseverance, focus, drive, love of Hitsville USA and Motown family was the engine that drove the machine. Household names emerged from the string of hits such as Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Kim Weston, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Isley Brothers and more. To his credit Mickey wrote and collaborated many hit songs such as his favorite, "Dancing in the Street" (Martha Reeves & the Vandellas), which he co-wrote with Ivy Jo Hunter and Marvin Gaye, "It Takes Two" (Gaye and Weston), "Ask the Lonely" for the Four Tops, Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted", "My Baby Loves me" ( Martha & the Vandellas), "Uptight Everything's Alright" produced for Stevie Wonder,"Stubborn Kind of Fellow" for Marvin Gaye , who incidentally had a stubborn streak as well as a great heart. "Devil with the Blue Dress On'' he wrote with "Shorty" Long, who was actually so short that his feet did not reach the piano pedals. But he liked tall ladies.

After leaving Motown in 1969 he formed "People Records" which produced Kim Weston, and Hodges, James & Smith. He also formed another California label, "Raintree: which released a single by Willard

Nov. 25, 2019 Dedication of Berry Gordy Square on Sunset Blvd, Hollywood created and produced by Berry Gordy's grand niece Karla Gordy Bristol. Left to right: Stevie Wonder, Mary Wilson, Berry Gordy, William "Mickey" Stevenson. photo by Michelle Stevenson

King in wwww1975. Later R & B artist, Jaisun's album reached No. 1. He also ventured into the world of musicals, of which both he and his daughter Ashley were enamored. So much so, she pursued a career in the theatre. One of his most ambitious projects is "Sang Sister Sang" and is a tribute to legendary sisters such as Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Dorothy Dandridge, Josephine Baker, Mahalia Jackson, Eartha Kitt and Lena Horne. I suggest that Tony awardee Linda Hopkins be included. She was a personal friend of mine and supporter and loyal member of 501. c3 The Rose Breast Cancer Society, a "Living Memorial" to my mother.

Mickey is still active and given some attention to relevant topics. He produced "I Can't Breathe" based

on the recent George Floyd incident which sparked global attention to police brutality in America. Deitrich Haddon recorded the song and performed it on "the View" viewed by Whoopi Goldberg & company.

June 16, 2022 at the Marriott Marquis, in the heart of Times Square, the 51st Induction into the Songwriter Hall of Fame honorees will include William "Mickey" Stevenson, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics, The Isley Brothers, Steve Miller, and Paul Williams. The nominating committee included the entire membership of two thousand. To Mickey, "Everybody is excited about celebrating you and your music!", Linda Moran CEO and President of The Songwriters Hall of Fame.

William Mickey Stevenson back in the day.

Wedding Nov. 11, 2021 of Mr. & Mrs. William "Mickey" & Michelle Stevenson at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Photo by Lukamen HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 17

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MICHELLE ROMANO at

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

I

was recently given the incredible opportunity to work with Hollywood Weekly Magazine, and Celebrity Designer Prashant Goyal, of Heritage India Fashions. It was an honor to wear these designs on the Cover and inside article pages of the Cannes Film Festival Issue.

It was a dream come true to also attend the festival, wearing Heritage India Fashions on the red carpet, and to promote the magazine release at the festival. I was also cast in a film, which happened to be shooting in France during the Festival, and I look forward to sharing more about that project soon!

I am thankful to have had opportunities to work in the Entertainment industry, and hope to inspire others with a similar passion, to do the same. It isn’t easy, but it is worth it, especially if you love what you do, as much as I do.

I love working as an Actress, and as a Producer.

Sometimes on the same projects, and sometimes separately. I am looking forward to new opportunities to do both, and am currently in pre-production on feature Film, and a TV series. I am also an event coordinator, and was grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of two events in Cannes.

I am looking forward to all that is to come, and always open to meeting new people, and working on new projects.

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HOLLY EARL On her acting career and starring in SHARK BAIT

By Alex A. Kecskes Known by her fans as Lily Arwell in Doctor Who, as Agnes in the sci-fi drama, Humans, and as La Mousme in the animated crime biopic, Loving Vincent, London-born Holly Earl has proven to be a versatile talent in both TV and film. Her earlier credits include playing Nita Clements in the drama series Casualty. She also appeared as Kela in the action-drama Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, and as Zoe in the Comedy series Cuckoo.

