Scene Magazine - January/February 2015 by Scene Magazine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

sceneent.com

ON THE SCENE

HERE’S MY $2 SOCIAL in review:

VOODOO 2014

BELLA

DAYNE Breaks Out

HEALTH SCENE

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Jurassic World’s

JAMES DuMONT BEFORE THE SCENE WITH

PETER LENKOV

VOL. 6, ISSUE 1 • January/February 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Micah Haley CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erin Theriot ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Kelli Binnings STAFF WRITER Jordan McGuire GRAPHIC ART DIRECTOR Burton Chatelain, Jr. SALES Beth Burvant, Lauren Fain, Julie Barecki

EDITOR’S LETTER

’ve never began a year at Scene more excited than I am to begin 2015. Our team is incredible and our plan for the year is more expansive and more exciting than ever. We are in the planning stages on some great events that we would love for you to be a part of, including a New Year’s Party to usher in 2016. There will be plenty of ways to connect before then, but that’s going to be a big one. We have some long in development projects that we’ll be announcing soon! We’ve been hard at work fine tuning them and can’t wait to share the results with you. The best way to be included in the launch of these new projects is by signing up for Scene Today, our daily entertainment email. You can sign up for free at scene-today.com. After a successful

10 | January/February 2015

Kickstarter campaign with LFEA to support the entertainment tax credits, we’re hard at work delivering the many thank-you rewards to the kind backers who supported the project, over five hundred in total. That includes producing a short film for one very generous backer. And we’re also waiting for the results of the academic study that the Kickstarter funded! There are two more phases to the Here’s My $2 campaign. We’ll be announcing them soon. This is all building up to the 2015 session of the Louisiana Legislature, where we will need everyone’s support. You can continue to follow the progress at heresmytwobucks.com.

MICAH HALEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

editor@sceneent.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Sean Richardson, Claire Fogler, Ray Mickshaw, Michele K. Short, Daniel McFadden, Wilson Webb, Tracey Bennett, Steve Dietl, Frank Masi, Atsushi Nishijima, Matt Lankes, Charles Ravaglia, Kelli Binnings, Brandon T. Willis, Caitlin Barry Drew Patrick Bateman-Guillory CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AJ Buckley, Aaron Williamson, James Napper, III, Jacob Peterman, Susan Ross Scene Magazine At Celtic Studios Baton Rouge 10000 Celtic Drive • Suite 201 • Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-361-0701 At Second Line Stages 800 Richard St. • 4th Floor • New Orleans, LA 70130 504-224-2221 info@sceneent.com • www.sceneent.com Published By Scene Entertainment, LLC For Scene Entertainment, LLC CEO, Andre Champagne President, AJ Buckley Vice President, Micah Haley Display Advertising: Call Scene Magazine for a current rate card or visit www.sceneent.com All submitted materials become the property of Scene Entertainment, LLC. For subscriptions or more information visit our website at www.sceneent.com. Copyright @ 2015 Scene Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used for solicitation or copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher.

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CONTENTS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

ON THE COVER

ON THE SCENE

H&M OPENS IN NEW ORLEANS

Bella Dayne

WWW.SCENELOUISIANA.COM

BROKEN LIZARD LIVE AT THE CIVIC THEATRE

photo by Sean Richardson

BEFORE THE SCENE WITH

MICHAEL RAPAPORT

PREVIEWS:

ABOVE THE LINE

NBA ALL-STARS IN NOLA LSU BASEBALL

Bella Dayne

SCENE ON

BLAKE

Celebs currently filming in Louisiana

BEFORE THE SCENE

LIVELY

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Casts

Richard Linklater’s Boyhood

SCENE EXTRAS

MUSIC/SOUND SPEED

Notable News and Celebrities Voodoo 2014 in Review

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Saint

HEALTH SCENE 56 New Year’s Resolutions

LETTERS OF THE LAW

jobSCENE

ON THE SCENE 36 Here’s My $2 Social

TODAY’S SCENE 32 Scene Workshops at NOFF 2014

THE UNSCENE 74

Follow @SceneToday on Twitter for breaking news and more from Scene Magazine. @scenetoday

12 | January/February 2015

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Specia

Selma

SCENE IN TEXAS

DEC

THE FASHION ISSUE

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOKS

Classy Chic

A Conversation with Peter Lenkov

COMING SOON 20

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SCENE ON MARK WAHLBERG The Gambler

Mark Wahlberg is a busy man. After starring in four films released in 2013, Wahlberg anchored the soft reboot of the Transformers franchise in 2014 and finished out the year with The Gambler. In 2015, he’s got the Entourage movie and Ted 2 headed to theaters and he also has nearly twenty projects in development. Now, after finishing up Daddy’s Home in New Orleans, he’ll stay in the Crescent City to film the oil spill disaster story Deepwater Horizon.

KEVIN SPACEY Mark Wahlberg as Jim Bennett photo by Claire Fogler

House of Cards

American Beauty star Kevin Spacey has kept things interesting since his Oscar win in 1999. Most recently, he’s made history starring in the critically acclaimed drama House of Cards, which put Netflix original programming on the map overnight. Now the versatile thesp is back in New Orleans to film Elvis & Nixon with Man of Steel star Michael Shannon. Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood courtesy of Netflix

UZO ADUBA

Orange is the New Black

Michael Shannon as Nelson Van Alden courtesy of HBO

MICHAEL SHANNON

An unknown before being cast in Orange is the New Black, Uzo Aduba became one of the Netflix show’s breakout stars in its first season. Now she’s branching out with other projects like Scott Ehrlich’s film Pearly Gates and Showing Roots, the new film from director Michael Wilson that is filming in Baton Rouge.

Boardwalk Empire

While starring on the big screen in blockbusters like Man of Steel, The Iceman and Premium Rush, Michael Shannon has also been doing excellent work on the small screen in HBO’s period drama Boardwalk Empire. Now, after filming 99 Homes and Midnight Special in New Orleans in 2014, Shannon is back for Elvis & Nixon.

Uzo Aduba as Crazy Eyes courtesy of Netflix

MORE SCENE ON 14 | January/February 2015

IN PRO DU SUMM CTION ER 201 5

CAGED

Feature Films Commercials Documentaries

Animation EPKs Visual Effects

For a full list of services, visit us online:

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SCENE ON MARY-LOUISE PARKER Weeds

Like Keanu Reeves, actress Mary-Louise Parker never ages. The brunette beauty, who has led the cast of Showtime’s hit series Weeds, currently stars on television in The Blacklist with James Spader. Now Parker is in Louisiana to film Showing Roots, where she’ll join Uzo Aduba, Maggie Grace and the always-wonderful Cicely Tyson.

MAGGIE GRACE Taken 3 Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin courtesy of Showtime

After winning hearts on the hit series Lost, Maggie Grace was kidnapped in Taken, the surprise hit that turned Schindler’s List star Liam Neeson into an action hero. Now, after filming The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 & Part 2 in Baton Rouge, she returns to Louisiana to film Showing Roots, where she’ll costar with Mary-Louise Parker, Uzo Aduba and Cicely Tyson.

Maggie Grace as Kim photo by Daniel McFadden

ZOE MCLELLAN NCIS: New Orleans

Morris Chestnut photo by Ray Mickshaw / FX

JAG alum Zoe McLellan, who also starred in Dirty Sexy Money and on the big screen in Dungeons and Dragons, is currently on the hit CBS show NCIS: New Orleans. She’s still in the Crescent City filming the popular show, which is distributed globally. You can also check her out as Meredith Brody in two crossover episodes she did in 2014 with the flagship sister series NCIS.

MORRIS CHESTNUT American Horror Story

Morris Chestnut is one of the best actors of his generation. After starring in the remake of V, he appeared on the hit show American Horror Story before joining Edie Falco on Nurse Jackie. Now he’s in Louisiana to film When the Bough Breaks. Zoe McLellan as Meredith Brody photo by Michele K. Short / CBS

16 | January/February 2015

Law Offices

MARTI OGDEN

ATTORNEY • MEDIATOR

Mediation General Liability Medical Malpractice Admiralty and Maritime Law Insurance Defense and Coverage Litigation Products Liability Complex Commercial Litigation Construction Defect Litigation Contract Negotiation

1martiogden@gmail.com

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Baton Rouge • Lafayette • New Orleans • Shreveport • Houston

by AJ Buckley

PETER LENKOV Peter Lenkov is a veteran film and television producer and Emmynominated writer from Montreal, Canada. His film work includes Demolition Man, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever and R.I.P.D. His television work includes La Femme Nikita, 24 and CSI:NY. He is currently the showrunner and executive producer of the hit CBS drama Hawaii Five-0.

What made you want to become a filmmaker? I’ve wanted to do it since I was a kid. But I didn’t think it was possible where I came from, Montreal, Canada. The closest thing to the entertainment business there was The National Inquirer. The idea of wanting to become a screenwriter was a dream. But I always wanted to write and somehow be involved with TV, which was a big influence on me growing up. When I was younger, I was always listening to Bob Dylan and Springsteen. I loved those guys because they were storytellers. I was very influenced by anybody who was telling a story, whether poetry, plays or short stories. I couldn’t play guitar so I took up screenwriting.

What was your biggest fear? That I wouldn’t be able to write and I’d have to have a regular job. I left home when I was twenty or twenty-one. I left college before I graduated. So, I think my biggest fear was letting down my parents. That was my fear, because they wanted me to graduate from college and I didn’t. I didn’t want to fail, having to get on an airplane and with a one-way ticket coming home. I didn’t want that to happen so I was determined to make it work.

What was your lowest point? When I first moved out to L.A., I literally had no money. My dad gave me twenty-five hundred extra bucks and I bought a salvage vehicle, which is a car that should have basically been in a junk pile. I bought spray paint and spray-painted the interior so that it would look somewhat clean. I’d have to ride around with the windows down all the time cause it reeked of spray paint. Very early on, I had no money and was barely able to eat. My transmission busted and I was making $150 a week. I worked fifteen miles from where I was living, so I had to drive home backwards in reverse for fifteen miles. I couldn’t get my car repaired, I needed to get home. So I would drive a block, pretend that I was looking for a parking spot and back up a block. Wait. Back up another block. It took me about three hours to get home. That was a pretty low point.

