UCAN!
VOLUME TWO ISSUE TWO
FALL 2014 PREVIEW ISSUE
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COOL DOWN Mansour Foruzesh Tests Both the Physical & Mental Will in His Film The Hose Postal Madness The Play Fun for The Family The Piton Film Fest Sets a Good Precedent for The Caribbean Antonio Alvaira, Frank Williams and Vinny Cuevas are Our Actors Shining Bright Highlights of Summer Goings On COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: LILY POVEDA
Roberto Poveda World Music Artist
THE OCKTOBER FILM FESTIVAL (OFF) 2014 SHINES ITS LIGHT ON EAST HARLEM!
The four-day affair which celebrates actors as well as the creators of film, television, new media, and music videos, takes place in the landmark Poet’s Den Gallery and Theater. At OFF attendees get to: • Network with filmmakers and financiers • Interact with actors and musical artists • Attend panels conducted by accomplished industry insiders • Meet and network with experienced production crew professionals Like us @ www.facebook.com/ocktoberfilmfest www.ocktoberfilmfest.com
FROM THE EDITOR
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STAR DAVIS CREATIVE
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RANDELL PEARSON SOCIAL
As we come into the fall season, we say good-bye to Summer and savor the final days of Daylight Savings Time. We begin preparing for the year’s end. I too often think about how I want the rest of 2014 to be, for myself and for this magazine. I don’t really have to think about the latter for too long. I created UCAN! Magazine to give encouragement and support to content creators, production crew professionals, and to my fellow artists. The entertainment business is not an easy life to which we are called. We have an intense passion for what we do, and we make countless sacrifices for our creative loves. I’ve heard stories of financial struggle and even of artists becoming homeless, all in the name of reaching that next artistic goal. Those of us in entertainment are often described as, living our dreams. Not quite. We are working toward living our dreams. As an actress, my dream is to have consistent and steady work of transforming into a character – and to be steadily paid for it. In the meantime, UCAN! Magazine wants to concentrate on the positives. We celebrate finished projects and booked gigs. We want our pages to be a colorful reminder of the success stories that happen along the way. We want to remind our artistic comrades that dreams are realized, every single day. Whenever you’re uncertain about whether or not you want to keep pushing on, keep looking to us for reports of those who’ve made it – made that film, made that EP, made that web series, made that play script into a theatrical production. They did it, and UCAN! too. #ByArtistsForEveryone
MEDIA
MANAGER
JACQUELINE MARI ALVARADO CONTRIBUTING
EDITORS
DENISE THOMAS-KERSEY ANNE WINTER MELISSA GOLDSTEIN SUZETTE STAMM EDITORIAL
PRODUCTION
NAIMA SOLOMON ENTERTAINMENT
DIRECTOR
KAREN Y. BROWN RESEARCH
CENTER
DEIDRE GREGORY KEIDRA CAMERON MICHELLE DUBOIS ADVERTISING
DIRECTOR
KIMBERLY ANN RICHARDS
UCAN! MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED SIX TIMES ANNUALLY IN ENGLISH. UCAN! IS REGISTERED AS AN INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK. COPYRIGHT © 2012 BY PINDARA STUDIOS LLC. COPYRIGHT UNDER UIVERSAL COPYRIGHT CONVENTION. FRONT COVER AND ENTIRE MAGAZINE DESIGN COPYRIGHT @ 2012 BY PEARSON DESIGNS, BROOKLYN NY, USA. REPRODUCTION OF ANY PARTS OF THIS PUBLICATION REQUIRES EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHER. UCAN! ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHY OR ARTWORK.
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pindara studios
Affordable space to help the creative community CREATE
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www.campiflegreiwebseriesfest.it/
October 23 - 26 www.IFFMNewYork.com
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FRANK WILLIAMS (below) is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where he received his Bachelors in Theatre Performance. Four years ago he moved to NYC to pursue his dream in the entertainment business. He was blessed with the opportunity to work with the TECTONIC THEATRE PROJECT in creating a new piece of work entitled GOOD DEATH. He has acted in multiple Off-Broadway productions, shows for the Fringe Festival, extra work in feature films, and network TV. Using his people skills, Frank worked as a promoter for some of the hottest night spots in New York. Theater will always be his passion and he always works toward the next big challenge. For more, feel free to email him at: simplyfrankwilliams@gmail.com ANTONIO ALVAIRA (above) graduated from the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He has appeared on The Filipino Channel (TFC); American Industrial Commercials; ABC’s ONE LIFE TO LIVE. He has also appeared in many independent films such as 36 SAINTS; and PALE BLUE LIGHT. Antonio appeared in the Off-Broadway plays THE INSIDERS; CREATIVE PREJUDICES; and WRITERS BLOCK. Antonio was a guest host for International Media www.FanClubX.com, and a voice over artist for the upcoming Hip-Hop artist Sky Point. He is also a former member of Junior Chamber International (JCI) The Philippine New York Jaycees.