In the thriller, Shark Bait, Holly is Nat, a demure spring breaker struggling to survive a man-eating shark. After a night of partying on the beach, Nat reluctantly joins her friends as they steal jet skis and head out to sea. But the fun quickly turns to horror after a head-on collision leaves them injured, bleeding, and stranded in shark-infested waters fighting for survival.

Q&A Thank you for taking the time for this interview. There are so many shark movies out there. What attracted you to this one?

Holly Earl: I read the script and loved it. I liked how Nat was so sweet, sensible, and honest at the start of the film. She didn’t want to get into trouble. But then she goes on this journey and turns into a completely different person. I thought that was interesting from an acting perspective.

Did you audition for the role of Nat? If so, what was that like?

Holly: I auditioned for the role in front of director James Nunn and pretended to be in the presence of a shark. He wanted to see if I could be believable that way. I was also in a Playstation video game called Erica, which James was involved in, so there was that connection.

What did you draw from emotionally to get into Nat, who confronts her fears and overcomes them?

Holly: We had an amazing team of divers that were around us all the time. I don’t know, maybe they held some sharks at bay while we were filming. We were off the coast of Argentina and away from the crew boat, so we really had no idea what was in the water. If there were sharks in the water, I’m glad I didn’t know about it at the time (laughs). There were times when we were isolated in the water with the crew boat really far away, so I suppose that helped generate some fear in us. There were moments when I thought, oh, my God, I’m alone in the ocean.

And that was scary, so you’re really not acting at that point.

We were always busy doing stunts, swimming, and jumping off moving jet skis. So that helped take my mind off those scary moments.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in this film?

Holly: I’d never done such a physical role. I was in the water 12 hours a day. In one scene, I’m trying to save a guy but I’m

22 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

a tiny human being. I’m five feet tall and my co-star was six feet tall. I was battling a massive wave and trying to swim with him attached to me. The weather had changed and it caused the jet ski to move away from me, so I had to swim some distance to reach it. Then the wind would pick up and I’d get really cold in the water. But you use that to show you’re really cold and tired. And it comes across in your performance as convincing in that you’re out of your comfort zone. But at the end of the day, with the beautiful sunset behind you, you feel like you’ve been working out for 12 hours. When it was all over, I was in the best shape of my life with all of the swimming and diving (laughs).

I was enamored by her performance. And I remember thinking, I could do that, I want to do that. So I emailed my agent and, well, here I am. I’ve been very lucky in that I started when I was young.

Many fail in this business and give up. What keeps you going?

Holly: I love it. It’s the adrenalin and thrill I get from acting.

I’ve had some amazing roles in my career, like playing a hostile synthetic robot in Humans or being in a Playstation game. Since I started as a child, I don’t know if I could do anything else.

When you go to the beach, do you now fear going into the deep end of the ocean?

Holly: No, I don’t worry about sharks. Actually, I feel I'm a more confident swimmer. I've never done that kind of diving before, so I feel I've learned a few things.

So, had you not pursued acting, what career path would you have taken?

Holly: When I was a teen, I thought about going to art school and becoming an artist. I applied to art school and got in. But the day I was accepted, I got my first adult acting job. It lasted for some months, then I got another acting job and I just kept going.

When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor? Were you inspired by a film or actor?

Holly: I started acting when I was just three years old. My sister was an actress when she was younger. Seeing my sister, I thought, that looks like fun. Then I stopped acting for a bit when I was a teen. But then I started watching a lot of classic movies like Street Car Named Desire and watching Vivien Leigh.

What have you learned about the entertainment business that surprised you?

Holly: My various experiences and how they changed my life.

I can only see the industry through my perspective and how it impacted me. It made me so much more confident as a person.

I used to be quite a shy kid. Acting has allowed me to become more extroverted and be a confident person.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 23

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ASHANTI CHART-TOPPING SINGER AND SONGWRITER ASHANTI, HIT FILM/TV COMPOSERS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, LGBTQ+ MUSIC MAKERS LEAD ASCAP EXPERIENCE JUNE PROGRAMMING

ASCAP

Experience, ASCAP’s signature event created to inspire, educate and connect aspiring songwriters and composers everywhere, announces its June 2022 schedule. Capped off by a session with Grammy-winning singersongwriter and actress Ashanti, the month features a series of events dedicated to highlighting the many diverse voices and experiences in the ASCAP and music-making communities, and an ASCAP Wellness live music meditation.