What kept you from walking away? I enjoy what I do. How many people get to go to work with a big smile on their face everyday and really like what they’re doing? And look forward to the next day? It’s always a challenge and it never gets 18 | January/February 2015

easy after twenty-five years of doing it. Literally, it’s almost doing the same thing every day but it’s always challenging and very creative. I think there’s no better job and I’ve wanted to do it since I was a kid.

Who was your closest ally? My wife. Even though she doesn’t go in with me everyday, and she may not be there next to me in the editing room, she allows me to do what I do. We don’t have any pressure of having to “be present.” When I have to buckle down and get into work mode, she allows me to do that without any sort of pressure. Just being supportive makes her my greatest ally. There are also people that I work with, there are mentors, but she’s just the closest thing I have to a partner.

What were you doing before the meeting that changed your life? I was getting coffee and just answering phones. Literally, the way this business works is sometimes you can be an overnight sensation. I wrote a script and the next day there was a bidding war. Before, I was worried if I was gonna be able to keep the lights on and then, I was in the middle of a bidding war for a script I had written. My life had drastically changed in a matter of twenty-four hours. I went from getting coffee and holding the elevator for my boss to having sold a screenplay and I had the money and the freedom to continue doing that. That script turned into a movie called Demolition Man. The funny thing about that movie is that I pitched it to Joel Silver right before the holidays in like 1989, and they passed on it. I was so angry that they passed on it because I thought that it would be a perfect movie for them. So I went off and I took like two weeks and I wrote the movie really quick and they ended up being the producers on it.

What were the words that kept you going? I decided to move from Montreal to Los Angeles. A couple days before I left, I talked to a bunch of friends of mine and I said I was moving to Los Angeles, I was leaving school and I wanted to be in the entertainment business. And there was this guy. He wasn’t a really close friend but he was a guy I knew who was very snarky and I remember he said to me, “If you want to be in the entertainment business, my

In twenty-four hours, I went from getting coffee and holding the elevator for my boss to having sold a screenplay.

Peter Lenkov uncle is a manager of a movie theater downtown. You can get a job there.” And it made me so angry! After all these years, I still remember that. I think they were fighting words for me. The business was so far away, it seemed like a dream. And somebody tried to extinguish this fire I had inside of me! Saying that I could go work at a movie theater as an usher infuriated me and I became determined to make it work. Those were fighting words that kept me going even in the darkest of days.

A partner in Scene Magazine and the president of Scene Entertainment, AJ Buckley has starred for the last eight years on the hit CBS show CSI:NY. Originally from Dublin and raised in Vancouver, he has spent the last twelve years in Los Angeles acting, writing and directing. He starred in and produced the film Home Sweet Hell, which opens nationwide on March 13, and can next be seen in Stephen Botchco’s Murder in the First. Find out more on Twitter @AJohnBuckley and at www.ajbuckley.net.

BEFORE THE SCENE

Let me give you a long answer to a short question. I really feel that if you’re gonna be in this business, it has to be the only thing that you can see yourself doing. If you cannot be happy in anything else. If you’re willing to tough it out. It’s not easy. It’s about perseverance and it’s the long race: it’s a marathon. I always say go for it. Anybody who thinks it’s gonna be quick and that it’s gonna happen overnight should consider other options. Because it’s a marathon. The best thing is to find a mentor. There are a few kids that I mentor and I think that the best thing for me is that I always had really good mentors in life. Find a mentor that is patient and has time to give you. That is gonna be huge to wake up and find somebody that you can pick up a phone and ask a question of. To this day, I sill have people like that in my life. That’s really important to have somebody who’s been there and done that. When you have a question, there’s no better resource. There is no search engine for that stuff.

PETER LENKOV

What words do you have to inspire others?

sceneent.com | 19

COMING SOON

by Jacob Peterman

THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2: ANGEL OF DEATH • JANUARY 2 The woman in black returns for this creepy sequel, but Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe does not. Directed by Peaky Blinders director Tom Harper. 98 min. Rated PG-13.

Bradley Cooper in American Sniper

courtesy of Warner Bros.

AMERICAN SNIPER • JANUARY 16 One of the best films of the year. A moving, true account of the life of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Bradley Cooper stars for director Clint Eastwood. 132 min. Rated R. Joaquin Phoenix in Inherent Vice

photo by Wilson Webb

INHERENT VICE JANUARY 9 The newest film from director Paul Thomas Anderson. In drug-fueled 1970s Los Angeles, detective Larry “Doc” Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend. 148 min. Rated R.

PREDESTINATION • JANUARY 9 The Spierig Brothers reunite with their Daybreakers star Ethan Hawke for this sci-fi film about a time-travelling Temporal Agent on his final assignment hunting down an evasive criminal. 97 min. Rated R.

TAKEN 3 • JANUARY 9 Liam Neeson’s very special set of skills return in the popular action franchise’s third installment. 109 min. Rated PG-13.

SELMA • JANUARY 9 David Oyelowo stars as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in this anticipated historical epic. 127 min. Rated PG-13.

PADDINGTON • JANUARY 16 It’s the famous Paddington bear, this time in a live-action feature that stars Nicole Kidman and Michael Gambon. Ben Whishaw is the voice of Paddington. 95 min. Rated PG.

BLACKHAT • JANUARY 16 Influential director Michael Mann returns with a cyber-thriller that will open in the wake of the Sony hacking scandal. Chris Hemsworth, Violia Davis and Wei Tang star. 135 min. Rated R.

STILL ALICE • JANUARY 16 The talented Julianne Moore stars as Alice Howland, a happily married mother and renowned linguistics professor who begins a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. 101 min. Rated PG-13.

CAKE • JANUARY 23 Jennifer Aniston takes a dramatic turn as Claire, a woman who initiates a dubious relationship with a widower while confronting fantastical hallucinations of his dead wife. 102 min. Rated R.

MORTDECAI • JANUARY 23 Art dealer Charles Mortdecai ( Johnny Depp) searches for a stolen painting that’s reportedly linked to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. 106 min. Rating TBD.

WILD CARD • JANUARY 30 Director Simon West reunites with his Mechanic star Jason Statham, who stars as Nick Wild, a recovering gambling addict who finds work providing protection for this friends. 92 min. Rated R.

MORE COMING SOON 20 | January/February 2015

COMING SOON KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE FEBRUARY 13 Director Matthew Vaughn follows up X-Men: First Class with this new spin on the British secret agent flick. 129 min. Rating TBA.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 FEBRUARY 20 With the most joyously ludicrous premise ever, this comedy promises to descend into absolute anarchy. Shot in New Orleans. Rating and Runtime TBA. Kevin Costner in Black or White

photo by Tracy Bennett

BLACK OR WHITE • JANUARY 30 Kevin Costner stars in this New Orleans-shot drama about a grieving widower who is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter. Directed by Mike Binder. 121 min. Rated PG-13.

THE DUFF • FEBRUARY 20 The Designated Ugly Fat Friend. Every high school clique has one, at least according to this new comedy. Rating and Runtime TBA.

JUPITER ASCENDING • FEBRUARY 6 Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne and Mila Kunis star in the latest sci fi epic from the Wachowskis. 125 min. Rated PG-13.

SEVENTH SON • FEBRUARY 6 Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Kit Harington and Ben Barnes star in this sword and sorcery epic. 102 min. Rated PG-13.

THE VOICES • FEBRUARY 6 Affable Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) stumbles innocently ino the role of a killer, guided along the way by his evil talking cat and benevolent talking dog. 103 min. Rated R.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY • FEBRUARY 13 Jamie Dornan stars as Christian Grey in this adaptation of the popular book that started out as Twilight fan fiction. Not kidding. Rating and Runtime TBA.

Will Smith and Margot Robbie in Focus

photo by Frank Masi

FOCUS • FEBRUARY 27 Shot in New Orleans, I Love You Phillip Morris directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa helm this film starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie. Rating and Runtime TBA.

MAPS TO THE STARS • FEBRUARY 27 David Cronenberg returns. A tour into the heart of a Hollywood family chasing celebrity, one another and the relentless ghosts of their pasts. 111 min. Rated R.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2

22 | January/February 2015

photo by Steve Dietl

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Lady Gaga | Seema Sudan | Sandra

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GEORGIA

photo by Atsushi Nishijima

THE CONTENDER:

SELMA by Jacob Peterman

hot in Georgia, Selma is the new drama portraying the Selma to Montgomery marches that led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a landmark achievement of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the film chronicles Dr. Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign to secure equal voting rights, which involved the now-historic marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. In the lead role is The Butler star David Oyelowo as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the American civil rights leader from Atlanta, Georgia. The talented actor takes center stage as the familiar King after many memorable supporting roles, including two other awards contenders this year, Interstellar and A Most Violent Year. Oyelowo is joined by an all-star cast that includes Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Oprah Winfrey as 24 | January/February 2015

Annie Lee Cooper, Martin Sheen as Frank Minis Johnson, Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Fred Gray, Tim Roth as George Wallace, Common as James Bevel, Giovanni Ribisi as Lee C. White and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce as Reverend Hosea Williams. Other famous historical figures that will be portrayed in the film include J. Edgar Hoover (Dylan Baker), Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch), Mahalia Jackson (Ledisi Young) and of course Coretta Scott King (Carmen Ejogo). In addition to filming in Georgia, some scenes were shot on location in historical Selma, Alabama, centering on the Bloody Sunday march. Filming also took place in Montgomery, Alabama, where in 1965, civil rights demonstrators marched down Dexter Avenue towards the Alabama State Capitol. The inspiring film Selma, a contender at the forefront of awards season in 2015, opens nationwide on January 9.

