Play Channel
Vol 5
Magazine
Summertime at
The
SI
Life talk with
DALE WARD
Heat gets no 3peat
Isaiah Austin
NBA Dreams are gone
1380 am X treme talk
fea
NIKKO SMITH tur
ing
Photo submitted by Crystal Richerson
St. Louis is known around the world for its collection of free attractions, fine cuisine, blues music and nightlife. Once the nation's fourth-largest city, it has hosted the 1904 World's Fair and Olympics, was home to ragtime composer Scott Joplin, and was the city where Dred Scott filed his landmark lawsuit for freedom. Indeed, St. Louis once stood as the gateway to the vast, unsettled American West. Today, it continues to be a city of cultural crossroads, mixing food, music and shopping for a personality all its own.
St. Louis A great place to live
Looking for great St. Louis or Missouri destinations? Explore St. Louis: A complete guide to shopping, dining,
entertainment and sports in the St. Louis area sponsored by the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission.
Forest Park Forever: In 1986, Forest Park Forever, a private, not-
for-profit organization, was founded to work in partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry to make Forest Park the finest urban park in the country.
Missouri History Museum: Here you will find all the information you need to become acquainted, or reacquainted, with the Missouri History Museum, its facilities, programs, exhibitions, and community involvement.
St. Louis Science Center: Explore more than 700 free, hands-on
exhibits on environment, aviation, technology and more. Nominal fee for the James S. McDonnell Planetarium's Space Station experience, OMNIMAX速 Theater and special traveling exhibitions.
Saint Louis Art Museum: The Fine Arts Palace of the 1904
World's Fair is among the leading art museums in the country. Collections range from ancient to contemporary. Special exhibitions are held throughout the year.
The Muny: Find fabulous Broadway-style entertainment under the stars at America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater. From mid-June through mid-Aug. Nightly, in beautiful Forest Park.
Missouri Botanical Garden: Founded in 1859, the Missouri
Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical institutions in the country and a National Historic Landmark. The Garden is a center for botanical research and science education, as well as an oasis in the city of St. Louis.
Missouri Department of Tourism: Whether you are planning a
family getaway or a solo adventure, Missouri has great vacation opportunities just waiting for you. View the official guide to activities in Missouri for vacation, fun and tourism.
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Be safe this Summer from the Play Channel Staff
Editor's Note In this issue, we are again introduced to some of the most talented artists of our time. We get an exclusive interview with Dale Ward, the producer of nine short films, including Walther and My Life is a Movie. We also hear from rising R&B and hip-hop musician, Nikko Smith, who discusses his marriage with music and dedication to his art.
Our issue's theme embraces the adventurous activities available this summer, and as always, embraces the continuous and dedicated work of artists. We hope that their passion, along with ours, reaches you in this issue. Thank you for reading Play Channel Magazine.
Stephanie Khio-Editor
Meet the staff. Ceo and Editor -in-Chief
Keith Baker Photographers
Editor
Lesley Joubert Robert Godsey
Stephanie Khio Advertisers/ Marketers
Contributing Writers Delise Danielle Desiree Faith Runnels Neil McDonald Lesley Joubert Kitryn Marie
DeJuan Lynch Yuxin Yui Creative directors
Kitryn Marie
We have a ton of new content in this issue as well as some great people writing it. I want to thank all the new people for joining us and making this issue and future issues the best entertainment can give. Department contacts
advertising /marketing Contact Us to be featured We are looking for content writers and photographers
WHATS IN TH 16-17
10-13 No 3peat for the Heat and Isiah Austin...Dreaming no more
20-27 Six flags a memory waiting to happen and local guitar legend Craig Gardner 34-35
Show your selfie wall
30-39 A beauty from Asia Evana Ali
52-60 Neil McDonanld interviews Dale Ward
HIS ISSUE 40-51
NIKKO SMITH
No ‘3peat’ for the Heat, what?