On June 24 at 3PM ET, charttopping singer and songwriter Ashanti will speak with VIBE Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas about the 20-year legacy of her history-making debut album, Ashanti, and delve into the creation of some of her all-time greatest hits.

In addition to the Grammy, Ashanti has won numerous Billboard and American Music Awards and is a Guinness World Record holder. She is CEO of her record label Written Entertainment, recently became the first Black female artist to co-found a Web3 company, EQ Exchange, and will release her first children's book, My Name Is a Story, on July 12 with HarperCollins Publishing.

The event will be broadcast from ASCAP’s YouTube channel and wraps up ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, which take place on @ASCAP and @ASCAPURBAN social media June 21 - 24.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 27

A NEW WAVE OF HEALING MY IV COCKTAILS

T

his month we had the opportunity to meet Denise Urtarte MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, and we were introduced to the unique experience she offers at her selfmade establishment, My IV Cocktails.

Coming from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, NY, Denise has taken her motivation for helping others, her 4 college degrees and her 13 years of nursing experience and created a one-ofa-kind alternative medicine sanctuary.

root cause of your issues to determine the best way she can help you. She often goes the extra mile of offering to order your most recent lab work to truly understand what each client is going through and look for signs that may be easily missed by our primary care physicians.

Piece by piece, this bi-costal entrepreneur built her dream with the help of her business partner, and graphic designer Salvatore Girone. Through her hard work, and drive to change our view of health care, Denise shifted her focus from ICU nursing to business ownership and created both My IV Cocktails & NOW MedClinic.

After Denise gets a better understanding of your health needs, she creates a customized and personalized IV drip, and it’s time to enter the drip room. The energy in the drip room is truly incredible, and something I would highly recommend everyone get to experience. Some common reasons her patients come in for the drip experience are post COVID-19 relief, weight loss, jetlag, hangover, customized vitamin therapy and peptide therapy.

When you first walk into her office, there is an overwhelming sense of calmness.

Her beautiful suite in Canoga Park, CA is welcoming, clean and beautiful. The first step in her new-age healing project is a consultation in her NOW MedClinic, where she goes through a few questions to understand your basic health needs and provides you with a full body scan on her In Body Scan machine. During this process, Denise is looking for the

Once you’ve completed the drip, which takes about 30 minutes, you’re immediately feeling the results. But the treatment doesn’t stop there. Rather than sending you on your way feeling incredible, Denise has found a way to allow us to take a piece of the experience home with her customized take home kits. They are user friendly and allows her patients to keep up with their treatments in between sessions. Some of

28 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

the common take home kit packages include Rejuvenation, Pain Relief, Serenity, Vitality, Cognition, Vaginista, and Amora.

What truly sets Denise apart from other IV companies is her true desire to provide personalized treatments for each and every one of her patients.

Her passion comes from personal experience dealing with her own health issues, as well as her mothers. When Denise realized there was a better way to heal, without copious amounts of medication, she let her determination drive her, and she never looked back.

The experience she provides is truly unique and can absolutely change the way the world views medicine and healing.

To get your consultation scheduled, you can call Denise directly at (323) 800-8442.

FOR MORE INFORMATION you can find her websites www.nowmedclinics.com or www.myivcocktails.org, or on IG @myiv_cocktails. I would highly recommend getting on board with Denise, and adopt her motto

- Don’t trip, just drip.

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 29

AWARD WINNING ARTIST Talbum, FOREVER, slated for release on July 8, 2022.

‘Forever’ is a touching tribute to her father. Through this uplifting & TEEN ACTIVIST pop/EDM single, Hitha expresses the beautiful connection his is the first single featured on Hitha’s highly anticipated

HITHA

Forever RELEASED HER NEW SINGLE

she has with her Dad. The lyrics capture the special bond she shares with her father. “‘Forever’ is a message dedicated to my dad, a special person in my life. ‘Forever’ is for all daughters to celebrate and pay tribute to their fathers who have been there for them unconditionally” says HithaProduction of this track is stunning and brings together the pop with EDM/dance. With beautiful messages, collaborating with LA renowned producer Krunk-A-Delic, this single highlights dad-daughter love.