VINNY CUEVAS studied film and creative writing at the University of Tampa. He not only acting in several independent films, but he also appeared on television in LAW AND ORDER. He then started to hone is writing skills. To date, Vinny has written scripts and caught the attention of a producer at Atomic Hollywood and was asked to join the group. vincent.cuevas33@yahoo.com
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UCAN! MAGAZINE was in attendance to see and enjoy POSTAL MADNESS, the onstage performance that makes for a fun night out with friends or on a date. Even a solo audience member will have a good time. Created by Michael Anthony, written by Perry Crowe, and directed by Frances Lozada, this play tells a good story in hysterically funny ways. Everyone has heard that saying, “going postal.” It means the work environment at the post offices often drives its employees
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to (re)act in insane and sometimes violent ways. Well, this play doesn’t go to that extreme. At this post office, the job provides not just a salary, but a whole lot more opportunities than the postal workers bargain for. They each have to make choices that directly impact their lives. The cast which includes: Joe Genesis, Brian Wicker, Liza Marie-Galletti, Luis Pedron, Paul David Miller, Will Strong, and Mark Mason all played their roles with fun and believability.
Roberto
Poveda TAKING HIS UNIQUE SOUND OF MUSIC ALL OVER THE WORLD
Roberto Poveda is an artist in every sense of the word. With years as an actor in Colombian novellas, and being a musician for most of his life – who also has a degree in Film Production, Roberto is the twenty-first century version of a Renaissance Man. Born in Havana Cuba, Roberto had music all around him and started playing guitar at seventeen years of age. “My older brother and his friends were already playing guitar and writing songs,” so the progression seemed natural. His emotional inspiration is one we all know well. “I fell in love and was rejected by a girl. That was the main impulse,” he describes. Roberto firmly believes that that pain in love propelled him to start composing much more than happiness would have. “I discovered that we often forget to write about love when that special one corresponds to our feelings. Not the same when the contrary happens. Usually we write about love only when we’re wounded.” His sound is described by Latin music enthusiasts as old style Cuban. He describes it a bit differently. “I was born in Havana, but further developed in Bogota Colombia. I could say my music is part of the exotic landscape of Latin American music.” His Cuban accent is matter of fact. While living in Colombia in the late nineties, having a musical background helped Roberto land the opportunity of working with accomplished filmmaker, Carlos Mayolo. The project was the very popular novella, AZUCAR in which Roberto was an actor. They would again collaborate on FIEBRE. Both shows’ storylines were musically driven and concentrated on the lives of musicians. To many actors, such a life of steady work on hit television shows would have been living out their aspirations – to say the least. Not so for Roberto. “In my days as an actor, I always felt that something was missing. Even though I was famous and all, I was unhappy.” Despite not being creatively stimulating, the years of working on sets gave him invaluable insight into the world of television production. Years later Roberto decided to move to New York. He wanted to finish his education but wasn’t sure about a major. With music in his soul, and an impressive acting resume, he thought film studies would be a good major to combine his skills and experience. After one class, Roberto knew that was the right direction for him.
Since then he has traveled the world wowing audiences with his unique musical sound. He regularly tours throughout North America, the UK, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. Earlier this year Roberto released BROOKLYN NIGHTS. “A perfect blend of all my experiences around the world, from the starting point of Havana, until these days as a Brooklyn man,” he describes. Roberto’s song, MULATTO is also featured on the album CAFÉ LATINO from the Putumayo World Music label. So from where does Roberto get his inspiration these days? “Everything inspires me, but music is a great connector. It happens magically when I start playing chords and put them together, right after a melody with scattered words comes to my mind. It’s a process that never ends.” Roberto Poveda fans all over the world can rest assured that making music will always be a big part of his life. www.robertopoveda.com (a link to iTunes store) You can also follow him on: www.twitter.com/povedinsky www.facebook.com/roberto.poveda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bShNnKR43fM PRECEDING SPREAD, LEFT: ROBERTO SERENADING THE CROWD AT HIS SUMMER 2014 CONCERT IN EUROPE. OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: 1997 WHEN ROBERTO WAS AN ACTOR IN COLOMBIA. OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT: ENGAGING CHILDREN IN GENEVA. OPPOSITE CENTER LEFT: THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN HAVANA, CUBA. OPPOSITE CENTER: CUBAN CULTURAL CENTER IN MADRID, SPAIN. ALL OTHER PHOTOS ARE OF CHURCHES AND A RESIDENTIAL STREET IN HAVANA, CUBA.