b
As free agency gets into full swing, many are left wondering what the Miami Heat will do next. Just a few weeks ago they failed to capture a third straight title, also known as the elusive 3peat. The LA Lakers and Boston Celtics remain the only teams to have done so. As the Heat lost the NBA Finals four games to one to the Spurs, so began a media circus. What will become of Miami’s ‘Big 3’ has become one of the leading storylines for the sports world. Even with events like the FIFA World Cup going on, the Heat is still what everyone is clamoring about. Rumors have been tossed around for weeks, with countless journalists chiming in with information from their “sources.” Wade, James, Bosh, and Haslem have all opted out of their contracts. Shane Battier will no longer be taking charges or coming off of the bench to add a spark; he’s retired. The rumor mill has LeBron listening to offers from the Cavs (yeah, I know) and Bosh being aggressively pursued by the Houston Rockets. There was even mention of the super combination of James, Wade, Bosh and Anthony – Carmelo that is. Salary cap restrictions make that nearly impossible though. While no one knows for certain how this off-season will all play out, one thing for sure is that the team’s President of Basketball
, now
by Delise Danielle
Operations, Pat Riley, has a helluva task ahead of him. He has to once again figure out how to put together a super team. One difference this go-around is that he has about $55 million in cap space to work with, the most of any NBA team this off-season. Miami acquired former UConn guard, Shabazz Napier, in a draft night trade. This was crucial as it’s been said that LeBron wants more guard help. He even tweeted that Napier was his “favorite player in the draft.” Last year’s draft pick, James Ennis, has been playing well on the Heat’s Summer League team. Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts have agreed to join the team. It seems the team is doing all it can to keep the best player in the league in Miami. LeBron has made one thing very clear: he needs better support so that a repeat of this year doesn’t happen. Through all of the speculation, rumors, and uncertainty, I am excited to see how this all turns out. One thing that is for certain is that Pat Riley will put the best team available out on the court, and Head Coach, Erik Spoelstra, will work his magic & have them playing hard. Just think, in a few weeks this will all be behind us and we’ll have to find something new to scrutinize and critique. contact delise at
Isaiah Austin: From hoop dreams to hoop memories by Delise Danielle
On Thursday, June 26, the 2014 NBA Draft took place in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Dozens of former college players and their
On Thursday, June 26, the 2014 NBA Draft took place in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Dozens of former college players and their anxious families waited to hear their names called and their dreams fulfilled. Fans were there to watch as their favorite team chose a new player that would hopefully put them one step closer to winning a championship. But for one young man, this entire experience was altogether different.
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His name is Isaiah Austin, a 21-year-old former Baylor Bear playing the center position. Austin was considered to be a firstround draft pick by many in the basketball world. Austin was named to the 2014 Big 12 All-Defensive team, with season averages of 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 3.1 blocks per game. After completing his sophomore year, he decided to declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. He was invited to participate in the combine, and like his peers, he readied himself to prove he was worthy of being an NBA player. Routine testing halted all of that though. All former college players looking at entering the NBA are subjected to a series of tests, including fitness and medical screenings. An EKG test forever changed Isaiah’s life. The test revealed that the baller had a genetic disorder called Marfan syndrome – a disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. During an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, an emotional Austin declared that he would no longer be able to play competitive basketball due to the risk of his heart rupturing. Just like that, a man’s childhood dreams had come to an end. Life as Isaiah Austin knew it had been forever altered. His basketball career was over. All of this just days before the draft. After learning of the of the devastating diagnosis given to Mr. Austin, NBA commissioner Adam Silver invited him to attend the draft as a special guest. In an unprecedented move, Silver drafted Austin to the NBA. He was chosen as the NBA’s draft pick. Though he can no longer play, Austin was able to have his draft moment. He got to walk on stage and shake Commissioner Silver's hand who adorned his head with a draft day-cap, all while he was cheered on by his peers and fans alike. Isaiah Austin was a first-round draft pick, just as his skill and basketball experts had predicted. Though the road ahead for Isaiah is much different than he ever could have imagined, he will undoubtedly move forward to much success. Isaiah Austin: the world wishes you well.
contact Delise at
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Coming to a theater near you Haunted House 2 The funny man of comedy is back. No it's not Steve Harvey but it is Marlon Wayans in the funny scary movie Haunted House 2. The film is the sequel to the 2013 film A Haunted House and it looks to be just as funny as the first. Here is the plot, after losing his possessed girlfriend Kisha (Essence Atkins) in a car crash, Malcolm (Marlon Wayans) meets and falls for Megan, a single white mother of two. Oh yeah I can see where this is going but anyway as soon as he starts to move in with the family strange things starts happening surrounding the house and the children. If that wasn't enough the undead girlfriend, Keisha, moves right across the street from them. Talk about a stalker, well they say Hell has no fury like a demonic ex-girlfriend. Movie due out April 18
Hercules The legendary strongman is back and is better than ever. Hercules has been redone so many times I can't count but this one looks to be the best of them all. The Greek demigod is played by none other than The Roc (Dwayne Johnson) and who better to play the role. His chiseled body looks like he stepped out of the pages of history already. The plot goes after going through his legendary twelve labors, the demigod, faces his biggest challenge yet when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord.