Hitha strives to create music focused on teenage issues, Women empowerment, self-respect, and justice for all. Her recently released single ‘WE ARE WHO WE ARE’ sheds light on many issues embedded in society.

With many awards for her recently released single ‘We Are Who We Are’, Hitha continues to grab headlines. This 17-yearold California artist is emerging as a powerhouse with her own unique style of music. Hitha has come too far on her own and has complete ownership of her masters, distribution, publishing, and brand direction. With both her incredible talent and caring activism, Hitha is a beautiful role model for all ages with a bright future ahead. Hitha is having conversations regarding future course and is now open for a music label partnership.

Visit www.officialhitha.com, and connect with HITHA on Instagram and Spotify for all her latest updates.

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HI

TH

A

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Left to right: Andrew Garfield, LinManuel Miranda and Alice Brooks at the set of tick, tick...BOOM! 32 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

ALICE BROOKS CINEMATOGRAPHER

A

graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and a member of the International Cinematographers Guild, Alice Brooks recently joined the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers. She has photographed award-winning feature films, television shows, and commercials.

She also lensed Home Before Dark (pilot and season one) for Apple TV+, Paramount TV, and Anonymous Content.

Brooks' feature film credits include Queen Bees with director Michael Lembeck, starring Ellen Burstyn and James Caan. She also worked on the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of The Remix Hip Hop X Fashion with directors Farah Khalid and Lisa Cortes.

Known for her dramatic lighting and powerful camera movement, Brooks underscored her skills in Paramount's The LXD (directed by Jon M. Chu) and Tainted Love (directed by Avi Youabian).

AdAge described The LXD as one of the most beautifully filmed, elaborately staged web series in the history of the medium. Her recent feature projects include director Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the hit musical Wicked and the adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical In The Heights for Warner Brothers. The film's cinematography received widespread critical acclaim.

Her newest project is tick, tick...BOOM! Directed by Miranda and produced

by Ron Howard, the Jonathan Larson musical tells the story of an aspiring composer who struggles to pursue his dreams in New York City in 1990.

By Alex A. Kecskes

Q: Thank you for taking the time for this interview. What drew you to tic, tic, Boom!?

A: I got the script on my last day working on The Heights. Reading the script, I said, these could be scenes out of my childhood. I grew up in New York in the 80s. My father was a playwright and my mother was a dancer. Our house was filled with my father’s artist friends. We had all these creative people over all the time. There was just so much joy, love, and art around. When I read the script, I realized Jonathan was just like my father.

I’d watched my dad’s heartbreak over and over as he tried to make it as a playwright in New York. When I got to the last page of the script, I said, I have to shoot this movie. So I interviewed with Lin (director Lin-Manuel Miranda) and brought in my lookbook to show that I had lots of ideas to bring to the table. The first page of my lookbook was just pictures of my childhood. It took Lin a minute to realize these were my childhood pictures and not just references I’d pulled off the Internet.

He said it doesn’t get more personal than that. We started talking about New York in 1990, where color, light, and emotions were all heightened. We were both ten years old that year and we wanted the movie to have the 90s New York feel from a childlike perspective. In Jonathan's mind, the line between dreams and reality is sometimes blurred.

Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced in shooting tick, tick, Boom?

Photo by Winky Lewis

Q&A

A: The pandemic. We prepped the movie for fourteen weeks, shot for two weeks, and were shut down for six months.

When we came back, we were one of the first movies to do so. The movie was ripped out from under us. All our lives changed when it shut down. The challenge after being told to come back was how to make a movie during a pandemic. So we all had to learn together.

We had the most amazing group of people. We did another two months of prep and 42 days of shooting. Since theater season was closed, we were able to perform in the theater where Jonathan performed. It became a remarkably intimate and moving experience.

Q: You had to shoot in the confines of a bookstore with narrow aisles?

Challenges?