SCENE in

TEXAS

THE CONTENDER:

BOYHOOD by Jacob Peterman

oyhood is the new film from director Richard Linklater. The Houston, Texas native shot the unique film at intervals over the course of twelve years, allowing the characters to naturally age as the actors portraying them aged. Boyhood was shot across the state of Texas, from Houston to Austin. At the film’s center is Mason Evans, Jr. a boy we first meet at age six. His older sister Samantha is played by Lorelei Linklater, an actress who is director Linklater’s actual daughter. The two are raised by their single mother Olivia, portrayed by Boardwalk Empire alum Patricia Arquette. Later, we meet Mason’s father, Mason, Sr., portrayed by Ethan Hawke. Although the film’s narrative is mostly straightforward, the natural aging of the actors lends a subtle emotional realism that’s truly unique. Despite incredible advances in special makeup effects and CG, nothing quite matches the hands of time. The result is an experience that’s powerful in the way that memory is powerful. In an awards season with no pre-ordained frontrunner, Boyhood is considered near the very front of the contenders. Anchored by historic performances and emotional accessibility, and helmed by a director with a filmography of unique work, the film is heading into awards season with a head of steam that may be difficult for other films to overcome. Find out more at boyhoodmovie.tumblr.com. 26 | January/February 2015

Ellar Coltrane as Mason, age six, in Boyhood

courtesy of Matt Lankes/IFC

BIC Media Solutions expands into energy-related films by Billy Wadsack

lifelong love of movies has helped put BIC Alliance Founder and CEO Earl Heard at the forefront of the current trend of energy industry-related films and media projects. He recently expanded the services of BIC Media Solutions (BMS) from book publishing and event planning into producing films. BMS has invested in the short film “Classic Restoration” and the feature length movie “A Gift Horse.” Heard has also delved into projects about and related to the energy industry, such as “American Made Movie,” “Haynesville: A Nation’s Hunt for an Energy Future” and the Rational Middle® Energy Series, “Energy at the Movies” by the Webber Energy Group, “FrackNation,” and the new documentary “Oil & Water,” which looks at the lives of a Cajun family following the 2010 explosion on Deepwater Horizon. While this trend of energy-related films is currently growing, it’s not new — in 1948, Standard Oil of New Jersey invested in the Louisiana-shot, semi-documentary “Louisiana Story.” “I’m very interested in those types of movies,” Heard said. “But I’m also interested in patriotic movies and family friendly entertainment. I’m pretty much shooting for those that could receive the Dove Seal for family friendly films.” Before starting BIC, Heard was a producer of industrial training videos with his first company, Videoscan. “We won the Mardi Gras Film Festival in 1981,” Heard recalls of his early efforts. “The video business is what got me into publishing because I was producing these training movies, but I needed a way to reach people in industry.” That company and his first publishing attempt, Training Coordinator magazine, eventually went bust, but Heard rebounded and started BIC Magazine in April 1984. During his 30 years publishing BIC Magazine and growing BIC Alliance to include BMS, BIC Recruiting and IVS Investment Banking, Louisiana grew into a major player in the entertainment industry. In March 2013, Heard had the opportunity to hear retired U.S. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell speak at the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Capital Connection in Dallas. Luttrell wrote the book “Lone Survivor” and inspired the 2014 major motion picture of the same name. In early 2014, BIC Alliance and NCCER, a BIC member, co-sponsored an early screening of the movie and fundraiser for the Lone Survivor Foundation and the Boot Campaign. “We sent out invitations to a who’s who in industry, and everyone was excited about it,” Heard said. “I researched the industry in Louisiana and Texas and discovered it was like a renaissance in energy-related filmmaking. In the energy business, we’re used to going to rock bottom in search of oil and success. That’s why I want to make a documentary about those

who have gone to rock bottom and back in their personal or business lives.” Heard also read about “Left Undone,” a Hollywood-style safety film created by Express Energy Services to educate oilfield workers on safety procedures in the June/July 2014 issue of BIC Magazine. “I read about that and then I found out about Esenjay Petroleum Corp. CEO Michael Johnson being a main investor and executive producer of the film ‘The Identical,’” Heard recalled. “So I figured the Lord’s really blessed us. We’ve been successful telling stories in BIC for 30 years and in our books for 10 years. Why not go back into telling stories in film for ourselves and others? “Great stories need telling and that story can be told in BIC Magazine, in books, in a movie or in all of the above. I see this building our relationship with industry even closer. My goal is to fund one or two more movies ourselves to make sure we’ve got the business model right, and then we want to raise an ‘Energy in Film’ fund.” When he returns to the 2015 Texas ACG Capital Connection, it will have been two years since he first heard Luttrell speak and became interested in producing movies. But now Heard will have a couple of films under his belt and will be looking to partner with others to produce movies that are inspirational, educational, family friendly and/or patriotic. “I’ve been very blessed, and the best thing I can give back is to help fund and produce books and movies that can help inspire people to have greater faith, peace, happiness and success,” Heard said. “And I’ve already started reaching out to people in industry who have a great story to tell.” If you or someone you know is interested in sharing a story in BIC Magazine, a custom book, or a movie or documentary, contact Earl Heard or Catie Ragusa at (800) 460-4242 or email them at earlheard@ bicalliance.com or catie@bicalliance.com.

Great Stories Need Telling!

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For over 30 years, BIC Alliance has been offering marketing campaigns in BIC Magazine that include editorial. Since 2004, BIC Media Solutions has been offering custom book publishing and in 2014 BMS began offering funding, co-producing and marketing of movies and documentaries. For more information about telling your story, contact Earl Heard or Catie Ragusa at (800) 460-4242 or email earlheard@bicalliance.com.

“Oil & Water” Producer David Winkler-Schmit, left, and Director Alan Robert Davis, right, visit with BIC Alliance Founder and CEO Earl Heard.

www.bicmediasolutions.com www.bicalliance.com

SPORTS

LSU BASEBALL: REASONS TO WATCH THIS SEASON

by Jordan McGuire

fter losing thirteen players to the MLB draft in the past two seasons, the LSU Tigers are faced with the problem of rebuilding, hopefully to contend for an SEC Championship and, ultimately, a National Championship. In the realm of Southeastern Conference sports, the only way to survive is to recruit and develop the best talent in the country. After an early and frankly embarrassing exit in the Regional round to Houston, this years’ Bayou Bengals will be quick to avenge their disappointing 2014 season. And here’s five reasons why.

1. NEW STARS ARE BORN.

Newcomer Greg Deichmann from Brother Martin High School is a very talented recruit who played shortstop all throughout his high school career. He is currently behind former Freshman of the Year, Alex Bregman, who has been a star since he stepped foot onto LSU’s campus two years ago. He’ll likely be picked up by any pro team that needs a dominant shortstop. Luckily, LSU will have Deichmann locked and loaded. LSU has also developed quite the recruiting pipeline from Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This season, LSU has recruited twins Beau and Bryce Jordan, who play outfield and catcher respectively. LSU has to fill holes in their pitching staff due to the departure of ace Aaron Nola and the highly competitive Nathan Fury. Sean McMullen, who played outfield and swung a consistent bat, will be severely missed and it will be interesting to see who fills that void in the lineup this upcoming season.

2. PITCH ME SOMETHING, MISTER.

Major League Baseball has a healthy habit of drafting LSU starting pitchers. Aaron Nola was drafted seventh overall. Ryan Eades was drafted early in the second round in 2013 and current Baltimore Oriole Kevin Gausman was taken fourth overall in the 2012 MLB Draft. When it comes to LSU baseball, it’s simply a matter of reloading and relying on the younger guys to step into the massive shoes of former players. Coming off a nine-win season last year, Jared Poché is the likely ace on the new LSU staff. Following the lefty from Lutcher high school will be senior Kyle Bouman. Bouman is another lefty who posted five wins last season and a very impressive 2.12 ERA finishing only second to Aaron Nola for the team lead. The bullpen will hopefully be loaded again, this time led by Zac Person and rising star Parker Bugg.

LSU MEN’S BASEBALL 2015 SCHEDULE Fri, Feb 13 Sat, Feb 14 Sun, Feb 15 Wed, Feb 18 Fri, Feb 20 Sat, Feb 21 Sun, Feb 22 Wed, Feb 25 Fri, Feb 27 Sat, Feb 28

vs. Kansas vs. Kansas vs. Kansas vs. Nicholls vs. Boston College vs. Boston College vs. Boston College vs. Southeastern La. vs. Princeton vs. Princeton

28 | January/February 2015

Sun, Mar 01 vs. Princeton Tue, Mar 03 vs. Stephen F. Austin Wed, Mar 04 vs. Grambling HOUSTON COLLEGE CLASSIC Fri, Mar 06 at Houston Sat, Mar 07 at Baylor Sun, Mar 08 at Nebraska Wed, Mar 11 Fri, Mar 13 Sat, Mar 14 Sun, Mar 15 Tue, Mar 17 Thu, Mar 19 Fri, Mar 20 Sat, Mar 21

vs. McNeese St. vs. Ole Miss vs. Ole Miss vs. Ole Miss at Southern at Arkansas at Arkansas at Arkansas

3. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

Baseball is the only game where the defense has the ball. This season, Coach Paul Mainieri looked to his experienced defense to get his pitching staff out of trouble. Mainieri has figured out a winning recipe, as he is second alltime at LSU in winning percentage, winning 70% of the time. He is second only to the greatest coach in college baseball history, Hall of Famer Skip Bertman, who won 73% of the time. LSU has so much experience coming back to its infield and could possibly have the most athletic outfield in the entire country: one that includes Laird, Foster and Stevenson. Bregman and Connor Hale will helm the middle infield and Mainieri will most likely find a rotation of corner infielders to battle the opposing pitchers. And an experienced LSU defense will greatly help this young pitching staff.

4. MORE THAN OFFENSIVE.

Although the exciting days of ‘Gorilla Ball’ at LSU are long gone, Paul Mainieri has created an almost “small ball” culture at LSU that also showcases some power throughout the lineup. Alex Bregman can lead the way hitting for power and average. Other veterans include southpaw outfielders Mark Laird and Jared Foster. Kade Scivicque led the way last year for the Tigers, hitting seven homeruns and also was able to get on base 38% of his at-bats. Two other notable players to watch are Connor Hale and Andrew Stevenson. Hale did a great job of compiling base hits as he had a batting average of .304. Stevenson led the team with an astounding .355 batting average. Sophmore outfielder Jake Fraley will also step in to play a big offensive role as he crushed the baseball time and time again last year hitting .372 in only 121 at bats.