Edge of Tomorrow There is one thing I can say about Tom Cruise, when it comes to action he is the man. In this Sci-Fi action flick Tom Cruise plays Lt. Col. Bill Cage and his sole mission is to die, day after day after day. Ok that’s not the sole mission he has to kill aliens as well but it is set around his last day of battle. Cruise do a ground hog type time loop and relieves the last battle he had as a soldier but gets better at killing each time he loops. Also starring Emily Blunt, Lara Pulver, Jeremy Piven, Bill Paxton, Charlotte Riley and a host of others. Due out by June 6
Marvel has done it again with this crazy off the wall type movie. Cast range from a squirrel to a tree man to a guy with an over inflated ego problem. due date august 1
Guardians of the Galaxy
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SIX FLAGS
...a Memory W
Imagine: a day spent with your kids. A fun filled day with thrilling, moment with your friends and family. That one thing you have searc moments to be remembered and told about for seasons to come.
In this modern world, full of video games and high tech devices, ther Flags located in Eureka, Missouri -- a place to get out and be a thrill-s rollercoasters, high towering Ferris wheels, water-drenching excitem beckon call for your family fun amusement.
Even if you are not a thrill-seeking individual, this clean-kept theme main hub spot for DC comics, you will see superhero figures walking interacting with the crowd. Get out your camera and have your pictu super hero! Now, who wouldn't want their picture taken with a super
S
Waiting To Happen
adventurous rides, a bonding ched out to create thrill-seeking
re is no other outside venue like Six seeker for a day. An assortment of ment, and so much more are at your
e park has other amenities to enjoy. A g around mixing, mingling and ure taken with your own favorite rhero?
by Meet Me In St. Louis, Kitryn Marie
There is the old time lo tour around the sprawle renditioned Carousel w while calliope music pla
If you have a young chi advantage of the oppor for the "wee" ones to m
If that is not enough, take in an air conditioned show to stay out of the heat! Show-stopping talent to entertain, from saloon scenes to Broadway show tunes. There is also the outside arena to rock or croon you with today's top entertainers. (Check local listing on their website) Hungry? There is a wide variety of selections for food: from selections of turkey drumsticks to old fashion ice cream in a homemade waffle cone. There is something for everyone's delectable palette. Don’t want to purchase their food? Then have an old fashion picnic! You are able to leave the park with your stamped hand for reentry. Sprawl out on your own blanket in the parks area next to the pond and feast on your own food from wherever YOU want!
ocomotive. This brightly colored iron horse leisurely will take you on a ed acreage. Also, you have the merry go round: a beautiful with its whimsical animals gallantly ride you up and down and around ays delicately to amuse your ears.
ild and they are not height appropriate for the other rides, then take rtunity to visit Looney Tune Town, complete with small features just make them scream with delight.
If the typical roller coaster ride is not your thing, there is a large variety of choices starting with Hurricane Harbor that in itself can be a day-long thriller. Just think: water-soaking, sunfilled adventure is just there for your wet and wild side. If the above mentioned hasn't already got you hooked, and you are craving more, there is always shopping. Quaint souvenir shops are strategically placed all around the park for all budgets in mind and for evey age imaginable! Six Flags is the best choice to get your thrill-seeking, family adventure on. A day spent there is a memory just waiting to happen. So c'mon whatcha waiting for? Meet Me In St. Louis, Kitryn Marie To check out all what Six Flags offers visit: www.sixflags.com/st.louis
A legend Returned by Meet Me In St. Louis,
Kitryn Marie
When local talent exceeds expectation and longevity, Craig Gardner has come a long way since his early days with the 80's band, Legacy. Determined to make a name for himself, this musically trained guitarist first picked up his stringed instrument at the age of 13, knowing this wa what he wanted to do for the long haul. Gardner, now 55, is gracing the stage, writing and signing his rockabilly originals along with crooning a few bluesy notes around and about town. Originally born in St.Louis, he left the midwest to do a short stint in the early 90's to play Vegas on the outskirts of the strip. Once accomplishin his mission to perform outside of Missouri, it was time to come home and rethink the next plan. As one of the original members of the Poppie 3, and gaining some local recognition, Gardner once again embarks in another direction.