A: That was tricky. It was a real bookstore in New York. All our locations were really small. We wanted to be true to what New York was in 1990. We had to figure out how to move our camera through that space. We even shot a dance number in that space. The swimming pool was also quite small.

You also had to shoot inside a small house and a New York apartment. Again, challenges in setup and lighting?

A: I loved that apartment. It reminded me of when I was a kid. We wanted Andrew (Garfield) to have as much freedom as possible so he wasn’t confined to a certain part of the apartment. I HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 33

also wanted to have the right sun path and the light bouncing off the buildings across the street. It was both intimate and claustrophobic. When you go into numbers like No-More and Sunday and Swimming, there’s a breadth, a grandness, a space. Andrew is so stuck in that apartment, so you feel the walls sort of caving in on him.

Q: And there was the diner scene, which looked busy and cramped.

How did you manage that?

A: We wanted it to feel chaotic. And because of Covid, we couldn’t pack the diner and have several cameras running. We only had a certain amount of ventilation and space. We packed the frames then shot them in different sections. It was very time-consuming. But it felt like a Sunday morning. Then when the wall comes down, we had the brightest scene in the entire movie.

Q: How do you compose a scene to draw out the most emotion the script calls for?

A: What’s interesting about working with Lin is that he brought in this idea of workshopping. It’s very specific to theater and to our film set period. He didn’t need all the ideas right away. It was a discovery process. Usually, it’s the storyboard artist and director who sit down, draw out a scene, and create a shot list from that.

But Lin had a group of people—including the production designer, the AD, and the writer—working together. The six of us

would sit for three or four hours a day and work out a scene. I never had a writer so readily available. He’d be there with us and rewrite stuff on the spot. And the production designer would have models of the set and show us things that Lin could create, giving us ideas for shots. It was a very organic process of discovery without anything being forced on us. We also had a very long prep period, given the size of this movie. I would take the storyboards and cut them to the pre-recorded music and animatics. And again, we would discover more things about what was working and what wasn’t.

Q: When you typically shoot a film, do you sometimes go off script and let your gut take over?

A: That was part of the process. We’d see things in the script and realize what was or wasn’t working. One of the things we discovered during prep was the swimming pool had what looked like paper lines at the bottom. The tile in the pool was this beautiful patina New York tile that you only find in old city buildings. We found this perfectly positioned 30 at the bottom of the pool and Lin said, what if Jonathan touches the number 30—an age he is so scared of turning. So that’s how the music appeared in swimming. It represented a single moment of genius for Jonathan.

Q: How do you use camera movement to draw out the most emotion from a scene?

A: It’s very intuitive. I’d watch dance

I wish that film schools would tell people they need to be in this business at least a decade before they make any money. It takes a long, long time to break into this business.

34 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

rehearsals and part of it is the storyboard process. We had Andrew with us from the very beginning. I would sit in on the rehearsals and just watch as Andrew turned into Jonathan. I think being a good director is getting everyone on board to capture a vision. Lin did that with everyone. He really inspired everyone to understand the movie we were making. So that emotion came from watching eight years of videotape of the real Jonathan Larson. And watching other workshops of the 80s and 90s.

We fully immersed ourselves in that world. I also always ask a director for the intention in a scene. I grew up as a child actor, so I liked the idea of giving the camera a direction the same way you'd give an actor. This is why I always ask for one emotion per scene. In asking that, I'm able to tell the story emotionally and use the camera accordingly.

Q: I particularly enjoyed the dancers in white on stage. How did you first approach that and did you end up shooting it that way or make changes?

A: I loved that scene. It was designed as a single shot. In editing, they cut back to Jonathan’s monologue in the New York theater workshop. We worked with the choreographer to develop that whole sequence and give a subtle lighting queue on Jonathan. It pinpoints the fact that we are in his world, in his story, and everything will be told from Jonathan’s point of view.

Q: Any words of wisdom for young cinematographers trying to break into the business?

A: I wish that film schools would tell people they need to be in this business at least a decade before they make any money. It takes a long, long time to break into this business. One of my professors once said Hollywood is like a brick wall.

Your job is to get to the other side and you do it by throwing bricks against the wall. One day, you'll see just a tiny hole in the wall and that's when you'll want to give up. That’s when you need to push harder because you’re closer than you think. I think this is true for any career in the arts. If you’re not completely in love with this job, find something else. Movie making is hard but it’s also the best thing in the world.