5. IT’S THE CONFERENCE, STUPID.

The SEC is, bar none, the greatest conglomerate of collegiate athletes in the country. For years, the SEC has held 40% of the top ten in baseball and this year will be no different. The pride of Alex Box pays heavy impact to these tough conference games and the endless weekend matchups seemingly grow with importance as the bustling season progresses. The Tigers will host Kansas on February 13 in a three game series at Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers are showing all the signs of making another run at a College World Series appearance. Let’s hope they can get there. Tue, Mar 24 Fri, Mar 27 Sat, Mar 28 Sun, Mar 29

at Tulane vs. Kentucky vs. Kentucky vs. Kentucky

WALLY PONTIFF JR. CLASSIC (Zephyr Field) Tue, Mar 31 at UL-Lafayette Thu, Apr 02 at Alabama Fri, Apr 03 at Alabama Sat, Apr 04 at Alabama Tue, Apr 07 vs. New Orleans Wed, Apr 08 vs. Northwestern St. Fri, Apr 10 vs. Auburn Sat, Apr 11 vs. Auburn Sun, Apr 12 vs. Auburn

Wed, Apr 15 Fri, Apr 17 Sat, Apr 18 Sun, Apr 19 Tue, Apr 21 Thu, Apr 23 Fri, Apr 24 Sat, Apr 25 Tue, Apr 28 Thu, Apr 30 Fri, May 01 Sat, May 02 Fri, May 08 Sat, May 09 Sun, May 10 Tue, May 12

vs. Lamar at Georgia at Georgia at Georgia vs. Tulane vs. Texas A&M vs. Texas A&M vs. Texas A&M vs. Alcorn St. at Miss State at Miss State at Miss State vs. Missouri vs. Missouri vs. Missouri at New Orleans

Thu, May 14 at South Carolina Fri, May 15 at South Carolina Sat, May 16 at South Carolina SEC TOURNAMENT May 19-24 NCAA REGIONAL May 29-June 1 NCAA SUPER REGIONAL June 5-8 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES June 13-24

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SPORTS

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL ALABAMA VS. OHIO STATE

by Jordan McGuire

ith the college football playoff in full force, we have a matchup for the ages. The Allstate Sugar Bowl plays host to the most intriguing semi-final matchup thus far. Two of the best college football coaches of the decade, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, will go head-to-head as the number one ranked Crimson Tide will face the number four ranked Buckeyes. Ohio State stumbled early on this season, falling to a lackluster Virginia Tech team, forcing them to climb an almost insurmountable uphill battle to the college football elites. Ohio State has been playing its best football as of late, which is exactly what the College Football Playoff committee was looking for when selecting the final four. Urban Meyer has been the one consistent thorn in Nick Saban’s side throughout both of their illustrious careers. The Buckeyes will have to look to their third string quarterback, Cardale Jones. The redshirt sophomore put on a clinic against Big Ten contender Wisconsin, throwing for 257 yards to go along with three touchdown passes. Jones was able to gain much success against a weak Wisconsin defense. But can he repeat his efforts against the most consistent defense of the past decade? The Crimson Tide are led by phenomenal linebackers in Reggie Ragland and Trey DePriest. The hard-hitting Bama defense flies around the field at all times and faces the nation’s best athletes week in and week out with their strenuous SEC conference play. Speed won’t be an issue for the Alabama defense. Defensively, Ohio State has been improving from week to week and has showed tremendous promise against Big Ten opponents by going 12-1 overall with another undefeated conference record at 9-0. Ohio State is easily one of the hottest teams in the country as they are currently on a ten game win streak. Saban’s Crimson Tide have seen dominant defenses all year long. But they have beat up opponents with their ground game and, more surprisingly, through the air to one of the most talented and dominating wide receivers in the country in Amari Cooper. Cooper has set multiple school records and comes into the Sugar Bowl with 115 receptions, 1,656 receiving yards and fourteen touchdowns. We will see if Urban tries to take Cooper out of the narrative with double coverages and simply forcing Blake Sims to throw elsewhere. The toughest thing about Alabama football has been their balance offensively. Lane Kiffin has orchestrated his offense like a magician over the course of the season. Although Alabama doesn’t have a 1,000-yard rusher, they have a loaded backfield in T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry who both have ten touchdowns on the ground.

30 | January/February 2015

The Tide come into the Sugar Bowl for the second consecutive season and look to avenge their embarrassing loss to an underwhelming Oklahoma Sooner squad 45-31. Saban is currently 2-1 against Urban Meyer as the two battled with SEC powerhouses in Florida and Saban’s current team, Alabama. My Prediction: Alabama 38 - Ohio State 28 The winner will face the winner of the Rose Bowl. The reigning national champs Florida State will play the fast paced Oregon Ducks led by Heisman holder Marcus Mariota. Be sure to tune in January 1 at 7:30pm to watch the great minds of college football go head to head.

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL NATIONAL PREP CLASSIC Local powerhouse Riverside comes into the high school basketball tournament defending their 2013 championship. They are led by four of the best guards in the state. Seniors Von Julien and Jordan Andrews have played hundreds of games with each other along with outstanding juniors in Herbert McGee and Malik Crowfield. McGee was awarded a football scholarship from LSU earlier this year and Malik Crowfield has the ability to play at plenty of elite basketball universities. They will be just one of the incredibly talented teams in this year’s field. This year will feature the two-time defending Prep National champs Mount Verde Basketball Academy from Florida. They are loaded. The nation’s best player leads the Eagles, LSU commit Ben Simmons. The 6’9 versatile lefty overwhelms opponents with his size, speed, athleticism and overall basketball superiority. Danny Boyle, who has had his fair share of incredibly gifted players, is the coach of these giants of the prep world. The tournament will also feature two more defending Louisiana state champions in Landry Walker and Metairie Park Country Day. The Edna Karr Cougars will come into the Sugar Bowl Classic as one of the hottest teams in the city coming off a heartbreaking loss to University High Cubs at the Country Day Classic. The Cougars fell to the Cubs by one point and had a chance to win it at the buzzer. Like the Karr Cougars, Helen Cox comes into the Sugar Bowl Classic as one of the more talented groups of players in the city. They are led by feisty and super athletic guard Marlon Veal and have imposing athleticism at every position on the floor. Be sure to check out the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic from January 8-10 at the Alario Center.

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SCENE WORKSHOPS

AT NOFF 2014 by Susan Ross

photos by Charles Ravaglia

cene Magazine debuted a new workshop series at the 2014 New Orleans Film Festival, offering a wide array of hands on opportunities to festivalgoers. The complimentary workshops connected film fans and budding filmmakers alike unique opportunities to learn from film professionals and health and wellness experts.

KICKOFF WITH A COCKTAIL at Bellocq Lounge at Hotel Modern Before the festivities began, the Scene Workshops kicked off the week of movies and education at the Bellocq Lounge at Hotel Modern. The upscale bar was crowded with film fans, professionals and workshop teachers, all enjoying cocktails from Smooth Amber Distillery while worldrenowned magician Steve Reynolds performed close-up magic.

WORKSHOP 1 Work Out Like Efron Aaron Williamson, the man that molded Zac Efron, Emilia Clarke, Josh Brolin and more into demi-gods, held a ninetyminute workshop that offered participants a unique opportunity to get in front of a personal trainer to the stars. Through practical application and demonstration of exercises, participants left with a knowledge of macro-nutrients, eating for optimal health, supplements and how to sculpt their bodies to look like A-listers. Aaron also answered questions about nutrition, supplements and effective training techniques. The workshop took place at Cypress Fitness at 2701 Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans. You can find out more about Aaron Williamson Fitness at aaronwilliamson.net.

WORKSHOP 2 Sound Like a Pro with Apex Post Jon Vogl of Apex Post, whose credits include 12 Years a Slave, Fantastic Four, Shrek 2 and Alvin and the Chipmunks, presented a behind the scenes look at creating sound for film and television. The one-hour workshops covered techniques for recording production sound, preparing your film for postproduction, sound effects editing, recording ADR and the final mix. Following the workshop at Second Line Stages, Vogl answered questions and met with filmmakers in attendance at a reception. You can find out more about Apex Postâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work at apexpost.com. 32 | January/February 2015

TODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SCENE

Bradley Greer of Kyotocolor explains the basics of the RGB color wheel

Scene Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beth Burvant with Jon Vogl of Apex Post

WORKSHOP 3 Look Like a Pro with Kyotocolor Bradley Greer of Kyotocolor, a veteran film colorist, offered an introduction to the technical and artistic fundamentals of making your project look professional. Greer, whose credits include 12 Years a Slave, The Iceman, The Butler and GI Joe 2, discussed primary and secondary color corrections, basic color management, look up tables and video engineering scopes. Participants got a hands-on look at how Greer prepares film and television projects for wide audiences out of his office at Second Line Stages in New Orleans. Find out more about Greer and his work at kyotocolor.com.

sceneent.com | 33

TODAY’S SCENE

WORKSHOP 4 East Meets West: Balance Integrative Health The experts at Balance Integrative Health invited festivalgoers and film fans for a discussion about the core aspects of traditional Eastern medicine and how they integrate with conventional Western medicine. The workshop took place at BIH’s state of the art facility located at 2121 Magazine Street in New Orleans. The discussion included an exploration of how science is beginning to validate physiological reasons for ancient practices like meditation and mindfulness, producing actual changes in your body and state of mind. Find out more about Balance Integrative Health at bihnola.com.

WORKSHOP 5 Health On-The-Go The great people at Balance Integrative Health hosted a discussion of about maintaining a healthy lifestyle by creating consistency in food and beverage choices. An expert nutritionist and creative culinary experts led the discussion about eating healthy on the go and offered simple and creative recipes along with a tasting menu. Find out more about Balance Integrative Health at bihnola.com.