Today not only he is a soloist but you will find him performing with Dre
Not only is Gardner a soloist, but you will also find him performing with Drew Acree, Gardner and Acree -- or better known as "half of The Kickdown." (The other two members, brothers Nate and Chris Williams) "No Ladder is too tall or too high. Still trying to reach RockStardom," is Craig Gardner's mantra while performing. A solo performance on Craig Gardner can be seen August 29th at Urban Chestnut Brewery. The address is 3229 Washington Avenue.To learn more about The Kickdown, visit www.kickdownrocks.com for all your local entertainment. Meet me In St. Louis, Kitryn Marie
l e n n ha
C y a Pl Show your
rselfie Wall
Send us your pictures to be placed on the wall. Send to playchannelma gazine@yahoo.com
Is 1380X, Xtreme Talk Radio...too Xtreme? by Dr. Dezi Desiree Faith Runnels
Something extreme has hit the St. Louis radio waves and it's creating quite the controversy in St. Louis.KXFN AM 1380 recently changed their format to, 1380 TheX! Xtreme Talk Radio, with a line up of live talk radio shows that are pushing the envelope right to the edge of FCC regulations.St. Louis seems to love the format change and KFNX's rating's have grown substantially.Just by looking at the line up and listening to the shows, one can tell that the content is racy, raunchy and risque, something that would make Shock Jock Howard Stern's jaw drop.According to a recent article in stltoday.com it appears that the drama behind the scenes can be more racy than on air making this station prime material for Reality TV. Coincidentally, many networks are looking to do just that, a reality show depicting the off and on-air antics of St. Louis Extreme Talk Radio. The weekday line-up is Monday-Friday beginning with Morning Drive time from 6-10am with The Darryn Yates Show. "The right music, The wrong talk." Darryn Yates, rockerturned-radio guy, has been a part of the entertainment world in both Los Angeles and Nashville. He has also toured overseas in his rock band,
On Tracy Lane. His show features great new music, interviews with a variety of entertainers, and splashes of comedy.10am-12pm is "Teacha Talk" with Teacha Tigue, who's voice soothes the most savage beast. From 12pm-3pm Listen to "The Big Head Radio Show," proud member of big head nation, keeping America real. 3pm-6pm is "Nick's Nut's," one of the most controversial shows on the network, the show' host, Nick Trupriano, has a 'no fear' opinion on several controversial subjects and has already had a spanking by the FCC. From 6pm-8pm is "The Whirl" with Randy Cash, an Improv comedy/talk radio program. Randy's witty, sarcastic humorous truth certainly mocks the stupidity of the world. Randy is one of the most seasoned professionals in the line-up and is a co-host with sex therapist Lindsay Walden's "Sexy Thoughts," running from 8pm-10pm. And sex, sex and more sex is what this show is all about. From 10pm to Midnight is "The Nuclear Fire Show" A broadcast dedicated to breaking the conditioning of American culture, waking up the world to tyranny, and bringing the sheeple to reality. The weekend line up includes the first ever LGBT talk radio show in St. Louis talk radio history. Every Saturday from Noon to 4pm listen to "The Gayborhood," hosted by Show Me Charlotte and Christine Elbert. with LGBT news, activism, interviews, entertainment. Sunday's line up includes "Sith Happens," 10am-1pm The new Darklords of talk radio. An edgy new radio show driven by D.W.Entertainment Magazine. You want Extreme radio, then this dark comedy is it! From 1pm-3pm is "The Q" with Mark Bland who's work I have admired in the past. Mark focus's on quality topics,hot button issues and entertaining Moderate/Liberal talk radio.
Listen in, "Like" them on facebook & watch out for Xtreme Talk Reality TV.