Andrew Garfield and Alexandra Shipp in Tick, Tick... Boom! photo courtesy of Netflix HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 35

Brian Presley Writer, Director, Producer

On his journey to bring Hostile Territory to the screen

By Alex A. Kecskes

B

orn in Midland, Texas, Brian Presley is known for the family drama, Touchback, the war drama Home of the Brave, and the action adventure, Mechanic: Resurrection. Fans also know him as Jack Ramsey in the TV romance-drama series Port Charles.

In Hostile Territory, Presley is Jack Calgrove, a former Civil War P.O.W. who struggles against hostile Indians, Confederate soldiers, and impossible odds to be reunited with his children. After returning home, Jack learns his wife has died and his children, presumed orphans, are heading deep into the West aboard a train crossing old enemy lines. Jack and another former soldier, Desmond Richards (Craig Tate) are joined by a troop of Native American sharpshooters and Alice (Natalie Whittle) a freed slave, as they race to intercept the orphan train before all hope is lost.

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Thank you for taking the time for this interview. What was it that drew you to this post-Civil War family drama?

Brian Presley: The film is very timely with the world we live in today. It explores the themes of good and bad in all cultures. At the end of the day, what’s most important is family, people close to you. Any parent can identify with this story in that there’s no enemy they wouldn’t face or mountain they wouldn’t cross to save their children. I wanted to do a movie in the western genre.

I’ve always been drawn to historical movies. One of my favorites is Glory.

I’m fascinated by the late 1800s and early 1900s. I came across the orphan train movement--which I didn’t remember studying in school-and I don’t think a lot of people know about it. So the more I dove into it, the more I wanted to have a historical background to the film. I didn’t want this to be a traditional western where you have cowboys as good guys and Native Americans as bad guys. No big shootout scenes.

We had elements of that but I wanted to have a historical character

where you see bad Confederates and some hostile Native American tribes, but not all the Native American tribes were hostile. Many were just seeking peace. I tried to touch on that in a subtle way. But at the end of the day, it’s about a man’s journey to find his children. Often, it’s those unimaginable circumstances that happen in life that can lead to a beautiful rainbow, different callings, which is where I kind of wanted to sum up the movie. I mean, how do you cross paths with these kids and turn your head and go the other way?

What did you find most challenging about the role of a Union lieutenant looking for his children?

Presley: Most challenging was playing a lead in the movie and also directing it. Wearing both hats and being able to jump into the character and yell “cut” and give people direction. I’ve always admired Kevin Costner and the Mel Gibsons of the world who have done that and done it well.

Did you draw on feelings for your own children to add substance to the role?

Presley: Having my own kids, I didn’t have to deal with “actor parents.” It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

And such a great blessing and memory for all of us. We got a slew of their friends and we all went to the theater in L.A. afterward. It was fun. I needed tough kids who could endure those types of conditions.

I coach kids on a football team, so I got a lot of those kids because I knew their personalities and I knew I could pull out what was already within them. Half the battle in directing kids is to make them feel like they’re not acting. For not being experienced actors, I think the kids did an amazing job.

I like the fact that you included a mute child in the story.

The film was shot in some very beautiful country. Can you go into the locations?

Presley: We shot in the four corners, a beautiful area that gave us a wide variety of terrain—from desert to massive mountain peaks—all within an hour of each other. (Four corners is a region made up of the southwestern corner of Colorado, the southeastern corner of Utah, the northeastern corner of Arizona, and the northwestern corner of New Mexico.) You can point your camera in any direction and it’s beautiful.

Presley: He and his dad came into an open casting call. It moved me so much that when I went home, I thought, I’d love to write a character based on him. So, I called up his dad and told him my ideas and he was one-hundred percent in. The boy was a delight to be around. Back in the late 1800s, disadvantaged kids were not adopted. They were thrown out and left behind. It was a piece of truth that happened in this country.

Can you go into your favorite scene?

Presley: I wanted a scene where we’re bringing in a herd of horses to the corral. It was at the end of the movie.

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Cannes Film Festival

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DAvos World Economic Forum

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