WORKSHOP 6 Face & Body Rejuvenation Secrets with Dr. Burkenstock Dr. Kelly Burkenstock’s Skin Body Health is the South’s hallmark anti-aging aesthetic institute that incorporates cutting edge, non-surgical skin rejuvenation with anti-aging advice to help you look beautiful. She offers European technologies in preventative healthcare and skin repair. Dr.Burkenstock has extensive studies in anti-aging & aesthetic medicine and has trained under top luminaries worldwide, including Dr. Kanakopoulos in Greece, Dr. Le Coz in Belgium and Dr. Bitter in the States. Her skills as a medical and aesthetic doctor combined with her artistic skills and warm, assuring nature are a rare mix. Her goal is to help everyone achieve youthful, natural, beautiful skin & optimal health for life. Dr. Kelly Burkenstock’s illuminating demonstration workshop was held at Second Line Stages, offering a look at the many nonsurgical options available for skin rejuvenation, including plasma rich growth factor treatments for cosmetic as well as medical issues. Dr. Burkenstock will enlighten you with top international beauty SECRETS. Find out more at skinbodyhealth.com. Dr. Burkenstock works with a patient during a live demonstration Find out more about Scene Workshops at events.sceneent.com. If you are interested in participating in future workshops, send an email to editor@sceneent.com.

34 | January/February 2015

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ON THE SCENE

HERE’S MY $2 SOCIAL AT SECOND LINE STAGES photos by Charles Ravaglia

With only sixteen days left to reach LFEA’s Kickstarter goal of $50,000, supporters of Louisiana’s film industry gathered on the fifth floor terrace at Second Line Stages to show their love for the cause. That night, the Here’s My $2 team raised circa $3000, putting the Kickstarter over the 50% mark. The Kickstarter met and surpassed its goal on November 28, raising a total of $55,818. Watch the Kickstarter video explaining the campaign at heresmytwobucks.com and find out more about LFEA at lfea.org.

36 | January/February 2015

ON THE SCENE

LFEA President Will French talks about the need for supporting Louisianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film industry

sceneent.com | 37

ON THE SCENE

HERE’S MY $2 SOCIAL AT SECOND LINE STAGES photos by Charles Ravaglia

38 | January/February 2015

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ABOVE THE LINE

BELLA

DAYNE by Micah Haley

ella Dayne’s name you may not yet know. She’s a German import, something her soft accent just barely betrays. And yet there’s something All American about her, perhaps suggestive of a time when all Americans were immigrants. She has an openness and warmth that instantly evokes the delicate presence of Audrey Hepburn, a woman who made Hollywood her own. Dayne also has the support of Avy Kaufman, the near-legendary casting director of The Basketball Diaries, The Sixth Sense, Capote and Lincoln. It was Kaufman who recommended her, along with her costar Grey Damon, to Brad and Todd Barnes, brothers and directors of the new film Sex, Guaranteed. In the new comedy, Damon plays her potential

40 | January/February 2015

love interest, Kevin, a roofer in New Orleans who believes he’s cursed and that even thinking about sex will lead to catastrophe. He distracts himself with his work, focusing fully on building his dream business, while also hoping to win back his exfiance. And then he meets Hank (Stephen Dorff), an optimist on the edge with a pathological need to give. Hank wants to give Kevin a gift to remember. Bella Dayne plays the female lead, Zade, a young writer masquerading as a high-end escort. And Hank wants to give Kevin an hour-long date with her. On a rainy evening, we spoke on the set of Sex, Guaranteed, which was filming at a historic mansion on Esplanade Avenue, one of the streets that borders the historic French Quarter.

sceneent.com | 41

ABOVE THE LINE MH: So, you’re in this movie, Sex, Guaranteed. How does that title apply to your character? BD: Haha! That’s a good question! And you’re just cracking up over there! MH: Ha! I’m a direct guy. I don’t like to beat around the bush. BD: My character is Zade. Basically, sex is her entire life. She’s very open with sex. She enjoys it. She’s a very strong modern woman who loves sex and is not ashamed of it. I think “sex, guaranteed” is about not holding me back. I don’t have to have a filter, or have to restrict myself because females have to be a certain way. Of course, throughout the entire movie, I also want to, ya know, have sex with the character Kevin! That’s my whole objective. That’s the entire thing, although it comes up in different ways. MH: Your character sounds alluring in that superficial way, but there’s also a depth to her. Give me a better sense of who she actually is. BD: Sex for her is just a cover up. That’s the interesting part: you think that she’s so bold. But she has this other problem. She’s not able to be vulnerable again, to let go and open up to someone. After past experiences, she just closed off. But she’s considering opening up to that world again, being romantic again. She has all of that inside of her, but she just hasn’t let it out for a long time. She has a huge heart underneath and is very vulnerable. MH: The film’s title makes it sound like a sexploitation comedy, but there’s really this sort of sweetness about the film. BD: Yes! Absolutely! That’s what I love about it so much. And when I first read the script, I was of course laughing my ass off, but at the end of the script, you’re like, “Wow, these are three people that are really lost in their lives and didn’t really know how to move forward.” And they can all help each other and find happiness within themselves. They have self-love again and forgiveness. And I think that’s why we do movies! To inspire people! It’s a wonderful and beautiful message. MH: This movie is shooting in New Orleans. Have you been to New Orleans before? Have you enjoyed the city? BD: No, and I’m so excited to be here. I’ve always wanted to go. Just a few months ago, I remember thinking, “New Orleans. That’s where everything is shooting right now!” People told me it’s European and you can walk around everywhere. I love that! The first day I arrived, I basically had not slept in two days because everything was last minute. I was working on the script, on the plane, and then trying to get my life organized. I was like, “I need to go outside and feel the vibes of the city.” And it’s a pulsating and a raw city with real people. I know this sounds weird, but the first thing I did was walk around by myself. I went to bars by myself. I went to see Frenchman Street and there I saw younger people and then like ninety-year-olds dancing to live music! Where did this city come from? New Orleans has been incredible for me I would love to shoot here all the time.

42 | January/February 2015

MH: It’s the city where people do whatever they want. BD: I love that! I think mostly people here are joyous. I think they really enjoy life. And it does kinda have the vibe of “Sin City.” Hahaha! It’s just so alive. MH: I can imagine you just walking into these bars saying, “I’m Bella from Sex, Guaranteed.” BD: Oh my God, no! You do this the European way. First of all, I pass bars and look inside. Walk slowly. Smoke a cigarette so you don’t awkwardly stand there. And I also didn’t realize that you can have plastic cups [with alcoholic drinks] when you’re walking around here, which was a huge revelation to me. So I got a white wine and loved it. There was a band playing in the middle of Frenchman Street. There was a huge crowd. Then, I walked into a bar and watched people. People see that you are watching people and they think, “That’s kinda weird: a young girl by herself.” But people didn’t bother me. I feel like I’m a strong human being. I don’t get into trouble or danger or anything. Grey [Damon] says this city is dangerous, and I always think, this is like Europe and it’s not always dangerous. MH: I think Grey is right. BD: I know, I know. I’m so naïve. MH: You’re at a great location, too, at the International Hotel. Lots to explore in walking distance. BD: It’s been really nice. It’s a beautiful hotel. The bar is really nice. We hung out with the hotel owner, who’s incredible and such an inspiring human being. Walked around Canal Street. We went down by the water. It’s all in walking distance, which is beautiful. I biked Uptown a few times from there. MH: The cast is mostly comprised of young actors. What have you learned from the elder statesmen from the cast about comedy? BD: A lot, actually. First of all, you never stop learning on set. Dan Fogler, the way he just lets go of everything. It doesn’t matter what’s going on around him. He’s in the scene as it happens. Any instinct he has just comes to him. It’s very inspiring as an actor to be like, “Yeah, I’ll take that freedom and go for it.” That’s beautiful. And from Stephen [Dorff], I’ve seen such professionalism on set. Both actors are very different and I’ve learned a lot from both. MH: You’ve been doing great work in this film. What’s next for you? BD: Thank you. I don’t know if it’s settled yet, but there’s one movie that I might be shooting in London for a couple of months starting in May. There’s some good stuff. They make some great films there, for sure. This is a completely different film that this one, so I’m excited about the possibilities. You can follow Bella Dayne on Twitter at @BellaDayne and on Instagram at @BellaDayne.

ABOVE THE LINE

sceneent.com | 43

ABOVE THE LINE THE DIRECTORS:

Brad & Todd Barnes With major media outlets including CBS declaring Louisiana the “Movie Capital of the World,” most of the coverage focuses on studio-backed movies. And while those are undoubtedly leading the way towards creating a sustainable film industry, it’s the independent films in their wake that are creating a culture of cinema in the South. Films like Beasts of the Southern Wild and Dallas Buyers Club are leading the way, and there are a slew of independent films produced by local film professionals, who are making their own films and convincing other young filmmakers to come down South. Directing duo Brad and Todd Barnes, who made a splash at the Sundance Film Festival with their film The Locksmith, brought their new film Sex, Guaranteed to New Orleans on the advice of friends, including New Orleans publicist Skipper Bond. Brad Barnes moved to the Crescent City to develop the project. After a long day of shooting, we spoke on the set of Sex, Guaranteed near the end of the film’s eighteen day shoot. MH: The title is pretty eargrabbing. Where did the title come from? Brad: I got invited to a party and they said, “Come over. Sex Guaranteed.” Haha! It’s a real story, but a lot of it is combining characters that we know. No one is playing a full person. They’re all based on people we know, their traits and attitudes. We try to use as much real stuff as we can. MH: Was there a movie that inspired you, either aesthetically or structurally? Todd: A lot of 50s Italian movies, that only Brad finds. He does most of the aesthetic types of choices on all these cool movies that people dig that have this antic tone to them. We think things are funny the more serious they are. The movie is kinda comedy through seriousness. We incorporate visuals from bigger movies and we’re hoping to punch above our weight class, too. We have bigger movie ideas that we are putting into comedy and see if people like movies like we do. Brad, name some of the Italian movies. Brad: There’s one called Passing Lane, from a director called Dino Risi that no one ever watches anymore. His comedies have a lot of pace but they are also very real. They seem like real people and they’re all playing real people, just in absurd situations. That’s been an inspiration. Another director is Bertrand Blier. Do you know his French films from the 60s-70s? One of his first ones was Going Places, which I saw on TV once and I was like “You could make a movie like that? A movie that out there?” And this was in the middle of the night. It was completely out of control, that film, and yet the characters seemed totally real. When we started to talk about our friends and stories circulate, you realize your friends are just as crazy as any movie you’ve ever seen. Those have been the kind of touch points for us.