Beauty and grace go hand in hand so we wanted to find a young lady who can bring that to the table and more. With her exotic look and her young appeal our model this month shows us that beauty can come from all over the world.
PlayChannel Magazine
PlayChannel Magazine
Evani Ali Pictures taken by Tim Rothe
PlayChannel Magazine
When i was a teenager, I always wanted to be a model. and Watched Fashion shows all the time on Tv and my fav Models was Cindy Crawford And Tyra Banks they mostly Inspied me. Pictures taken by Tim Rothe
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Pictures taken by Tim Rothe
Height: 5'1 Weight: 95 lbs Bust: 20" Waist: 25" Hips: 20" Cup: B Dress: Small Size Shoe: 6.5 Hair color: Dark Brown Hair length: Medium Eye color: Brown Ethnicity: Asian Skin color: Brown
PlayChannel Magazine Pictures taken by Steve Yancey
PlayChannel Magazine
Pictures taken by Steve Yancey
PlayChannel Being a model is not easy . I have been working veryMagazine hard. I have a lot of passion for modeling and a dream to be the best. Those are the most powerful things, I think, to becoming a successful model . No matter what never give up . One day your dream will come true , you just needs patience and blessings and hard work. I have confidence and faith and believe in me that I will end up with a big success.
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To book our models for any event contact Pictures taken by Tim Rothe playchannelmagazine@yahoo.com
In this digital age, why are you still printing on paper. Don't have your ads sitting around, make them work for you. Advertising in the Play Channel Magazine is simple and very affordable. Take your company to the next level by contacting our team today for ad space rates and freebiees. In the Play Channel Magazine Online, your ADS are clicka ble Some other incentives: full embeded songs or speech multimedia videos picture gallery's chat in real time
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Sabrina Signs
Upcoming date: Treasuse Island Event Center San Francisco, CA 16 May, 2014 9:00PM with: Lenny Ruckus
Now on Pandora and Spotify - Hitting the EDM scene hard, Sabrina's background is quite diverse She decided to be a recording artist early recording her cover of "Tainted Love" at 11, she has also wrote and co-produced "Halfway 2 Neptune" with GHouse by the time she was 12. Life threw curve balls to Sabrina the family finding themselves part of the great recession of 2009 Sabrina was homeless. Sabrina's spirit only grew from the experience. In 2010 she was able to get back into a studio and recorded "Homeles and a touching song to lighten the heart of her little brother called "Hey Anthony". Sabrina continued to follow her heart in music, exploring all genres of music. In addition to being a teen advocate for the Homeless, Sabrina is also passionate about Teen Domestic Violence, havin been a victim she wrote the song "Victim of Love By the time 2011 rolled by Sabrina had an album called "Phases" illustrating the growth and depth of this young lady. Now 2013 Sabrina's latest hit "Even If You're Crazy" "Predator" "Thirst" "Emotions" and "Higher" are getting massive attention around the world.
Taking the world by storm is one of the most talented young men in the world of R&B and Hip hop today. With some of the most soulful ballads and his signature good looks, Nikko Smith is stock in the music industry, and is rising to the top. From appearances all around the world and on the hit TV Show American Idol, this young man has entered into the hearts of millions of listeners. Coming from very supportive and talented parents, his father is baseball legend, Ozzie Smith, and his mother a very talented singer, Nikko grew up learning about business, music, and love. We have the distinct pleasure of getting an interview with Nikko and learning about what it's like to be a megastar.
WHAT SONG OF YOURS IS YOUR FAVORITE? "Give It All 2 Me" is a song I wrote, and it's an urban love song. The beat is melodic, the vibe is nasty, and the ladies like it. It's on the upcoming album, "Love Carnival."
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WHEN YOU ARE NOT PERFORMING, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN? When I'm not performing or working on music, I love going to the movies -- especially the dine-in theaters. It's relaxing, and it takes my mind off of everything, and I can just focus on being entertained.
WHAT THREE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU? Family, Friends, & Honesty. My family and friends have been super supportive; I keep a small circle. Growing up and watching how people interacted with my dad, I got to see what "real" friends were and I also go to see a lot of "yes men" too.
WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU? My typical day varies from time to time. Late nights and early mornings come with the territory. Most nights I'm up till 5/6 in the morning, either writing or recording. If I go to sleep at 7am, I'm back up by 11am starting the process over again. I'm an insomniac.