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THE PITON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (PIFF), was first thought of by Edmund Herman, the founder of Umoja Communications. Known to many as “Brother Umoja,� Herman was born on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia and feels that the island is more than capable of bringing filmmaking to its shores and giving the people of St. Lucia another source of artistic networking and income. The mission of the Piton Film Festival is to form an alliance among film lovers, where the group networks, exchanges dialogue, schedules/ sponsors events, and shares ideas serving as a central point of communication and as a vehicle to produce future projects. Held this
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year from Sep 5-7, as a part of the Ocktober Film Festival, and in conjunction with Sisters in Harmony and the Audiovisual and Film Association. The organizers include Emelyn Stuart, Dr. Kathleen E. Walls, and Brother Umoja, The Best of Award winners for the first year of the film festival were: Best Music Video- Saint Lucia We Love, directed by Ted Sandiford; Best Short Film-Egress, Directed by Sean Micheal Field; Best Feature Film-Poetry Is An Island by Ida Does; Most Innovative Filmmaker-Dale Elliot for 21 Days; Best Actor-Delano Payne for 21 Days. Check this link for more copy http://www.iamlucian.com/2014/09/big-win-for-many-at-2014-piton-film.html
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UCAN! MAGAZINE was there as Toni Seawright brought down the house with her entertainment showcase that celebrated her 50th birthday and also commemorated the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s passing. Hosted by celebrity blogger Patrick L. Riley, the evening was filled with powerhouse performances by singers who included: Asa Lovechild, Kevin Anthony, Donald King, Primadonna, the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir, and the incomparable Ebony Jo-Ann who shut it down with a smoking hot Blues number. What an uplifting night of celebrating and fun! PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY RONNIE WRIGHT ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY GWENDOLYN QUINN FOR UCAN! MAGAZINE
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When is it Enough?
We at UCAN! Magazine love the unique and unusual. With that in mind, we found a film that we think you’ll be interested in. It’s a short film out of Iran, called THE HOSE written and directed by Mansour Foruzesh. THE HOSE is about Nobari, an elementary school teacher who believes the most effective way to educate his students is by punishing them. However, being open to new ideas, Nobari does some research and realizes his methods may not be the most applicable. He decides to make a change. He takes particular interest in Shalbaf, a young boy with a speech impediment. Nobari believes that this child is the perfect opportunity to practice his new teaching techniques. The results are sad and disturbing. At the very least, Western parents would be outraged. “When I was a student, we were at a bad period because of the war with Iraq. It had just finished, and human relations were greatly affected,” Mansour explains. It’s not hard to imagine how devastating a war, up close, could be to both adults and children alike. “We saw many strange things in adult behaviors, but the greatest problem from that war was financial,” he continues. It is fact that financial hardship can bring out the worst in human beings. This principle applies to people anywhere in the world. The story idea for THE HOSE came from when Mansour was an elementary student himself. One day the teacher had punished some of the boys in the class. Administrators reacted swiftly. “The real story is different from the film. We no longer saw this teacher. He had gone from our school.” Mansour strongly believes that one negative effect of war was that physical punishment was promoted in schools and used as the first resort to deter students from misbehaving. “I believe this, the war was the reason. Iranian people are very kind, but in that era, almost every family had a martyr or someone who was disabled,” he explains. The loss of a loved one, coupled with financial hardship could turn even the nicest person into an a-hole. “This situation has meant that people are tired and exhausted from the stress of financial difficulties of a war torn society, so they do not behave rationally.” So what is Mansour Foruzesh saying to us through this film? “I wanted to say that the most profound statement came from the disabled student. He actually taught the teacher.” Some viewers may disagree, but for these school boys, being punished with a hose may not be the worst thing that could happen. MansourForuzesh@yahoo.com U CAN! M
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