44 | January/February 2015

ABOVE THE LINE

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ABOVE THE LINE

MH: Your lead is Friday Night Lights alum Grey Damon. What stuck out in the casting process with Grey? Todd: We have Avy as a casting director and she’s killer, man. She’s the best. Brad got in touch with her a long time ago about a project and she really got into it. And she casts movies like Lincoln. She just came on and she loved it. And she did everything that she would do on Lincoln. We were like, “Well, let’s just call Avy,” and she basically showed us Grey and Bella. She really advocated for them, too. She knew they could do it and gave a lot of insightful comments to make us feel comfortable. Her recommendation is iron clad. MH: What about Dan Fogler? He’s amazing in everything he does. Brad: He’s just fantastic in the movie. And he’s such a cool guy. We didn’t know him but he was friends with our producers so he was an early name that got tossed around. We knew him as a hilarious actor but not as a person. He’s as much fun to be around as he is to shoot. I was excited. He was on in the early days. He got on and threw a lot of energy behind the project. We got momentum off of that and we’re thankful for that. Todd: He’s home team! The movie wouldn’t have been made without him. He was one of the first cast. Brad: He really responded to the script. He seemed to get what we were trying to do. He makes his own films and directs his own stuff and has been in all kinds of things. So the fact that he was responding to our material meant a lot to us. Somebody was really getting it the way we got it. Todd: He’s got a Tony award and he’s playing Carl. Which is hilarious. He did a dive over a couch in super slow mo. He was like, “Just let me do it one more time!” Brad: Yeah, 120 frames per second. He does all his own stunts. He was our stunt man on set. MH: Stephen Dorff told me Dan got him involved with the project. Can you unpack that for me? Todd: The producers knew Dan, so they called him up and he loved the project. They started batting names back and forth and he said, “Stephen Dorff.” And everyone knows who Stephen Dorff is. We were psyched. Wanted to figure out if we could talk to him and Fogler just started putting that together. He got it in front of him and then Stephen 46 | January/February 2015

got interested in the script and then we started Skyping, which went well. He was like, “You guys did a very good Skype.” And that’s why he wanted to get into it. Fogler was the entre. Those guys are very good friends and you can see it on the screen, too. Carl and Hank are friends and Fogler and Dorff are friends. We have an eighteen-day shoot and they have chemistry really fast. They have it in spades. MH: How did the script come together and when did you decide to set the story in New Orleans? Brad: It was originally set in Montauk, New York. I was talking to Skipper [Bond] about films in New Orleans and how I love New Orleans. He was like, “Hey, why don’t you write something about New Orleans?” And I didn’t have anything then. I thought, Well what about this script? And then, everything in this script made more sense. New Orleans added things and created a new vibe and new layers. Skipper organized a reading at his place, and we cast it with all New Orleans actors. We read it, recorded it, went back to New York and rewrote some of it so it was supposed to be here. We did that reading in April [of 2013] and I moved down here nine months ago. Todd: I never thought that was gonna happen. But he moved here and said, “I’m gonna make this movie. I don’t want to get stuck in all that development hell. I wanna make this movie and I’m not gonna let it not happen.” So I told him to move down there, but it’s impossible, it’s a crazy thing to do. We let it run for a while. Then me, my mom and my wife tried to get him back home. He came back for Christmas only. The only reason this movie got made is because he’s stubborn and he just wouldn’t leave. Brad: It’s a good town to wait in. MH: While putting the film together, what did you do in New Orleans? Brad: I’m just a huge restaurant fan. I like to go to restaurants. I like to go to movies. I like to listen to music. So, there’s no town that’s gonna compete anywhere in the world. I don’t really go out a lot, but when I do, I usually just stack it up pretty high and go eat at a great restaurant, go hear a band and this city affords that.

Sex, Guaranteed is now in post-production. You can follow the Brothers Barnes on their official website at barnesbrothersunlimited.com.

MUSIC |

Look Back at photos by Kelli Binnings Last fall, music once again filled New Orleans City Park from October 31 through November 2. Join Scene in the countdown to Voodoo 2015 by signing up for the official mailing list at worshipthemusic.com.

Twenty One Pilots Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots 48 | January/February 2015

30 Seconds to Mars

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30 Seconds to Mars

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Gogol Bordello

Slayer 50 | January/February 2015

Fuel

Gogol Bordello

Slayer

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City and Colour

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City and Colour

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters 52 | January/February 2015

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Outkast

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Lauryn Hill

Outkast

Outkast 54 | January/February 2015

Lauryn Hill

Q&A with

Aaron Williamson

Aaron Williamson is a health advisor and fitness trainer to the film industry. He has helped craft the physical transformations of Jamie Foxx in Django Unchained, Zac Efron in Neighbors and Josh Brolin in Oldboy. He recently finished molding Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke into legendary action heroine Sarah Connor for Terminator: Genisys. Find out more at aaronwilliamson.net.

According to a recent study, the number one new year’s resolution is two words: lose weight. Any yet only 8% of those resolutions are kept. What do you think most people who fail to meet their resolutions are doing wrong?

Everyone has the thought of going into the new year that they are going to get healthy, start eating better, or another similar resolution. Where they fall short is this: they have this idea in their head but there’s no blueprint. Once the new year rolls around and it’s time to achieve this goal, or resolution, there’s nothing to follow. If you go into the gym without a blueprint, especially if you are someone who is not familiar with the equipment and don’t know about nutrition, you kind of fumble around because you are trying to figure out what to do “on the go.” The best thing you can do is to put that plan on paper. There, you can begin to plan out how to make this goal a reality. Simply going into the gym with only an idea in your head is really setting yourself up for failure. I see it time and time again: people go to the store, go to the gym or go to the kitchen trying to get in shape and they just don’t know what to do. It’s because they haven’t thought the plan through. Make a plan, follow the plan and just stick with it. That’s the key to achieving your resolution or goal. They go in with a goal but with no road map to get there.

Right. They go in with a head full of steam and no plan. The expectation is to have these amazing, dramatic results in such a short period of time. It’s just unrealistic. That’s where people get set up for failure. They don’t understand there’s a process to it. It’s not about just going to the gym for two or three weeks and then you are going to see these dramatic changes. It also seems like many people make their resolutions too complicated. They are trying to accomplish major paradigm shifts. And yet most experts say you should keep your goal simple. What is a simple nutrition goal you can set?

Let’s break it down like this. Say you eat four meals a day (which is ideal for the normal person). That’s twenty-eight meals per week. That gives you twenty-eight chances to be successful in a week. If you fall short during a few meals, you are still on the right track. That’s nothing major and you won’t break your resolution. And remember, when you are starting a new nutrition plan at the beginning of the year, you don’t want to start off at 100 miles per hour like you are competing in a bodybuilding competition. You’ll burn yourself out. Just take it week-by-week, subtracting one thing from your diet each week, whether it’s sodas or a candy bar, or something you know is not healthy. Take one thing out and replace it with a piece of fruit or a vegetable, or something healthy. Those little things will help you make huge changes over time and you’ll feel better. 56 | January/February 2015

photo by Brandon T. Willis

What’s a simple training goal for the new year?

Exercise with other people. Whether it’s with a partner or in a group. There will be days where it’s going to be hard to find time to train, especially if you work long hours or have kids. If you have someone that’s there to help you to fit in that thirty minutes or an hour of exercise, that’s going to get you through those tough times. Going into the gym by yourself when you are tired, hungry or aggravated will make it a lot harder to push through what you need to do. If you have someone else there, you’ll be able to feed off each other’s motivation and energy. You are also making it more enjoyable, especially if you are a competitive person. What if you lose sight of your goal?

First, you have to look at how you lost sight of it. Did you really give yourself enough time to accomplish the goal? Are you confused

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over the goal? Keep in mind that you have an entire year to accomplish this resolution. New year’s resolutions aren’t just about January and February. It’s a lifestyle change. There aren’t any quick fixes. So just step back and regroup. Maybe talk to a nutritionist or talk to a trainer, someone who can help you get your head back to where it needs to be. And just start again. There’s nothing wrong with it. It happens to the best of us. It’s happened to me before. Life happens. It throws you off and you just have to jump back in it. This is your life, and there are reasons you’ve decided to make these resolutions. And remind yourself: don’t ever give up because you may never know who is looking up to you. You never know who you are motivating. You are really dispelling the myth that you must have a “perfect path” to reach your goal. You can make mistakes and still reach your goal.

Exactly. Don’t think you can compress a year’s worth of work into only one or two months. Keep a log. Keep a journal. Whatever is going to keep you on point and help you to compare your progress. Set mini-goals and when you reach those mini-goals, reflect on it. Give yourself a pat on the back for doing what you set out to do that week. Don’t be afraid to indulge a little. That’s where a lot of people go wrong.

They think they have to cut everything out. So many times they are so motivated at the beginning, only to get burnt out. If you have a craving, satisfy it. Eat a piece of chocolate. If you want to have a burger one night out with your friends, do it. You can still enjoy life and you don’t have to eat tuna with mustard and broccoli every day. What else should we keep in mind going into the New Year with a more health-conscious mindset?

I’m kind of a big food sensitivity guy. With so many processed foods going around these days, people have developed more food sensitivities. When you are eating a meal that you think is healthy and light, but it leaves you feeling bloated for hours, there’s probably some type of sensitivity. Maybe brown rice or chicken or some fruit you’re eating doesn’t agree with your body. If you can figure out what that is, and swap it with something else, it will make a huge difference in the way you feel, your energy level and the way you look. Pay attention to what you’re eating & the way it makes you feel..