ARE YOU SINGLE? Like my boy Motre said‌I'm married to the music.
HOW OLD ARE YOU? I'm 31.
WHAT KIND OF LADY MAKES NIKKO SAY "YEAH THAT'S HER"? Everyone who knows me knows I don't play that black, white, yellow, green, purple, orange shit! I don't discriminate. It doesn't matter what color you are -- a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman. I love independent women. She has to have her own goals and aspirations. My woman has to challenge me. me.mbecause being with an entertainer is not the
I don't mind a little attitude, because being with an entertainer is not the easiest thing in the world. In this business, we deal with female fans who will stop at nothing to be with you or be around you. So trust is important. I have to trust her and she has to trust me.
HOW DO YOU STAY GROUNDED? Like I said before, I keep a small circle. The cats I hang around I've know pretty much my whole life. So they're not afraid to tell me the truth. If I'm getting a little big-headed, they'll let me know. If I write a song I think is amazing and it's not, they're not afraid to tell me. You always need people around you who aren't afraid to piss you off.
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE? My mother and my father. They're two of the strongest people I know.
WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU GO TO? Pre School was Lucky Lane, Elementary School was Mason Ridge, Middle School was Parkway West Middle School, High School was Parkway West Hight School, and a short short time at Lindenwood Universtiy.
WHO DID YOU TAKE TO PROM? I didn't go to prom. The only time I would go to a school function was when I had to be there. So I went to class…and that was pretty much it.
IF YOU WERENT' SINGING, WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A PROFESSION? I would love to be an actor. I still might someday.
WHO WAS THE ONE WHO SAID "YEAH HE GOT TALENT"? My mom is a singer, so she was the one who really pushed me to pursue it.
My mom is a singer, so she was the one who really pushed me to pursue it.
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED SINGING? I started singing in church when I was around 6 or 7.
WAS IDOL EVERYTHING YOU EXPECTED? I didn't know what to expect when I went to American Idol. It ended up being bigger and better than I ever could have imagined. 150 million people got to see me on TV and even more people when we went on the 53 city tour.
WHAT NEW PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE COMING UP, & WHAT PROJECTS DO YOU WANT TO START BUT HAVEN'T YET?
I'v been working on my album, "Love Carnival" for about a year and a half now, so that's coming out soon. I started working on a mixtape called "Verses & Hooks" that's also gonna drop in the near future. But I've got ideas for the nex album already called "Bedroom Bully," so I'm looking forward to playing down some tracks for that.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN THE STUDIO?
All pictures taken from Nikko Smiths official Fansite. http://www.nikkosmith.com/
As of late, I haven't been in the studio that much because the album is pretty much done. We jus have to do some mixing & mastering which is
e
xt
h st
which is boring as hell to me, but necessary. I'm looking forward to this summer, getting back in and enjoying the recording process. Laying down new ideas and vibing to new tracks is the fun part.
HOW DOES THE CREATION OF A SONG COME ABOUT? I like to just vibe out a record. I don't write down my lyrics anymore. That's not to say I freestyle the song, but I'll set up my mic and just cut on my computer. Sometimes I come up with the hook first, sometimes I come up with the verse first. Sometimes it takes two hours to write a song and sometimes it can take two weeks to write a song.
WHAT ARTISTS DO YOU LISTEN TO AND WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH? I literally listen to everything. Any and all good music from R&B to Country to Jazz to Rock & Roll to Classical to Soul, etc. So R. Kelly, Pharrell, Journey, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Rascall Flatts, Jason Aldean, Usher, Trey Songz, Lady Antebellum, and anybody else who puts out good material. But I'd Love to work with R. Kelly, Bruno Mars, and the homegirl Aloha Mi'Sho. Speakaz Blow Courtesy of Nikko Smith
music and videos avaible at these locations
OFFICAL WEBSITE OF NIKKO SMITH http://ww w.nikkosmith.com/
PlayChannel Magazine
PlayChannel Magazine
Talking Film, Spirituality, and Family With St. Louis’ Award Winning Filmmaker Dale Ward
Since 2007, Dale Ward has produced nine short films; a documentary on Chinese artist, He Qi; two full-length features, Walther and My Life is a Movie. He was a key editor for the series pilot of Up on High Ground, the producers of which were interviewed in Play Channel in Issue #3. He won four regional Emmys for his television talk-show, On Main Street. And at the same time, he is the full-time Senior Media Producer at Concordia Seminary, as well as a part-time actor and fulltime family man. by Neil McDonald photos by Neil Mcdondald, Dale Ward and Kari Estes
NM: You recently sent My Life is a Movie (MLIAM) to the Australian Christian Broadcasting network. How did that all come about?