FITNESS MYTHS: Busted “New Year’s Resolutions don’t work and there’s no benefit to making them.” They are beneficial but they only work if you do. If you don’t do the work, they don’t work. Dedicate yourself to what you want to achieve. Make that plan. Write it down. Follow it. Set those mini-goals. You will succeed. There are so many distractions in life. And if you don’t keep those goals you’ve created in mind, there’s always going to be an excuse for everything. What’s important is this: write that goal down and put it on your fridge. Put it on your bathroom mirror so that it becomes engrained in your mind. If you are thinking about it constantly, when something pops up, you won’t get deterred from what you have set out to achieve.

For more health and fitness tips, read the Health Scene online at health.sceneent.com and visit Aaron’s personal website at aaronwilliamson.net.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is intended to provide general information and does not constitute medical advice. The content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete or up-to-date. This information is not intended to create a client relationship between you and Aaron Williamson, Scene Magazine, or any associated companies, and you should not act or rely on any information in this publication without seeking the advice of medical doctor. In reading this article, please note that the information provided is not a substitute for consulting with an experienced medical professional and receiving counsel based on the facts and circumstances of a particular transaction. Many of the principles mentioned are subject to exceptions and qualifications, which may not be noted. Please consult with your doctor before beginning any health and exercise program.

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I am a Louisiana actor, member of SAG and I have a Louisiana agent. Most of my work has been for SAG minimum, but recently I have started to book larger roles. Right now my agent is securing my deals, but at what point do I need to involve an attorney in the negotiations? As soon as you are booking any significant roles. If you look at the top actors in the world today, they engage not only agents, but also managers and attorneys. At the point you start negotiating any issues beyond SAG minimums, you need professional representation that specializes in these types of negotiations. There are many specific issues that should be addressed in an above-the-line talent agreement. An attorney with experience in talent representation or production legal work should be aware of these issues

If I am hired by a producer to write a script, am I creating a workfor-hire? If so, am I still considered the author of the script?

This query poses several issues or questions that will need to be answered, the first of which is this: what is a work-for-hire? A work-for-hire is a copyrighted work created by an employee on behalf of and for the benefit of his or her employer, or a work that is commissioned by a client wherein it is agreed to in writing that the work is a work-for-hire and such work falls into one of the statutorily designated works that may be deemed a work-forhire. The categories of commissioned works that qualify for work-for-hire status include the following nine categories: a contribution to a collective work, part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, a translation, a supplementary work, a compilation, an instructional text, a test, answer material for a test or an atlas. As you can see, a screenplay is a part of a motion picture or audiovisual

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and able to help maximize not only your rate but also many other issues in your talent contract. Furthermore, while the agent should be helping you secure roles, your agent and attorney should work together to secure the best possible results for you in your contract. With that said, it is very important that you use an entertainment attorney that has experience in negotiating and drafting above-the-line talent agreements, as they are very complex and require a significant familiarity with the subject matter.

work and should qualify as a work-for-hire. A work-for-hire is an exception to the general copyright rule that the person who actually creates the copyrighted work is the author. Under the work-forhire provision of the Copyright Act, the employer or party who commissioned the work is deemed the author of the work for copyright purposes. Thus, for copyright purposes, you will not be considered the author of the work. However, that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean you will not be considered an author of the work for other purposes such as screen credit as the writer of the film, residuals or sequels. Those matters will, however, be subject to negotiation in your contract to write the screenplay. Of course, if you are a member of the WGA, you are entitled to certain specific minimums and protections through the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement.

JAMES DuMONT ACTOR by Micah Haley

photos by Kelli Binnings

veteran stage and screen presence, James DuMont has been in the business since he was a child. In the mid-1960s, his cherubic face earned him a gig as the Gerber baby. It was the first of many to come, as DuMont travelled from Chicago to Boston to New York to Los Angeles and now to Louisiana. His storied career includes roles in Seabiscuit, SWAT, War of the Worlds and Ocean’s Thirteen. Since coming to Louisiana, DuMont’s career has continued to climb with roles in Treme and American Horror Story, reaching a high point with 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club. DuMont portrayed the father of Rayon, a role that would earn Jared Leto an Oscar. Since then, he’s appeared in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, the James Brown biopic Get On Up, When the Game Stands Tall and Ryan Phillipe’s directorial debut Catch Hell. He’s also recently wrapped a movie millions of years in the making: Jurassic World. Over the course of a few hours, we discussed his long career, his family, his investment in Louisiana and how he still just likes to play on set. When did you decide you wanted to be an actor? I was born and raised in Chicago and New York. My dad was in New York and my mom was in Chicago and we switched around back and forth. When I grew up, those were my hometowns. At a certain point, my mom was a fashion model, so I got photographs as a baby. I was the Gerber baby in 1966. So that started off a whole bunch of print stuff, like Sears catalogs and things like that. And then I started doing some commercials. Later, the Chicago film scene started to kick up a bit. By the time I was in high school, there was this dance audition for Blues Brothers. I was a huge fan of the Blues Brothers from Saturday Night Live, so I did this dance audition. My friends gave me a little bit of a hard time about it because we were baseball players. And I got the gig! I was one of the kids dancing in the streets. I got my SAG card from that movie, and then did a bunch of commercials and stuff and I was able to use that money later on in college. I got a scholarship to go to Boston University, which is where Michael Chiklis and I connected. I only went for a couple of years, and then the summer between my sophomore year and my junior year, I just decided I didn’t want to go back to college. And they didn’t invite me back! So it worked out pretty good. I was like, “Wait, so I can just go right to working in New York theatre?” I was subletting an apartment from Francis Conroy, who is now in American Horror Story, and I decided to stay. I moved to New York when I was nineteen or twenty. She recommended a theatre company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, which is a forty-five year old theatre company with John Patrick Shandley, David Mamet…all these incredible playwrights, along with younger up and coming playwrights like

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Alan Ball. There were these writers there, and we could really build experience. I cleaned toilets and I stage-managed and I read every reading I possibly could. A couple of readings led to performances in productions! And a few people in those productions had agents. All of a sudden, my friend David Eigenberg (who was on Sex and the City) was like, “Dude, I’m about to go do a movie! You could be my understudy!” I was literally doing some student film down in Brooklyn. I worked my way all the way up from deep, deep Brooklyn, with track fires and police action. One time, I ran literally from 57th Street all the way to 65th Street, ran in the door for a role, and it turns out this character is The Hustler. He’s totally naked in the show. The only costume is socks. I had an undressing room rather than a dressing room. And I booked the gig. It was two weeks off-Broadway, making more money than I ever did DJing or catering! And I’m in this off-Broadway play with Swoosie Kurtz and Courtney B. Vance called Six Degrees of Separation. We did that for about two years.

CREATING THE SCENE

That is a big feather in your cap. Did you think about going to Los Angeles at that point? New York just seemed to be the thing to do. I was a theatre actor. I went to high school with Cusack and Jeremy Piven. And those guys, all as a group, went to L.A. And I thought L.A. seemed easy. It didn’t seem interesting to me. I needed the theatre experience. And I got it. I probably did five hundred readings. Two or three nights a week, I’m out trying to develop a play or be in some play, somewhere. I’d show up to the opening of an envelope! That’s how desperate I was. But out of that came a lot of great experiences. And a lot of those directors ended up directing Shanghai Knights and Dude, Where’s My Car? and Wedding Crashers. Those were student filmmakers at that time. Once Six Degrees was over, there was a national tour. And the tour was going to bring me to Los Angeles. I had tested for a couple of pilots before in L.A. and just got blown out of the water. The L.A. folks just seemed so prepared and amped and I didn’t know what I was doing. So, I said, “I’m not interested in L.A.” I said I wouldn’t come back until I got a job. But during the tour, I knew I’d be there for another six months during the show and another six months on the road. So I had a job! After the tour, I got a new agent and started working my way up in L.A. Luckily, a guy named Mark Saks was the casting director at Warner Bros. And Warner Bros TV in the early 90s was the thing. Cheers, Lois & Clark, The Drew Carey Show, The Simpsons. And Mark was a big fan of Six Degrees - a big fan of me being naked - so he put me on the new George Carlin show and on Lois & Clark. And I just kind of built it, brick by brick. You were busy in Los Angeles getting steady work. How did you find your way down to Louisiana? My wife was from Baton Rouge and we had talked many times about simplifying our lives for our kids. My

wife was a dancer with the Graham Company in New York. So I followed her, and stalked her, and we have kids now. Your career becomes about volume. But you also want these roles that come along and pull you apart from everyone else. If I look at Philip Seymour Hoffman, I remember his breakout movie. I remember watching Paul Giamatti in the Howard Stern movie. Each of the guys I consider my contemporaries (and also people that I look up to), each one had a movie that made them stick out. As a guy in the pond, you are looking for that one role that is going to pull you away from everyone else. Luckily for me, Dallas Buyers Club really does differentiate me from other folks. It’s only one scene, yet it’s chock full of powerful stuff. But I’m sure as a theatre actor, there’s a part of you that just wants to work. That’s the downside to screen acting: even when you are working, you are not really working that much. As a man, though, you are always thinking about employment and being able to provide for your family. That really kicks in. So there is something extra when you are going into auditions where you are responsible for some mouths to feed! That’s something that takes your game to another level. And your family is actually getting in on the act, too, right? My daughter actually plays Clyde’s little sister in the Bonnie & Clyde mini-series. Holliday Grainger’s performance was amazing. Her and Emile Hirsch were a great pair. And I ended up playing the bank manager on their first heist. My son recently did Zipper, which they shot up in Baton Rouge. My son played Patrick Wilson and Lena Headey’s son. He went from being Grinch in the school play to being on a movie for three weeks. I’m not really pushing them into it. I just think there are some great life skills in terms of being able to have a good sense of yourself. sceneent.com | 63