DW: An associate and I went to Nashville for the National Religious Broadcasters convention. There you find a lot of channels, networks, ministries, a lot of radio and TV. They gather and set up booths. We pretty much went booth to booth to give out information on MLIAM. One of the groups was from Australia. They took it back with them, they liked it, and they’re going to broadcast it there soon. And they also do a live stream, which you can watch anywhere in the world. So maybe Stephanie Swink (Lyndsy in MLIAM) will be a superstar down in Australia. NM: One of the unique elements of MLIAM is that you shot the entire film on your iPhone, which stands in as the perspective of the character of Wyatt, played by your son Elijah. What was that process like?
DW: It was a challenge. I have seen other movies shot on iPhones, but we took it a step further. It actually was an integral part of the story; we weren’t just using the phone as our camera. It was Wyatt’s phone. The problem was you can write action, but when it comes to actually shooting that action from a character’s hands – that can become really limiting and challenging. There were a couple of scenes where the phone had to fall out of his hands so the viewer can still see that action happening.
Writers have to deal with that if they are in the first person point-ofview. If something happens down the street, they can’t readily write about it because they were not there. So I had to make sure that all the action was right in front of Wyatt. One of the devices we used was to make it as if he was shooting these little TV shows: My Life is a Horror Movie, My Life is a Home Fix-It Show, My Life Is a Spy movie. That way he turned the camera on himself to set up the scene and it helped us transition from point to point, allowing the viewer to know what day it was, where they were, and what was going on, and from there you can see the action.
NM: MLIAM concerns two young runaways who are rescued from a life on the streets by a minister. He Qi explores his art and his struggles with his religious imagery of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. In addition, Walther is about C. F. W. Walther, who left Germany and founded the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Besides your work and connections to the Seminary, are there other things that draw you to these spiritual themes?
DW: In my movies, I like to put a spiritual bend to them because that’s who I am – spirituality is important to me. Also, it seems we see mostly two tracks for religion and spirituality in movies. There is one track where there is negativity toward things spiritual and religious people. You know, the weird or the extreme religious people as a caricature, even to where they sometimes become the villains. Then there’s the other track where, to me, these Christian movies go way over-the-top, almost unrealistic. To me, you can be a normal person who happens to be spiritual, and live life where it’s a part of what you are, what you do, and it’s actually a positive and beneficial trait. I want to show people who live like that, so maybe others can consider looking into spirituality for whatever reason: for life to be easier or with a direction, or to fill a void or emptiness. Consider that as an option. Many people do that, and they’re not necessarily weird or over the top, but people who just happen to be spiritual. Ragman is another one that has a subtler spiritual bend to it. Sometimes I wonder if this is getting communicated. Am I wasting my time? Does it really matter? And then I find a story about someone like He Qi, who grew up in China, where religion was against the law, and he became Chairman Mao’s painter – the official national painter chosen through a contest to represent China. So he was sent to schools in Europe to learn as much as he could and study at various universities. Through his studies he was introduced to a wide variety of paintings, some of which were religious in nature. Specifically, he points to a Madonna and Child painting, and he becomes intrigued and it starts him questioning who this Jesus Christ person was. So through a piece of art, and art alone, he delved into Christianity and connected with it. He had no input from any other sources but for
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who this Jesus Christ person was. So through a piece of art, and art alone, he delved into Christianity and connected with it. He had no input from any other sources but for having seen a painting. That gives me incentive that, indeed, you can open doors of hope for people through art.
NM: Your family is very much involved in your films. Your son Elijah plays Wyatt in MLIAM, Abraham acted in it and wrote and performed the music, and your wife worked behind the scenes. How does working with family inform your choices?