CREATING THE SCENE

Walk me through the decision for you and your family to get a place here. I went to too many birthday parties where The Business was so overwhelmingly talked about every step of the way. I thought, “I really don’t want my kids growing up in this bubble environment.” And my wife is from a big family. So the goal was to move back. My first year here, I knew we’d lose money, but I wanted to see if there was enough work here. This was 2008. The first few movies for me were in Shreveport. And then I ended up nailing a nice thing on Treme. You also recently appeared on American Horror Story, which is another great show shot in New Orleans. Yeah, and it’s great doing a gig when you are already a fan of the show. The first season was crazy! Going in, I new I was going to be a doctor, but that’s it. They give you fake scenes to audition with. That’s one of the great things about Ryan Murphy’s TV shows. They often take dramatic turns in their subsequent seasons, so you can never be prepared for what direction the shows will go. And that’s the kind of actor I think I am. I’m a Ryan Murphy actor. The kind you can plug in to various different things. There’s that moniker of “character actor” that gets thrown around, but I really look at Schwarzenegger or Sly Stallone as a character actor. They play one character, pretty much, that everyone knows and loves. My actors are able to be malleable and can change. I look at my buddy Michael Chiklis and he goes from Daddio to The Shield? That’s a big leap! What has your strategy in the local film industry been? Do you have a local agent? I think I have the best local agent in Brenda Netzberger at Open Range Management. She’s awesome. From the minute I met her, she went to work. I met her around Christmas time one year, and by New Year’s, everyone knew who I was. She got me and I got her. And I have the same relationship with my agents in L.A. For someone who has seen so much in the industry, you have so much energy and enthusiasm. These last thirty jobs have a lot to do with me taking stock of where I’m at. Knowing that as I’m getting older, the great roles are between now and eighty years old. When am I doing Driving Miss Daisy? I’m ready to do the Hume Cronyn thing. I’m gonna keep doing it until I can’t memorize my lines and they are feeding them to me. But I know that moving forward, it’s going to become more competitive. So, as my buddy Tim Phillips says, “Audition for your career, not the job.” Because there are political ramifications for why you may or may not get a job. I just lost a huge one because they needed a famous person. And that has nothing to do with me. My skills were all there. I’m opposite Oscar winners on TV and Oscar winners in movies. I’m right where I need to be. But at the end of the day, it’s always going to come down to craft. At a certain point, I knew that if I didn’t re-invest in going back to class and listening and finding out what my Achilles’ Heel might be - that one thing that may be holding you back from all your 64 | January/February 2015

creative potential - then I’m not gonna get to my goals. I had to dig a little bit, and in that digging, there was a kind of morphic resonance. Everything that I’m bringing to the table comes into play: my age, the kind of characters I’m playing, strengthening my skills, and finally having the overabundance of opportunities that Louisiana has to offer. The talent pool in Louisiana is immense. I know who they are and I love their work. I’m a fan of theirs, but I also know we’re competing with each other. Chiklis said to me once, “Auditioning is not rejecting. They are not rejecting what you did. It’s selection. It’s not personal. Just look at it like a dinner. You can’t put everything on your plate and sometimes two things just aren’t going to work together.” What advice do you have for the next generation of actors who are just beginning their careers? My thing to young actors is, “Do everything.” Read everything. Do every student film. Learn to put yourself on tape. Go to see plays. Go to see movies. Constantly do three things a day that improve your skills and your chances. I say to my kids, “There’s no ‘lost opportunity.’ Someone else just takes it.” I want them to learn some of the life lessons doing this. There are opportunities in front of you, but you have to jump on those! Make the most of those. And enjoy those! I’m trying to pass on to my kids what I think are going to be life skills. Whether or not they decide to become actors doesn’t really matter to me. If you do all of the homework when you go to the audition, then you don’t have to do much when you get on set. The reality is, I’ve pretty much showed you what I was going to do in the audition or the callback. When I get to set, I can come with a sense of play. I’m in the costume and there’s a sense of wonder and who knows where it’s gonna go? That happened with Dallas Buyers Club. I made a decision in the makeup trailer to not speak to Jared Leto at all. And I always go up to actors and say, “Hey, I’m James, we’ll be working together.” But I didn’t say a word to Jared because I realize he’s in his own world and we’re an estranged father and son. And perhaps we should never speak to each other. There’s no warmth there between them at all. Exactly. W hy break the reality of what our circumstance is? And to have an amazing director like Jean-Marc Vallee. It’s true that Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey put in amazing performances. But you need a director with a very fine, astute hand to make that movie. And you’ll see that with the new movie he’s got coming out, Wild, with Reese Witherspoon. On set, we never said action. He said, “I want you to explore the space. I’m not going to say action. I’m going to push the camera guy in and shoot the scene.” And we did like forty different takes. Millions of different ways. We love each other. We hate each other. But that’s what you do. Come with a sense of play. You’ve worked professionally in many cities. What does Louisiana remind you of? This is the New York of the 80s. You can come here and really cut your teeth. I’ve actually encouraged a lot of people to just stay here. Just stay here and build a great life for yourself. There is that big fish, small pond scenario here. The opportunities are here and the quality of life is fantastic. Look at veterans like Spud McConnell. He’s got statues built after him.

CREATING THE SCENE

And right now, the biggest movies in the world are shooting here. Including Jurassic World, which is one of your upcoming films. Yeah! We all had dummy scenes. Mine was nowhere near what I ended up doing at all, so it was kind of funnier that way. Y’know, you put it on tape, and you just hope for the best. At the time, I’m also putting myself on tape for Fantastic Four and for Terminator: Genisys. Fantastic Four actually called and asked, “Would you be up for being a general that only works for like six days, but you would be locked up with us for two months?” Which is exciting. But Lance Nichols ended up getting the role and he was like, “It was good to get paid. I’m laughing all the way to the bank. But there were a lot of jobs I missed out on.” The director of Jurassic World really loved my audition. He said, “But I must tell you. Your scene with Jared Leto is film gold.” Again, the gift of Dallas Buyers Club. And that’s pretty much all I can say about it right now! But it was a wonderful experience and Colin Trevorrow is absolutely a wonderful director. Everybody on that set was just fantastic. You also had a fun role in another awards contender, Get on Up. I’m the USO liaison. James Brown wants to go to Vietnam and perform for the troops. And of course, we accidentally shoot his plane out of the air. So I welcome him warmly after almost not making it! And James Brown says to me something like, “Do you want to go down in history as the man who killed the funk?!” It’s a great line. There wasn’t much improvisation. It was pretty tight. It was one of those situations similar to Baytown Outlaws, where sometimes I’m called upon to be The Closer. And my job is to come in and be very efficient.

There have been hours and hours of setting things up, and you cannot be the reason why we’re going into multiple takes. It might be the camera or something else, but it should not be you. So, just like in baseball, I’m the Closer. I have to come in and be very effective, efficient and get the job done. That scene is so kinetic because it begins in the plane, which is shot down and essentially crash lands, and then we go right into your scene. It was supposed to be warm in Mississippi. But it was a freezing cold day. They had buses of sixteen-year-old kids totally shirtless, ice cold in a huge airplane hangar. And even with thermals on and layers, I’m freezing! And we’re supposed to act as if this is seventy or eighty degrees in Vietnam. And it’s all being done in one shot. James Brown comes off the plane, picks me up and follows it all the way to the stage where there are five hundred extras. All in one take. And I have dialogue. It’s a walk and talk. But luckily I can say we kept it to a couple of takes. Chadwick is great. He could get a nomination. S

Look for James DuMont in Jurassic World in theaters this summer. sceneent.com | 65

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SCARED AT FEAR FETE 2014 photos by Drew Guillory

fter starting as a horror film fest and horror fan con in Louisiana, Fear Fete has bloomed into a full-blown horror convention held at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. Fear Fete 2014 was held from October 1619, 2014. Find out more at fearfete.com.

66 | January/February 2015

| SCENE

sceneent.com | 67

SCENE |

SCARED AT FEAR FETE 2014 photos by Drew Guillory

68 | January/February 2015

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Series – ABC Starring Zoe Boyle, Azure Parsons, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Desmond Harrington, Erin Cummings, Dominique McElligott Director: Lone Scherfig – Writer/Producers: Stephanie Savage Resumes: theastronautswivesclub@gmail.com, awcproductionoffice@gmail. com Status: Prepping now Shoots October 6 to February 2015 LP: Reid Shane – UPM: Debbie Cass Location: New Orleans (Quixote Studios) During the space race of the 1960s, the lives of the wives of American astronauts were just as interesting as their famous husbands.

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70 | January/February 2015

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Feature – Warner Bros Starring: Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abby Cornish, Ed Harris, Andy Garcia Director: Dean Devlin Resumes: geostorm2014@gmail.com Phone: 504.595.1740 Status: Preps July 7. Shoots October 20 to February 10, 2015 UPM: Sara Flamm – Line Producer: Herb Gaines Location: New Orleans

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TV Series – CBS Starring: Scott Bakula, Zoe McLellan, CCH Pounder, Lucas Black, Paige Turco Resumes: ncisnolaresumes@gmail.com, ncisproduction@gmail.com Phone: 504.662.1668 Fax: 504.734.3127 Status: Shoots August 28 to April 30, 2015 UPM: Joe Zolfo PM: Rob Ortiz Location: New Orleans A new NCIS spinoff set in the New Orleans office responsible for investigations from Texas to Florida.

Something Wonderful

Feature – Independent Starring: Forest Whitaker Director: Forest Whitaker Resumes: somethingwonderful2014@gmail.com Status: Shoots Winter 2014 UPM: Tracey Landon Location: New Orleans

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Feature – Sony (Screen Gems) Starring: Regina Hall, Morris Chestnut Director: Jon Cassar Resumes: boughbreaks2015@gmail.com Phone: 504.577.2923 Status: Shoots January 19 Location: New Orleans

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sceneent.com | 73

THE UNSCENE THE NEW YEAR As you begin the downward slope towards the next decade, renew your hope for the next five years. And if you’re feeling downtrodden by recent events, bootstrap your enthusiasm. There’s a new horizon coming. One that will uplift you. One that will propel you. The UnScene Writer Submit tips to unscene@sceneent.com. Anonymity guaranteed.

74 | January/February 2015

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