DW: A guy told me you shouldn’t use language you wouldn’t speak in front of your mom, and I consider that when I decide on a movie project. Not that I shy away from hard subjects, because a lot of junk happens to families. MLIAM touches on a few things, Ragman does too. And it allows me to use my family in the movies. They help out and act in some of them, and I think they have fun.
NM: I know that in MLIAM, even though it’s a relatively short segment, it touches pretty strongly on child abuse. I don’t think it specifies that the father is sexually abusing the child, but it’s suggested pretty strongly. And he certainly physically abuses the kids.
DW: We don’t say it per se, but yes, it’s implied. That’s what I was trying to do. But I like to leave that open ended. I think there are viewers who will connect more if you’re not specific. If you’re specific, you may have someone saying “Well, that never happened to me.” But if you show somebody slamming a door, then your mind takes over and you think, “Well, whatever is going on in there may have happened to me before.” It was also an easier way for me to shoot that scene from Wyatt’s perspective, so there are various reasons I shot it that way. There are a couple of statements where she (Lyndsy) tells Wyatt that he (the father) has done that before, and she says he’s a monster to Reverend Keys.
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NM: You have used several local actors multiple times on different projects, many of whom I have worked with as well. Is there a comfort zone in having something like a Clint Eastwood stable of actors who like working with you? DW: You know somebody’s work, you know they’re dependable, you know they’re good. There’s no point in going elsewhere to find that. Well, in Walther, we used about a hundred people, really everyone we could find in St. Louis. Vickie Doerr has been in as many of my projects as anyone – three or four things of mine. Portia Secor is another one, as is Karen Palmer. Laura Singleton, too, as well as CJ Reed and Steve Roma. Charly Kelly, Charles Heuvelmann, Kelly Werner, Daniel Irwin, there’s quite a few and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. Sorry! William Conklin I would use again in a heartbeat. You, too, Neil.
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So for MLIAM, when I thought of a mom figure, well, that’s Vickie. Dona Ellis is an awesome actress, she’s been in three or four of my movies, and she’s been a totally different character in each one of them. Amazing. So when it came to this one, there wasn’t really a part for her. But then I thought of the police officer. There were a lot of lines, long takes, which I knew she could handle. She agreed and did a great job once again. No point in looking elsewhere for talent when talented people are right there in front of you. So when I send out an audition notice, they get the notice first. And I am extremely appreciative of this group of people. I could not do what I do without their help, so my desire is that being in one of my films will benefit them at the same time. Of course, we all hope someone breaks out and makes the big time. NM: Are there other plans for MLIAM and Dale Ward Productions? DW: There are several. I’m still marketing and looking to add a website (mylifeisamovie.org). Perhaps distribution as a web series where you could see one or two chapters a week, and the DVD would also be available. There’s also a novel version making the rounds that I hope will be published. I do a blog at daleward1.wordpress.com where I do reviews of indie films (the indie guys need all the help they can get), as well as how to make movies on-the-cheap, with zero budget. So, to put my lack of money where my mouth is, I’ll be teaching a class at Meramec College on making movies on your mobile, and that’s all fallout from the MLIAM experience. NM: Anything you’d like to add in closing?
DW: You know, people are trying to utilize film and the internet, and there really hasn’t been any silver bullet that’s worked. Even the music industry is so different from what it was ten, even five years ago. I mean, The Beatles could release a record and never tour and become millionaires. You couldn’t do that today. You have to be on the road, because with the internet, music is either very cheap or even free. The same thing is coming with movies. You can make it cheap and get it out there, but to make a living at it is tough. So I came up with this idea with MLIAM, making it a web series and having a book there with it. Maybe that’s something that might work. Are there other things like that out there? I don’t know.
At the Cast/Crew private premiere. (L. to R. Neil McDonald, Laura Singleton, Stephanie Swink, Elijah Ward, Dale Ward, John Eimer, Vickie Kellermann-Doerr)
For more information on this movie visit the Facebook page or web page www.mylifeisamovie.org
Determination I just won my second Florida Golden Glove title in two years. I am also the number one fighter in the state at my weight class (Heavyweight) for the second year in a row!
My next fight is in Las Vegas May-7-11, 2014 in the National Golden Gloves. Only the best fighter from each weight class in each state is invited. Last year I won two fights at nationals in the SuperHeavyweight class.........I won't give up.
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